1
Technical information:
Media contact:
(202) 691-6378
http://www.bls.gov/cps/
691-5902
USDL 06-98
For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Thursday, January 19, 2006
USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS:
FOURTH QUARTER 2005
Median weekly earnings of the nation’s 104.6 million full-time wage and salary workers were $659 in the
fourth quarter of 2005, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This
was 1.9 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 3.8 percent in the Consumer Price Index
for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) over the same period.
Data on usual earnings are collected as part of the Current Population Survey, a nationwide sample survey of households in which respondents are asked, among other things, how much each wage and salary
worker usually earns. (See the Explanatory Note.) Highlights from the fourth-quarter data are:
—Women who usually worked full time had median earnings of $588 per week, or 80.4 percent of the
$731 median for men. The female-to-male earnings ratios were higher among blacks (87.4 percent) and
Hispanics or Latinos (86.3 percent) than among whites (79.8 percent) or Asians (76.7 percent). (See
table 1.)
—Median earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $579 per week, 76.9 percent of the
median for white men ($753). The difference was less among women, as black women’s median earnings
($506) were 84.2 percent of those for their white counterparts ($601). Overall, median earnings of Hispanics or Latinos who worked full time ($479) were lower than those of blacks ($533), whites ($682), and
Asians ($767). (See table 1.)
—Among men, those 45 to 54 years old had the highest median weekly earnings ($865). Among
women, earnings were highest for those age 55 to 64 ($669). (See table 2.)
—Among the major occupational groups, persons employed full time in managerial, professional, and
related occupations had the highest median weekly earnings—$1,130 for men and $829 for women. Men
and women in service jobs earned the least. (See table 3.)
—Full-time workers age 25 and over without a high school diploma had median weekly earnings of
$407, compared with $585 for high school graduates (no college) and $1,029 for college graduates holding
at least a bachelor’s degree. Among college graduates with advanced degrees (professional or master’s
degree and above), the highest-earning 10 percent of male workers made $2,887 or more per week,
compared with $1,997 or more for their female counterparts. (See table 4.)
2
Annual Averages for 2004 and 2005
In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this release includes 2004 and 2005 annual average weekly
earnings for major demographic, occupational, and educational attainment groups (tables 6, 7, and 8).
Annual average data on median usual earnings for men and women by detailed occupational categories will
appear in the January 2006 issue of Employment and Earnings.
Explanatory Note
The estimates in this release were obtained from the Current
Population Survey (CPS), which provides the basic information on the
labor force, employment, and unemployment. The survey is conducted
monthly for the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the U.S.Census Bureau
from a scientifically selected national sample of about 60,000 households,
with coverage in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The earnings
data are collected from one-quarter of the CPS monthly sample and are
limited to wages and salaries. The data, therefore, exclude selfemployment income.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message
referral phone number: 1-800-877-8339.
Reliability
Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and
nonsampling error. When a sample, rather than the entire population,
is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample estimates may differ from
the "true" population values they represent. The exact difference, or
sampling error, varies depending on the particular sample selected, and
this variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate. There
is about a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based
on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true"
population value because of sampling error. BLS analyses are generally
conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.
The CPS data also are affected bynonsampling error. Nonsampling
error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to sample a
segment of the population, inability to obtain information for all
respondents in the sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents to
provide correct information, and errors made in the collection or
processing of the data.
For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS and
information on estimating standard errors, see the “Explanatory Notes
and Estimates of Error” section of Employment and Earnings.
Definitions
The principal definitions used in connection with the earnings series
are described briefly below.
Usual weekly earnings. Data represent earnings before taxes and
other deductions and include any overtime pay, commissions, or tips
usually received (at the main job in the case of multiple jobholders.) Prior
to 1994, respondents were asked how much they usually earned per
week. Since January 1994, respondents have been asked to identify the
easiest way for them to report earnings (hourly, weekly, biweekly, twice
monthly, monthly, annually, other) and how much they usually earn in
the reported time period. Earnings reported on a basis other than weekly
are converted to a weekly equivalent. The term “usual” is as perceived
by the respondent. If the respondent asks for a definition of usual,
interviewers are instructed to define the term as more than half the weeks
worked during the past 4 or 5 months.
