How much could I be making?
If wages had kept up with productivity since 1979, your pay would be closer to:
Since the 1970s, U.S. workers’ wages have lagged farther and farther behind productivity gains. Corporate interests have advanced policies to suppress workers’ wage growth in order to increase profits and pay for the ultrarich.
When unions were at their strongest, pay rose with productivity—the more we made, the more we were paid. The federal minimum wage once rose in line with productivity too, but that stopped decades ago. For much of the last 50 years the unemployment rate has been allowed to stay too high for long stretches of time, and this high unemployment has smothered workers’ ability to bargain for higher wages.
Why? Because workers’ afraid of being unable to find a new job are hesitant to rock the boat by demanding higher pay and a union.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Frequently asked questions
My wages feel like they’ve barely outpaced inflation every year. Is that actually true?
Yes. It used to be that inflation-adjusted (or, real) wages and productivity grew at roughly the same rate. As workers produced more, they took home more. Since the late 1970s, that has broken down.
Why did wages and productivity stop moving together? Shouldn’t a stronger economy lift everyone?
Lawmakers began dismantling the rules that kept pay and productivity connected. Minimum wage was raised less often, unions were weakened, unemployment was allowed to rise, and tax rates on the wealthy were cut.
Worker pay has been held down, or suppressed, while productivity has risen. This is what we call the productivity pay gap.
Net productivity grew 90.2% from 1979 to 2025 while typical worker pay grew by 33.0% in the same time period. If pay had kept pace with productivity, the typical worker would be making $16.40 more per hour today, $13.53 of which is in greater wages.
The gap between productivity and a typical worker’s compensation has increased dramatically since 1979: Productivity growth and hourly compensation growth, 1948–2025
| Year | Productivity | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1948q1 | 100 | 100 |
| 1948q2 | 101.2 | 100.8 |
| 1948q3 | 100.8 | 100.8 |
| 1948q4 | 102.7 | 103.1 |
| 1949q1 | 102.2 | 105.4 |
| 1949q2 | 101.3 | 106.6 |
| 1949q3 | 104.7 | 109 |
| 1949q4 | 104.7 | 110.3 |
| 1950q1 | 108.9 | 111.8 |
| 1950q2 | 110.1 | 112.4 |
| 1950q3 | 112.1 | 111.7 |
| 1950q4 | 112.9 | 112.1 |
| 1951q1 | 111.5 | 110.2 |
| 1951q2 | 111.6 | 111.2 |
| 1951q3 | 114.4 | 113.5 |
| 1951q4 | 114.3 | 113.7 |
| 1952q1 | 114.3 | 114.4 |
| 1952q2 | 114.9 | 115.8 |
| 1952q3 | 115.3 | 115.8 |
| 1952q4 | 117.5 | 117.3 |
| 1953q1 | 119.9 | 119.6 |
| 1953q2 | 120.5 | 120.6 |
