How many Americans make 500k a year?

While exact, real-time numbers vary, over 1 million Americans earn $500,000 or more annually, representing less than 1% of the working population, with recent data suggesting figures closer to 1.5 million people, though this is a small fraction of households and income earners in the U.S.

How rare is it to make $500,000 a year?

Individuals earning $500000 annually in the US would place him or her in the very near top 1.5% to 2% of earners. As of 2021, approximately 1.8% of US households had an income of $500000 or more.

How many US citizens make over $500,000 a year?

Over a million Americans earn $500,000 or more annually, with estimates from late 2024/early 2025 suggesting around 1.5 million people fall into this high-income bracket, representing roughly 0.9% of workers, though this varies by location, with high concentrations in tech hubs like the San Francisco Bay Area. This is a much smaller percentage than many people perceive, with studies showing a common overestimation of how many people earn such high incomes. 

Is 500k a good salary in the US?

On the whole, yes. In America, $500000 is roughly the 99th percentile of annual household income (pre-tax). This is a sum of money that is worth a year's work to the richest 1% of households in one of the world's richest countries. It is greater ...

How many Americans have $500,000 in the bank?

Of the 54.3% of U.S. households that have any money in retirement accounts, only about 9.3% have $500,000 or more in retirement savings.

How To Make Your First $5000 In 2026 For Beginners! (make money online)

What salary to afford a $1,000,000 house?

Jacob Wood, a broker with Coldwell Banker Warburg, notes that a quick rule of thumb is that you may be able to afford a home costing three to four times your annual income. That would mean someone with a yearly salary of $250,000 would be in a reasonable position to consider a $1 million home.

What is a top 2% salary in the US?

To be in the top 2% of income earners in the U.S., you generally need an income well into the high six figures, with thresholds around $400,000 to over $438,000 depending on the year and data source, often placing you in the top 1-2%, while household income thresholds can be similar or higher, with some sources pointing towards $400k+ to enter the top tiers. 

What professions make $500,000 a year?

Earning a 500K salary is most commonly achievable in executive leadership roles (such as CEO, CFO, or CTO), highly specialized medical or legal professions, senior investment roles in finance, or top-performing sales and business development positions, often within major corporations or high-growth startups.

Is $500,000 upper middle class?

Some sources define the upper middle class as anyone making a lot of money but haven't crossed the threshold to become truly wealthy. These individuals often have a net worth of at least $500,000 to $2 million.

How many Americans actually have $1 million?

Around 22 to 24 million American households (about 1 in 6) have a net worth exceeding $1 million, a number that has grown significantly, though definitions vary (some exclude primary homes). For retirement savings specifically, the figure is much lower, with only about 2.5% to 9% of Americans having $1 million or more saved, depending on age group, notes this Investopedia article on retirement savings and this Yahoo Finance article. 

How much net worth to be in top 2% in the US?

To be in the top 2% of net worth in the U.S., you generally need a net worth of roughly $2.7 million to over $5 million, though figures vary by source and year, with Federal Reserve data suggesting closer to $5.5 million for the top 2% based on recent trends, while other sources point to figures around $2.7 million for the top 2% in recent surveys. 

What is the average net worth of a 70 year old couple?

For a 70-year-old couple (ages 65-74), the average (mean) net worth is around $1.8 million, while the median is significantly lower at approximately $410,000, reflecting that many households have less, but a few very wealthy ones pull the average up; this is often their peak wealth before retirement withdrawals, with data from late 2025 showing these figures.
 

How many people make over $500,000 a year in the US?

Over a million Americans earn $500,000 or more annually, with estimates from late 2024/early 2025 suggesting around 1.5 million people fall into this high-income bracket, representing roughly 0.9% of workers, though this varies by location, with high concentrations in tech hubs like the San Francisco Bay Area. This is a much smaller percentage than many people perceive, with studies showing a common overestimation of how many people earn such high incomes. 

Who earned $600000 last year I made half at Google and $300000 from my side hustle which I spend 5 hours a week on?

Description. Last year, Sundas Khalid earned $600,000 — half from her job at Google and $300,000 from a side hustle she runs just five hours a week. By 2024, her content creation income had even surpassed her Google salary, thanks to help from a virtual assistant and a team of editors.

How much is $500,000 a year hourly?

$500,000 a year is approximately $240.38 per hour, calculated by dividing the annual salary by 2,080 working hours (40 hours/week * 52 weeks/year). This means you earn about $961.54 per day, $4,807.69 per week, and around $41,667 per month before taxes, assuming a standard full-time schedule. 

What job pays you $1,000,000 a year?

Healthcare, especially highly specialized medicine, enables seven-figure incomes, with top neurosurgeons and cardiac surgeons often exceeding $1 million in private practice. This is driven by demand for life-saving procedures, per a 2023 physician compensation study.

Which is the no. 1 high salary job?

The #1 highest-paying job consistently falls within specialized medicine, with Pediatric Surgeons, Neurosurgeons, and Anesthesiologists often topping lists, earning well over $400,000 annually due to extensive training and high stakes, though specific rankings vary slightly by source and year, with CEOs and other surgeons also high on the list. 

How many Americans make over $400,000?

Fewer than 1% of American wage earners make over $400k, but more households cross that threshold, with estimates around 3.8 million households or roughly 3% of the total, though figures vary by source and whether it's individual or household income, with the top 1% of earners generally starting around $500k-$800k depending on the study. While it's a small slice of the population (less than 1 in 100 earners), it represents a significant group within the top income brackets, especially in high-cost areas. 

What salary is considered upper class?

To be considered upper class, a U.S. household generally needs an income significantly above the median, often cited as over $170,000 to $200,000 annually, but this varies greatly by location (e.g., much higher in San Francisco) and definition, with some studies placing the threshold at roughly double the median household income (around $167,000) or in the top 20% (starting around $153,000+). It's a subjective measure, influenced by cost of living, household size, and personal wealth, not just income. 

How much should a 30 year old make?

Median Salary for Ages 25-34

For Americans ages 25 to 34, the median salary is $1,150 per week or $59,800 per year.

What income do you need for an $800000 mortgage?

To get an $800,000 mortgage, you generally need a gross annual income between $180,000 to $250,000, depending on interest rates, your credit score, down payment size, and other debts, with lenders often using the 28/36 rule (housing costs < 28% of income, total debt < 36%) to assess affordability, requiring roughly $2,800-$4,000+ monthly for PITI (Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance). A larger down payment lowers your loan amount, reducing required income. 

Are you a millionaire if your house is worth a million dollars?

Not necessarily; you're a millionaire if your net worth (total assets minus liabilities) reaches $1 million, so a million-dollar home only counts if your debts (like a mortgage) are less than its value, leaving you with over $1 million in equity and other assets. Many people are "house-rich" but not liquid millionaires because their home equity is tied up in the property and not easily accessible cash. 

How are so many people affording million-dollar homes?

Many people afford million-dollar homes through a mix of high incomes (tech, medicine, law), significant family financial help (gifts, inheritance), leveraging equity from previously purchased homes, cashing in investments (stocks, crypto), or buying strategically years ago when prices were lower, often requiring large down payments or jumbo loans for high-value properties.