Median Weekly Earnings Rose 1.5% in Q3, But Real Pay Fell 2%

The bureau reported Wednesday that median usual weekly earnings for full-time wage and salary workers reached $1,232 in the third quarter, up 1.5% from $1,214 a year earlier. Prices rose 3.5% over the same stretch, so the typical worker took home less pay after inflation, with real weekly earnings falling to $367 in 1982-84 dollars from $375, a decline of about 2%.

Key Takeaways Median usual weekly earnings hit $1,232 in Q3 2026, a 1.5% nominal gain over Q3 2025 according to BLS. The CPI-U rose 3.5% over the same year, so real weekly earnings fell to $367 from $375 in 1982-84 dollars, roughly a 2% decline. On a seasonally adjusted basis the median dropped to $1,239 from $1,258 in Q2, the firs…