Salary Needed to Live Comfortably in 2024 (2024)

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Salary Needed to Live Comfortably in 2024? ›

Key Findings. On average, an individual needs $96,500 for sustainable comfort in a major U.S. city. This includes being able to pay off debt and invest for the future.

A household with two adults and two children would need a combined income of around $235,000 to live without financial worries. The disparity in the cost of family life is particularly pronounced in certain cities. A family of four, two adults and children, need to make more than $300,000 to live comfortably.

The majority of respondents (nearly 70%) felt that they would not need more than $95,000 to feel happy. Despite the high costs of living in areas across the country, most people answered that they could make a salary under the national average and still be content.

In a large U.S. city, a middle-class income averages between $52,000 and $155,000.

Rising inflation has made it more challenging to get by on $40,000 in 2024, but this salary is still far above the United States Census Bureau's poverty threshold for families of up to six people. The $40,000 figure represents earning more than the federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour).

2024 GS rate: $70,387 (after 4.7% across-the-board increase). 2024 locality rate: $82,226 ($70,387 x 1.1682).

The salary cap for the 2024 NFL season is set at $255.4 million per team — an increase of around $30 million per team.

However, as a rough estimate, many people consider a salary above $75,000 to $100,000 per year to be good, especially in areas with a lower cost of living.

As per recent data by the Bureau of Labour and Statistics, the average salary in the US per month is $6,228 or $74,738 per year. When we speak of 2024, the gross minimum pay in the US comes to $27.77 per hour.

The Purdue study also included figures for being content at the “life evaluation” and “emotional well-being” stages. Globally, those were determined to be $95,000 and $60,000 to $75,000, respectively. It's important to keep in mind, though, that “happiness” is subjective.

What is the poor class income? ›

Where you rank by income. According to the Census Bureau's Income in the United States: 2022 report, the median household income is $74,580 (a 2.3% decline from 2021), while household income levels for each class level are as follows: Lower class: less than or equal to $30,000. Lower-middle class: $30,001 – $58,020.

According to the Pew Research Center report, the median 2022 household income for a three-person household is as follows for each income tier: Upper-class household: $256,920, a 78% increase from 1970. Middle-class household: $106,092, a 60% increase from 1970. Lower-class household: $35,318, a 55% increase from 1970.

There's no single definition of “middle class.” According to the Pew Research Center, middle class households have an income that's between two-thirds and twice the U.S. median household income of $70,784. (A $75,000 salary falls easily within this range.) Recommended: What Is a Six-Figure Salary?

What Is the Average US Salary (2024) The national average salary is $63,795. That is the sum of all incomes divided by the number of workers. Where someone lives, their industry, education level, and current demand for that job all contribute to how much a worker earns per year.

U.S. employers reported that 2024 annual merit increase budgets rose by 3.3 percent, on average, while total salary increase budgets jumped by 3.6 percent—down from the November 2023 projections of 3.5 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively, according to new data from Mercer.

For 2024, the COLA increase is 3.2%, calculated based on the rise in the CPI-W from the third quarter of 2022 through the third quarter of 2023.

What is the highest-paying job within the USA in 2024? Being a Chief Executive Officer is the highest-paying- job in America. This position earns an average annual salary of USD 329,500, but their earnings can go as low as USD 276,500 and as high as USD 396,000.

On average, an individual needs $96,500 for sustainable comfort in a major U.S. city.