By: Lyle Daly   — fool.com/the-ascent — The top 10% of household incomes starts at $191,406, the top 5% at $290,406, and the top 1% at $867,436. Those are the nationwide numbers, but they also vary considerably if you account for other factors, such as age or location. Income is a key part of personal finance, but it’s not all that matters. Incomes vary quite a bit throughout the United States. The median income was $69,717 in 2021, but households in the top 10% and above make significantly more. It’s interesting to see how much money these households make — and how your own income compares. Of Dollars and Data released income research earlier this year with the thresholds for the top 10%, 5%, and 1% of household incomes, based on data from the 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances.

The 2019 survey is the most recent that’s currently available. Although it’s a few years old, the median inflation-adjusted income of the top 25% of households increased by just 2% from 2019 to 2022. So, the income data still provides a fairly accurate idea of how much the richest households make.

Incomes of the top 10%, 5%, and 1%

Here are the household income thresholds for the top 10%, 5%, and 1%:

Top 10%: $191,406

Top 5%: $290,164

Top 1%: $867,436

As you can see, you need an income nearly three times the national median to crack the top 10%. It takes another $100,000 on top of that to make the top 5%. And the 1% is making beaucoup bucks.

Now, these are the nationwide numbers, covering all demographics. They don’t account for location. The average income is much higher in some areas, and much lower in others. Another important factor that isn’t accounted for here is age. The average income increases until the mid-40s to mid-50s. Here’s what the top incomes look like for different age ranges.

Income of the top 10% by age

If you’re under 35, you can break into the top 10% with an income of $122,000. The income threshold jumps up after that, though. Here’s the full breakdown:

Age range 90th percentile household income Under 35 $122,000

35-44 $210,000

45-54 $255,000

55-64 $250,000

65-74 $188,000 75 and older $128,000

Data source: Of Dollars and Data (2023).

Income of the top 1% by age

If you want to break into the top 1%, then once again, your best chance is while you’re young. It still takes an income well above average. Here’s the full breakdown:

Age range 99th percentile household income

Under 35 $225,000

35-44 $656,000

45-54 $1,313,000

55-64 $1,191,000

65-74 $1,013,000

75 and older $463,000