2025 Salary Guides: Your essential resource to attract top talent

Competition for top talent keeps heating up, and candidates expect compensation to match. More than half of U.S. professionals say they'd move for higher pay, but fears around economic uncertainty are keeping many in their current roles as they hold out for their ideal offer.

Our salary guides help you get it right the first time, whether you're hiring for the next quarter or the next year. Inside, you'll find the latest average U.S. salary data, gathered from hundreds of roles across multiple sectors. You'll also get data-backed hiring and workplace trends, so you can build your workforce strategy with confidence.

What our research tells us

Economic uncertainty shapes decisions on both sides. Tight economic conditions push salaries and job security to the top of workers' priorities, and the high cost of living only adds to the pressure. Employers feel the pressure too, hesitating to hire for fear of getting it wrong and wasting resources.

Soft and specialized skills are in higher demand. As AI and other digital tools become part of daily work, professionals who can leverage them stand out. Our Talent Trends data reflects this shift; 37% of companies tell us they struggle to find candidates with the right skills. At the same time, soft skills like communication, creativity, and adaptability matter more as teams learn to work alongside AI.

The talent market stays competitive. The U.S. hiring market remains strong, with plenty of businesses looking to bring in skilled professionals. Our data shows 34% of companies say they struggled to hire in the past year, and matching salary expectations is consistently the biggest hurdle.

The cost of excessive caution

Hesitation on both sides comes at a cost. Extended hiring timelines hurt productivity and slow business growth. Both sides lose out when caution wins over clarity. Employers who offer transparent, competitive packages build the trust they need to attract candidates faster.

Competitive compensation remains one of the surest ways to attract top talent. Holistic, people-first offers shorten hiring timelines and help you find professionals who are genuinely the right fit.

Why download the Michael Page salary guide?

• Benchmark your offers. Are you offering enough to bring your ideal employees onto your team? Compare your packages to industry averages and see where you stand.
• Spot the trends shaping talent. Stay on top of hiring trends and workforce shifts so you can adjust your strategy as the market moves.
• Strengthen retention. Use current pay data to negotiate offers and catch gaps before they cost you your best people.