Median weekly earnings increased 5.7 percent over the year ending in the second quarter of 2023

Median weekly earnings of the 121.5 million full-time wage and salary workers in the United States increased from $1,041 in the second quarter of 2022 to $1,100 in the second quarter of 2023, a gain of 5.7 percent. This compared with a gain of 4.0 percent in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers over the same period.

Usual weekly earnings were highest for workers ages 35 to 64 in the second quarter of 2023. Median weekly earnings were $1,233 for workers ages 45 to 54, $1,229 for workers ages 35 to 44, and $1,186 for workers ages 55 to 64. Median weekly earnings were $1,101 for workers age 65 and older and $1,042 for workers ages 25 to 34. Workers ages 16 to 24 had the lowest median weekly earnings at $698.

These data are from the Current Population Survey and are not seasonally adjusted. For more information, see "Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers: Second Quarter 2023." Also see more charts of usual weekly earnings data. Full-time workers usually work 35 hours or more per week at their sole or main job. The median or 50th percentile is the midpoint in the earnings distribution; half of workers earn more than the median and half earn less.