Household Income, Wages & Living Standards · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
U.S. Average Hourly Earnings by Year (Nominal vs. Real 1964-2025)
Comparing nominal hourly wages against CPI-adjusted real wages reveals how worker paychecks have evolved across the 1970s stagflation era, the 1990s productivity boom, and the post-2020 labor market. In 2025, average hourly wages recorded 31.34USD / Hour, compared with 30.12 in 2024. Across the 62-year archive (1964-2025), readings have ranged between 2.53 (1964) and 31.34 (2025).
Series Summary Ledger
- 2025 Reading31.34
- 2024 Reading30.12
- All-Time High (2025)31.34
- All-Time Low (1964)2.53
- Reporting UnitUSD / Hour
- Series CodeAHETPI
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) · 1964-2025
U.S. Average Hourly Earnings by Year (Nominal vs. Real 1964-2025)
2025 Reading: 31.34 USD / Hour
Loading historical series...
DECADE BENCHMARKS (1950s-2020s)
Average Hourly Wages by Decade
| Decade | Mean | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.83 | 2.53 | 3.22 |
| 1970s | 4.70 | 3.40 | 6.34 |
| 1980s | 8.49 | 6.85 | 9.80 |
| 1990s | 11.65 | 10.20 | 13.49 |
| 2000s | 16.15 | 14.01 | 18.61 |
| 2010s | 20.98 | 19.05 | 23.51 |
| 2020s | 28.09 | 24.68 | 31.34 |
Average Hourly Wages Year-by-Year Historical Table (1964-2025)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (AHETPI)| Year | Average Hourly Wages (USD / Hour) | Annual Change | Real Hourly Wage (2025 USD/Hour) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 31.34 | +1.22 | 31.34 |
| 2024 | 30.12 | +1.20 | 30.91 |
| 2023 | 28.92 | +1.35 | 30.55 |
| 2022 | 27.56 | +1.65 | 30.32 |
| 2021 | 25.91 | +1.23 | 30.78 |
| 2020 | 24.68 | +1.18 | 30.71 |
| 2019 | 23.51 | +0.80 | 29.60 |
| 2018 | 22.70 | +0.66 | 29.10 |
| 2017 | 22.04 | +0.50 | 28.95 |
| 2016 | 21.54 | +0.51 | 28.89 |
| 2015 | 21.03 | +0.43 | 28.56 |
| 2014 | 20.60 | +0.46 | 28.01 |
| 2013 | 20.13 | +0.41 | 27.82 |
| 2012 | 19.72 | +0.29 | 27.66 |
| 2011 | 19.44 | +0.39 | 27.82 |
| 2010 | 19.05 | +0.45 | 28.13 |
| 2009 | 18.61 | +0.54 | 27.92 |
| 2008 | 18.06 | +0.66 | 27.01 |
| 2007 | 17.41 | +0.67 | 27.03 |
| 2006 | 16.74 | +0.62 | 26.73 |
| 2005 | 16.11 | +0.43 | 26.57 |
| 2004 | 15.68 | +0.32 | 26.73 |
| 2003 | 15.36 | +0.40 | 26.88 |
| 2002 | 14.96 | +0.42 | 26.78 |
| 2001 | 14.54 | +0.53 | 26.43 |
| 2000 | 14.01 | +0.52 | 26.19 |
| 1999 | 13.49 | +0.48 | 26.06 |
| 1998 | 13.01 | +0.50 | 25.68 |
| 1997 | 12.50 | +0.46 | 25.07 |
| 1996 | 12.04 | +0.39 | 24.71 |
| 1995 | 11.65 | +0.31 | 24.61 |
| 1994 | 11.33 | +0.29 | 24.62 |
| 1993 | 11.05 | +0.28 | 24.62 |
| 1992 | 10.77 | +0.26 | 24.71 |
| 1991 | 10.51 | +0.32 | 24.85 |
| 1990 | 10.20 | +0.39 | 25.13 |
| 1989 | 9.80 | +0.37 | 25.46 |
| 1988 | 9.44 | +0.29 | 25.69 |
| 1987 | 9.14 | +0.22 | 25.90 |
| 1986 | 8.92 | +0.19 | 26.21 |
| 1985 | 8.73 | +0.25 | 26.14 |
| 1984 | 8.49 | +0.29 | 26.30 |
| 1983 | 8.20 | +0.33 | 26.50 |
| 1982 | 7.86 | +0.43 | 26.24 |
| 1981 | 7.43 | +0.59 | 26.32 |
| 1980 | 6.85 | +0.51 | 26.74 |
| 1979 | 6.34 | +0.46 | 28.12 |
| 1978 | 5.88 | +0.44 | 29.00 |
| 1977 | 5.44 | +0.38 | 28.88 |
| 1976 | 5.06 | +0.32 | 28.62 |
| 1975 | 4.74 | +0.30 | 28.35 |
| 1974 | 4.44 | +0.30 | 28.97 |
| 1973 | 4.14 | +0.24 | 30.01 |
| 1972 | 3.90 | +0.27 | 30.03 |
| 1971 | 3.63 | +0.22 | 28.84 |
| 1970 | 3.40 | +0.19 | 28.23 |
| 1969 | 3.22 | +0.19 | 28.24 |
| 1968 | 3.02 | +0.17 | 27.99 |
| 1967 | 2.85 | +0.12 | 27.55 |
| 1966 | 2.73 | +0.10 | 27.12 |
| 1965 | 2.63 | +0.09 | 26.86 |
| 1964 | 2.53 | - | 26.31 |