Median hourly earnings of employees in United States of America
United States of America: Median hourly earnings of employees was 26.8 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Median hourly earnings of employees in United States of America, 1994–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for median hourly earnings of employees in United States of America is 26.8, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 53.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, median hourly earnings of employees in United States of America peaked at 26.8 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10, in 1994.
That places United States of America 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.
Median hourly earnings of employees in United States of America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 10 | — |
| 1995 | 10.3 | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 10.64 | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 11 | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 11.54 | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 12 | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 12.5 | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 13 | +4.0% |
| 2002 | 13.46 | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 13.85 | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 14.15 | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 14.42 | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 15 | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 15.21 | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 16 | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 16.41 | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 16.29 | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 16.5 | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 16.81 | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 16.88 | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 17.14 | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 17.5 | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 18 | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 18.8 | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 19.23 | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 20 | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 22 | +10.0% |
| 2021 | 22.06 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 24 | +8.8% |
| 2023 | 25 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 25.95 | +3.8% |
| 2025 | 26.8 | +3.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.91 | 10 | 12 | 6 |
| 2000s | 14.4 | 12.5 | 16.41 | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.71 | 16.29 | 20 | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.3 | 22 | 26.8 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
- 31 Republic of Moldova 42.69 compare
- 32 Switzerland 38.26 compare
- 33 Canada 32 compare
- 35 Egypt 23.49 compare
- 36 South Africa 17.31 compare
- 37 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 17.3 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)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.4 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.05 (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is median hourly earnings of employees in United States of America?
- Median hourly earnings of employees in United States of America was 26.8 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest median hourly earnings of employees recorded in United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 26.8 in 2025.
- What is the lowest median hourly earnings of employees recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 10 in 1994.
- How does United States of America rank for median hourly earnings of employees?
- United States of America ranks 34th out of 55 countries with data for 2025.
- Is median hourly earnings of employees rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.1%. 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 Median 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. The median is the middle value, with half of employees earning less and half earning more. For more information, refer to the Wages and Working Time Statistics (COND) database description.