So, you're looking at your paycheck and wondering if everyone else is secretly swimming in cash or if we’re all just collectively treading water. Honestly, looking at the data for the average salary in the US 2025, the answer is... complicated. It's easy to get lost in the sea of "averages" and "medians," but when you actually peel back the layers of what the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Census Bureau are reporting right now, the picture is a lot grittier than a single number suggests.
Most headlines will tell you that the average American is pulling in roughly $1,264 per week as of late 2025. On paper, that sounds okay—it’s about $65,728 a year. But here’s the kicker: averages are basically liars. If you’re in a room with nine baristas and one billionaire, the "average" person in that room is a multi-millionaire.
That’s why the median salary—the actual middle point—is a way better reality check. For the third quarter of 2025, the median weekly earnings for full-time workers hit $1,214. If you’re making more than that, you’re technically in the top half of the country. If you’re under it, well, you’ve got a lot of company.
The Great 2025 Disconnect: Why the Numbers Feel "Off"
You’ve probably noticed that even though wages are technically up, your grocery bill is still a nightmare. This is what economists call "real wages"—basically, what your money actually buys after inflation takes its cut.
In 2025, we’ve seen a weird tug-of-war. For a while, wages were actually beating inflation. By May 2025, real average weekly earnings were up about 1.5% year-over-year. But then things got sticky. Toward the end of the year, that growth slowed down. In December 2025, real hourly earnings only ticked up by 1.1% compared to the previous year. It’s better than nothing, sure, but it feels like running up an escalator that’s moving down.
The Industry Divide: Tech vs. Tacos
Where you work matters way more than how hard you work. It’s sorta unfair, but that’s the 2025 economy for you.
If you’re in the Information sector (think software, data, and tech), you’re likely seeing average weekly checks around $1,988. Meanwhile, the folks making your lattes and checking you into hotels in the Leisure and Hospitality sector are averaging just $595 a week.
That is a massive gap.
It’s not just tech, either. Utilities workers are currently the hidden giants of the paycheck world, averaging $2,306 per week in December 2025. On the flip side, Retail trade took a hit late in the year, losing 25,000 jobs in December alone and averaging about $771 weekly.
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Geography is Destiny (Sorta)
Where you live in the US basically determines if that $65k average feels like a king’s ransom or a one-way ticket to having three roommates.
- Washington State is currently crushing it with an average weekly wage of $1,489.
- Massachusetts and California follow close behind, though your rent in Boston or San Francisco will eat that "extra" cash before you can even spend it.
- Mississippi remains at the bottom of the pile at $993 per week.
But wait. There’s a twist. When you adjust for the cost of living—what the pros call "Regional Price Parity"—the map shifts. Places like Minnesota and North Dakota suddenly look a lot more attractive. You might earn less than a Californian, but your "real" hourly wage in Minnesota (around $38.87 adjusted) often stretches further than a high salary in a coastal city.
The Age and Education Trap
Let’s talk about the "experience" tax. If you’re between 45 and 54, you’re likely in your peak earning years, with a median weekly take-home of $1,376. If you’re a Gen Z-er just starting out (ages 20-24), you’re looking at about $792.
And yeah, the "stay in school" mantra still holds some weight in the data. A worker with a Bachelor’s degree or higher has median weekly earnings of $1,747. Someone with only a high school diploma? They’re at $980. That’s a nearly $40,000 annual difference just for that piece of paper.
Gender and Race: The Gaps That Won't Close
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. The gender pay gap actually widened slightly in 2025. Women’s median earnings fell to 80.7% of what men made in the third quarter. It’s a frustrating setback after years of slow progress.
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Racially, the divide is just as stark. Asian households are currently leading the pack with a median income of over $100,000, while Black households saw a 3.3% decline in median income toward the end of the 2024-2025 period. These aren't just numbers; they represent very different lived realities across the same country.
What’s Actually Changing in 2026?
As we move through January 2026, the labor market is cooling off. In 2024, we were adding about 168,000 jobs a month. In 2025, that plummeted to an average of just 49,000 a month.
Employers aren't desperate anymore. The "Great Resignation" is a distant memory. Now, we’re seeing "labor hoarding"—companies are keeping the workers they have but they aren't exactly handed out 10% raises like they were a couple of years ago.
How to use this data for yourself
If you’re feeling underpaid, don’t just look at the national average. Look at your specific industry median and your metro area.
- Negotiate with "Real" Data: If you’re in Financial Activities, the average is $1,810/week. If you're below that, you have leverage.
- Think About the "Adjusted" Wage: If you're offered a $100k job in NYC and a $85k job in Raleigh, the Raleigh job probably wins on a "standard of living" basis.
- Upskill in STEM: BLS projections show STEM jobs growing at 8.1% through the next decade, while everything else is poking along at 2.7%.
Basically, the 2025 salary landscape is a story of "The Haves" and "The Have-Nots." The national average is a nice vanity metric, but your personal "inflation-adjusted" reality is the only number that really pays the bills.
Next Steps for Your Finances:
1. Calculate your "Real" Wage: Take your 2024 salary and add 2.7% (the current inflation rate). If your 2025 raise was less than that, you actually took a pay cut in terms of purchasing power.
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2. Audit your Industry: Check the latest BLS "Employment Situation" report for your specific sector. If your industry is losing jobs (like Retail or Manufacturing lately), it might be time to look into lateral moves toward Healthcare or Social Assistance, which are still growing.
3. Geo-Arbitrage Check: Use a cost-of-living calculator to see if a remote move could effectively give you a 20% raise without changing your job. In 2025, where you sit is often more important than what you do.