What is the average wage in the United States?

The national median annual wage across all major occupation groups is approximately $59,963 as of 2024, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data.

Which state has the highest average wages?

District of Columbia has among the highest average wages in the country, with a median annual wage of approximately $84,253 based on 2024 BLS OEWS data.

Which occupation pays the most?

Management is the highest-paying major occupation group nationally with a median annual wage of approximately $113,949 according to 2024 BLS data.

Where does BLS wage data come from?

This data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys over 1.1 million business establishments annually. The 2024 data covers all wage and salary workers across 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.

Average Wages by State and Occupation (2024 BLS Data)

Median annual wages and employment by state and occupation group. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.

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Data current as of March 2026 Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS 2024

The national median annual wage across major occupation groups is $59,963 as of 2024. Browse wages for all 51 U.S. jurisdictions or compare the 22 major occupation groups tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey. District of Columbia ranks among the highest-paying states while Mississippi is among the lowest.

Highest-Paying State

District of Columbia

$84,253 median

Lowest-Paying State

Mississippi

$47,494 median

Highest-Paying Occupation

Management

$113,949 median

Lowest-Paying Occupation

Food Preparation and Serving

$31,983 median

Wages by State (51 jurisdictions)

Click any state to see wages across all 22 occupation groups.

Alabama AL Alaska AK Arizona AZ Arkansas AR California CA Colorado CO Connecticut CT Delaware DE District of Columbia DC Florida FL Georgia GA Hawaii HI Idaho ID Illinois IL Indiana IN Iowa IA Kansas KS Kentucky KY Louisiana LA Maine ME Maryland MD Massachusetts MA Michigan MI Minnesota MN Mississippi MS Missouri MO Montana MT Nebraska NE Nevada NV New Hampshire NH New Jersey NJ New Mexico NM New York NY North Carolina NC North Dakota ND Ohio OH Oklahoma OK Oregon OR Pennsylvania PA Rhode Island RI South Carolina SC South Dakota SD Tennessee TN Texas TX Utah UT Vermont VT Virginia VA Washington WA West Virginia WV Wisconsin WI Wyoming WY

Wages by Occupation Group (22 categories)

Click any occupation to see state-by-state rankings.

Architecture and Engineering Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Business and Financial Operations Community and Social Service Computer and Mathematical Construction and Extraction Educational Instruction and Library Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Food Preparation and Serving Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Healthcare Support Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Legal Life, Physical, and Social Science Management Office and Administrative Support Personal Care and Service Production Protective Service Sales and Related Transportation and Material Moving

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Hiring Cost Index

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Data source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program, 2024 survey. Covers all wage and salary workers, excluding self-employed. Wages are in nominal (current) dollars. Employment counts represent jobs, not workers.

Estimates only. These results are based on publicly available data and standard formulas. Actual costs may vary based on your specific circumstances. This calculator does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for advice on your situation.

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