Average American Income by Year 2025 | Statistics & Facts

Average American Income by Year 2025

The economic trajectory of average American income by year has undergone dramatic transformations over the past two decades, reflecting periods of growth, recession, recovery, and unprecedented disruption. Understanding how incomes have evolved year over year provides essential context for evaluating the current economic position of American workers and households in 2025. The median household income reached $83,730 in 2024, representing a modest increase from $82,690 in 2023 and marking a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels after years of volatility. However, this aggregate figure masks substantial variations across demographic groups, with some populations experiencing robust income growth while others faced stagnation or decline. The year-by-year analysis reveals that between 2010 and 2024, median household income increased by approximately $34,456 or 70 percent, though much of this growth occurred unevenly across different time periods and population segments.

The journey from 2010 through 2025 encompasses the slow recovery from the Great Recession, a period of sustained growth in the mid-to-late 2010s, the sharp disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and the subsequent recovery complicated by inflationary pressures in 2021-2023. Weekly earnings data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that median weekly earnings reached $1,196 in the second quarter of 2025, up 4.6 percent from the previous year, outpacing the 2.4 percent inflation rate and delivering real wage gains for American workers. The 121.5 million full-time wage and salary workers in the economy demonstrate a robust labor market, yet persistent disparities based on education, race, gender, age, and geography continue to shape economic outcomes. Examining income trends year by year reveals not just where American incomes stand today, but how different groups have fared through economic cycles, providing crucial insights for understanding economic mobility, inequality, and the changing nature of opportunity in the United States.

Interesting Facts About Average American Income by Year 2025

Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Usual Weekly Earnings Report Q2 2025; U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement 2025; Historical Income Tables

The year-by-year statistics reveal the remarkable volatility that has characterized average American income by year over the past decade and a half. The 70 percent increase from 2010 to 2024 represents substantial nominal growth, though much of this reflects both economic recovery from the Great Recession and general inflation over the period. The data shows that income growth was far from linear, with the pandemic year of 2020 bringing a devastating 7.9 percent decline that wiped out years of gains, dropping median household income from $83,260 in 2019 to $76,660 in 2020. The recovery that followed proved equally dramatic, with 2023 delivering a 6.6 percent increase that brought incomes back near pre-pandemic levels before the 1.3 percent gain in 2024 finally surpassed 2019 figures.

The five-year period required to recover to 2019 income levels underscores the significant economic disruption caused by the pandemic and its aftermath. The $34,456 increase from 2010’s $49,274 to 2024’s $83,730 represents meaningful economic progress for many American households, yet this growth has been distributed unevenly across the population. Workers with bachelor’s degrees saw their median household income rise from $124,960 in 2004 to $132,700 in 2024, a 6.3 percent real increase, while those with only high school diplomas experienced virtually stagnant real earnings over the same period with just 3.2 percent growth. The 2025 weekly earnings data showing 4.6 percent growth with 2.2 percent real gains after inflation represents one of the stronger periods of real wage growth in recent years, suggesting that the post-pandemic recovery may finally be delivering tangible improvements in living standards for American workers across various demographic groups.

Median Household Income by Year in the US 2010-2025

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement, Historical Income Tables; Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)

The year-by-year progression of average American income by year in the US from 2010 to 2025 tells a compelling story of economic recovery, growth, setbacks, and resilience. Following the devastating impact of the Great Recession, median household income began a slow climb from $49,274 in 2010, experiencing modest annual gains in the 1.6 to 1.9 percent range through 2013. The recovery accelerated significantly in the mid-2010s, with particularly strong years in 2015 (+5.3%), 2016 (+4.5%), and 2017 (+4.0%) that added over $7,700 in just three years. The most dramatic single-year jump occurred in 2019 with an exceptional 8.7 percent increase or $5,518, bringing median income to $68,701 and representing the strongest annual gain in the entire period. This robust growth reflected the culmination of the longest economic expansion in modern U.S. history, characterized by low unemployment, rising wages, and broad-based economic gains.

