Weekly earnings for all private-sector employees in the United States averaged $940 in September 2018. Among the 50 states, average weekly earnings ranged from $713 in Mississippi to $1,180 in Washington. Average weekly earnings were equal to the national average in Hawaii and Texas.

As is typical, average weekly earnings were higher in the District of Columbia than in any state, at $1,591. After the District of Columbia and Washington, the highest average weekly earnings were in Massachusetts ($1,124), Connecticut ($1,110), California ($1,099), New York ($1,051), and New Jersey ($1,037).

Weekly earnings were below the national average in 34 states. After Mississippi, average weekly earnings were lowest in Arkansas and New Mexico (both $757), Kentucky ($786), South Dakota ($793), and Idaho ($800).

National real (inflation-adjusted) average weekly earnings increased 1.1 percent between September 2017 and September 2018. In nominal dollars, average weekly earnings for the US were 3.4 percent higher than in September 2017.

The largest increases in real average weekly earnings were in the District of Columbia and Wyoming (both 8.4 percent) and Colorado and Hawaii (both 6.0 percent). Real average weekly earnings also increased more than 5.0 percent in Florida, Montana, and Washington.

Real average weekly earnings declined in only five states; Mississippi (-3.6 percent), Delaware (-2.3 percent), Indiana (-1.5 percent), New Hampshire (-1.2 percent), and Arizona (-0.4 percent).