Nominal Wage Tracker
Key numbers on nominal wages
- Actual year-over-year growth for private employees: 3.9%
Year-over-year change in private-sector nominal average hourly earnings, 2007–2025
Nominal Wage Tracker
Year-over-year change in private-sector nominal average hourly earnings, 2007–2025
| date | All nonfarm employees | Production/nonsupervisory workers |
|---|---|---|
| Mar-2007 | 3.4% | 4.1% |
| Apr-2007 | 3.1% | 3.8% |
| May-2007 | 3.5% | 4.1% |
| Jun-2007 | 3.6% | 4.1% |
| Jul-2007 | 3.2% | 4.1% |
| Aug-2007 | 3.3% | 4.0% |
| Sep-2007 | 3.1% | 4.0% |
| Oct-2007 | 3.2% | 3.8% |
| Nov-2007 | 3.1% | 3.8% |
| Dec-2007 | 2.8% | 3.7% |
| Jan-2008 | 2.9% | 3.8% |
| Feb-2008 | 2.9% | 3.7% |
| Mar-2008 | 3.0% | 3.8% |
| Apr-2008 | 2.9% | 3.8% |
| May-2008 | 3.0% | 3.7% |
| Jun-2008 | 2.7% | 3.6% |
| Jul-2008 | 3.2% | 3.7% |
| Aug-2008 | 3.3% | 3.9% |
| Sep-2008 | 3.3% | 3.7% |
| Oct-2008 | 3.3% | 3.8% |
| Nov-2008 | 3.5% | 3.9% |
| Dec-2008 | 3.7% | 4.0% |
| Jan-2009 | 3.6% | 3.7% |
| Feb-2009 | 3.3% | 3.6% |
| Mar-2009 | 3.3% | 3.5% |
| Apr-2009 | 3.4% | 3.3% |
| May-2009 | 3.0% | 3.1% |
| Jun-2009 | 2.9% | 2.9% |
| Jul-2009 | 2.6% | 2.7% |
| Aug-2009 | 2.4% | 2.7% |
| Sep-2009 | 2.5% | 2.7% |
| Oct-2009 | 2.5% | 2.7% |
| Nov-2009 | 2.2% | 2.7% |
| Dec-2009 | 2.0% | 2.4% |
| Jan-2010 | 2.0% | 2.7% |
| Feb-2010 | 2.2% | 2.5% |
| Mar-2010 | 1.9% | 2.3% |
| Apr-2010 | 1.8% | 2.4% |
| May-2010 | 1.8% | 2.6% |
| Jun-2010 | 1.8% | 2.5% |
| Jul-2010 | 1.8% | 2.4% |
| Aug-2010 | 1.8% | 2.4% |
| Sep-2010 | 1.8% | 2.2% |
| Oct-2010 | 1.9% | 2.5% |
| Nov-2010 | 1.8% | 2.2% |
| Dec-2010 | 1.7% | 2.1% |
| Jan-2011 | 2.1% | 2.4% |
| Feb-2011 | 1.8% | 2.1% |
| Mar-2011 | 1.8% | 2.0% |
| Apr-2011 | 1.9% | 2.1% |
| May-2011 | 2.0% | 2.1% |
| Jun-2011 | 2.1% | 2.0% |
| Jul-2011 | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| Aug-2011 | 2.0% | 1.9% |
| Sep-2011 | 1.9% | 2.0% |
| Oct-2011 | 1.9% | 1.8% |
| Nov-2011 | 2.0% | 1.8% |
| Dec-2011 | 2.0% | 1.8% |
| Jan-2012 | 1.7% | 1.3% |
| Feb-2012 | 1.8% | 1.4% |
| Mar-2012 | 2.1% | 1.8% |
| Apr-2012 | 2.1% | 1.6% |
| May-2012 | 1.9% | 1.4% |
| Jun-2012 | 2.0% | 1.5% |
| Jul-2012 | 1.6% | 1.4% |
| Aug-2012 | 1.8% | 1.4% |
| Sep-2012 | 2.0% | 1.5% |
| Oct-2012 | 1.6% | 1.2% |
