2022 Average College Graduate Salaries [50+ Statistics] (2023)

FAQs

What is the average US salary 2022? ›

Average salary in the US. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national average salary in 2020 was $56,310. In 2022 average salary in the US is $53,490 per year.

According to the High Fliers report, "The Graduate Market in 2019", the median starting salary for UK graduates in 2022 is expected to be £30,000 for the fifth consecutive year.

The average starting salary for a graduate in the UK for 2022 is £24,291 – this is a 5% decrease from 2021 (£25,466).

The highest salary among the top 25 is at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) at $98,100; the lowest is at the University of California, Davis (68,700).

Over 34% of American households make over $100k a year.

In 2022, 34.3% of American households earned more than $100,000. This was an increase from 33.6% in 2020 and 15.2% back in 1980.

Overall, the highest percentage of Americans (16.5%) have an income between $50,000-$74,999. With the second and third highest percentages being those who make between $75,000-$99,999 (12.2%) and $100,000-$149,000 (15.3%).

Research, Statistics & Policy Analysis

Men with bachelor's degrees earn approximately $900,000 more in median lifetime earnings than high school graduates. Women with bachelor's degrees earn $630,000 more. Men with graduate degrees earn $1.5 million more in median lifetime earnings than high school graduates.

Their median wage was about 30 percent higher for workers with a master's degree than for those with a bachelor's degree.

Can you negotiate a graduate scheme salary? Usually, salaries for entry-level and graduate jobs are fixed and there is less room for negotiation than for a more senior role where candidates may have varying levels of experience and expertise to offer the employer.

Does having a degree increase your salary? ›

College-educated workers enjoy a substantial earnings premium. On an annual basis, median earnings for bachelor's degree holders are $36,000 or 84 percent higher than those whose highest degree is a high school diploma. The earnings gap between college graduates and those with less education continues to widen.

When it comes to producing Ultra High Net Worth alumni, Harvard University dwarfs the competition. The Ivy League research university has produced a whopping 13,650 UHNW individuals — more than twice the number to have graduated from the #2 school on our list!

1. Harvard University. Harvard University produces the richest grads in the country (to no one's surprise), as well as the most billionaire alumni. Nearly 80% of Harvard's UHNW alumni are considered self-made, and more than a quarter are of international origin.

How Common Is a Six-Figure Salary? These days, a six-figure income is not as rare as it used to be. However, a 6 figures salary is still not that common in the US. According to a report by IBISWorld, in 2020, about 30.7% of Americans received a salary of more than $100,000.

How much more than average income would be considered “rich?” One common indicator is being in the nation's “top 1%” of earners. According to the Economic Policy Institute Opens in new window, those include Americans who earn at least $421,926 a year—but their average annual income is far higher: $1,316,985.

In 2021, the average adult worldwide makes $23,380 and owns $102,600 in net worth. Someone in the top 10% of the global income distribution makes $122,100 per year.

Upper Class Is Relative To The Median

Everything is relative when it comes to finances. Pew defines the upper class as adults whose annual household income is more than double the national median. In 2022, the national median household income is around $75,000, up from $68,000 in 2021.

What is considered a high income earner? ›

How much does a Highest make? As of Sep 24, 2022, the average monthly pay for a Highest in the United States is $9,182 a month.

The Department of Education's 2017 IES Report

In 2014, workers without high-school diplomas earned $24,000 annually; workers with high-school diplomas earned $30,500; workers who completed some college earned $31,900 and workers with a bachelor's degree earned $49,900.

Bachelor's degree holders earn an average of 66 percent more than high school graduates. People with a bachelor's degree will add $1 million to their total lifetime earnings compared to someone without a degree.

Overall, the median lifetime earnings for all workers are $1.7 million, which is just under $42,000 per year ($20 per hour). Over a 40-year career, those who didn't earn a high school diploma or GED are expected to bring in less than $1 million, which translates into slightly more than $24,000 a year ($11.70 per hour).

A majority (72 percent) of recruiters believe applicants with a master's degree would likely be overqualified for an average entry-level position.

Master's degree holders enjoy greater job security and earn higher salaries than their counterparts with only an undergraduate degree. In addition, a master's degree can open the door to new career opportunities and provide the opportunity to develop new skills.

A mid-career PHD Student with 4-9 years of experience earns an average salary of ₹5.2 Lakhs per year, while an experienced PHD Student with 10-20 years of experience earns an average salary of ₹12.7 Lakhs per year.

This means a doctorate brings about $20,000 more annually than a masters, and over $32,000 more than a bachelor's. So if your are wondering if the investment in a doctorate is worth it, the median and average PhD salary, according to multiple sources, shows that it certainly can be.

Is a master's degree worth it? ›

Nearly two-thirds (61%) of graduates with a master's degree will earn more than the median bachelor's degree holder, according to the CEW. It's even higher for doctoral (73%) and professional (83%) degree holders. Having a higher degree could also strengthen your ability to stay employed during economic downturns.

Going to college in 2022 is worth it for individuals who want access to more higher-paying jobs after graduating between 2026 and 2028. It's ideal for those who want higher lifetime earnings, too. Although costly, scholarships and grants can help make earning a bachelor's degree in 2022 affordable.

As this is often based on multiple incomes in the one household, a single person earning at least $67,521 can be considered a good salary. What is this? This is especially the case when you consider the current median income levels in the US. For men, this is $61,417 and for women, it's $50,982.

The average gross annual wage per full-time employee in the USA was $74,738 in 2021, or around $6,228 per month ($4,648/year more than in the previous year).

How much does a Highest make? As of Sep 24, 2022, the average monthly pay for a Highest in the United States is $9,182 a month.

The national median family income for the United States for FY 2021 is $79,900, an increase over the national median family income in FY 2020 of $78,500.

Upper Class Is Relative To The Median

Everything is relative when it comes to finances. Pew defines the upper class as adults whose annual household income is more than double the national median. In 2022, the national median household income is around $75,000, up from $68,000 in 2021.

What is considered a high earner? ›

HENRY stands for "high earner, not rich yet," and is typically a younger earner who enjoys an income of $100,000 to $250,000 a year.

What is the 50/30/20 rule? The 50/30/20 rule is an easy budgeting method that can help you to manage your money effectively, simply and sustainably. The basic rule of thumb is to divide your monthly after-tax income into three spending categories: 50% for needs, 30% for wants and 20% for savings or paying off debt.

Across the US, the average income for the top 2% of all earners is $206,000.

How much more than average income would be considered “rich?” One common indicator is being in the nation's “top 1%” of earners. According to the Economic Policy Institute Opens in new window, those include Americans who earn at least $421,926 a year—but their average annual income is far higher: $1,316,985.

How many men and women made $100,000 in 2021? In 2021, somewhere around 19,504,449 men made $100,000 or more in income (about 23.4% of male workers).

Basically, any career that earns more than $100,000 in a year but not over a million dollars is considered a six-figure salary. As you see the range is quite wide when you consider what a 6 figure income is. That said, a 6 figure income is considered a high income.

There's no denying that earning $100k a year is a very good salary, but it's what you do with it that counts. Salaries that are above $80,000 are considered middle class in the USA. The median household gross income for 2021 in America was $53,490 per year.

Is Earning $100,000 Considered Rich? Earning $100,000 is not considered rich either. You are considered middle class to lower middle class in expensive coastal cities. $100,000 is considered upper middle class in lower cost areas of the country.

What is the top 10 percent income? ›

In 2021, what was the threshold for the top 10% individual income in the United States? Top 10% of individual earnings started at $129,181 in the United states in 2021.