Average earnings and other benefits in the US

[davidsonj73]

What are the average earnings, and other benefits such as insurance that the average US worker receive?
I am wondering how much the average salary or hourly pay works out to, and what is the market value of insurance and other benefits the average worker receives?

 

[DarwinTaurus]

Are you trying to compare different countries? It's not such an easy case of comparing apples to oranges.

You are probably better off using something arbitrary like the Big Mac Index

 

[BackInTheGame78]

What are the average earnings, and other benefits such as insurance that the average US worker receive?
I am wondering how much the average salary or hourly pay works out to, and what is the market value of insurance and other benefits the average worker receives?

Impossible to determine. Varies so widely industry to industry that it's not really something that can be stated. Also can vary widely even WITHIN an industry.

Also highly varies by state and city within a state. Some places pay more because they are very expensive to live.

This is a good place to start tho I guess for basic info.

Average Salary By State In 2025

Ever wondered how your earnings compare with others on a national scale? Using data from a number of sources, we’ve mapped out the landscape of average salaries across the United States. From the highest to the lowest, these figures will give you the full picture of salaries from state to state,

www.forbes.com

 

[Borknagar]

Yeah it really depends. I was making 74k in South Dakota with $1300 in total bills. Very very easy to make it. Now 74k in California? Not even possible.

 

[Reincarnated]

Even within a state it's difficult to make comparisons sometimes. For example I work in upstate New York, and make considerably above the average income for my area, just on base salary. Even more so when you consider bonuses, which are consistently about 10%, and stock comp. But if I compared what I was earning to someone in NYC, I'd be much closer to average.

 

[BackInTheGame78]

Even within a state it's difficult to make comparisons sometimes. For example I work in upstate New York, and make considerably above the average income for my area, just on base salary. Even more so when you consider bonuses, which are consistently about 10%, and stock comp. But if I compared what I was earning to someone in NYC, I'd be much closer to average.

Yup...there are so many variables to consider that the question almost doesn't make sense since there is really no good way to answer it.

 

[EyeBRollin]

Median household income in the USA is $74,000 for a household of 3 or more. For individuals it is $45,000.