number1 - Required. First number, cell reference, or range to find the median of.
number2, ... - Optional. Optional. Additional numbers or ranges (up to 255 arguments total).
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salary | Analysis |
| 2 | $45,000 | |
| 3 | $52,000 | |
| 4 | $48,000 | |
| 5 | $350,000 | (CEO outlier) |
| 6 | Median: | =MEDIAN(A2:A5) $50,000 |
Find middle value in range
=MEDIAN(10,20,30,40,50) → 30
Combine multiple ranges
=MEDIAN(10,15,20,25,30,35) → 22.5
Detect outlier-skewed data
Returns "Skewed" if average much higher
Median of specific category only
Enter as array formula (Ctrl+Shift+Enter)
Calculate the true typical salary in your organization without executive compensation distorting the results. The MEDIAN function in Excel is perfect for HR salary benchmarking, compensation analysis, and pay equity studies where a few high earners would skew the average salary. This Excel MEDIAN formula provides accurate middle values for salary surveys, market research, compensation planning, and fair pay structure analysis used by HR professionals, recruiters, and compensation analysts.
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Employee | Department | Salary |
| 2 | Alice | Sales | $52,000 |
| 3 | Bob | Sales | $48,000 |
| 4 | Carol | Sales | $55,000 |
| 5 | CEO | Executive | $450,000 |
| 6 | Median Salary: | =MEDIAN(C2:C5) $53,500 | |
| 7 | Average (skewed): | $151,250 |
Compare individual performance scores against the median benchmark to identify above-average and below-average performers. The Excel MEDIAN function creates fair performance baselines unaffected by a few exceptional or poor performers. This MEDIAN formula pattern is essential for performance reviews, sales rankings, quality control metrics, and team assessments where you need an accurate middle reference point for employee evaluation and talent management.
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sales Rep | Sales | vs Median |
| 2 | Alice | $125,000 | |
| 3 | Bob | $87,000 | |
| 4 | Carol | $110,000 | |
| 5 | Median: | $110,000 | =MEDIAN($B$2:$B$4) |
| 6 | Alice Status: | Above Median |
❌ The Problem:
✅ Solution:
=MEDIAN(A1:A5)Use range notation (A1:A5) instead of comma-separated cells. The Excel MEDIAN function handles ranges efficiently, making formulas scalable and easier to maintain. For dynamic datasets, consider using entire column references like =MEDIAN(A:A) or named ranges for better formula readability.
❌ The Problem:
✅ Solution:
=MEDIAN(A1:A10)Use MEDIAN function in Excel when your dataset contains outliers or extreme values. MEDIAN returns the true middle value, resistant to skew. Compare both: if AVERAGE is >20% different from MEDIAN, your data is skewed and MEDIAN is more accurate for central tendency analysis in compensation, pricing, and performance metrics.
❌ The Problem:
✅ Solution:
=MEDIAN(IFERROR(A1:A10,""))The MEDIAN function in Excel ignores text values, logical values, and empty cells - it only processes numbers. If you have mixed data types, clean your data first or use IFERROR to convert errors to values. For conditional median based on criteria, use array formulas like =MEDIAN(IF(Category="A",Values)).
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