• Updated Jan 16 2017 at 10:41 AM

Earnings of top 1pc in the 15 largest US cities

The income required to be in the top 1 per cent in New York City is $US672,795.
The income required to be in the top 1 per cent in New York City is $US672,795. iStock

If you're in your hometown's top 1 per cent of earners, there's no doubt that you're doing well for yourself.

But not all one-percenters are created equal.

The Economic Policy Institute calculated how much money puts a household in the top 1 per cent of income earners in every metropolitan area in the US. For the US overall, the income threshold required to be in the 1 per cent of earners is $US389,436 ($519,000) pre-tax, but for populous places like San Francisco and Houston, that number rises to $US785,946 and $US606,286, respectively.

Below, we've highlighted the annual household income required to be in the top 1 per cent for the 15 largest cities in the US, as determined by the Census Bureau. (But keep in mind that the income thresholds listed apply to the entire metropolitan areas.) We've also included median household income - in 2015 dollars - for comparison purposes.

Income to make the top 1pc in San Francisco is almost $US786,000.
Income to make the top 1pc in San Francisco is almost $US786,000. Evelyn Barota

How do you stack up?

1. Columbus, Ohio

Population: 850,106

Income required to be in the top 1 per cent: $US379,250

Median household income: $US45,659

You need to earn about $US490,000 to make the top 1pc in Philadelphia.
You need to earn about $US490,000 to make the top 1pc in Philadelphia. Charles Mostoller

2. Indianapolis

Population: 853,173

Income required to be in the top 1 per cent: $US405,486

Median household income: $US41,987

Income required to be in the top 1 per cent in Chicago is $US524,009.
Income required to be in the top 1 per cent in Chicago is $US524,009. Tannen Maury

3. San Francisco

Population: 864,816

Income required to be in the top 1 per cent: $US785,946

Median household income: $US81,294

4. Jacksonville, Florida

Population: 868,031

Income required to be in the top 1 per cent: $US393,178

Median household income: $US46,764

5. Austin, Texas

Population: 931,830

Income required to be in the top 1 per cent: $US543,424

Median household income: $US57,689

6. San Jose, California

Population: 1,026,908

Income required to be in the top 1 per cent: $US964,238

Median household income: $US84,647

7. Dallas

Population: 1,300,092

Income required to be in the top 1 per cent: $US502,229

Median household income: $US43,781

8. San Diego

Population: 1,394,928

Income required to be in the top 1 per cent: $US468,862

Median household income: $US66,116

9. San Antonia

Population: 1,469,845

Income required to be in the top 1 per cent: $US379,336

Median household income: $US46,744

10. Phoenix, Arizona

Population: 1,563,025

Income required to be in the top 1 per cent: $US379,321

Median household income: $US47,326

11. Philadelphia

Population: 1,567,442

Income required to be in the top 1 per cent: $US489,305

Median household income: $US38,253

12. Houston

Population: 2,296,224

Income required to be in the top 1 per cent: $US606,286

Median household income: $US46,187

13. Chicago

Population: 2,720,546

Income required to be in the top 1 per cent: $US524,009

Median household income: $US48,522

14. Los Angeles

Population: 3,971,883

Income required to be in the top 1 per cent: $US513,715

Median household income: $US50,205

15. New York City

Population: 8,550,405

Income required to be in the top 1 per cent: $US672,795

Median household income: $US53,373

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