Highlights of Women’s
Earnings in 2004
U.S. Department of Labor
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
September 2005
Report 987
I
n 2004, median weekly earnings for women who were fulltime wage and salary workers were $573, or 80 percent of
the $713 median for their male counterparts. This ratio
was about the same in 2003. In 1979, the first year of comparable earnings data, women earned 63 percent as much as
men did. (See chart 1.)
The women’s-to-men’s earnings ratio varies significantly
by demographic group. The ratio was about 89 percent for
blacks and 87 percent for Hispanics or Latinos in 2004. For
whites, it was 80 percent, and for Asians it was 76 percent.
Young women, those 16 to 24 years old, earned almost as
much (94 percent) as young men did, while women 35 years
and older earned about 75 percent as much as did their male
peers.
This report presents earnings data from the Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS is a national monthly survey
of approximately 60,000 households conducted by the U.S.
Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Information on earnings is collected from one-fourth of the CPS
sample each month. Users should note that the comparisons of earnings in this report are on a broad level and do
not control for many factors that can be significant in explaining earnings differences. For a detailed description of
the source of the data and an explanation of the concepts
and definitions used, please see the Technical Note in this
report.
counterparts, and, among workers 25 to 34 years old, women
earned 88 percent as much as did men. (See table 1.)
• Between 1979 and 2004, the earnings gap between
women and men narrowed for most major age groups. The
women’s-to-men’s earnings ratio among 35- to 44-year-olds,
for example, rose from 58 percent in 1979 to 76 percent in
2004, and that for 45- to 54-year-olds rose from 57 percent in
1979 to 73 percent 25 years later. The earnings ratios for
teenagers and for workers 65 years old and older, however,
showed no consistent movement over the period. (See table
12.)
• Asian workers of both sexes earned more than their
white, black, or Hispanic or Latino counterparts did. Asian
women’s median weekly earnings ($613) were 5 percent higher
than white women’s earnings ($584), 21 percent more than
black women’s earnings ($505), and 46 percent higher than
the earnings of Hispanic or Latino women ($419). In comparison, Asian men’s earnings ($802) were 10 percent higher
than the earnings of white men ($732), 41 percent greater
than the earnings of black men ($569), and 67 percent higher
than those of Hispanic or Latino men ($480). (See tables 1
and 13 and chart 2.)
• Earnings differences between women and men in 2004
Highlights
were widest for whites and Asians. White women earned 80
percent as much as white men did, and Asian women earned
76 percent as much as Asian men did. Both black women (89
percent) and Hispanic or Latino (87 percent) women had
earnings that were much closer to those of their male counterparts. (See table 1.)
Following are some highlights of women’s and men’s earnings in 2004.
Full-time workers
• Among women, 45- to 54-year-olds had the highest
median weekly earnings ($625), followed closely by 55- to
64-year-olds ($615), and 35- to 44-year-olds ($608). Men’s
earnings also were highest among 45- to 54-year-olds ($857)
and 55- to 64-year-olds ($843). The difference between
women’s and men’s earnings was much larger among middleaged and older workers than among younger workers. For
instance, among workers aged 45 to 54, women earned 73
percent as much as men did. By comparison, among 16- to
24-year-olds, women earned 94 percent as much as their male
• Growth in earnings for white women has outpaced that
for their black and Hispanic or Latino counterparts. Between
1979 and 2004, inflation-adjusted earnings for white women
grew fairly steadily, rising by 32 percent. Earnings over the
period grew by 24 percent for black women and by 11 percent for Hispanic or Latino women. In contrast, real earnings
for white and for black men rose only slightly, while those for
Hispanic or Latino men fell by 9 percent. (See table 13.)
1
• Median weekly earnings in 2004 varied significantly
• Just 5 percent of women earned $1,500 or more per
by level of education. Among women, those with less than a
high school diploma earned $334 per week, compared with
$860 for those with a college degree. Among men, high school
dropouts earned $446 a week, compared with $1,143 for college graduates. (See table 6.)
week, compared with 13 percent of men. Not surprisingly,
given their higher earnings overall, Asian women were more
likely than other women to earn at least $1,500 per week. (See
table 7.)
• Median weekly earnings of married women with children under the age of 18 were 21 percent higher than the
earnings of unmarried mothers. The difference was even
greater for men: married fathers earned 33 percent more than
unmarried fathers did. (See table 8.)
• At all levels of education, women have fared better
than men with respect to earnings growth. Although both
women and men with less than a high school diploma have
experienced a decline in inflation-adjusted earnings since
1979, the drop for women—9 percent—was significantly less
than that for men—27 percent. Earnings for women with
college degrees have increased by 35 percent since 1979 on
an inflation-adjusted basis, while earnings for male college
graduates have risen by 20 percent. (See table 14 and chart 3.)
Part-time workers
• Women who worked part time—that is, less than 35
hours per week—accounted for 25 percent of all female wage
and salary workers in 2004. In contrast, just 11 percent of
men in wage and salary jobs worked part time. (See tables 4
and 5.)
• Women working full time in management, business,
and financial operations occupations earned a median of
$812 per week in 2004. This was more than women earned in
any other major occupational category. The second highest
paying job group was professional and related occupations,
in which women earned $767 per week. Within management
fields, the highest paying occupations for women were chief
executives, computer and information systems managers,
human resources managers, purchasing managers, medical
and health services managers, and management analysts.
Within professional occupations, women working as pharmacists, lawyers, computer software engineers, computer
programmers, and physicians and surgeons had the highest
median weekly earnings. (See table 2.)
• Median weekly earnings of female part-time workers
were $201, compared with $183 for male part-time workers.
The men have lower earnings than the women because male
part-time workers are more highly concentrated in the youngest age groups, which typically have low earnings. Half of
male part-time workers were 16 to 24 years old, compared
with just under a third of female part-timers. (See table 4.)
Workers paid by the hour
• About 63 percent of women and 57 percent of men
employed in wage and salary jobs were paid by the hour in
2004. Women in this category had median hourly earnings
of $10.17, or 85 percent of the median for men paid by the
hour ($12.02). (See tables 5, 9, 10, 15, and 16.)
• Within occupational groups, women and men tend to
work in different occupations. In professional and related
occupations, for example, women were much less likely than
men to be employed in the highest paying occupations—
engineers and computer and mathematical scientists. Women
were more likely than men to work in lower paying education,
training, and library occupations. (See table 2.)
• Among women who were paid hourly rates in 2004,
about 4 percent reported hourly earnings at or below the
prevailing Federal minimum wage of $5.15 an hour. This
share compared with 2 percent of men who were paid by the
hour. (See tables 11 and 17 and chart 4. Also see the Technical Note for information about workers with earnings below
the Federal minimum wage.)
• The ratio of female-to-male earnings varied by place of
residence, from a high of 87 percent in California to a low of
66 percent in Wyoming. The differences among the States
reflect, in part, variations in the occupations and industries
found in each State and in the age composition of each State’s
labor force. In addition, sampling error for the State estimates is considerably larger than it is for the national estimates; thus, one should be especially careful when comparing State estimates. (See table 3.)
• As would be expected, 16- to 19-year-old women and
men paid by the hour were the most likely to have earnings at
or below the minimum wage. Workers 25 years of age and
older were very unlikely to earn the minimum wage or less,
although for women aged 65 and older the incidence of minimum wage work rose. (See table 11 and chart 4.)
2
Chart 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2004)
dollars by sex, 1979-2004 annual averages
Earnings
Earnings
$750
$750
Men's earnings
$700
$700
$650
$650
$600
$600
$550
$550
Women's earnings
$500
$500
$450
$450
$400
$400
1979
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
Chart 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex, race,
and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2004 annual averages
Earnings
Earnings
$900
$900
$802
$800
$732
$713
Women
$700
$600
$800
Men
$700
$573
$613
$584
$569
$600
$505
$500
$480
$500
$419
$400
$400
$300
$300
$200
$200
$100
$100
$0
$0
Total
White
Black or
African
American
3
Asian
Hispanic
or
Latino
Chart 3. Change in constant-dollar median weekly earnings from 1979 to 2004 by educational
attainment and sex
Highest educational level
Bachelor's degree
and higher
Women
Men
Some college or
associate degree
High school graduate,
no college
Less than a high school
diploma
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
Percent change
NOTE: Data relate to earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and older.
Chart 4. Women with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage
by age, 2004 annual averages
Percent
Percent
20
20
15
15
11.5
10
10
6.6
5.5
5
5
3.6
3.2
2.0
0
Total,
16 years
and older
16 to 19
years
20 to 24
years
35 to 44
years
25 to 34
years
NOTE: Data relate to female wage and salary workers paid hourly rates.
4
1.5
1.8
45 to 54
years
55 to 64
years
65 years
and older
0
Statistical Tables
Page
0
1.
Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics,
2004 annual averages ........................................................................................................................................................
7
Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex,
2004 annual averages ........................................................................................................................................................
8
3.
Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex and State, 2004 annual averages ..
15
4.
Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics,
2004 annual averages ........................................................................................................................................................
16
Median usual weekly earnings of employed (full- and part-time) wage and salary workers by hours usually
worked and sex, 2004 annual averages ...........................................................................................................................
17
Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by
selected characteristics, 2004 annual averages .............................................................................................................
18
Usual weekly earnings distribution of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics,
2004 annual averages ........................................................................................................................................................
19
Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex, marital status, and presence and
age of own children under 18 years old, 2004 annual averages ..................................................................................
20
Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates by selected characteristics,
2004 annual averages ........................................................................................................................................................
21
10. Hourly earnings distribution of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates by selected characteristics,
2004 annual averages ........................................................................................................................................................
22
11. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage
by selected characteristics, 2004 annual averages .......................................................................................................
23
12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2004) dollars by sex and
age, 1979-2004 annual averages .......................................................................................................................................
25
13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2004) dollars by sex, race,
and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2004 annual averages ....................................................................................
27
14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and older in constant (2004)
dollars by educational attainment, 1979-2004 annual averages ..................................................................................
30
15. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2004) dollars by sex and
age, 1979-2004 annual averages .......................................................................................................................................
32
16. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2004) dollars by sex,
race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2004 annual averages ...........................................................................
34
17. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage
by sex, 1979-2004 annual averages ................................................................................................................................
37
2.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
5
[Page intentionally blank]
6
Table 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2004 annual averages
Both sexes
Characteristic
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
weekly
earnings
Women
Standard
error
of
median
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
weekly
earnings
Men
Standard
error
of
median
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
weekly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
Women’s
earnings
as
percent
of men’s1
AGE
Total, 16 years and over .................
16 to 24 years .......................................
16 to 19 years ....................................
20 to 24 years ....................................
25 years and over .................................
25 to 34 years ....................................
35 to 44 years ....................................
45 to 54 years ....................................
55 to 64 years ....................................
65 years and over ..............................
101,224
10,876
1,650
9,226
90,348
24,757
26,861
24,986
11,932
1,812
$638
390
309
406
683
604
713
743
725
560
$2
2
3
2
2
2
3
3
5
21
44,223
4,633
630
4,003
39,590
10,356
11,459
11,519
5,463
793
$573
375
293
391
599
561
608
625
615
478
$2
3
4
3
2
4
3
4
5
12
57,001
6,243
1,020
5,223
50,758
14,401
15,402
13,467
6,469
1,019
$713
400
318
417
762
639
804
857
843
641
$2
2
3
3
2
4
6
6
9
19
80.3
93.7
92.2
93.8
78.7
87.9
75.6
73.0
73.0
74.6
82,468
12,032
4,457
14,061
657
525
708
456
2
4
10
4
34,972
6,326
1,953
5,065
584
505
613
419
2
3
9
4
47,495
5,706
2,504
8,996
732
569
802
480
3
7
17
3
79.8
88.9
76.4
87.1
25,682
58,590
16,952
11,603
3,836
1,513
510
719
606
639
513
532
2
2
3
5
5
15
11,071
23,164
9,988
6,869
1,951
1,168
500
604
564
593
482
515
3
2
5
4
8
8
14,611
35,426
6,964
4,734
1,884
345
518
811
680
729
570
615
3
4
7
7
16
22
96.5
74.5
82.9
81.3
84.5
83.7
14,029
15,463
85,761
781
776
612
4
4
1
5,575
6,305
37,918
723
719
541
6
5
3
8,454
9,158
47,843
829
828
685
6
6
3
87.2
86.8
79.0
90,348
8,533
27,141
24,846
29,828
683
401
574
661
986
2
2
2
3
4
39,590
2,785
11,628
11,848
13,329
599
334
488
577
860
2
3
2
3
4
50,758
5,748
15,513
12,998
16,499
762
446
645
761
1,143
2
5
4
4
5
78.7
74.9
75.6
75.8
75.2
RACE AND HISPANIC OR
LATINO ETHNICITY
White ....................................................
Black or African American ....................
Asian .....................................................
Hispanic or Latino .................................
MARITAL STATUS
Never married .......................................
Married, spouse present .......................
Other marital status ..............................
Divorced ............................................
Separated ..........................................
Widowed ............................................
UNION AFFILIATION 2
Members of unions 3 ............................
Represented by unions 4 ......................
Not represented by a union .................
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
Total, 25 years and over .......................
Less than a high school diploma ........
High school graduates, no college 5 ...
Some college or associate degree .....
Bachelor’s degree and higher 6 ..........
1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ
slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this
table.
2 Differences in earnings levels between workers with and without union
affiliation reflect a variety of factors in addition to coverage by a collective
bargaining agreement, including the distribution of male and female
employees by occupation, industry, firm size, or geographic region.
3 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association
similar to a union.
4 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association
similar to a union as well as workers who report no union affiliation but whose
jobs are covered by a union or an employee association contract.
5 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
6 Includes persons with a bachelor’s, master’s, professional, and doctoral
degree.
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.
7
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2004 annual averages
Both sexes
Occupation
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Total, 16 years and over ............................. 101,224
Management, professional, and related
occupations ........................................
Management, business, and financial
operations occupations .......................
Management occupations ........................
Chief executives ...................................
General and operations managers .......
Advertising and promotions managers
Marketing and sales managers ............
Administrative services managers ........
Computer and information systems
managers ............................................
Financial managers ..............................
Human resources managers ................
Industrial production managers ............
Purchasing managers ...........................
Transportation, storage, and
distribution managers .........................
Farm, ranch, and other agricultural
managers ............................................
Construction managers ........................
Education administrators ......................
Engineering managers .........................
Food service managers ........................
Lodging managers ................................
Medical and health services managers
Property, real estate, and community
association managers .........................
Social and community service
managers ............................................
Business and financial operations
occupations ........................................
Wholesale and retail buyers, except
farm products ......................................
Purchasing agents, except wholesale,
retail, and farm products .....................
Claims adjusters, appraisers,
examiners, and investigators ..............
Compliance officers, except agriculture,
construction, health and safety, and
transportation ......................................
Cost estimators .....................................
Human resources, training, and labor
relations specialists ............................
Management analysts ..........................
Accountants and auditors .....................
Appraisers and assessors of real
estate ..................................................
Personal financial advisors ...................
Insurance underwriters .........................
Loan counselors and officers ................
Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue
agents .................................................
Professional and related occupations ...........
Computer and mathematical occupations
Computer scientists and systems
analysts ..............................................
Computer programmers .......................
Computer software engineers ..............
Computer support specialists ...............
Database administrators .......................
Network and computer systems
administrators .....................................
Network systems and data
communications analysts ...................
Operations research analysts ...............
