Median Wage

What is Median Wage?

The median wage is the midpoint of a wage distribution, where half of workers earn more and half earn less. It is widely regarded as a more representative measure of typical pay than the mean wage because it is not distorted by extreme values at either end of the distribution. HR and compensation professionals use median wage data to set competitive pay rates, evaluate internal pay equity, and make informed decisions about salary ranges. Median wage figures are published by government agencies such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics and are a standard reference in salary benchmarking.