The pandemic year of 2020 brought the first decline since 2011, though the 1.0 percent drop to $68,007 was less severe than many initially feared, largely due to massive government transfer payments and unemployment benefits that cushioned household incomes despite widespread job losses. The recovery accelerated through 2021 (+4.1%) and 2022 (+5.4%), with the latter year marking the transition to a new Census Bureau methodology that makes direct comparisons slightly more complex. The most remarkable year proved to be 2023, which delivered an extraordinary 10.9 percent increase or $8,110, catapulting median household income to $82,690 and nearly closing the gap to pre-pandemic levels. The more modest 1.3 percent gain in 2024 to $83,730 suggests the recovery phase is stabilizing, with households finally surpassing 2019 income levels after five years. The cumulative 69.9 percent increase from 2010 to 2024 represents substantial nominal growth of $34,456, though real purchasing power gains have been more modest after accounting for inflation over this 14-year period.

Median Household Income by Race and Ethnicity by Year in the US 2015-2024

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement, Historical Income Tables by Race and Hispanic Origin

The decade-long trajectory of average American income by year across racial and ethnic groups from 2015 to 2024 reveals both progress and persistent disparities in economic outcomes. Asian households consistently maintained the highest median incomes throughout the entire period, rising from $97,100 in 2015 to $121,700 in 2024, representing a remarkable $24,600 or 25.3 percent increase over the decade. However, this growth was not linear, with Asian households experiencing a notable decline in the 2023 Census data to $115,800 before recovering strongly in 2024. White non-Hispanic households followed a similar upward trajectory, growing from $82,880 in 2015 to $92,530 in 2024, though also experiencing declines in the 2023 measurement period. Hispanic households demonstrated consistent growth from $58,820 in 2015 to a peak of $75,310 in 2022, before declining to $67,260 in 2023 and partially recovering to $70,950 in 2024, still representing overall decade growth of 20.6 percent.

The most concerning trend appears among Black households, which saw their median income rise from $50,120 in 2015 to a peak of $60,450 in 2022, only to experience consecutive declines to $57,950 in 2023 and $56,020 in 2024. This $4,430 decline from the 2022 peak erased nearly five years of income gains and left Black households earning barely more in 2024 than they did in 2019, representing the only major demographic group to experience such sustained income deterioration during the post-pandemic period. The income gaps between groups remained substantial and largely unchanged, with Asian households earning $65,680 more than Black households in 2024, while White non-Hispanic households earned $36,510 more than Black households. The year-by-year data reveals that the pandemic and recovery period exacerbated existing inequalities, with the 2023 Census methodology change creating some statistical noise but the underlying trends showing that gains from economic growth continue to be distributed unevenly across racial and ethnic lines, with Black Americans bearing disproportionate burdens during economic disruptions.

Median Weekly Earnings by Year in the US 2015-2025

Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers, Annual and Quarterly Reports 2015-2025

The year-by-year evolution of average American income by year through weekly earnings data from 2015 to 2025 demonstrates steady wage growth punctuated by the disruptions and recoveries of recent years. Median weekly earnings for all full-time workers increased from $838 in 2015 to $1,196 in the second quarter of 2025, representing a $358 or 42.7 percent increase over the decade. The growth pattern shows consistent annual increases, with particularly strong years in 2020 (+$38), 2022 (+$58), 2023 (+$84), and 2025 Q2 (+$31 from 2024). Men’s median weekly earnings rose from $929 in 2015 to $1,330 in 2025 Q2, a $401 or 43.2 percent gain, while women’s earnings increased from $747 to $1,078, a $331 or 44.3 percent increase. This slightly faster growth rate for women has contributed to marginal improvements in gender pay equity, though substantial gaps persist.

The gender pay gap data reveals both progress and frustration in the push for wage equality. The absolute dollar gap widened from $182 per week in 2015 to $252 in 2025, representing an additional $3,640 annual disparity. However, examining the percentage reveals a more nuanced picture: women’s earnings as a percentage of men’s fluctuated between 79.6% and 81.1% throughout the period, with the 2025 Q2 figure of 81.1% representing the highest ratio in the observed timeframe. The data shows that while both men and women experienced substantial nominal wage growth over the decade, with real gains after adjusting for inflation, the rate of improvement in closing the gender wage gap has been glacial. Years like 2022 actually saw the ratio decline to 79.6%, the lowest point since 2015, before recovering in subsequent years. The $252 weekly gap in 2025 translates to roughly $13,104 annually, highlighting that despite a decade of economic growth and increased attention to pay equity issues, substantial gender-based earnings disparities remain deeply embedded in the American labor market.

