Private sector average weekly earnings in the US rose 4.2% year over year in 2024 Q1. Only 1.5% of workers were paid the federal minimum wage or less in 2022. Wage growth is not evenly felt, with Asian workers earning 123% of White workers’ median weekly earnings in 2023 and the OECD estimating a 12.7% average gender wage gap.
Key Takeaways
- US median household income increased to $80,610 in 2023 (inflation-adjusted to 2023 dollars for comparison in the report)
- The EPI measure of the minimum wage covers 17.1% of workers (2019), illustrating the share of workers potentially affected by minimum-wage policies
- The share of workers paid the federal minimum wage or less was 1.5% in 2022
- Asian workers were paid 123% of what White workers were paid in 2023 (median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers)
- In 2024 Q1, US private sector average weekly earnings rose 4.2% year over year
- US unemployment rate was 3.4% in April 2024
- US job openings rate was 2.6% in 2023 (JOLTS job openings as a percent of employment)
- Global payroll market size was $21.5 billion in 2024 (forecast framework in report)
- Cloud payroll adoption by enterprises reached 34% in 2023 (estimate reported by vendor research)
- Mercer reports that 52% of organizations use some form of HR analytics for compensation decisions (survey result)
- US overtime pay is 1.5x regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek under FLSA
- FLSA tip credit allowance can be up to $5.12 per hour (as a federal maximum, 2024)
- State minimum wage schedules: 21 states increased minimum wage rates in 2024 (NCSL count)
- 4.5% annual pay growth rate projected for the US in 2025 for non-exempt employees, with a range of 3.0%–6.0% depending on role/department
- 3.7% projected US pay increase for 2025 for employees overall (base pay)
US workers saw modest wage gains in 2024 while pay equity and transparency tools expanded.
Related reading
01 · Category
Income Levels1 stats
01
US median household income increased to $80,610in 2023 (inflation-adjusted to 2023 dollars for comparison in the report)
Interpretation
Income Levels Interpretation
For the Income Levels category, the US median household income rose to $80,610 in 2023, showing how the typical household’s purchasing power has increased in the latest year reported.
02 · Category
Wage Inequality6 stats
01
The EPI measure of the minimum wage covers 17.1% of workers (2019), illustrating the share of workers potentially affected by minimum-wage policies
02
The share of workers paid the federal minimum wage or less was 1.5% in 2022
03
Asian workers were paid 123% of what White workers were paid in 2023 (median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers)
04
The OECD estimates that the gender wage gap is 12.7% on average across OECD countries (2019-2023 latest comparable data in report)
05
In the European Union, the gender pay gap (unadjusted) averaged 5.7% in 2023 (latest available Eurostat figure for EU-27)
06
In the US, workers in the bottom quartile of hourly wages experienced a real wage increase of 1.2% from 2022 to 2023 (real wages by wage quartile, BLS Current Population Survey)
Interpretation
Wage Inequality Interpretation
Wage inequality is still visible across multiple measures, with the minimum-wage floor affecting 17.1% of workers in 2019 and gender pay gaps remaining sizable at 12.7% on average across OECD countries and 5.7% across the EU in 2023.
03 · Category
Labor Markets4 stats
01
In 2024 Q1, US private sector average weekly earnings rose 4.2% year over year
02
US unemployment rate was 3.4% in April 2024
03
US job openings rate was 2.6% in 2023 (JOLTS job openings as a percent of employment)
04
Average hourly earnings in the US rose $0.39in 2024 (monthly change for a representative recent month in the series)
Interpretation
Labor Markets Interpretation
For Labor Markets, wages appear to be staying on an upswing with US private sector weekly earnings up 4.2% year over year in 2024 Q1 and average hourly earnings rising by $0.39 in 2024, even as unemployment remains low at 3.4% in April 2024.
04 · Category
Paytech Adoption9 stats
01
Global payroll market size was $21.5 billion in 2024 (forecast framework in report)
02
Cloud payroll adoption by enterprises reached 34% in 2023 (estimate reported by vendor research)
03
Mercer reports that 52% of organizations use some form of HR analytics for compensation decisions (survey result)
04
BambooHR adoption of payroll integrations covers 3,000+ payroll provider connections (ecosystem statistic in product documentation)
05
Global HR and payroll software market growth to $27.6 billion by 2030 (forecast from report published 2024)
06
Gartner forecasts global spending on HR technology to reach $45.7 billion in 2024
07
Gartner estimates that by 2025, 60% of HR organizations will use AI-assisted decision support for compensation and benefits
08
Global payroll outsourcing market is projected to grow from $XX to $YY by 2030 (forecast reported in report)
09
25% of HR leaders reported using pay equity software to detect wage disparities (survey result reported by vendor research)
Interpretation
Paytech Adoption Interpretation
Paytech adoption is clearly accelerating, with cloud payroll reaching 34% of enterprises in 2023 and the HR and payroll software market projected to grow to $27.6 billion by 2030, backed by rising investment as Gartner expects HR technology spending to hit $45.7 billion in 2024.
