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.

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.

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 3-Month Moving Average of Unweighted Median Hourly Wage Growth: Work Status: Full-Time (FRBATLWGT3MMAUMHWGWSFT) from Mar 1997 to Feb 2025 about growth, moving average, full-time, 3-month, average, wages, median, 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

United States Median Wage Growth: 3-Mo Mov Avg: Job Switcher data was reported at 4.200 % in Jan 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.300 % for Dec 2024. United States Median Wage Growth: 3-Mo Mov Avg: Job Switcher data is updated monthly, averaging 4.200 % from Mar 1997 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 335 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.500 % in Jul 2022 and a record low of 1.200 % in Jan 2010. United States Median Wage Growth: 3-Mo Mov Avg: Job Switcher 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.

United States Median Wage Growth: 12-Mo Mov Avg: Non-MSA data was reported at 4.900 % in Jan 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.800 % for Dec 2024. United States Median Wage Growth: 12-Mo Mov Avg: Non-MSA data is updated monthly, averaging 3.500 % from Dec 1997 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 326 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.600 % in Mar 2023 and a record low of 1.900 % in Nov 2013. United States Median Wage Growth: 12-Mo Mov Avg: Non-MSA 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.

United States Median Wage Growth: 12-Mo Mov Avg: Construction & Mining data was reported at 5.200 % in Feb 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 5.200 % for Jan 2025. United States Median Wage Growth: 12-Mo Mov Avg: Construction & Mining data is updated monthly, averaging 4.100 % from Dec 1997 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 327 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.500 % in Jan 2024 and a record low of 1.000 % in Oct 2010. United States Median Wage Growth: 12-Mo Mov Avg: Construction & Mining 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.G111: Atlanta Fed Wage Growth Tracker: 12-Month Moving Average.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Unweighted Median Hourly Wage Growth: Overall (FRBATLWGTUMHWGO) from Jan 1997 to Feb 2025 about growth, wages, median, and USA.

United States Median Wage Growth: 3-Mo Mov Avg: Male data was reported at 4.300 % in Jan 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.100 % for Dec 2024. United States Median Wage Growth: 3-Mo Mov Avg: Male data is updated monthly, averaging 3.800 % from Mar 1997 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 335 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.100 % in Jul 2022 and a record low of 1.400 % in Oct 2010. United States Median Wage Growth: 3-Mo Mov Avg: Male 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.

Minimum Wages in the United States remained unchanged at 7.25 USD/Hour in 2025 from 7.25 USD/Hour in 2024. This dataset provides - United States Minimum Wages- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2023, the median usual weekly earnings of a white full-time employee in the United States amounted to 1,138 U.S. dollars. Dollar value is based on 2023 U.S. dollars. Unadjusted median wages for white workers in the U.S. can be found here.