Wage growth in 2023 did not move in a single direction, with US private nonfarm average hourly earnings rising 4.1% year over year in December while real median weekly earnings for full time workers edged up only 0.3% from Q4 2022 to Q4 2023. The split gets sharper across countries and industries, from Canada’s real wages up 1.2% to the US construction sector pushing hourly earnings up 5.2% year over year in December. Weighing these shifts side by side raises a key question for 2025 expectations, who actually gained ground and how fast.
Key Takeaways
- Real median weekly earnings for men aged 25-54 grew 0.5% in 2023
- Women's real median weekly earnings up 1.1% YoY Q4 2023
- Black workers nominal wage growth 4.2% in 2023
- Real wages up 1.2% in Canada for 2023
- U.S. construction sector average hourly earnings grew 5.2% YoY Dec 2023
- Leisure and hospitality wages up 4.8% YoY in 2023
- OECD average wage growth 3.8% in 2023
- Germany real wages up 2.1% in 2023 after decline
- UK nominal wage growth 5.9% YoY Dec 2023
- U.S. average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose 4.1% year-over-year in December 2023
- Real median weekly earnings for full-time wage and salary workers increased by 0.3% from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2023
- Nominal median weekly earnings grew 4.1% year-over-year in Q4 2023
- California average hourly earnings up 4.5% YoY Dec 2023
- New York state wage growth 4.2% in 2023
- Texas private sector wages up 5.1% YoY 2023
Wage growth stayed solid in 2023 with gains across major sectors and states, though real pay rose modestly.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographic Wage Growth27 stats
01
Real median weekly earnings for men aged 25-54 grew 0.5% in 2023
02
Women's real median weekly earnings up 1.1% YoY Q4 2023
03
Black workers nominal wage growth 4.2% in 2023
04
Hispanic wage growth 4.5% YoY 2023
05
White non-Hispanic wages up 3.9% 2023
06
College graduates wage growth 3.6% YoY 2023
07
High school graduates only up 4.3% nominal 2023
08
Workers aged 25-34 saw 4.1% wage growth 2023
09
Ages 35-44 wage growth 3.8% YoY
10
45-54 year olds up 3.7% wages 2023
11
Workers over 55 wage growth 3.4% 2023
12
Men with bachelor's degree real wages up 0.8% 2023
13
Women without college up 4.6% nominal 2023
14
Asian American wage growth 4.0% YoY 2023
15
Union members wage growth 4.7% vs non-union 3.5% in 2023
16
Full-time workers median earnings $1,145weekly up 4.1% 2023
17
Part-time median weekly earnings up 3.9% 2023
18
Low-wage workers (bottom 10%) up 5.2% 2023
19
High-wage (top 10%) growth 2.9% YoY 2023
20
Mothers vs fathers wage gap narrowed with 1.2% faster growth for mothers 2023
21
Veterans wage growth 4.0% vs non-vets 3.9% 2023
22
Disabled workers up 3.6% wages 2023
23
Immigrants native-born wage growth differential 4.4% vs 3.8% 2023
24
Gen Z workers (18-24) up 5.1% 2023
25
Baby boomers wage growth 2.8% YoY 2023
26
STEM educated wages grew 4.2% 2023
27
Non-STEM bachelor's up 3.5% 2023
Interpretation
Demographic Wage Growth Interpretation
Under the Demographic Wage Growth lens, wage gains were modest for some groups but stronger overall for others, with Hispanic workers rising 4.5% in 2023 while men aged 25 to 54 increased by only 0.5% in 2023.