| Nov-2012 | 1.9% | 1.5% |
| Dec-2012 | 2.2% | 1.7% |
| Jan-2013 | 2.1% | 1.8% |
| Feb-2013 | 2.1% | 2.1% |
| Mar-2013 | 1.9% | 1.9% |
| Apr-2013 | 2.1% | 1.9% |
| May-2013 | 2.1% | 1.8% |
| Jun-2013 | 2.1% | 2.1% |
| Jul-2013 | 2.1% | 2.0% |
| Aug-2013 | 2.3% | 2.2% |
| Sep-2013 | 2.1% | 2.2% |
| Oct-2013 | 2.2% | 2.3% |
| Nov-2013 | 2.2% | 2.3% |
| Dec-2013 | 1.9% | 2.2% |
| Jan-2014 | 2.0% | 2.3% |
| Feb-2014 | 2.4% | 2.6% |
| Mar-2014 | 2.1% | 2.4% |
| Apr-2014 | 2.0% | 2.4% |
| May-2014 | 2.1% | 2.4% |
| Jun-2014 | 2.1% | 2.3% |
| Jul-2014 | 2.1% | 2.3% |
| Aug-2014 | 2.2% | 2.4% |
| Sep-2014 | 2.0% | 2.1% |
| Oct-2014 | 2.0% | 2.2% |
| Nov-2014 | 2.1% | 2.3% |
| Dec-2014 | 1.9% | 1.8% |
| Jan-2015 | 2.1% | 2.0% |
| Feb-2015 | 1.9% | 1.6% |
| Mar-2015 | 2.2% | 2.0% |
| Apr-2015 | 2.3% | 1.9% |
| May-2015 | 2.3% | 2.2% |
| Jun-2015 | 2.1% | 1.9% |
| Jul-2015 | 2.2% | 2.0% |
| Aug-2015 | 2.2% | 2.2% |
| Sep-2015 | 2.3% | 2.1% |
| Oct-2015 | 2.5% | 2.4% |
| Nov-2015 | 2.4% | 2.1% |
| Dec-2015 | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| Jan-2016 | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| Feb-2016 | 2.3% | 2.4% |
| Mar-2016 | 2.4% | 2.3% |
| Apr-2016 | 2.6% | 2.6% |
| May-2016 | 2.4% | 2.3% |
| Jun-2016 | 2.6% | 2.5% |
| Jul-2016 | 2.7% | 2.6% |
| Aug-2016 | 2.5% | 2.3% |
| Sep-2016 | 2.6% | 2.5% |
| Oct-2016 | 2.8% | 2.5% |
| Nov-2016 | 2.6% | 2.4% |
| Dec-2016 | 2.7% | 2.5% |
| Jan-2017 | 2.5% | 2.4% |
| Feb-2017 | 2.7% | 2.4% |
| Mar-2017 | 2.6% | 2.3% |
| Apr-2017 | 2.5% | 2.2% |
| May-2017 | 2.5% | 2.3% |
| Jun-2017 | 2.5% | 2.3% |
| Jul-2017 | 2.6% | 2.3% |
| Aug-2017 | 2.6% | 2.3% |
| Sep-2017 | 2.8% | 2.6% |
| Oct-2017 | 2.3% | 2.2% |
| Nov-2017 | 2.5% | 2.3% |
| Dec-2017 | 2.7% | 2.5% |
| Jan-2018 | 2.8% | 2.5% |
| Feb-2018 | 2.6% | 2.6% |
| Mar-2018 | 2.8% | 2.8% |
| Apr-2018 | 2.8% | 2.8% |
| May-2018 | 2.9% | 2.9% |
| Jun-2018 | 2.9% | 2.9% |
| Jul-2018 | 2.8% | 2.9% |
| Aug-2018 | 3.2% | 3.1% |
| Sep-2018 | 3.1% | 3.1% |
| Oct-2018 | 3.3% | 3.2% |
| Nov-2018 | 3.4% | 3.5% |
| Dec-2018 | 3.5% | 3.6% |
| Jan-2019 | 3.3% | 3.4% |
| Feb-2019 | 3.6% | 3.5% |
| Mar-2019 | 3.4% | 3.6% |
| Apr-2019 | 3.3% | 3.5% |
| May-2019 | 3.3% | 3.5% |
| Jun-2019 | 3.4% | 3.6% |
| Jul-2019 | 3.4% | 3.7% |
