Wages in the United States increased 3.82 percent in May of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Wage Growth in the United States averaged 6.13 percent from 1960 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 15.54 percent in April of 2021 and a record low of -6.12 percent in April of 2020. source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

Wage Growth in the United States is expected to be 4.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United States Wages and Salaries Growth is projected to trend around 3.60 percent in 2027 and 3.40 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Related Last Previous Unit Reference
ADP Employment Change 98.00 122.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Average Hourly Earnings MoM 0.30 0.30 percent Jun 2026
Average Hourly Earnings YoY 3.50 3.40 percent Jun 2026
Average Weekly Hours 34.30 34.30 Hours Jun 2026
Challenger Job Cuts 45849.00 97006.00 Persons Jun 2026
Continuing Jobless Claims 1805.00 1821.00 Thousand Jul 2026
Earnings Growth Expectations 2.80 2.70 percent Jun 2026
Employed Persons 162264.00 162771.00 Thousand Jun 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 59.00 59.20 percent Jun 2026
Full Time Employment 133659.00 134173.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Government Payrolls 8.00 32.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Challenger Hiring Plans 10933.00 19536.00 Persons Jun 2026
Initial Jobless Claims 208.00 216.00 Thousand Jul 2026
Job Layoffs and Discharges 1708.00 1667.00 Thousand May 2026
JOLTs Job Openings 7594.00 7585.00 Thousand May 2026
JOLTs Job Quits 3065.00 3043.00 Thousand May 2026
Job Quits Rate 1.90 1.90 Percent May 2026
Job Openings 7508.00 8160.00 Thousand May 2026
Jobless Claims 4-week Average 214.25 219.00 Thousand Jul 2026
Participation Rate 61.50 61.80 percent Jun 2026
Labour Costs 123.78 123.22 points Mar 2026
Long Term Unemployment Rate 1.14 1.17 percent Jun 2026
Manufacturing Payrolls 3.00 -2.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Minimum Wages 7.25 7.25 USD/Hour Dec 2026
Non Farm Payrolls 57.00 129.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 49.00 97.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Nonfarm Productivity 0.30 1.60 percent Mar 2026
Part Time Employment 28626.00 28679.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Personal Income MoM 0.70 0.00 percent May 2026
Population 342.28 340.97 Million Dec 2025
Productivity 119.40 119.35 points Mar 2026
Retirement Age Men 67.00 66.83 Years Dec 2026
Retirement Age Women 67.00 66.83 Years Dec 2026
U-6 Unemployment Rate 7.90 8.10 percent Jun 2026
Unemployed Persons 7094.00 7307.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.20 4.30 percent Jun 2026
Unit Labour Costs 1.80 2.10 percent Mar 2026
Wage Growth 3.82 3.53 percent May 2026
Wages 32.38 32.31 USD/Hour Jun 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 30.27 30.19 USD/Hour Jun 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 9.20 9.40 percent Jun 2026


United States Wages and Salaries Growth
In the United States, wage growth refers to the yearly change in wages and salaries disbursements from government, manufacturing and service industries.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
3.82 3.53 15.54 -6.12 1960 - 2026 percent Monthly
Current Prices, SA