The Growth in Real Wages, by Income Group 💰

What We’re Showing

This graphic shows the growth in real wages by income group in America between 1979 and 2023, based on data from the Economic Policy Institute.

Key Takeaways

• Since 1979, the top earners in America have seen their real wages grow at more than double the rate of every other income group
• The top income tax rate has fallen from 70% in 1979 to 37% today
• During the pandemic, real wages grew the fastest across low-income workers, rising by a cumulative 12.1% between 2019 and 2023
• By comparison, the real wages of middle-income workers—those with an average hourly wage of $23.79—cumulatively increased by 3.0% over the pandemic