New year, new increment … but not very excited.
While you can think that your annual increment increase can be only a good thing, think again. This is because according to a new global report by the counseling firm Corn Ferry, American workers can expect only a very moderate increase in salary in 2026.
In the latest Corn Pheri Total Award Pulse Survey44 percent of the leaders said that their organizations would provide an increase to at least 95 percent of the employees, with no one to hand over only 1 percent of the firms.
5 jobs across America hire
- Policy Lawyer, New Hampshire’s ACLU, Concorde
- Research Associates, JL Partners, New York
- Police Crime Analyst, Danville, VA, Danville city
- Policy associate, LH, Tulsa
- Government Program Policy Specialist, Innova, New York
However, the average estimated growth is low, in some cases, very few, which companies were paying earlier. Additionally, they are tying the salary increase data for an estimated market increment rather than a real increase in the cost of survival.
In real terms, it is equivalent to a 3.5 percent increase in 2026, slightly ahead of the current rate of US inflation, which is 2.9 percent. For a period of twelve months ending in June 2025 and June 2024, average wages and salary increased by 3.9 percent and 5.1 percent respectively.
Comparatively, some industries were paying an increase of 10 percent or more to attract or maintain selected workers after epidemic.
Not add
So why disconnect? “The increase in base-pay is determined relative to the cost of labor, not the cost-life or inflation increases,” says Tom McMulan, leader of the North America Total Rewards Specialization Group of Corn Ferry.
It is struggling for Pachek for salary despite many American workers. In a previous corn boat survey Among the workers, 70 percent said that they were worried that the cost of life was beating their current salary. Meanwhile, 35 percent believed that they were being paid below the value of their skills.
Survival loan
Similarly, by a new survey persistent It was found that inflation is forcing many Americans to borrow just.
Survey of 1,005 American employees found that more than half (56 percent) says their salary is not enough to manage loans and contribute to future savings, while 48 percent have rely on loans to pay for payment for necessary such as grocery goods and utilities in the previous year.
The survey also found that the most common form of loan is credit card (71 percent) and 21 percent can only pay minimum payments on their debt. Another 9 percent admitted that they could not meet the minimum payment every month and only 27 percent are in a position to pay their loans every month to get rid of only quickly.
Even more absorb is that because such a significant number of workers are getting in significant loans, 22 percent are delaying savings for retirement, 10 percent has left the necessary medical care and prescription and 16 percent has ever left the idea of buying a house.
“What is in these findings is how financial stress has been done. Employees are trying to cover many loans while trying to cover day -to -day expenses, a pattern that we call ‘survival loan’. Such a loan often comes at the price of important life milestones – to build a house, save for retirement,” Career expert says for. “These are options that no one should make lightly, and they clarify how many economic pressure are affecting the workers’ decisions and attitude.”
Without structural changes for wages or financial assistance, the cycle of getting into debt is becoming more difficult.
However, if taking matters into your hands is on your 2026 radar, then one option is now to start thinking about a new job looking.
As part of its report, Corn Ferry found that 76 percent of organizations expect head count stability in 2026, which leads to the most modest work. Additionally, 88 percent of organizations estimate revenue growth in 2026, expecting 52 6 percent or more out of that number.
