In the first quarter of 2025, the median weekly wage rose to $1,194 — which translates to a monthly income of $5,174 or approximately $62,088 annually — representing a 4.8% increase from the same period in 2024.
How do you compare? Let’s look at the chart from the contract highlighter…
The current base wage of $36.96 multiplied by a straight-time work year of 2080 hours = $76,876.80 a year.
Base pay of UAW/GM member $76,876.80
Average US Salary $62,088.00
Difference $14,788.80
That’s a pretty big difference! A UAW member earns $14,788.80 more than the average US salary! Tell me again how unions aren’t helpful…
Just for fun let’s compare those figures with this chart of salary by education level.
What is the average US salary by education level?
Education also plays a significant role in earning potential, the data showed. Here’s what the median salary for U.S. workers looks like by educational attainment:
Grade-school education: $743 weekly or $38,636 annually
High school diploma only: $953 weekly or $49,556 annually
Some college or associate degree: $1,096 weekly or $56,992 annually
Bachelor’s degree: $1,603 weekly or $83,356 annually
Advanced degree: $1,961 weekly or $101,972 annually
The top scale of a UAW/GM member of $76,876 with no overtime lands between the average American with a Associate degree and one with a Bachelors degree.
Now you know where your pay compares with the rest of America!
