How much was a week's pay of the typical full-time worker?
A week's pay of the typical full-time worker was $262 in 1980 and $1,204 in 2025: about 4.6 times as much.
Over the same years, prices in general (US inflation, measured by the consumer price index, CPI) rose about 3.9 times. That makes $262 in 1980 worth about $1,020 in 2025 money. So it grew faster than prices in general: it buys about 18% more than in 1980.
The biggest change between two listed years came between 1980 and 1985, when it went up 31%, from $262 to $344.
Typical weekly pay: price by year
| Year | Amount | In 2025 dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | $262 | $1,020 |
| 1985 | $344 | $1,030 |
| 1990 | $412 | $1,010 |
| 1995 | $479 | $1,010 |
| 2000 | $576 | $1,080 |
| 2005 | $651 | $1,070 |
| 2010 | $747 | $1,100 |
| 2015 | $809 | $1,100 |
| 2020 | $984 | $1,220 |
| 2025 | $1,204 | $1,200 |
"In 2025 dollars" adjusts each amount for inflation with the CPI, so the years can be compared fairly. How this works.
Where the numbers come from
Figures as published by the source below.
Source: Employed full time: Median usual weekly nominal earnings (second quartile): Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over (BLS, series LEU0252881500A, via FRED), annual. View the source.
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