Is $45,000 a Good Salary in the USA?
Can you live comfortably on an annual salary of $45,000?
Last updated: Feb 12, 2025
Annual Gross Pay
$45,000
Total Tax Deduction
$8,610
Annual Net Pay
$36,390
Daily Net Pay
$100
Weekly Net Pay
$700
Monthly Net Pay
$3,032
Your Salary Insights
If you make $45,000 a year, you’re earning less than the national median; this salary would be considered standard pay. According to the Census Bureau’s "Income in the United States" report, your salary places you in the Lower-middle class, which ranges from $30,001 to $58,020.
Additionally, as an individual earning $45,000 annually, your net pay amounts to $36,390 after total tax deductions of $8,610, which include Federal tax, Social Security, and Medicare. This translates to a net pay of $100 per day, $700 per week, and $3,032 per month.
Economic Classification Bands as per the Income United States: 2022 Report from Census.gov
Your Salary Compared to the USA's Median Salary
What does Median Salary actually mean?
The median is the value separating the higher half from the lower half of a data sample. For example, in terms of income, the median wage is the middle point where half of the population earns less and half earns more.
In USA, the annual median wage is $45,812. The 10th percentile wage is $27,771 (meaning 10% of wages are below this amount), and the 90th percentile wage is $109,004 (meaning 90% of wages are below this amount). Your annual income of $45,000 is below the median and above the 10th percentile wage for USA.
Median Salary by State in the U.S.
Find out how your salary stacks up against others across the country.
The annual median salaries range from the lowest in Mississippi at $37,500 to the highest in Washington DC at $84,450.
| State | Median Income |
|---|---|
| USA | $45,812 |
| Alabama | $41,350 |
| Alaska | $56,140 |
| Arizona | $47,680 |
| Arkansas | $39,060 |
| California | $54,030 |
| Colorado | $54,050 |
| Connecticut | $56,130 |
| Delaware | $49,280 |
| District of Columbia | $84,450 |
| Florida | $45,070 |
| Georgia | $45,480 |
| Hawaii | $50,510 |
| Idaho | $44,240 |
| Illinois | $48,730 |
| Indiana | $45,470 |
| Iowa | $46,460 |
| Kansas | $45,250 |
| Kentucky | $43,730 |
| Louisiana | $41,320 |
| Maine | $47,590 |
| Maryland | $55,810 |
| Massachusetts | $60,690 |
| Michigan | $46,940 |
| Minnesota | $50,880 |
| Mississippi | $37,500 |
| Missouri | $45,080 |
| Montana | $45,690 |
| Nebraska | $46,440 |
| Nevada | $44,810 |
| New Hampshire | $49,980 |
| New Jersey | $54,860 |
| New Mexico | $43,620 |
| New York | $56,840 |
| North Carolina | $45,440 |
| North Dakota | $48,830 |
| Ohio | $46,690 |
| Oklahoma | $41,480 |
| Oregon | $50,010 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,430 |
| Rhode Island | $50,970 |
| South Carolina | $42,220 |
| South Dakota | $43,680 |
| Tennessee | $43,820 |
| Texas | $45,970 |
| Utah | $47,020 |
| Vermont | $49,630 |
| Virginia | $49,920 |
| Washington | $59,920 |
| West Virginia | $39,770 |
| Wisconsin | $47,590 |
| Wyoming | $47,250 |
Unincorporated Territory of the U.S.
| Territory | Median Income |
|---|---|
| Guam | $33,320 |
| Puerto Rico | $25,140 |
| Virgin Islands | $40,400 |
Is $45,000 a Good Salary for My Age?
Your annual income of $45,000 falls between the U.S. median annual earnings for the 20 to 24 years age group ($36,096) and the 25 to 34 years age group ($52,944).
Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor
Survey Year: May 2023
Website: www.bls.gov/oes
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