| 1953q3 | 120.2 | 121.8 |
| 1953q4 | 119.7 | 122.6 |
| 1954q1 | 120.3 | 123.7 |
| 1954q2 | 121.8 | 124.5 |
| 1954q3 | 123.7 | 125.3 |
| 1954q4 | 126.8 | 127.8 |
| 1955q1 | 128.8 | 128.4 |
| 1955q2 | 131.2 | 130.2 |
| 1955q3 | 131.3 | 130.6 |
| 1955q4 | 131.8 | 132.3 |
| 1956q1 | 132.4 | 134.2 |
| 1956q2 | 132.3 | 134.5 |
| 1956q3 | 132.3 | 134.8 |
| 1956q4 | 134.3 | 135.8 |
| 1957q1 | 135.9 | 136.4 |
| 1957q2 | 136 | 137.5 |
| 1957q3 | 136.4 | 137.9 |
| 1957q4 | 136.5 | 138.5 |
| 1958q1 | 135 | 137.5 |
| 1958q2 | 136.3 | 138 |
| 1958q3 | 139.6 | 138.8 |
| 1958q4 | 141.9 | 140 |
| 1959q1 | 143.4 | 142 |
| 1959q2 | 144.2 | 143 |
| 1959q3 | 144.5 | 142.8 |
| 1959q4 | 144.5 | 143.3 |
| 1960q1 | 148 | 144.3 |
| 1960q2 | 145.9 | 145.6 |
| 1960q3 | 146.2 | 146.2 |
| 1960q4 | 144.9 | 146.5 |
| 1961q1 | 146.6 | 147.6 |
| 1961q2 | 151.1 | 148.4 |
| 1961q3 | 152.8 | 148.5 |
| 1961q4 | 153.8 | 149.1 |
| 1962q1 | 155.7 | 151 |
| 1962q2 | 155.6 | 151.6 |
| 1962q3 | 157.4 | 152.3 |
| 1962q4 | 158.9 | 153.3 |
| 1963q1 | 160.7 | 154.7 |
| 1963q2 | 161.8 | 155.8 |
| 1963q3 | 163.8 | 155.3 |
| 1963q4 | 165.4 | 157.2 |
| 1964q1 | 167.4 | 158 |
| 1964q2 | 167 | 158.6 |
| 1964q3 | 169.6 | 160.3 |
| 1964q4 | 168.7 | 160.4 |
| 1965q1 | 171.1 | 161.6 |
| 1965q2 | 171.4 | 162.4 |
| 1965q3 | 175 | 163.1 |
| 1965q4 | 178.5 | 164.8 |
| 1966q1 | 179.3 | 165.1 |
| 1966q2 | 178.2 | 165.4 |
| 1966q3 | 178.7 | 165.6 |
| 1966q4 | 179.4 | 165.7 |
| 1967q1 | 180.1 | 166.8 |
| 1967q2 | 181.7 | 168.5 |
| 1967q3 | 181.5 | 168.7 |
| 1967q4 | 182.3 | 169.2 |
| 1968q1 | 186.3 | 170.6 |
| 1968q2 | 187.6 | 171.1 |
| 1968q3 | 187.9 | 172.2 |
| 1968q4 | 188 | 172.9 |
| 1969q1 | 189.7 | 175.1 |
| 1969q2 | 188.8 | 175.1 |
| 1969q3 | 190.4 | 176.2 |
| 1969q4 | 189.6 | 177.2 |
| 1970q1 | 190.1 | 176.4 |
| 1970q2 | 191.9 | 176.8 |
| 1970q3 | 195.3 | 178.6 |
| 1970q4 | 193.9 | 178.9 |
| 1971q1 | 200 | 181.1 |
| 1971q2 | 200.8 | 182.1 |
| 1971q3 | 203.2 | 183.5 |
| 1971q4 | 202.6 | 184.9 |
| 1972q1 | 204.7 | 189.6 |
| 1972q2 | 209.2 | 191.6 |
| 1972q3 | 211 | 193.1 |
| 1972q4 | 213.7 | 193.9 |
| 1973q1 | 214.8 | 193.8 |
| 1973q2 | 213.8 | 192.1 |
| 1973q3 | 211.4 | 191.6 |
| 1973q4 | 211.8 | 189.9 |
| 1974q1 | 207.3 | 188.1 |
| 1974q2 | 207.8 | 187.6 |
| 1974q3 | 206 | 187.5 |
| 1974q4 | 207 | 186.6 |
| 1975q1 | 209.3 | 186.9 |
| 1975q2 | 212.2 | 187.5 |
| 1975q3 | 214.3 | 186.9 |
| 1975q4 | 214.7 | 186.6 |
| 1976q1 | 216.6 | 187.3 |
| 1976q2 | 218.1 | 188.7 |
| 1976q3 | 218.1 | 189.9 |
| 1976q4 | 218.6 | 190.7 |
| 1977q1 | 219.4 | 191.5 |
| 1977q2 | 218.6 | 191.8 |
| 1977q3 | 221.1 | 193.1 |
| 1977q4 | 220.3 | 193.5 |
| 1978q1 | 219.5 | 195 |
| 1978q2 | 222.7 | 195 |
| 1978q3 | 222.5 | 194.8 |
| 1978q4 | 224 | 195.4 |
| 1979q1 | 221.7 | 195.1 |
| 1979q2 | 220.7 | 193 |
