Average Hourly Earnings in the United States increased 3.5% year-on-year in March 2026, the least since May 2021, compared to 3.8% in February and forecasts of 3.7%. Average Hourly Earnings YoY in the United States averaged 3.15 percent from 2007 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 8.10 percent in April of 2020 and a record low of 0.60 percent in April of 2021. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Average Hourly Earnings YoY in the United States decreased to 3.50 percent in March from 3.80 percent in February of 2026.

Average Hourly Earnings YoY in the United States decreased to 3.50 percent in March from 3.80 percent in February of 2026. Average Hourly Earnings YoY in the United States is expected to be 3.40 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United States Average Hourly Earnings YoY is projected to trend around 3.10 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-03-06 01:30 PM
Average Hourly Earnings YoY
Feb 3.8% 3.7% 3.7% 3.6%
2026-04-03 12:30 PM
Average Hourly Earnings YoY
Mar 3.5% 3.8% 3.7% 3.6%
2026-05-08 12:30 PM
Average Hourly Earnings YoY
Apr 3.5% 3.6%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Hourly Earnings MoM 0.20 0.40 percent Mar 2026
Average Hourly Earnings YoY 3.50 3.80 percent Mar 2026
Average Weekly Hours 34.20 34.30 Hours Mar 2026
Earnings Growth Expectations 2.40 2.50 percent Mar 2026
Employed Persons 162848.00 162912.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Employment Cost Index 0.70 0.80 percent Dec 2025
Employment Cost - Benefits 0.70 0.80 percent Dec 2025
Employment Cost - Wages 0.70 0.80 percent Dec 2025
Employment Rate 59.20 59.30 percent Mar 2026
Full Time Employment 134676.00 134341.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Government Payrolls -8.00 -4.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Job Layoffs and Discharges 1721.00 1660.00 Thousand Feb 2026
JOLTs Job Openings 6882.00 7240.00 Thousand Feb 2026
JOLTs Job Quits 2974.00 3137.00 Thousand Feb 2026
Job Quits Rate 1.90 2.00 Percent Feb 2026
Job Openings 6649.00 7377.00 Thousand Feb 2026
Participation Rate 61.90 62.00 percent Mar 2026
Labour Costs 122.55 121.72 points Dec 2025
Long Term Unemployment Rate 1.07 1.11 percent Mar 2026
Manufacturing Payrolls 15.00 -6.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Non Farm Payrolls 178.00 -133.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 186.00 -129.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Nonfarm Productivity 1.80 5.20 percent Dec 2025
Part Time Employment 28290.00 28478.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Productivity 119.64 118.81 points Dec 2025
Real Average Hourly Earnings MoM -0.60 0.10 percent Mar 2026
Real Average Hourly Earnings YoY 0.30 1.30 percent Mar 2026
U-6 Unemployment Rate 8.00 7.90 percent Mar 2026
Unemployed Persons 7239.00 7571.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.30 4.40 percent Mar 2026
Unit Labour Costs 4.40 1.00 percent Dec 2025
Wages 32.07 32.02 USD/Hour Mar 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 29.95 29.82 USD/Hour Mar 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 8.50 9.50 percent Mar 2026


United States Average Hourly Earnings YoY
In the United States, Average Hourly Earnings is the average amount employees make per hour in a given month. The Federal Reserve uses average hourly earnings in deciding whether to raise or lower interest rates.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
3.50 3.80 8.10 0.60 2007 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA