1
Technical information:
Media contact:
(202) 691-6378
http://www.bls.gov/cps/
691-5902
USDL 07-0076
For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Friday, January 19, 2007
USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS:
FOURTH QUARTER 2006
Median weekly earnings of the nation’s 106.9 million full-time wage and salary workers were $682 in the
fourth quarter of 2006, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This
was 3.5 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 1.9 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 Technical Note.) Highlights from the fourth-quarter data are:
• Women who usually worked full-time had median earnings of $609 per week, or 81.3 percent of the
$749 median for men. This ratio has trended up gradually since the data were first collected in 1979;
at that time, it was 62.5 percent. Female-to-male earnings ratios were higher among Hispanics or
Latinos (88.5 percent) and blacks (86.1 percent) than among whites (81.0 percent) or Asians (79.6
percent). (See table 1.)
• Median earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $605 per week, 79.1 percent of the
median for white men ($765), while black women’s median earnings ($521) were 84.0 percent of those
for their white counterparts ($620). Overall, median earnings of Hispanic or Latinos who worked fulltime ($489) were lower than those of blacks ($569), whites ($702), and Asians ($809). (See table 1.)
• Among men, those age 55 to 64 and age 45 to 54 had the highest median weekly earnings, $919 and
$907, respectively. Among women, earnings also were highest for these two age groups—$691 for
55- to 64-year olds and $667 for 45- to 54-year olds. (See table 2.)
• Among the major occupational groups, persons employed full time in managerial, professional, and
related occupations had the highest median weekly earnings—$1,150 for men and $859 for women.
Men and women in service jobs earned the least. (See table 3.)
• Full-time workers age 25 years and over without a high school diploma had median weekly earnings
of $415, compared with $597 for high school graduates (no college) and $1,046 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 $3,090 or more per
week, compared with $2,055 or more for their female counterparts. (See table 4.)
2
Annual Averages for 2005 and 2006
In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this release includes 2005 and 2006 annual average weekly
earnings for major demographic and occupational groups, and 2006 annual average data for 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 2007 issue of Employment and Earnings.
Technical 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
2005
IV
2006
Total, 16 years and over ...........................................................................
104,599
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
2005
IV
2006
IV
2005
IV
2006
106,903
$659
$682
$321
$326
58,886
6,152
52,733
60,060
6,355
53,705
731
418
778
749
429
800
356
204
379
358
205
383
45,713
4,785
40,928
46,843
4,736
42,108
588
389
614
609
403
638
287
190
299
291
193
305
White .....................................................................................................
Men ......................................................................................................
Women ................................................................................................
84,822
48,878
35,945
86,726
49,906
36,820
682
753
601
702
765
620
333
367
293
336
366
297
Black or African American .....................................................................
Men ......................................................................................................
Women ................................................................................................
12,521
5,900
6,621
12,840
6,028
6,813
533
579
506
569
605
521
260
282
247
272
289
249
Asian ......................................................................................................
Men ......................................................................................................
Women ................................................................................................
4,808
2,741
2,067
4,780
2,689
2,091
767
868
666
809
912
726
374
423
324
387
436
347
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ....................................................................
Men ......................................................................................................
Women ................................................................................................
14,923
9,554
5,370
15,884
10,187
5,697
479
498
430
489
504
446
234
243
210
234
241
214
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 2006, 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 2006 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 ...............................................................................
106,903
11,091
1,546
9,544
95,813
79,697
25,651
27,239
26,808
16,116
13,955
2,160
$682
416
324
435
726
720
624
749
789
759
784
597
60,060
6,355
913
5,442
53,705
45,048
14,858
15,581
14,609
8,657
7,418
1,239
$749
429
342
458
800
787
662
836
907
878
919
640
46,843
4,736
634
4,102
42,108
34,649
10,793
11,658
12,198
7,459
6,538
921
$609
403
307
418
638
629
589
646
667
671
691
534
86,726
9,007
77,718
64,055
13,664
702
419
745
738
783
49,906
5,289
44,616
37,142
7,474
765
432
821
807
912
36,820
3,718
33,102
26,913
6,189
620
407
656
648
684
12,840
1,396
11,444
9,849
1,596
569
395
592
589
611
6,028
716
5,312
4,634
678
605
417
630
630
627
6,813
680
6,132
5,215
918
521
357
548
543
589
4,780
293
4,487
3,891
596
809
474
844
873
700
2,689
142
2,547
2,188
359
912
437
939
963
716
2,091
151
1,940
1,704
236
726
495
745
754
684
15,884
2,344
13,540
12,232
1,308
489
381
509
507
541
10,187
1,579
8,608
7,805
803
504
388
524
522
561
5,697
765
4,932
4,427
505
446
365
474
470
516
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 2006, 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
2005
IV
2006
IV
2005
IV
2006
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
38,414
15,608
22,806
14,669
25,637
10,002
15,636
12,777
633
7,318
4,827
15,406
8,244
7,162
$951
1,004
922
418
581
639
556
632
394
605
714
547
549
544
$972
1,018
950
426
594
639
578
658
392
617
744
554
569
535
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
18,735
8,615
10,120
7,336
9,687
5,599
4,088
12,204
507
7,110
4,587
12,098
5,865
6,233
1,130
1,189
1,071
493
707
791
599
636
402
606
714
600
622
577
1,150
1,201
1,119
488
704
788
620
664
396
619
748
601
628
567
18,889
6,941
11,948
7,109
15,800
4,418
11,382
494
144
166
184
3,420
2,508
912
19,679
6,993
12,686
7,333
15,950
4,403
11,548
573
125
208
240
3,308
2,379
929
829
856
815
383
524
487
543
513
324
501
731
421
426
405
859
874
851
397
544
484
567
547
385
515
675
423
437
399
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 2006, 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 2006 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 ...................................................................................................