| 1979q3 | 218.9 | 192.2 |
| 1979q4 | 216.8 | 190.7 |
| 1980q1 | 215.7 | 188.3 |
| 1980q2 | 212.9 | 188.2 |
| 1980q3 | 212.8 | 187.9 |
| 1980q4 | 214.7 | 187.7 |
| 1981q1 | 217.9 | 186.8 |
| 1981q2 | 216.8 | 187.3 |
| 1981q3 | 219.2 | 187.2 |
| 1981q4 | 216 | 186.5 |
| 1982q1 | 215.4 | 187.3 |
| 1982q2 | 215.1 | 187.8 |
| 1982q3 | 214.9 | 187.5 |
| 1982q4 | 215.9 | 187.1 |
| 1983q1 | 218.7 | 189.2 |
| 1983q2 | 221.7 | 188.9 |
| 1983q3 | 223 | 188.6 |
| 1983q4 | 225.2 | 188.5 |
| 1984q1 | 225.5 | 188 |
| 1984q2 | 226.9 | 187.7 |
| 1984q3 | 228.2 | 187.6 |
| 1984q4 | 228.7 | 187.4 |
| 1985q1 | 229.9 | 187.2 |
| 1985q2 | 229.9 | 187.3 |
| 1985q3 | 232.5 | 187.6 |
| 1985q4 | 232.3 | 187.2 |
| 1986q1 | 234.2 | 187.4 |
| 1986q2 | 237.1 | 189.4 |
| 1986q3 | 237.9 | 189.4 |
| 1986q4 | 236.7 | 189.3 |
| 1987q1 | 234.5 | 187.8 |
| 1987q2 | 235.2 | 187 |
| 1987q3 | 235.1 | 186.4 |
| 1987q4 | 237 | 186.4 |
| 1988q1 | 237.6 | 186.3 |
| 1988q2 | 238 | 186.4 |
| 1988q3 | 239 | 186.1 |
| 1988q4 | 239.6 | 186.7 |
| 1989q1 | 239.7 | 186.8 |
| 1989q2 | 239.8 | 186 |
| 1989q3 | 240.8 | 186.6 |
| 1989q4 | 240.4 | 187.1 |
| 1990q1 | 241.6 | 186.8 |
| 1990q2 | 243.5 | 186.6 |
| 1990q3 | 241.7 | 184.9 |
| 1990q4 | 237.7 | 183.8 |
| 1991q1 | 238.9 | 184.5 |
| 1991q2 | 242.7 | 185.7 |
| 1991q3 | 244.3 | 186.2 |
| 1991q4 | 245.1 | 186.4 |
| 1992q1 | 249 | 186.7 |
| 1992q2 | 250.9 | 187.4 |
| 1992q3 | 253.5 | 187.7 |
| 1992q4 | 254.6 | 187 |
| 1993q1 | 253.4 | 188.3 |
| 1993q2 | 252 | 187.5 |
| 1993q3 | 252.8 | 187.7 |
| 1993q4 | 254.5 | 187.8 |
| 1994q1 | 255.6 | 188.8 |
| 1994q2 | 255.1 | 188.2 |
| 1994q3 | 253.8 | 188 |
| 1994q4 | 256.3 | 188.2 |
| 1995q1 | 255 | 187.5 |
| 1995q2 | 255 | 187.2 |
| 1995q3 | 255 | 187.5 |
| 1995q4 | 256.8 | 187.8 |
| 1996q1 | 258.3 | 187.6 |
| 1996q2 | 259.1 | 187.5 |
| 1996q3 | 259 | 188.1 |
| 1996q4 | 258.9 | 187.9 |
| 1997q1 | 259.3 | 188.3 |
| 1997q2 | 262.2 | 189.4 |
| 1997q3 | 264.4 | 190.4 |
| 1997q4 | 264.9 | 191.6 |
| 1998q1 | 265.7 | 192.9 |
| 1998q2 | 266.3 | 194.3 |
| 1998q3 | 269.5 | 195 |
| 1998q4 | 270.9 | 195.8 |
| 1999q1 | 273.8 | 196.9 |
| 1999q2 | 272.4 | 197.2 |
| 1999q3 | 273.8 | 197.7 |
| 1999q4 | 276.3 | 198 |
| 2000q1 | 273.2 | 196.9 |
| 2000q2 | 277.9 | 198.1 |
| 2000q3 | 277.8 | 198.4 |
| 2000q4 | 280.7 | 200 |
| 2001q1 | 278.4 | 200.4 |
| 2001q2 | 281.7 | 201.6 |
| 2001q3 | 282.2 | 202.9 |
| 2001q4 | 285.8 | 205 |
| 2002q1 | 290.7 | 206.3 |
| 2002q2 | 290.5 | 206.3 |
| 2002q3 | 292 | 207.5 |
| 2002q4 | 292.4 | 209.1 |
| 2003q1 | 294.2 | 209.2 |
| 2003q2 | 299.9 | 210.6 |
| 2003q3 | 304 | 210.4 |
| 2003q4 | 307.3 | 210 |
| 2004q1 | 307.3 | 210 |
| 2004q2 | 309.9 | 209.8 |
| 2004q3 | 311.6 | 210 |
| 2004q4 | 312.8 | 209.3 |
| 2005q1 | 316.2 | 210.2 |
