Day traders in the U.S. who actually make money average $40,000 to $120,000 a year. Top performers clear $200,000+. But most day traders lose money — and the "average salary" you see online is built from the survivors.
Everyone else got filtered out before they made it into the stat.
What day traders actually earn
Income depends on whether you trade for a firm or for yourself.
Professional traders at firms: $200,000+ base, plus performance bonuses
Profitable retail traders: $30,000–$100,000 per year
Top retail performers: $200,000+, but a thin slice of the field
Everyone else: Net negative, or breakeven on a good year
The "six figures from day trading" stories are real for a small fraction of people.
Why the average is misleading
70–90% of retail day traders lose money over time. The "average salary" figure pulls from people who survived the filter — after years of losses. It's like quoting the average income of NBA players and forgetting the millions who never made the league.
If you're considering day trading as a career, plan around the realistic outcome.