U.S. job tenure rises as the wage gap for job hoppers narrows

Median job tenure in the United States is rebounding as the era of frequent job hopping slows. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data from September 2026, the median tenure for all employees rose to 4.1 years, up from 3.9 years in 2024. This increase was observed across genders, with median tenure for men rising to 4.3 years and for women to 4.0 years.

While switching employers still offers a pay premium—with ADP reporting 7.3% gross pay growth for job changers compared to 4.4% for those staying—the gap is at its narrowest point in a decade.

Younger workers, specifically those aged 25 to 34, show an average tenure of three years, an increase from 2.7 years in 2024. Although Gen Z and some millennials continue to move between roles more frequently than older generations, they often do so to seek professional development and diversify skill sets in a market with fewer entry-level opportunities, particularly in sectors impacted by AI.