Debt Consolidation
How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

Average Salary in US, by State, Profession, Age, Sex and More

Published on:
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It may not have been reviewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.

Good news for American earners: Despite how broke many of us feel, the average salary in the U.S. has increased 41.0% over the past decade, from $46,440 in 2013 to $65,470 in 2023. (To be transparent, inflation has taken a giant chunk of these increases.)

LendingTree researchers comprehensively looked at average salary data by state, profession, age, sex and more. Below, we’ll look in depth at these fascinating findings.

  • The average salary in the U.S. in 2023 was $65,470, up 5.8% from $61,900 in 2022. The average salary was up 41.0% from $46,440 in 2013.
  • Massachusetts residents have the highest average annual salary, at $80,330. Coast to coast, the Bay State is followed by New York ($78,620) and Washington ($78,130). Southern states Mississippi ($47,570), Arkansas ($51,250) and West Virginia ($52,200) have the lowest average yearly salaries.
  • Across available occupations, average annual salaries range from $29,260 (shampooers) to $449,320 (pediatric surgeons). Other average annual salary highlights include dentists ($191,750), lawyers ($176,470), registered nurses ($94,480) and secondary school teachers ($73,800).
  • Registered nurses in California earn $137,690 a year — 45.7% higher than the national average for the profession. Meanwhile, they make an average of $69,030 in South Dakota — 26.9% lower. Additionally, secondary school teachers in California top that occupation’s list, at $105,540 — 43.0% higher than the national average for them.
  • Americans ages 45 to 54 have the highest median salary, at $67,756 a year. Those ages 25 to 34 — generally at the start of their careers — earn 19.0% less ($54,912) than those peak earners.
  • Men earn 20.2% more annually than women. The median salary for men in the U.S. is $63,804, versus $53,092 for women. By race, Asian Americans (at $78,260 annually) earn 71.2% more than Hispanics or Latinos ($45,708). By education level, those with a bachelor’s degree earn a significantly higher median salary, at $87,360 yearly, than their counterparts.

Though many Americans have felt the pinch thanks to pandemic inflation — which has been easing — average earnings data could provide some (OK, maybe just a little) comfort.

According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates data, the average salary in the U.S. rose 5.8% between May 2022 ($61,900) and May 2023 ($65,470). It’s risen every year since 2013, when the average salary was $46,440. That equates to a 41.0% increase between 2013 and 2023.

Average and median annual salaries in past decade

YearAverage annual salaryMedian annual salaryYear-over-year change (%)
2023$65,470$48,0605.8%
2022$61,900$46,3106.2%
2021$58,260$45,7603.5%
2020$56,310$41,9505.3%
2019$53,490$39,8102.9%
2018$51,960$38,6402.6%
2017$50,620$37,6902.0%
2016$49,630$37,0402.7%
2015$48,320$36,2002.3%
2014$47,230$35,5401.7%
2013$46,440$35,080N/A

Source: LendingTree analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2013 to May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates data. Note: The year-over-year change is based on average annual salaries.

LendingTree chief credit analyst Matt Schulz identifies three main culprits behind both recent and longer-term salary increases: The pandemic-era Great Resignation, a recent trend toward salary transparency and the increasing willingness of Americans — particularly younger generations — to advocate for themselves in the workplace.

“Coming off the darkest days of the pandemic, a strong job market emboldened people to leave their current job in search of higher-paying gigs,” he points out. “Millions of Americans did just that, and companies had little choice but to up their salary offerings to remain competitive for the best talent.”

Further, people over the past 10 years have become more open to talking about salaries — which “used to be an absolute taboo,” Schulz says. “It’s a great thing. More open discussion means people have much more information about an appropriate salary.”

The result, he says: “Today, people are more likely to do their homework, understand their worth and value to a company” — and ask for what they believe they deserve.

Like cost of living, average salaries vary substantially depending on where earners live. According to May 2023 BLS National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates data, the states with the highest average annual wages are Massachusetts ($80,330), New York ($78,620) and Washington ($78,130).

It may not be surprising that the Bay State — known for its colleges and universities, including research and tech-focused bastions like Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — tops the list. According to MassEcon, industries like aerospace, defense and robotics technologies are among the leading industries in the state, along with information technology and financial services.

