U.S. Real Median Wage Increased 1.3% in the Last Decade; Highest Median Wage Growth Found in San Antonio, Pittsburgh, and San Jose
The real median wage in the U.S. increased 1.3% from 2005 to 2015, after accounting for inflation. Looking at wage performance across the spectrum of wage levels, Ultra-High Wage Earners enjoyed the fastest growing wages (+8.1% at the 90th percentile) and Low-Wage Earners saw declining wages (-1.9% at the 25th percentile). Ultra-Low Wage Earners saw positive wage growth (+2.9% at the 10th percentile).
Wage levels varied from $19,000 per year at the Ultra-Low Wage level (10th Percentile) to $92,000 per year at the Ultra-High Wage level (90th Percentile).
Across the 53 largest U.S. metros (with 1+ million population), San Jose ($59,000), Washington, DC ($51,000) and San Francisco ($50,000) had the highest median wage in 2015. Orlando ($31,000), Memphis ($32,000) and San Antonio ($32,000) had the lowest.
Research, analysis and content developed by Headlight Data. Original data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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