106,903
60,060
46,843
$323
345
305
$452
490
411
$682
749
609
$1,041
1,163
908
$1,567
1,810
1,321
White ......................................................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................
86,726
49,906
36,820
328
351
307
465
498
418
702
765
620
1,069
1,187
926
1,604
1,859
1,337
Black or African American ......................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................
12,840
6,028
6,813
299
308
293
396
422
376
569
605
521
831
913
757
1,198
1,262
1,142
Asian .......................................................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................
4,780
2,689
2,091
350
378
332
518
577
493
809
912
726
1,326
1,504
1,109
1,904
2,101
1,556
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity .....................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................
15,884
10,187
5,697
280
290
258
345
362
320
489
504
446
722
735
698
1,073
1,117
1,035
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 ...............................................................................
95,813
8,821
28,320
26,454
32,219
20,969
11,250
344
269
320
366
525
492
634
485
318
421
490
738
684
859
726
415
597
700
1,046
966
1,217
1,107
579
845
993
1,559
1,438
1,827
1,640
774
1,182
1,365
2,287
2,004
2,723
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 .............................................................................
53,705
5,963
16,414
13,980
17,348
11,396
5,952
376
283
356
400
589
552
694
521
342
481
564
814
758
958
800
461
674
802
1,207
1,123
1,417
1,230
616
948
1,131
1,860
1,664
2,142
1,882
815
1,326
1,520
2,659
2,306
3,090
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 .............................................................................
42,108
2,858
11,906
12,474
14,870
9,573
5,298
319
243
294
337
490
450
606
436
292
374
439
670
614
786
638
363
506
604
917
851
1,043
948
474
686
843
1,289
1,177
1,495
1,362
647
946
1,147
1,764
1,636
2,055
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 2006, 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
2005
IV
2006
IV
2005
IV
2006
Total, 16 years and over ...........................................................................
22,456
22,556
$198
$208
Men, 16 years and over .........................................................................
16 to 24 years ......................................................................................
25 years and over ................................................................................
7,045
3,680
3,365
7,176
3,697
3,479
182
144
249
193
151
261
Women, 16 years and over ...................................................................
16 to 24 years ......................................................................................
25 years and over ................................................................................
15,410
4,607
10,803
15,380
4,651
10,729
206
140
246
215
150
258
White .....................................................................................................
Men ......................................................................................................
Women ................................................................................................
18,878
5,768
13,111
18,818
5,816
13,002
198
179
207
209
191
218
Black or African American .....................................................................
Men ......................................................................................................
Women ................................................................................................
2,114
734
1,379
2,237
807
1,430
205
194
210
197
206
192
Asian ......................................................................................................
Men ......................................................................................................
Women ................................................................................................
837
320
517
954
364
590
186
188
184
217
208
220
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ....................................................................
Men ......................................................................................................
Women ................................................................................................
2,501
865
1,636
2,458
775
1,683
201
203
201
206
215
202
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 2006, 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
2005
In constant (1982) dollars
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
SEX AND AGE
Total, 16 years and over ...........................................................................
103,560
106,106
$651
$671
$322
$321
Men, 16 years and over ..........................................................................
16 to 24 years ........................................................................................
25 years and over ..................................................................................
58,406
6,396
52,010
59,747
6,559
53,188
722
409
771
743
418
797
357
202
381
356
200
381
Women, 16 years and over ....................................................................
16 to 24 years ........................................................................................
25 years and over ..................................................................................
45,154
4,711
40,443
46,358
4,802
41,556
585
381
612
600
395
627
289
188
302
287
189
300
White .....................................................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................
84,110
48,572
35,538
86,055
49,650
36,405
672
743
596
690
761
609
332
367
295
330
364
292
Black ......................................................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................
12,388
5,916
6,472
12,745
6,025
6,720
520
559
499
554
591
519
257
276
246
265
283
248
Asian ......................................................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................
4,651
2,597
2,054
4,840
2,717
2,123
753
825
665
784
882
699
372
408
329
375
422
335
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity .....................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................
