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% |
Hourly wage data is part of the paycheck guide hub. Convert your hourly rate to an annual figure with the salary conversion hub, and explore all salary data at the salary hub.
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 |
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