| 2005q2 | 316.7 | 210.5 |
| 2005q3 | 315.9 | 209.1 |
| 2005q4 | 316.7 | 209 |
| 2006q1 | 319.1 | 209.6 |
| 2006q2 | 318.4 | 210.1 |
| 2006q3 | 316.6 | 210 |
| 2006q4 | 319.8 | 212.6 |
| 2007q1 | 321.4 | 212.5 |
| 2007q2 | 321.3 | 212.9 |
| 2007q3 | 323.2 | 213.7 |
| 2007q4 | 322.7 | 212.7 |
| 2008q1 | 319.2 | 212.6 |
| 2008q2 | 319.3 | 212.2 |
| 2008q3 | 316.9 | 211 |
| 2008q4 | 321.9 | 217.6 |
| 2009q1 | 327.4 | 222.4 |
| 2009q2 | 331.1 | 222.5 |
| 2009q3 | 333.7 | 222.1 |
| 2009q4 | 337.1 | 222.1 |
| 2010q1 | 338.7 | 224 |
| 2010q2 | 340.6 | 224.9 |
| 2010q3 | 344.6 | 225.2 |
| 2010q4 | 344.7 | 224.8 |
| 2011q1 | 341 | 223.7 |
| 2011q2 | 339.1 | 222.1 |
| 2011q3 | 338.2 | 221.3 |
| 2011q4 | 338.6 | 221.4 |
| 2012q1 | 340.1 | 219.9 |
| 2012q2 | 341.9 | 220.4 |
| 2012q3 | 339.9 | 220.6 |
| 2012q4 | 339.6 | 219.8 |
| 2013q1 | 342.4 | 221.4 |
| 2013q2 | 343.5 | 223.1 |
| 2013q3 | 344.8 | 223.5 |
| 2013q4 | 347 | 224 |
| 2014q1 | 344.2 | 223.7 |
| 2014q2 | 345.9 | 223.5 |
| 2014q3 | 349 | 223.9 |
| 2014q4 | 348.5 | 225.2 |
| 2015q1 | 352.1 | 228.1 |
| 2015q2 | 353.7 | 227.8 |
| 2015q3 | 354.7 | 228.2 |
| 2015q4 | 353.6 | 229.9 |
| 2016q1 | 354.6 | 231.5 |
| 2016q2 | 354.4 | 231.1 |
| 2016q3 | 355.4 | 231.5 |
| 2016q4 | 357.9 | 231.4 |
| 2017q1 | 357.8 | 231.2 |
| 2017q2 | 357.9 | 232.4 |
| 2017q3 | 361.4 | 233.2 |
| 2017q4 | 362.7 | 232.8 |
| 2018q1 | 364 | 233.2 |
| 2018q2 | 364.5 | 234.1 |
| 2018q3 | 365.5 | 235.2 |
| 2018q4 | 365.2 | 236.7 |
| 2019q1 | 367.3 | 237.7 |
| 2019q2 | 368.8 | 238.3 |
| 2019q3 | 372.1 | 239.6 |
| 2019q4 | 374.1 | 240 |
| 2020q1 | 373.2 | 241 |
| 2020q2 | 386.3 | 253.7 |
| 2020q3 | 392.8 | 248.3 |
| 2020q4 | 389.9 | 248.1 |
| 2021q1 | 394.6 | 248.5 |
| 2021q2 | 396 | 247.5 |
| 2021q3 | 395.1 | 247.5 |
| 2021q4 | 395.8 | 246.1 |
| 2022q1 | 391.6 | 244.4 |
| 2022q2 | 389.4 | 242.1 |
| 2022q3 | 388.6 | 241.7 |
| 2022q4 | 390.5 | 242.6 |
| 2023q1 | 391.8 | 243.6 |
| 2023q2 | 393.3 | 245.1 |
| 2023q3 | 398.3 | 246 |
| 2023q4 | 400.3 | 247.3 |
| 2024q1 | 401.1 | 248 |
| 2024q2 | 403.7 | 248.8 |
| 2024q3 | 405.7 | 250.8 |
| 2024q4 | 406.5 | 251.4 |
| 2025q1 | 404.5 | 251.8 |
| 2025q2 | 408.5 | 253.1 |
| 2025q3 | 412.3 | 253.6 |
Notes: Data are for compensation (wages and benefits) of production/nonsupervisory workers in the private sector and net productivity of the total economy. “Net productivity” is the growth of output of goods and services less depreciation per hour worked.
Source: EPI analysis of unpublished Total Economy Productivity data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Labor Productivity and Costs program, wage data from the BLS Current Employment Statistics, BLS Employment Cost Trends, BLS Consumer Price Index, and Bureau of Economic Analysis National Income and Product Accounts.