Women
Standard
error
of
median
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Men
Standard
error
of
median
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Standard
error
of
median
Women’s
earnings
as
percent
of men’s 1
$638
$2
44,223
$573
$2
57,001
$713
$2
80.3
36,149
918
3
18,168
780
4
17,981
1,098
8
71.1
14,778
10,221
1,050
727
57
770
80
965
1,052
1,663
1,129
924
1,213
937
5
10
70
30
71
57
52
6,609
3,995
248
175
34
298
27
812
871
1,310
872
(2)
898
(2)
8
10
74
49
(2)
68
(2)
8,170
6,226
802
552
23
472
53
1,158
1,215
1,875
1,166
(2)
1,441
958
7
17
47
18
(2)
32
50
70.2
71.7
69.9
74.8
(3)
62.3
(3)
325
961
261
269
163
1,439
986
1,051
1,107
1,092
32
22
51
43
49
96
535
171
49
59
1,228
839
958
(2)
946
79
20
42
(2)
53
228
427
90
220
104
1,547
1,397
1,259
1,172
1,153
58
52
50
64
46
79.4
60.1
76.1
(3)
82.0
220
741
24
34
(2)
(2)
187
753
25
(3)
103
425
651
99
568
102
451
621
1,027
1,019
1,807
657
733
973
30
27
31
126
17
31
28
16
23
405
6
232
50
328
(2)
(2)
905
(2)
598
659
943
(2)
(2)
33
(2)
17
34
21
86
402
246
94
336
52
123
612
1,036
1,172
1,783
713
778
1,135
24
25
59
113
34
41
34
(3)
(3)
77.2
(3)
83.8
84.7
83.1
304
681
32
186
623
23
118
767
62
81.3
241
819
32
156
768
20
85
1,014
170
75.8
4,558
847
7
2,613
746
6
1,944
1,007
17
74.1
146
808
45
71
609
42
75
935
39
65.1
267
782
38
141
694
34
125
883
69
78.6
257
762
32
171
677
27
85
952
44
71.1
116
88
922
888
66
41
62
14
835
(2)
179
(2)
54
73
1,070
915
247
54
78.1
(3)
612
317
1,385
803
1,017
851
24
43
10
415
146
842
755
922
757
15
42
10
198
170
543
952
1,215
1,016
45
78
31
79.3
75.8
74.5
78
229
89
381
863
1,062
859
799
96
103
38
40
29
61
65
216
(2)
773
772
695
(2)
185
47
35
50
167
24
165
1,021
1,170
(2)
1,001
142
49
(2)
51
(3)
66.1
(3)
69.5
77
21,371
2,793
818
883
1,114
71
4
15
49
11,560
757
(2)
767
972
(2)
4
19
28
9,811
2,037
(2)
1,049
1,155
(2)
8
11
(3)
73.1
84.1
604
516
757
297
76
1,027
1,118
1,350
840
1,105
29
28
27
31
70
186
145
184
88
22
902
1,006
1,149
813
(2)
44
33
24
69
(2)
418
371
572
209
53
1,092
1,151
1,429
850
1,121
38
20
29
36
76
82.6
87.4
80.4
95.6
(3)
178
1,038
57
33
(2)
(2)
145
1,064
60
(3)
233
84
1,027
1,083
57
62
44
41
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
189
43
1,097
(2)
56
(2)
(3)
(3)
See footnotes at end of table.
8
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2004 annual averages — Continued
Both sexes
Occupation
Architecture and engineering occupations
Architects, except naval ........................
Aerospace engineers ............................
Chemical engineers ..............................
Civil engineers ......................................
Computer hardware engineers .............
Electrical and electronics engineers .....
Industrial engineers, including health
and safety ...........................................
Mechanical engineers ...........................
Drafters .................................................
Engineering technicians, except
drafters ...............................................
Surveying and mapping technicians .....
Life, physical, and social science
occupations ........................................
Biological scientists ..............................
Medical scientists .................................
Chemists and materials scientists ........
Environmental scientists and
geoscientists .......................................
Market and survey researchers ............
Psychologists ........................................
Chemical technicians ............................
Community and social services
occupations ........................................
Counselors ...........................................
Social workers ......................................
Miscellaneous community and social
service specialists ...............................
Clergy ...................................................
Legal occupations .....................................
Lawyers ................................................
Judges, magistrates, and other judicial
workers ...............................................
Paralegals and legal assistants ............
Miscellaneous legal support workers ....
Education, training, and library
occupations ........................................
Postsecondary teachers .......................
Preschool and kindergarten teachers ...
Elementary and middle school teachers
Secondary school teachers ..................
Special education teachers ..................
Other teachers and instructors .............
Librarians ..............................................
Teacher assistants ...............................
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and
media occupations ..............................
Artists and related workers ...................
Designers .............................................
Producers and directors .......................
Athletes, coaches, umpires, and
related workers ...................................
News analysts, reporters and
correspondents ...................................
Public relations specialists ....................
Editors ..................................................
Writers and authors ..............................
Broadcast and sound engineering
technicians and radio operators .........
Photographers ......................................
Healthcare practitioner and technical
occupations ........................................
Dietitians and nutritionists .....................
Pharmacists ..........................................
Physicians and surgeons ......................
Physician assistants .............................
Registered nurses ................................
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Women
Standard
error
of
median
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Men
Standard
error
of
median
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Standard
error
of
median
Women’s
earnings
as
percent
of men’s 1
2,500
142
105
65
264
86
311
$1,098
1,141
1,347
1,221
1,135
1,328
1,277
$14
25
51
54
21
221
71
331
38
10
10
32
13
24
$880
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
$28
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
2,170
105
94
55
232
73
287
$1,139
1,242
1,369
1,242
1,159
1,487
1,336
$9
39
56
85
22
107
50
178
292
178
1,152
1,187
768
31
65
25
32
16
38
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
146
276
140
1,195
1,201
797
70
76
30
(3)
(3)
(3)
394
66
829
672
25
75
73
9
696
(2)
31
(2)
320
57
867
711
25
90
80.3
(3)
1,073
109
83
133
957
929
1,025
1,048
15
37
158
46
426
49
45
42
884
(2)
(2)
(2)
26
(2)
(2)
(2)
647
60
38
91
1,012
946
(2)
1,146
24
67
(2)
37
87.3
(3)
(3)
(3)
75
90
75
89
1,008
937
1,012
827
61
74
40
45
20
43
47
27
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
55
47
28
62
1,144
(2)
(2)
869
51
(2)
(2)
49
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
1,846
513
620
707
735
698
12
16
18
1,082
338
472
661
689
689
10
28
22
764
175
148
766
832
720
15
32
29
86.4
82.9
95.8
261
351
1,111
621
639
771
1,070
1,561
25
29
37
42
166
47
603
208
596
(2)
845
1,255
20
(2)
18
33
95
304
508
412
747
795
1,561
1,710
29
29
54
87
79.8
(3)
54.1
73.4
58
280
152
1,333
731
707
43
28
28
33
244
117
(2)
713
695
(2)
19
37
25
36
34
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(3)
(3)
(3)
5,941
813
484
2,206
1,013
325
297
159
545
781
1,034
521
806
885
804
776
834
377
7
32
21
11
16
29
28
28
10
4,273
337
473
1,772
555
271
158
136
500
729
886
515
776
824
795
654
823
373
6
43
19
10
19
28
36
32
10
1,668
476
11
435
458
54
139
23
45
956
1,162
(2)
917
955
841
873
(2)
(2)
13
25
(2)
21
22
35
47
(2)
(2)
76.2
76.2
(3)
84.7
86.3
94.6
74.9
(3)
(3)
1,426
65
480
98
768
865
714
1,030
13
79
20
66
618
24
230
35
688
(2)
646
(2)
17
(2)
22
(2)
808
41
250
63
862
(2)
818
1,211
23
(2)
36
175
79.9
(3)
79.0
(3)
99
745
46
17
(2)
(2)
82
792
52
64
102
110
86
835
823
856
760
85
56
30
47
33
61
54
44
(2)
739
759
(2)
(2)
27
27
(2)
31
40
56
42
(2)
(2)
946
(2)
(2)
(2)
54
(2)
(3)
(3)
80.3
(3)
75
53
857
650
104
47
8
17
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
67
36
871
(2)
75
(2)
(3)
(3)
4,680
57
162
555
57
1,800
852
669
1,578
1,660
901
904
7
87
57
100
77
9
3,470
49
72
173
38
1,651
808
(2)
1,432
978
(2)
895
8
(2)
109
65
(2)
9
1,210
8
90
382
19
148
1,062
(2)
1,684
1,874
(2)
1,031
21
(2)
167
115
(2)
52
76.1
(3)
85.1
52.2
(3)
86.8
See footnotes at end of table.
9
77.2
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2004 annual averages — Continued
Both sexes
Occupation
Occupational therapists ........................
Physical therapists ................................
Respiratory therapists ...........................
Speech-language pathologists .............
Clinical laboratory technologists and
technicians ..........................................
Diagnostic related technologists and
technicians ..........................................
Emergency medical technicians and
paramedics .........................................
Health diagnosing and treating
practitioner support technicians ..........
Licensed practical and licensed
vocational nurses ................................
Medical records and health information
technicians ..........................................
Service occupations .........................................
Healthcare support occupations ...................
Nursing, psychiatric, and home health
aides ...................................................
Dental assistants ..................................
Protective service occupations .....................
First-line supervisors/managers of
police and detectives ..........................
Fire fighters ...........................................
Bailiffs, correctional officers, and jailers
Detectives and criminal investigators ...
Police and sheriff’s patrol officers .........
Private detectives and investigators .....
Security guards and gaming
surveillance officers ............................
Food preparation and serving related
occupations ........................................
Chefs and head cooks ..........................
First-line supervisors/managers of food
preparation and serving workers ........
Cooks ...................................................
Food preparation workers .....................
Bartenders ............................................
Combined food preparation and
serving workers, including fast food ...
Counter attendants, cafeteria, food
concession, and coffee shop ..............
Waiters and waitresses ........................
Food servers, nonrestaurant ................
Dining room and cafeteria attendants
and bartender helpers ........................
Dishwashers .........................................
Building and grounds cleaning and
maintenance occupations ...................
First-line supervisors/managers of
housekeeping and janitorial work .......
First-line supervisors/managers of
landscaping, lawn service, and
groundskeeping workers ....................
Janitors and building cleaners ..............
Maids and housekeeping cleaners .......
Pest control workers .............................
Grounds maintenance workers .............
Personal care and service occupations ........
First-line supervisors/managers of
gaming workers ..................................
First-line supervisors/managers of
personal service workers ....................
Gaming services workers .....................
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and
cosmetologists ....................................
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Women
Standard
error
of
median
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Men
Standard
error
of
median
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Standard
error
of
median
Women’s
earnings
as
percent
of men’s 1
56
121
79
65
$923
925
782
879
$82
53
26
46
51
70
38
62
$906
900
(2)
869
$67
89
(2)
27
5
50
41
3
(2)
$955
(2)
(2)
(2)
$90
(2)
(2)
(3)
94.2
(3)
(3)
267
727
25
188
710
37
79
763
52
93.0
225
884
24
150
836
42
75
961
55
87.0
121
690
25
37
(2)
84
717
33
(3)
280
516
13
236
508
14
44
(2)
(2)
(3)
385
637
19
362
629
18
23
(2)
(2)
(3)
81
501
21
71
513
23
10
(2)
(2)
(3)
13,763
1,985
411
407
2
4
6,773
1,755
374
402
2
4
6,989
230
476
453
5
24
78.6
88.8
1,261
144
2,509
388
474
700
5
24
11
1,113
139
471
383
469
557
5
26
23
148
5
2,038
420
(2)
733
11
(2)
12
91.1
(3)
76.1
134
263
370
114
654
63
1,015
933
622
995
844
812
27
26
16
104
23
133
27
13
107
26
83
21
(2)
(2)
558
(2)
841
(2)
(2)
(2)
22
(2)
38
(2)
107
250
263
88
571
41
1,055
942
654
1,048
845
(2)
88
25
26
198
28
(2)
(3)
(3)
85.4
(3)
99.5
(3)
641
457
17
138
418
15
502
471
18
88.9
3,863
266
360
508
4
15
1,908
51
339
416
5
23
1,955
215
384
524
5
21
88.2
79.4
504
1,167
278
197
435
341
321
426
13
6
7
25
282
443
158
102
418
319
323
392
13
5
10
21
222
723
120
95
464
356
319
482
22
8
8
23
90.0
89.6
101.3
81.3
123
311
11
85
308
11
39
(2)
(2)
(3)
91
799
94
292
348
363
10
9
22
56
538
60
282
327
333
13
9
27
35
261
34
(2)
399
(2)
(2)
13
(2)
(3)
82.0
(3)
152
141
340
306
19
8
61
30
356
(2)
24
(2)
91
111
326
311
23
10
109.2
(3)
3,436
385
3
1,208
335
5
2,228
412
4
81.2
139
479
23
50
410
32
89
531
36
77.2
106
1,460
818
65
848
1,969
641
405
331
478
372
402
35
5
7
36
6
5
6
379
723
4
46
1,431
(2)
343
324
(2)
(2)
380
(2)
11
5
(2)
(2)
5
99
1,081
95
61
803
538
661
425
402
489
371
500
34
9
24
31
7
15
(3)
80.6
80.4
(3)
(3)
75.9
88
600
40
33
(2)
(2)
55
673
61
(3)
64
75
597
558
49
51
36
41
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
28
34
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(3)
(3)
291
398
10
267
10
24
(2)
(2)
(3)
See footnotes at end of table.
10
(2)
394
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2004 annual averages — Continued
Both sexes
Occupation
Baggage porters, bellhops, and
concierges ..........................................
Transportation attendants .....................
Child care workers ................................
Personal and home care aides .............
Recreation and fitness workers ............
Sales and office occupations ............................
Sales and related occupations .....................
First-line supervisors/managers of retail
sales workers ......................................
First-line supervisors/managers of
non-retail sales workers ......................
Cashiers ...............................................
Counter and rental clerks .....................
Parts salespersons ...............................
Retail salespersons ..............................
Advertising sales agents .......................
Insurance sales agents .........................
Securities, commodities, and financial
services sales agents .........................
Travel agents ........................................
Sales representatives, services, all
other ...................................................
Sales representatives, wholesale and
manufacturing .....................................
Real estate brokers and sales agents ..
Telemarketers .......................................
Door-to-door sales workers, news and
street vendors, and related workers ...
Office and administrative support
occupations ........................................
First-line supervisors/managers of
office and administrative support ........
Switchboard operators, including
answering service ...............................
Bill and account collectors ....................
Billing and posting clerks and machine
operators ............................................
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing
clerks ..................................................
Payroll and timekeeping clerks .............
Tellers ...................................................
Court, municipal, and license clerks .....
Credit authorizers, checkers, and
clerks ..................................................
Customer service representatives ........
Eligibility interviewers, government
programs ............................................
File clerks .............................................
Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks .....
Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
Library assistants, clerical ....................
Loan interviewers and clerks ................
Order clerks ..........................................
Human resources assistants, except
payroll and timekeeping ......................
Receptionists and information clerks ....
Reservation and transportation ticket
agents and travel clerks ......................
Couriers and messengers ....................
Dispatchers ...........................................
Postal service clerks .............................
Postal service mail carriers ...................
Postal service mail sorters, processors,
and processing machine operators ....
Production, planning, and expediting
clerks ..................................................
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks ...
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Women
Standard
error
of
median
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Men
Standard
error
of
median
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Standard
error
of
median
Women’s
earnings
as
percent
of men’s 1
60
76
413
360
153
$498
575
334
358
498
$22
81
10
12
21
11
54
387
308
89
(2)
$473
334
350
473
(2)
$59
9
12
24
50
22
26
52
65
$491
(2)
(2)
434
585
$20
(2)
(2)
58
30
(3)
(3)
(3)
80.6
80.9
24,950
9,984
558
604
3
4
15,540
4,422
512
464
2
7
9,410
5,562
669
747
6
6
76.5
62.1
2,246
613
7
985
505
8
1,260
737
12
68.5
936
1,355
97
120
1,865
180
360
860
322
429
530
496
772
726
21
3
43
32
8
66
28
284
1,016
46
13
766
84
190
678
313
(2)
(2)
386
643
615
36
3
(2)
2
( )
9
45
19
652
339
51
107
1,100
97
170
927
380
514
554
597
942
970
21
19
43
30
10
50
49
73.2
82.6
(3)
(3)
64.7
68.3
63.4
305
69
973
576
47
26
95
59
651
544
21
33
210
10
1,168
(2)
138
(2)
55.8
(3)
412
800
43
157
740
45
255
875
77
84.6
1,233
431
93
867
744
380
17
27
22
296
233
61
754
663
355
30
46
40
937
197
32
895
834
(2)
20
31
(2)
84.3
79.5
(3)
61
442
62
23
(2)
38
(2)
(2)
(3)
14,966
535
3
11,118
522
2
3,848
587
6
89.0
1,441
670
10
1,001
636
10
440
792
42
80.4
(2)
39
(3)
102.0
(2)
55
200
450
536
36
24
50
139
459
539
33
29
4
61
(2)
363
518
10
330
510
9
32
(2)
(2)
(3)
1,004
136
301
82
543
554
405
526
9
31
8
37
916
123
265
76
542
541
401
518
8
36
8
39
88
13
35
6
563
(2)
(2)
(2)
51
(2)
(2)
(2)
96.3
(3)
(3)
(3)
51
1,379
600
516
45
6
38
967
(2)
504
(2)
6
13
412
(2)
571
(2)
22
(3)
88.2
63
264
67
102
51
170
90
622
528
349
497
468
536
529
33
18
20
15
21
26
23
48
205
41
89
47
143
67
(2)
525
(2)
498
(2)
522
512
(2)
20
(2)
14
(2)
19
15
15
58
27
12
4
28
23
(2)
543
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
42
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(3)
96.7
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
53
847
635
462
30
8
42
795
(2)
463
(2)
8
11
52
(2)
454
(2)
21
(3)
102.1
125
200
232
162
314
502
648
586
768
791
20
41
24
20
20
85
24
122
73
112
489
(2)
516
778
743
19
(2)
13
23
16
40
176
109
89
203
(2)
663
701
761
834
(2)
41
50
23
17
(3)
(3)
73.6
102.2
89.0
103
741
33
41
(2)
(2)
62
749
59
(3)
266
537
686
501
24
9
143
144
29
15
123
393
767
512
41
10
See footnotes at end of table.