New York’s appearance also is probably not surprising, given its continued status as one of America’s major economic and industrial hubs. And the presence of major technology companies including Amazon and Microsoft may bolster Washington’s status.

Average and median annual salaries, by state

RankStateAverage annual salaryMedian annual salary
1Massachusetts$80,330$60,690
2New York$78,620$56,840
3Washington$78,130$59,920
4California$76,960$54,030
5New Jersey$73,980$54,860
6Connecticut$73,740$56,130
7Maryland$73,620$55,810
8Colorado$71,960$54,050
9Virginia$70,050$49,920
10Alaska$69,880$56,140
11Illinois$67,130$48,730
12Oregon$66,710$50,010
13Minnesota$66,700$50,880
14Rhode Island$66,610$50,970
15New Hampshire$66,110$49,980
16Delaware$65,990$49,280
17Hawaii$65,030$50,510
18Arizona$63,040$47,680
19Vermont$62,780$49,630
20Pennsylvania$61,920$47,430
21Georgia$61,250$45,480
22Texas$61,240$45,970
23Utah$61,070$47,020
24Michigan$60,600$46,940
25Florida$60,210$45,070
26Maine$60,000$47,590
27Ohio$59,890$46,690
28North Carolina$59,730$45,440
29Wisconsin$59,500$47,590
30North Dakota$59,050$48,830
31Nevada$58,900$44,810
32Nebraska$58,080$46,440
33Wyoming$57,930$47,250
34Missouri$57,580$45,080
35New Mexico$57,520$43,620
36Indiana$56,420$45,470
37Iowa$56,400$46,460
38Kansas$56,270$45,250
39Tennessee$56,030$43,820
40Montana$55,920$45,690
41Idaho$55,640$44,240
42South Carolina$54,250$42,220
43Kentucky$54,030$43,730
44Oklahoma$53,450$41,480
45Louisiana$53,440$41,320
46Alabama$53,400$41,350
47South Dakota$53,230$43,680
48West Virginia$52,200$39,770
49Arkansas$51,250$39,060
50Mississippi$47,570$37,500

Source: LendingTree analysis of U.S. BLS May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates data. Note: Rankings are based on average annual salaries.

The lowest-earning states are Mississippi ($47,570), Arkansas ($51,250) and West Virginia ($52,200).

Mississippi’s average annual salary is 40.8% lower than in Massachusetts. The Magnolia State has the second-highest poverty rate in the U.S. (19.2%), according to 2021 data via the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Many of the states at the bottom — including Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana — have higher-than-average percentages of Black residents, who, in the context of historic and institutionalized racism, may have less access to educational and career opportunities, as well as generational wealth.

Other states at the bottom, like West Virginia and South Dakota, with traditional industries such as mining and agriculture, are often outstripped by tech-forward states.

Many states with lower average salaries are also among the most affordable in which to live, according to the latest data via the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC). After Oklahoma, Mississippi has the lowest cost of living in the nation. West Virginia and Alabama have the fourth- and fifth-lowest costs of living.

Average annual salaries are, of course, highly relative depending on an earner’s specific role. Using the same May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates data, we found that average annual salaries range from $29,260 (shampooers, who are responsible for washing customers’ hair in salon and barbershop settings) to $449,320 (pediatric surgeons).

Cardiologists are the second-highest-paid professionals, with an average annual salary of $423,250. Meanwhile, after shampooers, fast-food cooks and counter workers have the next-lowest average annual earnings, at $29,760 and $30,110 a year.

Although not all medical professionals are as well compensated as pediatric surgeons or cardiologists, many earn well above the national average. Here’s a sampling:

  • Physicians ($263,840)
  • Dentists ($191,750)
  • Veterinarians ($136,300)
  • Pharmacists ($134,790)
  • Physical therapists ($100,440)
  • Registered nurses ($94,480)

But while it might be tempting to assume that those whose jobs involve taking responsibility for others’ lives (rightly) get the highest paychecks, the average annual salary of taxi drivers is a mere $35,120, scuttling the trend. (That figure is 46.4% below the national average.)

