# US real median household income by president, 1984–2025

Source page: https://govargus.com/indicators/median-household-income

Median household income adjusted for inflation to the most recent year's dollars (Census CPS ASEC). Published once a year, about nine months after the year ends.

Latest: $87,460 (2025).
Source: Census Bureau, via FRED MEHOINUSA672N (https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MEHOINUSA672N). Annual data, fetched Oct 19, 2026.

Since 1984, the real median household income ranged from $61,910 in 1984 under Ronald Reagan to $87,460 in 2025 under Donald Trump (2nd term). Of the 6 completed terms with data, the real median household income rose fastest under Donald Trump (1st term), at +$1,590/yr against +$2,040/yr in the four years before, and fell fastest under George H. W. Bush, at −$545/yr against +$1,208/yr in the four years before. So far under Donald Trump (2nd term), it has gone from $85,210 in 2024 to $87,460 in 2025.

## By presidential term

Each row is the value at the last full period before inauguration and at the end of the term, with the yearly rate of change, next to the rate of change over the four years before the term (the trend it inherited). A term's first year mostly reflects the previous administration's policies, and Congress, the Federal Reserve and the world economy move these numbers too. Govargus describes; it does not score presidents.

| President | Term | During term | 4 years before |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Donald Trump (2nd term) | 2025–present | $85,210 → $87,460 (+$2,245/yr, through 2025) | +$405/yr |
| Joe Biden | 2021–2025 | $83,590 → $85,210 (+$405/yr) | +$1,590/yr |
| Donald Trump (1st term) | 2017–2021 | $77,230 → $83,590 (+$1,590/yr) | +$2,040/yr |
| Barack Obama | 2009–2017 | $72,260 → $77,230 (+$621/yr) | +$140/yr |
| George W. Bush | 2001–2009 | $73,560 → $72,260 (−$163/yr) | +$1,395/yr |
| Bill Clinton | 1993–2001 | $64,560 → $73,560 (+$1,125/yr) | −$545/yr |
| George H. W. Bush | 1989–1993 | $66,740 → $64,560 (−$545/yr) | +$1,208/yr |
| Ronald Reagan | 1981–1989 | no data | no data |
| Jimmy Carter | 1977–1981 | no data | no data |

## Events that bear on this indicator

- Sep 15, 2008, shock: Lehman Brothers collapses. The financial crisis peaks; the Great Recession deepens.