Wages & productivity · CES0500000003
Average hourly earnings
As of Sep 2026, average hourly earnings had risen 3.0% from a year earlier, compared with a 12-month change of 3.1% in Aug 2026. The latest value was $37.81 (dollars per hour).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED®. Monthly data, seasonally adjusted. Latest observation Sep 2026; snapshot taken Oct 26, 2026, 6:40 PM EDT.
Latest (Sep 2026)
$37.81
Change from Aug 2026
+0.1%
A year earlier
$36.70
12-month change
+3.0%
$37.81 Sep 2026 · Dollars per hour
Dollars per hour. Data from Mar 2006 to Sep 2026 (247 observations).
What it measures
Average hourly earnings show what private-sector workers are paid per hour before taxes, based on the monthly employer survey. Comparing its yearly growth with CPI inflation shows whether paychecks are keeping up with prices.
- Official title
- Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private
- Units
- Dollars per hour
- Frequency and adjustment
- Monthly, seasonally adjusted
- Original source
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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| Date | Value | Change | From a year ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | $37.81 | +0.1% | +3.0% |
| Aug 2026 | $37.76 | +0.3% | +3.1% |
| Jul 2026 | $37.64 | +0.1% | +3.2% |
| Jun 2026 | $37.59 | +0.3% | +3.4% |
| May 2026 | $37.49 | +0.2% | +3.3% |
| Apr 2026 | $37.41 | +0.2% | +3.6% |
| Mar 2026 | $37.35 | +0.2% | +3.4% |
| Feb 2026 | $37.27 | +0.3% | +3.7% |
| Jan 2026 | $37.15 | +0.4% | +3.7% |
| Dec 2025 | $37.02 | +0.1% | +3.7% |
| Nov 2025 | $37.00 | +0.4% | +3.9% |
| Oct 2025 | $36.85 | +0.4% | +3.9% |
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This page shows public economic data for general information. It is not financial advice and does not predict future values.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private [CES0500000003], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CES0500000003, Oct 26, 2026.
- View CES0500000003 on FRED® · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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