Median Household Income by Educational Attainment by Year in the US 2004-2024

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Income in the United States: 2024, Table A-3; Historical Income Tables by Educational Attainment

The 20-year trajectory of average American income by year segmented by educational attainment from 2004 to 2024 reveals starkly different economic experiences based on educational credentials. Households headed by individuals with a bachelor’s degree or higher saw their median income rise from $124,960 in 2004 to $132,700 in 2024, representing a $7,740 or 6.2 percent real increase after adjusting for inflation. This growth, while modest, demonstrates that college-educated households maintained and slightly expanded their purchasing power over two decades that included the Great Recession, sluggish recovery, pandemic disruption, and inflationary pressures. The data shows that college-educated households experienced a dip during the Great Recession years, falling to $122,380 in 2012, before recovering and reaching new highs through the 2020s, with particularly strong gains in 2023 (+$580) and 2024 (+$1,080).

In stark contrast, households headed by high school graduates experienced near-stagnation, with median income barely budging from $58,410 in 2004 to $58,920 in 2024, representing just $510 or 0.9 percent real growth over 20 years. This virtual stagnation means that high school-educated households have essentially stood still economically for two decades, with any nominal income gains completely consumed by inflation and rising costs of living. Households headed by individuals with some college or an associate degree fared slightly better with 4.2 percent growth to $76,520, while those without a high school diploma gained 4.6 percent to $36,900, though from a much lower base. The widening education premium is evident in the growing income gap: in 2004, college-educated households earned 2.1 times what high school-educated households earned, but by 2024 this ratio had grown to 2.3 times. The $73,780 gap between college-educated and high school-educated households in 2024 represents more than a full year’s income for the latter group, underscoring how educational attainment has become an increasingly powerful determinant of economic security and prosperity in the modern American economy.

Average American Income by State by Year 2015-2024

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Current Population Survey State Income Data 2015-2024

The state-by-state evolution of average American income by year in the US from 2015 to 2024 reveals significant geographic disparities in both absolute income levels and growth rates. The District of Columbia maintained its position as the highest-income jurisdiction throughout the period, rising from $95,290 in 2015 to $109,707 in 2024, though its 15.1 percent growth rate was modest compared to some other high-income states. Colorado emerged as a particularly strong performer, with median household income surging from $75,540 to $97,113, representing an exceptional 28.6 percent increase or $21,573, the largest dollar gain among top-earning states. This growth reflects Colorado’s booming technology sector, aerospace industry, and influx of highly educated workers. New Jersey and Massachusetts also posted strong gains of 19.9% and 18.8% respectively, solidifying their positions among the nation’s highest-earning states with 2024 median incomes exceeding $96,000.

Lower-income states demonstrated varied patterns, with some experiencing substantial percentage gains from lower bases. Mississippi, the lowest-income state at $44,920 in 2015, increased to $59,127 by 2024, representing a robust 31.6 percent gain or $14,207, the highest percentage increase among all states examined despite remaining in last place nationally. Florida showed particularly strong growth at 31.3%, rising from $54,180 to $71,120, reflecting its rapid population growth, economic diversification, and absence of state income tax. West Virginia and Arkansas also posted respectable gains of 27.4% and 24.8% respectively, though both remained near the bottom of state income rankings. The data reveals that while the absolute dollar gap between highest and lowest-income states widened from approximately $50,000 in 2015 to $51,000 in 2024, percentage-wise many lower-income states experienced comparable or even stronger growth rates, suggesting some convergence in relative terms even as absolute disparities persisted or widened slightly.

Median Weekly Earnings by Age Group by Year in the US 2015-2025

Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Usual Weekly Earnings by Age, Annual and Quarterly Reports 2015-2025

The decade-long progression of average American income by year across age cohorts from 2015 to 2025 demonstrates how earnings evolve throughout workers’ careers while also revealing that all age groups experienced substantial wage growth during this period. Young workers aged 16-24 showed the strongest percentage gains, with median weekly earnings jumping from $543 in 2015 to $782 in 2025 Q2, representing a remarkable 44.0 percent increase or $239. This outsized growth reflects both tight labor markets that drove up entry-level wages and increases in minimum wages across many states and localities. Workers aged 25-34 experienced similarly robust growth of 41.7%, rising from $804 to $1,139, as they transitioned from entry-level to established career positions during this high-growth decade.

