Is a 6 figure salary impressive?

Asked by: Krystel Koss  |  Last update: April 18, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (12 votes)

It may surprise you to know that making 6 figures is hardly the norm in the US—even on the lower end of the range. According to the US Census, about 16% of American households make between $100,000 and $149,999, 9% of households make between $150,000 and $199,999, and another 12% earn $200,000 or more.

Is 6 figures a year considered rich?

Top earners across the United States earn at least six figures, with an average income of over $160,000 for those in the top 10% in 2021. Earners in the top 1% need to make $1 million annually in states like California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Washington.

How common is a 6 figure salary?

What Percent of America Makes Six Figures? 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.

Is making 6 figures impressive?

It depends on how big your six figure income is. Six figures can be anywhere between $100,000 – $999,000. Depending on where you live, six figures is considered rich by many people's standards. A top 1% income earner in America makes about $470,000 a year nowadays.

How rare is a 100k salary?

A $100,000 salary is considered good in most parts of the country, and can cover typical expenses, pay down debt, build savings, and allow for entertainment and hobbies. According to the U.S. Census, only 15.3% of American households make more than $100,000 annually.

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25 related questions found

Is 100k the new middle class?

Is $100,000 Salary a Middle Class Income? This depends on your household size and location. For a single individual, $100,000 would actually put you in the upper-income level in most places. For household sizes between two and four, $100,000 a year would put you squarely in the middle class.

What salary is considered upper class?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income in 2022 was $74,580. To reach the upper class in 2024, you'd typically need an income exceeding $153,000 – more than double the national median. Don't Miss: Are you rich?

At what age should you make 6 figures?

Some workers begin earning six figures in their twenties and thirties. Economists nickname them HENRYs, for “high earners, not rich yet.” But for most people, their “peak earning years” are from age 35 to 54. The majority of people who make six figures will do so in their 30s.

What salary is considered rich?

In 2021, it reported that you're in the top 1% if you earned $819,324 or more each year. And the top 5% of income earners made $335,891 per year. A 2019 survey from the IRS, however, places top 1% earners at a much lower income level with $540,009.

How many millennials make 100k?

In 2023, around 5.4 million people between 25 and 34 years old whose annual income was 100,000 U.S. dollars or more obtained that income through wages and salary.

Is it hard to get a six figure job?

Landing a six figure job is not easy. It takes time, effort, and perseverance to develop the skills required for these high-paying positions. But it is definitely worth it! Imagine what you could do with that kind of money.

What percent of Gen Z makes 6 figures?

The majority of respondents, however, report earning less than $60,000, with 33 percent making under $30,000 and 46 percent between $30,000 and $60,000, while 6 percent pull in over $100,000.

Is 6 figures middle class?

The middle class could use some rebranding considering that people who earn a very wide range of income, from around $50,000 to $150,000, are often all lumped into the same category. A general rule of thumb is that being middle class means to earn two-thirds to double the average income of a region or city.

Is $200,000 a good salary?

Yes, it is. In fact, that level of income significantly surpasses what a typical American worker earns in a year. But it's worth noting that your local cost of living and financial obligations can impact how far the money goes. Spending habits can, too.

What is the 1% salary?

How Much Does the Top 1% Make? According to data from the Social Security Administration, you need to make $794,129 annually to be in the top 1% of wage earners in the United States. This is based on an analysis of 2023 wage data, the most recent available.

At what salary do you feel rich?

$520,000. That's how much income Americans think they would need, on average, to feel rich, according to Bankrate's Financial Freedom Survey published in July. That salary would put you comfortably among the top 2% of American earners, according to Census data.

What salary is middle class?

In 2022, the national middle-income range was about $56,600 to $169,800 annually for a household of three. Lower-income households had incomes less than $56,600, and upper-income households had incomes greater than $169,800. (Incomes are calculated in 2022 dollars.)

What is the top 10% salary?

How much do you need to earn to be in the top 10% income bracket? A 2022 study by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) found that the top 10% of earners nationally received an average income of $167,639 in 2021.

Is it rare to make 6 figures?

It may surprise you to know that making 6 figures is hardly the norm in the US—even on the lower end of the range. According to the US Census, about 16% of American households make between $100,000 and $149,999, 9% of households make between $150,000 and $199,999, and another 12% earn $200,000 or more.

How much is 6 figures a year hourly?

As of Jan 20, 2025, the average annual pay for a Six Figures in the United States is $98,086 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $47.16 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,886/week or $8,173/month.

What is considered wealthy in 2024?

Every year since 2017, Charles Schwab has conducted its Modern Wealth Survey, which asks Americans about both their actual finances and their beliefs about money. In 2024, Americans stated that the average net worth they consider “wealthy” is $2.5 million.

Is 250k a year rich?

Someone who makes $250,000 a year, for example, could be considered rich if they're saving and investing in order to accumulate wealth and live in an area with a low cost of living.

What class is 200k a year?

At $200,000 a year, you are considered upper middle class in expensive coastal cities and rich in lower cost areas of the country. After $23,000 in retirement contributions to your 401(k), you are left with $177,000 in gross income, leaving you with roughly $123,900 in after tax income using a 30% effective tax rate.