Pay & Wage Growth Benchmarks
Median annual wage · All occupations, US
Definition: median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered nonfarm establishments in the United States, excluding self-employed workers
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, national estimates. The median is the midpoint of the wage distribution, not the mean, and covers wages and salaries only — no benefits. See F6.
| Segment | Value | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| All occupations, US | $50,980 | May 2025 |
| All occupations, US | $24.51/hour | May 2025 |
Denominator: median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered nonfarm establishments in the United States, excluding self-employed workers · median hourly wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered nonfarm establishments in the United States, excluding self-employed workers
BLS OEWS national industry-specific estimates, by NAICS sector. Two sectors carry OEWS coverage caveats stated in the segment label — read them before quoting either figure.
| Industry sector | Value | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| NAICS 11 — Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, US (partial OEWS coverage) | $36,740 | May 2025 |
| NAICS 21 — Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction, US | $64,060 | May 2025 |
| NAICS 22 — Utilities, US | $101,010 | May 2025 |
| NAICS 23 — Construction, US | $61,370 | May 2025 |
| NAICS 31–33 — Manufacturing, US | $55,080 | May 2025 |
| NAICS 42 — Wholesale Trade, US | $58,870 | May 2025 |
| NAICS 44–45 — Retail Trade, US | $36,880 | May 2025 |
| NAICS 48–49 — Transportation and Warehousing, US | $52,170 | May 2025 |
| NAICS 51 — Information, US | $95,970 | May 2025 |
| NAICS 52 — Finance and Insurance, US | $77,030 | May 2025 |
| NAICS 53 — Real Estate and Rental and Leasing, US | $51,540 | May 2025 |
| NAICS 54 — Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, US | $87,530 | May 2025 |
| NAICS 55 — Management of Companies and Enterprises, US | $96,620 | May 2025 |
| NAICS 56 — Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services, US | $44,110 | May 2025 |
| NAICS 61 — Educational Services, US | $60,890 | May 2025 |
| NAICS 62 — Health Care and Social Assistance, US | $49,200 | May 2025 |
| NAICS 71 — Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation, US | $38,640 | May 2025 |
| NAICS 72 — Accommodation and Food Services, US | $35,270 | May 2025 |
| NAICS 81 — Other Services (except Public Administration), US | $45,900 | May 2025 |
| NAICS 99 — Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation), US | $69,080 | May 2025 |
Denominator: median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered establishments in NAICS sector 11; coverage is limited to logging and support activities for crop and animal production; self-employed workers are excluded · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered establishments in NAICS sector 21, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered establishments in NAICS sector 22, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered establishments in NAICS sector 23, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered establishments in NAICS sectors 31, 32, and 33, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered establishments in NAICS sector 42, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered establishments in NAICS sectors 44 and 45, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered establishments in NAICS sectors 48 and 49, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered establishments in NAICS sector 51, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered establishments in NAICS sector 52, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered establishments in NAICS sector 53, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered establishments in NAICS sector 54, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered establishments in NAICS sector 55, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered establishments in NAICS sector 56, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered establishments in NAICS sector 61, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered establishments in NAICS sector 62, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered establishments in NAICS sector 71, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered establishments in NAICS sector 72, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS-covered establishments in NAICS sector 81, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers in OEWS sector 99 as designated by BLS; state and local government schools and hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service are excluded
BLS OEWS national estimates by Standard Occupational Classification code. The SOC code is shown because job titles and occupation codes rarely map one-to-one — match on the code, not the title.
