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Real-time economic data

New Hire Pay Index

Average pay for workers newly hired on the Gusto platform each month. Year over year, it reads as a leading indicator of competition for workers.

Aug 2026 · year over year
+3.2%
$25.77 per hour
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Adjustment

Average hourly pay for newly hired workers

Year-over-year change
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Feb 2019 – Aug 2026
Average hourly pay for workers hired in the month. Switch to the year-over-year view for the New Hire Pay Index. Source: Gusto payroll data.

Breakdown

Industry · Aug 2026 · change from a year earlier
Break down by
Industry breakdown for average hourly pay for newly hired workers, Aug 2026.
IndustryChange from a year earlier
Mining & Oil+24.0%
Information+19.5%
Arts & Rec.+11.5%
Health Care+7.5%
Manufacturing+5.9%
Transport & Whse+4.7%
Construction+4.5%
Finance & Ins.+3.3%
Real Estate+3.3%
Agriculture+2.0%
Prof. & Technical+1.7%
Retail+1.1%
Accom. & Food−0.6%
Wholesale−1.5%
Other Services−1.9%
Admin & Support−3.5%
Education−3.6%

By region

US Census regions · Aug 2026 · year-over-year change
  • Northeast+5.7%
  • West+4.7%
  • South+2.3%
  • Midwest+1.8%

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