Medians (and other quantiles) of weekly earnings. The median (or
upper limit of the second quartile) is the amount which divides a given
earnings distribution into two equal groups, one having earnings above
the median and the other having earnings below the median. Ten percent
of a given distribution have earnings below the upper limit of the first
decile (90 percent have higher earnings); 25 percent have earnings below
the upper limit of the first quartile (75 percent have higher earnings); 75
percent have earnings below the upper limit of the third quartile (25
percent have higher earnings); and 90 percent have earnings below the
upper limit of the ninth decile (10 percent have higher earnings).
The estimating procedure places each reported or calculated weekly
earnings value into $50-wide intervals which are centered around
multiples of $50. The actual value is estimated through the linear
interpolation of the interval in which the quantile boundary lies.
Over-the-year changes in the medians (and other quantile boundaries)
for specific groups may not necessarily be consistent with the movements
estimated for the overall quantile boundary. The most common reasons
for this possible anomaly are: (1) There could be a change in the relative
weights of the subgroups. For example, the medians of both 16-to-24
year olds and those 25 years and over may rise; but if the lower-earning
16-to-24 group accounts for a greatly increased share of the total, the
overall median could actually fall. (2) There could be a large change in the
shape of the distribution of reported earnings, particularly near a quantile
boundary. This could be caused by survey observations that are
clustered at rounded values, e.g., $250, $300, $400. An estimate lying
in a $50-wide centered interval containing such a cluster or “spike” tends
to change more slowly than one in other intervals.
Wage and salary workers. Workers who receive wages, salaries,
commissions, tips, payment in kind, or piece rates. The group includes
employees in both the private and public sectors but, for the purposes
of the earnings series, excludes all self-employed persons, regardless
of whether or not their businesses are incorporated.
Full-time workers. Workers who usually work 35 hours or more per
week at their sole or principal job.
Part-time workers. Workers who usually work fewer than 35 hours
per week at their sole or principal job.
Constant dollars. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers
(CPI-U) is used to convert current dollars to constant (1982) dollars.
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. This refers to persons who identified
themselves in the enumeration process as being Spanish, Hispanic, or
Latino. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino
may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well
as by race.
Table 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, quarterly averages,
not seasonally adjusted
Number of workers
(in thousands)
Characteristic
Median weekly earnings
In current dollars
IV
2004
IV
2005
Total, 16 years and over ...........................................................................
101,551
Men, 16 years and over .........................................................................
16 to 24 years ......................................................................................
25 years and over ................................................................................
Women, 16 years and over ...................................................................
16 to 24 years ......................................................................................
25 years and over ................................................................................
In constant (1982) dollars
IV
2004
IV
2005
IV
2004
IV
2005
104,599
$647
$659
$327
$321
57,183
6,072
51,110
58,886
6,152
52,733
722
396
768
731
418
778
365
201
389
356
204
379
44,369
4,417
39,952
45,713
4,785
40,928
578
371
603
588
389
614
293
188
305
287
190
299
White .....................................................................................................
Men ......................................................................................................
Women ................................................................................................
82,477
47,559
34,918
84,822
48,878
35,945
671
747
589
682
753
601
340
378
298
333
367
293
Black or African American .....................................................................
Men ......................................................................................................
Women ................................................................................................
12,183
5,812
6,370
12,521
5,900
6,621
519
529
512
533
579
506
263
268
259
260
282
247
Asian ......................................................................................................
Men ......................................................................................................
Women ................................................................................................
4,652
2,542
2,110
4,808
2,741
2,067
698
807
601
767
868
666
353
409
304
374
423
324
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ....................................................................
Men ......................................................................................................
Women ................................................................................................
14,011
8,989
5,022
14,923
9,554
5,370
467
490
415
479
498
430
237
248
210
234
243
210
SEX AND AGE
RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX
NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all
races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by
race. Beginning in January 2005, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by age, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and
sex, fourth quarter 2005 averages, not seasonally adjusted
Total
Age, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Men
Median
weekly
earnings
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Women
Median
weekly
earnings
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
weekly
earnings
TOTAL
16 years and over .....................................................................................
16 to 24 years .........................................................................................
16 to 19 years .......................................................................................
20 to 24 years .......................................................................................
25 years and over ...................................................................................
25 to 54 years .......................................................................................
25 to 34 years .....................................................................................
35 to 44 years .....................................................................................
45 to 54 years .....................................................................................
55 years and over .................................................................................
55 to 64 years .....................................................................................
65 years and over ...............................................................................