| Occupation (SOC) | Value | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developers (SOC 15-1252), US | $135,980 | May 2025 |
| Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), US | $97,550 | May 2025 |
| Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011), US | $83,680 | May 2025 |
| Customer Service Representatives (SOC 43-4051), US | $44,770 | May 2025 |
| Human Resources Specialists (SOC 13-1071), US | $75,940 | May 2025 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products (SOC 41-4012), US | $72,080 | May 2025 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts (SOC 13-2051), US | $102,740 | May 2025 |
| Marketing Managers (SOC 11-2021), US | $166,790 | May 2025 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive (SOC 43-6014), US | $47,540 | May 2025 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand (SOC 53-7062), US | $40,240 | May 2025 |
| General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021), US | $105,770 | May 2025 |
| Data Scientists (SOC 15-2051), US | $120,230 | May 2025 |
Denominator: median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers classified as Software Developers in OEWS-covered nonfarm establishments, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers classified as Registered Nurses in OEWS-covered nonfarm establishments, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers classified as Accountants and Auditors in OEWS-covered nonfarm establishments, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers classified as Customer Service Representatives in OEWS-covered nonfarm establishments, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers classified as Human Resources Specialists in OEWS-covered nonfarm establishments, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers classified in SOC 41-4012 in OEWS-covered nonfarm establishments, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers classified as Financial and Investment Analysts in OEWS-covered nonfarm establishments, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers classified as Marketing Managers in OEWS-covered nonfarm establishments, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers classified in SOC 43-6014 in OEWS-covered nonfarm establishments, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers classified in SOC 53-7062 in OEWS-covered nonfarm establishments, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers classified as General and Operations Managers in OEWS-covered nonfarm establishments, excluding self-employed workers · median annual wage of wage-and-salary workers classified as Data Scientists in OEWS-covered nonfarm establishments, excluding self-employed workers
BLS Employment Cost Index, current dollars, not seasonally adjusted. This is the change in employer labour cost at fixed composition — not the raise any individual received. See F7.
| Worker group | Value | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian workers, total, US | 3.2% | June 2026 |
| Private industry workers, total, US | 3.1% | June 2026 |
| State and local government workers, total, US | 3.4% | June 2026 |
Denominator: percent change in the Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries for civilian workers from June 2025 to June 2026; current dollars; not seasonally adjusted · percent change in the Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries for private industry workers from June 2025 to June 2026; current dollars; not seasonally adjusted · percent change in the Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries for state and local government workers from June 2025 to June 2026; current dollars; not seasonally adjusted
Same index and period as the table above, but including benefits. Total compensation and wages and salaries are separate series and are never shown in one table here.
| Worker group | Value | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian workers, total, US | 3.4% | June 2026 |
| Private industry workers, total, US | 3.3% | June 2026 |
| State and local government workers, total, US | 3.6% | June 2026 |
Denominator: percent change in the Employment Cost Index for total compensation for civilian workers from June 2025 to June 2026; current dollars; not seasonally adjusted · percent change in the Employment Cost Index for total compensation for private industry workers from June 2025 to June 2026; current dollars; not seasonally adjusted · percent change in the Employment Cost Index for total compensation for state and local government workers from June 2025 to June 2026; current dollars; not seasonally adjusted
BLS Employment Cost Index, seasonally adjusted. These figures are seasonally adjusted while the annual figures above are not — the two series are not interchangeable.
| Worker group | Value | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian workers, total, US | 0.9% | June 2026 |
| Private industry workers, total, US | 0.9% | June 2026 |
| State and local government workers, total, US | 0.9% | June 2026 |
Denominator: percent change in the Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries for civilian workers from March 2026 to June 2026; seasonally adjusted · percent change in the Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries for private industry workers from March 2026 to June 2026; seasonally adjusted · percent change in the Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries for state and local government workers from March 2026 to June 2026; seasonally adjusted
Same index and period as the table above, but including benefits, and seasonally adjusted.
| Worker group | Value | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian workers, total, US | 0.9% | June 2026 |
| Private industry workers, total, US | 0.9% | June 2026 |
| State and local government workers, total, US | 1% | June 2026 |
Denominator: percent change in the Employment Cost Index for total compensation for civilian workers from March 2026 to June 2026; seasonally adjusted · percent change in the Employment Cost Index for total compensation for private industry workers from March 2026 to June 2026; seasonally adjusted · percent change in the Employment Cost Index for total compensation for state and local government workers from March 2026 to June 2026; seasonally adjusted
Fixed methodology boxes — see /methodology for the full policy.