United States Average Salaries & Expenditures

 
Contents
Average Employment Income   Average Salary per Job   Average Salary per Sector   Total Personal Average Income  
Consumption Expenditure   Workforce Composition   Vacation Time   References
 

Average Employment Income

:
Annual, per Worker, incl. dependent & self employment
   Disposable   Gross (1)   
2005
31,410
31,410
  
42,028
42,028
  
constant 2005 dollars
current dollars
(1)    Based on dependent+self employment personal income and ratio of earners to household size.
Source: U.S. Consumer Expenditure Interview Survey [19], 2005 (2.5 persons and 1.3 earners per household).
 
 

Average Salary in the United States - Job and Sector Comparison.

Job  Net Monthly Income  constant 2005 US$ (1) Notes                                                                               Gross Monthly Average Income (2) Compulsory Deductions (3) Weekly Hours (4)
 
General Physician average salary PPP $ 8,189 $ 8,189 Family and general practitioners, standardized hours (2,080 hours/year), 2005. 11,698 dollars 30%
Dentist average salary PPP $ 6,164 $ 6,164 Full-time and part-time employees, 2005. 8,561 dollars 28% 38.0
Engineer average salary PPP $ 4,710 $ 4,710 Chemical engineer, Full-time and part-time employees, 2005. 6,197 dollars 24% 40.0
Professor average salary PPP $ 4,638 $ 4,638 Full-time and part-time employees, all college and university teachers, 2005. 6,103 dollars 24% 32.3
Airline Pilot average income PPP $ 4,206 $ 4,206 Aircraft pilots & flight engineers, median earnings, 2007. Standardized weeks per month: 4.33. 5,884 dollars 24%
Computer Programmer average salary PPP $ 4,141 $ 4,141 Full-time and part-time employees, 2005. 5,378 dollars 23% 39.4
Teacher average salary PPP $ 4,055 $ 4,055 Full-time and part-time employees, 2005. 5,266 dollars 23% 36.6
Physiotherapist average salary PPP $ 3,434 $ 3,434 Full-time and part-time employees, 2005. 4,402 dollars 22% 34.2
Accountant average salary PPP $ 3,370 $ 3,370 Full-time and part-time employees, 2005. 4,321 dollars 22% 38.5
Professional Nurse average salary PPP $ 3,168 $ 3,168 Full-time and part-time employees, 2005. 4,061 dollars 22% 33.0
Flight Attendant median salary PPP $ 2,949 $ 2,949 Full-time and part-time employees, 2003. 3,520 dollars 21%
Firefighter average salary PPP $ 2,729 $ 2,729 Full-time and part-time employees, 2005. 3,454 dollars 21% 48.9
Miner median salary PPP $ 2,694 $ 2,694 Standardized salary (180 hours/month), Full-time and part-time employees, 2004. 3,270 dollars 20%
Postman median salary PPP $ 2,638 $ 2,638 Standardized salary (160 hours/month), Full-time and part-time employees, 2002. 3,040 dollars 20%
Car Mechanic average salary PPP $ 2,526 $ 2,526 Full-time and part-time employees, 2005. 3,118 dollars 19% 39.1
Carpenter average salary PPP $ 2,460 $ 2,460 Full-time and part-time employees, 2005. 3,037 dollars 19% 39.6
Auxiliary Nurse median salary PPP $ 2,268 $ 2,268 Standardized salary (160 hours/month), Full-time and part-time employees, 2004. 2,686 dollars 18%
Office Clerk average salary PPP $ 1,921 $ 1,921 Full-time and part-time employees, 2005. 2,314 dollars 17% 37.6
Salesperson average salary PPP $ 1,876 $ 1,876 Full-time and part-time employees, all categories, 2005. 2,260 dollars 17% 32.0
Wood Grinder average salary PPP $ 1,760 $ 1,760 Full-time and part-time employees, wood lathe operator, 2005. 2,095 dollars 16% 39.8
Garment Cutter average salary PPP $ 1,661 $ 1,661 Full-time and part-time employees, dressmaker, 2005. 1,977 dollars 16% 36.5
Furniture Finisher average salary PPP $ 1,660 $ 1,660 Full-time and part-time employees, 2005. 1,976 dollars 16% 38.0
Bus Driver average salary PPP $ 1,594 $ 1,594 Full-time and part-time employees, 2005. 1,898 dollars 16% 29.4
Hotel Receptionist average salary PPP $ 1,469 $ 1,469 Full-time and part-time employees, all receptionists, 2005. 1,749 dollars 16% 34.2
Baker average salary PPP $ 1,461 $ 1,461 Full-time and part-time employees, 2005. 1,739 dollars 16% 34.3
Chambermaid median salary PPP $ 1,251 $ 1,251 Standardized salary (180 hours/month), Full-time and part-time employees, 2004. 1,413 dollars 14%
Sector              
Gas-Electricity-Water average income PPP $ 3,691 $ 3,691 Full-time and part-time production workers in the private sector, 2005. Incl. overtime, excl. bonus. 4,732 dollars 22% 40.9
Mining-Quarrying average income PPP $ 2,961 $ 2,961 Full-time and part-time production workers in the private sector, 2005. Incl. overtime, excl. bonus. 3,748 dollars 21% 45.4
Construction average income PPP $ 2,584 $ 2,584 Full-time and part-time production workers in the private sector, 2005. Incl. overtime, excl. bonus. 3,230 dollars 20% 38.3
Manufacturing average income PPP $ 2,372 $ 2,372 Full-time and part-time production workers in the private sector, 2005. Incl. overtime, excl. bonus. 2,928 dollars 19% 40.8
All Sectors median income PPP $ 2,313 $ 2,313 Median usual earnings, full-time employees, 2005. Entire workforce excl. part-time workers, non-incorporated self-employed, and incorporated self-employed. 2,821 dollars 18%
 
