What percentage of Americans make 500k?

Approximately less than 1% of Americans have an annual income of $500,000 or more.

What percent of Americans make $500,000 a year?

While just 0.79 percent of jobs in the country paid more than $500,000 per year, that's well more than 1 million positions. Per the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, average annual employment in the United States during 2023 was 153,140,899, or 131,289,681 if only the private sector is included.

Is making $500,000 a year considered rich?

Back then, only Connecticut and Washington, D.C., had a 5% top-earning threshold of $500,000. Five years later, that's up to 11 U.S. states and D.C.: Washington, California, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Virginia, Colorado, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Maryland and Connecticut.

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

Earning $500,000 a year is rare but not exceptionally so, placing you in roughly the top 1% of U.S. earners, though it's a significant milestone that few reach, often requiring high-stakes roles in tech, finance, medicine, law, or executive leadership, especially in major metro areas like Silicon Valley. While it's a substantial income, it's also a smaller slice of the overall workforce, with about 1 million jobs paying that much, and it's common in specific high-cost, high-demand locations. 

$25,000 vs. $25,000,000

What is the average super balance of a 55 year old?

At age 55 in Australia, the average superannuation balance generally falls in the range of $200,000 to $270,000 for women and $270,000 to over $300,000 for men, depending on the specific super fund's data, with men typically having higher balances. For the 55-59 age bracket, figures from late 2025 show averages around $243,000 for females and $320,000 for males, while some data places the average closer to $200k for women and $270k for men when considering midpoint estimates for 55-year-olds. 

How many Americans make $200,000 a year?

Around 14-16% of U.S. households earn over $200,000 annually, with recent data showing about 14.88 million households in this income bracket in 2022. For individuals, being in the top 5% of earners is around $200k+ for individuals, while household income data shows roughly 12-16% reach this level, with variations depending on the specific year and source (Census, Statista). 

What jobs pay $500,000 a year in the US?

13 jobs that can pay over $500k a year

• Actor.
• Author.
• Accountant.
• Insurance agent.
• Investment banker.
• Professional athlete.
• Entrepreneur.
• Hedge fund manager.

What is the 1% in 2025?

2025 Study. Nearly 1.5 million households across the United States now rank among the top 1% of earners, according to the latest tax return data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). On average, it takes $731,492 in annual income to be a part of this group.

Do 90% of millionaires make more than $100,000 a year?

No, the statement that 90% of millionaires make over $100,000 a year is generally false; studies, like Ramsey Solutions',, show that a significant majority (around 69-70%) of millionaires never earn a six-figure salary in a single year, accumulating wealth instead through discipline, saving, investing, and living below their means, not necessarily high income. Many millionaires build wealth slowly over time, with only about 31% averaging $100k+ over their careers, proving it's about financial habits, not just big paychecks. 

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.

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

To afford a $1 million house, you generally need an annual income of $200,000 to $270,000, but this varies significantly based on down payment size, credit score, interest rates, and existing debt, with experts suggesting a range of $250,000+ for comfort and low debt, especially for jumbo loans. Key factors are keeping housing costs under 28% of gross income and total debt under 36% (the 28/36 rule), plus having a substantial down payment. 

How many Americans actually have $1 million?

Around 22 to 24 million Americans have a net worth exceeding $1 million, representing roughly one in 11 adults, with the number growing due to factors like inflation and rising home values, although many don't feel wealthy. This includes around 23.7 million millionaire households, though estimates vary slightly based on data sources and whether primary residences are included. 

Are you considered rich if you make $500,000 a year?

If you consider that the average yearly income of an American household is $78K, then yes, $500K/year is high income.

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

To be in the top 2% of U.S. households by net worth, you generally need a net worth between approximately $2.7 million and $5.5 million, with estimates varying based on the source and year of data, often using Federal Reserve or survey figures, though some reports place the threshold closer to $2.5 million or higher as of 2024/2025 data. 

How rare is a $500,000 salary?

A $500k salary is quite rare, representing less than 1% of jobs in the U.S., or roughly 1 in 127 roles, placing earners in a very high income bracket (often the top 1-2%), though the exact percentile varies by source and year, with some estimates placing the top 1% threshold much higher (near $800k). While it seems like a huge number, many Americans overestimate how many people earn this much, notes a Forbes article. 

Which is the no. 1 high salary job?

The #1 highest-paying jobs are consistently specialized physicians, particularly Anesthesiologists, Surgeons, and Cardiologists, often earning well over $200,000-$300,000+ annually, while Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) also rank at the very top, with salaries varying greatly by company size and industry but potentially exceeding hundreds of thousands to millions. Healthcare roles dominate the top spots due to extensive education, high responsibility, and critical demand, alongside executive leadership positions in business. 

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

Jobs paying $1 million a year typically involve high-stakes, specialized roles in finance (hedge fund managers, investment bankers), executive leadership (CEOs), medicine (specialist surgeons, anesthesiologists), technology (top engineers), and ownership (entrepreneurs, successful small business owners), often with performance bonuses or profit-sharing, requiring extreme expertise or significant business ownership. Roles in entertainment and sports (actors, athletes) also offer this potential, but are highly competitive. 

How many Americans make over $500,000?

Over a million Americans earn $500,000 or more annually, with recent data from ADP suggesting around 1 in 127 jobs pays that much, placing the number well over 1 million individuals, while estimates from DQYDJ suggest nearly 1.6 million people (about 0.9% of workers) hit this threshold in 2025, showing a substantial but small portion of the U.S. workforce, with significant concentrations in high-cost areas like the San Francisco Bay Area.
 

What's considered upper-class income?

The median household income in the U.S. is around $83,730, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But how people define “upper class” differs. Some say you'd need to be making twice the median income, or around $167,460. Even more elite are those who find themselves in the top 5 percent of earners.

What is the top 1% salary?

To be in the top 1% in the U.S., you generally need an annual income around $730,000 to $820,000, but this threshold varies significantly by state, ranging from over $1 million in places like Connecticut and California to under $500,000 in lower-cost states, with the national average slightly decreasing in recent data.
 

Can I retire at 70 with $800000?

An $800,000 portfolio for retirement could be considered sufficient, particularly if there is substantial income from sources like Social Security. This is especially true if your expenses are low and you don't have significant healthcare costs.

How much super do I need to retire on $80,000 per year?

The short answer: to retire on $80,000 a year in Australia, you'll need a super balance of roughly between $700,000 and $1.4 million. It's a broad range, and that's because everyone's circumstances are different.

Can I retire at 60 with $500,000 in super?

Yes, you can retire at 60 with $500,000 in super, but whether it's comfortable depends heavily on your desired lifestyle, expenses (especially housing & health), and if you'll get the Age Pension later, as it might provide a modest income by drawing down capital and investment earnings, potentially supplemented by the Age Pension after 67, but you'll likely need to supplement it with other income or cut costs significantly. Professional advice is crucial to create a sustainable plan.