Atlanta Fed Wage Growth Tracker (1st Quartile)
Atlanta Fed data
What is the current Atlanta Fed Wage Growth Tracker (1st Quartile)?
Wage growth for workers in the bottom quartile of the earnings distribution was 3.5% year-over-year in the latest reading, according to the Atlanta Fed Wage Growth Tracker. This measure specifically tracks pay growth for the lowest-paid workers — the population most vulnerable to financial distress. Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta via FRED.
Wage growth for the lowest-paid workers has been cut in half since 2022
Atlanta Fed data. Bottom-quartile wage growth peaked at 7.5% in late 2022 and has fallen to 3.5%. The workers who benefited most from the tight labor market are losing ground first.
Explore Further
Is this happening to you?
Are the lowest-wage workers you know falling further behind?
How has Atlanta Fed Wage Growth Tracker (1st Quartile) changed over time?
Most affected counties
Counties with the highest structural poverty scores in the County Distress Index.
Explore all 3,144 counties →| Period | Value | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | 3.5% | −0.6 pts |
| Feb 2026 | 3.5% | −0.7 pts |
| Jan 2026 | 3.5% | −0.7 pts |
| Dec 2025 | 3.5% | −0.8 pts |
| Nov 2025 | 3.6% | −0.9 pts |
| Sep 2025 | 3.5% | −1.6 pts |
| Aug 2025 | 3.4% | −1.7 pts |
| Jul 2025 | 3.6% | −1.5 pts |
| Jun 2025 | 3.6% | −1.7 pts |
| May 2025 | 3.7% | −1.7 pts |
| Apr 2025 | 3.8% | −1.7 pts |
| Mar 2025 | 4.1% | −1.3 pts |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Atlanta Fed Wage Growth Tracker?
The Atlanta Fed Wage Growth Tracker measures the median percent change in hourly wages for the same individuals over 12 months. The 1st quartile version tracks wage growth specifically for the lowest-paid workers.
Why track low-wage worker pay growth?
Low-wage workers are most vulnerable to cost-of-living increases. When their wage growth falls below inflation, financial distress intensifies. The American Distress Index monitors this gap.
Where does this data come from?
Published monthly by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, based on matched CPS microdata, available via FRED.
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