Real median weekly earnings (1982–84 $), term by term
Every term lined up from its inauguration. Context is everything: compare the start of a term with the trend it inherited and with what was happening in the world (recessions, pandemics), all of which are on the full real median weekly earnings (1982–84 $) chart.
Of the 7 completed terms with data, real median weekly earnings rose fastest under Donald Trump (1st term), at +$7/yr against +$4/yr in the four years before, and fell fastest under George H. W. Bush, at −$3/yr against +$2/yr in the four years before. So far under Donald Trump (2nd term), it has gone from $374 in Q4 2024 to $378 in Q2 2026.
Numbers
| President | During term | 4 years before |
|---|---|---|
| Donald Trump (2nd term) | $374 → $378 +$3/yr · through Q2 2026 | −$1/yr |
| Joe Biden | $376 → $374 −$1/yr | +$7/yr |
| Donald Trump (1st term) | $349 → $376 +$7/yr | +$4/yr |
| Barack Obama | $340 → $349 +$1/yr | +$1/yr |
| George W. Bush | $334 → $340 +$1/yr | +$5/yr |
| Bill Clinton | $312 → $334 +$3/yr | −$3/yr |
| George H. W. Bush | $324 → $312 −$3/yr | +$2/yr |
| Ronald Reagan | $315 → $324 +$1/yr | — |
| Jimmy Carter | no data | no data |