A bright spot: Despite stereotypes, secondary school teachers make more than the national average, at $73,800 a year. (Elementary and middle school teachers come in just behind at $70,740 and $71,460, respectively.)

Average and median annual salaries, by various professions

ProfessionAverage annual salary% above or below averageMedian annual salary
All occupations$65,470N/A$48,060
Physicians$263,840303.0%Not available
Dentists$191,750192.9%$166,300
Lawyers$176,470169.5%$145,760
Marketing managers$166,410154.2%$157,620
Commercial pilots$138,010110.8%$113,080
Veterinarians$136,300108.2%$119,100
Pharmacists$134,790105.9%$136,030
Data scientists$119,04081.8%$108,020
Physical therapists$100,44053.4%$99,710
Registered nurses$94,48044.3%$86,070
Accountants and auditors$90,78038.7%$79,880
Secondary school teachers$73,80012.7%$65,220
Flight attendants$70,9808.4%$68,370
Light-truck drivers$46,090-29.6%$42,470
Taxi drivers$35,120-46.4%$34,680

Source: LendingTree analysis of U.S. BLS May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates data.

As already mentioned, not all average salaries are created equally — even in the same profession. Pay can be much higher or lower than the national average depending on where you live, which might play into why workers earn an average of 11% more when they move and switch jobs at the same time.

Case in point: The average annual salary for dentists in Vermont ($260,380) is almost double that of those who practice in Mississippi ($130,550).

Average annual salaries for dentists, by state

RankStateAverage annual salary, dentists% above or below average
1Vermont$260,38035.8%
2Maryland$234,67022.4%
3Arizona$231,89020.9%
4Delaware$227,20018.5%
5Texas$220,00014.7%
6Washington$216,28012.8%
7Connecticut$215,34012.3%
8Maine$214,81012.0%
9Minnesota$211,10010.1%
10Georgia$208,5608.8%
11Oklahoma$208,4508.7%
12North Carolina$204,9806.9%
13Montana$204,4106.6%
14Alaska$201,7205.2%
15Indiana$200,0004.3%
16Michigan$198,4403.5%
17New Hampshire$197,4503.0%
18Rhode Island$196,5402.5%
19New Mexico$190,530-0.6%
20Wyoming$188,280-1.8%
21Virginia$187,950-2.0%
22Pennsylvania$187,850-2.0%
23Ohio$186,880-2.5%
24Kentucky$186,480-2.7%
25Iowa$186,420-2.8%
26South Carolina$182,970-4.6%
27North Dakota$182,840-4.6%
28West Virginia$181,980-5.1%
29Florida$181,950-5.1%
30California$181,720-5.2%
31Wisconsin$179,260-6.5%
32Alabama$179,000-6.6%
33Oregon$177,440-7.5%
34Kansas$175,480-8.5%
35Idaho$171,880-10.4%
36Arkansas$168,760-12.0%
37Nebraska$167,990-12.4%
38Illinois$165,760-13.6%
39Tennessee$164,410-14.3%
40Louisiana$164,340-14.3%
41New York$158,130-17.5%
42Hawaii$154,860-19.2%
43Colorado$149,810-21.9%
44Nevada$144,420-24.7%
45South Dakota$142,830-25.5%
46Utah$139,970-27.0%
47Mississippi$130,550-31.9%

Source: LendingTree analysis of U.S. BLS May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates data. Notes: Data was not available for Massachusetts, Missouri and New Jersey. Rankings are based on average annual salaries.

Meanwhile, lawyers who practice in California make an average of $111,380 more than those who practice in Montana — more than double those Montana attorneys’ salaries (which stand at $102,480 on average). Californians also have the highest average monthly mortgage payments in the nation, which boosts expenses there.

