Wages Are Up, but the Gender Pay Gap Persists
(NewsNation) — Wages for full-time salaried workers in the U.S. have continued to rise, with median weekly earnings increasing by nearly 5% over the past year, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
In the first quarter of 2025, the median weekly wage reached $1,194, which translates to about $5,174 per month or roughly $62,088 annually. That’s a 4.8% increase from the same period in 2024.
The Gender Pay Gap Remains
Despite the overall wage growth, disparities persist. Women earned a median of $1,096 per week, compared to $1,307 for men—meaning women made 83.9% of men’s earnings.
When broken down by race and ethnicity, the wage gap looked like this:
- Black women: 96.8% of Black men’s earnings
- Hispanic women: 88.7% of Hispanic men’s earnings
- White women: 82.2% of White men’s earnings
- Asian women: 79.9% of Asian men’s earnings
Earnings by Age
Wages generally rise with age—peaking in mid-career—then taper off as workers near retirement:
| Age Group | Weekly Earnings | Annual Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 16–19 | $648 | $33,696 |
| 20–24 | $792 | $41,184 |
| 25–34 | $1,125 | $58,500 |
| 35–44 | $1,332 | $69,264 |
| 45–54 | $1,376 | $71,552 |
| 55–64 | $1,302 | $67,704 |
| 65+ | $1,222 | $63,544 |
The highest earners by age were men aged 45 to 54, who made $1,512 per week. For women, earnings peaked slightly lower in the same age range at $1,233 per week.
Interestingly, the gender pay gap is narrowest among younger workers:
- Ages 16–24: Women earn 92.2% of what men do
- Ages 25–54: Women earn 84% of men’s wages
- Ages 55+: The gap widens, with women earning just 77.1% of men’s wages
Earnings by Education
Education remains a strong predictor of earnings. Here’s how median weekly wages stack up by education level:
| Education Level | Weekly Earnings | Annual Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Less than high school | $743 | $38,636 |
| High school diploma | $953 | $49,556 |
| Some college/associate degree | $1,096 | $56,992 |
| Bachelor’s degree | $1,603 | $83,356 |
| Advanced degree | $1,961 | $101,972 |
Workers with a bachelor’s degree earned over 68% more than those with only a high school diploma—an annual difference of roughly $33,800.
Among top earners with advanced degrees:
- Top 10% of men earned $5,079 or more per week
- Top 10% of women earned $3,528 or more per week
Bottom Line
While wages are trending upward, significant disparities persist across gender, race, age, and education level. The data underscores the continued importance of education and experience in boosting income—but also highlights the need for ongoing efforts to close wage gaps across demographic lines.