What Is a Good Salary in the US in 2026? By State and City
“Good” is relative to where you live, who you’re supporting, and what you’re trying to build. Here’s a data-driven answer for 2026.
The National Benchmarks
| Metric | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income (2024, adj.) | ~$83,000 | Census Bureau + CPI adjustment |
| Median individual earnings (full-time) | ~$60,000 | BLS |
| ”Lower class” ceiling | ~$50,000/household | Pew Research |
| ”Middle class” range (household) | ~$50,000-$150,000 | Pew Research |
| ”Upper class” floor | ~$150,000/household | Pew Research |
Note: “Household” income includes all earners in a home. Individual earnings tell a different story — especially for single people.
Individual Salary Percentiles (US, 2026)
| Annual Salary | Approximate Percentile | One-Word Description |
|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | ~25th | Lower-income |
| $45,000 | ~40th | Below median |
| $60,000 | ~50th | Median |
| $75,000 | ~63rd | Above median |
| $100,000 | ~75th | Upper-middle |
| $130,000 | ~85th | High income |
| $175,000 | ~93rd | High income |
| $250,000+ | ~98th+ | Very high income |
What “Good” Means by City
A “good salary” is one that allows you to: cover basic needs without stress, enjoy your city, save meaningfully, and not live paycheck to paycheck. Using that definition:
| City | ”Good” Individual Salary | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN | $50,000-$65,000 | Low COL, housing ~$900/mo |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $50,000-$65,000 | Below-average housing costs |
| El Paso, TX | $50,000-$65,000 | Very low COL for a Texas city |
| Indianapolis, IN | $55,000-$70,000 | Affordable Midwest |
| Columbus, OH | $55,000-$70,000 | Growing city, moderate COL |
| Kansas City, MO | $55,000-$70,000 | Affordable and growing |
| Houston, TX | $65,000-$80,000 | Larger city, no state tax |
| San Antonio, TX | $60,000-$75,000 | Affordable Texas option |
| Phoenix, AZ | $65,000-$85,000 | Hot market, rising costs |
| Charlotte, NC | $70,000-$90,000 | Growing, moderate-high COL |
| Atlanta, GA | $70,000-$90,000 | Urban premium + traffic |
| Chicago, IL | $75,000-$95,000 | State income tax + urban COL |
| Austin, TX | $80,000-$100,000 | No state tax but high housing |
| Dallas, TX | $75,000-$95,000 | Large metro premium |
| Miami, FL | $80,000-$100,000 | No state tax, high housing |
| Denver, CO | $85,000-$110,000 | High housing costs |
| Seattle, WA | $95,000-$125,000 | No state tax, very high housing |
| Boston, MA | $100,000-$130,000 | High COL + state tax |
| Los Angeles, CA | $100,000-$135,000 | Very high COL + CA tax |
| New York City, NY | $110,000-$150,000 | Highest COL major city in US |
| San Francisco, CA | $120,000-$160,000 | Highest COL + CA tax |
What “Good” Looks Like: Income Class by Household
The Pew Research Center defines economic classes based on household income adjusted for household size and local cost of living:
| Class | Rough National Household Income | Share of US Population |
|---|---|---|
| Lower income | Under ~$50,000 | ~29% |
| Lower-middle | ~$50,000-$80,000 | ~17% |
| Middle | ~$80,000-$130,000 | ~25% |
| Upper-middle | ~$130,000-$200,000 | ~18% |
| Upper income | $200,000+ | ~9% |
These ranges shift significantly by city. A $100,000 household income is lower-middle class in San Francisco and solidly middle class in most of the country.
The Six-Figure Milestone: Is $100k Good?
$100,000 is aspirational for many — but how good is it?
In Texas (take-home ~$6,561/month):
- After a $1,800/month apartment, $300/month car, $400/month groceries, and utilities: ~$3,700 remaining
- $1,500/month for savings, $2,200 for lifestyle — this is genuinely comfortable
In New York City (take-home ~$5,733/month):
- After a $2,800/month studio apartment: ~$2,933 remaining for everything else
- Tight. Requires trade-offs. Room for saving is limited unless below-market housing is available.
In San Francisco (take-home ~$5,917/month after CA taxes):
- After a $3,200/month 1BR apartment: ~$2,717 remaining
- Functionally lower-middle class despite six figures.
The purchasing power of $100,000 varies by nearly 2:1 between Texas and San Francisco.
Salary by State: Median and “Good” Thresholds
| State | Median Individual Earnings | ”Good” Threshold | No Income Tax? |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | ~$68,000 | ~$95,000+ | No (high tax) |
| New York | ~$66,000 | ~$90,000+ | No |
| Washington | ~$72,000 | ~$90,000 | Yes |
| Texas | ~$58,000 | ~$65,000-$75,000 | Yes |
| Florida | ~$55,000 | ~$60,000-$70,000 | Yes |
| Illinois | ~$61,000 | ~$70,000-$80,000 | No |
| Georgia | ~$57,000 | ~$60,000-$70,000 | No |
| Ohio | ~$54,000 | ~$55,000-$65,000 | No |
| Tennessee | ~$53,000 | ~$50,000-$60,000 | Yes |
| Michigan | ~$55,000 | ~$55,000-$65,000 | No |
What Matters More Than the Number
A $70,000 salary with no debt, low rent, and consistent savings outperforms a $120,000 salary with a $3,500 mortgage, two car payments, and student loans. “Good” is about what remains after obligations, not the top line.
The best proxy for “good”: Is your take-home after taxes covering needs (under 50%), funding savings (at least 20%), and leaving room for quality of life (30%)? That’s the real test.
Check what your salary actually nets after taxes: Paycheck Calculator
See how your salary compares to benchmarks after buying a home: How Much House Can You Afford
Key Takeaways
- US median household income (2026 adj.): ~$83,000
- Median individual earnings: ~$60,000
- A “good” individual salary ranges from $50k in low-COL cities to $150k+ in San Francisco
- $100,000 puts you in the top ~25-30% of individual earners nationally
- State income tax matters: TX vs. CA adds ~$7,700/year of effective take-home on $100k
- “Good” = needs under 50% of take-home, savings at 20%+, lifestyle spending at 30%
- Calculate your actual take-home by state: Paycheck Calculator
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