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, 2025, the District of Columbia had the highest minimum wage in the U.S., at 17.5 U.S. dollars per hour. This was followed by Washington, which had 16.66 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.

Graph and download economic data for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Total Private in Washington (SMU53000000500000003A) from 2007 to 2024 about WA, earnings, hours, private, employment, and USA.

Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Information in Washington was 68.39000 $ per Hour in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Information in Washington reached a record high of 68.39000 in January of 2024 and a record low of 42.96000 in January of 2007. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Information in Washington - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on August of 2025.

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.

In March 2025, inflation amounted to 2.4 percent, while wages grew by 4.3 percent. The inflation rate has not exceeded the rate of wage growth since January 2023. Inflation in 2022 The high rates of inflation in 2022 meant that the real terms value of American wages took a hit. Many Americans report feelings of concern over the economy and a worsening of their financial situation. The inflation situation in the United States is one that was experienced globally in 2022, mainly due to COVID-19 related supply chain constraints and disruption due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The monthly inflation rate for the U.S. reached a 40-year high in June 2022 at 9.1 percent, and annual inflation for 2022 reached eight percent. Without appropriate wage increases, Americans will continue to see a decline in their purchasing power. Wages in the U.S. Despite the level of wage growth reaching 6.7 percent in the summer of 2022, it has not been enough to curb the impact of even higher inflation rates. The federally mandated minimum wage in the United States has not increased since 2009, meaning that individuals working minimum wage jobs have taken a real terms pay cut for the last twelve years. There are discrepancies between states - the minimum wage in California can be as high as 15.50 U.S. dollars per hour, while a business in Oklahoma may be as low as two U.S. dollars per hour. However, even the higher wage rates in states like California and Washington may be lacking - one analysis found that if minimum wage had kept up with productivity, the minimum hourly wage in the U.S. should have been 22.88 dollars per hour in 2021. Additionally, the impact of decreased purchasing power due to inflation will impact different parts of society in different ways with stark contrast in average wages due to both gender and race.

Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Other Services in Washington was 37.90000 $ per Hour in June of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Other Services in Washington reached a record high of 38.29000 in June of 2024 and a record low of 18.16000 in February of 2007. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Other Services in Washington - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Education and Health Services in Washington was 38.61000 $ per Hour in June of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Education and Health Services in Washington reached a record high of 39.52000 in February of 2025 and a record low of 22.39000 in January of 2007. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Education and Health Services in Washington - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on August of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Construction in Washington (SMU53000002000000003A) from 2007 to 2024 about WA, earnings, hours, construction, employment, and USA.

Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Information in Washington was 66.80000 $ per Hour in June of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Information in Washington reached a record high of 70.91000 in September of 2024 and a record low of 41.53000 in June of 2007. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Information in Washington - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

This statistic shows the average hourly wage of people employed as child care workers in the United States as of May 2021, by state. As of May 2021, the median wage for child care workers in Washington D.C. was ***** U.S. dollars per hour.

Graph and download economic data for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Total Private in Tacoma-Lakewood, WA (MD) (SMU53451040500000003A) from 2007 to 2024 about Tacoma, WA, earnings, hours, private, employment, and USA.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset presents median income data over a decade or more for males and females categorized by Total, Full-Time Year-Round (FT), and Part-Time (PT) employment in Washington. It showcases annual income, providing insights into gender-specific income distributions and the disparities between full-time and part-time work. The dataset can be utilized to gain insights into gender-based pay disparity trends and explore the variations in income for male and female individuals.

Key observations: Insights from 2023

Based on our analysis ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, we present the following observations: - All workers, aged 15 years and older: In Washington, the median income for all workers aged 15 years and older, regardless of work hours, was $57,882 for males and $37,403 for females.

These income figures highlight a substantial gender-based income gap in Washington. Women, regardless of work hours, earn 65 cents for each dollar earned by men. This significant gender pay gap, approximately 35%, underscores concerning gender-based income inequality in the state of Washington.

- Full-time workers, aged 15 years and older: In Washington, among full-time, year-round workers aged 15 years and older, males earned a median income of $82,246, while females earned $65,541, leading to a 20% gender pay gap among full-time workers. This illustrates that women earn 80 cents for each dollar earned by men in full-time roles. This analysis indicates a widening gender pay gap, showing a substantial income disparity where women, despite working full-time, face a more significant wage discrepancy compared to men in the same roles.

Surprisingly, the gender pay gap percentage was higher across all roles, including non-full-time employment, for women compared to men. This suggests that full-time employment offers a more equitable income scenario for women compared to other employment patterns in Washington.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. All incomes have been adjusting for inflation and are presented in 2023-inflation-adjusted dollars.

Gender classifications include:

• Male
• Female

Employment type classifications include:

• Full-time, year-round: A full-time, year-round worker is a person who worked full time (35 or more hours per week) and 50 or more weeks during the previous calendar year.
• Part-time: A part-time worker is a person who worked less than 35 hours per week during the previous calendar year.

Variables / Data Columns

• Year: This column presents the data year. Expected values are 2010 to 2023
• Male Total Income: Annual median income, for males regardless of work hours
• Male FT Income: Annual median income, for males working full time, year-round
• Male PT Income: Annual median income, for males working part time
• Female Total Income: Annual median income, for females regardless of work hours
• Female FT Income: Annual median income, for females working full time, year-round
• Female PT Income: Annual median income, for females working part time

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Washington median household income by race. You can refer the same here

Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Information in Washington (DISCONTINUED) was 54.21119 $ per Hour in March of 2022, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Information in Washington (DISCONTINUED) reached a record high of 66.16687 in January of 2019 and a record low of 41.68969 in March of 2007. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Information in Washington (DISCONTINUED) - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

In 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, licensed nurses in Washington had the highest wages, with an hourly mean wage of ***** U.S. dollars, followed by California and Oregon. On the other hand, Mississippi had the lowest annual mean wages for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in 2024. The national average stood at ***** U.S. dollars.

In 2023, shoe and leather workers in the state of Washington earned a mean annual wage of approximately ****** U.S. dollars. In the same year, people employed in that occupation in the United States earned on average ***** U.S. dollars per hour.

Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Construction in Washington was 47.27000 $ per Hour in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Construction in Washington reached a record high of 47.27000 in January of 2024 and a record low of 27.03000 in January of 2007. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Construction in Washington - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on August of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Financial Activities in Washington (SMU53000005500000003A) from 2007 to 2024 about WA, earnings, financial, hours, employment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Leisure and Hospitality in Washington (SMU53000007000000003A) from 2007 to 2024 about leisure, hospitality, WA, earnings, hours, employment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Private Service Providing in Washington (SMU53000000800000003A) from 2007 to 2024 about WA, earnings, hours, services, private, employment, and USA.

Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Trade, Transportation, and Utilities in Washington was 32.04000 $ per Hour in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Trade, Transportation, and Utilities in Washington reached a record high of 32.04000 in January of 2024 and a record low of 19.58000 in January of 2007. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees: Trade, Transportation, and Utilities in Washington - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on August of 2025.