Americans' incomes hit a record high in 2025. Now for the bad news.

September 15, 2026 / 4:18 PM EDT / CBS News

Americans' incomes hit a record high in 2025. Now for the bad news.

TL;DR

  • Median household income reached a record $87,460 in 2025.
  • Inflation-adjusted median income shows minimal gain (2.5%) since 2019.
  • Women's pay increased by 3.2%, narrowing the gender wage gap.
  • The 'One Big Beautiful Bill' act (OBBBA) provided tax benefits, with high earners and corporations receiving the largest share.
  • The top 10% of earners saw income growth of 1.7%, while the poorest experienced a slight decline.
  • The official U.S. poverty rate fell to 10.2%, but cuts to social safety net programs may impact future reports.