Money · Facts & sources
4 sourced facts about wages, income and pay in the United States, each with the context behind the number. 4 more are in today's round and appear here after it closes.
Answersince 2009 (16 years)
Even so, 22 states plus D.C. had set their own minimum wage higher than the federal rate by mid-2025.
Source: Wikipedia (Minimum wage in the United States) (2025) en.wikipedia.org
Answer85%
That's up from 81% back in 2003, though the exact gap varies depending on how it's measured.
Source: Pew Research Center (via Wikipedia) (2024) en.wikipedia.org
Answer$184,500
Earnings above that amount aren't taxed for Social Security, though there's no cap for Medicare tax.
Source: Wikipedia (Social Security Wage Base) en.wikipedia.org
Answerabout 95%
The gap narrows a lot once those factors are accounted for, though it doesn't fully close.
Source: Pew Research Center (via Wikipedia) (2024) en.wikipedia.org