Some U.S. Industries Saw Wages Jump Nearly 17%. But Their Industries Have Been Shedding Jobs.

Workers in broadcasting, publishing and other information-related industries recorded some of the biggest average wage increases in the United States in 2025, even as employers in the sector cut tens of thousands of jobs.

Average weekly wages across the information sector rose 9.4% between 2024 and 2025, more than double the 4.2% increase across private-sector industries, according to a new LendingTree analysis of federal employment and wage data.

Broadcasting and content providers recorded the largest increase among the industries examined, with average weekly pay climbing 16.8%, or $788, from $4,688 to $5,476.

The findings are based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, which draws on employer payroll records. The figures represent changes in average industry pay, not necessarily raises received by individual employees.

The information sector, which includes broadcasting, publishing, telecommunications and data processing, accounted for five of the 10 industries with the fastest wage growth. Yet employment across the sector declined 1.9%, equivalent to approximately 56,400 jobs, during the same period.

Web search portals, libraries, archives and other information services ranked second, with average weekly wages increasing 11% to $6,413. Publishing industries followed with a 9.9% gain, bringing average weekly compensation to $3,950.

Financial services also featured prominently. Securities and investment-related businesses recorded an 8.8% increase in weekly wages to $6,020, while credit intermediation and related activities posted a 7.1% rise to $2,365.

Among manufacturing industries, computer and electronic product makers saw average pay increase 7.2% to $3,161 a week. Transportation equipment manufacturing recorded a 6.3% gain, reaching $1,906.

Telecommunications workers saw average weekly wages increase 6% to $2,353, while computing infrastructure, data processing and web hosting recorded 5.7% growth to $3,959. Professional, scientific and technical services completed the top 10 with a 5.6% increase to $2,602.

Not every industry recorded higher pay. Motion picture and sound recording businesses were the only qualifying industry to report a decline in average weekly wages, falling 2% to $1,728.

LendingTree compared industries employing at least 100,000 people and ranked them by percentage wage growth rather than total dollar increases.

Average wages can also change because of bonuses, executive compensation and differences in workforce composition. A rise in an industry's average does not mean every employee received a corresponding salary increase.

Matt Schulz, LendingTree's chief consumer finance analyst, said smaller businesses competing for skilled employees may struggle to match the salaries offered by larger companies.

He suggested employers could improve their appeal through flexible schedules, career development opportunities and other benefits when they cannot compete on pay alone.

While information-related businesses recorded the strongest wage gains, healthcare and social assistance led employment growth.

The sector added approximately 763,500 jobs between 2024 and 2025, a 3.4% increase that brought average employment to nearly 23 million. Across the private sector, employment grew just 0.4%.

Social assistance businesses, including organizations providing services to older adults, people with disabilities and families, added 300,984 positions, representing 6.4% growth.

Ambulatory healthcare services, such as doctors' offices and outpatient facilities, gained 241,080 jobs, while hospitals added 111,863. Nursing and residential care facilities expanded employment by another 109,551 positions.

The difference between pay growth and employment becomes particularly clear when comparing individual industries. Broadcasting and content providers had average weekly wages of $5,476 in 2025, while social assistance workers averaged $674, despite the latter industry recording much stronger hiring growth.

The BLS calculates average weekly wages by dividing total annual wages by average annual employment and then by 52. The measure includes full-time and part-time employees, as well as bonuses and other compensation reported through payroll systems.

For social assistance, average weekly wages increased 2.3% between 2024 and 2025, considerably less than the gains recorded in broadcasting and publishing, even as employers added more than 300,000 positions.