| Aug-2019 | 3.4% | 3.6% |
| Sep-2019 | 3.1% | 3.6% |
| Oct-2019 | 3.1% | 3.8% |
| Nov-2019 | 3.3% | 3.6% |
| Dec-2019 | 3.0% | 3.2% |
| Jan-2020 | 3.0% | 3.4% |
| Feb-2020 | 3.1% | 3.6% |
| Mar-2020 | 3.5% | 3.6% |
| Apr-2020 | 8.1% | 7.8% |
| May-2020 | 6.6% | 6.8% |
| Jun-2020 | 5.1% | 5.5% |
| Jul-2020 | 4.9% | 4.9% |
| Aug-2020 | 4.8% | 5.0% |
| Sep-2020 | 4.8% | 4.8% |
| Oct-2020 | 4.7% | 4.6% |
| Nov-2020 | 4.6% | 4.7% |
| Dec-2020 | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| Jan-2021 | 5.2% | 5.3% |
| Feb-2021 | 5.4% | 5.1% |
| Mar-2021 | 4.5% | 5.1% |
| Apr-2021 | 0.6% | 1.5% |
| May-2021 | 2.3% | 2.8% |
| Jun-2021 | 4.0% | 4.2% |
| Jul-2021 | 4.3% | 5.1% |
| Aug-2021 | 4.4% | 5.3% |
| Sep-2021 | 4.9% | 6.0% |
| Oct-2021 | 5.4% | 6.5% |
| Nov-2021 | 5.4% | 6.5% |
| Dec-2021 | 5.0% | 6.3% |
| Jan-2022 | 5.7% | 6.9% |
| Feb-2022 | 5.3% | 6.8% |
| Mar-2022 | 5.9% | 7.0% |
| Apr-2022 | 5.7% | 6.9% |
| May-2022 | 5.6% | 6.7% |
| Jun-2022 | 5.4% | 6.7% |
| Jul-2022 | 5.5% | 6.5% |
| Aug-2022 | 5.4% | 6.2% |
| Sep-2022 | 5.1% | 5.9% |
| Oct-2022 | 5.0% | 5.8% |
| Nov-2022 | 5.1% | 5.9% |
| Dec-2022 | 4.9% | 5.5% |
| Jan-2023 | 4.5% | 5.2% |
| Feb-2023 | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Mar-2023 | 4.6% | 5.4% |
| Apr-2023 | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| May-2023 | 4.4% | 5.0% |
| Jun-2023 | 4.6% | 4.9% |
| Jul-2023 | 4.6% | 4.9% |
| Aug-2023 | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Sep-2023 | 4.4% | 4.7% |
| Oct-2023 | 4.2% | 4.5% |
| Nov-2023 | 4.1% | 4.5% |
| Dec-2023 | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Jan-2024 | 4.3% | 4.6% |
| Feb-2024 | 4.2% | 4.4% |
| Mar-2024 | 4.2% | 4.2% |
| Apr-2024 | 4.0% | 4.0% |
| May-2024 | 4.1% | 4.1% |
| Jun-2024 | 3.9% | 4.1% |
| Jul-2024 | 3.6% | 4.0% |
| Aug-2024 | 4.0% | 4.2% |
| Sep-2024 | 3.9% | 4.2% |
| Oct-2024 | 4.1% | 4.2% |
| Nov-2024 | 4.2% | 4.1% |
| Dec-2024 | 4.0% | 4.0% |
| Jan-2025 | 3.9% | 4.0% |
| Feb-2025 | 3.9% | 4.2% |
| Mar-2025 | 3.9% | 3.9% |
| Apr-2025 | 3.8% | 4.0% |
| May-2025 | 3.8% | 3.9% |
| Jun-2025 | 3.7% | 4.0% |
| Jul-2025 | 3.9% | 3.9% |
| Aug-2025 | 3.8% | 3.9% |
| Sep-2025 | 3.8% | 3.8% |
Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics public data series.
