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

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

American households earned a record median income of $87,460 last year, according to new Census Bureau data. The catch? That figure is only slightly above the previous peak set in 2019.

Adjusting for inflation, that means the typical household has gained little economic ground in six years marked by pandemic upheaval and surging consumer prices. In 2019, households had a median income of $85,320, a level that wasn't surpassed until 2025, the Census said on Tuesday.

While the new data indicates that Americans' incomes have continued to climb, it also shows that the typical household in 2025 earned only about 2.5% more than in 2019. By comparison, median household income climbed 19% during the six years before the pandemic, from 2013 to 2019.

The Census report also showed that women's paychecks rose 3.2% last year, while men's declined slightly. The solid gain for women narrowed the gender wage gap, though it remains large, with women earning nearly 84 cents for every dollar earned by men, up from less than 81 cents in 2024.

The Census figures also may reflect some tax changes implemented under the "One Big Beautiful Bill" act…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/