Prime working-age groups (35-54 years) posted strong but slightly more moderate gains in the 34-38 percent range, with the 35-44 age bracket rising from $979 to $1,351 (+38.0%) and the 45-54 age group increasing from $1,012 to $1,362 (+34.6%). These groups maintained the highest absolute earnings throughout the period, confirming that peak earning years occur during middle age when experience, skills, and career advancement converge. Older workers aged 55-64 saw similar percentage gains of 34.5%, rising from $977 to $1,314, while those 65 and older gained 35.0%, from $862 to $1,164. The fact that older workers maintained strong wage growth suggests that many are remaining in the workforce longer, often in well-compensated positions, challenging stereotypes about older workers being relegated to lower-wage roles. The consistent strong growth across all age brackets from 2015 to 2025 reflects the sustained economic expansion of the late 2010s, the unique dynamics of pandemic-era labor markets, and the post-pandemic recovery that has generated widespread wage increases across demographic groups.

Median Weekly Earnings by Occupation Category by Year in the US 2015-2025

Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Usual Weekly Earnings by Occupation, Annual and Quarterly Reports 2015-2025

The decade-long evolution of average American income by year across occupational categories from 2015 to 2025 reveals remarkably consistent growth rates of approximately 35-36 percent across nearly all job types, suggesting that wage gains have been broadly distributed across the occupational spectrum. Computer and mathematical occupations commanded the highest earnings throughout the period, rising from $1,432 in 2015 to $1,943 in 2025 Q2, representing a $511 or 35.7 percent increase. These technology-focused roles maintained their premium position as digital transformation accelerated across all sectors of the economy. Management and professional occupations grew from $1,225 to $1,668 (+36.2%), while healthcare practitioners increased from $1,238 to $1,677 (+35.5%), reflecting strong demand for medical professionals and the essential nature of healthcare services demonstrated particularly during the pandemic years.

Service occupations, consistently the lowest-paid category, saw earnings rise from $585 in 2015 to $794 in 2025 Q2, a $209 or 35.7 percent increase that closely matched the growth rate of higher-paid professions. This parallel growth suggests that tight labor markets and minimum wage increases benefited workers across the wage distribution, though the absolute dollar gaps between high and low earners actually widened. The $1,149 weekly gap between computer workers and service workers in 2025 ($59,748 annually) represents a substantially larger absolute disparity than the $847 gap in 2015 ($44,044 annually), demonstrating that percentage parity masks growing absolute inequality. Blue-collar occupations including production, transportation, and material moving roles all posted solid gains in the 35.6-35.7 percent range, reflecting sustained demand for workers in these essential sectors. The consistency of growth rates across such diverse occupational categories suggests that macroeconomic forces including inflation, labor market tightness, and broad-based wage pressures affected all workers similarly, even as the purchasing power implications varied based on absolute income levels and regional cost-of-living differences.

Gender Pay Gap Evolution by Year in the US 2015-2025

Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Usual Weekly Earnings by Sex, Annual and Quarterly Reports 2015-2025

The year-by-year progression of the gender pay gap in average American income by year from 2015 to 2025 reveals frustratingly slow progress toward wage equality despite a decade of economic growth and increased attention to pay equity issues. Women’s earnings as a percentage of men’s improved marginally from 80.4% in 2015 to 81.1% in 2025 Q2, representing just 0.7 percentage points of progress over ten years. This glacial pace means that at the current rate of change, it would take approximately 140 years to achieve full pay parity. The data shows considerable volatility in the ratio, actually deteriorating to a decade-low of 79.6% in 2022 before recovering in subsequent years, demonstrating that progress is neither linear nor guaranteed and can easily reverse during periods of economic stress or labor market disruption.

The absolute dollar gap tells an even more concerning story, widening from $182 per week in 2015 to $252 in 2025 Q2, representing a $70 or 38.5 percent increase in the weekly earnings disparity. On an annual basis, the gap exploded from $9,464 in 2015 to $13,104 in 2025, meaning women now lose an additional $3,640 per year compared to a decade ago. While women’s earnings grew slightly faster in percentage terms (+44.3%) compared to men (+43.2%) over the decade, this advantage was insufficient to overcome the larger base from which men started, resulting in widening absolute disparities. The year 2022 proved particularly problematic, with the gender pay ratio hitting its lowest point as women earned just 79.6% of men’s wages, suggesting that inflationary pressures and post-pandemic labor market adjustments disproportionately disadvantaged female workers. The recovery to 81.1% in 2025 Q2 represents the best ratio of the decade, offering some hope for continued progress, yet the persistence of a nearly 19 percent earnings gap after decades of advocacy, legislation, and awareness campaigns underscores how deeply gender-based wage disparities remain embedded in American labor market structures, occupational segregation patterns, and workplace practices.