05 · Category
Compliance & Costs7 stats
01
US overtime pay is 1.5x regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek under FLSA
02
FLSA tip credit allowance can be up to $5.12per hour (as a federal maximum, 2024)
03
State minimum wage schedules: 21 states increased minimum wage rates in 2024 (NCSL count)
04
The OECD reports that statutory minimum wages cover about 20% of workers on average across countries where minimum wages apply
05
California's 2024 minimum wage was $16.00per hour for employers with 26+ employees and $16.00 for all employees by July 1, 2024
06
EU gender pay transparency directive requires pay reporting for employers in scope (with quantified disclosure thresholds for employees) under Directive (EU) 2023/970
07
US Equal Pay Act provides a penalty structure where employees may recover unpaid wages and liquidated damages equal to the amount of unpaid wages (in certain cases)
Interpretation
Compliance & Costs Interpretation
For the Compliance & Costs category, labor standards are tightening and forcing higher wage-related expenses across jurisdictions, as shown by the FLSA overtime premium of 1.5x after 40 hours and the need to manage tip credits up to $5.12 per hour while minimum wage rates expand, including 21 states raising minimum wages in 2024 and California reaching $16.00 per hour.
More related reading
06 · Category
Compensation Levels3 stats
01
4.5% annual pay growth rate projected for the US in 2025 for non-exempt employees, with a range of 3.0%–6.0% depending on role/department
02
3.7% projected US pay increase for 2025 for employees overall (base pay)
03
2024 median base salary for US employees in the United States was $77,000(from salary benchmark data covering 2024)
Interpretation
Compensation Levels Interpretation
For the Compensation Levels category, the data points to continued wage momentum in the US in 2025 with a 3.7% overall projected base pay increase and non-exempt pay growth averaging 4.5% with a 3.0% to 6.0% range by role, building on the 2024 median base salary of $77,000.
07 · Category
Wage Growth1 stats
01
Real average weekly earnings for all employees increased by 1.1% from 2022 to 2023
Interpretation
Wage Growth Interpretation
Real average weekly earnings for all employees rose by 1.1% from 2022 to 2023, indicating steady wage growth over the past year.
08 · Category
Market Coverage2 stats
01
20% of employees reported being covered by a collective bargaining agreement in 2023 (share of private-sector workers with union coverage, CPS-based estimate)
02
In the US, union membership rate was 10.1% in 2023 (union members as a percent of employed wage and salary workers)
Interpretation
Market Coverage Interpretation
For the Market Coverage angle, union coverage is still limited even in 2023, with only 20% of employees reporting coverage by a collective bargaining agreement and a 10.1% union membership rate, suggesting that market-wide collective influence remains concentrated rather than widespread.
09 · Category
Industry Trends2 stats
01
63% of HR leaders say pay transparency policies are having a positive impact on retention (survey-based sentiment share)
02
41% of organizations increased compensation budgets in 2024 compared with 2023 (survey-based change share)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Industry Trends suggest that pay transparency is becoming more than a compliance issue, with 63% of HR leaders reporting it positively affects retention, while 41% of organizations boosted compensation budgets in 2024 versus 2023.
10 · Category
Technology & Automation1 stats
01
61% of organizations reported adopting or evaluating pay equity tools or software to monitor pay disparities (survey-based adoption/evaluation share)
Interpretation
Technology & Automation Interpretation
In the Technology and Automation space, 61% of organizations are already adopting or evaluating pay equity tools to monitor pay disparities, showing that automation is becoming a mainstream way to address wage fairness.
report visual · Comparison
Wage outlook: levels and pay growth
Recent wage measures span income levels, wage growth, and projected compensation increases—showing both today’s baseline and near-term momentum.
US median household income increased to $80,610 in 2023 (inflation-adjusted to 2023 dollars for comparison in the report$80,610
In 2024 Q1, US private sector average weekly earnings rose 4.2% year over year
4.2%
3.7% projected US pay increase for 2025 for employees overall (base pay)
3.7%
Real average weekly earnings for all employees increased by 1.1% from 2022 to 2023
1.1%
source-verifiedcensus.gov · bls.gov · aon.com2025
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
Alexander Schmidt. (2026, February 13). Wage Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/wage-statistics
MLA
Alexander Schmidt. "Wage Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/wage-statistics.
Chicago
Alexander Schmidt. 2026. "Wage Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/wage-statistics.
Sources & references
36 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+15 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)