  (1) The net average income in "constant 2005 US$" is computed using the Interbank nominal exchange rate [a] and the U.S. inflation rate [d].
  (2) The gross monthly income is obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics [19], the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics National Compensation Survey [19], or from the International Labour Organization [9]. The income excludes earnings not related to employment, and employees include both men and women.
  (3) The ratio between the deductions and the gross income is obtained through a U.S. personal income tax calculator [t] and reflect the 2005 income tax rates in the U.S. The federal income tax, social security tax, medicare tax, and state income tax are included. The deductions are taken as the average of the state of New York and the state of Arizona [t], and are representative of married without child status. The deductions on the average wage are confirmed through the average gross and net income of a household in the U.S.
  (4) The weekly hours are based on data supplied by the Bureau of Labor Statistics [19] [9]. The hours by job and by sector correspond to the hours paid for.
 
 
 
 

Personal Average Income

:
Annual, per Capita, incl. non-monetary income
   Disposable   Gross   Salary   Business   Property (1)  Transfer (2)    
2005
19,776
19,776
  
23,484
23,484
  
18,516
18,516
  
1,509
1,509
  
552
552
  
2,830
2,830
  
constant 2005 dollars
current dollars
2000
16,863
14,887
  
20,231
17,860
  
16,123
14,234
  
1,052
929
  
425
375
  
2,427
2,143
  
1995
15,348
11,991
  
18,902
14,767
  
14,574
11,386
  
1,039
812
  
435
340
  
2,628
2,053
  
1990
15,348
10,281
  
19,043
12,756
  
14,435
9,669
  
1,390
931
  
629
421
  
2,381
1,595
  
1985
14,410
7,949
  
17,519
9,664
  
13,511
7,453
  
928
512
  
785
433
  
2,105
1,161
  
(1)    Incl. interest, dividends, rental income, and other property income.
(2)    Incl. social security, private and government retirement, unemployment and workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, public assistance, supplementary security income, food stamps.
Source: U.S. Consumer Expenditure Interview Survey [19], 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 (2.5 persons per household).
 

