Your $100K Salary in 2020? It’s Worth Just $75K Today
If you were making $100,000 a year in 2020, it felt like a solid six-figure income. Fast forward to 2025—and that same salary now has the purchasing power of just $75,000, adjusted for inflation.
According to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a $100,000 salary from 2020 now equates to about $124,210 in 2025 dollars—a nearly 25% drop in real value over just five years.
The numbers paint a sobering picture of how inflation has quietly eaten away at wages, even for high earners. Despite salary increases on paper, many Americans are feeling poorer when it comes to what their money can actually buy.
Groceries, rent, healthcare, transportation, and everyday costs have surged, leaving many wondering: Where did all the money go?
As the cost of living continues to rise, experts warn that even traditionally “comfortable” incomes are no longer stretching as far as they used to.