11
613
469
529
79.9
91.5
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2004 annual averages — Continued
Both sexes
Occupation
Stock clerks and order fillers ................
Weighers, measurers, checkers, and
samplers, recordkeeping ....................
Secretaries and administrative
assistants ............................................
Computer operators ..............................
Data entry keyers .................................
Word processors and typists ................
Insurance claims and policy processing
clerks ..................................................
Mail clerks and mail machine
operators, except postal service .........
Office clerks, general ............................
Office machine operators, except
computer .............................................
Natural resources, construction, and
maintenance occupations ...................
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ...
Graders and sorters, agricultural
products ..............................................
Logging workers ...................................
Construction and extraction occupations ......
First-line supervisors/managers of
construction trades and extraction
workers ...............................................
Brickmasons, blockmasons, and
stonemasons ......................................
Carpenters ............................................
Carpet, floor, and tile installers and
finishers ..............................................
Cement masons, concrete finishers,
and terrazzo workers ..........................
Construction laborers ...........................
Operating engineers and other
construction equipment operators ......
Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers,
and tapers ...........................................
Electricians ...........................................
Painters, construction and
maintenance .......................................
Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and
steamfitters .........................................
Roofers .................................................
Sheet metal workers .............................
Structural iron and steel workers ..........
Helpers, construction trades .................
Construction and building inspectors ....
Highway maintenance workers .............
Installation, maintenance, and repair
occupations ........................................
First-line supervisors/managers of
mechanics, installers, and repairers ...
Computer, automated teller, and office
machine repairers ...............................
Radio and telecommunications
equipment installers and repairers .....
Electronic home entertainment
equipment installers and repairers .....
Security and fire alarm systems
installers .............................................
Aircraft mechanics and service
technicians ..........................................
Automotive body and related repairers
Automotive service technicians and
mechanics ..........................................
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel
engine specialists ...............................
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Women
Standard
error
of
median
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Men
Standard
error
of
median
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Standard
error
of
median
Women’s
earnings
as
percent
of men’s 1
946
$429
$10
349
$420
$10
597
$438
$15
55
543
126
23
(2)
(2)
31
(2)
(2)
(3)
2,657
170
394
239
552
579
495
527
7
26
9
15
2,570
91
315
223
550
580
486
525
7
24
9
15
87
79
78
16
598
575
556
(2)
49
54
28
(2)
92.0
100.9
87.4
(3)
252
536
16
216
534
15
36
(2)
(2)
(3)
127
667
457
503
34
8
59
559
479
499
19
9
68
109
46
23
110.5
95.3
51
433
21
31
(2)
20
(2)
(3)
11,280
718
621
356
4
8
445
133
453
322
18
9
10,835
585
626
367
4
9
72.3
87.8
61
61
6,232
355
465
604
22
31
4
46
2
123
(2)
(2)
504
(2)
(2)
32
15
59
6,109
(2)
470
606
(2)
42
4
(3)
(3)
83.2
579
812
30
11
(2)
(2)
568
822
26
(3)
164
1,170
577
576
32
10
21
(2)
(2)
164
1,149
577
576
33
10
–
(3)
147
517
16
-
-
-
146
518
16
–
95
986
556
492
102
9
–
21
–
(2)
–
(2)
95
965
556
492
102
9
–
(3)
335
689
16
4
(2)
(2)
331
689
16
(3)
156
668
529
719
21
11
14
–
(2)
–
(2)
156
655
529
718
21
11
–
(3)
410
494
10
15
(2)
(2)
395
495
10
(3)
483
188
132
53
99
87
81
690
480
606
694
386
718
565
14
14
40
35
16
39
36
2
3
6
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
2
( )
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
2
( )
(2)
480
184
126
53
94
77
79
690
482
614
695
386
724
572
14
14
42
35
17
48
42
(3)
(3)
(3)
–
(3)
(3)
(3)
4,330
704
5
–
4
10
2
190
(2)
611
433
523
(2)
95.9
28
4,140
707
6
(2)
86.4
304
877
25
(3)
326
876
25
22
(2)
309
723
26
38
(2)
(2)
271
735
20
(3)
221
877
35
31
(2)
(2)
190
891
32
(3)
52
668
125
2
(2)
(2)
50
676
121
(3)
52
661
25
2
(2)
(2)
51
666
24
(3)
116
107
856
630
30
40
3
5
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
113
102
856
638
29
40
(3)
(3)
735
637
26
12
(2)
(2)
723
639
27
(3)
298
706
21
1
(2)
(2)
297
707
21
(3)
See footnotes at end of table.
12
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2004 annual averages — Continued
Both sexes
Occupation
Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment
service technicians and mechanics ....
Heating, air conditioning, and
refrigeration mechanics and installers
Industrial and refractory machinery
mechanics ..........................................
Maintenance and repair workers,
general ................................................
Millwrights .............................................
Electrical power-line installers and
repairers .............................................
Telecommunications line installers and
repairers .............................................
Production, transportation, and material
moving occupations ............................
Production occupations ................................
First-line supervisors/managers of
production and operating workers ......
Electrical, electronics, and
electromechanical assemblers ...........
Bakers ..................................................
Butchers and other meat, poultry, and
fish processing workers ......................
Food batchmakers ................................
Cutting, punching, and press machine
setters, operators, and tenders ...........
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and
buffing machine tool setters,
operators ............................................
Machinists .............................................
Molders and molding machine setters,
operators, and tenders, metal .............
Tool and die makers .............................
Welding, soldering, and brazing
workers ...............................................
Job printers ...........................................
Printing machine operators ...................
Laundry and dry-cleaning workers .......
Pressers, textile, garment, and related
materials .............................................
Sewing machine operators ...................
Tailors, dressmakers, and sewers ........
Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters ..
Stationary engineers and boiler
operators ............................................
Chemical processing machine setters,
operators, and tenders .......................
Crushing, grinding, polishing, mixing,
and blending workers .........................
Cutting workers .....................................
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers,
and weighers ......................................
Medical, dental, and ophthalmic
laboratory technicians .........................
Packaging and filling machine
operators and tenders ........................
Painting workers ...................................
Transportation and material moving
occupations ........................................
Supervisors, transportation and
material moving workers .....................
Aircraft pilots and flight engineers ........
Bus drivers ............................................
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers
Taxi drivers and chauffeurs ..................
Railroad conductors and yardmasters ..
Parking lot attendants ...........................
Service station attendants ....................
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Women
Standard
error
of
median
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Men
Standard
error
of
median
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Standard
error
of
median
Women’s
earnings
as
percent
of men’s 1
189
$708
$20
2
(2)
(2)
188
$708
$20
(3)
298
682
17
5
(2)
(2)
293
683
16
(3)
419
707
12
11
(2)
(2)
408
708
12
(3)
281
59
665
839
28
53
10
1
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
270
58
668
844
26
53
(3)
(3)
112
804
60
2
(2)
(2)
111
813
59
(3)
134
755
54
7
(2)
(2)
127
771
63
(3)
15,082
8,478
523
526
3
4
3,296
2,454
$406
405
$3
4
11,786
6,024
578
597
3
4
70.3
67.8
874
726
15
169
546
22
706
765
15
71.4
213
126
443
410
22
14
117
53
397
364
12
18
96
73
515
454
18
38
77.1
80.3
260
68
454
466
12
48
51
30
369
(2)
19
(2)
209
39
488
(2)
19
(2)
75.5
(3)
139
517
24
42
(2)
(2)
97
557
27
(3)
78
408
516
670
27
17
8
16
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
70
392
527
679
38
15
(3)
(3)
69
80
459
764
28
68
19
2
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
50
78
489
769
25
59
(3)
(3)
539
54
174
136
606
563
592
360
12
35
23
14
26
12
32
74
(2)
(2)
(2)
323
(2)
(2)
(2)
12
513
42
142
62
614
(2)
622
460
13
(2)
25
53
(3)
(3)
(3)
70.1
67
242
50
61
293
327
376
498
10
11
22
21
42
186
33
3
(2)
319
(2)
(2)
(2)
7
(2)
2
( )
24
56
17
58
(2)
381
(2)
503
(2)
34
(2)
22
(3)
83.7
(3)
(3)
102
704
25
1
(2)
(2)
101
701
24
(3)
65
790
45
7
(2)
(2)
58
809
50
(3)
107
73
587
519
26
31
20
17
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
87
56
600
563
31
38
(3)
(3)
638
585
12
240
15
398
663
24
474
76
524
28
41
299
180
368
509
9
18
168
27
341
(2)
12
(2)
131
154
410
530
18
32
83.2
(3)
6,604
520
4
842
410
6
5,762
549
7
74.8
180
95
366
2,587
165
57
52
78
655
1,418
500
610
486
881
378
319
28
219
15
6
17
265
18
9
33
5
152
93
22
5
8
2
(2)
(2)
440
476
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
13
53
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
147
90
215
2,494
143
52
44
76
688
1,472
588
613
494
903
(2)
319
32
159
30
6
20
87
(2)
9
(3)
(3)
74.8
77.6
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
See footnotes at end of table.
13
(2)
35
(2)
(2)
71.5
(2)
(3)
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2004 annual averages — Continued
Both sexes
Occupation
Crane and tower operators ...................
Dredge, excavating, and loading
machine operators ..............................
Industrial truck and tractor operators ....
Cleaners of vehicles and equipment ....
Laborers and freight, stock, and
material movers, hand ........................
Packers and packagers, hand ..............
Refuse and recyclable material
collectors ............................................
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Women
Standard
error
of
median
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Men
Standard
error
of
median
Number
Median
of
weekly
workers
earnings
(in
thousands)
Standard
error
of
median
Women’s
earnings
as
percent
of men’s 1
2
(2)
(2)
64
$721
$69
(3)
40
28
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
57
485
230
607
487
387
39
9
12
–
(3)
(3)
9
9
196
206
$402
333
$10
11
1,146
143
457
373
11
15
28
5
(2)
(2)
62
512
29
66
$732
$63
57
525
258
607
486
384
39
9
11
1,342
349
443
349
67
508
-
1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ
slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this
table.
2 Data not shown where base is less than 50,000.
87.9
89.2
(3)
3 Data not shown where base for either the numerator or denominator is
less than 50,000.
– Data not available.
14
Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex and State, 2004 annual averages
Both sexes
State
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
UNITED STATES ..................... 101,224
Median
weekly
earnings
Women
Standard
error
of
median
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
weekly
earnings
Men
Standard
error
of
median
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
weekly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
Women’s
earnings
as
percent
of men’s 1
$638
$2
44,223
$573
$2
57,001
$713
$2
80.3
Alabama .......................................
Alaska ...........................................
Arizona .........................................
Arkansas .......................................
California ......................................
1,566
217
1,950
899
11,818
585
741
604
509
701
9
13
8
8
6
687
94
804
399
4,943
502
633
555
445
650
11
16
14
12
8
879
123
1,147
500
6,875
650
843
661
580
747
15
26
16
12
11
77.2
75.0
84.0
76.7
87.1
Colorado .......................................
Connecticut ...................................
Delaware ......................................
District of Columbia ......................
Florida ...........................................
1,689
1,199
318
230
5,902
691
797
666
772
593
13
21
15
15
5
717
518
147
114
2,709
622
676
609
730
523
12
28
10
14
6
972
681
171
116
3,193
767
912
741
855
648
22
25
17
33
10
81.1
74.1
82.1
85.4
80.7
Georgia .........................................
Hawaii ...........................................
Idaho .............................................
Illinois ............................................
Indiana ..........................................
3,300
442
436
4,440
2,224
616
616
562
670
611
8
11
12
9
8
1,471
201
180
1,922
968
571
540
476
583
530
11
18
12
7
17
1,828
241
255
2,518
1,257
668
701
634
768
699
14
16
19
13
19
85.4
77.1
75.2
75.9
75.9
Iowa ..............................................
Kansas ..........................................
Kentucky .......................................
Louisiana ......................................
Maine ............................................
1,058
968
1,368
1,439
425
610
615
584
588
602
8
10
10
8
11
467
420
607
662
189
522
550
503
488
514
13
19
10
13
10
591
548
761
777
236
683
676
665
669
674
18
18
23
20
18
76.4
81.3
75.8
73.0
76.3
Maryland .......................................
Massachusetts ..............................
Michigan .......................................
Minnesota .....................................
Mississippi ....................................
2,141
2,259
3,403
1,880
942
740
757
715
737
555
11
10
9
12
12
982
1,003
1,455
822
438
653
668
602
636
463
18
14
10
12
13
1,159
1,256
1,948
1,059
505
802
842
800
836
617
32
18
11
19
11
81.4
79.3
75.2
76.1
75.0
Missouri ........................................
Montana ........................................
Nebraska ......................................
Nevada .........................................
New Hampshire ............................
2,069
276
641
868
489
632
530
594
595
734
12
13
9
8
14
940
124
281
362
203
543
471
516
518
612
15
14
9
10
15
1,129
152
360
505
286
727
604
658
660
846
17
11
17
17
24
74.7
78.0
78.5
78.5
72.3
New Jersey ...................................
New Mexico ..................................
New York ......................................
North Carolina ..............................
North Dakota ................................
3,117
593
6,480
2,932
229
755
590
672
594
541
9
10
7
7
14
1,342
256
2,890
1,296
105
630
505
614
537
467
13
14
7
14
10
1,774
336
3,589
1,636
124
848
660
738
637
622
14
19
9
14
13
74.3
76.5
83.2
84.3
75.1
Ohio ..............................................
Oklahoma .....................................
Oregon ..........................................
Pennsylvania ................................
Rhode Island ................................
3,947
1,151
1,176
4,258
377
623
559
619
639
648
7
15
9
7
14
1,733
509
473
1,878
171
538
483
543
570
581
12
10
17
9
16
2,214
643
703
2,380
205
703
637
707
714
717
12
18
21
10
21
76.4
75.9
76.8
79.9
81.1
South Carolina ..............................
South Dakota ................................
Tennessee ....................................
Texas ............................................
Utah ..............................................
1,449
269
2,100
7,674
743
595
541
584
577
616
9
13
10
6
9
651
125
964
3,272
297
531
480
517
517
497
15
10
11
7
12
798
145
1,135
4,402
446
679
608
635
614
716
23
12
16
7
15
78.2
78.9
81.5
84.2
69.4
Vermont ........................................
Virginia ..........................................
Washington ...................................
West Virginia ................................
Wisconsin .....................................
Wyoming .......................................
225
2,791
2,091
581
2,011
176
627
676
702
585
637
596
13
14
14
10
13
12
100
1,256
867
256
880
73
585
603
607
488
545
468
12
15
16
15
17
13
125
1,535
1,224
325
1,131
103
689
742
780
656
725
710
22
16
25
17
17
15
85.0
81.3
77.9
74.3
75.2
65.9
1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ
slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this
table.
NOTE: Data refer to persons 16 years and over.
