How Many People Make Over 100k Per Year? - Zippia (2024)

Research Summary: The median income in the US is $44,225, but that doesn’t stop many Americans from pursuing more. Making over $100,000 per year is a common goal and is often considered one of the first stepping stones toward greater financial success.

But just how many Americans do reach that goal?

To find out more about how many people make over 100k per year, we’ve gathered essential facts and data. According to our extensive research:

  • 18% of individual Americans make over $100k per year.

  • 34.4% of US households make over $100k per year.

  • 37% of White Households make over $100k, compared to only 22% of Black households.

  • 9% more men earn $100k per year than women in the US.

  • Between 2017-2022, the share of US households making over $100k per year increased by 2.97%.

For further analysis, we broke down the data in the following ways:
General | Gender | Race | Age | Over Time
How Many People Make Over 100k Per Year? - Zippia (1)

General $100k Income Statistics

To find out more about earning $100k per year or more in the US, we’ve gathered some important general statistics about the topic. Consider the following:

  • Only 15.5% of Americans earn between $100,000 and $149,999 per year.

    Although, this does make up the largest percentage of Americans who do make over $100k, which only 8.3% earning between $150,000-$199,999, and 10.3% earning over $200k.

    Annual IncomeShare of Americans
    Less than $100k65.6%
    $100k-$149.9k15.5%
    $150k-$199.9k8.3%
    $200k+10.3%
  • 45% of Americans earning over $100k live paycheck-to-paycheck.

    Despite the common belief that more money equates to more stability, many nearly half of all Americans making over $100k are struggling to pay the bills. In fact, the number of Americans earning over $100k who live paycheck-to-paycheck increased by seven percentage points between 2021-2022, from 38% to 45%.

  • 82% of Americans making over $100k per year say they need to make at least $200k per year to consider themselves rich.

    By contrast, 56% of Americans believe that making $100k per year would make them rich, highlighting the difference in mindset between poorer and wealthier citizens.

$100k Incomes by Gender

There are some pretty significant disparities between men and women when it comes to income, and this trend is no different for $100k+ earners. To find out more, here are some insightful statistics our research uncovered:

  • 17% of all men earn over $100k per year, compared to only 8.4% of women.

    Men are around 2x more likely to earn an income of $100k or more per year in the US in 2022. With 22,619 out of 131,389 men who were surveyed saying so, and only 11,639 out of 137,334 women saying so.

  • 53.5% more men working full-time earn $100k per year when compared to women.

    When it comes to full-time work specifically, 28.4% of US men earn over $100k per year, compared to only 18.5% of US women.

  • San Jose, California, has the highest percentage of women earning $100k per year or more, at 34%.

    Other cities will a high percentage of high-earning women include: San Francisco, California (31%), Washington, D.C. (27%), Stamford, Connecticut (25%), and Boston (21%).

  • The average woman earns 83% of what her male counterparts earn in 2022.

    Per dollar, the average man gets paid 17 cents more than the average woman. That might not seem like a lot, but it can really add up over time. For instance, the average woman earns $80,000 less over the course of the same 40-year career.

$100k Incomes By Race

Race is also a major factor to consider when shining a microscope on the question of how many Americans make over $100k per year. The fact is that many minority groups in the US are disadvantaged and disenfranchised, leading to income inequality between different races.

Of course, there are other factors that contribute to the complexity of income differences between demographics, but our research shows that:

  • 51% of Asian households make $100k or more per year.

    Asian households are disproportionately the highest earners in the US. 17.7% earn between $100,000 and $149,999, 12.2% earn between $150,000 and $199,999, and 21.1% earn $200,000 and above.

    Annual IncomeShare of Asian Households
    $100k-$149.9k17.7%
    $150k-$199.9k12.2%
    $200k+21.1%
  • 37% of White households make $100k or more per year.

    White Americans make up the largest chunk of the general population, and just over a third of them make over $100k. More specifically, 16.6% earn between $100,000 and $149,999, 8.6% earn between $150,000 and $199,999, and 12.1% earn $200,000 and above.

    Annual IncomeShare of White Households
    $100k-$149.9k17.7%
    $150k-$199.9k12.2%
    $200k+21.1%
  • 27% of Hispanic households make $100k or more per year.

    Hispanic households are far less likely to make $100k per year when compared to their White or Asian counterparts. 14.3% earn between $100,000 and $149,999, 5.9% earn between $150,000 and $199,999, and 6.8% earn $200,000 and above.

    Annual IncomeShare of Hispanic Households
    $100k-$149.9k14.3%
    $150k-$199.9k5.9%
    $200k+6.8%
  • Only 22% of Black households make $100k or more per year.

    Black households are by far the least likely to earn over $100k per year, with just 11.4% earning between $100,000 and $149,999, 4.6% earning between $150,000 and $199,999, and 5.7% earning $200,000 or more.

