The Fact
Median earnings are the midpoint of an earnings distribution: half of workers earn more and half earn less.
What This Means
A median is not an average paycheck and it does not say what most workers earn. It identifies the worker at the middle of the distribution.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPS Concepts and Definitions. https://www.bls.gov/cps/definitions.htm Accessed October 2, 2026.