Mind the wage gap: Cumulative nominal average hourly earnings, actual and hypothetical if they had grown at 3.5% since the recession began, 2007–2025
Nominal Wage Tracker
Mind the wage gap: Cumulative nominal average hourly earnings, actual and hypothetical if they had grown at 3.5% since the recession began, 2007–2025
* Nominal wage growth consistent with the Federal Reserve Board’s 2 percent inflation target, 1.5 percent productivity growth, and a stable labor share of income
Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics public data series
Workers’ share of corporate income hasn’t recovered: Share of corporate-sector income received by workers over recent business cycles, 1979–2025
Nominal Wage Tracker
Workers' share of corporate income hasn't recovered: Share of corporate-sector income received by workers over recent business cycles, 1979–2025
| date | Labor share |
|---|---|
| 1979-01-01 | 79.1% |
| 1979-04-01 | 79.5% |
| 1979-07-01 | 80.3% |
| 1979-10-01 | 80.8% |
| 1980-01-01 | 81.3% |
| 1980-04-01 | 82.8% |
| 1980-07-01 | 82.0% |
| 1980-10-01 | 80.6% |
| 1981-01-01 | 80.4% |
| 1981-04-01 | 80.4% |
| 1981-07-01 | 79.6% |
| 1981-10-01 | 80.5% |
| 1982-01-01 | 81.5% |
| 1982-04-01 | 80.9% |
| 1982-07-01 | 81.0% |
| 1982-10-01 | 81.6% |
| 1983-01-01 | 81.0% |
| 1983-04-01 | 79.9% |
| 1983-07-01 | 79.5% |
| 1983-10-01 | 79.1% |
| 1984-01-01 | 77.8% |
| 1984-04-01 | 78.0% |
| 1984-07-01 | 78.5% |
| 1984-10-01 | 78.4% |
| 1985-01-01 | 78.5% |
| 1985-04-01 | 78.7% |
| 1985-07-01 | 78.4% |
| 1985-10-01 | 79.8% |
| 1986-01-01 | 80.1% |
| 1986-04-01 | 81.0% |
| 1986-07-01 | 81.7% |
| 1986-10-01 | 82.0% |
| 1987-01-01 | 82.0% |
| 1987-04-01 | 81.2% |
| 1987-07-01 | 80.7% |
| 1987-10-01 | 81.2% |
| 1988-01-01 | 81.2% |
| 1988-04-01 | 81.2% |
| 1988-07-01 | 81.1% |
| 1988-10-01 | 80.4% |
| 1989-01-01 | 80.9% |
| 1989-04-01 | 81.1% |
| 1989-07-01 | 81.2% |
| 1989-10-01 | 82.2% |
| 1990-01-01 | 82.1% |
| 1990-04-01 | 81.9% |
| 1990-07-01 | 82.9% |
| 1990-10-01 | 83.4% |
| 1991-01-01 | 82.4% |
| 1991-04-01 | 82.7% |
| 1991-07-01 | 83.1% |
| 1991-10-01 | 83.6% |
| 1992-01-01 | 83.2% |
| 1992-04-01 | 83.3% |
| 1992-07-01 | 83.7% |
| 1992-10-01 | 83.2% |
| 1993-01-01 | 83.6% |
| 1993-04-01 | 82.9% |
| 1993-07-01 | 82.8% |
| 1993-10-01 | 81.6% |
| 1994-01-01 | 81.6% |
| 1994-04-01 | 81.4% |
| 1994-07-01 | 80.8% |
| 1994-10-01 | 80.5% |
| 1995-01-01 | 80.8% |
| 1995-04-01 | 80.5% |
| 1995-07-01 | 79.7% |
| 1995-10-01 | 79.8% |
| 1996-01-01 | 79.3% |
| 1996-04-01 | 79.2% |
| 1996-07-01 | 79.4% |
| 1996-10-01 | 79.5% |
| 1997-01-01 | 79.1% |
| 1997-04-01 | 79.0% |
| 1997-07-01 | 78.4% |
| 1997-10-01 | 78.7% |
| 1998-01-01 | 79.8% |
| 1998-04-01 | 80.1% |
| 1998-07-01 | 80.0% |
