Volunteer Hour Value Increases to $36.14, Highlighting Economic Impact on Nonprofits
The value of a volunteer hour in the United States increased by 3.9% in 2025, reaching $36.14, according to data from Independent Sector and the Do Good Institute. This increase surpasses the annual inflation rate of 2.7% for the same year. The highest value was recorded in Washington, D.C., at $54.77 per hour, while the lowest was in Puerto Rico at $17.99. The data underscores the significant contributions volunteers make to the nation's 1.9 million nonprofits, with 75% of nonprofit leaders acknowledging the importance of volunteers to their operations. The value is calculated using the annual average hourly earnings for all production and non-supervisory workers, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