15
Table 4. Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2004 annual averages
Both sexes
Characteristic
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
weekly
earnings
22,047
8,194
4,140
4,054
13,852
3,383
3,547
2,982
2,268
1,673
$195
146
119
179
235
233
253
267
227
177
18,623
2,036
819
2,444
9,895
9,391
2,761
1,499
589
673
Women
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
weekly
earnings
$1
1
1
2
2
4
4
5
4
4
15,062
4,623
2,287
2,336
10,439
2,430
2,949
2,462
1,640
958
$201
145
116
177
235
232
251
266
224
168
196
190
203
192
1
3
6
3
12,827
1,346
510
1,602
157
246
210
226
201
190
1
2
3
5
6
6
5,448
7,438
2,176
1,156
440
580
Standard
error
of
median
Men
Women’s
earnings
as
percent
of men’s1
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
weekly
earnings
$1
2
2
3
2
4
4
5
4
5
6,985
3,572
1,853
1,719
3,413
953
598
520
628
715
$183
148
122
181
235
236
262
274
238
190
$2
2
2
3
4
6
9
15
10
7
109.9
97.5
94.9
97.7
100.3
98.2
95.7
96.9
94.0
88.1
203
191
204
191
2
3
8
4
5,796
689
308
841
182
187
200
195
2
5
10
5
112.0
102.4
101.9
98.0
155
247
208
225
195
189
2
3
3
5
6
6
4,447
1,953
585
344
149
93
160
245
220
226
220
197
2
5
7
11
13
17
96.8
100.8
94.8
99.7
88.8
96.0
Standard
error
of
median
Standard
error
of
median
AGE
Total, 16 years and over .................
16 to 24 years .......................................
16 to 19 years ....................................
20 to 24 years ....................................
25 years and over .................................
25 to 34 years ....................................
35 to 44 years ....................................
45 to 54 years ....................................
55 to 64 years ....................................
65 years and over ..............................
RACE AND HISPANIC OR
LATINO ETHNICITY
White ....................................................
Black or African American ....................
Asian .....................................................
Hispanic or Latino .................................
MARITAL STATUS
Never married .......................................
Married, spouse present .......................
Other marital status ..............................
Divorced ............................................
Separated ..........................................
Widowed ............................................
1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ
slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this
table.
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.
16
Table 5. Median usual weekly earnings of employed (full- and part-time) wage and salary workers by hours usually worked and sex, 2004 annual
averages
Both sexes
Hours of work
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Total, 16 years and over ........ 123,554
Women
Standard
error
of
median
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
$561
$2
59,408
Median
weekly
earnings
Men
Women’s
earnings
as
percent
of men’s1
Standard
error
of
median
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
$475
$2
64,145
$653
$3
72.8
Median
weekly
earnings
Median
weekly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
1 to 34 hours .................................
1 to 4 hours .................................
5 to 9 hours .................................
10 to 14 hours .............................
15 to 19 hours .............................
20 to 24 hours .............................
25 to 29 hours .............................
30 to 34 hours .............................
19,292
452
1,123
1,725
2,455
5,961
2,582
4,993
200
54
66
99
130
190
229
301
1
3
1
1
2
2
3
3
13,268
306
752
1,160
1,675
4,151
1,782
3,442
206
53
68
102
137
198
241
310
1
4
2
2
3
2
4
3
6,024
147
372
565
779
1,810
800
1,552
185
54
62
92
119
172
214
280
2
7
2
3
2
2
3
5
111.3
99.2
109.6
110.7
115.0
115.0
112.5
110.7
35 hours and over .........................
35 to 39 hours .............................
40 hours ......................................
41 hours and over .......................
41 to 44 hours ...........................
45 to 48 hours ...........................
49 to 59 hours ...........................
60 hours and over .....................
95,247
7,313
67,482
20,452
1,218
5,895
9,000
4,339
640
442
596
960
720
854
1,021
1,096
2
5
1
4
14
6
8
20
41,984
4,991
30,820
6,173
495
2,095
2,574
1,009
578
450
549
843
663
784
915
946
2
5
3
7
13
12
14
22
53,264
2,322
36,662
14,279
724
3,800
6,426
3,330
713
423
635
1,011
769
894
1,079
1,143
2
8
3
6
17
11
12
11
80.9
106.4
86.4
83.3
86.1
87.7
84.8
82.8
Hours vary ....................................
Usually less than 35 hours .........
Usually 35 hours or more ...........
9,015
2,755
5,977
395
162
595
6
3
7
4,157
1,794
2,240
278
160
433
5
4
12
4,858
961
3,737
566
166
702
12
5
10
49.1
96.5
61.7
1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ
slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this
table.
NOTE: Data refer to the sole or principal job of full- and part-time workers.
Detail for the above "hours vary" groups will not sum to totals because data
are not presented for a small number of multiple jobholders whose usual
number of hours on the principal job is not identifiable.
17
Table 6. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected
characteristics, 2004 annual averages
Characteristic
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Upper limit of:
First
decile
First
quartile
Second
quartile
(median)
Third
quartile
Ninth
decile
$305
289
323
$421
388
469
$638
573
713
$972
836
1,095
$1,460
1,190
1,646
SEX, RACE, AND HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY
Total, 16 years and over ........................................................... 101,224
Women ...................................................................................
44,223
Men .........................................................................................
57,001
White ........................................................................................
Women ...................................................................................
Men .........................................................................................
82,468
34,972
47,495
311
293
329
434
396
483
657
584
732
996
851
1,128
1,495
1,212
1,686
Black or African American ........................................................
Women ...................................................................................
Men .........................................................................................
12,032
6,326
5,706
283
274
295
371
351
391
525
505
569
770
728
827
1,107
1,034
1,165
Asian .........................................................................................
Women ...................................................................................
Men .........................................................................................
4,457
1,953
2,504
318
292
350
444
400
498
708
613
802
1,149
966
1,329
1,744
1,443
1,907
Hispanic or Latino .....................................................................
Women ...................................................................................
Men .........................................................................................
14,061
5,065
8,996
267
246
279
322
306
336
456
419
480
684
624
708
1,004
938
1,046
Total, 25 years and over ...........................................................
Less than a high school diploma ............................................
High school graduates, no college 1 .......................................
Some college or associate degree .........................................
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ..............................................
90,348
8,533
27,141
24,846
29,828
325
249
306
343
488
461
305
406
476
689
683
401
574
661
986
1,019
552
791
931
1,464
1,523
772
1,074
1,269
2,024
Women, 25 years and over ......................................................
Less than a high school diploma ............................................
High school graduates, no college 1 .......................................
Some college or associate degree .........................................
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ..............................................
39,590
2,785
11,628
11,848
13,329
301
227
282
315
454
410
275
361
418
622
599
334
488
577
860
873
429
655
776
1,190
1,238
560
876
1,046
1,615
Men, 25 years and over ............................................................
Less than a high school diploma ............................................
High school graduates, no college 1 .......................................
Some college or associate degree .........................................
Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ..............................................
50,758
5,748
15,513
12,998
16,499
358
276
341
388
524
508
330
466
547
770
762
446
645
761
1,143
1,152
609
897
1,056
1,717
1,735
857
1,198
1,440
2,376
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
2 Includes persons with a bachelor’s, master’s, professional,
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.
and doctoral degree.
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
18
Table 7. Usual weekly earnings distribution of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2004 annual averages
(In thousands)
Usual weekly earnings distribution
Characteristic
Total
employed
Under
$150.00
$150.00
to
$249.99
$250.00
to
$349.99
$350.00
to
$499.99
$500.00
to
$749.99
$750.00
to
$999.99
$1000.00 $1500.00
to
or
$1499.99
more
Total, 16 years and over ........................................... 101,224
16 to 24 years ............................................................... 10,876
16 to 19 years ............................................................
1,650
20 to 24 years ............................................................
9,226
25 years and over ......................................................... 90,348
25 to 34 years ............................................................ 24,757
35 to 44 years ............................................................ 26,861
45 to 54 years ............................................................ 24,986
55 to 64 years ............................................................ 11,932
65 years and over ......................................................
1,812
927
239
92
147
688
162
179
171
102
74
3,095
949
315
633
2,146
689
638
462
259
100
10,857
2,989
630
2,358
7,869
2,753
2,156
1,769
919
272
19,355
3,515
434
3,080
15,840
5,223
4,399
3,972
1,885
361
25,608
2,262
140
2,122
23,346
7,285
6,721
6,020
2,956
364
16,762
608
19
589
16,153
4,170
4,940
4,748
2,052
244
14,969
241
11
230
14,728
3,062
4,640
4,619
2,193
214
9,651
74
8
66
9,578
1,414
3,188
3,226
1,567
183
Women, 16 years and over ......................................
16 to 24 years ...............................................................
16 to 19 years ............................................................
20 to 24 years ............................................................
25 years and over .........................................................
25 to 34 years ............................................................
35 to 44 years ............................................................
45 to 54 years ............................................................
55 to 64 years ............................................................
65 years and over ......................................................
44,223
4,633
630
4,003
39,590
10,356
11,459
11,519
5,463
793
516
128
48
80
388
72
112
99
66
39
1,832
500
154
346
1,332
399
414
305
165
48
5,853
1,310
237
1,073
4,543
1,384
1,289
1,144
561
164
9,896
1,513
145
1,369
8,382
2,387
2,365
2,352
1,106
173
11,924
884
41
843
11,041
3,171
3,085
3,092
1,521
172
6,812
210
4
207
6,601
1,608
1,945
2,049
886
113
5,163
75
–
74
5,088
965
1,533
1,714
819
58
2,228
13
1
11
2,215
371
717
765
338
24
Men, 16 years and over ............................................
16 to 24 years ...............................................................
16 to 19 years ............................................................
20 to 24 years ............................................................
25 years and over .........................................................
25 to 34 years ............................................................
35 to 44 years ............................................................
45 to 54 years ............................................................
55 to 64 years ............................................................
65 years and over ......................................................
57,001
6,243
1,020
5,223
50,758
14,401
15,402
13,467
6,469
1,019
411
111
44
67
300
91
67
72
36
34
1,263
449
161
288
814
289
224
157
93
51
5,004
1,678
393
1,286
3,326
1,369
868
624
358
108
9,459
2,001
290
1,712
7,458
2,836
2,034
1,620
779
189
13,684
1,378
99
1,279
12,305
4,114
3,637
2,929
1,435
191
9,950
398
16
382
9,552
2,561
2,995
2,699
1,166
131
9,807
167
11
156
9,640
2,097
3,107
2,906
1,374
156
7,423
61
7
54
7,362
1,043
2,471
2,461
1,229
159
White, 16 years and over ..........................................
Women .........................................................................
Men ...............................................................................
82,468
34,972
47,495
730
405
325
2,288
1,338
951
8,334
4,374
3,960
15,134
7,686
7,448
20,856
9,521
11,335
14,015
5,587
8,429
12,742
4,211
8,532
8,368
1,850
6,517
Black or African American, 16 years and over .........
Women .........................................................................
Men ...............................................................................
12,032
6,326
5,706
127
74
54
587
365
222
1,789
1,080
709
2,926
1,567
1,358
3,238
1,720
1,518
1,695
787
908
1,197
565
632
474
170
304
Asian, 16 years and over ..........................................
Women .........................................................................
Men ...............................................................................
4,457
1,953
2,504
38
24
14
121
70
51
403
237
166
800
411
389
967
453
514
695
287
408
756
292
464
677
179
498
Hispanic or Latino, 16 years and over ......................
Women .........................................................................
Men ...............................................................................
14,061
5,065
8,996
152
72
80
799
433
365
3,087
1,248
1,839
3,891
1,365
2,526
3,146
1,018
2,128
1,497
502
995
1,039
318
721
451
109
342
AGE AND SEX
RACE, SEX, AND HISPANIC OR
LATINO ETHNICITY
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.
19
Table 8. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex, marital status, and
presence and age of own children under 18 years old, 2004 annual averages
Standard
error
of
median
Number of
workers
(in thousands)
Median
weekly
earnings
Total, all marital statuses ............................................
With children under 18 years old ............................
With children 6 to 17, none younger ....................
With children under 6 years old ...........................
With no children under 18 years old .......................
44,223
16,549
10,550
5,999
27,674
$573
551
568
524
582
$2
4
5
5
2
Total, married, spouse present ...................................
With children under 18 years old ............................
With children 6 to 17, none younger ....................
With children under 6 years old ...........................
With no children under 18 years old .......................
23,164
11,010
6,884
4,125
12,154
604
592
591
592
615
2
3
4
6
3
Total, other marital statuses1 .....................................
With children under 18 years old ............................
With children 6 to 17, none younger ....................
With children under 6 years old ...........................
With no children under 18 years old .......................
21,059
5,539
3,666
1,874
15,520
523
489
519
423
546
3
4
5
6
4
Total, all marital statuses ............................................
With children under 18 years old ............................
With children 6 to 17, none younger ....................
With children under 6 years old ...........................
With no children under 18 years old .......................
57,001
22,097
11,964
10,133
34,904
713
794
827
756
661
2
5
6
6
3
Total, married, spouse present ...................................
With children under 18 years old ............................
With children 6 to 17, none younger ....................
With children under 6 years old ...........................
With no children under 18 years old .......................
35,426
20,502
11,001
9,501
14,924
811
813
842
775
807
4
5
6
7
6
Total, other marital statuses1 .....................................
With children under 18 years old ............................
With children 6 to 17, none younger ....................
With children under 6 years old ...........................
With no children under 18 years old .......................
21,575
1,595
962
632
19,980
574
610
695
513
570
3
10
15
10
4
Characteristic
WOMEN
MEN
1 Includes never-married, divorced, separated,
and widowed persons.
NOTE: Children refer to "own" children and
include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted
children. Excluded are other related children such as
grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins, and
unrelated children.
20
Table 9. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates by selected characteristics, 2004 annual averages
Both sexes
Characteristic
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Women
Median
hourly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
73,939
16,174
5,433
10,741
57,765
16,574
16,715
14,796
7,501
2,177
$11.00
7.98
7.00
8.78
12.23
11.37
12.89
13.23
12.58
9.62
$0.02
.02
.02
.03
.03
.09
.05
.08
.12
.18
59,877
9,417
2,672
12,073
11.13
10.19
11.10
9.81
25,411
36,130
12,397
7,932
2,992
1,473
Men
Women’s
earnings
Standard
as
error
percent
of
of men’s 1
median
Median
hourly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
hourly
earnings
37,133
7,869
2,761
5,108
29,265
7,645
8,439
7,868
4,099
1,213
$10.17
7.71
6.86
8.32
11.23
10.62
11.45
11.95
11.57
9.16
$0.02
.03
.03
.06
.04
.10
.10
.05
.16
.10
36,806
8,305
2,672
5,633
28,500
8,929
8,277
6,928
3,402
964
$12.02
8.21
7.15
9.07
13.74
12.03
14.60
15.11
14.54
9.90
$0.03
.03
.03
.04
.07
.05
.15
.05
.24
.09
84.6
93.9
95.9
91.7
81.7
88.3
78.4
79.1
79.6
92.5
.03
.03
.13
.03
29,621
5,174
1,378
4,890
10.21
9.93
10.57
9.04
.03
.05
.32
.06
30,255
4,243
1,295
7,183
12.16
10.88
11.90
10.02
.04
.09
.18
.03
84.0
91.3
88.8
90.2
8.98
12.81
11.49
12.19
10.10
10.00
.03
.04
.11
.06
.06
.08
11,774
17,584
7,774
4,922
1,656
1,196
8.49
11.38
10.81
11.48
9.84
9.90
.06
.07
.07
.14
.07
.08
13,637
18,546
4,623
3,010
1,336
277
9.41
14.29
12.89
13.93
10.99
10.83
.08
.09
.10
.14
.18
.50
90.2
79.6
83.9
82.4
89.5
91.4
9,784
10,664
63,275
16.00
15.88
10.24
.09
.09
.03
3,502
3,942
33,191
13.86
13.85
9.98
.11
.11
.02
6,282
6,721
30,084
17.30
17.18
11.05
.17
.12
.04
80.1
80.6
90.3
57,765
7,946
22,423
18,058
9,338
12.23
9.23
11.93
13.18
16.24
.03
.06
.03
.06
.19
29,265
3,079
10,875
9,994
5,317
11.23
8.06
10.44
12.07
16.12
.04
.04
.07
.04
.19
28,500
4,868
11,548
8,064
4,021
13.74
10.11
13.79
14.98
16.63
.07
.04
.08
.05
.30
81.7
79.7
75.7
80.6
96.9
AGE
Total, 16 years and over ...................
16 to 24 years .......................................
16 to 19 years ....................................
20 to 24 years ....................................
25 years and over .................................
25 to 34 years ....................................
35 to 44 years ....................................
45 to 54 years ....................................
55 to 64 years ....................................
65 years and over ..............................
RACE AND HISPANIC OR
LATINO ETHNICITY
White ....................................................
Black or African American ....................
Asian .....................................................
Hispanic or Latino .................................
