Average hourly earnings of employees in United States of America
United States of America: Average hourly earnings of employees was 43.49 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Average hourly earnings of employees in United States of America, 1994–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average hourly earnings of employees in United States of America is 43.49, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
The figure is up 4.9% on the previous year and up 71.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average hourly earnings of employees in United States of America peaked at 43.49 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 14.32, in 1994.
United States of America ranks 34th of 55 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.
Average hourly earnings of employees in United States of America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 14.32 | — |
| 1995 | 14.93 | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 15.11 | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 15.3 | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 16.73 | +9.4% |
| 1999 | 16.83 | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 17.48 | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 18.95 | +8.4% |
| 2002 | 19.38 | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 19.53 | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 20.43 | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 20.86 | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 21.65 | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 22 | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 22.95 | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 24.11 | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 24.19 | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 23.6 | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 24.01 | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 24.48 | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 24.76 | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 25.3 | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 25.86 | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 27.21 | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 27.73 | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 28.72 | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 32.3 | +12.5% |
| 2021 | 32.22 | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 34.91 | +8.4% |
| 2023 | 37.45 | +7.3% |
| 2024 | 41.48 | +10.8% |
| 2025 | 43.49 | +4.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.54 | 14.32 | 16.83 | 6 |
| 2000s | 20.73 | 17.48 | 24.11 | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.59 | 23.6 | 28.72 | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.97 | 32.22 | 43.49 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
- 31 Republic of Moldova 52.19 compare
- 32 South Africa 50.08 compare
- 33 Switzerland 48.11 compare
- 35 Canada 40.1 compare
- 36 Namibia 39.76 compare
- 37 Botswana 37.25 compare
More work & labour data for United States of America
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 113,208 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 61.24 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 178,849 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 159,991 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 141,322 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 58.55 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.27 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.3372 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average hourly earnings of employees in United States of America?
- Average hourly earnings of employees in United States of America was 43.49 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 43.49 in 2025.
- What is the lowest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.32 in 1994.
- How does United States of America rank for average hourly earnings of employees?
- United States of America ranks 34th out of 55 countries with data for 2025.
- Is average hourly earnings of employees rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 71.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States of America data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Average hourly earnings of employees (15+, Local currency). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. The earnings of employees relate to the gross remuneration in cash and in kind paid to employees, as a rule at regular intervals, for time worked or work done together with remuneration for time not worked, such as annual vacation, other type of paid leave or holidays. Earnings exclude employers' contributions in respect of their employees paid to social security and pension schemes and also the benefits received by employees under these schemes. Earnings also exclude severance and termination pay. Data are converted to U.S. dollars as the common currency, using exchange rates or using purchasing power parity (PPP) rates for private consumption expenditures. The latter series allows for international comparisons by taking account of the differences in relative prices between countries. For more information, refer to the Wages and Working Time Statistics (COND) database description.