    Annual IncomeShare of Black Households
    $100k-$149.9k11.4%
    $150k-$199.9k4.6%
    $200k+5.7%
  • 68.2% more White households make over $100k than Black households.

    37% of White households make over $100k in the US, compared to only 22% of Black households. Additionally, 37% more White households make over $100k when compared to Hispanic households.

  • 18% of White working men make over $100k per year, compared to only 8% of Black working men.

    White men are more than 2x as likely to be making $100k per year when compared to Black men, highlighting the disparity between the two groups.

$100k Incomes By Age

When it comes to the share of who makes over $100k per year, there is also a huge disparity between younger and older Americans. More specifically, here are some interesting age-related trends:

  • Americans under 25 who make over $100k per year are in the top 1% of earners in their age group.

    From age 18-24, only 1% of earners (7% altogether) earn $100k per year or more. This makes these age groups by far the lowest earners in the US.

  • Americans make the most income gains between 25 and 35.

    Only 2% of 25-year-olds make over $100k per year, but this jumps to a considerable 12% by 35. That’s a whopping 500% increase in the share of people making $100k or more.

  • 21% of 66-year-olds make $100k per year or more.

    Generally speaking, the older Americans get, the more money they make, with 20% or more of everyone 66+ making $100k per year or more.

AgeShare of Americans who make $100k or more
201%
252%
307%
3512%
4015%
4516%
5016%
5518%
6017%
6518%
7020%

$100k Incomes Over Time

Generally speaking, the number and percentage of Americans who make over $100k per year increase over time. This is caused by a variety of reasons, from inflation to job growth. Here are some interesting insights our research uncovered:

  • Between 2017-2022, the share of US households making over $100k per year increased by 2.97%.

    Though the number of households making $100k or more dipped from 34.6% to 33.6% in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, there has still been a slight increase within the past five years.

  • Between 1980 and 2022, the share of Americans earning $100k per year or more almost doubled.

    In 1980, approximately 17.4% of Americans made $100k per year or more, but as of 2022, that percentage has reached 34.4%.

    YearShare of Americans who make $100k or more
    198017.4%
    198520.0%
    199022.8%
    199524.2%
    200029.0%
    200527.8%
    201026.7%
    201529.6%
    202033.6%
  • 96% of Americans earning $100k or more are concerned about inflation.

    While a further 65% are “very concerned” about inflation. This has resulted in 46% of these high-earners cutting their spending in 2022.

People Making Over $100k Per Year FAQ

  1. What is the median salary in the US?

    The median salary in the US is $44,225 in 2022. The majority of Americans (54.98%) make $50k per year or less, while only 18% of individual Americans make $100k per year or more.

    In this way, Americans are far more likely to earn less than $50k per year than they are to earn over $100k.

  2. What is a good salary?

    A “good salary” is dependent on many factors, including the cost of living in your area, inflation, and more. For example, the average annual salary in Des Moines, Iowa, is $67,519, with a median home price of $183K. While on the other hand, the average salary might be higher in NYC, at $100,260, but the average real estate cost is also much higher, at $789K.

    Overall though, the average weekly earnings in the US is just over $1,000, meaning that anything above that could be considered a good salary.

  3. Is $100k a year considered rich?

    No, making $100k per year in the US is not considered rich; instead, it is generally considered upper-middle class. It could even be considered lower-middle class in some coastal cities.

    However, 56% of Americans believe that making $100k per year would make them rich, meaning that most of the country considers someone with a six-figure salary to be rich.

Conclusion

In the US, 18% of individual Americans and 34.4% of households make $100k per year or more. This number has increased by 2.97% in the past five years and has nearly doubled since 1980.

However, that doesn’t mean all $100k+ earners are evenly spread. For instance, 9% more men earn $100k when compared to women, and 68.2% more White households earn $100k than Black households.

While it’s unclear whether or not these gaps will decrease in years to come, it’s essential to provide equal opportunities to all workers, so everyone has a chance to increase their earning potential.

References:

  1. DQYDJ – Income Percentile Calculator for the United States

  2. The Census Bureau – PINC-01. Selected Characteristics of People 15 Years and Over, by Total Money Income, Work Experience, Race, Hispanic Origin, and Sex.

  3. IBISWorld – Households Earning More Than $100,000

  4. PYMNTS – New Reality Check: The Paycheck-To-Paycheck Report

  5. Policy Advice – What Is The Average American Income In 2022?

  6. CNBC – How much money Americans say they need to make to feel rich

  7. CNBC – The 10 U.S. cities where women are most likely to earn $100,000 or more

  8. CEOWorld Magazine – Women in business: The percentage of women in senior management positions increased in 2021 worldwide

  9. Visual Capitalist – Visualizing American Income Levels by Age Group

  10. CNBC – 65% of Americans earning $100,000 or more are ‘very concerned’ about inflation, new CNBC poll finds

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Zippia Research

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How Many People Make Over 100k Per Year? - Zippia (2)

Author

Jack FlynnHow Many People Make Over 100k Per Year? - Zippia (3)

Jack Flynn is a writer for Zippia. In his professional career he’s written over 100 research papers, articles and blog posts. Some of his most popular published works include his writing about economic terms and research into job classifications.Jack received his BS from Hampshire College.

