United States Average Hourly Earnings
Aug 2026 · Monthly
Average hourly earnings in the US rose to $37.75 in August 2026 from $37.65 previously. The reading marked the 65th consecutive monthly increase and a record high since the series began in March 2006. Year-over-year earnings growth was 3.09%, while the unemployment rate held at 4.1% and the labor force participation rate was 61.6%, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Average hourly earnings in the United States rose to 37.75 USD per hour in August 2026, up from 37.65 in July. The current figure marks a fresh all-time high for the series, which dates back to March 2006. Earnings remain well above the series low of 20.04 USD per hour recorded in March 2006.
| Actual | Previous | Highest | Lowest | Dates | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $38 | $38 | $38Aug 2026 | $20Mar 2006 | 2006 – 2026 | Monthly |
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About this series
Average Hourly Earnings in United States averaged $27 from 2006 until 2026, reaching an all-time high of $38 in Aug 2026 and a record low of $20 in Mar 2006. The series is reported monthly with history from 2006.
Average hourly earnings measure the average amount of money earned per hour worked by employees in the United States. The indicator is reported monthly in USD per hour and spans from March 2006 to the present. It is based on data from the Current Employment Statistics survey.
Source & methodology
We use primary economic sources for every country. See our methodology page for how we source and verify this data.
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