104,599
10,937
1,515
9,422
93,661
78,458
25,387
27,221
25,850
15,203
13,180
2,023
$659
406
349
416
704
697
611
741
753
735
752
598
58,886
6,152
891
5,261
52,733
44,476
14,783
15,734
13,959
8,257
7,101
1,157
$731
418
370
431
778
771
647
839
865
816
838
706
45,713
4,785
624
4,161
40,928
33,982
10,604
11,487
11,891
6,946
6,080
867
$588
389
323
402
614
610
574
625
640
645
669
487
84,822
8,916
75,907
63,053
12,854
682
411
728
724
749
48,878
5,151
43,727
36,631
7,096
753
423
804
798
842
35,945
3,765
32,180
26,422
5,757
601
394
630
625
653
12,521
1,371
11,150
9,693
1,458
533
354
571
566
605
5,900
663
5,236
4,588
648
579
359
604
601
675
6,621
708
5,914
5,105
809
506
351
530
528
569
4,808
325
4,483
3,830
653
767
485
808
814
775
2,741
169
2,572
2,198
374
868
409
904
921
791
2,067
156
1,911
1,631
280
666
529
696
686
758
14,923
2,160
12,764
11,581
1,183
479
372
503
502
509
9,554
1,425
8,129
7,399
729
498
382
522
522
523
5,370
735
4,635
4,182
453
430
347
461
461
463
White
16 years and over .....................................................................................
16 to 24 years .........................................................................................
25 years and over ...................................................................................
25 to 54 years .......................................................................................
55 years and over .................................................................................
Black or African American
16 years and over .....................................................................................
16 to 24 years .........................................................................................
25 years and over ...................................................................................
25 to 54 years .......................................................................................
55 years and over .................................................................................
Asian
16 years and over .....................................................................................
16 to 24 years .........................................................................................
25 years and over ...................................................................................
25 to 54 years .......................................................................................
55 years and over .................................................................................
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
16 years and over .....................................................................................
16 to 24 years .........................................................................................
25 years and over ...................................................................................
25 to 54 years .......................................................................................
55 years and over .................................................................................
NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all
races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by
race. Beginning in January 2005, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, quarterly averages,
not seasonally adjusted
Number of workers
(in thousands)
Median weekly earnings
Occupation and sex
IV
2004
IV
2005
IV
2004
IV
2005
36,334
14,818
21,516
14,031
24,851
10,004
14,847
11,667
691
6,561
4,415
14,668
8,269
6,398
37,489
15,318
22,171
14,162
25,314
10,009
15,305
12,499
692
7,050
4,757
15,135
8,310
6,825
$928
973
900
413
555
599
534
628
356
611
705
537
554
519
$951
1,004
922
418
581
639
556
632
394
605
714
547
549
544
18,215
8,293
9,922
7,248
9,134
5,327
3,807
11,183
549
6,407
4,227
11,402
5,848
5,554
18,600
8,376
10,223
7,052
9,514
5,591
3,922
12,005
548
6,884
4,573
11,715
5,802
5,913
1,109
1,162
1,062
482
690
769
588
636
365
613
707
587
614
544
1,130
1,189
1,071
493
707
791
599
636
402
606
714
600
622
577
18,119
6,525
11,594
6,784
15,716
4,677
11,040
484
142
154
188
3,265
2,421
844
18,889
6,941
11,948
7,109
15,800
4,418
11,382
494
144
166
184
3,420
2,508
912
801
832
786
368
509
459
521
472
314
471
659
415
415
416
829
856
815
383
524
487
543
513
324
501
731
421
426
405
TOTAL
Management, professional, and related occupations ..............................
Management, business, and financial operations occupations .............
Professional and related occupations ....................................................
Service occupations ................................................................................
Sales and office occupations ...................................................................
Sales and related occupations ..............................................................
Office and administrative support occupations ......................................
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .............
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................
Construction and extraction occupations ...............................................
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations .................
Production occupations .........................................................................
Transportation and material moving occupations ..................................
Men
Management, professional, and related occupations ..............................
Management, business, and financial operations occupations .............
Professional and related occupations ....................................................
Service occupations ................................................................................
Sales and office occupations ...................................................................
Sales and related occupations ..............................................................
Office and administrative support occupations ......................................
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .............
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................
Construction and extraction occupations ...............................................
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations .................
Production occupations .........................................................................
Transportation and material moving occupations ..................................
Women
Management, professional, and related occupations ..............................