14,673
9,433
5,241
15,693
10,007
5,686
471
489
429
486
505
440
233
241
212
233
242
211
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 2006, 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
2005
2006
2005
2006
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
37,824
15,447
22,378
14,749
25,688
10,336
15,351
12,512
716
7,166
4,630
15,332
8,391
6,942
$937
997
902
413
575
622
550
623
372
604
705
540
538
543
$967
1,045
928
422
589
628
572
653
387
619
742
557
559
556
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
18,686
8,536
10,149
7,275
9,753
5,777
3,976
11,989
569
6,995
4,425
12,045
5,979
6,066
1,113
1,167
1,058
478
690
762
605
628
388
606
706
591
608
574
1,154
1,231
1,109
494
696
761
619
660
401
621
744
601
621
581
18,597
6,782
11,815
7,099
15,654
4,449
11,205
517
154
163
199
3,288
2,412
876
19,138
6,910
12,228
7,473
15,935
4,560
11,375
524
147
172
205
3,288
2,412
876
813
847
792
379
520
483
533
486
327
480
691
420
423
412
840
881
816
390
538
487
557
518
342
533
697
426
432
414
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 2006, 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, 2006 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
$483
319
419
491
725
665
847
$718
419
595
692
1,039
962
1,203
$1,089
585
843
977
1,552
1,433
1,804
$1,607
793
1,162
1,347
2,223
1,963
2,577
378
285
357
406
575
521
674
523
352
486
564
801
743
953
797
469
678
796
1,205
1,118
1,430
1,216
633
952
1,123
1,828
1,637
2,012
1,843
862
1,272
1,492
2,496
2,284
2,907
41,556
2,945
11,711
12,439
14,461
9,435
5,026
313
232
290
329
482
444
587
428
285
374
434
652
611
763
627
358
500
602
905
839
1,020
927
471
678
829
1,269
1,182
1,448
1,347
620
919
1,115
1,764
1,640
2,000
76,775
7,396
22,735
20,990
25,654
16,687
8,966
351
265
328
375
522
490
626
495
321
437
504
735
679
856
737
423
615
717
1,058
980
1,225
1,122
594
873
1,006
1,576
1,460
1,843
1,646
805
1,189
1,380
2,288
2,017
2,684
44,171
5,163
13,515
11,280
14,212
9,267
4,946
386
287
374
423
584
538
685
546
356
502
587
825
760
964
821
477
704
826
1,237
1,142
1,446
1,242
642
978
1,148
1,861
1,680
2,089
1,875
877
1,316
1,524
2,581
2,306
2,922
32,605
2,233
9,220
9,710
11,441
7,421
4,021
317
232
295
334
485
445
591
438
283
382
444
660
617
769
640
355
510
612
911
846
1,028
941
471
694
847
1,273
1,184
1,449
1,358
615
935
1,135
1,786
1,661
2,015
11,372
1,064
3,907
3,576
2,824
1,951
874
306
241
288
327
467
445
560
406
306
369
422
626
598
743
585
393
497
588
886
803
1,015
866
507
682
818
1,256
1,165
1,483
1,234
721
952
1,114
1,756
1,602
1,985
First
decile
First
quartile
94,744
9,029
28,023
26,027
31,665
20,563
11,102
$342
262
317
363
513
483
618
53,188
6,084
16,313
13,588
17,204
11,128
6,075
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, 2006 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
$428
331
401
471
663
619
827
$620
419
543
642
959
875
1,181
$932
560
766
927
1,363
1,262
1,669
$1,310
782
1,014
1,218
1,911
1,822
2,293
297
229
275
316
468
446
550
390
287
342
405
611
588
704
545
359
455
534
827
767
948
794
446
609
742
1,166
1,118
1,353
1,154
587
832
997
1,603
1,498
1,772
4,517
302
760
750
2,705
1,580
1,125
369
243
305
339
506
470
623
529
313
397
476
733
642
875
826
436
554
647
1,127
975
1,339
1,347
594
765
919
1,606
1,436
1,888
1,903
765
1,131
1,304
2,203
1,911
2,500
13,382
4,618
4,047
2,739
1,978
1,387
591
285
255
291
339
400
386
477
366
307
375
445
599
576
702
508
396
509
611
860
788
1,027
752
518
715
867
1,324
1,172
1,628
1,137
703
1,009
1,197
1,895
1,698
2,308
8,477
3,303
2,592
1,515
1,066
737
330
301
278
312
379
416
406
467
387
331
404
494
632
613
730
531
420
569
673
945
874
1,142
787
565
775
975
1,491
1,347
1,897
1,197
751
1,103
1,363
2,077
1,869
2,499
4,905
1,315
1,455
1,223
912
651
261
259
229
266
305
381
361
484
325
273
327
404
562
515
683
464
325
428
544
773
735
954
692
420
610
742
1,135
1,059
1,316
1,018
544
824
1,001
1,557
1,473
1,883
First
decile
First
quartile
5,336
585
1,986
1,561
1,204
854
350
$319
276
306
344
464
443
574
6,036
479
1,921
2,015
1,621
1,097
524
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 2006, data reflect revised population controls used in the
household survey.