Average hourly earnings of employees in United States
United States: Average hourly earnings of employees was 43.49 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Average hourly earnings of employees in United States, 1994–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, average hourly earnings of employees in United States stood at 43.49. 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 peaked at 43.49 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 14.32, in 1994.
That places United States 34th out of 55 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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, 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
More work & labour data for United States
- 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)
- 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 (2023)
- Criminal penalties or civil remedies sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 61.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average hourly earnings of employees in United States?
- Average hourly earnings of employees in United States was 43.49 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 43.49 in 2025.
- What is the lowest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.32 in 1994.
- How does United States rank for average hourly earnings of employees?
- United States ranks 34th out of 55 countries with data for 2025.
- Is average hourly earnings of employees rising or falling in United States?
- 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 data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Average hourly earnings of employees (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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. For more information, refer to the Wages and Working Time Statistics (COND) database description.