Management, business, and financial operations occupations .............
Professional and related occupations ....................................................
Service occupations ................................................................................
Sales and office occupations ...................................................................
Sales and related occupations ..............................................................
Office and administrative support occupations ......................................
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .............
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................
Construction and extraction occupations ...............................................
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations .................
Production occupations .........................................................................
Transportation and material moving occupations ..................................
NOTE: Beginning in January 2005, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
Table 4. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected
characteristics, fourth quarter 2005 averages, not seasonally adjusted
Characteristic
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Upper limit of:
First
decile
First
quartile
Second
quartile
(median)
Third
quartile
Ninth
decile
SEX, RACE, AND HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY
Total, 16 years and over ...........................................................................
Men .........................................................................................................
Women ...................................................................................................
104,599
58,886
45,713
$316
341
297
$437
484
400
$659
731
588
$1,012
1,142
879
$1,535
1,735
1,266
White ......................................................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................
84,822
48,878
35,945
323
353
300
452
496
407
682
753
601
1,037
1,168
892
1,564
1,756
1,280
Black or African American ......................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................
12,521
5,900
6,621
287
293
282
376
399
360
533
579
506
769
829
728
1,147
1,177
1,090
Asian .......................................................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................
4,808
2,741
2,067
338
375
316
486
529
423
767
868
666
1,264
1,417
1,102
1,910
2,107
1,663
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity .....................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................
14,923
9,554
5,370
282
294
259
349
370
319
479
498
430
718
750
650
1,101
1,195
973
Total, 25 years and over .........................................................................
Less than a high school diploma ..........................................................
High school graduates, no college1 ......................................................
Some college or associate degree .......................................................
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................
Bachelor’s degree only .......................................................................
Advanced degree ...............................................................................
93,661
8,625
27,781
26,055
31,201
20,182
11,018
337
260
316
362
498
469
607
475
313
418
482
721
658
836
704
407
585
674
1,029
958
1,200
1,067
573
810
963
1,539
1,416
1,766
1,587
798
1,132
1,336
2,218
1,995
2,490
Men, 25 years and over ........................................................................
Less than a high school diploma ........................................................
High school graduates, no college1 ....................................................
Some college or associate degree .....................................................
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ..........................................................
Bachelor’s degree only .....................................................................
Advanced degree .............................................................................
52,733
5,760
16,142
13,893
16,939
10,982
5,958
375
287
359
401
530
500
653
517
347
482
560
778
736
946
778
452
658
775
1,187
1,079
1,412
1,201
620
922
1,099
1,758
1,600
2,002
1,773
898
1,254
1,484
2,477
2,277
2,887
Women, 25 years and over ..................................................................
Less than a high school diploma ........................................................
High school graduates, no college1 ....................................................
Some college or associate degree .....................................................
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ..........................................................
Bachelor’s degree only .....................................................................
Advanced degree .............................................................................
40,928
2,865
11,640
12,162
14,261
9,201
5,061
310
227
289
332
469
431
585
420
280
373
428
648
604
758
614
338
493
583
905
837
1,026
916
442
665
799
1,268
1,171
1,449
1,330
600
894
1,085
1,843
1,659
1,997
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
2 Includes persons with bachelor’s, master’s, professional, and doctoral
degrees.
NOTE: Ten percent of all full-time wage and salary workers earn less
than the upper limit of the first decile; 25 percent earn less than the upper
limit of the first quartile; 50 percent earn less than the upper limit of the
second quartile, or median; 75 percent earn less than the upper limit of the
third quartile; and 90 percent earn less than the upper limit of the ninth
decile. Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African
American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented
for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic
or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as
well as by race. Beginning in January 2005, data reflect revised
population controls used in the household survey.
Table 5. Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, quarterly averages,
not seasonally adjusted
Number of workers
(in thousands)
Median weekly earnings
Characteristic
IV
2004
IV
2005
IV
2004
IV
2005
Total, 16 years and over ...........................................................................
22,841
22,456
$194
$198
Men, 16 years and over .........................................................................
16 to 24 years ......................................................................................
25 years and over ................................................................................
7,249
3,697
3,552
7,045
3,680
3,365
182
144
242
182
144
249
Women, 16 years and over ...................................................................
16 to 24 years ......................................................................................
25 years and over ................................................................................
15,592
4,882
10,709
15,410
4,607
10,803
201
144
236
206
140
246
White .....................................................................................................
