Household spending · Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024
Fees and admissions Spending
How much American households spend on fees and admissions - broken down by income, age, region, household size and tenure, from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
- Annual average (2024)
- $935
- Share of spending
- 1.2%
- Change vs 2023
- -1.7%
- Change vs 2020
- +120.0%
Spending Insight: Fees and admissions
American households spent an average of $935 on fees and admissions in 2024, representing 1.2% of total consumer expenditures. Year-over-year change was -1.7% (from $951 in 2023), roughly in line with broader consumer spending trends.
Since 2020, fees and admissions spending has risen by 120% (from $425 to $935), outpacing the roughly 21% cumulative inflation over 2020–2024 (BLS CPI-U) - a real-terms increase in household burden.
Income is strongly associated with fees and admissions spending: the top income quintile spends $2,546/year versus $197 for the lowest quintile, a 12.9x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($1,304/year) while the South spends the least ($709/year). Use the cross-cuts below, by income, region, age, household size, and housing tenure, to see which demographic factors drive this category hardest for your situation.
Spending Trend (2020–2024)
Fees and admissions spending per household, 2020–2024
National average annual spending
| Year | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $935 |
| 2023 | $951 |
| 2022 | $833 |
| 2021 | $654 |
| 2020 | $425 |
How we calculate this: % of Total is this category's published spend divided by that year's total household spend. YoY Change is the percentage difference between a year's amount and the prior year's amount. Both are computed from the raw BLS figures, not re-estimated.
By Income Level (2024)
How fees and admissions spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $197 |
| Second 20% | $324 |
| Middle 20% | $545 |
| Fourth 20% | $1,054 |
| Highest 20% | $2,546 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in fees and admissions spending
By Age Group (2024)
How fees and admissions spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $434 |
| 2 People | $1,150 |
| 3 People | $933 |
| 4 People | $982 |
| 5 or More | $1,801 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $1,189 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $1,400 |
| Renter | $908 |
What to do with this data
The average U.S. household spends $935 a year on fees and admissions - here's how to put that in context.
- Compare your own spending against the national income quintiles. Budget calculator
- See how fees and admissions spending shifts across income levels, ages, and regions. By income
- Track this category in your private watchlist to revisit as the data updates. Save categories
Figures are national averages from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey; your own household may differ from these means.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on fees and admissions? ▼
Is fees and admissions spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect fees and admissions spending? ▼
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Which age group spends the most on fees and admissions? ▼
Does household size affect fees and admissions spending? ▼
Spending Guides (show related guides)
Related Spending Categories
Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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