Average annual salaries for lawyers, by state

RankStateAverage annual salary, lawyers% above or below average
1California$213,86021.2%
2Delaware$212,36020.3%
3New York$208,48018.1%
4Connecticut$195,73010.9%
5Colorado$194,76010.4%
6Massachusetts$188,9607.1%
7Virginia$181,4102.8%
8Illinois$178,3801.1%
9Texas$177,8900.8%
10New Jersey$177,2300.4%
11Georgia$169,870-3.7%
12North Carolina$165,410-6.3%
13Minnesota$163,560-7.3%
14Nevada$159,840-9.4%
15Maryland$159,510-9.6%
16Pennsylvania$159,290-9.7%
17Tennessee$155,100-12.1%
18Arizona$152,690-13.5%
19Oregon$151,770-14.0%
20Rhode Island$150,810-14.5%
21Wisconsin$150,370-14.8%
22Utah$147,900-16.2%
23Florida$147,320-16.5%
24Missouri$146,870-16.8%
25New Hampshire$146,840-16.8%
26Indiana$144,500-18.1%
27Ohio$139,790-20.8%
28Michigan$137,960-21.8%
29Alaska$136,740-22.5%
30Louisiana$135,780-23.1%
31Alabama$135,680-23.1%
32North Dakota$128,030-27.4%
33Oklahoma$127,010-28.0%
34Iowa$125,090-29.1%
35Nebraska$124,780-29.3%
36Kansas$124,700-29.3%
37South Carolina$119,230-32.4%
38Idaho$118,500-32.8%
39Maine$117,960-33.2%
40Hawaii$117,620-33.3%
41New Mexico$117,340-33.5%
42West Virginia$114,460-35.1%
43Mississippi$114,400-35.2%
44Arkansas$113,860-35.5%
45Kentucky$112,900-36.0%
46Vermont$111,490-36.8%
47Montana$102,480-41.9%

Source: LendingTree analysis of U.S. BLS May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates data. Notes: Data was not available for South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming. Rankings are based on average annual salaries.

California also tops the list of average annual salaries for registered nurses and secondary school teachers, who earn 45.7% and 43.0% more than their colleagues in other states, respectively. (For both professions, South Dakota offers the lowest earning potential.)

Average annual salaries for registered nurses, by state

RankStateAverage annual salary, registered nurses% above or below average
1California$137,69045.7%
2Hawaii$119,71026.7%
3Oregon$113,44020.1%
4Washington$111,03017.5%
5Alaska$109,21015.6%
6Massachusetts$108,85015.2%
7New York$106,62012.8%
8New Jersey$101,9607.9%
9Connecticut$101,8407.8%
10Nevada$97,7003.4%
11Rhode Island$95,0700.6%
12Minnesota$94,8300.4%
13Delaware$94,6700.2%
14New Mexico$92,140-2.5%
15Maryland$92,090-2.5%
16Colorado$91,730-2.9%
17Arizona$91,430-3.2%
18Texas$90,210-4.5%
19Georgia$90,000-4.7%
20New Hampshire$89,410-5.4%
21Vermont$88,380-6.5%
22Virginia$88,350-6.5%
23Illinois$87,650-7.2%
24Pennsylvania$87,530-7.4%
25Wisconsin$87,220-7.7%
26Michigan$86,210-8.8%
27Florida$84,760-10.3%
28Ohio$84,430-10.6%
29Maine$84,340-10.7%
30Wyoming$83,990-11.1%
31Utah$83,100-12.0%
32Idaho$83,090-12.1%
33Montana$82,950-12.2%
34Indiana$82,700-12.5%
35North Carolina$82,530-12.6%
36Oklahoma$82,110-13.1%
37Kentucky$81,770-13.5%
38South Carolina$81,390-13.9%
39Louisiana$80,760-14.5%
40Nebraska$79,780-15.6%
41North Dakota$79,190-16.2%
42Tennessee$78,240-17.2%
43Missouri$77,590-17.9%
44Kansas$76,240-19.3%
45West Virginia$75,990-19.6%
46Mississippi$75,510-20.1%
47Iowa$74,610-21.0%
48Arkansas$72,900-22.8%
49Alabama$71,370-24.5%
50South Dakota$69,030-26.9%

Source: LendingTree analysis of U.S. BLS May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates data. Note: Rankings are based on average annual salaries.