Men ......................................................................................................
Women ................................................................................................
19,302
6,040
13,261
18,878
5,768
13,111
195
182
202
198
179
207
Black or African American .....................................................................
Men ......................................................................................................
Women ................................................................................................
2,065
671
1,394
2,114
734
1,379
187
175
192
205
194
210
Asian ......................................................................................................
Men ......................................................................................................
Women ................................................................................................
796
326
471
837
320
517
240
230
246
186
188
184
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ....................................................................
Men ......................................................................................................
Women ................................................................................................
2,602
883
1,718
2,501
865
1,636
191
194
189
201
203
201
SEX AND AGE
RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX
NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all
races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by
race. Beginning in January 2005, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
Table 6. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, annual averages
Number of workers
(in thousands)
Characteristic
Median weekly earnings
In current dollars
2004
In constant (1982) dollars
2005
2004
2005
2004
2005
SEX AND AGE
Total, 16 years and over ...........................................................................
101,224
103,560
$638
$651
$326
$322
Men, 16 years and over ..........................................................................
16 to 24 years ........................................................................................
25 years and over ..................................................................................
57,001
6,243
50,758
58,406
6,396
52,010
713
400
762
722
409
771
364
204
389
357
202
381
Women, 16 years and over ....................................................................
16 to 24 years ........................................................................................
25 years and over ..................................................................................
44,223
4,633
39,590
45,154
4,711
40,443
573
375
599
585
381
612
292
191
306
289
188
302
White .....................................................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................
82,468
47,495
34,972
84,110
48,572
35,538
657
732
584
672
743
596
336
374
298
332
367
295
Black ......................................................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................
12,032
5,706
6,326
12,388
5,916
6,472
525
569
505
520
559
499
268
290
258
257
276
246
Asian ......................................................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................
4,457
2,504
1,953
4,651
2,597
2,054
708
802
613
753
825
665
362
409
313
372
408
329
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity .....................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................
14,061
8,996
5,065
14,673
9,433
5,241
456
480
419
471
489
429
233
245
214
233
241
212
RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX
NOTE: Estimates for the race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. In
addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as race. Beginning
in January 2005, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
Table 7. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, annual averages
Occupation and sex
Number of workers
(in thousands)
Median weekly earnings
2004
2005
2004
2005
36,149
14,778
21,371
13,763
24,950
9,984
14,966
11,280
718
6,232
4,330
15,082
8,478
6,604
36,908
14,977
21,931
14,123
25,193
10,031
15,161
12,086
755
6,826
4,504
15,251
8,403
6,848
$918
965
883
411
558
604
535
621
356
604
704
523
526
520
$937
997
902
413
575
622
550
623
372
604
705
540
538
543
17,981
8,170
9,811
6,989
9,410
5,562
3,848
10,835
585
6,109
4,140
11,786
6,024
5,762
18,311
8,195
10,116
7,024
9,539
5,582
3,957
11,569
601
6,663
4,305
11,963
5,991
5,972
1,098
1,158
1,049
476
669
747
587
626
367
606
707
578
597
549
1,113
1,167
1,058
478
690
762
605
628
388
606
706
591
608
574
18,168
6,609
11,560
6,773
15,540
4,422
11,118
445
133
123
190
3,296
2,454
842
18,597
6,782
11,815
7,099
15,654
4,449
11,205
517
154
163
199
3,288
2,412
876
780
812
767
374
512
464
522
453
322
504
611
406
405
410
813
847
792
379
520
483
533
486
327
480
691
420
423
412
TOTAL
Management, professional, and related occupations ...........................................
Management, business, and financial operations occupations ..........................
Professional and related occupations .................................................................
Service occupations .............................................................................................
Sales and office occupations ................................................................................
Sales and related occupations ...........................................................................
Office and administrative support occupations ...................................................
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ..........................
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations .........................................................
Construction and extraction occupations ............................................................
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations .............................................
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ..............................
Production occupations ......................................................................................
Transportation and material moving occupations ...............................................
Men
Management, professional, and related occupations ...........................................
Management, business, and financial operations occupations ..........................
Professional and related occupations .................................................................
Service occupations .............................................................................................
Sales and office occupations ................................................................................
Sales and related occupations ...........................................................................
Office and administrative support occupations ...................................................
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ..........................
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations .........................................................
Construction and extraction occupations ............................................................
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations .............................................
