US average hourly earnings increased by 3.6% year-on-year in April 2026, after a downwardly revised 3.4% rise in March, which was the weakest since May 2021. Even so, the figure undershot expectations of a 3.8% increase source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Average Hourly Earnings YoY in the United States increased to 3.60 percent in April from 3.40 percent in March of 2026. 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. This page includes a chart with historical data for the United States Average Hourly Earnings YoY. United States Average Hourly Earnings YoY - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on May of 2026.

Average Hourly Earnings YoY in the United States increased to 3.60 percent in April from 3.40 percent in March 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
2026-04-03 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 3.6% 3.4% 3.8% 3.6%
2026-06-05 12:30 PM
Average Hourly Earnings YoY
May 3.6% 3.5% 3.5%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Hourly Earnings MoM 0.20 0.20 percent Apr 2026
Average Hourly Earnings YoY 3.60 3.40 percent Apr 2026
Average Weekly Hours 34.30 34.20 Hours Apr 2026
Earnings Growth Expectations 2.70 2.40 percent Apr 2026
Employed Persons 162622.00 162848.00 Thousand Apr 2026
Employment Cost Index 0.90 0.70 percent Mar 2026
Employment Cost - Benefits 1.20 0.80 percent Mar 2026
Employment Cost - Wages 0.80 0.70 percent Mar 2026
Employment Rate 59.10 59.20 percent Apr 2026
Full Time Employment 134252.00 134676.00 Thousand Apr 2026
Government Payrolls -8.00 -5.00 Thousand Apr 2026
Job Layoffs and Discharges 1867.00 1714.00 Thousand Mar 2026
JOLTs Job Openings 6866.00 6922.00 Thousand Mar 2026
JOLTs Job Quits 3171.00 3046.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Job Quits Rate 2.00 1.90 Percent Mar 2026
Job Openings 6685.00 6679.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Participation Rate 61.80 61.90 percent Apr 2026
Labour Costs 122.55 121.72 points Dec 2025
Long Term Unemployment Rate 1.08 1.07 percent Apr 2026
Manufacturing Payrolls -2.00 15.00 Thousand Apr 2026
Non Farm Payrolls 115.00 185.00 Thousand Apr 2026
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 123.00 190.00 Thousand Apr 2026
Nonfarm Productivity 0.80 1.60 percent Mar 2026
Part Time Employment 28413.00 28290.00 Thousand Apr 2026
Productivity 119.58 119.35 points Mar 2026
Real Average Hourly Earnings MoM -0.50 -0.60 percent Apr 2026
Real Average Hourly Earnings YoY -0.30 0.20 percent Apr 2026
U-6 Unemployment Rate 8.20 8.00 percent Apr 2026
Unemployed Persons 7373.00 7239.00 Thousand Apr 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.30 4.30 percent Apr 2026
Unit Labour Costs 2.30 4.60 percent Mar 2026
Wages 32.23 32.12 USD/Hour Apr 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 30.10 29.97 USD/Hour Apr 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 9.50 8.50 percent Apr 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
3.60 3.40 8.10 0.60 2007 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA