# United States wealth and wage inequality trends

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/united-states-wealth-and-wage-inequality-trends
> Updated: 2026-09-10T14:00:00.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

Economic data indicates persistent wealth and wage inequality within the United States. In New York City, tax return data from 2019 to 2024 shows significant wealth concentration, with the top 0.1 percent of residents receiving 22 percent of the city’s total income in 2024. While top earners experienced growth, the real median income in the city fell by 3.2 percent over the same period.

On a national level, wage inequality trends vary significantly by state. California and New York report the highest disparities, driven by concentrations in technology and finance. While some states like Pennsylvania and North Carolina have seen widening gaps, others, such as Oregon, have experienced narrowing inequality.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-10: U.S. wage inequality trends vary by state

A SmartAsset study shows California and New York have the highest wage inequality in the U.S., while Oregon saw the largest decrease in the gap between top earners and median workers.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-wage-inequality-trends-vary-by-state

### 2026-09-03: New York City economic data highlights rising wealth inequality

Data from New York City reveals profound wealth concentration, with the top 0.1% receiving 22% of total income in 2024, fueling the political rise of democratic socialist candidates.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/new-york-city-economic-data-highlights-rising-wealth-inequality

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Cite as: United States wealth and wage inequality trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/united-states-wealth-and-wage-inequality-trends