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Income Percentile Calculator (US)

Find out how your income compares with the rest of the United States. Enter your yearly income before tax to see your approximate percentile among US households (optionally by the householder's age) or among full-time workers, how far you are from the median, and what it takes to reach the next milestone.

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Household mode only

Paste newer figures (e.g. from a Census table) to update the comparison

Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Income Percentile Calculator (US)

  1. Enter your annual income before tax: total household income, or your own earnings.
  2. Choose the comparison: all US households or full-time, year-round workers.
  3. Pick an age group (household mode) to compare with households of a similar age.
  4. Press Find my percentile to see your rank, the median and the thresholds table.
  5. Optional: tick "Use my own distribution" and paste newer official percentiles to update the comparison.

US household income percentiles (2023)

Approximate thresholds used by the calculator, rounded from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (income in 2023 dollars). Income is before taxes and includes wages, self-employment, Social Security, retirement income, interest and other cash income, but not capital gains or non-cash benefits.

PercentileHousehold income at leastMeaning
10th$17,50090% of households earn more
20th$33,000top of the lowest fifth
40th$62,200top of the second fifth
50th (median)$80,610half earn more, half less
60th$101,000top of the middle fifth
80th$165,300start of the top fifth
90th$234,000top 10%
95th$332,100top 5%
99th≈ $750,000top 1% (estimated from a fitted tail)

Median household income rose to about $83,730 in 2024, so every threshold is a little higher today. For the latest figures, look up the Census "Income in the United States" report and paste its percentiles into the calculator's custom distribution.

How the percentile is calculated

Income distributions are skewed: they bunch at lower and middle incomes and stretch out at the top. Between two known points the calculator interpolates on a logarithmic income scale:

Percentile = p1 + (p2 − p1) × ln(income ÷ I1) ÷ ln(I2 ÷ I1)

Above the highest data point it uses a Pareto (power-law) tail, the standard model for top incomes, fitted to the two highest points. Below the lowest point it scales linearly down to $0. For age groups, the national curve is scaled so that its median matches the median for householders of that age, which is a useful approximation but not an exact age-specific table.

Household vs individual income

  • Household income adds up everyone aged 15+ in the home, so two-earner couples rank higher than single earners on the same salary.
  • Full-time worker earnings compare your own wages or salary with people who work full time all year, which is the fairer test for "is my pay good?".
  • Location matters: the same income goes much further in a low-cost area than in a large coastal city, which no national percentile captures.

Frequently asked questions

What is an income percentile?

Your income percentile is the share of the group that earns less than you. At the 70th percentile you earn more than about 70% of households and are in the top 30%.

What is the median household income in the US?

According to the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey, median household income was about $80,610 in 2023 and about $83,730 in 2024. Half of households earn more and half earn less.

What income puts a household in the top 10%?

Using the 2023 Census distribution built into this calculator, the top 10% of US households start at roughly $234,000 a year and the top 5% at roughly $332,000. These thresholds rise over time with wages and inflation.

What income is top 1% in the US?

The top 1% threshold is not published in the Census household tables. This calculator estimates it with a Pareto tail fitted to the 90th and 95th percentiles, giving roughly $750,000 for households. Tax-data studies, which count capital gains, often show higher figures.

Should I use household or individual income?

Use household income if you want to compare your total family income (everyone living with you, all sources) with other households. Use individual earnings to compare your own pay with other full-time workers.

Why does age matter?

Income usually rises through a person's 40s and early 50s and falls in retirement. A household earning $90,000 is above the median for householders under 25 or over 65 but close to the median for those aged 35 to 54.

How accurate is this calculator?

It is an estimate. The built-in data are rounded percentile points from Census tables and values in between are interpolated, so results can be off by a percentile point or two. You can paste newer or more detailed official figures to refine it.

Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?

Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.

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