How Many People Make Over 100k Per Year? - Zippia (2024)

FAQs

How Many People Make Over 100k Per Year? - Zippia? ›

Only 18% of individual Americans make more than $100,000 a year, according to 2023 data from careers website Zippia.

What percentage of the population makes over $100,000 a year? ›

The Income Breakdown: How Many Americans Earn 6 Figures

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only about 6% of Americans earn an annual salary of $100,000 or more. That amounts to around 8 million households crossing into 6-figure territory.

How rare is a 100k salary? ›

According to the U.S. Census, only 15.3% of American households make more than $100,000 annually. A $100,000 salary can yield a monthly income of $8,333.33, a biweekly paycheck of $3,846.15, a weekly income of $1,923.08, and a daily income of $384.62 based on 260 working days per year.

How common is a 6 figure salary? ›

When you remove demographics such as infants, students, and stay-at-home spouses and focus only on full-time workers, around 18% of all earners in the US make at least six figures. Conversely, the median American household income in 2023 was approximately $44,225.

What percent of people make 150k a year? ›

Income Brackets in the United States
Income Bracket*Percentage of Americans
$75,000-$99,99912.3%
$100,000-$149,99916.4%
$150,000-$199,9999.2%
Over $200,00011.9%
5 more rows
Apr 12, 2024

Is 100k the new middle class? ›

A $100,000 salary may be considered middle-income in many parts of the U.S., but it's no longer a ticket to the middle class.

How many US citizens make 100k a year? ›

According to the US Census Bureau, the majority of Americans (54.98%) make $50,000 per year or less, while only 18% of individual Americans make $100,000 per year or more. This means that over 80% of Americans make less than $100,000 per year.

Is 100k a year considered wealthy? ›

Earning more than $100,000 per year would put you well ahead of the median American household, which brings in $74,784 as of 2021. Assuming you're an individual without dependents, that salary would qualify you as upper class, according to three different definitions (Brookings, Urban Institute and Pew Research).

Is 100k not a good salary anymore? ›

A six-figure salary has long been seen as a marker of financial success. But with the ever-rising cost of living, $100,000 doesn't offer much by way of financial security in a number of big U.S. cities.

Is $100,000 a year wealthy? ›

The median salary for Americans is around $70,000 a year, according to the most recent census data from 2021. A salary of $100,000 a year, with the assumption that you are an individual without dependents, would classify an individual as upper-class — but many of these people don't feel rich.

How many millennials make 100k? ›

This statistic shows the number of high earning 25 to 34 year old Americans in 2022, by sources of income. In 2022, around 4.8 million people between 25 to 34 years old whose annual income was 100,000 U.S. dollars or more obtained that income through wages and salary.

Is 6 figures middle class? ›

In the past, a lower six-figure salary would place most people in a comfortable place in their lives, but not anymore. Thanks mostly to inflation, individuals earning $100k+ are considered lower middle class in some parts of the country according to new research from GOBankingRates.

How common is a 8 figure salary? ›

As you might imagine, there are only a handful of jobs where it's possible to earn an 8 figure annual salary. These jobs are typically reserved for the very elite performers in their respective fields.

What salary is upper class? ›

Upper middle class: Anyone with earnings in the 60th to 80th percentile would be considered upper middle class. Those in the upper middle class have incomes between $89,745 and $149,131. Upper class: Finally, the upper class is the top 20% of earners and they have incomes of $149,132 or higher.

What is a decent salary in 2024? ›

Decent Salary
Annual SalaryHourly Wage
Top Earners$86,000$41
75th Percentile$68,500$33
Average$44,910$22
25th Percentile$24,500$12

What salary is upper middle class? ›

Many have graduate degrees with educational attainment serving as the main distinguishing feature of this class. Household incomes commonly exceed $100,000, with some smaller one-income earners household having incomes in the high 5-figure range. "The upper middle class has grown...and its composition has changed.

What is top 10 percent income in the US? ›

What are the annual wages of top earners?
BracketAverage annual wages
Top 0.1%$3,212,486
Top 1%$823,763
Top 5%$342,987
Top 10%$173,176
Apr 30, 2024

Is 100k a good salary for a single person? ›

Earning more than $100,000 per year would put you well ahead of the median American household, which brings in $74,784 as of 2021. Assuming you're an individual without dependents, that salary would qualify you as upper class, according to three different definitions (Brookings, Urban Institute and Pew Research).

How hard is it to make 100k a year? ›

Building up to or earning 6 figures is not easy. It will take hard work to be able to earn that much or acquire that much wealth.

What percentage of people have $100000? ›

Most American households have at least $1,000 in checking or savings accounts. But only about 12% have more than $100,000 in checking and savings.

References

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