Consumption Expenditure

:
Annual, per Capita, incl. non-monetary expenditure
   Total   Health   Housing (1)  Food (2)  Apparel   Education   Transport     
2005
15,816
15,816
  
1,068
1,068
  
6,072
6,072
  
2,543
2,543
  
754
754
  
372
372
  
3,336
3,336
  
constant 2005 dollars
current dollars
2000
15,679
13,842
  
966
853
  
5,671
5,006
  
2,517
2,222
  
912
805
  
292
258
  
3,428
3,026
  
1995
14,862
11,611
  
895
699
  
5,418
4,233
  
2,461
1,923
  
911
712
  
241
188
  
3,131
2,446
  
1990
15,075
10,098
  
902
604
  
5,309
3,556
  
2,728
1,827
  
988
662
  
243
163
  
3,105
2,080
  
1985
14,580
8,043
  
783
432
  
4,972
2,743
  
2,777
1,532
  
1,006
555
  
218
120
  
3,241
1,788
  
(1)    Excl. owner-imputed rent; Incl. actual rentals, utilities, fuels, public services, household operations, housekeeping supplies, housefurnishings, equipment, property tax, mortgage interest rate payments.
(2)    Incl. food away from home and alcoholic beverages.
Source: U.S. Consumer Expenditure Interview Survey [19], 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 (2.5 persons per household).
 

Workforce Composition

:
percentage of total workforce
   Primary (1)  Manufacturing   Education   Financial   Paid Employees   Unemployed  
2005 2.0   11.5   8.7   5.0   94.1   5.3  
%
2000 2.9   14.7         4.2  
1990 3.5   18.0       92.1   5.9  
1980 4.5   22.1       91.0   7.7  
1970 5.2   26.4       90.1   5.2  
(1)    Agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing, mining, and quarrying.
Source: International Labour Organization [9].
 

Workforce Size

 :  
141.7 million (2005).
Source:   International Labour Organization [9].
 

Population

 :  
298.4 million (2006).
Source:   CIA World Factbook [b].
 

Compulsory Deductions

 :  
23.6% for a single with no child, 9.3% for a single with two children, 18.1% for a one-earner married couple with no child, and 5.0% for a one-earner married couple with two children.
Source:   OECD Tax Database [k], 2005, combined deductions on a gross monthly salary income of $ 2,639 including family benefits in terms of cash transfers.
 

Vacation Time

 :  
None legally required, but 7-21 days is standard for most employers. Typically, 10 working days. Many U.S. companies give only one week, and then frequently only after completion of a year of employment [e]. A recent United Nations survey indicates the average number of vacation days actually taken to be of 13 per year [f]. This corresponds to the fewest vacation days amongst advanced economies.
 

Inflation

 :  
54.06 (1980), 59.67 (1981), 70.61 (1985), 77.62 (1988), 85.74 (1990), 97.3 (1994), 100.0 (1995), 102.9 (1996), 107.0 (1998), 109.3 (1999), 113.0 (2000), 116.2 (2001), 118.0 (2002), 120.7 (2003), 124.3 (2004), 128.0 (2005); 132.2 (2006), 136.1 (2007)
Source:   IMF inflation rates [d], Index: 1995=100.
 

 

References
 
[9]   International Labour Organization. Compilation of average salary income worldwide. Classified by country, by employment category, and by gender.
[19]   United States Bureau of Labour Statistics.
[a]   Interbank nominal exchange rate, Oanda.com; historical currency converter for over 164 currencies and 3 metals.
[d]   World Economic Outlook Database, September 2006, International Monetary Fund.
[e]   Wikipedia, Vacation.
[f]   World Tourism Organization, a United Nations agency; survey of vacation days worldwide, 2000.
[k]   OECD Tax Database. Annual database providing comparative information on personal and corporate income tax and consumption tax systems and rates in OECD countries since 2000. Information on social security contributions levied on employees and their employers is also reported.
[t]   U.S. Income Tax Calculator, www.paycheckcity.com.
 
Other links:
United States: Statistics, Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD).
United States Economy Overview, CIA World Factbook.
Social Security in the United States, Social Security Programs Throughout the World, 2004-2005, compiled by the U.S. Social Security Administration.
Rent and Household Income in the U.S., 1980-1990.
Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; job description, starting salary, median salary.
Occupational Employment Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current annual wages for various jobs in the U.S.; calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours.
Salary.com, compilation of median salaries for various jobs in the U.S.
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