What Are Peak Earning Years? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of American workers is highest between the ages of 45 and 54. These peak earning years are a critical time to take control of your finances and hone your money management strategies.
According to the research: Baby Boomers (ages 55-75 years old) spend a total of $548.1 billion annually. Gen X (ages 36-54 years old) follow Boomers with $357 billion annual spend. Millennials (25-35) are next with $322.5 billion in annual spend.
Unsurprisingly, the youngest workers, between the ages of 16 and 19, had the lowest median income of any age group at $31,928, while middle-age workers with decades of experience, between the ages of 45 and 54, had the highest median income at $65,247. Here's a look at the median income by age group for all Americans.
If you start early enough—say, in your 20s—and follow the steps listed above, you may become financially secure by the time you reach your 30s. If you're older, all isn't lost. You can still reach your financial goals as long as you have a plan and adhere to it.
Everyone defines financial freedom in terms of their own goals. For most people, it means having the financial cushion (savings, investments, and cash) to afford a certain lifestyle—plus a nest egg for retirement or the freedom to pursue any career without the need to earn a certain salary.
According to the latest data available from the U.S. Census Bureau, the median income in the United States in 2022 was $74,580. While $60K a year is lower than that, it's still considered a good salary for a single person, as they typically have fewer expenses than someone who's supporting a household.
Baby boomers have the highest household net worth of any US generation. Defined by the Federal Reserve as being born between 1946 and 1964 (currently in the ages between 59 and 77), baby boomers are in often in the sunset of their career or early into retirement.
Only 18% of individual Americans make more than $100,000 a year, according to 2023 data from careers website Zippia. About 34% of U.S. households earn more than $100,000 a year, according to Zippia.
The average age of millionaires is 57, indicating that, for most people, it takes three or four decades of hard work to accumulate substantial wealth.
Also, while 31% of Gen X spending went to housing, housing accounted for 35% of millennial spending. The lowest-spending generation group, meanwhile, was Generation Z, with an average annual expenditure of $47,975.
The survey also found that men spend almost 40% more, globally and in the U.S., than their female counterparts once they decide to splurge.
Census figures back that up, at least financially, showing that salaries typically rise during peoples' 20s and 30s and peak around the age of 45.
Overall in 2021, Gen X (anyone born from 1965 to 1980) spent the most money of any U.S. generation, with an average annual expenditure of $83,357. The second biggest spenders are Millennials with an average annual expenditure of $69,061. Image: Visual Capitalist.
When it comes to defining a “good” salary, there's no one magic number. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the average salary in the U.S. is $65,470, as of May 2023. Based on this data point, $70K a year is a good salary for a single person — one that puts you above the national average.
Peak earning years are generally thought to be late 40s to late 50s*. The latest figures show women's peak between ages 35 and 54, men between 45 and 64. After that, most people's incomes typically level off. Promotions favor younger people with longer futures*.
In 2021, 15.3% of children (ages 0-17) were living below the poverty level, down from 16.1% in 2020. In 2021, 11.6% of all persons lived at or below the poverty threshold. This proportion was greater for persons under age 18 (15.3%) than for those ages 18-64 (10.5%) and those above age 64 (10.3%).
American Gen Zers, the oldest now entering their late 20s, have already accumulated substantial wealth through inheritance, investments, and entrepreneurship. Cerulli Associates estimates a seismic USD 84 trillion will transfer from baby boomer wealth in the USA to heirs, with Gen Z front and center.
If you make $80,000 a year, your hourly salary would be $38.46.
With a $60,000 annual salary, you could potentially afford a house priced between $180,000 and $250,000, depending on your financial situation, credit score, and current market conditions. However, this range can vary significantly based on several factors we'll discuss.
45% of young adults say they are completely financially independent from their parents. Among those in their early 30s, that share rises to 67%, compared with 44% of those ages 25 to 29 and 16% of those ages 18 to 24.
Rules of Personal Finance, #1: Spend Less Than You Make
It's that simple, but of course, it's often not easy to manage your cash flow this way given all the demands you likely need to meet. But if we're talking about fundamental rules for financial success, this is number one.
“A good rule of thumb is to aim to have saved 25-30 times the amount you'll spend each year, less any guaranteed income sources.