In 2023, the usual median hourly rate of a worker's wage in the United States was 19.24 U.S. dollars, a decrease from the previous year. Dollar value is based on 2023 U.S. dollars. In 1979, the median hourly earnings in the U.S. was 17.48 dollars.
Median inflation adjusted hourly earnings of wage and salary workers in the United States from 1979 to 2023
(in constant 2023 U.S. dollars)
Characteristic
Wage in constant 2022 U.S. dollars
2023
19.24
2022
18.88
2021
19.17
2020
19.29
2019
18.36
2018
18.24
2017
18.24
2016
17.83
2015
17.34
2014
16.98
2013
16.99
2012
17.07
2011
17.32
2010
17.56
2009
17.77
2008
17.4
2007
17.65
2006
17.87
2005
17.57
2004
17.83
2003
18.08
2002
17.84
2001
17.63
2000
17.63
1999
17.52
1998
17.11
1997
16.67
1996
16.34
1995
16.31
1994
16.38
1993
16.43
1992
16.53
1991
16.45
1990
16.43
1989
16.68
1988
16.74
1987
16.72
1986
16.53
1985
16.34
1984
16.33
1983
16.35
1982
16.46
1981
16.61
1980
17.03
1979
17.48
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The term constant dollars refers to a metric for valuing the price of something over time, without that metric changing due to inflation or deflation. The term specifically refers to dollars whose present value is linked to a given year.
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Bureau of Labor Statistics. (August 1, 2024). Median inflation adjusted hourly earnings of wage and salary workers in the United States from 1979 to 2023 (in constant 2023 U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 04, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/185369/median-hourly-earnings-of-wage-and-salary-workers/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Median inflation adjusted hourly earnings of wage and salary workers in the United States from 1979 to 2023 (in constant 2023 U.S. dollars)." Chart. August 1, 2024. Statista. Accessed May 04, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/185369/median-hourly-earnings-of-wage-and-salary-workers/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). Median inflation adjusted hourly earnings of wage and salary workers in the United States from 1979 to 2023 (in constant 2023 U.S. dollars). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 04, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/185369/median-hourly-earnings-of-wage-and-salary-workers/
Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Median Inflation Adjusted Hourly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers in The United States from 1979 to 2023 (in Constant 2023 U.S. Dollars)." Statista, Statista Inc., 1 Aug 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/185369/median-hourly-earnings-of-wage-and-salary-workers/
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Median inflation adjusted hourly earnings of wage and salary workers in the United States from 1979 to 2023 (in constant 2023 U.S. dollars) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/185369/median-hourly-earnings-of-wage-and-salary-workers/ (last visited May 04, 2025)
Median inflation adjusted hourly earnings of wage and salary workers in the United States from 1979 to 2023 (in constant 2023 U.S. dollars) [Graph], Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/185369/median-hourly-earnings-of-wage-and-salary-workers/
