Average Job Tenure
The median U.S. worker had been with their current employer 3.9 years as of January 2024 (BLS). Tenure rises steeply with age — workers 55–64 have roughly 9–10 years of median tenure, versus under 3 for those 25–34.
Median job tenure was 3.9 years in January 2024 (BLS). It is much longer for older workers and shorter for younger ones.
- Median tenure (all)3.9 years
- Age 55–64~9–10 years
- Age 25–34~2.7 years
- MeasureMedian, current employer
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Employee Tenure, January 2024
Median tenure with the current employer
This is the median number of years workers have been with their current employer — not the length of completed careers or jobs. Because it is a median, half of workers have longer tenure and half shorter. It is measured at a point in time, so it understates how long people ultimately stay: many current short-tenure workers will remain for years.
Median tenure by age
| Age group | Median tenure |
|---|---|
| All workers 25+ | ~4.7 years |
| 25–34 | ~2.7 years |
| 35–44 | ~4.6 years |
| 45–54 | ~6.5 years |
| 55–64 | ~9.6 years |
| All workers 16+ | 3.9 years |
BLS Employee Tenure, January 2024. Figures by age are for wage and salary workers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average time people stay at a job?
Median tenure with a current employer was 3.9 years in January 2024 (BLS); for workers 25 and older it is about 4.7 years.
Do older workers stay longer?
Much longer — median tenure rises from under 3 years for workers 25–34 to about 9–10 years for those 55–64.
Is job tenure falling?
It has been fairly stable in recent years; the long-run “job for life” decline is older news than most people assume.
Is 3.9 years an average or a median?
A median — half of workers have longer tenure with their current employer and half shorter.
Sources & methodology
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Employee Tenure, January 2024.
Figures are from the BLS Employee Tenure release (January 2024). By-age values are from the same release; the all-16+ median is 3.9 years.
Last checked July 2026 · Refreshed when the BLS publishes its next Employee Tenure release.