MARITAL STATUS
Never married .......................................
Married, spouse present .......................
Other marital status ..............................
Divorced ............................................
Separated ..........................................
Widowed ............................................
UNION AFFILIATION 2
Members of unions 3 ............................
Represented by unions 4 ......................
Not represented by a union .................
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
Total, 25 years and over .......................
Less than a high school diploma ........
High school graduates, no college 5 ...
Some college or associate degree .....
Bachelor’s degree and higher 6 ..........
1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ
slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this
table.
2 Differences in earnings levels between workers with and without union
affiliation reflect a variety of factors in addition to coverage by a collective
bargaining agreement, including the distribution of male and female
employees by occupation, industry, firm size, or geographic region.
3 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association
similar to a union.
4 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association
similar to a union as well as workers who report no union affiliation but whose
jobs are covered by a union or an employee association contract.
5 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
6 Includes persons with a bachelor’s, master’s, professional, and doctoral
degree.
NOTE: Hourly-paid workers account for approximately three-fifths of all
wage and salary workers. 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.
21
Table 10. Hourly earnings distribution of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates by selected characteristics, 2004 annual averages
(In thousands)
Hourly earnings distribution
Characteristic
Total
employed Under
$4.00
$4.00
to
$4.99
$5.00
to
$5.99
$6.00
to
$7.99
$8.00
to
$9.99
$10.00 $12.00 $15.00 $20.00
to
to
to
or
$11.99 $14.99 $19.99 more
AGE AND SEX
Total, 16 years and over .............................................................
16 to 24 years .................................................................................
16 to 19 years ...............................................................................
20 to 24 years ...............................................................................
25 years and over ...........................................................................
25 to 34 years ...............................................................................
35 to 44 years ...............................................................................
45 to 54 years ...............................................................................
55 to 64 years ...............................................................................
65 years and over .........................................................................
73,939
16,174
5,433
10,741
57,765
16,574
16,715
14,796
7,501
2,177
983
489
177
311
495
237
116
82
39
20
144
64
27
38
80
32
23
14
4
8
2,320 12,115 13,077 11,661 11,724 11,265 10,649
1,374 5,517 4,073 2,388 1,428
617
225
869 2,665 1,110
391
133
40
21
505 2,852 2,963 1,996 1,295
577
203
946 6,598 9,004 9,274 10,296 10,648 10,424
292 2,223 2,980 2,896 3,134 2,781 1,999
244 1,728 2,362 2,635 2,976 3,272 3,358
174 1,328 2,033 2,232 2,608 2,975 3,349
121
813 1,154 1,156 1,319 1,387 1,508
115
505
474
354
259
232
210
Women, 16 years and over ........................................................
16 to 24 years .................................................................................
16 to 19 years ...............................................................................
20 to 24 years ...............................................................................
25 years and over ...........................................................................
25 to 34 years ...............................................................................
35 to 44 years ...............................................................................
45 to 54 years ...............................................................................
55 to 64 years ...............................................................................
65 years and over .........................................................................
37,133
7,869
2,761
5,108
29,265
7,645
8,439
7,868
4,099
1,213
698
352
133
219
346
159
81
57
31
18
97
42
19
23
55
21
18
11
3
2
1,405
783
497
285
622
171
172
118
79
83
7,115
2,904
1,400
1,504
4,210
1,250
1,177
928
566
289
7,239
1,929
500
1,429
5,310
1,522
1,456
1,328
734
270
6,119
1,008
144
864
5,111
1,322
1,510
1,388
695
197
5,767
580
54
526
5,188
1,400
1,454
1,431
754
149
4,490
189
11
178
4,301
999
1,273
1,257
652
121
4,203
82
3
79
4,121
801
1,299
1,351
585
85
Men, 16 years and over ..............................................................
16 to 24 years .................................................................................
16 to 19 years ...............................................................................
20 to 24 years ...............................................................................
25 years and over ...........................................................................
25 to 34 years ...............................................................................
35 to 44 years ...............................................................................
45 to 54 years ...............................................................................
55 to 64 years ...............................................................................
65 years and over .........................................................................
36,806
8,305
2,672
5,633
28,500
8,929
8,277
6,928
3,402
964
286
137
45
92
149
79
35
25
8
2
47
22
8
15
25
10
5
3
1
6
915
591
371
220
324
121
73
57
41
33
5,000
2,613
1,264
1,348
2,387
972
552
400
247
216
5,838
2,144
609
1,535
3,694
1,458
907
705
420
204
5,543
1,380
247
1,132
4,163
1,574
1,125
844
462
157
5,956
848
79
769
5,108
1,734
1,523
1,178
564
110
6,775
428
30
398
6,347
1,782
1,999
1,718
736
112
6,446
143
18
124
6,303
1,198
2,059
1,998
923
125
White, 16 years and over ............................................................
Women ...........................................................................................
Men .................................................................................................
59,877
29,621
30,255
865
631
234
125
85
40
1,819
1,093
725
9,610 10,260
5,553 5,656
4,057 4,604
9,325
4,915
4,411
9,451
4,565
4,886
9,427
3,667
5,760
8,994
3,455
5,539
Black or African American, 16 years and over ...........................
Women ...........................................................................................
Men .................................................................................................
9,417
5,174
4,243
77
45
32
10
7
3
372
228
144
1,686
1,084
601
1,940
1,123
817
1,617
838
779
1,594
847
747
1,187
574
613
934
429
505
Asian, 16 years and over ............................................................
Women ...........................................................................................
Men .................................................................................................
2,672
1,378
1,295
19
13
6
4
2
3
57
33
24
445
256
189
462
251
211
430
229
201
373
208
165
396
158
237
486
229
258
Hispanic or Latino, 16 years and over ........................................
Women ...........................................................................................
Men .................................................................................................
12,073
4,890
7,183
96
63
34
22
12
9
350
215
135
2,810
1,395
1,415
2,694
1,095
1,599
2,119
786
1,333
1,768
648
1,121
1,288
402
885
927
274
653
RACE, SEX, AND HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY
NOTE: Hourly-paid workers account for approximately three-fifths of all
wage and salary workers. 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.
22
Table 11. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by selected characteristics,
2004 annual averages
(Numbers in thousands)
Workers paid hourly rates1
Characteristic
Total
Below
prevailing
Federal
minimum
wage
At
prevailing
Federal
minimum
wage
Total at or below prevailing
Federal minimum wage
Number
Percent of
hourly-paid
workers
AGE AND SEX
Total, 16 years and over .................................................................................................
16 to 24 years .......................................................................................................................
16 to 19 years ....................................................................................................................
20 to 24 years ....................................................................................................................
25 years and over .................................................................................................................
25 to 34 years ....................................................................................................................
35 to 44 years ....................................................................................................................
45 to 54 years ....................................................................................................................
55 to 64 years ....................................................................................................................
65 years and over ..............................................................................................................
73,939
16,174
5,433
10,741
57,765
16,574
16,715
14,796
7,501
2,177
1,483
750
329
420
733
320
175
125
61
53
520
272
168
103
249
64
63
48
40
33
2,003
1,021
498
523
982
384
238
173
101
87
2.7
6.3
9.2
4.9
1.7
2.3
1.4
1.2
1.3
4.0
Women, 16 years and over ............................................................................................
16 to 24 years .......................................................................................................................
16 to 19 years ....................................................................................................................
20 to 24 years ....................................................................................................................
25 years and over .................................................................................................................
25 to 34 years ....................................................................................................................
35 to 44 years ....................................................................................................................
45 to 54 years ....................................................................................................................
55 to 64 years ....................................................................................................................
65 years and over ..............................................................................................................
37,133
7,869
2,761
5,108
29,265
7,645
8,439
7,868
4,099
1,213
1,013
510
229
282
502
209
122
84
47
40
310
145
90
55
166
35
46
31
27
27
1,323
655
319
336
668
244
168
116
74
67
3.6
8.3
11.5
6.6
2.3
3.2
2.0
1.5
1.8
5.5
Men, 16 years and over ..................................................................................................
16 to 24 years .......................................................................................................................
16 to 19 years ....................................................................................................................
20 to 24 years ....................................................................................................................
25 years and over .................................................................................................................
25 to 34 years ....................................................................................................................
35 to 44 years ....................................................................................................................
45 to 54 years ....................................................................................................................
55 to 64 years ....................................................................................................................
65 years and over ..............................................................................................................
36,806
8,305
2,672
5,633
28,500
8,929
8,277
6,928
3,402
964
470
239
101
138
231
111
54
40
14
13
210
127
78
49
83
30
17
17
13
7
680
366
179
187
314
140
70
57
27
19
1.8
4.4
6.7
3.3
1.1
1.6
.9
.8
.8
2.0
White, 16 years and over ................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................................................
59,877
29,621
30,255
1,286
892
393
395
234
161
1,681
1,126
555
2.8
3.8
1.8
Black or African American, 16 years and over ...............................................................
Women .................................................................................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................................................
9,417
5,174
4,243
128
79
49
99
59
40
228
138
89
2.4
2.7
2.1
Asian, 16 years and over ................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................................................
2,672
1,378
1,295
30
18
12
8
5
3
38
23
15
1.4
1.7
1.2
Hispanic or Latino, 16 years and over ............................................................................
Women .................................................................................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................................................
12,073
4,890
7,183
168
102
66
82
49
32
250
151
99
2.1
3.1
1.4
Full-time workers .............................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................................................
55,739
24,788
30,951
583
360
223
177
100
77
760
460
300
1.4
1.9
1.0
Part-time workers ............................................................................................................
Women .................................................................................................................................
Men .......................................................................................................................................
18,046
12,276
5,770
897
651
246
343
210
132
1,240
861
378
6.9
7.0
6.6
RACE, SEX, AND HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY
FULL- AND PART-TIME STATUS AND SEX 2
See footnotes on page 24.
23
1 Detail may not sum to totals due to rounding. Percents are based on
unrounded data.
2 The distinction between full- and part-time workers is based on hours
usually worked. These data will not sum to totals because full- or part-time
status on the principal job is not identifiable for a small number of multiple
jobholders.
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.
24
Table 12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2004) dollars by sex and age,
1979-2004 annual averages
16 to 24 years
25 years and over
Total, 16
years and
over
Total
1979 ..............................................................
$581
$415
$347
$448
$639
$616
$675
$666
$630
$477
1980 ..............................................................
1981 ..............................................................
1982 ..............................................................
1983 ..............................................................
1984 ..............................................................
1985 ..............................................................
19861 ............................................................
1987 ..............................................................
1988 ..............................................................
1989 ..............................................................
568
563
566
563
564
576
590
595
591
587
407
398
390
379
376
375
381
386
382
381
334
320
308
294
292
291
293
295
300
300
435
423
413
400
399
402
408
411
407
406
621
612
612
618
626
634
643
641
635
629
598
588
583
578
580
585
592
594
588
579
655
646
663
665
673
679
689
692
690
694
645
636
647
660
666
671
683
682
695
694
618
613
609
623
632
638
652
645
643
634
441
441
474
469
470
497
491
493
496
491
19901 ............................................................
1991 ..............................................................
1992 ..............................................................
1993 ..............................................................
19941 ............................................................
1995 ..............................................................
1996 ..............................................................
19971 ............................................................
19981 ............................................................
19991 ............................................................
578
576
581
590
589
590
588
591
605
622
377
375
364
363
361
360
357
360
370
387
294
288
280
275
278
284
287
296
310
319
400
394
382
382
378
376
374
377
392
411
629
632
632
632
630
628
624
634
662
671
571
562
556
562
554
555
555
565
581
587
682
673
663
666
677
677
670
679
691
692
685
686
689
697
714
717
712
712
718
739
641
635
637
633
631
633
641
655
686
685
482
515
499
506
485
479
460
462
469
458
20001 ............................................................
2001 ..............................................................
2002 ..............................................................
20031 ............................................................
20041 ............................................................
631
636
639
636
638
396
401
400
397
390
326
325
320
320
309
420
421
419
412
406
667
672
679
679
683
602
615
620
610
604
685
701
702
706
713
733
740
741
742
743
679
680
708
727
725
508
521
527
529
560
1979 ..............................................................
439
371
318
389
470
480
471
463
455
410
1980 ..............................................................
1981 ..............................................................
1982 ..............................................................
1983 ..............................................................
1984 ..............................................................
1985 ..............................................................
19861 ............................................................
1987 ..............................................................
1988 ..............................................................
1989 ..............................................................
436
435
447
453
458
465
478
482
483
482
362
358
359
356
352
353
360
360
361
362
315
306
296
284
280
278
279
273
282
289
379
380
377
373
369
370
381
385
386
383
462
462
477
481
490
496
507
511
514
516
473
474
483
488
492
495
503
503
501
500
465
472
484
489
505
514
525
536
543
543
453
447
471
475
483
489
507
515
520
525
444
441
458
463
467
477
486
490
487
489
379
375
396
381
378
406
421
415
429
429
19901 ............................................................
1991 ..............................................................
1992 ..............................................................
1993 ..............................................................
19941 ............................................................
1995 ..............................................................
1996 ..............................................................
19971 ............................................................
19981 ............................................................
19991 ............................................................
486
496
501
506
503
500
501
506
528
537
356
360
352
352
347
339
340
343
353
367
278
277
270
264
267
264
267
282
288
302
377
380
369
372
365
358
358
359
369
389
518
524
527
534
531
527
532
542
561
563
499
501
504
508
501
497
498
501
523
533
547
551
552
560
565
558
555
565
576
571
529
538
550
566
568
572
576
581
597
606
488
491
496
508
502
496
504
508
551
558
421
432
433
431
424
434
401
408
405
419
20001 ............................................................
2001 ..............................................................
2002 ..............................................................
20031 ............................................................
20041 ............................................................
541
547
556
567
573
378
377
385
381
375
310
308
310
307
293
402
400
404
398
391
566
579
597
600
599
541
547
556
561
561
571
584
600
606
608
619
627
632
625
625
557
572
602
617
615
430
417
452
447
478
Year and sex
16 to 19 20 to 24
years
years
Total
25 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 54 55 to 64 65 years
years
years
years
years and over
BOTH SEXES
WOMEN
See footnotes at end of table.
25
Table 12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2004) dollars by sex and age,
1979-2004 annual averages — Continued
16 to 24 years
25 years and over
Total, 16
years and
over
Total
1979 ..............................................................
$703
$473
$373
$508
$757
$712
$809
$814
$753
$528
1980 ..............................................................
1981 ..............................................................
1982 ..............................................................
1983 ..............................................................
1984 ..............................................................
1985 ..............................................................
19861 ............................................................
1987 ..............................................................
1988 ..............................................................
1989 ..............................................................
679
674
682
681
678
681
690
690
689
688
452
433
421
401
400
403
405
409
401
399
351
333
318
302
302
306
305
311
314
308
486
471
457
434
433
433
434
437
428
427
736
737
736
731
731
742
761
759
748
735
682
674
670
667
661
659
661
655
645
638
797
788
790
795
815
815
820
811
793
798
795
786
784
798
813
819
832
826
842
836
747
749
747
749
760
783
797
788
780
766
496
528
562
554
567
615
589
604
606
579
19901 ............................................................
1991 ..............................................................
1992 ..............................................................
1993 ..............................................................
19941 ............................................................
1995 ..............................................................
1996 ..............................................................
19971 ............................................................
19981 ............................................................
19991 ............................................................
675
667
661
657
658
663
668
679
692
701
395
386
374
371
371
373
368
372
386
404
305
296
288
284
288
301
301
308
326
330
418
406
392
390
387
389
385
397
413
430
718
708
707
715
727
724
719
722
740
757
630
620
615
612
604
603
598
605
630
654
786
779
767
767
779
768
758
764
784
796
829
829
836
841
846
843
837
836
847
865
765
762
763
754
760
767
770
785
809
823
565
632
555
581
556
543
572
530
558
533
20001 ............................................................
2001 ..............................................................
2002 ..............................................................
20031 ............................................................
20041 ............................................................
702
715
713
713
713
411
418
411
409
400
336
340
328
329
318
433
436
430
423
417
760
769
769
764
762
656
659
659
645
639
798
804
798
796
804
846
853
848
856
857
806
812
842
849
843
573
603
612
628
641
1979 ..............................................................
62.5
78.5
85.2
76.5
62.1
67.4
58.3
56.9
60.5
77.8
1980 ..............................................................
1981 ..............................................................
1982 ..............................................................
1983 ..............................................................
1984 ..............................................................
