[h=2]Income[/h]

Median
personal income in the United States.
Main articles:
Personal income in the United States and
Household income in the United States
Income in the United States is most commonly measured either by
individual or
household. In 2005 the
median personal income, the amount earned by the average Joe or average Jane, is largely determined by who is or who is not included in the statistics. Personal income statistics are given in accordance to a variety of demographic characteristics. The
median income for all 233 million persons over the age of 15 was $28,567.[SUP]
[8][/SUP]
By only including those above age 25, the vast majority of students and all working adolescents are excluded. The
median income for the people above the age 25 was $32,140 in 2005. Of those with incomes, over the age of 25, almost three quarters, 73.31%, the median income was clocked at $39,336 in 2005.[SUP]
[5][/SUP] This figure excludes those employed part-time, students, working teenagers, retirees and the unemployed. Depending on whether or not those working part-time are included, the average American makes between $32,000 and $39,000.[SUP]
[5][/SUP][SUP]
[8][/SUP]
In 2005, 42% of all households and 76% of households in the top quintile had two or more
income earners.[SUP]
[9][/SUP] As a result there was a considerable discrepancy between household and personal income. Recent studies, such as the one conducted by Harvard professor Elizabeth Warren, have shown that the average American household needs two incomes in order to live what is commonly perceived as a middle-class lifestyle.[SUP]
[10][/SUP]
The median income per household member was clocked at $24,672 in 2005. This means that the average Joe earns roughly $32,000 a year, lives in a household with an income of $46,000 with $24,000 of gross annual income per member.[SUP]
[11][/SUP] Personal income changes considerably over the life-time of the average American, from $28,000 at age 25 to about $42,000 at the age of 65. Yet, very young and old persons would commonly not be considered to be average Americans.