Average Salary by Job
Median and average US pay by occupation, with the full percentile range — from official BLS data.
National figures, OEWS May 2025. Want to see where you land? Use the Salary Comparison Calculator.
| Occupation | Median | 10th–90th range |
|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physicians | $244,180 | $76,830 – $428,550 |
| Chief Executives | $213,990 | $75,700 – $507,730 |
| Computer & Information Systems Managers | $175,140 | $107,550 – $297,510 |
| Marketing Managers | $166,790 | $90,260 – $293,610 |
| Financial Managers | $166,570 | $94,310 – $323,270 |
| Lawyers | $159,670 | $78,360 – $351,600 |
| Pharmacists | $140,910 | $99,290 – $174,230 |
| Software Developers | $135,980 | $82,460 – $214,670 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $132,300 | $101,340 – $174,420 |
| Data Scientists | $120,230 | $67,240 – $199,130 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $105,850 | $67,340 – $167,710 |
| General & Operations Managers | $105,770 | $50,090 – $253,390 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $104,110 | $73,990 – $164,340 |
| Management Analysts | $101,860 | $60,640 – $171,640 |
| Civil Engineers | $100,840 | $68,240 – $163,220 |
| Registered Nurses | $97,550 | $68,940 – $137,470 |
| Accountants & Auditors | $83,680 | $56,020 – $144,090 |
| Police & Sheriff Patrol Officers | $76,210 | $47,510 – $115,120 |
| Secondary School Teachers | $72,040 | $48,780 – $107,600 |
| Elementary School Teachers | $63,970 | $47,960 – $104,340 |
| Plumbers & Pipefitters | $63,800 | $44,150 – $108,420 |
| Electricians | $63,190 | $42,640 – $108,510 |
| Graphic Designers | $62,960 | $39,520 – $104,910 |
| Carpenters | $60,580 | $40,410 – $99,910 |
| Firefighters | $59,280 | $34,910 – $101,040 |
| Machinists | $58,750 | $39,200 – $80,010 |
| Heavy Truck Drivers | $58,640 | $40,140 – $79,380 |
| Real Estate Agents | $52,830 | $32,970 – $123,590 |
| Medical Assistants | $45,690 | $36,050 – $59,310 |
| Customer Service Representatives | $44,770 | $31,750 – $63,590 |
| Nursing Assistants | $42,260 | $33,940 – $51,980 |
| Laborers & Freight/Stock Movers | $40,240 | $31,270 – $55,140 |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $36,840 | $28,640 – $50,270 |
| Hairdressers & Cosmetologists | $35,790 | $27,040 – $71,190 |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,410 | $27,210 – $47,890 |
| Waiters & Waitresses | $35,230 | $18,100 – $64,720 |
How it works
Each row is the national wage distribution for an occupation from the BLS OEWS survey (May 2025). The median is the midpoint pay; the 10th–90th range shows how low and high the field goes, driven by experience, seniority, industry, and location.
Good to know
- National, all-industry figures — high-cost metros and specialized industries pay well above these.
- Wages only — bonuses, equity, tips, and benefits are not included.
- OEWS is annual, so the latest release is roughly a year old; it is a benchmark, not a live market rate.
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary in the US?
Across all occupations, average US wages work out to roughly $37.53/hour (about $78,062/year). But pay varies enormously by occupation — see the table for median and range by job.
What is the difference between median and average salary?
The median is the midpoint — half of workers earn more, half less. The average (mean) is pulled higher by top earners. The median is the better "typical pay" benchmark, which is why it is the primary column here.
What do the 10th and 90th percentiles mean?
The 10th percentile is near the bottom of the pay range (entry level / lower-paying regions); the 90th is near the top (senior / high-cost metros). The gap shows how much earning potential a field has.
Where does this salary data come from?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 national release — the authoritative US wage survey.