GenZ Wants $500K+ Salary To Be Successful?

The salary Americans say they need to feel successful at every age—it’s over $500,000 for Gen Z

Author

Amanda Goodall
November 23, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

GenZ I love ya’ll - all 9 of my kids are GenZ… But… a 587K salary..... This is kinda hilarious.

WARNING- I go FULL GenX mode in this… but with stats and info to back it up too. 😉 

The latest article from CNBC named The salary Americans say they need to feel successful at every age—it’s over $500,000 for Gen Z — about Genz and how much money they need for success - (And yes- this survey, we all need to take it with a grain of salt right?) - is a bit out there.

Gen Z sets their sights even higher. The average salary adults between the ages of 18 and 27 say they need to be successful is $587,797, Empower found.

That’s far more than each of the other adult generations. Here’s the average salary older adults said would make them feel successful:

  • Millennials (ages 28 to 43): $180,865

  • Gen X (ages 44 to 59): $212,321

  • Baby boomers (ages 60 to 78): $99,874


This $9.5M net worth as markers of “success” is giving main-character energy and I’m sorry, but borderline delusional when you consider the current median income in the U.S. hovers around $80K. (which, I agree is WAY TOO LOW)

Here is how much the average salary is in each state AND the how much the average GenZ salary is in each state.

StateAverage IncomeGen Z Median Income
Alabama$83,244$29,488
Alaska$119,768$60,279
Arizona$100,773$50,398
Arkansas$76,153$40,558
California$124,222$49,532
Colorado$123,656$48,585
Connecticut$126,397$45,347
Delaware$104,001$41,216
Florida$95,736$35,000
Georgia$97,040$32,000
Hawaii$114,694$35,000
Idaho$94,898$30,000
Illinois$111,943$40,000
Indiana$95,980$35,000
Iowa$110,642$30,000
Kansas$114,716$30,000
Kentucky$81,439$30,000
Louisiana$80,265$30,000
Maine$91,820$30,000
Maryland$142,951$40,000
Massachusetts$137,512$41,491
Michigan$96,891$35,000
Minnesota$116,176$35,000
Mississippi$70,377$25,346
Missouri$97,464$30,000
Montana$94,701$30,000
Nebraska$101,861$30,000
Nevada$96,577$35,000
New Hampshire$111,555$35,000
New Jersey$128,658$40,000
New Mexico$75,288$30,000
New York$107,938$40,000
North Carolina$96,004$30,000
North Dakota$101,122$30,000
Ohio$92,194$35,000
Oklahoma$87,377$30,000
Oregon$116,788$35,000
Pennsylvania$103,756$35,000
Rhode Island$109,283$35,000
South Carolina$88,293$30,000
South Dakota$98,073$30,000
Tennessee$92,016$30,000
Texas$104,874$35,000
Utah$127,072$35,000
Vermont$101,564$30,000
Virginia$121,485$35,000
Washington$128,691$39,976
West Virginia$75,362$27,505
Wisconsin$97,696$35,000
Wyoming$96,890$30,000


This pipe dream of $587K is kind of ridiculous - but I do admire your optimism. But with optimism - it requires skills, adaptability, and patience to thrive in increasingly competitive job markets — can ya’ll do it? I’m not seeing it at all.

This is also worrying as 60% of the workforce will be Gen Z and Millennials in the next 10 years. Where is this money going to come from?



Will some achieve that and more- oh yes, 100%. But as an average- not likely... and what will that do to motivation and life goals for those it doesn't come to?

Here’s the thing ya’ll … ambition is great, but this disconnect from economic reality could become a generational Achilles’ heel.

P.S. GenZ— It's an employers market ya'll! The days of dictating your dream salary might already be over.


Disagree with me? Let's hear it... I'm interested in all generational reactions to this concept.

If you’re ready to cash in on what you’re actually worth, call me. I’m not called The Job Chick for nothing - underpaid isn’t a vibe.

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