See the U.S. cities where worker pay is rising fastest
Updated on: September 4, 2026 / 3:22 PM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- Worker pay increases vary significantly from city to city in the U.S.
- Nationwide, gross pay rose 4.7% and base pay rose 3.2% in August compared to the previous year, according to ADP.
- Metros with fast wage growth typically have healthy job growth, worker shortages, and higher employee turnover.
- Cities with a high concentration of manufacturing and financial services firms also tend to see stronger wage growth.
- Labor supply shortages, due to an aging workforce or skills mismatch, can drive up wages.
- Nationwide wage growth in August was 3.1% annually, the lowest since May 2021, despite strong payroll gains.