02 · Category
Industry Sector Wage Growth28 stats
01
Real wages up 1.2% in Canada for 2023
02
U.S. construction sector average hourly earnings grew 5.2% YoY Dec 2023
03
Leisure and hospitality wages up 4.8% YoY in 2023
04
Manufacturing wage growth 3.4% YoY Q4 2023
05
Financial activities sector wages rose 4.5% YoY 2023
06
Health care and social assistance hourly earnings up 4.0% YoY
07
Retail trade wages grew 3.9% YoY Dec 2023
08
Professional and business services up 4.1% wage growth 2023
09
Information sector wages increased 3.7% YoY Q4 2023
10
Transportation and warehousing up 5.0% YoY 2023
11
Education services wage growth 3.2% YoY
12
Mining and logging sector up 6.1% wages YoY Dec 2023
13
Utilities wages grew 4.3% YoY 2023
14
Wholesale trade up 4.2% wage growth 2023
15
Other services sector 3.6% YoY increase
16
Tech industry software developers wages up 4.5% in 2023
17
Construction laborers wages grew 5.8% YoY 2023
18
Registered nurses in health care up 3.9% 2023
19
Retail salespersons wages 4.1% YoY growth
20
Heavy truck drivers up 6.2% wages 2023
21
Accountants in finance grew 3.5% YoY
22
Food service workers up 5.3% in hospitality 2023
23
Lawyers in professional services 3.8% growth
24
Electricians in construction up 4.7% 2023
25
Software quality assurance up 5.1% in IT
26
Home health aides 4.4% YoY growth 2023
27
Bartenders in leisure up 6.0% wages
28
Financial managers 4.0% growth 2023
Interpretation
Industry Sector Wage Growth Interpretation
Across industry sectors, wage growth remained broadly strong in 2023, ranging from Canada’s real wages rising 1.2% to U.S. construction and leisure and hospitality increasing 5.2% and 4.8% respectively, with manufacturing at 3.4% and financial activities and health care and social assistance both near 4% to 4.5%.
03 · Category
International Wage Growth21 stats
01
OECD average wage growth 3.8% in 2023
02
Germany real wages up 2.1% in 2023 after decline
03
UK nominal wage growth 5.9% YoY Dec 2023
04
France wages grew 4.2% in 2023
05
Japan average wage increase 2.3% in 2023 shunto
06
Canada average hourly wages up 4.0% YoY 2023
07
Australia wage growth 4.1% annually Q4 2023
08
Euro area compensation per employee up 4.7% YoY Q4 2023
09
China urban wage growth 5.8% in 2023
10
India real wage growth 2.5% for regular workers 2023
11
Sweden wages up 4.5% 2023
12
South Korea minimum wage up 5.0% to 9,860 KRW/hour 2024
13
Brazil formal sector wages grew 4.3% 2023 adjusted
14
Mexico wage growth 4.9% nominal 2023
15
Spain real wages down 0.5% but nominal 3.2% 2023
16
Italy compensation per employee 3.9% YoY 2023
17
Netherlands wages up 5.1% 2023
18
Switzerland nominal wages 2.0% growth 2023
19
Singapore wage growth 5.5% for rank-and-file 2023
20
South Africa average wage increase 6.2% in 2023 surveys
21
Russia real wages up 7.4% in 2023
Interpretation
International Wage Growth Interpretation
Under the International Wage Growth lens, wage momentum looks fairly broad-based across major economies in 2023, ranging from Japan’s 2.3% shunto increase to the OECD average rise of 3.8% and topping out at strong UK nominal growth of 5.9% YoY in December.