| 1998-10-01 | 80.6% |
| 1999-01-01 | 80.4% |
| 1999-04-01 | 80.7% |
| 1999-07-01 | 81.1% |
| 1999-10-01 | 81.5% |
| 2000-01-01 | 81.8% |
| 2000-04-01 | 82.0% |
| 2000-07-01 | 82.5% |
| 2000-10-01 | 83.2% |
| 2001-01-01 | 83.2% |
| 2001-04-01 | 82.9% |
| 2001-07-01 | 83.1% |
| 2001-10-01 | 84.1% |
| 2002-01-01 | 82.3% |
| 2002-04-01 | 82.0% |
| 2002-07-01 | 81.8% |
| 2002-10-01 | 80.8% |
| 2003-01-01 | 80.3% |
| 2003-04-01 | 80.2% |
| 2003-07-01 | 79.8% |
| 2003-10-01 | 79.9% |
| 2004-01-01 | 78.7% |
| 2004-04-01 | 78.6% |
| 2004-07-01 | 78.5% |
| 2004-10-01 | 78.4% |
| 2005-01-01 | 77.1% |
| 2005-04-01 | 76.8% |
| 2005-07-01 | 76.9% |
| 2005-10-01 | 75.7% |
| 2006-01-01 | 75.3% |
| 2006-04-01 | 75.2% |
| 2006-07-01 | 74.6% |
| 2006-10-01 | 75.9% |
| 2007-01-01 | 77.2% |
| 2007-04-01 | 76.7% |
| 2007-07-01 | 78.0% |
| 2007-10-01 | 79.0% |
| 2008-01-01 | 79.5% |
| 2008-04-01 | 79.5% |
| 2008-07-01 | 79.8% |
| 2008-10-01 | 83.6% |
| 2009-01-01 | 79.8% |
| 2009-04-01 | 79.4% |
| 2009-07-01 | 78.4% |
| 2009-10-01 | 77.4% |
| 2010-01-01 | 76.3% |
| 2010-04-01 | 76.8% |
| 2010-07-01 | 74.8% |
| 2010-10-01 | 74.9% |
| 2011-01-01 | 77.1% |
| 2011-04-01 | 75.9% |
| 2011-07-01 | 76.0% |
| 2011-10-01 | 74.2% |
| 2012-01-01 | 73.9% |
| 2012-04-01 | 74.1% |
| 2012-07-01 | 74.4% |
| 2012-10-01 | 75.1% |
| 2013-01-01 | 74.7% |
| 2013-04-01 | 75.0% |
| 2013-07-01 | 75.1% |
| 2013-10-01 | 74.8% |
| 2014-01-01 | 76.0% |
| 2014-04-01 | 74.1% |
| 2014-07-01 | 73.3% |
| 2014-10-01 | 73.7% |
| 2015-01-01 | 74.2% |
| 2015-04-01 | 74.3% |
| 2015-07-01 | 74.9% |
| 2015-10-01 | 75.3% |
| 2016-01-01 | 74.9% |
| 2016-04-01 | 75.4% |
| 2016-07-01 | 75.4% |
| 2016-10-01 | 75.6% |
| 2017-01-01 | 75.9% |
| 2017-04-01 | 75.9% |
| 2017-07-01 | 76.3% |
| 2017-10-01 | 76.1% |
| 2018-01-01 | 75.8% |
| 2018-04-01 | 75.3% |
| 2018-07-01 | 75.2% |
| 2018-10-01 | 75.4% |
| 2019-01-01 | 76.0% |
| 2019-04-01 | 76.0% |
| 2019-07-01 | 75.5% |
| 2019-10-01 | 75.5% |
| 2020-01-01 | 77.7% |
| 2020-04-01 | 77.1% |
| 2020-07-01 | 72.9% |
| 2020-10-01 | 75.5% |
| 2021-01-01 | 73.3% |
| 2021-04-01 | 71.8% |
| 2021-07-01 | 72.5% |
| 2021-10-01 | 72.9% |
| 2022-01-01 | 73.2% |
| 2022-04-01 | 72.1% |
| 2022-07-01 | 71.8% |
| 2022-10-01 | 71.5% |
| 2023-01-01 | 71.9% |
| 2023-04-01 | 72.1% |
| 2023-07-01 | 71.6% |
| 2023-10-01 | 71.0% |
| 2024-01-01 | 71.7% |
| 2024-04-01 | 71.4% |
| 2024-07-01 | 71.1% |
| 2024-10-01 | 71.1% |
| 2025-01-01 | 71.7% |
| 2025-04-01 | 71.5% |
Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Federal Reserve banks’ corporate profits were netted out in the calculation of labor share.
Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Economic Analysis National Income and Product Accounts (Tables 1.14 and 6.16D)