What each salary percentile means
| Percentile | U.S., all jobs | Per hour | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | The lowest-paid tenth earn this or less: typical of trainees and entry-level jobs. |
| 25th percentile | $37,590 | $18.07 | A quarter earn less. A fair guide to starting pay for someone qualified. |
| Median (50th) | $50,980 | $24.51 | The middle wage: half earn more, half less. |
| 75th percentile | $80,520 | $38.71 | Three quarters earn less. Typical of experienced workers. |
| 90th percentile | $128,560 | $61.81 | Only the top tenth earn more: senior roles, specialists, high-paying employers. |
- $31K10th
- $38K25th
- $51KMedian
- $81K75th
- $129K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
The bar on every job page works the same way: the dark band is the middle half of workers (25th to 75th percentile) and the thin line runs from the 10th to the 90th.
Example: registered nurse pay percentiles
Half of the 3,379,720 registered nurses in the U.S. earn more than $97,550. A nurse earning $112,350 is at the 75th percentile, ahead of three quarters of nurses nationwide, while $80,330 is a typical figure for a newly qualified nurse. Local ranges differ: in San Jose, CA the median is $216,740.
- $69K10th
- $80K25th
- $98KMedian
- $112K75th
- $137K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
Jobs with the widest pay ranges
The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile shows how much pay depends on experience, employer and commissions. In athletes and sports competitors the top tenth earn 28.0 times what the bottom tenth earn.
| Job | 10th | Median | 90th | 90th / 10th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athletes and Sports Competitors | $26,500 | $66,710 | $742,310 | 28.0× |
| Surgeons, All Other | $80,320 | $414,010 | $655,320 | 8.2× |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $84,170 | $358,550 | $659,290 | 7.8× |
| Personal Financial Advisors | $50,190 | $105,070 | $357,020 | 7.1× |
| Chief Executives | $75,700 | $213,990 | $507,730 | 6.7× |
| Radiologists | $89,010 | $420,860 | $594,410 | 6.7× |
| Cardiologists | $107,190 | $496,010 | $712,130 | 6.6× |
| Physicians, All Other | $69,170 | $265,930 | $452,360 | 6.5× |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $73,570 | $256,560 | $475,430 | 6.5× |
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | $48,010 | $82,890 | $284,570 | 5.9× |
How to use percentiles to set a salary target
- Open the page for your job in your city (search above) and find the pay range.
- Place yourself: new to the job, start around the 25th percentile; fully experienced, the median to the 75th; senior or specialized, the 75th to the 90th.
- Check the price level if you are moving: the same percentile is worth more in a cheaper metro (use the cost of living calculator).
- Look at the take-home amount, not only gross pay, with the paycheck calculator for your state.
Some high percentiles show "top-coded": BLS does not publish wages above its highest reportable value, so the exact figure is unknown but higher.
More salary guides
Salary percentiles: questions
Is the 50th percentile the same as the median?
Yes. The median is the 50th percentile: the wage in the middle.
Is the 75th percentile a good salary?
It means you earn more than three quarters of people in the same job and area, which is a strong position for that job.
Why are some percentiles missing?
BLS withholds figures that are not reliable or could identify an employer, and does not publish wages above its top-code. See how the data is built.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 national, state and metro estimates.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.