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ..............................
Production occupations ......................................................................................
Transportation and material moving occupations ...............................................
Women
Management, professional, and related occupations ...........................................
Management, business, and financial operations occupations ..........................
Professional and related occupations .................................................................
Service occupations .............................................................................................
Sales and office occupations ................................................................................
Sales and related occupations ...........................................................................
Office and administrative support occupations ...................................................
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ..........................
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations .........................................................
Construction and extraction occupations ............................................................
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations .............................................
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ..............................
Production occupations ......................................................................................
Transportation and material moving occupations ...............................................
NOTE:
Beginning in January 2005, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
Table 8. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected
characteristics, 2005 annual averages
Educational attainment, sex, race,
and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Upper limit of:
Second
quartile
(median)
Third
quartile
Ninth
decile
$470
311
411
481
705
646
829
$696
409
583
670
1,013
937
1,173
$1,048
576
809
952
1,524
1,392
1,747
$1,559
796
1,111
1,309
2,115
1,920
2,421
365
282
349
395
538
501
650
511
339
476
547
781
731
934
771
455
652
766
1,167
1,071
1,387
1,168
625
912
1,074
1,756
1,603
1,924
1,760
879
1,217
1,453
2,414
2,231
2,883
40,443
2,878
11,517
12,103
13,944
9,057
4,887
306
226
286
322
463
431
578
417
279
366
425
634
594
752
612
341
493
587
883
813
1,007
900
441
667
801
1,242
1,148
1,409
1,297
595
887
1,088
1,735
1,574
1,908
75,035
7,254
22,215
20,597
24,969
16,186
8,783
341
261
321
365
507
480
612
485
314
426
496
723
665
841
719
414
600
697
1,039
960
1,195
1,080
587
836
980
1,552
1,438
1,760
1,600
813
1,144
1,347
2,202
1,994
2,496
43,221
5,071
13,182
11,109
13,859
9,036
4,824
377
285
366
410
574
519
666
528
344
491
578
809
749
952
796
464
677
794
1,210
1,122
1,409
1,207
640
942
1,111
1,791
1,658
1,990
1,802
893
1,254
1,487
2,494
2,297
2,896
31,814
2,183
9,033
9,488
11,110
7,150
3,959
311
225
290
331
477
442
584
429
278
377
439
646
602
757
624
340
504
600
891
824
1,014
915
442
682
822
1,253
1,158
1,415
1,327
596
900
1,111
1,748
1,607
1,909
11,051
1,017
3,982
3,405
2,649
1,824
825
295
234
285
307
416
397
497
389
293
359
405
595
557
722
558
372
488
559
828
763
955
809
484
675
764
1,166
1,092
1,366
1,153
633
921
1,063
1,663
1,526
1,915
First
decile
First
quartile
92,453
8,861
27,514
25,471
30,607
19,843
10,764
$331
256
311
351
494
464
604
52,010
5,983
15,997
13,368
16,662
10,786
5,876
TOTAL
Total, 25 years and over ...........................................................
Less than a high school diploma ............................................
High school graduates, no college1 ........................................
Some college or associate degree .........................................
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ..............................................
Bachelor’s degree only .........................................................
Advanced degree .................................................................
Men
Total, 25 years and over ...........................................................
Less than a high school diploma ............................................
High school graduates, no college1 ........................................
Some college or associate degree .........................................
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ..............................................
Bachelor’s degree only .........................................................
Advanced degree .................................................................
Women
Total, 25 years and over ...........................................................
Less than a high school diploma ............................................
High school graduates, no college1 ........................................
Some college or associate degree .........................................
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ..............................................
Bachelor’s degree only .........................................................
Advanced degree .................................................................
White, total
Total, 25 years and over ...........................................................
Less than a high school diploma ............................................
High school graduates, no college1 ........................................
Some college or associate degree .........................................
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ..............................................
Bachelor’s degree only .........................................................
Advanced degree .................................................................
White men
Total, 25 years and over ...........................................................
Less than a high school diploma ............................................
High school graduates, no college1 ........................................
Some college or associate degree .........................................
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ..............................................
Bachelor’s degree only .........................................................
Advanced degree .................................................................
White women
Total, 25 years and over ...........................................................
Less than a high school diploma ............................................
High school graduates, no college1 ........................................
Some college or associate degree .........................................
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ..............................................
Bachelor’s degree only .........................................................
Advanced degree .................................................................