Real Income Growth (Inflation-Adjusted) by Year in the US 2015-2024

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau Income Reports; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index; Federal Reserve Economic Data

The inflation-adjusted analysis of average American income by year from 2015 to 2024 provides crucial context for understanding the true trajectory of American household purchasing power and living standards. When adjusting for inflation using 2024 dollars, the picture becomes more sobering than nominal figures suggest. The median household income increased from $72,890 in real 2015 dollars to $83,730 in 2024, representing a $10,840 or 14.9 percent real gain over the decade. While this represents genuine improvement in purchasing power, it falls far short of the 48.2 percent nominal increase observed in unadjusted figures, demonstrating how inflation erodes the value of wage gains. The year-by-year real income changes reveal significant volatility, with strong years of real growth in 2016 (+3.2%), 2019 (+6.9%), and 2023 (+7.0%) offset by years of real income declines in 2020 (-2.3%), 2022 (-2.2%), and 2024 (-2.3%).

The 2022 decline proved particularly painful, as 8.0 percent inflation completely overwhelmed the $3,792 nominal income increase, resulting in a 2.2 percent real purchasing power loss. This meant that despite earning more money in absolute terms, American households could actually afford less than the previous year. The subsequent 2023 recovery delivered the strongest real income growth of the entire period at 7.0 percent, as nominal income surged 10.9 percent while inflation moderated to 4.1 percent. However, 2024 brought another setback with 2.9 percent inflation exceeding the 1.3 percent nominal gain, resulting in a 2.3 percent real decline. These fluctuations highlight how the post-pandemic period has been characterized by extreme volatility in real living standards, with households experiencing whiplash between years of strong purchasing power gains and sharp erosions. The cumulative 14.9 percent real increase from 2015 to 2024 represents an average annual real growth rate of approximately 1.5 percent, respectable by historical standards but distributed unevenly across the population based on education, occupation, race, and other factors that determine individual economic outcomes.

Median Household Income by Family Type by Year in the US 2015-2024

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement, Income by Household Type 2015-2024

The decade-long trajectory of average American income by year across different household types from 2015 to 2024 reveals how family structure profoundly shapes economic outcomes and growth patterns. Married-couple families maintained their substantial income advantage throughout the period, rising from $95,230 in 2015 to $128,700 in 2024, a remarkable $33,470 or 35.2 percent increase. This growth reflects the powerful economic advantages of dual-earner households, where two incomes provide greater financial security, economies of scale in household expenses, and enhanced ability to weather economic disruptions. The absolute income level of married couples in 2024 was more than double that of female householders without spouses ($60,440) and 2.4 times that of nonfamily households ($53,510), underscoring the dramatic economic disparities based on household composition.

Female householders with no spouse present faced the most challenging economic circumstances, though they experienced respectable growth from $44,820 in 2015 to $60,440 in 2024, representing a $15,620 or 34.8 percent increase. Notably, this household type showed a slight $100 decline between 2023 and 2024, the only category to experience year-over-year income loss in the most recent period, highlighting the ongoing economic vulnerabilities faced by single-mother households juggling work responsibilities with childcare duties. Male householders without spouses fared considerably better, growing from $61,340 to $83,190 (+35.6%), earning 37.7 percent more than their female counterparts in 2024, a gap that reflects both gender wage disparities and different family circumstances. Nonfamily households, typically single individuals or unrelated people sharing housing, saw income rise from $39,450 to $53,510 (+35.6%), though they remained the lowest-earning household type. The consistency of growth rates across all household types in the 34.8-35.6 percent range suggests that macroeconomic forces lifted incomes broadly, yet the starting position and household structure fundamentally determined absolute income levels and economic security, with married-couple families maintaining overwhelming advantages in building wealth and financial stability.

Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.

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