CNBC Survey: 26% of Americans Say $150,000 Income Delivers Security

A new CNBC survey highlights a widening perception gap between Americans’ earnings and their sense of financial security. Twenty-six percent of U.S. adults said they would need to make at least $150,000 a year to feel financially comfortable, nearly double the average 2023 full-time salary of $81,515 reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The findings suggest that even many households with six-figure paychecks feel short of what they consider financial well-being. CNBC’s data show only 4% of U.S. households take in $200,000 or more annually, underscoring how a small slice of the population reaches the income levels many respondents view as secure.