How much income puts you in the top 1%, 5%, or 10%?
Curious about what it takes to join the top income earners in the US? Find out how much you need to earn to be in the top 10%, 5%, and 1%, and explore strategies to boost your income.
Summary
You’ll need to earn over six figures to be in the top 10%.
Top earnings brackets vary considerably depending on where you live in the country, as states differ in terms of cost of living, average income, and job opportunities.
Unsurprisingly, the top five states with the highest earners are all on the East and West coasts.
Growing your earnings to join those in the top income brackets might seem like a remote possibility, but it doesn’t have to be.
A financial advisor can help you maximize your earnings and get closer to those top income brackets.
How much do you need to earn to be in the top 10% income bracket?
A 2022 study by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) found that the top 10% of earners nationally received an average income of $167,639 in 2021.
However, there is a difference between those in the top half and the bottom half of the top 10% of earners.
Those in the top half earned around $223,000, while those in the bottom section earned approximately $133,500, nearly $90,000 less.
How much do you need to earn to be in the top 5% income bracket?
For those in the top 5%, the figure rises even more.
According to the same research, those in the top 5% earned an average of $335,891 in 2021.
This is an increase of around $19,000 from the previous year.
How much do you need to earn to be in the top 1% income bracket?
To be in the top 1% of earners, you’re looking at an average annual income of $819,324.
The top 0.1% of Americans earn an average of $3,312,693.
According to the 2021 Economic Policy Institute report, annual wages rose fastest for the top 1% of earners (up 9.4%) and top 0.1% (up 18.5%) in 2021, while those in the bottom 90% saw their real earnings fall 0.2%.
These stats highlight economic inequity at a national level.
If you want to increase your income and break into the top 10%, 5%, or even 1%, a financial advisor can guide you in the right direction. Answer a few simple questions, and we will match you with an SEC-regulated financial advisor perfectly suited to your needs.
What is the income distribution in the US?
Top earnings brackets vary considerably depending on where you live in the country. This is due to several factors within states, including the cost of living and job opportunities.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the top five states with the highest earners are all on the East and West coasts.
These states are also home to big towns and cities where there are more well-paid jobs available. For example, in Massachusetts, you’d need to be earning at least $810,256 to be in the top 1% of earners.
On the other end of the scale, earning $361,462 puts you in the top 1% in Mississippi, which has the highest rate of poverty in the US.
The following table contains data from Forbes and gives an idea of the income threshold for the top 1% and 5% of earners by state:
| State | Income threshold of the top 1% | Income threshold of the top 5% |
|---|---|---|
| State | Income threshold of the top 1% | Income threshold of the top 5% |
| Arkansas | $411,633 | $183,945 |
| California | $745,314 | $291,277 |
| Connecticut | $896,490 | $311,589 |
| Florida | $623,736 | $223,179 |
| Georgia | $543,748 | $225,232 |
| Kentucky | $412,836 | $184,217 |
| Massachusetts | $810,256 | $314,389 |
| Mississippi | $361,462 | $168,705 |
| New Jersey | $760,462 | $308,976 |
| New Mexico | $384,427 | $185,641 |
| New York | $777,126 | $265,530 |
| Texas | $594,313 | $237,383 |
| Washington | $685,128 | $283,574 |
| West Virginia | $350,212 | $171,135 |
What are the annual wages of top earners?
Want to know how much you need to earn to be in the top income brackets in the US?
The following table shows the average yearly wages of the highest earners in the country.
These statistics were taken from Social Security Administration data and reflect annual wages as opposed to income as a whole.
| Bracket | Average annual wages |
|---|---|
| Bracket | Average annual wages |
| Top 0.1% | $3,212,486 |
| Top 1% | $823,763 |
| Top 5% | $342,987 |
| Top 10% | $173,176 |
Those in the higher earnings brackets typically accrue wealth more rapidly than low earners.
EPI research shows that between 1979 and 2018, wages of the top 1% grew by 179%. That figure was 389% for the top 0.1%.
By contrast, wages for the bottom 90% only grew 28% in that period.
What is the average salary in the US?
The average salary in the US depends on multiple factors, including location, industry, job position, and age.
According to Forbes, the average salary nationwide in the US is $59,428, with the hourly rate coming in at $28.34.
Below is a table showing the median annual salary of full-time workers aged 18 and above based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
These stats better reflect the salary breakdown as the median describes a salary point that is in the middle of the scale, with half of workers below and half above.
| Age range | Median annual earnings |
|---|---|
| Age range | Median annual earnings |
| 16-19 | $31,772 |
| 20-24 | $38,324 |
| 25-34 | $52,936 |
| 35-44 | $63,596 |
| 45-54 | $64,428 |
| 55-64 | $63,336 |
| 65 and older | $54,184 |
How many billionaires are there in the US?
According to Forbes’s ranking of the world’s richest people in 2024, there were 2,781 billionaires globally last year, up 141 from 2023.
With 813 billionaires worth a combined $5.7 trillion at the last count, the USA has more than any other country. Billionaires from the USA make up eight of the world’s top ten richest people. China is in second place with 473 billionaires, followed by India with 200.
The 2024 Forbes list placed Frenchman Bernard Arnault as the right person in the world with a net worth of $233 billion. In second place, Elon Musk is the richest American in the world, with a net worth of $195 billion. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos took third place with a net worth of $194 billion.
How can you boost your income to join the top 10%?
Growing your earnings to join those in the top income brackets might seem like a remote possibility, but it doesn’t have to be.
Annual income isn’t just limited to your salary alone. With help from the right financial advisor, you can make strategic investments in stocks, shares, and funds to ensure your wages go further.
If you’ve never invested before, have a look at our guide to getting started. Or, if you’ve already got an investment portfolio and need a little help fine-tuning it to boost your income, we’ve put together some advice on choosing a financial advisor.
Speak to a financial advisor
If you’re already earning a salary that puts you within the top percentage brackets nationally, you may be looking for ways to safeguard and maximize your wealth.
A financial advisor can also help you manage your wealth and assets more effectively so you can increase your earnings year-on-year. You’ll also get tax advice, tips for retirement planning, and suggestions for saving money.
They can also offer advice on the best types of health and long-term care insurance to take out so you can be confident that your income doesn’t take an unexpected hit in the event of health problems.
You can also get tips on life insurance and inheritance tax to make the best possible plan for providing for your loved ones.
Ready to get started and find a financial advisor who can help you maximize your earnings and get closer to those top income brackets? We can find you a financial advisor today.
Senior Content Writer
Rachel is a Senior Content Writer at Unbiased. She has nearly a decade of experience writing and producing content across a range of different sectors.