Key Takeaways
- Real wages (wages adjusted for inflation) increased in 42 states and D.C. over the past year ending June 2025.
- Idaho and Mississippi saw the strongest average wage gains at 6.7% and 5.0%.
Real wage growth in the U.S. has become a central focus as inflation and new tariffs continue to strain Americans’ purchasing power. Nationally, between July 2024 and June 2025, the nominal average wage rose from $1,200 to $1,250 per week—a $50 increase, or 4.2% growth. After adjusting for inflation, real wages grew 2.5%, giving workers about $30 more in weekly purchasing power.
This map highlights how each state performed in the 12 months ending June 2025, showing where workers are gaining purchasing power, and where they are still falling behind. The data for this visualization comes from USAFacts.
Read more: Visual Capitalist