Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers

By Team SalaryCalculate · 7/1/2025

The American workforce in 2025 reflects a dynamic blend of shifting economic pressures, evolving work models, and widening gaps in earnings by gender, race, education, and union status. One of the clearest indicators of these underlying trends is the median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers—an economic pulse-check that offers insight into income distribution, workforce equity, and labor market health.

The Latest Earnings Snapshot (Q1 2025)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• Median usual weekly earnings for full-time wage and salary workers reached $1,194 in the first quarter of 2025.
• This marks a 4.8% increase compared to the same period in 2024—outpacing the annual consumer price index (CPI-U) inflation rate of 2.7%, suggesting modest real wage growth for many American workers.
  (BLS Q1 2025 Weekly Earnings)

Gender Earnings Gap: Persistent but Slowly Shifting

The gender wage gap remains a defining feature of the U.S. labor market:

• Men’s median weekly earnings: $1,307
• Women’s median weekly earnings: $1,096
• On average, women earned 83.9% of what men earned in Q1 2025.

Wage Gap by Race and Ethnicity (Full-Time Workers):

• White men: $1,291
• White women: $1,061 (82.2% of White men)
• Black men: $1,033
• Black women: $1,000 (96.8% of Black men)
• Asian men: $1,984
• Asian women: $1,584 (79.9% of Asian men)
• Hispanic men: $1,047
• Hispanic women: $929 (88.7% of Hispanic men)

While the overall gender gap has narrowed incrementally, racial disparities remain significant. Asian men earn more than any other group, while Hispanic women earn the least.

Earnings by Age Group and Gender

Weekly earnings also vary significantly by age, reflecting career progression and accumulated experience:

Workers between 45–54 continue to earn the highest median wages, with gaps between men and women increasing during prime earning years.

Union vs. Non-Union Earnings in 2024

Union membership continues to yield a noticeable earnings premium:

• Union members: $1,337
• Non-union workers: $1,138
• Non-union workers earned approximately 85% of what union members made.

Union representation remains strongest in public-sector jobs such as education and protective services. Unionized workers not only benefit from higher wages but also from more consistent wage growth—union wage growth averaged +4.5% YoY, compared to +3.2% for non-union workers.
(BLS TED: Union vs. Nonunion Earnings)

The Impact of Education on Earnings

As in previous years, education remains a powerful predictor of earning potential:

Workers with a bachelor’s degree or higher earn over 2.3 times more than those without a high school diploma.
(BLS TED: Earnings by Education)

Why These Numbers Matter in 2025

Weekly earnings serve as more than a paycheck—they're a lens into how opportunity is distributed in American society. The 2025 data underscores:

• A gender pay gap that persists, especially among higher earners
• Stark racial disparities, particularly for Hispanic and Black workers
• The wage advantage of higher education, though student debt and inflation complicate the benefits
• A clear union premium, reinforcing the role of collective bargaining in protecting worker income

These figures play a vital role in informing policy, guiding job seekers, and shaping the broader economic narrative.

Explore Your Own Salary in 2025

Want to see how these numbers compare to your own situation? Use our updated US Salary Calculators to analyze your income, estimate take-home pay, assess the impact of bonuses or benefits, and model different career or education paths. Whether you're changing jobs, negotiating an offer, or planning your financial future, our tools help you make informed decisions backed by the latest data.