The Record

Paychecks by President

Brick is the average hourly paycheck. Steel is that hour in 2026 dollars. Production and nonsupervisory workers — about four in five private jobs. Play from Bush 41 forward. July 2026 printed $32.40 an hour.

Hourly pay

$18.38

38 years shown

In 2026 dollars

$28.50

CPI-U, July 2026

Real change

+$6.06

first year → last year shown

At this president

Donald Trump

Trump 2

20252026 · YTD

On the stub2026 dollars
$0$9$18$27$36$10.32$25.97Bush 41$12.38$26.13Clinton$16.11$27.77Bush 43$20.01$29.15Obama$23.23$30.69Trump 1$28.13$31.78Biden$31.77$32.47Trump 2
George H. W. Bush

Bush 41

19891992

Pay
$10.32
2026 $
$25.97
Real Δ
−$0.78
Bill Clinton

Clinton

19932000

Pay
$12.38
2026 $
$26.13
Real Δ
+$1.63
George W. Bush

Bush 43

20012008

Pay
$16.11
2026 $
$27.77
Real Δ
+$0.60
Barack Obama

Obama

20092016

Pay
$20.01
2026 $
$29.15
Real Δ
+$1.01
Donald Trump

Trump 1

20172020

Pay
$23.23
2026 $
$30.69
Real Δ
+$1.82
Joe Biden

Biden

20212024

Pay
$28.13
2026 $
$31.78
Real Δ
+$0.14
Donald Trump

Trump 2

20252026 · YTD

Pay
$31.77
2026 $
$32.47
Real Δ
−$0.02

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