AVERAGE HOURLY WAGES Average Hourly Wages (Total private industry, 1982 dollars) Year Wage 1947 $4.88 1948 4.90 1949 5.14 1950 5.34 1951 5.39 1952 5.51 1953 5.79 1954 5.91 1955 6.15 1956 6.38 1957 6.47 1958 6.50 1959 6.69 1960 6.79 1961 6.88 1962 7.07 1963 7.17 1964 7.33 1965 7.52 1966 7.62 1967 7.72 1968 7.89 1969 7.98 1970 8.03 1971 8.21 1972 8.53 1973 8.55 1974 8.28 1975 8.12 1976 8.24 1977 8.36 1978 8.40 1979 8.17 1980 7.78 1981 7.69 1982 7.68 1983 7.79 1984 7.80 1985 7.77 1986 7.81 1987 7.73 1988 7.69 1989 7.64 1990 7.52 1991 7.45 1992 7.41 1993 7.39 1994 7.40 1995 7.40 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Series ID: eeu00500049 Return to Menu