More related reading
04 · Category
Overall Economy Wage Growth30 stats
01
U.S. average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose 4.1% year-over-year in December 2023
02
Real median weekly earnings for full-time wage and salary workers increased by 0.3% from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2023
03
Nominal median weekly earnings grew 4.1% year-over-year in Q4 2023
04
Average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees increased 4.2% from December 2022 to December 2023
05
Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 4.0% over the 12 months ending December 2023
06
Wages and salaries for civilian workers rose 3.9% year-over-year in Q4 2023
07
U.S. real average hourly earnings declined 0.4% from November 2022 to November 2023
08
Nominal average hourly earnings grew 4.1% YoY in May 2024
09
Employment Cost Index for wages rose 4.2% over 12 months ending March 2024
10
Private industry compensation costs increased 3.9% YoY in Q1 2024
11
U.S. wage growth for all private employees was 3.8% in 2023 annually
12
Atlanta Fed Wage Growth Tracker showed 4.1% median wage growth in April 2024
13
U.S. average weekly earnings rose 3.5% YoY in 2023
14
Real hourly wages grew 0.5% in 2023 for typical workers
15
Nominal wage growth averaged 4.6% in 2022 for U.S. workers
16
U.S. unit labor costs increased 2.7% in Q4 2023, related to wage pressures
17
Wage growth for private sector was 4.3% YoY in June 2024
18
Real compensation per hour fell 1.1% in Q1 2024
19
U.S. labor share of income showed wage growth stagnation at 62.4% in 2023
20
Average annual wages in U.S. reached $59,384in 2022, up 5.4% from 2021
21
Wage growth slowed to 3.2% in manufacturing overall in 2023
22
EPI reports typical worker wages up 1.7% real in first half 2024
23
FRED data: Real median personal income grew 0.2% YoY in 2023
24
BLS: All employees hourly earnings up 3.9% YoY Q2 2024
25
Wage Phillips curve suggests 3.5% growth in 2024
26
U.S. decile wage growth at 10th percentile was 4.5% nominal 2023
27
90th percentile wage growth 3.2% YoY 2023
28
Median wage growth 3.8% for U.S. in 2023
29
Atlanta Fed tracker at 3.9% in June 2024
30
Nominal wage growth 4.0% projected for 2024
Interpretation
Overall Economy Wage Growth Interpretation
For the overall economy wage growth picture, multiple measures in late 2023 point to steady gains, with private nonfarm hourly earnings up 4.1% year over year in December 2023 and compensation costs rising 4.0% over the 12 months ending that same month.
05 · Category
Regional Wage Growth24 stats
01
California average hourly earnings up 4.5% YoY Dec 2023
02
New York state wage growth 4.2% in 2023
03
Texas private sector wages up 5.1% YoY 2023
04
Florida hourly earnings growth 4.8% 2023
05
Midwest region average 3.9% wage growth Q4 2023
06
Northeast wages up 4.0% YoY 2023
07
South Atlantic states 4.6% growth 2023
08
Pacific division (West Coast) up 4.3% 2023
09
Urban areas median wage growth 4.1% vs rural 3.7% 2023
10
Rust Belt states (OH, MI, PA) average 3.5% wage growth 2023
11
Sun Belt (AZ, NV) up 5.3% YoY 2023
12
NYC metro area wages grew 4.4% 2023
13
Los Angeles metro up 4.7% 2023
14
Chicago wages 3.8% growth YoY
15
Boston area 4.2% wage increase 2023
16
Dallas-Fort Worth up 5.0% 2023
17
Seattle metro wages grew 4.9% YoY 2023
18
Rural Midwest counties 3.2% growth 2023
19
Appalachian region up 4.1% 2023
20
Great Plains states average 4.0% wage growth
21
New England states 3.9% YoY 2023
22
Mountain West (CO, UT) up 4.6% 2023
23
Gulf Coast (LA, MS) 4.4% growth 2023
24
Upper Midwest (MN, WI) 3.7% 2023
Interpretation
Regional Wage Growth Interpretation
Across regions, wage growth has been fairly strong and consistent, with states like Texas at 5.1% in 2023 and California at 4.5% YoY Dec 2023 leading while the Midwest still shows solid 3.9% in Q4 2023, reinforcing the regional wage strength theme.
report visual · Comparison
Wage growth in 2023
Across groups and sectors, wage growth in 2023 generally ranged from modest gains to stronger increases, with some categories growing notably faster than others.
Hispanic wage growth 4.5% YoY 20234.5%
Black workers nominal wage growth 4.2% in 20234.2%
White non-Hispanic wages up 3.9% 20233.9%
College graduates wage growth 3.6% YoY 20233.6%
Women's real median weekly earnings up 1.1% YoY Q4 20231.1%
Real median weekly earnings for men aged 25-54 grew 0.5% in 20230.5%
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Timothy Grant. (2026, February 13). Wage Growth Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/wage-growth-statistics
MLA
Timothy Grant. "Wage Growth Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/wage-growth-statistics.
Chicago
Timothy Grant. 2026. "Wage Growth Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/wage-growth-statistics.
Sources & references
34 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level