Where Wages Are Rising and What It Means for Hourly Job Seekers

Alexis Miller
May 29
3 min read

Here's some good news for hourly workers' wallets: wages are finally rising in most parts of the country, even with tariffs, inflation, and other economic curveballs in the mix.

What Rising Wages Means for Hourly Job Seekers

According to recent analyses by The Business Journals, 91 out of the 100 largest metro areas saw an increase in weekly wages over the last year. Cities like Augusta, GA (+21.8%), Boise, ID (+14.5%), and Ogden, UT (+13.8%), are seeing pay on the upswing.

Wages are up, but is that true for hourly jobs, too? Let's take a closer look.

The Hourly Reality: Pay Increases Are Climbing Slowly

According to a recent Mercer study, the average hourly wage is now $17.50 across the board. That’s the average, not the minimum. If job seekers aren't receiving close to that number yet, it might be time for them to ask their manager some tough questions, or, start browsing Juvo Jobs for something better.

Workers saw merit-based pay bumps averaging at just 3.2%, a little lower than what was promised last year. Total increases (which include things like promotions and cost-of-living bumps) clocked in at 3.5%.

Pay is growing, but not as fast as some would have hoped. This shortfall could be attributed to a softening labor market and economic uncertainty, leading employers to adopt more conservative compensation strategies.

Promotions Are Picking Up

Employers are leaning more on promotions to reward and retain employees, especially in service and retail industries. About 10% of workers are expected to be promoted this year, up from 8% in 2024, and those promotions come with an average 8.5% raise.

The same can be applied for the hourly workforce. If hourly job seekers are expecting a bigger raise, moving up within their company could be their best bet. Small step ups, like getting promoted from team member to shift lead, can come with a noticeable jump in pay and better hours.

Hourly vs. Salaried: The Wage Gap No One’s Talking About

Only 60% of hourly workers say they feel fairly paid, compared to 78% of salaried workers. That’s a pretty big gap.

To close that gap, experts are pushing for companies to do more than just hand out raises. Better benefits, clearer paths to advancement, and a healthier work culture all matter just as much, and sometimes even more.

“Pay is important, but it’s not the whole picture. If companies want to truly retain hourly talent, they need to offer more than a paycheck. People want growth, respect, and a work culture that doesn’t burn them out. Raises help, but opportunity is what makes someone stay.”

— Mark Emery, CEO of Juvo Jobs

The First Move Toward Better Pay

Not all employers are generous when it comes to pay, yet, the data shows that wage growth is happening, just more selectively. It’s favoring areas where the labor market is tight and companies are fighting to keep good people.

For hourly job seekers, now is the time for them to know their worth, ask for more, or find a job that pays them what they deserve. That's exactly why what the Juvo Jobs app is for. Download today to see what's paying near you. You might be surprised at what's out there.

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What rising wages means for hourly job seekers