Average annual salaries for secondary school teachers, by state

RankStateAverage annual salary, secondary school teachers% above or below average
1California$105,54043.0%
2New York$96,40030.6%
3Washington$94,78028.4%
4Massachusetts$87,00017.9%
5Oregon$86,28016.9%
6Connecticut$84,29014.2%
7New Jersey$83,59013.3%
8Alaska$80,6409.3%
9Illinois$80,2008.7%
10Maryland$78,5806.5%
11Rhode Island$77,8705.5%
12Ohio$76,0703.1%
13Pennsylvania$75,7102.6%
14Delaware$72,960-1.1%
15Virginia$72,020-2.4%
16Georgia$71,310-3.4%
17Minnesota$70,170-4.9%
18Utah$70,050-5.1%
19New Hampshire$69,560-5.7%
20Michigan$69,230-6.2%
21New Mexico$68,400-7.3%
22Nevada$67,570-8.4%
23Vermont$66,940-9.3%
24Wyoming$66,640-9.7%
25Wisconsin$66,490-9.9%
26Arizona$66,290-10.2%
27Colorado$66,050-10.5%
28Florida$64,390-12.8%
29Texas$64,120-13.1%
30Indiana$64,010-13.3%
31Maine$64,000-13.3%
32Missouri$63,500-14.0%
33Hawaii$63,320-14.2%
34Idaho$62,100-15.9%
35Nebraska$61,480-16.7%
36Iowa$60,820-17.6%
37Kentucky$60,460-18.1%
38North Dakota$60,370-18.2%
39South Carolina$59,750-19.0%
40Tennessee$59,440-19.5%
41Louisiana$59,000-20.1%
42Alabama$58,460-20.8%
43Montana$57,900-21.5%
44Arkansas$57,420-22.2%
45Kansas$57,350-22.3%
46Oklahoma$56,120-24.0%
47West Virginia$55,590-24.7%
48North Carolina$53,920-26.9%
49Mississippi$52,220-29.2%
50South Dakota$51,650-30.0%

Source: LendingTree analysis of U.S. BLS May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates data. Note: Rankings are based on average annual salaries.

Location is not the only metric that can impact average annual salary, no matter your job. Age — along with accompanying experience — matters, too.

According to an analysis of U.S. BLS first-quarter 2024 data, Americans ages 45 to 54 have the highest median salary, at $67,756 a year. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the 25-to-34 set, who are closer to the start of their careers, earn almost a fifth less, at a median of $54,912. (Note: Median annual salaries by demographics are converted from median weekly earnings and aren’t seasonally adjusted.)

Median annual salaries, by age

Age groupWeekly earningsMedian annual salary
16 to 19$619$32,188
20 to 24$757$39,364
25 to 34$1,056$54,912
35 to 44$1,233$64,116
45 to 54$1,303$67,756
55 to 64$1,254$65,208
65 and older$1,175$61,100

Source: LendingTree analysis of U.S. BLS first-quarter 2024 data. Note: This data isn’t seasonally adjusted.

Obviously, career experience is a large factor in increasing salaries over time. As a professional’s resume grows, often, so too does their paycheck. (The falloff in income later in life may be attributed to professionals retiring and living on a fixed income.)

But Schulz encourages younger workers to negotiate early in their careers because doing so can set the stage for more growth down the line. “Ideally, your earnings should never go backward,” he says. “Every time you bump up your salary, you’re also increasing the amount you should expect to earn in your next job.”

“It also means that every time you settle for a lower salary, you’re potentially costing your future self significant money,” he warns. “Keeping that in mind can help empower you to be brave enough to push a little harder in that next salary negotiation.”

Along with age, median U.S. salaries also vary substantially by sex, race and education level.

According to the same U.S. BLS first-quarter 2024 data, men substantially outearn women, making an average of $63,804 to women’s $53,092 — a difference of 20.2%.

Some speculate that the gender pay gap may be partially explained by women’s traditionally more active role in parenthood and child-rearing pulling them away from the workplace. But, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, the main measurable contributor to this gap is women’s tendency to be overrepresented in lower-paying jobs — which can also be seen as an undervaluing of women’s labor.

Median annual salaries, by sex

GenderWeekly earningsMedian annual salary
Men$1,227$63,804
Women$1,021$53,092

Source: LendingTree analysis of U.S. BLS first-quarter 2024 data. Note: This data isn’t seasonally adjusted.