1985 ..............................................................
19861 ............................................................
1987 ..............................................................
1988 ..............................................................
1989 ..............................................................
64.3
64.5
65.5
66.6
67.6
68.2
69.3
69.9
70.1
70.1
80.1
82.6
85.3
88.6
87.9
87.5
88.9
88.1
90.0
90.7
89.5
91.8
92.8
94.1
92.7
90.8
91.5
87.8
89.8
94.0
78.0
80.7
82.5
85.9
85.3
85.5
87.7
88.0
90.1
89.8
62.7
62.7
64.7
65.8
67.0
66.9
66.7
67.3
68.7
70.2
69.4
70.4
72.1
73.3
74.5
75.1
76.2
76.8
77.7
78.4
58.4
59.9
61.2
61.5
61.9
63.1
64.0
66.1
68.4
68.1
56.9
56.8
60.1
59.5
59.4
59.7
61.0
62.3
61.8
62.7
59.4
58.9
61.3
61.8
61.4
60.9
61.0
62.2
62.4
63.9
76.5
70.9
70.4
68.7
66.8
66.0
71.4
68.7
70.8
74.2
19901 ............................................................
1991 ..............................................................
1992 ..............................................................
1993 ..............................................................
19941 ............................................................
1995 ..............................................................
1996 ..............................................................
19971 ............................................................
19981 ............................................................
19991 ............................................................
71.9
74.3
75.8
77.1
76.4
75.4
75.0
74.5
76.3
76.5
90.1
93.3
94.0
94.8
93.7
90.8
92.4
92.1
91.3
91.0
91.0
93.5
93.8
93.0
92.7
87.9
88.9
91.4
88.5
91.3
90.2
93.5
94.2
95.6
94.5
92.2
92.8
90.6
89.4
90.5
72.1
74.0
74.6
74.7
73.1
72.7
74.1
75.1
75.9
74.4
79.2
80.9
82.0
82.9
82.9
82.4
83.2
82.9
83.0
81.5
69.7
70.8
71.9
73.0
72.5
72.7
73.2
74.0
73.5
71.7
63.8
64.9
65.8
67.3
67.1
67.8
68.9
69.4
70.5
70.1
63.7
64.4
64.9
67.4
66.1
64.8
65.4
64.7
68.2
67.8
74.5
68.4
78.1
74.1
76.3
79.9
70.0
77.1
72.6
78.7
20001 ............................................................
2001 ..............................................................
2002 ..............................................................
20031 ............................................................
20041 ............................................................
77.0
76.4
77.9
79.5
80.3
92.0
90.2
93.7
93.3
93.7
92.3
90.3
94.5
93.2
92.2
92.8
91.9
93.9
94.0
93.8
74.5
75.3
77.6
78.5
78.7
82.5
83.0
84.4
87.0
87.9
71.5
72.6
75.2
76.2
75.6
73.2
73.5
74.5
73.0
73.0
69.2
70.5
71.5
72.6
73.0
75.1
69.1
73.8
71.2
74.6
Year and sex
16 to 19 20 to 24
years
years
Total
25 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 54 55 to 64 65 years
years
years
years
years and over
MEN
WOMEN’S EARNINGS
AS PERCENT OF MEN’S 2
1 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at
various times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current
Population Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory
Notes and Estimates of Error section of the February 2005 and
subsequent issues of Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS
periodical.
2 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may
differ slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians
displayed in this table.
NOTE: The Consumer Price Index research series using current
methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert current dollars to constant
dollars. See Technical Note.
26
Table 13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2004) dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity, 1979-2004 annual averages
Total, 16 years
and over
White
Black or African
American
Asian
Hispanic or
Latino
1979 ............................................................................
$581
$596
$479
–
$466
1980 ............................................................................
1981 ............................................................................
1982 ............................................................................
1983 ............................................................................
1984 ............................................................................
1985 ............................................................................
19861 ..........................................................................
1987 ............................................................................
1988 ............................................................................
1989 ............................................................................
568
563
566
563
564
576
590
595
591
587
583
576
580
575
582
595
610
610
605
602
461
466
459
470
466
465
479
479
482
470
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
454
442
450
449
449
452
456
453
445
438
19901 ..........................................................................
1991 ............................................................................
1992 ............................................................................
1993 ............................................................................
19941 ..........................................................................
1995 ............................................................................
1996 ............................................................................
19971 ..........................................................................
19981 ..........................................................................
19991 ..........................................................................
578
576
581
590
589
590
588
591
605
622
594
599
604
611
610
609
606
609
631
649
462
471
470
475
468
471
464
469
493
504
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
426
423
424
426
409
405
406
412
429
436
20001 ..........................................................................
2001 ............................................................................
2002 ............................................................................
20031 ..........................................................................
20041 ..........................................................................
631
636
639
636
638
647
651
655
653
657
520
524
523
528
525
$674
682
691
712
708
438
445
445
452
456
1979 ............................................................................
439
444
408
–
379
1980 ............................................................................
1981 ............................................................................
1982 ............................................................................
1983 ............................................................................
1984 ............................................................................
1985 ............................................................................
19861 ..........................................................................
1987 ............................................................................
1988 ............................................................................
1989 ............................................................................
436
435
447
453
458
465
478
482
483
482
440
438
453
458
464
471
484
489
488
491
402
409
407
417
417
423
434
438
442
443
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
374
377
381
386
386
384
397
399
399
396
19901 ..........................................................................
1991 ............................................................................
1992 ............................................................................
1993 ............................................................................
19941 ..........................................................................
1995 ............................................................................
1996 ............................................................................
19971 ..........................................................................
19981 ..........................................................................
19991 ..........................................................................
486
496
501
506
503
500
501
506
528
537
496
505
510
516
514
510
513
521
541
548
432
437
442
448
437
437
435
440
462
463
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
390
395
398
402
384
376
379
373
390
394
20001 ..........................................................................
2001 ............................................................................
2002 ............................................................................
20031 ..........................................................................
20041 ..........................................................................
541
547
556
567
573
550
557
575
583
584
471
485
497
504
505
599
601
595
614
613
402
415
417
421
419
Year and sex
BOTH SEXES
WOMEN
See footnotes on page 29.
27
Table 13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2004) dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity, 1979-2004 annual averages — Continued
Total, 16 years
and over
White
Black or African
American
Asian
Hispanic or
Latino
1979 ............................................................................
$703
$719
$548
–
$529
1980 ............................................................................
1981 ............................................................................
1982 ............................................................................
1983 ............................................................................
1984 ............................................................................
1985 ............................................................................
19861 ..........................................................................
1987 ............................................................................
1988 ............................................................................
1989 ............................................................................
679
674
682
681
678
681
690
690
689
688
694
694
703
697
693
699
713
716
713
709
530
533
521
528
524
510
524
519
533
512
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
508
499
503
493
496
495
492
487
472
463
19901 ..........................................................................
1991 ............................................................................
1992 ............................................................................
1993 ............................................................................
19941 ..........................................................................
1995 ............................................................................
1996 ............................................................................
19971 ..........................................................................
19981 ..........................................................................
19991 ..........................................................................
675
667
661
657
658
663
668
679
692
701
693
684
678
674
690
698
696
699
711
724
506
507
502
504
505
506
493
507
541
554
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
446
437
447
445
433
430
426
436
451
460
20001 ..........................................................................
2001 ............................................................................
2002 ............................................................................
20031 ..........................................................................
20041 ..........................................................................
702
715
713
713
713
726
736
737
734
732
559
565
550
569
569
$751
782
794
793
802
457
470
474
476
480
1979 ............................................................................
62.5
61.7
74.3
–
71.7
1980 ............................................................................
1981 ............................................................................
1982 ............................................................................
1983 ............................................................................
1984 ............................................................................
1985 ............................................................................
19861 ..........................................................................
1987 ............................................................................
1988 ............................................................................
1989 ............................................................................
64.3
64.5
65.5
66.6
67.6
68.2
69.3
69.9
70.1
70.1
63.5
63.1
64.4
65.7
67.0
67.4
67.9
68.2
68.5
69.2
75.8
76.7
78.0
78.9
79.6
82.8
82.7
84.4
83.0
86.5
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
73.6
75.6
75.7
78.3
77.8
77.7
80.7
82.1
84.6
85.6
19901 ..........................................................................
1991 ............................................................................
1992 ............................................................................
1993 ............................................................................
19941 ..........................................................................
1995 ............................................................................
1996 ............................................................................
19971 ..........................................................................
19981 ..........................................................................
19991 ..........................................................................
71.9
74.3
75.8
77.1
76.4
75.4
75.0
74.5
76.3
76.5
71.5
73.7
75.2
76.5
74.5
73.2
73.8
74.6
76.1
75.7
85.5
86.1
88.1
88.8
86.5
86.3
88.1
86.8
85.4
83.7
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
87.6
90.5
89.1
90.4
88.8
87.3
89.0
85.6
86.5
85.7
20001 ..........................................................................
2001 ............................................................................
2002 ............................................................................
20031 ..........................................................................
20041 ..........................................................................
77.0
76.4
77.9
79.5
80.3
75.8
75.6
78.0
79.4
79.8
84.2
85.8
90.4
88.4
88.9
79.9
76.9
74.9
77.5
76.4
88.0
88.2
88.1
88.3
87.1
Year and sex
MEN
WOMEN’S EARNINGS
AS PERCENT OF MEN’S 2
See footnotes on page 29.
28
1 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at
various times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current
Population Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory
Notes and Estimates of Error section of the February 2005 and
subsequent issues of Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS
periodical.
2 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may
differ slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians
displayed in this table.
- Data not available
NOTE: Beginning in 2003, estimates for the above race groups
(white, black or African American, and Asian) include persons who
selected this race group only; persons who selected more than one race
group are not included. Prior to 2003, persons who reported more than
one race were included in the group they identified as the main race.
Estimates for the race groups will not sum to totals because data are not
presented for all races. 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. Data for 2000-02 are for the category
Asians and Pacific Islanders. Starting in 2003, Asians constitute a
separate category. For more information, see the Explanatory Notes
and Estimates of Error section of Employment and Earnings. Data for
Asians were not tabulated prior to 2000. The Consumer Price Index
research series using current methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert
current dollars to constant dollars. See Technical Note.
29
Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and over in constant (2004) dollars by sex
and educational attainment, 1979-2004 annual averages
Total,
25 years and
over
Less than a
high school
diploma
High school
graduates, no
college 1
Some college or
associate degree
Bachelor’s
degree and
higher 2
1979 ........................................................
$639
$506
$599
$679
$829
1980 ........................................................
1981 ........................................................
1982 ........................................................
1983 ........................................................
1984 ........................................................
1985 ........................................................
19863 ......................................................
1987 ........................................................
1988 ........................................................
1989 ........................................................
621
612
612
618
626
634
643
641
635
629
482
475
464
460
456
452
457
451
442
437
578
568
565
560
558
558
565
567
564
552
659
643
657
653
661
668
673
669
660
665
816
807
819
830
840
847
863
896
898
896
19903 ......................................................
1991 ........................................................
1992 ........................................................
1993 ........................................................
19943 ......................................................
1995 ........................................................
1996 ........................................................
19973 ......................................................
19983 ......................................................
19993 ......................................................
629
632
632
632
630
628
624
634
662
671
425
416
410
404
387
381
380
376
390
393
541
537
532
534
531
532
532
541
555
556
667
662
639
636
629
625
621
628
646
658
895
901
918
920
925
920
909
914
950
975
20003 ......................................................
2001 ........................................................
2002 ........................................................
20033 ......................................................
20043 ......................................................
667
672
679
679
683
396
408
408
407
401
554
555
562
568
574
653
659
660
656
661
977
983
988
989
986
1979 ........................................................
470
366
446
508
635
1980 ........................................................
1981 ........................................................
1982 ........................................................
1983 ........................................................
1984 ........................................................
1985 ........................................................
19863 ......................................................
1987 ........................................................
1988 ........................................................
1989 ........................................................
462
462
477
481
490
496
507
511
514
516
355
347
345
350
345
338
341
341
338
340
435
431
442
443
448
448
455
457
457
448
501
506
514
517
527
531
542
552
552
557
629
631
649
663
675
694
717
740
744
746
19903 ......................................................
1991 ........................................................
1992 ........................................................
1993 ........................................................
19943 ......................................................
1995 ........................................................
1996 ........................................................
19973 ......................................................
19983 ......................................................
19993 ......................................................
518
524
527
534
531
527
532
542
561
563
337
338
337
339
324
322
322
323
327
329
441
444
444
446
443
439
438
444
458
459
554
553
537
543
533
525
529
538
551
554
751
760
783
786
799
793
788
789
819
839
20003 ......................................................
2001 ........................................................
2002 ........................................................
20033 ......................................................
20043 ......................................................
566
579
597
600
599
334
337
341
338
334
461
472
481
487
488
554
555
571
575
577
829
839
850
854
860
Year and sex
BOTH SEXES
WOMEN
See footnotes at end of table.
30
Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and over in constant (2004) dollars by sex
and educational attainment, 1979-2004 annual averages — Continued
Total,
25 years and
over
Less than a
high school
diploma
High school
graduates, no
college 1
Some college or
associate degree
Bachelor’s
degree and
higher 2
1979 ........................................................
$757
$608
$743
$794
$954
1980 ........................................................
1981 ........................................................
1982 ........................................................
1983 ........................................................
1984 ........................................................
1985 ........................................................
19863 ......................................................
1987 ........................................................
1988 ........................................................
1989 ........................................................
736
737
736
731
731
742
761
759
748
735
580
567
549
542
533
526
528
515
510
509
710
707
700
697
690
682
684
672
670
662
777
771
770
760
771
790
798
790
772
760
927
943
942
932
972
988
1,016
1,038
1,042
1,037
19903 ......................................................
1991 ........................................................
1992 ........................................................
1993 ........................................................
19943 ......................................................
1995 ........................................................
1996 ........................................................
19973 ......................................................
19983 ......................................................
19993 ......................................................
718
708
707
715
727
724
719
722
740
757
490
473
463
458
432
427
428
429
444
447
643
636
631
626
626
625
619
628
647
658
761
762
732
736
740
734
724
729
745
753
1,039
1,034
1,044
1,037
1,042
1,040
1,048
1,052
1,087
1,108
20003 ......................................................
2001 ........................................................
2002 ........................................................
20033 ......................................................
20043 ......................................................
760
769
769
764
762
446
447
443
441
446
648
650
648
645
645
758
772
768
759
761
1,119
1,139
1,145
1,161
1,143
1979 ........................................................
62.1
60.2
60.0
64.0
66.6
1980 ........................................................
1981 ........................................................
1982 ........................................................
1983 ........................................................
1984 ........................................................
1985 ........................................................
19863 ......................................................
1987 ........................................................
1988 ........................................................
1989 ........................................................
62.7
62.7
64.7
65.8
67.0
66.9
66.7
67.3
68.7
70.2
61.3
61.1
62.8
64.6
64.8
64.4
64.7
66.1
66.4
66.8
61.3
61.0
63.1
63.5
64.9
65.7
66.6
68.0
68.3
67.6
64.5
65.6
66.7
68.1
68.4
67.2
67.9
69.9
71.5
73.3
67.8
66.9
68.9
71.1
69.5
70.2
70.6
71.3
71.4
71.9
19903 ......................................................
1991 ........................................................
1992 ........................................................
1993 ........................................................
19943 ......................................................
1995 ........................................................
1996 ........................................................
19973 ......................................................
19983 ......................................................
19993 ......................................................
72.1
74.0
74.6
74.7
73.1
72.7
74.1
75.1
75.9
74.4
68.8
71.5
72.8
73.8
74.9
75.4
75.2
75.2
73.7
73.5
68.6
69.9
70.3
71.3
70.8
70.2
70.7
70.8
70.9
69.8
72.8
72.6
73.4
73.7
72.0
71.6
73.1
73.8
74.0
73.5
72.2
73.5
75.0
75.8
76.7
76.2
75.2
75.0
75.3
75.7
20003 ......................................................
2001 ........................................................
2002 ........................................................
20033 ......................................................
20043 ......................................................
74.5
75.3
77.6
78.5
78.7
74.9
75.4
77.1
76.7
74.9
71.2
72.7
74.3
75.6
75.6
73.1
71.9
74.3
75.7
75.8
74.1
73.7
74.2
73.6
75.2
Year and sex
MEN
WOMEN’S EARNINGS
AS PERCENT OF MEN’S 4
1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
2 Includes persons with a bachelor’s, master’s, professional,
Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS periodical.
