What constitutes a generous benefits package, or a competitive salary? Anyone who’s job hunted in the age of the internet has seen benefits ranging from the typical health insurance to the luxurious: sabbaticals, stipends, free tech, travel, even investment and financial advising. But what do workers want in 2025, in the midst of increasing prices everywhere?
We surveyed 981 full-time U.S. workers on their benefit satisfaction as well as what their ideal benefit package looks like to see what really would make workers thrive.
Compensation stagnation: 64% say pay hasn’t kept up with inflation
One of the most determinative employee satisfaction factors is salary: workers want to be compensated fairly for their labor. A strong majority of workers say their compensation isn't keeping pace with the real cost of living. Nearly three in four employees (72%) want a higher salary, and 64% say their current pay hasn't kept up with inflation. For 39% of the workforce, 2025 came and (almost) went without a raise at all.
Another key issue is the discrepancy between salary listed and salary offered– companies occasionally lure workers in with a high salary but offer lower than that at the point of hire. Over one in 10 employees say they received a salary offer below the listed rate for their job.
Over 1 in 4 workers only able to retire if Social Security still exists
When it comes to retirement, the story is mixed. While 83% are offered a retirement plan, confidence in long-term financial security is shaky:
- 18% aren’t on track to retire comfortably.
- 27% say their ability to retire depends on Social Security’s future.
Me Time: Workers want an average 11 more PTO days than they receive
Paid time off is another pain point for workers. On average, workers receive just 16 PTO days, but when asked their ideal PTO package, their ideal number is a much more generous 27 days. For context, while there’s no federally mandated paid time off in the U.S., the European Union (E.U.) requires a minimum of 20 working days off, and countries like France offer 30 paid vacation days yearly.
Stateside, more than half of workers (55%) say they want more time off, and barring that, 54% would like a four-day workweek. After pilot studies in countries like Japan, the phenomenon has grown in popularity as a way to give workers a break without losing productivity.
Nearly half are worried about affording health insurance in 2026
One of the most ubiquitous perks of full-time employment is employer-provided health insurance coverage, a more appealing option than shelling out potentially thousands of dollars monthly on either the Affordable Care Act marketplace or utilizing COBRA for health insurance. Unfortunately, health insurance is expensive no matter what, and workers still face affordability concerns heading into 2026. While 88% of full-time employees receive health insurance through their employer:
- Just 54% say their plan is fully covered.
- 24% are only partially covered.
Even with employer-sponsored insurance, a third delayed medical care this year due to cost, and 36% say that, despite employer-provided coverage, a medical emergency would still pose a major financial risk.
Even dental care isn’t immune to the cost of living: 43% say their dental care is affordable with employer insurance only if they stick to cleanings and cavities, avoiding more intensive treatments like root canals and crowns.
What would it look like if the U.S. decoupled healthcare from employment, and cost wasn’t a factor? Workers say they’d accept a 6.5% pay cut in exchange for free universal healthcare, showing the weight health costs have on their budgets.
Workers rate their benefits 3.6 out of 5 stars
When asked to rate their overall benefits satisfaction, employees gave an average score of 3.6 out of 5 stars. Generational differences reveal how perspectives vary:
- Boomers: 3.8 stars
- Gen X: 3.6 stars
- Millennials: 3.5 stars
- Gen Z: 3.4 stars
Salary satisfaction lagged behind, earning just 3.3 stars. Health benefits received a slightly higher 3.7, while PTO averaged 3.4.
Despite concerns, many employees still feel seen: 67% believe their employer cares about their well-being. However, 24% say their workload is too heavy, and one in four accepted their current job because it was the only offer available.
Loyalty remains relatively strong; 70% consider themselves loyal to their employer. But that loyalty has limits. Over half (56%) would leave for a better benefits package, even if the salary stayed the same. Clearly work is more than a paycheck for American workers, who want an overall benefits package that lets them work, rest, and heal with ease.
When asked what benefits they would like that they don’t currently have, workers were clear that it’s about money and time:
Top five most-wanted benefits:
- Higher salary (72%)
- More PTO (55%)
- Four-day work week (54%)
- Fully covered medical (40%)
- Gym stipend (28%)
Happy employees drive growth and productivity more than burnt-out workers; at Howdy, we offer a comprehensive benefits package to all of our employees, no matter which country they live and work in. Our goal is to ensure every employee feels part of a team, and cared for.
Methodology and fair use
In October 2025, we surveyed 981 full-time U.S. workers on their benefits packages. Ages ranged from 19-67 with an average age of 40; 49% were men, 49% women, and 2% were nonbinary or chose not to disclose.
For media inquiries, reach out to media@digitalthirdcoast.net
Fair use
When using this data and research, please attribute by linking to this study and citing Howdy.com.