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 ~$6,598/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 comfortable

In New York City (take-home ~$6,193/month before NYC’s own 3.078% to 3.876% city income tax):

• After a $2,800/month studio apartment: ~$3,393 remaining for everything else, before city tax
• Tight. Requires trade-offs. Room for saving is limited unless below-market housing is available.

In San Francisco (take-home ~$6,069/month after CA taxes):

• After a $3,200/month 1BR apartment: ~$2,869 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 ~$6,400/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