In December 2024, inflation amounted to 2.9 percent, while wages grew by 4.2 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.

Graph and download economic data for Employed full time: Median usual weekly real earnings: Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over: Black or African American (LEU0252884600Q) from Q1 2000 to Q4 2024 about full-time, African-American, salaries, workers, earnings, 16 years +, wages, median, real, employment, and USA.

In 2023, the average annual real wages in the United States amounted to 80,115 U.S. dollars. This shows the average annual wages in the United States from 2000 to 2023 in constant 2023 PPP-adjusted U.S. dollars.

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 12-Month Moving Average of Weighted Median Hourly Wage Growth: Overall (FRBATLWGT12MMAWMHWGO) from Dec 1997 to Feb 2025 about growth, moving average, 1-year, average, wages, median, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private (CEU0500000003) from Mar 2006 to Feb 2025 about earnings, average, establishment survey, hours, wages, private, employment, and USA.

This statistic presents a timeline with the real growth of average wages in Latin America and the Caribbean from 2006 to 2017. The source estimated that average salaries in the region had increased 0.7 percent in 2017, compared to the previous year.

In 2023, the median usual weekly earnings of an African American full-time employee in the United States amounted to 920 U.S. dollars. Dollar value is based on 2023 U.S. dollars. In 1979, the median weekly earnings of African American full-time employees was 783 constant 2023 U.S. dollars. Median weekly earnings of Black and African Americans not adjusted for inflation can be found here.

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 12-Month Moving Average of Unweighted Median Hourly Wage Growth for the West South Central Census Division (FRBATLWGT12MMUMHWGWSCCD) from Dec 1997 to Feb 2025 about West South Central Census Division, growth, moving average, 1-year, average, wages, median, and USA.

United States Median Wage Growth: 12-Mo Mov Avg: Highest Quartile of Wage Dist data was reported at 4.800 % in Jan 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.900 % for Dec 2024. United States Median Wage Growth: 12-Mo Mov Avg: Highest Quartile of Wage Dist data is updated monthly, averaging 3.600 % from Dec 1997 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 326 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.700 % in Jul 2023 and a record low of 2.000 % in Aug 2014. United States Median Wage Growth: 12-Mo Mov Avg: Highest Quartile of Wage Dist data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G109: Atlanta Fed Wage Growth Tracker: 12-Month Moving Average.

Graph and download economic data for 12-Month Moving Average of Unweighted Median Hourly Wage Growth: Wage Distribution: 1st to 25th Wage Percentile (FRBATLWGT12MMUMHWGWD1WP) from Dec 1997 to Feb 2025 about growth, moving average, 1-year, percentile, average, wages, median, and USA.

This statistic shows the median household income in the United States from 1990 to 2023 in 2023 U.S. dollars. The median household income was 80,610 U.S. dollars in 2023, an increase from the previous year. Household incomeThe median household income depicts the income of households, including the income of the householder and all other individuals aged 15 years or over living in the household. Income includes wages and salaries, unemployment insurance, disability payments, child support payments received, regular rental receipts, as well as any personal business, investment, or other kinds of income received routinely. The median household income in the United States varies from state to state. In 2020, the median household income was 86,725 U.S. dollars in Massachusetts, while the median household income in Mississippi was approximately 44,966 U.S. dollars at that time. Household income is also used to determine the poverty line in the United States. In 2021, about 11.6 percent of the U.S. population was living in poverty. The child poverty rate, which represents people under the age of 18 living in poverty, has been growing steadily over the first decade since the turn of the century, from 16.2 percent of the children living below the poverty line in year 2000 to 22 percent in 2010. In 2021, it had lowered to 15.3 percent. The state with the widest gap between the rich and the poor was New York, with a Gini coefficient score of 0.51 in 2019. The Gini coefficient is calculated by looking at average income rates. A score of zero would reflect perfect income equality and a score of one indicates a society where one person would have all the money and all other people have nothing.

In 2023, the usual median hourly rate of a female worker's wage in the United States was 18.11 U.S. dollars. Dollar value is based on 2023 U.S. dollars. This is a slight increase from the previous year, when women's median hourly wage was 17.9 constant 2023 U.S. dollars. The median hourly earnings of women in the U.S. not adjusted for inflation can be accessed here.

Romania was forecast to have the highest real salary increase in the last quarter of 2024 of the 34 countries included. The salary increase in the European country was forecast to reach 17 percent. Croatia and Serbia followed behind. On the other hand, Iceland and Japan were forecast to have a real wage growth of only 1.1 percent.

Graph and download economic data for 3-Month Moving Average of Weighted Median Hourly Wage Growth: Weighted 1997 Overall (FRBATLWGT3MMAWMHWGW97O) from Mar 1997 to Feb 2025 about growth, moving average, 3-month, average, wages, median, and USA.

United States Median Wage Growth: 3-Mo Mov Avg: Services data was reported at 4.100 % in Jan 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.200 % for Dec 2024. United States Median Wage Growth: 3-Mo Mov Avg: Services data is updated monthly, averaging 3.700 % from Mar 1997 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 335 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.600 % in Aug 2022 and a record low of 1.700 % in Dec 2010. United States Median Wage Growth: 3-Mo Mov Avg: Services data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G108: Atlanta Fed Wage Growth Tracker: 3-Month Moving Average.

Wages in China increased to 120698 CNY/Year in 2023 from 114029 CNY/Year in 2022. This dataset provides - China Average Yearly Wages - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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 2023, the median annual earnings of full-time male workers in the United States stood at 66,790 U.S. dollars after being adjusted for inflation, which was significantly higher than the median earnings of full-time women at 52,850. For further reading, see the female to male earnings ratio.