1. What Counts as a Good Salary Nationally
The US median household income in 2026 sits at approximately $80,500/year according to Census Bureau data. But “median” means 50% of households earn less — it’s not a high bar.
A more useful benchmark: $75,000–$100,000 is generally considered a “good” individual salary in the United States, placing you solidly in the top third of earners. But this number is almost meaningless without location context.
“A $90,000 salary in Memphis puts you in the top 20% of local earners. The same salary in San Francisco puts you below the median. Location is everything.”
The key metrics to track aren’t just the raw number — they’re:
- Purchasing power — what your salary actually buys in your city
- Percentile rank — where you sit relative to peers in your role and region
- Growth trajectory — whether your salary is keeping pace with inflation and market rates
2. Good Salary Benchmarks by City (2026)
The cost of living gap between US cities has never been wider. Here’s what it actually takes to live comfortably as a single adult in major metros in 2026:
| City | Comfortable Living | Good Salary | Top 10% | COL Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $115,000 | $140,000+ | $200,000+ | 189 |
| New York City | $105,000 | $130,000+ | $185,000+ | 187 |
| Seattle | $95,000 | $120,000+ | $175,000+ | 172 |
| Los Angeles | $90,000 | $115,000+ | $165,000+ | 168 |
| Boston | $88,000 | $110,000+ | $160,000+ | 162 |
| Chicago | $72,000 | $90,000+ | $135,000+ | 107 |
| Denver | $70,000 | $88,000+ | $130,000+ | 105 |
| Austin | $68,000 | $85,000+ | $125,000+ | 103 |
| Miami | $70,000 | $87,000+ | $128,000+ | 109 |
| Atlanta | $62,000 | $78,000+ | $115,000+ | 96 |
| Dallas | $60,000 | $76,000+ | $112,000+ | 94 |
| Memphis / Midwest avg. | $50,000 | $65,000+ | $95,000+ | 78 |
COL Index: National average = 100. Source: MIT Living Wage Calculator + BLS 2025 data.
These are individual salary figures, not household income. For a family of four, multiply these numbers by roughly 1.6–2x to maintain the same standard of living.
3. Salary Ranges by Job Title (2026)
Below are current market salary ranges for high-demand US roles in 2026, based on aggregated data from LinkedIn Salary, Glassdoor, and Bureau of Labor Statistics. These are base salary only — total compensation including bonuses and equity is often significantly higher.
Technology
| Job Title | Entry Level | Mid Level | Senior | Lead/Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $85K–$110K | $110K–$145K | $145K–$195K | $195K–$280K+ |
| Data Scientist | $80K–$105K | $105K–$140K | $140K–$185K | $185K–$260K+ |
| Product Manager | $90K–$120K | $120K–$155K | $155K–$210K | $210K–$300K+ |
| UX Designer | $65K–$85K | $85K–$115K | $115K–$155K | $155K–$200K+ |
| Cybersecurity Analyst | $72K–$95K | $95K–$130K | $130K–$175K | $175K–$240K+ |
| DevOps / Cloud Engineer | $88K–$115K | $115K–$150K | $150K–$195K | $195K–$270K+ |
Finance & Business
| Job Title | Entry Level | Mid Level | Senior | Director+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Analyst | $60K–$80K | $80K–$110K | $110K–$150K | $150K–$220K+ |
| Investment Banker | $100K–$140K | $140K–$200K | $200K–$350K | $350K–$1M+ |
| Marketing Manager | $55K–$72K | $72K–$100K | $100K–$140K | $140K–$200K+ |
| HR Manager | $52K–$68K | $68K–$95K | $95K–$130K | $130K–$180K+ |
| Sales (Account Executive) | $50K–$70K base | $70K–$95K base | $95K–$140K base | $140K–$200K+ base |
Healthcare
| Job Title | Entry Level | Mid Level | Senior/Specialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $60K–$75K | $75K–$100K | $100K–$130K+ |
| Physician (Primary Care) | $180K–$220K | $220K–$280K | $280K–$380K+ |
| Pharmacist | $110K–$130K | $130K–$155K | $155K–$190K+ |
| Physical Therapist | $65K–$80K | $80K–$100K | $100K–$125K+ |
| Healthcare Administrator | $55K–$72K | $72K–$100K | $100K–$150K+ |
4. How Experience Changes Everything
Years of experience is the single biggest lever on your salary — more than your college, your city, or even your company. Here’s the general multiplier effect across industries:
| Experience Level | Typical Salary Multiplier | What Drives Value at This Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 years (Entry) | 1.0× (baseline) | Degree, internships, technical fundamentals |
| 3–5 years (Mid) | 1.4–1.7× | Track record, independent execution, specialized skills |
| 6–10 years (Senior) | 1.8–2.4× | Leadership, strategic impact, cross-functional work |
| 10+ years (Staff/Principal) | 2.5–4×+ | Org influence, architecture decisions, mentorship at scale |
The fastest way to jump salary levels is a job change, not an internal promotion. Research consistently shows employees who change jobs every 2–3 years earn 50% more over a 10-year period than those who stay at the same company.
5. Where Do You Rank? The Percentile Guide
Here’s how individual annual salaries map to national income percentiles in 2026:
| Annual Salary | National Percentile | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | Bottom 30% | Below national median — limited savings buffer |
| $60,000 | ~45th percentile | Near median in low-COL areas; tight in major cities |
| $80,000 | ~58th percentile | Comfortable in most mid-tier cities |
| $100,000 | ~70th percentile | Strong nationally; middle-class in high-COL metros |
| $150,000 | ~88th percentile | Upper-middle class in most cities |
| $200,000 | ~94th percentile | Top earner in most markets |
| $400,000+ | Top 1% | Top 1% nationally |
6. Signs You’re Being Underpaid
- Your salary hasn’t kept up with inflation — US inflation since 2020 is over 23%, meaning a $70K salary in 2020 needs to be ~$86K today just to break even
- New hires at your company are being offered salaries close to or above yours
- LinkedIn and Glassdoor show significantly higher ranges for your role and city
- Colleagues at similar companies are earning 15%+ more for the same work
- You haven’t had a meaningful raise in 2+ years (not counting cost-of-living adjustments)
- Recruiters are routinely reaching out with offers 20%+ above your current salary
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