Nearly Half of Americans Say Six-Figure Salary Needed to Live Comfortably, Survey Finds

Nearly half of U.S. adults now believe they need to earn at least $100,000 annually to live comfortably, according to a new survey released by Bankrate.

The financial freedom survey, conducted in May 2025 with more than 2,200 respondents, found that 45% of Americans said they would require a six-figure income to feel financially secure. Of those, 26% said $150,000 or more would be necessary, and 16% cited a threshold of over $200,000. By contrast, the U.S. median household income in 2023 was just over $80,000, according to the Census Bureau.

Person counting money | Source: Pexels

The report highlights a growing unease about financial well-being. In 2025, 77% of Americans said they do not feel completely financially comfortable — an increase from 75% in 2024 and 72% in 2023.

Bankrate economic analyst Sarah Foster described financial comfort as the ability “to cover your bills and everyday essentials but also have money left over for eating out and vacations.”

Experts attribute the rising income expectations to persistent inflation, stagnant wages, and economic uncertainty. “One major issue is that wages have been stagnant for a large majority of the population over that time, and prices continue to rise,” said certified financial planner Carolyn McClanahan. “Add that to the backdrop of political instability everyone is feeling, and I think that is a perfect formula for people not feeling financially secure.”

Dollar bills on American flag | Source: Pexels

The report also cites contributing pressures such as high mortgage rates, soaring rents, elevated child-care costs, and the resumption of student loan repayments.

A similar 2024 study by Edelman Financial Engines found that 58% of adults said they would need to earn at least $100,000 to avoid financial worry, with 25% citing over $200,000 as the comfort benchmark.