An automatic cost-of-living adjustment would substantially raise wages: Annual wage increases of a 3% COLA
| Overall private sector | $1,956 |
|---|---|
| Construction | $2,328 |
| Health care and social assistance | $2,071 |
| Manufacturing | $1,813 |
| Retail | $1,348 |
| Leisure and hospitality | $1,262 |
Notes: Annual pay increases are three percent increases in the average wage of production, non-supervisory workers, annualized by assuming pay at 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year.
Source: EPI State of Working America Data Library (2026).