Average Income of the Top 5% in America's 50 Biggest Cities
Proving the richer really do get richer, the top 5% are swiftly closing in on $1 million annual earnings across America's largest metros.
A new MoneyLion study reveals the top 5% earn more than $600,000 in 16 major cities. San Francisco residents are poised to reach $1 million first, with average earnings of $897,344. Washington, D.C.; San Jose, California; and Seattle trail closely behind with average incomes exceeding $760,000.
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To determine the average income of the top 5% in America’s 50 biggest cities, MoneyLion sourced each city’s income data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey.
Key Findings
The top 5% earns $600,000 or more in 16 major cities: San Francisco ($897,344), Washington, D.C. ($788,701), San Jose, California ($774,877), Seattle ($768,094), New York ($739,197), Atlanta ($718,581), Boston ($695,859), Austin, Texas ($691,535), Miami ($646,682), Denver ($644,481), Los Angeles ($641,880), Charlotte, North Carolina ($635,892), Chicago ($617,479), Oakland, California ($613,884), Tampa, Florida ($607,597) and Dallas ($605,458).
Despite these soaring earnings, just six major cities boast six-figure median household incomes. The highest annual salaries are in San Jose ($146,427), San Francisco ($140,970), Seattle ($123,860), Washington, D.C. ($109,870), San Diego ($108,077) and Oakland ($101,600).
Miami’s top 5% earns 10 times more than the city’s average household income. The median income is $62,462, compared to the staggering $646,682 earned by the top 5%.
You’re in the top 5% if you earn $274,000 to $350,000 in five major cities. From highest to lowest, these cities are Columbus, Ohio ($348,095); El Paso, Texas ($325,640); Milwaukee ($310,764); Tucson, Arizona ($300,030) and Detroit ($274,644).
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Here’s what your typical income might look like as one of the top 5% in America’s 50 largest cities, ranked from highest to lowest.
1. San Francisco
Average income of the top 5%: $897,344
Median household income: $140,970
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 6.37
2. Washington, D.C.
Average income of the top 5%: $788,701
Median household income: $109,870
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 7.18
3. San Jose, California
Average income of the top 5%: $774,877
Median household income: $146,427
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 5.29
4. Seattle
Average income of the top 5%: $768,094
Median household income: $123,860
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 6.20
5. New York
Average income of the top 5%: $739,197
Median household income: $80,483
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 9.18
6. Atlanta
Average income of the top 5%: $718,581
Median household income: $85,652
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 8.39
7. Boston
Average income of the top 5%: $695,859
Median household income: $97,344
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 7.15
8. Austin, Texas
Average income of the top 5%: $691,535
Median household income: $93,658
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 7.38
9. Miami
Average income of the top 5%: $646,682
Median household income: $62,462
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 10.35
10. Denver
Average income of the top 5%: $644,481
Median household income: $94,718
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 6.80
11. Los Angeles
Average income of the top 5%: $641,880
Median household income: $81,939
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 7.83
12. Charlotte, North Carolina
Average income of the top 5%: $635,892
Median household income: $82,068
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 7.75
13. Chicago
Average income of the top 5%: $617,479
Median household income: $77,902
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 7.93
14. Oakland, California
Average income of the top 5%: $613,884
Median household income: $101,600
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 6.04
15. Tampa, Florida
Average income of the top 5%: $607,597
Median household income: $75,475
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 8.05
16. Dallas
Average income of the top 5%: $605,458
Median household income: $70,518
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 8.59
17. San Diego
Average income of the top 5%: $598,850
Median household income: $108,077
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 5.54
18. Raleigh, North Carolina
Average income of the top 5%: $598,127
Median household income: $85,395
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 7.00
19. Houston
Average income of the top 5%: $580,964
Median household income: $64,813
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 8.96
20. Nashville, Tennessee
Average income of the top 5%: $558,753
Median household income: $77,371
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 7.22
21. Minneapolis
Average income of the top 5%: $536,337
Median household income: $80,846
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 6.63
22. Portland, Oregon
Average income of the top 5%: $527,456
Median household income: $90,919
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 5.80
23. Fort Worth, Texas
Average income of the top 5%: $494,905
Median household income: $79,507
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 6.22
24. Virginia Beach, Virginia
Average income of the top 5%: $491,268
Median household income: $92,968
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 5.28
25. Las Vegas
Average income of the top 5%: $484,343
Median household income: $73,877
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 6.56
26. Long Beach, California
Average income of the top 5%: $482,267
Median household income: $87,430
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 5.52
27. Phoenix
Average income of the top 5%: $465,520
Median household income: $81,332
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 5.72
28. Oklahoma City
Average income of the top 5%: $462,551
Median household income: $68,656
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 6.74
29. Colorado Springs, Colorado
Average income of the top 5%: $455,086
Median household income: $84,818
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 5.37
30. Mesa, Arizona
Average income of the top 5%: $453,951
Median household income: $82,752
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 5.49
31. Memphis, Tennessee
Average income of the top 5%: $447,137
Median household income: $51,736
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 8.64
32. Omaha, Nebraska
Average income of the top 5%: $446,064
Median household income: $73,201
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 6.09
33. Tulsa, Oklahoma
Average income of the top 5%: $443,782
Median household income: $59,838
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 7.42
34. Philadelphia
Average income of the top 5%: $430,741
Median household income: $61,953
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 6.95
35. Louisville, Kentucky
Average income of the top 5%: $429,586
Median household income: $66,849
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 6.43
36. Sacramento, California
Average income of the top 5%: $428,480
Median household income: $87,321
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 4.91
37. San Antonio
Average income of the top 5%: $427,611
Median household income: $65,056
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 6.57
38. Kansas City, Missouri
Average income of the top 5%: $414,581
Median household income: $69,166
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 5.99
39. Wichita, Kansas
Average income of the top 5%: $405,430
Median household income: $64,620
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 6.27
40. Jacksonville, Florida
Average income of the top 5%: $403,263
Median household income: $69,872
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 5.77
41. Indianapolis
Average income of the top 5%: $399,911
Median household income: $66,219
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 6.04
42. Bakersfield, California
Average income of the top 5%: $398,530
Median household income: $80,540
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 4.95
43. Albuquerque, New Mexico
Average income of the top 5%: $386,262
Median household income: $68,317
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 5.65
44. Baltimore
Average income of the top 5%: $368,971
Median household income: $62,177
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 5.93
45. Fresno, California
Average income of the top 5%: $368,744
Median household income: $70,991
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 5.19
46. Columbus, Ohio
Average income of the top 5%: $348,095
Median household income: $66,082
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 5.27
47. El Paso, Texas
Average income of the top 5%: $325,640
Median household income: $59,745
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 5.45
48. Milwaukee
Average income of the top 5%: $310,764
Median household income: $54,234
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 5.73
49. Tucson, Arizona
Average income of the top 5%: $300,030
Median household income: $57,073
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 5.26
50. Detroit
Average income of the top 5%: $274,644
Median household income: $39,938
How much more the average top 5% make than median earners: 6.88
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Methodology: Income data was sourced from the U.S. Census American Community survey. The cities were sorted to show the highest average income for the top 5%. All data is up to date as of June 9, 2026.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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