4 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and
may differ slightly from percents computed using the rounded
medians displayed in this table.
NOTE: The Consumer Price Index research series using
current methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert current dollars to
constant dollars. See Technical Note.
and doctoral degree.
3 The comparability of historical labor force data has been
affected at various times by methodological and conceptual
changes in the Current Population Survey (CPS). For an
explanation, see the Explanatory Notes and Estimates of Error
section of the February 2005 and subsequent issues of
31
Table 15. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2004) dollars by sex and age, 1979-2004 annual
averages
16 to 24 years
25 years and over
Total, 16
years and
over
Total
16 to 19
years
20 to 24
years
Total
25 to 34
years
35 to 44
years
45 to 54
years
55 to 64
years
65 years
and over
1979 ....................................................
$10.72
$8.43
$7.50
$9.72
$12.34
$12.56
$12.78
$12.46
$12.00
$7.80
1980 ....................................................
1981 ....................................................
1982 ....................................................
1983 ....................................................
1984 ....................................................
1985 ....................................................
19861 ..................................................
1987 ....................................................
1988 ....................................................
1989 ....................................................
10.49
10.24
10.13
10.08
10.10
10.12
10.22
10.30
10.33
10.30
8.08
7.90
7.60
7.35
7.25
7.15
7.27
7.31
7.36
7.29
7.01
7.12
6.77
6.51
6.33
6.17
6.12
6.07
6.19
6.22
9.32
9.16
8.75
8.45
8.35
8.30
8.34
8.30
8.27
8.33
12.06
11.91
11.78
11.79
11.85
11.82
11.91
11.87
11.89
11.70
12.29
12.11
11.90
11.70
11.72
11.61
11.55
11.45
11.42
11.25
12.51
12.33
12.40
12.45
12.43
12.57
12.83
12.63
12.55
12.60
12.28
11.95
12.04
12.12
12.27
12.37
12.74
12.52
12.53
12.40
11.72
11.55
11.46
11.54
11.47
11.59
11.80
11.80
11.49
11.52
7.75
7.79
7.74
7.92
8.03
7.95
8.18
8.09
8.04
7.98
19901 ..................................................
1991 ....................................................
1992 ....................................................
1993 ....................................................
19941 ..................................................
1995 ....................................................
1996 ....................................................
19971 ..................................................
19981 ..................................................
19991 ..................................................
10.16
10.17
10.20
10.14
10.12
10.07
10.08
10.28
10.55
10.82
7.25
7.14
7.10
7.10
7.10
7.16
7.13
7.23
7.63
7.81
6.31
6.36
6.25
6.18
6.20
6.21
6.21
6.47
6.81
6.91
8.31
8.14
7.97
7.93
7.86
7.92
8.04
8.12
8.39
8.79
11.46
11.49
11.53
11.53
11.52
11.54
11.54
11.59
11.73
11.89
11.10
10.89
10.79
10.66
10.58
10.74
10.58
10.63
11.18
11.32
12.38
12.42
12.39
12.38
12.52
12.36
12.18
12.17
12.58
12.51
12.35
12.34
12.57
12.71
12.65
12.49
12.29
12.45
12.70
12.86
11.26
11.09
11.21
11.47
11.39
11.34
11.27
11.44
11.68
11.78
8.08
8.05
8.12
8.24
8.06
8.20
8.13
8.10
8.58
8.74
20001 ..................................................
2001 ....................................................
2002 ....................................................
20031 ..................................................
20041 ..................................................
10.86
10.87
11.00
11.14
11.00
7.94
8.21
8.20
8.11
7.98
7.03
7.21
7.26
7.11
7.00
8.85
8.94
8.90
8.89
8.78
11.93
12.17
12.43
12.38
12.23
11.16
11.38
11.53
11.55
11.37
12.44
12.78
12.80
12.79
12.89
12.96
12.99
13.09
13.32
13.23
11.86
12.14
12.45
12.51
12.58
8.82
9.11
9.52
9.44
9.62
1979 ....................................................
8.74
7.70
7.32
8.49
9.41
9.76
9.59
9.28
9.07
7.55
1980 ....................................................
1981 ....................................................
1982 ....................................................
1983 ....................................................
1984 ....................................................
1985 ....................................................
19861 ..................................................
1987 ....................................................
1988 ....................................................
1989 ....................................................
8.60
8.50
8.64
8.66
8.61
8.62
8.79
8.91
8.97
9.00
7.50
7.37
7.10
6.88
6.81
6.73
6.77
6.72
6.89
6.91
6.83
7.00
6.67
6.41
6.23
6.06
6.02
5.91
6.01
6.04
8.25
8.14
7.87
7.67
7.56
7.66
7.77
7.79
7.77
7.70
9.22
9.33
9.43
9.42
9.50
9.62
9.80
9.81
9.89
9.99
9.66
9.72
9.74
9.80
9.71
9.71
9.80
9.78
9.77
9.84
9.32
9.49
9.53
9.56
9.72
9.91
10.10
10.11
10.38
10.45
9.19
9.13
9.29
9.35
9.55
9.66
9.87
9.99
10.12
10.17
8.87
8.80
9.01
9.14
9.14
9.16
9.47
9.60
9.34
9.39
7.36
7.39
7.38
7.50
7.58
7.44
7.80
7.73
7.86
7.57
19901 ..................................................
1991 ....................................................
1992 ....................................................
1993 ....................................................
19941 ..................................................
1995 ....................................................
1996 ....................................................
19971 ..................................................
19981 ..................................................
19991 ..................................................
9.04
9.15
9.19
9.18
9.15
9.19
9.28
9.33
9.54
9.81
6.95
6.89
6.83
6.79
6.73
6.77
6.82
7.00
7.23
7.50
6.12
6.29
6.20
6.10
6.11
6.09
6.12
6.37
6.70
6.79
7.83
7.73
7.63
7.69
7.55
7.52
7.52
7.70
8.03
8.19
9.93
9.95
10.11
10.14
10.16
10.08
10.13
10.29
10.58
10.82
9.84
9.74
9.84
9.81
9.83
9.76
9.68
9.64
10.19
10.33
10.35
10.48
10.55
10.51
10.65
10.64
10.67
10.75
11.19
11.15
10.05
10.31
10.48
10.54
10.68
10.76
10.73
10.88
11.33
11.30
9.45
9.42
9.51
9.74
9.87
9.78
9.69
9.76
10.25
10.59
7.65
7.80
7.89
7.97
7.88
7.95
7.75
8.02
8.35
8.52
20001 ..................................................
2001 ....................................................
2002 ....................................................
20031 ..................................................
20041 ..................................................
9.94
10.28
10.39
10.35
10.17
7.68
7.73
7.82
7.79
7.71
6.83
7.06
7.14
7.03
6.86
8.55
8.53
8.52
8.41
8.32
10.85
10.89
11.25
11.31
11.23
10.62
10.61
10.63
10.79
10.62
10.99
11.14
11.53
11.47
11.45
11.16
11.58
11.74
12.10
11.95
10.79
11.08
11.36
11.34
11.57
8.62
8.69
9.17
9.08
9.16
Year and sex
BOTH SEXES
WOMEN
See footnotes at end of table.
32
Table 15. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2004) dollars by sex and age, 1979-2004 annual
averages — Continued
16 to 24 years
25 years and over
Total, 16
years and
over
Total
16 to 19
years
20 to 24
years
Total
25 to 34
years
35 to 44
years
45 to 54
years
55 to 64
years
65 years
and over
1979 ....................................................
$13.64
$9.43
$7.71
$11.21
$16.15
$15.39
$17.18
$17.13
$15.89
$8.61
1980 ....................................................
1981 ....................................................
1982 ....................................................
1983 ....................................................
1984 ....................................................
1985 ....................................................
19861 ..................................................
1987 ....................................................
1988 ....................................................
1989 ....................................................
13.24
13.05
12.85
12.46
12.34
12.30
12.50
12.37
12.15
11.92
8.92
8.58
8.21
7.90
7.92
7.86
7.90
7.82
7.73
7.62
7.34
7.25
6.87
6.61
6.45
6.31
6.30
6.30
6.36
6.47
10.69
10.16
9.61
9.09
8.95
8.79
8.94
9.04
8.90
8.87
15.68
15.46
15.15
14.97
14.90
14.84
14.85
14.59
14.40
14.29
15.04
14.57
14.37
13.94
13.66
13.41
13.23
13.15
12.91
12.61
16.96
16.48
16.66
16.59
16.47
16.44
16.45
16.07
15.69
15.59
16.91
16.87
16.65
16.49
16.78
16.72
16.70
16.29
16.42
16.02
15.72
15.66
15.27
15.74
15.35
15.16
15.70
15.46
14.96
14.72
8.24
8.38
8.38
8.56
8.51
8.37
8.54
8.47
8.49
8.69
19901 ..................................................
1991 ....................................................
1992 ....................................................
1993 ....................................................
19941 ..................................................
1995 ....................................................
1996 ....................................................
19971 ..................................................
19981 ..................................................
19991 ..................................................
11.61
11.64
11.45
11.42
11.36
11.38
11.43
11.55
11.65
11.70
7.64
7.56
7.46
7.41
7.42
7.45
7.41
7.58
8.01
8.08
6.52
6.43
6.34
6.28
6.30
6.35
6.31
6.60
6.93
7.02
8.68
8.45
8.25
8.17
8.29
8.41
8.40
8.44
9.01
9.12
13.82
13.51
13.28
13.11
12.99
13.22
12.94
13.04
13.58
13.62
12.40
12.12
11.91
11.72
11.49
11.67
11.64
11.66
11.84
12.30
15.07
14.88
14.44
14.38
14.52
14.65
14.29
14.18
14.45
14.50
15.63
15.85
15.87
15.65
15.27
15.18
14.88
15.03
15.10
15.52
14.28
13.65
13.71
14.12
13.96
13.70
13.38
13.86
14.16
13.86
8.54
8.42
8.53
8.65
8.38
8.45
8.45
8.18
8.97
8.93
20001 ..................................................
2001 ....................................................
2002 ....................................................
20031 ..................................................
20041 ..................................................
11.85
12.08
12.23
12.21
12.02
8.37
8.55
8.46
8.36
8.21
7.29
7.37
7.38
7.21
7.15
9.20
9.52
9.32
9.24
9.07
13.42
13.75
13.71
13.60
13.74
12.03
12.35
12.49
12.33
12.03
14.41
14.86
14.66
14.51
14.60
15.24
15.21
15.13
15.33
15.11
14.05
13.82
14.05
14.46
14.54
9.11
9.61
10.27
10.05
9.90
1979 ....................................................
64.0
81.7
94.9
75.8
58.3
63.4
55.8
54.1
57.0
87.7
1980 ....................................................
1981 ....................................................
1982 ....................................................
1983 ....................................................
1984 ....................................................
1985 ....................................................
19861 ..................................................
1987 ....................................................
1988 ....................................................
1989 ....................................................
64.9
65.2
67.3
69.5
69.8
70.1
70.3
72.0
73.9
75.5
84.1
86.0
86.5
87.1
86.0
85.7
85.8
86.0
89.1
90.8
93.1
96.6
97.1
96.9
96.6
96.1
95.5
93.7
94.4
93.4
77.2
80.2
81.8
84.4
84.5
87.2
86.9
86.2
87.3
86.9
58.8
60.3
62.2
63.0
63.8
64.8
66.0
67.3
68.7
69.9
64.2
66.7
67.8
70.3
71.1
72.4
74.1
74.4
75.7
78.1
54.9
57.6
57.2
57.6
59.0
60.3
61.4
62.9
66.2
67.0
54.4
54.1
55.8
56.7
56.9
57.8
59.1
61.4
61.6
63.5
56.4
56.2
59.0
58.0
59.5
60.4
60.3
62.1
62.5
63.8
89.3
88.1
88.1
87.6
89.1
88.9
91.3
91.2
92.6
87.2
19901 ..................................................
1991 ....................................................
1992 ....................................................
1993 ....................................................
19941 ..................................................
1995 ....................................................
1996 ....................................................
19971 ..................................................
19981 ..................................................
19991 ..................................................
77.9
78.6
80.2
80.4
80.6
80.8
81.2
80.8
81.8
83.8
91.0
91.2
91.4
91.6
90.6
90.9
92.0
92.3
90.3
92.7
93.8
97.8
97.7
97.2
97.0
96.0
96.9
96.6
96.7
96.7
90.2
91.6
92.5
94.1
91.1
89.4
89.5
91.3
89.1
89.8
71.9
73.6
76.1
77.3
78.2
76.2
78.3
78.9
77.9
79.4
79.4
80.4
82.6
83.7
85.5
83.7
83.1
82.7
86.1
84.0
68.7
70.4
73.1
73.1
73.4
72.6
74.7
75.8
77.4
76.9
64.3
65.0
66.0
67.3
69.9
70.9
72.1
72.4
75.0
72.8
66.2
69.0
69.4
69.0
70.7
71.4
72.4
70.5
72.4
76.4
89.6
92.6
92.5
92.2
94.0
94.1
91.7
98.1
93.1
95.4
20001 ..................................................
2001 ....................................................
2002 ....................................................
20031 ..................................................
20041 ..................................................
83.9
85.1
85.0
84.8
84.6
91.8
90.5
92.5
93.2
93.9
93.8
95.8
96.8
97.6
95.9
92.9
89.6
91.4
91.1
91.7
80.8
79.2
82.1
83.1
81.7
88.3
85.9
85.1
87.6
88.3
76.3
75.0
78.6
79.0
78.4
73.2
76.2
77.6
79.0
79.1
76.8
80.2
80.8
78.4
79.6
94.6
90.4
89.2
90.4
92.5
Year and sex
MEN
WOMEN’S EARNINGS
AS PERCENT OF MEN’S 2
1 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at
various times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current
Population Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory Notes and
Estimates of Error section of the February 2005 and subsequent issues of
Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS periodical.
2 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ
slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this
table.
NOTE: The Consumer Price Index research series using current methods
(CPI-U-RS) is used to convert current dollars to constant dollars. See
Technical Note.
33
Table 16. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2004) dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or
Latino ethnicity, 1979-2004 annual averages
Total, 16 years
and over
White
Black or African
American
Asian
Hispanic or
Latino
1979 ................................................................................
$10.72
$10.88
$9.92
–
$9.85
1980 ................................................................................
1981 ................................................................................
1982 ................................................................................
1983 ................................................................................
1984 ................................................................................
1985 ................................................................................
19861 ..............................................................................
1987 ................................................................................
1988 ................................................................................
1989 ................................................................................
10.49
10.24
10.13
10.08
10.10
10.12
10.22
10.30
10.33
10.30
10.60
10.31
10.26
10.21
10.22
10.24
10.34
10.45
10.46
10.43
9.66
9.75
9.50
9.27
9.30
9.23
9.56
9.54
9.45
9.46
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
9.65
9.56
9.40
9.17
9.14
9.18
9.31
9.27
9.14
8.95
19901 ..............................................................................
1991 ................................................................................
1992 ................................................................................
1993 ................................................................................
19941 ..............................................................................
1995 ................................................................................
1996 ................................................................................
19971 ..............................................................................
19981 ..............................................................................
19991 ..............................................................................
10.16
10.17
10.20
10.14
10.12
10.07
10.08
10.28
10.55
10.82
10.30
10.31
10.33
10.27
10.24
10.25
10.29
10.44
10.68
11.05
9.56
9.48
9.33
9.25
9.21
9.45
9.31
9.41
9.72
10.04
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
8.82
8.76
8.78
8.80
8.75
8.64
8.61
8.69
9.18
9.17
20001 ..............................................................................
2001 ................................................................................
2002 ................................................................................
20031 ..............................................................................
20041 ..............................................................................
10.86
10.87
11.00
11.14
11.00
10.92
10.94
11.25
11.26
11.13
10.24
10.44
10.43
10.42
10.19
$11.04
11.47
10.88
11.41
11.10
9.36
9.67
9.69
10.02
9.81
1979 ................................................................................
8.74
8.75
8.57
–
8.31
1980 ................................................................................
1981 ................................................................................
1982 ................................................................................
1983 ................................................................................
1984 ................................................................................
1985 ................................................................................
19861 ..............................................................................
1987 ................................................................................
1988 ................................................................................
1989 ................................................................................
