In 2023, the median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers in the United States was 19.24 U.S. dollars. This is an increase from 1979, when median hourly earnings were at 4.44 U.S. dollars. Hourly Workers The United States national minimum wage is 7.25 U.S. dollars per hour, which has been the minimum wage since 2009. However, each state has the agency to set their state minimum wage. Furthermore, some cities are able to create their minimum wage. Many argue that the minimum wage is too low and should be raised, because it is not considered a living wage. There has been a movement to raise the minimum wage to 15 U.S. dollars per hour, called “Fight for 15” which began in the early 2010s. While there has been no movement at the federal level, some states have moved to increase their minimum wages, with at least three states and the District of Columbia setting minimum wage rates at or above 15 dollars per hour. More recently, some proponents of increasing the minimum wage say that 15 dollars is too low, and lawmakers should strive toward a higher goal, especially given that a 2021 analysis found that the minimum wage in the U.S. should be 22.88 U.S. dollars if it grew at the same rate as economic productivity. Salary Workers On the other hand, salary workers in the United States do not get paid on an hourly basis. The median weekly earnings of salary workers have significantly increased since 1979. Asian salary workers had the highest hourly earnings in the U.S. in 2021. Among female salary workers, those ages 45 to 54 years old had the highest median hourly earnings in 2021, likewise for male salary workers.

Graph and download economic data for Laborers' Average Hourly Rate of Wages, Weighted for United States (A08139USA052NNBR) from 1860 to 1891 about hours, wages, labor, rate, and USA.

In November 2024, the average hourly earnings of all employees in the United States was at 11.25 U.S. dollars. The data have been seasonally adjusted. The deflators used for constant-dollar earnings shown here come from the Consumer Price Indexes Programs. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Employees (CPI-U) is used to deflate the data for all employees. A comparison of the rate of wage growth versus the monthly inflation since 2020 rate can be accessed here. Real wages are wages that have been adjusted for inflation.

Wages in Manufacturing in the United States increased to 28.64 USD/Hour in February from 28.54 USD/Hour in January of 2025. This dataset provides - United States Average Hourly Wages in Manufacturing - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private (CES0500000003) from Mar 2006 to Feb 2025 about earnings, average, establishment survey, hours, wages, private, employment, and USA.

In October 2024, the average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls in the United States stood at 35.46 U.S. dollars. The data have been seasonally adjusted. Employed persons are employees on nonfarm payrolls and consist of: persons who did any work for pay or profit during the survey reference week; persons who did at least 15 hours of unpaid work in a family-operated enterprise; and persons who were temporarily absent from their regular jobs because of illness, vacation, bad weather, industrial dispute, or various personal reasons.

Graph and download economic data for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Manufacturing (CES3000000003) from Mar 2006 to Feb 2025 about earnings, establishment survey, hours, wages, manufacturing, employment, and USA.

In 2023 in the United States, the median hourly rate of a worker's wage between 20 and 24 years old was 16.4 current U.S. dollars. Workers between the ages of 35 and 44 years old had the highest hourly wage in that year, at 21.2 current U.S. dollars.

This statistic shows the average hourly wage in occupations that required a certain skill set in the United States from 1990 to 2015, by required skill. In 2015, U.S. Americans working in occupations that required a high level of analytical skills earned 27 U.S. dollars per hour on average.

In 2023, the usual median hourly rate of a Hispanic worker's wage in the United States was 18.1 constant 2023 U.S. dollars. Black or African American workers earned the least on average, with an hourly wage of 18.1 U.S. dollars.

Wages in Manufacturing in Mexico decreased to 3.80 USD/Hour in January from 5.10 USD/Hour in December of 2024. This dataset provides - Mexico Average Wages in Manufacturing Index - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The federally mandated minimum wage in the United States is 7.25 U.S. dollars per hour, although the minimum wage varies from state to state. As of January 1, 2024, the District of Columbia had the highest minimum wage in the U.S., at 17 U.S. dollars per hour. This was followed by Washington, which had 16.28 U.S. dollars per hour as the state minimum wage.

Minimum wage workers

Minimum wage jobs are traditionally seen as “starter jobs” in the U.S., or first jobs for teenagers and young adults, and the number of people working minimum wage jobs has decreased from almost four million in 1979 to about 247,000 in 2020. However, the number of workers earning less than minimum wage in 2020 was significantly higher, at about 865,000.

Minimum wage jobs

Minimum wage jobs are primarily found in food preparation and serving occupations, as well as sales jobs (primarily in retail). Because the minimum wage has not kept up with inflation, nor has it been increased since 2009, it is becoming harder and harder live off of a minimum wage wage job, and for those workers to afford essential things like rent.

This graph shows average wages around the world in 2012 as calculated by purchasing power parity. In 2012 the highest average wage was earned in Luxembourg at 4,089 purchasing power parity dollars. Wages and salaries Wages and salaries in the United States have increased during the last decades. The median weekly earnings of a full-time wage and salary worker were about 241 U.S. dollars in 1979 and shifted up to 768 U.S. dollars in 2012.

The median earnings of U.S. full-time wage and salary workers vary across their educational attainment. The highest paid workers are those who hold a bachelor’s degree, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The U.S. federal government specified minimum wage laws for workers in the United States, which say that workers must be paid no less than the current federal minimum wage. The minimum wage was set at 7.25 U.S. dollars per hour by federal law. The actual minimum wage varies from state to state, as some states have additional minimum wage laws.

For instance, the minimum wage in Washington was around 9.04 U.S. dollars per hour, while the worst minimum wage can be found in Georgia, where workers earn at least 5.15 U.S. dollars per hour. No minimum wages can be found in Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina and Mississippi, as of January 1, 2012.

The number of workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the minimum wage in the U.S. was at its highest in the industry type of leisure and hospitality in 2013.

Recent statistics show that the share of female workers paid hourly rates at or below prevailing federal minimum wage in the United States decreased since 1979. In that year, 20.2 percent of the female wage and salary workers were paid below the federal minimum wage, while only 2.9 percent of the female workers were paid below the federal minimum wage in 2006.

Wages in the United States increased 4.46 percent in January of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Wages and Salaries Growth - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Average Hourly Earnings in the United States increased 0.30 percent in February of 2025 over the previous month. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Average Hourly Earnings - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Graph and download economic data for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Construction (CEU2000000003) from Mar 2006 to Feb 2025 about earnings, establishment survey, hours, construction, wages, employment, and USA.

Average hourly and weekly wage rate, and median hourly and weekly wage rate by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), type of work, gender, and age group.

In 2024, the average hourly wage for construction employees in the United States was 1.5 dollars higher than a year before. Within the sector, the wage for production and non-supervisory employees increased amounted to 35.6 U.S. dollars per hour.

Graph and download economic data for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Retail Trade (CEU4200000003) from Mar 2006 to Feb 2025 about earnings, establishment survey, hours, retail trade, wages, sales, retail, employment, and USA.

United States - Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Utilities was 46.91000 $ per Hour in March of 2022, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Utilities reached a record high of 46.91000 in March of 2022 and a record low of 28.88000 in August of 2006. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Utilities - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.