Q2 2026 U.S. benchmark
How does my pay compare?
Use current BLS medians as one narrow benchmark. Geography, occupation, hours, education, benefits, and self-employment can matter more than age alone.
Median weekly earnings by age
Full-time male wage and salary workers, second quarter 2026, not seasonally adjusted.
Compare with your age group
The median is not a verdict.
Half of covered workers earn more and half earn less. The number does not measure wealth, debt, cost of living, caregiving, stability, hours, safety, or satisfaction.
Not every worker is covered
The series covers full-time wage and salary workers and excludes self-employed people.
Location changes meaning
The same salary produces different living standards across places and households.
Age groups are broad
A worker at the beginning and end of one band may be at very different career stages.
Editorial statusSubstantially revised July 2026. Sources and limits are shown on complete guides. Named clinician review has not yet been obtained unless a page explicitly says otherwise. Corrections are welcomed through the contact page.