When it comes to race, Asian Americans lead with a median annual salary of $78,260, which is 71.2% more than Hispanics or Latinos — the lowest-paid racial demographic studied — earn. White Americans are the second-highest earners, making $60,164 a year, with Black or African American earners coming in second-to-last at $47,216.

The substantial jump between the first- and second-highest and the second- and third-highest earners is noteworthy — as is how closely aligned the lowest-earners’ salaries are. According to a Pew Research Center analysis, Black and Hispanic households hold substantially more debt than the national average; this data may point to one of the reasons why.

Median annual salaries, by race and ethnicity

Race and ethnicityWeekly earningsMedian annual salary
Asian$1,505$78,260
White$1,157$60,164
Black or African American$908$47,216
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity$879$45,708

Source: LendingTree analysis of U.S. BLS first-quarter 2024 data. Notes: People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. This data isn’t seasonally adjusted.

Finally, education can exponentially increase earning ability. College graduates with a bachelor’s degree or higher earn a median of $87,360 a year. That’s an increase of more than $30,000 over the earnings of those who only attended some college or received their associate degree (their median salary sits at $53,404).

A high school diploma, too, can substantially increase earning potential. Those who’ve earned theirs still make almost $10,000 more than their counterparts without a diploma.

Median annual salaries, by education level

Education levelWeekly earningsMedian annual salary
Less than a high school diploma$718$37,336
High school graduates, no college$901$46,852
Some college or associate degree$1,027$53,404
Bachelor's degree and higher$1,680$87,360

Source: LendingTree analysis of U.S. BLS first-quarter 2024 data. Note: This data isn’t seasonally adjusted.

It’s not a surprise that some athletes’ salaries are outliers — so much so that, as Schulz puts it, “it doesn’t make much sense to think of their salaries in the same way we think of regular workers.”

The reason? Because that kind of fame can bring serious fortune — and not just to the player. “A star quarterback in the NFL who makes $40 million a year can, in theory at least, bring in far more than that to the team in the form of TV dollars, advertising and partnership money, merchandise sales, season ticket sales and other forms of exposure,” Schulz explains.

Still, pro athlete salaries are “ridiculously high,” says Schulz — certainly high enough to gawk at. Here’s what some of the most beloved athletes make.

Highest salaries in NFL

America is pretty much always ready for some football — and the earnings of the NFL’s star players reflect that enthusiasm. According to Spotrac data on current NFL contracts, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow leads the charge with an annual salary of $55.0 million. Other extraordinarily well-compensated players include:

  • Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff: $53.0 million
  • Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert: $52.5 million
  • Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson: $52.0 million
  • Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts: $51.0 million
  • Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray: $46.1 million

As an honorable mention, Nick Bosa, a defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers, has the highest average annual salary for a nonquarterback at $34.0 million.

Highest salaries in NBA

While the average NBA player’s salary is, at “just” $9.5 million, substantially lower than what the superstars make, the standouts earn along the same lines as those prized NFL quarterbacks.

According to 2023-24 data on players’ contracts via Basketball Reference, Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry is the highest-paid NBA baller this season, earning $51.9 million. Runners-up include the Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant, the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid and the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, who each earn $47.6 million a year.

Highest salaries in MLB

Baseball really is America’s pastime — at least if the salaries of the highest-paid players are any indication. While the average salary of MLB players is $4.5 million, according to the Associated Press, the best-paid player — the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani — makes $70.0 million a year, according to Spotrac data. (Though, Ohtani is not yet seeing his full earnings because of significant deferrals.)

Other well-compensated baseball stars include:

  • Texas Rangers’ Max Scherzer: $43.3 million
  • Houston Astros’ Justin Verlander: $43.3 million
  • New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge: $40.0 million
  • Texas Rangers’ Jacob deGrom: $40.0 million

Highest salary in MLS

Goalllllllll! Inter Miami CF’s Lionel Messi is the highest-paid Major League Soccer (MLS) player, with an annual base salary of $12.0 million and a guaranteed compensation of $20.4 million.

LendingTree researchers analyzed various U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) sources, including the National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates from May 2023 and previous years, dating to May 2013, as well as weekly earnings data from the first quarter of 2024.

Recommended Reading