How Many People in the US Make $300,000 or More? Surprising Stats You Should Know
Breaking Down the Numbers: Who Really Earns $300K+?
Okay, let’s get into it. Making $300,000 a year in the U.S. might sound like ultra-rich territory (and to be fair, in many places it totally is). But how common is it, really?
According to the IRS and Census data, less than 2% of American households report an annual income of $300,000 or more. To be more specific, in recent years, it's hovered between 1.5% and 1.8% depending on the exact year and economic factors.
If we translate that into people: out of a U.S. population of around 330 million, that’s roughly 5 to 6 million individuals. But hang on—there’s a catch.
High Earners: Individual vs. Household Income
Not all six-figure salaries are equal
A key distinction: are we talking about individual income or household income? Because it changes things—big time.
An individual earning $300K? Super rare.
A couple where each partner makes ~$150K? More common, especially in dual-income professional households (like two lawyers or doctors).
So while about 2% of households hit the $300K mark, the number of individuals earning that alone is probably closer to 0.6%-0.7%.
Where Do $300K+ Earners Live?
Spoiler: It's not in the middle of nowhere
You won’t be shocked to hear that high earners tend to cluster in high-cost areas. Think:
New York City
San Francisco / Silicon Valley
Los Angeles
Washington, D.C.
Boston
And yes, increasingly: Austin and Seattle
In these metros, a $300K salary isn’t even that luxurious. (Kind of wild, right?) Between taxes, housing, childcare, and everything else, it can feel... tight.
On the flip side, someone making $300K in, say, Omaha or Des Moines? Yeah, they’re doing very, very well.
What Kind of Jobs Pay $300,000+?
It's not just surgeons and tech execs
Of course, some careers pop up all the time when you think of that salary range:
Surgeons, anesthesiologists, specialists
Law firm partners
Tech executives (and some senior engineers at big companies like Google, Meta, etc.)
Finance roles — think hedge funds, investment banking, private equity
CEOs and entrepreneurs — but not all startups are goldmines!
That said, don’t assume everyone at that level is automatically driving Teslas and vacationing in the Maldives. Some work insane hours. Some built their income over 20 years. And some just live way beyond their means (it happens more than you'd think).
Does Earning $300K Make You Rich?
Well… yes and no
Depends who you ask. Technically, if you’re making $300,000 per year, you’re in the top 2% of earners. That’s objectively high. But if you live in San Francisco, have three kids, private school tuition, and a mortgage bigger than a small nation’s GDP — that wealth might feel… kinda invisible.
Also, lifestyle creep is real. People get raises, and their spending just magically grows with it. So earning more doesn’t always mean saving more.
Honestly, the difference between “comfortable” and “rich” is more psychological than numerical. At least in the U.S.
Final Thoughts: Is $300K Still a Big Deal?
Yes — it’s a big deal. Earning $300K puts you far ahead of the average American. But it’s not as rare or as wildly luxurious as it used to be, especially in certain cities or industries.
So if you’re hitting that level (or aiming for it), remember:
It’s less about the number, and more about what you do with it.
And if you’re not there yet? Don’t sweat it. Most people aren’t. Like, seriously.
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Is 172 cm good for a man?
Yes it is. Average height of male in India is 166.3 cm (i.e. 5 ft 5.5 inches) while for female it is 152.6 cm (i.e. 5 ft) approximately. So, as far as your question is concerned, aforesaid height is above average in both cases.
Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?
The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.
Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?
How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).
How tall is a average 15 year old?
Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years
| Male Teens: 13 - 20 Years) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 14 Years | 112.0 lb. (50.8 kg) | 64.5" (163.8 cm) |
| 15 Years | 123.5 lb. (56.02 kg) | 67.0" (170.1 cm) |
| 16 Years | 134.0 lb. (60.78 kg) | 68.3" (173.4 cm) |
| 17 Years | 142.0 lb. (64.41 kg) | 69.0" (175.2 cm) |
How to get taller at 18?
Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.
Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?
Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).
Can you grow between 16 and 18?
Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.
Can you grow 1 cm after 17?
Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.