What is good income for a single person?
An individual needs $96,500, on average, to live comfortably in a major U.S. city. That figure is even higher for families, who need to earn an average combined income of about $235,000 to support two adults and two children.
To live “comfortably” as a single person in 99 of the largest U.S. metro areas, you'll need a median income of $93,933, according to a recent SmartAsset analysis.
The national median for living comfortably alone is $89,461, which suggests that a 50/30/20 budget might not be practical for most single people. Living alone comes with added costs that can be more than double what you'd spend if you lived with someone else — otherwise known as the “singles tax.”
Based on that figure, an annual income of $500,000 or more would make you rich. The Economic Policy Institute uses a different baseline to determine who constitutes the top 1% and the top 5%. For 2021, you're in the top 1% if you earn $819,324 or more each year. The top 5% of income earners make $335,891 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the average U.S. annual salary in Q4 of 2023 was $59,384. This is up 5.4% from the same time period in 2022 when the average American was making $56,316 per year. Average weekly earnings reached $1,142, while the average American made $4,949 per month in Q4 of 2023.
An individual needs $96,500, on average, to live comfortably in a major U.S. city.
Plan your budget carefully
Data from Hargreaves Lansdown's savings and resilience barometer shows that the average minimum monthly income needed to live alone would be £1,187 a month – but you'll probably find all of that money is quickly spent on essentials.
As the results show, if you're a single person with no children you should be able to live comfortably in the UK on a salary of just over £24,000, while a child-free couple could live comfortably on a combined income of around £35,500.
In many places, $15 per hour wouldn't be a sufficient living wage for a single person. Even without children, living wages in Hawaii and Washington D.C. are $19.43 and $20.49, respectively.
For most individuals and small families, the answer to “Is $100,000 a good salary?” is a resounding “yes.” Cost of living and family size can affect how far $100,000 will go, but generally speaking, you can live comfortably on $100,000 a year. Are you hoping to make the most of your salary?
What's the middle class salary?
Middle-class households have an income that is two-thirds to double that of the U.S. median household income, after it has been adjusted for household size, which in 2021 was $70,784, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Wealthy: To be considered well off, a person must be in the 90th percentile, possessing a household net worth of $1.9 million. This level of wealth affords trips, charity donations and college funds for children.
According to the latest figures by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average salary in USA per month is $5,677 or $68,124 per year. As of 2023, the gross minimum salary in the USA is $32.75 per hour. Salaries range from $32,916 to $112,268 per year and include housing, transport, and other benefits.
Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | |
---|---|---|
Top Earners | $86,000 | $7,166 |
75th Percentile | $68,500 | $5,708 |
Average | $44,910 | $3,742 |
25th Percentile | $24,500 | $2,041 |
A good annual income for a credit card is more than $39,000 for a single individual or $63,000 for a household. Anything lower than that is below the median yearly earnings for Americans. However, there's no official minimum income amount required for credit card approval in general.
The average cost of living in the United States is estimated to be between $2,500 and $3,500 per month, depending on your location and lifestyle. This includes housing, food, transportation, health care, taxes, and other expenses.
1 ADULT | 2 ADULTS (BOTH WORKING) | |
---|---|---|
0 Children | 3 Children | |
Living Wage | $27.32 | $40.24 |
Poverty Wage | $7.24 | $8.79 |
Minimum Wage | $16.00 | $16.00 |
What Is the Average US Salary (2024) The national average salary is $63,795. That is the sum of all incomes divided by the number of workers.
Living on $1,000 per month is a challenge. From the high costs of housing, transportation and food, plus trying to keep your bills to a minimum, it would be difficult for anyone living alone to make this work. But with some creativity, roommates and strategy, you might be able to pull it off.
“Retiring on $2,000 per month is very possible,” said Gary Knode, president at Safe Harbor Financial. “In my practice, I've seen it work. The key is reducing expenses and eliminating any market risk that could impact your savings if there were a major market downturn.
How much money do I need to live without a job?
Using the 4% rule to estimate how much money you need to never work again involves knowing how much you plan on spending that first year or retirement. For example, if you want to spend $200,000, the math is $200,000/. 04 = $5,000,000. Another way to calculate this is that you would need 25x your annual spending rate.
The average weekly grocery budget for a single person can vary significantly depending on factors like location, dietary preferences, and income. However, a rough estimate might be between $50 to $100 per week. How much is a reasonable amount to spend on 1 person for groceries per week?
Financial security is harder for people paying the bills alone. Only 23% of U.S. adults who are single feel completely financially secure, compared to 32% of people in a relationship, as of June 2023.
- Mississippi. #1 in Cost of Living. #48 in Best States Overall. ...
- Alabama. #2 in Cost of Living. #44 in Best States Overall. ...
- Kentucky. #3 in Cost of Living. ...
- Arkansas. #4 in Cost of Living. ...
- Iowa. #5 in Cost of Living. ...
- New Mexico. #6 in Cost of Living. ...
- South Dakota. #7 in Cost of Living. ...
- Oklahoma. #8 in Cost of Living.
California. California's living wage is $19.41, or $40,371 a year for an individual. A family of four requires $27.42, or $101,378 a year.
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