Rising Wages and Persistent Gaps in the U.S. Labor Market
The latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that median weekly wages for full-time, salaried workers in the United States have increased by nearly 5% compared to the previous year. In the first quarter of 2025, the median weekly wage reached $1,194, which equates to a monthly income of $5,174 or approximately $62,088 annually. This marks a 4.8% increase from the same period in 2024.
Despite this overall growth, significant disparities remain, particularly when it comes to gender and race. Women earned $1,096 per week in the first quarter of 2025, which is about 83.9% of the median weekly wage for men at $1,307. The wage gap varies across different racial and ethnic groups:
- Black women earned 96.8% of what Black men made.
- Hispanic women earned 88.7% of what Hispanic men made.
- White women earned 82.2% of what White men made.
- Asian women earned 79.9% of what Asian men made.
These figures highlight the ongoing challenges women face in achieving pay equity, especially for women of color.
Earnings by Age: A Pattern of Growth and Decline
Age is a key factor in determining earnings, with wages typically increasing as individuals gain experience and move into mid-career roles. However, this trend often reverses as people approach retirement age.
Here’s how weekly and annual earnings break down by age group:
- 16–19 years old: $648 weekly or $33,696 annually
- 20–24 years old: $792 weekly or $41,184 annually
- 25–34 years old: $1,125 weekly or $58,500 annually
- 35–44 years old: $1,332 weekly or $69,264 annually
- 45–54 years old: $1,376 weekly or $71,552 annually
- 55–64 years old: $1,302 weekly or $67,704 annually
- 65+ years old: $1,222 weekly or $63,544 annually
Men aged 45 to 54 had the highest weekly earnings at $1,512, while women in the same age group earned slightly less at $1,233 per week.
The gender pay gap also widens with age. Younger workers aged 16 to 24 had the smallest gap, with women earning 92.2% of what men earned. For those aged 25 to 54, the gap widened to 84%, and for those 55 and older, it dropped to 77.1%.
Education and Earning Potential
Education plays a crucial role in determining income levels. The data reveals a clear correlation between higher educational attainment and higher wages:
- Grade-school education: $743 weekly or $38,636 annually
- High school diploma only: $953 weekly or $49,556 annually
- Some college or associate degree: $1,096 weekly or $56,992 annually
- Bachelor’s degree: $1,603 weekly or $83,356 annually
- Advanced degree: $1,961 weekly or $101,972 annually
Workers with a bachelor’s degree earned over 68% more than those without any college education, translating to about $33,800 more per year.
Among top earners with advanced degrees, there were still disparities. Ten percent of men with advanced degrees earned $5,079 or more per week, while women in the same category earned $3,528 or more.
These statistics underscore the importance of education in shaping long-term earning potential, but they also reveal persistent inequalities that continue to affect different demographic groups.
