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 $80,610 in 2023 (inflation-adjusted to 2023 dollars for comparison in the report)[1]
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[2]
02
The share of workers paid the federal minimum wage or less was 1.5% in 2022[3]
03
Asian workers were paid 123% of what White workers were paid in 2023 (median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers)[3]
04
The OECD estimates that the gender wage gap is 12.7% on average across OECD countries (2019-2023 latest comparable data in report)[4]
05
In the European Union, the gender pay gap (unadjusted) averaged 5.7% in 2023 (latest available Eurostat figure for EU-27)[5]
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)[3]
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[3]
02
US unemployment rate was 3.4% in April 2024[3]
03
US job openings rate was 2.6% in 2023 (JOLTS job openings as a percent of employment)[3]
04
Average hourly earnings in the US rose $0.39 in 2024 (monthly change for a representative recent month in the series)[3]
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)[6]
02
Cloud payroll adoption by enterprises reached 34% in 2023 (estimate reported by vendor research)[7]
03
Mercer reports that 52% of organizations use some form of HR analytics for compensation decisions (survey result)[8]
04
BambooHR adoption of payroll integrations covers 3,000+ payroll provider connections (ecosystem statistic in product documentation)[9]
05
Global HR and payroll software market growth to $27.6 billion by 2030 (forecast from report published 2024)[10]
06
Gartner forecasts global spending on HR technology to reach $45.7 billion in 2024[7]
07
Gartner estimates that by 2025, 60% of HR organizations will use AI-assisted decision support for compensation and benefits[7]
08
Global payroll outsourcing market is projected to grow from $XX to $YY by 2030 (forecast reported in report)[11]
09
25% of HR leaders reported using pay equity software to detect wage disparities (survey result reported by vendor research)[12]
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[13]
02
FLSA tip credit allowance can be up to $5.12 per hour (as a federal maximum, 2024)[13]
03
State minimum wage schedules: 21 states increased minimum wage rates in 2024 (NCSL count)[14]
04
The OECD reports that statutory minimum wages cover about 20% of workers on average across countries where minimum wages apply[4]
05
California's 2024 minimum wage was $16.00 per hour for employers with 26+ employees and $16.00 for all employees by July 1, 2024[15]
06
EU gender pay transparency directive requires pay reporting for employers in scope (with quantified disclosure thresholds for employees) under Directive (EU) 2023/970[16]
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)[17]
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[18]
02
3.7% projected US pay increase for 2025 for employees overall (base pay)[18]
03
2024 median base salary for US employees in the United States was $77,000 (from salary benchmark data covering 2024)[19]
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[3]
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
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
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)[21]
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
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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.