The Wage Calculator shows you where your current wage would be if it had grown with productivity since 1979.
What can I actually do?
Use this Wage Calculator to see how inequality affects you personally. Share it. Talk about it. Make sure your elected representatives at the local, state, and national level support policies that support workers like raising the minimum wage, expanding worker protections, and making it easier to join a union.
For researchers
How is this calculated?
To find what a given individual should be making, we first calculate where a person falls in the current wage distribution. We use annualized hourly wages (assume 2080 hours worked) to create ventile cut-offs (5th percentile, 10th percentile, 15th percentile, etc.) Then, based on the user’s inputted annual earnings, we find a percentile by linearly extrapolating between the closest ventile cut-offs.
Next, we place the user in the 1979 wage distribution using their current percentile and create a counterfactual wage by applying overall productivity growth to the 1979 wage ventiles. Using this method we estimate what an individual’s wage would be if it had grown with productivity since 1979, as wages did in the three decades after World War II.
Does this vary where I live?
We don’t have individual specific data to see how your wages have fallen behind, but this spreadsheet provides information on how the median wage has fallen behind productivity and what it could have been if it had risen with productivity since 1979.
Source: Economic Policy Institute Wage Calculator, March 2026. Data are in 2025 dollars.
Methodology
To calculate where a person falls in the wage distribution, we use annualized hourly wages to create ventile cut-offs (5th percentile, 10th percentile, 15th percentile, etc.) within the wage distribution. Based on the user's salary, we find a percentile by linearly extrapolating between the closest ventile cut-offs. Since we annualize wages (multiplying hourly wages by 2,080), part-time workers will find the most appropriate comparison by inputting salary as if they are full time.
To predict wages if overall economic inequality had not increased since 1979 (i.e., if wages had kept up with productivity, as they did in the three decades after World War II), we apply productivity growth to 1979 wage ventiles.
For more information on EPI’s data methods, see Methodology for measuring wages and benefits.
Sources: Wages from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Current Population Survey Outgoing Rotation Group (1979 and 2017). Net productivity data from EPI analysis of BLS Labor Productivity and Costs data.
Last updated March 1, 2018
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