Whether you’re benchmarking a job offer or checking if you’re underpaid, here’s how hourly wages break down across America.
Average Hourly Wage Overview
| Metric | Value | Annual Equivalent (2,080 hrs) |
|---|---|---|
| Mean hourly wage | $34.25 | $71,240 |
| Median hourly wage | $22.14 | $46,050 |
| 10th percentile | $10.20 | $21,220 |
| 25th percentile | $15.50 | $32,240 |
| 75th percentile | $38.00 | $79,040 |
| 90th percentile | $55.30 | $115,020 |
| 95th percentile | $72.00 | $149,760 |
Hourly Wage by State
| Rank | State | Mean Hourly | Median Hourly | vs. National Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $40.50 | $28.80 | +30% |
| 2 | Washington | $39.80 | $28.20 | +27% |
| 3 | California | $39.50 | $27.50 | +24% |
| 4 | New York | $39.00 | $27.00 | +22% |
| 5 | Connecticut | $38.50 | $27.50 | +24% |
| 6 | New Jersey | $38.00 | $26.80 | +21% |
| 7 | Maryland | $37.20 | $26.00 | +17% |
| 8 | Colorado | $36.50 | $25.50 | +15% |
| 9 | Virginia | $36.00 | $25.00 | +13% |
| 10 | Minnesota | $35.50 | $24.50 | +11% |
| — | National | $34.25 | $22.14 | Baseline |
| 41 | Kentucky | $28.50 | $19.00 | -14% |
| 42 | Alabama | $28.00 | $18.80 | -15% |
| 43 | South Carolina | $27.80 | $18.50 | -16% |
| 44 | New Mexico | $27.50 | $18.20 | -18% |
| 45 | Idaho | $27.00 | $18.00 | -19% |
| 46 | Louisiana | $26.80 | $17.80 | -20% |
| 47 | Arkansas | $26.50 | $17.50 | -21% |
| 48 | West Virginia | $26.00 | $17.00 | -23% |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $26.20 | $17.50 | -21% |
| 50 | Mississippi | $25.00 | $16.50 | -25% |
See also:2024 US Average Annual Income By State·Average Income by Age in America (2026)·Average Income by Education Level (2026)
Hourly Wage by Industry
| Industry | Mean Hourly | Median Hourly | Workers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information/technology | $55.00 | $48.00 | 3.0M |
| Finance/insurance | $48.00 | $36.50 | 6.6M |
| Professional/scientific | $46.50 | $38.00 | 10.0M |
| Utilities | $45.00 | $40.00 | 0.6M |
| Mining/oil/gas | $42.00 | $35.00 | 0.7M |
| Management | $40.00 | $32.00 | 0.8M |
| Wholesale trade | $38.00 | $28.00 | 5.8M |
| Manufacturing | $33.50 | $25.00 | 12.8M |
| Government | $32.00 | $27.50 | 22.0M |
| Construction | $33.00 | $26.00 | 8.0M |
| Healthcare/social assistance | $30.00 | $22.00 | 21.0M |
| Transportation/warehousing | $28.50 | $22.50 | 6.8M |
| Education | $30.00 | $24.50 | 14.0M |
| Real estate | $33.00 | $24.00 | 2.1M |
| Admin/support services | $23.50 | $18.00 | 9.2M |
| Retail | $22.00 | $16.50 | 15.5M |
| Arts/entertainment | $24.00 | $17.50 | 2.4M |
| Agriculture | $20.50 | $16.00 | 1.5M |
| Accommodation/food service | $18.50 | $14.50 | 16.0M |
Hourly Wage by Age
| Age Group | Mean Hourly | Median Hourly | Peak Earning? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-19 | $12.50 | $11.00 | No |
| 20-24 | $18.00 | $16.00 | No |
| 25-34 | $30.00 | $24.00 | No |
| 35-44 | $38.00 | $28.00 | Near peak |
| 45-54 | $40.00 | $28.50 | Peak |
| 55-64 | $38.50 | $27.00 | Declining |
| 65+ | $32.00 | $22.00 | Post-peak |
Peak earning hours: ages 45-54 for most workers.
Hourly Wage by Education
| Education | Mean Hourly | Median Hourly | vs. HS (Median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than HS | $17.50 | $13.50 | -22% |
| HS diploma | $22.50 | $17.30 | Baseline |
| Some college | $25.00 | $19.50 | +13% |
| Associate’s | $27.50 | $21.00 | +21% |
| Bachelor’s | $40.00 | $32.50 | +88% |
| Master’s | $48.00 | $38.50 | +122% |
| Professional degree | $62.00 | $50.00 | +189% |
| Doctoral degree | $55.00 | $45.00 | +160% |
Hourly Wage by Gender
| Gender | Mean Hourly | Median Hourly | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men | $37.00 | $24.50 | — |
| Women | $31.00 | $20.50 | -16.3% |
The hourly gap (16.3%) is slightly smaller than the annual income gap (22%) because women are more likely to work part-time.
Minimum Wage by State
| State | Minimum Wage | Tipped Minimum | % of State Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $16.66 | $16.66 | 59% |
| California | $16.00 | $16.00 | 58% |
| New York | $15.50 | $10.65 | 57% |
| Connecticut | $15.69 | $6.38 | 57% |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | $6.75 | 52% |
| Colorado | $14.42 | $11.40 | 57% |
| Oregon | $14.70 | $14.70 | 58% |
| Federal | $7.25 | $2.13 | — |
| Georgia (state) | $5.15 | $2.13 | 28% |
| Wyoming (state) | $5.15 | $2.13 | 29% |
20 states still use the $7.25 federal minimum. 30+ states have set higher minimums.
What Hourly Wage Do You Need?
Single Person
| City | Hourly Wage Needed (Basic Living) | Federal Min. Covers? |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | $27.50 | No (covers 26%) |
| San Francisco | $30.00 | No (covers 24%) |
| Los Angeles | $25.00 | No (covers 29%) |
| Chicago | $20.50 | No (covers 35%) |
| Houston | $17.50 | No (covers 41%) |
| Phoenix | $18.00 | No (covers 40%) |
| Atlanta | $17.00 | No (covers 43%) |
| National average | $18.50 | No (covers 39%) |
| Jackson, MS | $14.50 | No (covers 50%) |
The federal minimum wage of $7.25 doesn’t cover basic living costs for a single person in any US county.
Family of 4 (Two Working Adults)
| City | Hourly Wage Each (Two Workers) | Hourly Wage (One Worker) |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | $28.00 each | $56.00 |
| San Francisco | $30.00 each | $60.00 |
| Los Angeles | $26.00 each | $52.00 |
| Chicago | $22.00 each | $44.00 |
| Houston | $19.00 each | $38.00 |
| National average | $20.00 each | $40.00 |
| Jackson, MS | $15.50 each | $31.00 |