Sep 16, 2025 - News
Pittsburgh-area pay growth lags U.S. average
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Most Pittsburgh-area workers aren't seeing their wages rise as fast as the national average, per new federal data.
Zoom in: Average weekly wages in Allegheny County rose 3.2% between early 2024 and early 2025, reaching $1,657.
- Butler County was up 2.4% to $1,305, Westmoreland County rose 2.3% to $1,121, and Washington County inched up 0.1% to $1,630.
Context: Nationally, average weekly wages rose 4.1% to $1,589, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics — which released data for the country's 372 largest counties.
Yes, but: Inflation rose about 2.7% during the period, cutting into or completely erasing some wage gains.
Reality check: Looking at wage growth for all residents only tells part of the story.
- Broadly speaking, men's wages rose last year while women's pay stagnated, Axios' Emily Peck reported — "a worrying sign that the slow march toward pay equity for women is stumbling."