According to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Statistics, the average salary in the USA in 2022 is $27.33 per hour. To get an average income per month, you would need to multiply the indicated amount by 40 hours (5 working days of 8 hours).

It allows a person to own a house, a car, in addition to supporting a family, paying monthly bills and making retirement savings. After all, it is not for nothing that America is called the “land of opportunities” – there are a lot of legends about how migrants ended up here with literally a couple of dollars in their pockets, and eventually achieved tremendous success.

Wages in the United States are almost never calculated on a monthly basis. To understand how much a person earns, really, you only need to use either the annual amount of income, or consider an hourly rate.

Official documents consider only annual income or average earnings per hour. To calculate the average monthly salary in the USA, you need to divide the annual salary by 12 or multiply the hourly earnings by 35-40 working hours per week.

The predominant part of the local population doesn’t work according to a predetermined schedule; basically everyone has a floating work schedule, and payment is made according to the number of hours worked.

US employees usually get paid by the hour for any activity. In addition, their salary level is indicated immediately for the whole year. The U.S. federal minimum wage in 2022 is $7.25 an hour, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Generally, this rate varies by state. Only Georgia and Wyoming did not raise their minimum wage from $5.15 an hour, even after the federal government set the national minimum at $7.25.

In five southern states, such as Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee, the minimum wage is still not set. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have rates above the national minimum, and 17 states have a similar $7.25 rate.

In 2022, the minimum wage in the US increased in 21 states. Depending on the inflation rate, the increase ranges from $0.24 in Michigan to $1.55 in Virginia. According to polls, two-thirds of Americans support the idea that the federal minimum wage should be at least $15 an hour.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics claims that the official average wage in the United States in 2022 is at the level of $3,630 per month before taxes. However, the average income of women and men differ by almost 20%. If we compare this indicator with the same in 2018, this figure has increased by $96 per month.

Among the age categories, the highest average salary was recorded for men aged 45 to 54 in the amount of $4,700 per month. Women aged 16 to 24 receive the least $2,256, and men aged 16 to 24 – $2,520.

When analyzing professional groups, top managers occupy the leading positions. Hence, men receive 6,240 dollars a month, and women – 4,410 dollars.

The average salary level for specialists without diplomas or specialized training is $1,860–$2,150 per month. However, builders, truckers, or electricians earn an average of $3,500–$4,000 monthly.

Minimum Wage

As for the minimum wage in the United States, it is calculated according to the minimum hourly rate. This aspect is observed everywhere: even those who have a stable job with a fixed schedule and specific salary, still from time to time calculate the number of hours worked, and how they were paid.

There is also a minimum hourly wage, which is determined by each individual state. In accordance with the American Minimum Wage Law, the employer must focus on the rate that is now higher.

A number of exceptions have been developed when it is allowed not to pay the minimum rate. It is allowed to pay lower wages for certain categories of citizens.

We are talking about students who have part-time jobs while studying, part-time nannies, caregivers, newspaper delivery couriers, workers on small farms, parks and other seasonal entertainment facilities. Also, these are sailors who work on foreign ships.

The minimum wage in the US is a complex concept. It should be borne in mind that the minimum wage in the United States is set at both federal and state levels. The following states have the highest minimum wages:

New York. In New York itself, the minimum wage is $13.5/hour. Such money is paid for work that does not require special qualifications.
Oregon. The minimum wage here starts at $11/hour. In Portland, people earn up to $12.50 an hour.
California. In 2021 in California, employees of large companies are paid a minimum of $12 an hour. Office clerks and junior specialists of IT companies can count on such a payment.
Washington. Postal workers and government employees get the minimum wage of $12/hour.

As of 2022, the largest salaries in the United States are paid in such industries as medicine, digital technology, research and development, and the oil and gas industry.

As a result, specialists in these areas receive the highest salaries. Their income is primarily related to the complexity of their work, which requires deep knowledge and experience.