Black or African American, total
Total, 25 years and over ...........................................................
Less than a high school diploma ............................................
High school graduates, no college1 ........................................
Some college or associate degree .........................................
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ..............................................
Bachelor’s degree only .........................................................
Advanced degree .................................................................
See note at end of table.
Table 8. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected
characteristics, 2005 annual averages—Continued
Educational attainment, sex, race,
and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Upper limit of:
Second
quartile
(median)
Third
quartile
Ninth
decile
$412
311
392
447
604
581
737
$593
404
528
611
878
827
1,046
$860
523
735
850
1,310
1,191
1,514
$1,214
697
995
1,149
1,869
1,734
2,258
286
221
276
296
416
389
524
368
275
330
381
590
537
705
518
339
436
513
789
725
930
759
428
609
712
1,100
1,007
1,265
1,093
545
822
984
1,542
1,426
1,856
4,342
342
720
764
2,515
1,488
1,027
344
247
293
337
478
425
626
501
304
387
468
714
613
861
782
396
535
640
1,031
917
1,269
1,216
562
736
894
1,544
1,271
1,856
1,852
754
974
1,267
2,086
1,812
2,410
12,525
4,444
3,727
2,598
1,756
1,261
496
283
255
291
316
392
380
474
354
304
373
425
588
535
737
495
388
499
599
866
799
1,073
736
510
685
839
1,268
1,162
1,634
1,103
706
952
1,193
1,881
1,652
2,289
7,980
3,187
2,371
1,451
970
692
278
295
279
309
336
392
384
445
376
321
396
473
596
546
797
513
414
530
659
946
873
1,263
769
550
737
968
1,500
1,322
1,882
1,174
761
1,020
1,323
2,077
1,867
2,501
4,545
1,257
1,356
1,146
787
569
218
258
227
272
297
391
377
495
321
270
326
394
582
526
676
452
323
435
528
787
744
931
669
411
598
728
1,081
1,003
1,242
977
522
804
993
1,442
1,352
1,792
First
decile
First
quartile
5,247
553
2,073
1,486
1,134
815
319
$309
253
301
334
415
406
483
5,804
463
1,908
1,918
1,514
1,009
506
Black or African American men
Total, 25 years and over ...........................................................
Less than a high school diploma ............................................
High school graduates, no college1 ........................................
Some college or associate degree .........................................
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ..............................................
Bachelor’s degree only .........................................................
Advanced degree .................................................................
Black or African American women
Total, 25 years and over ...........................................................
Less than a high school diploma ............................................
High school graduates, no college1 ........................................
Some college or associate degree .........................................
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ..............................................
Bachelor’s degree only .........................................................
Advanced degree .................................................................
Asian, total
Total, 25 years and over ...........................................................
Less than a high school diploma ............................................
High school graduates, no college1 ........................................
Some college or associate degree .........................................
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ..............................................
Bachelor’s degree only .........................................................
Advanced degree .................................................................
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, total
Total, 25 years and over ...........................................................
Less than a high school diploma ............................................
High school graduates, no college1 ........................................
Some college or associate degree .........................................
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ..............................................
Bachelor’s degree only .........................................................
Advanced degree .................................................................
Hispanic or Latino men
Total, 25 years and over ...........................................................
Less than a high school diploma ............................................
High school graduates, no college1 ........................................
Some college or associate degree .........................................
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ..............................................
Bachelor’s degree only .........................................................
Advanced degree .................................................................
Hispanic or Latino women
Total, 25 years and over ...........................................................
Less than a high school diploma ............................................
High school graduates, no college1 ........................................
Some college or associate degree .........................................
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ..............................................
Bachelor’s degree only .........................................................
Advanced degree .................................................................
1 Includes persons with high school diploma or equivalent.
2 Includes persons with bachelor’s, master’s, professional, and
doctoral degrees.
NOTE: Ten percent of all full-time wage and salary workers earn
less than the upper limit of the first decile; 25 percent earn less than
the upper limit of the first quartile; 50 percent earn less than the upper
limit of the second quartile, or median; 75 percent earn less than the
upper limit of the third quartile; and 90 percent earn less than the
upper limit of the ninth decile. Estimates for the race groups (white,
black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because
data are not presented for all races. In addition, persons whose
ethnicity is identified as "Hispanic or Latino" may be of any race and,
therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as race. Beginning in
January 2005, data reflect revised population controls used in the
household survey.