Here's the salary you need to be in the top 50% of earners in 19 major US cities

ShutterstockIf you're earning $52,000 a year in New York City, you're doing better than half of the population.

Looking at the money it takes to be among the top 1% and top 10% of earners in major US cities might feel discouraging.

However, if you didn't crack the top 10%, you're not necessarily doing too badly for yourself. In the New York City metro area, for example, if you're earning $52,000 a year, you're earning more than half the population.

That's according to an interactive tool from The New York Times that allows you to enter your household income and compare your earnings across 344 zones throughout the US.

Here, we've highlighted the annual household income required to be in the top 25% and top 50% in 19 major US metro areas, from lowest to highest income needed.