8.60
8.50
8.64
8.66
8.61
8.62
8.79
8.91
8.97
9.00
8.61
8.52
8.66
8.66
8.63
8.63
8.82
8.94
9.01
9.03
8.44
8.34
8.43
8.50
8.45
8.46
8.52
8.61
8.63
8.66
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
8.22
8.16
8.14
7.97
8.07
8.10
8.24
8.14
8.11
8.15
19901 ..............................................................................
1991 ................................................................................
1992 ................................................................................
1993 ................................................................................
19941 ..............................................................................
1995 ................................................................................
1996 ................................................................................
19971 ..............................................................................
19981 ..............................................................................
19991 ..............................................................................
9.04
9.15
9.19
9.18
9.15
9.19
9.28
9.33
9.54
9.81
9.08
9.17
9.24
9.22
9.27
9.30
9.35
9.40
9.66
9.91
8.75
8.88
8.77
8.86
8.75
8.78
8.64
8.91
9.15
9.23
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
8.15
8.11
8.16
8.14
8.09
8.14
8.13
8.01
8.36
8.47
20001 ..............................................................................
2001 ................................................................................
2002 ................................................................................
20031 ..............................................................................
20041 ..............................................................................
9.94
10.28
10.39
10.35
10.17
9.97
10.39
10.44
10.38
10.21
9.71
9.77
9.93
10.17
9.93
10.72
10.74
10.61
10.97
10.57
8.66
8.84
8.97
9.12
9.04
Year and sex
BOTH SEXES
WOMEN
See footnotes on page 36.
34
Table 16. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2004) dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or
Latino ethnicity, 1979-2004 annual averages— Continued
Total, 16 years
and over
White
Black or African
American
Asian
Hispanic or
Latino
1979 ................................................................................
$13.64
$13.98
$11.80
–
$11.57
1980 ................................................................................
1981 ................................................................................
1982 ................................................................................
1983 ................................................................................
1984 ................................................................................
1985 ................................................................................
19861 ..............................................................................
1987 ................................................................................
1988 ................................................................................
1989 ................................................................................
13.24
13.05
12.85
12.46
12.34
12.30
12.50
12.37
12.15
11.92
13.53
13.34
13.09
12.73
12.58
12.72
12.82
12.63
12.37
12.20
11.26
11.54
11.21
10.73
10.67
10.31
10.82
10.73
10.66
10.42
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
10.93
10.67
10.75
10.47
10.46
10.18
10.20
10.14
9.99
9.81
19901 ..............................................................................
1991 ................................................................................
1992 ................................................................................
1993 ................................................................................
19941 ..............................................................................
1995 ................................................................................
1996 ................................................................................
19971 ..............................................................................
19981 ..............................................................................
19991 ..............................................................................
11.61
11.64
11.45
11.42
11.36
11.38
11.43
11.55
11.65
11.70
12.01
11.95
11.74
11.69
11.62
11.86
11.75
11.70
11.79
12.05
10.35
10.26
10.07
9.88
10.00
10.06
9.82
10.19
10.53
11.09
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
9.47
9.33
9.23
9.18
9.05
8.95
9.15
9.28
9.55
9.78
20001 ..............................................................................
2001 ................................................................................
2002 ................................................................................
20031 ..............................................................................
20041 ..............................................................................
11.85
12.08
12.23
12.21
12.02
12.01
12.39
12.46
12.35
12.16
10.94
10.86
10.75
11.10
10.88
$11.83
12.64
11.58
12.21
11.90
9.91
10.32
10.42
10.30
10.02
1979 ................................................................................
64.0
62.6
72.6
–
71.8
1980 ................................................................................
1981 ................................................................................
1982 ................................................................................
1983 ................................................................................
1984 ................................................................................
1985 ................................................................................
19861 ..............................................................................
1987 ................................................................................
1988 ................................................................................
1989 ................................................................................
64.9
65.2
67.3
69.5
69.8
70.1
70.3
72.0
73.9
75.5
63.6
63.9
66.1
68.1
68.6
67.8
68.8
70.8
72.8
74.1
75.0
72.2
75.3
79.3
79.2
82.0
78.8
80.2
80.9
83.2
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
75.2
76.4
75.7
76.1
77.1
79.5
80.8
80.3
81.2
83.1
19901 ..............................................................................
1991 ................................................................................
1992 ................................................................................
1993 ................................................................................
19941 ..............................................................................
1995 ................................................................................
1996 ................................................................................
19971 ..............................................................................
19981 ..............................................................................
19991 ..............................................................................
77.9
78.6
80.2
80.4
80.6
80.8
81.2
80.8
81.8
83.8
75.6
76.7
78.7
78.9
79.7
78.4
79.6
80.3
81.9
82.3
84.5
86.6
87.2
89.6
87.5
87.3
88.0
87.5
86.9
83.2
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
86.1
86.9
88.4
88.7
89.3
90.9
88.9
86.3
87.5
86.7
20001 ..............................................................................
2001 ................................................................................
2002 ................................................................................
20031 ..............................................................................
20041 ..............................................................................
83.9
85.1
85.0
84.8
84.6
83.0
83.9
83.8
84.1
84.0
88.7
89.9
92.3
91.6
91.3
90.6
85.0
91.7
89.8
88.8
87.4
85.7
86.1
88.5
90.2
Year and sex
MEN
WOMEN’S EARNINGS
AS PERCENT OF MEN’S 2
See footnotes on page 36.
35
1 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at
various times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current
Population Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory
Notes and Estimates of Error section of the February 2005 and
subsequent issues of Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS
periodical.
2 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may
differ slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians
displayed in this table.
– Data not available.
NOTE: Beginning in 2003, estimates for the above race groups
(white, black or African American, and Asian) include persons who
selected this race group only; persons who selected more than one race
group are not included. Prior to 2003, persons who reported more than
one race were included in the group they identified as the main race.
Estimates for the race groups will not sum to totals because data are not
presented for all races. 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. Data for 2000-02 are for the category
Asians and Pacific Islanders. Starting in 2003, Asians constitute a
separate category. For more information, see the Explanatory Notes
and Estimates of Error section of Employment and Earnings. Data for
Asians were not tabulated prior to 2000. The Consumer Price Index
research series using current methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert
current dollars to constant dollars. See Technical Note.
36
Table 17. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by sex,
1979-2004 annual averages
(Numbers in thousands)
Workers paid hourly rates
Year and sex
Total
wage and
salary
workers
Total
Percent of
total wage
and salary
workers
Total at or below
prevailing Federal
minimum wage
Below
prevailing
Federal
minimum
wage
At
prevailing
Federal
minimum
wage
Number
Percent
of hourly
paid
workers
BOTH SEXES
1979 ................................................................................
87,529
51,721
59.1
2,916
3,997
6,912
13.4
1980 ................................................................................
1981 ................................................................................
1982 ................................................................................
1983 ................................................................................
1984 ................................................................................
1985 ................................................................................
19861 ..............................................................................
1987 ................................................................................
1988 ................................................................................
1989 ................................................................................
87,644
88,516
87,368
88,290
92,194
94,521
96,903
99,303
101,407
103,480
51,335
51,869
50,846
51,820
54,143
55,762
57,529
59,552
60,878
62,389
58.6
58.6
58.2
58.7
58.7
59.0
59.4
60.0
60.0
60.3
3,087
3,513
2,348
2,077
1,838
1,639
1,599
1,468
1,319
1,372
4,686
4,311
4,148
4,261
4,125
3,899
3,461
3,229
2,608
1,790
7,773
7,824
6,496
6,338
5,963
5,538
5,060
4,698
3,927
3,162
15.1
15.1
12.8
12.2
11.0
9.9
8.8
7.9
6.5
5.1
19901 ..............................................................................
1991 ................................................................................
1992 ................................................................................
1993 ................................................................................
19941 ..............................................................................
1995 ................................................................................
1996 ................................................................................
19971 ..............................................................................
19981 ..............................................................................
19991 ..............................................................................
104,876
103,723
104,668
106,101
107,989
110,038
111,960
114,533
116,730
118,963
63,172
62,627
63,610
64,274
66,549
68,354
69,255
70,735
71,440
72,306
60.2
60.4
60.8
60.6
61.6
62.1
61.9
61.8
61.2
60.8
20001 ..............................................................................
2001 ................................................................................
2002 ................................................................................
20031 ..............................................................................
20041 ..............................................................................
122,089
122,229
121,826
122,358
123,554
73,496
73,392
72,508
72,946
73,939
60.2
60.0
59.5
59.6
59.8
1,752
1,518
1,579
1,555
1,483
898
656
567
545
520
2,650
2,174
2,146
2,100
2,003
3.6
3.0
3.0
2.9
2.7
1979 ................................................................................
38,129
23,329
61.2
2,070
2,644
4,714
20.2
1980 ................................................................................
1981 ................................................................................
1982 ................................................................................
1983 ................................................................................
1984 ................................................................................
1985 ................................................................................
19861 ..............................................................................
1987 ................................................................................
1988 ................................................................................
1989 ................................................................................
38,944
39,672
39,777
40,433
42,172
43,506
44,961
46,365
47,495
48,691
23,626
24,294
24,365
24,989
26,003
26,869
27,863
29,078
29,820
30,702
60.7
61.2
61.3
61.8
61.7
61.8
62.0
62.7
62.8
63.1
2,104
2,394
1,651
1,492
1,348
1,198
1,192
1,105
1,008
994
2,990
2,778
2,561
2,603
2,499
2,356
2,125
1,946
1,542
1,056
5,095
5,172
4,212
4,095
3,847
3,554
3,317
3,051
2,550
2,050
21.6
21.3
17.3
16.4
14.8
13.2
11.9
10.5
8.6
6.7
19901 ..............................................................................
1991 ................................................................................
1992 ................................................................................
1993 ................................................................................
19941 ..............................................................................
1995 ................................................................................
1996 ................................................................................
19971 ..............................................................................
19981 ..............................................................................
19991 ..............................................................................
49,323
49,105
49,842
50,626
51,419
52,369
53,488
54,708
55,757
57,050
31,069
30,988
31,454
31,937
33,021
33,934
34,418
35,214
35,680
36,233
63.0
63.1
63.1
63.1
64.2
64.8
64.3
64.4
64.0
63.5
20001 ..............................................................................
2001 ................................................................................
2002 ................................................................................
20031 ..............................................................................
20041 ..............................................................................
58,427
58,582
58,555
59,122
59,408
36,777
36,848
36,508
37,093
37,133
62.9
62.9
62.3
62.7
62.5
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2,132
2,377
1,939
1,707
1,995
1,699
2 1,863
2 2,990
2,834
2,194
1,096
2,906
2,982
2,625
2,132
1,956
2 1,861
2 1,764
1,593
1,146
3,228
5,283
4,921
4,332
4,128
3,656
2 3,724
2 4,754
4,427
3,340
5.1
8.4
7.7
6.7
6.2
5.3
2 5.4
2 6.7
6.2
4.6
WOMEN
See footnotes at end of table.
37
2
1,420
1,582
1,286
1,133
1,322
1,157
2 1,244
2 1,843
1,794
1,426
2
1,170
1,021
997
1,062
1,013
2 711
1,792
1,751
1,534
1,241
1,161
2 1,106
2 1,092
965
700
2
579
409
350
332
310
2
2,131
3,374
3,036
2,667
2,563
2,318
2 2,350
2 2,935
2,760
2,126
2
1,748
1,430
1,347
1,394
1,323
2
2
6.9
10.9
9.7
8.4
7.8
6.8
2 6.8
2 8.3
7.7
5.9
4.8
3.9
3.7
3.8
3.6
Table 17. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by sex,
1979-2004 annual averages— Continued
(Numbers in thousands)
Workers paid hourly rates
Year and sex
Total
wage and
salary
workers
Total
Percent of
total wage
and salary
workers
Below
prevailing
Federal
minimum
wage
Total at or below
prevailing Federal
minimum wage
At
prevailing
Federal
minimum
wage
Number
Percent
of hourly
paid
workers
MEN
1979 ................................................................................
49,400
28,392
57.5
846
1,353
2,199
7.7
1980 ................................................................................
1981 ................................................................................
1982 ................................................................................
1983 ................................................................................
1984 ................................................................................
1985 ................................................................................
19861 ..............................................................................
1987 ................................................................................
1988 ................................................................................
1989 ................................................................................
48,700
48,844
47,591
47,856
50,022
51,015
51,942
52,938
53,912
54,789
27,709
27,576
26,481
26,831
28,140
28,893
29,666
30,474
31,058
31,687
56.9
56.5
55.6
56.1
56.3
56.6
57.1
57.6
57.6
57.8
983
1,119
697
585
490
440
408
364
311
379
1,696
1,533
1,587
1,658
1,626
1,544
1,336
1,283
1,066
733
2,678
2,652
2,284
2,243
2,116
1,984
1,743
1,647
1,377
1,112
9.7
9.6
8.6
8.4
7.5
6.9
5.9
5.4
4.4
3.5
19901 ..............................................................................
1991 ................................................................................
1992 ................................................................................
1993 ................................................................................
19941 ..............................................................................
1995 ................................................................................
1996 ................................................................................
19971 ..............................................................................
19981 ..............................................................................
19991 ..............................................................................
55,553
54,618
54,826
55,475
56,570
57,669
58,473
59,825
60,973
61,914
32,104
31,639
32,155
32,337
33,528
34,420
34,838
35,521
35,761
36,073
57.8
57.9
58.6
58.3
59.3
59.7
59.6
59.4
58.7
58.3
712
795
653
573
674
542
2 619
2 1,147
1,039
768
20001 ..............................................................................
2001 ................................................................................
2002 ................................................................................
20031 ..............................................................................
20041 ..............................................................................
63,662
63,647
63,272
63,236
64,145
36,720
36,544
36,000
35,853
36,806
57.7
57.4
56.9
56.7
57.4
582
497
582
493
470
1 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at
various times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current
Population Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory Notes and
Estimates of Error section of the February 2005 and subsequent issues of
Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS periodical.
2 Data for 1990-91 and 1996-97 reflect changes in the minimum wage that
2
2
2
2 385
1,114
1,231
1,091
891
796
2 755
2 673
628
446
319
247
217
213
210
2
2
2
2
1,097
1,909
1,885
1,664
1,565
1,338
2 1,374
2 1,820
1,667
1,214
901
745
799
706
680
3.4
6.0
5.9
5.1
4.7
3.9
2 3.9
2 5.1
4.7
3.4
2.5
2.0
2.2
2.0
1.8
took place in those years.
NOTE: The prevailing Federal minimum wage was $2.90 in 1979, $3.10 in
1980, and $3.35 in 1981-89. The minimum wage rose to $3.80 in April 1990,
to $4.25 in April 1991, to $4.75 in October 1996, and to $5.15 in September
1997. See Technical Note for more information about minimum wage
workers.
38
Technical Note
T
he estimates in this report were obtained from the Current Population Survey (CPS), which provides a wide
range of information on the labor force, employment, and
unemployment. The survey is conducted monthly for the
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) by the U.S. Census Bureau
using a 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-fourth of the CPS
monthly sample.
Material in this report is in the public domain and, with
appropriate credit, may be used without permission. This
information is available to sensory-impaired individuals on
request. Voice telephone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay
Service: 1-800-877-8339.
culated weekly earnings value into a $50-wide interval that is
centered on a multiple of $50. The actual value of the median
is estimated through the linear interpolation of the interval in
which the median lies.
Over-the-year changes in the medians (and 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:
• There could be a change in the relative weights of the
subgroups. For example, the medians of both 16- to 24-yearolds and those 25 years and older may rise, but if the lower
earning 16-to-24 age group accounts for a greatly increased
share of the total, the overall median could actually fall.
Concepts and definitions
The principal concepts and definitions used in connection
with the earnings data in this report are described below.
• 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, for example, $250, $300,
or $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. For example, medians
measure the central tendency of a multipeaked distribution
that shifts over time. As the distribution shifts, the median
does not necessarily move at the same rate. Specifically, the
median takes relatively more time to move through a frequently reported interval but, once above the upper limit of
such an interval, it can move relatively quickly to the next
frequently reported earnings interval. BLS procedures for
estimating medians (and other quantile boundaries) mitigate
such irregular movements of the measures; however, users
should be cautious of these effects when evaluating shortterm changes in the medians and in ratios of the medians.
Usual weekly earnings. Data are collected on wages and
salaries before taxes and other deductions and include any
overtime pay, commissions, or tips usually received (at the
principal job in the case of multiple jobholders). Self-employed workers are excluded, regardless of whether their
businesses are incorporated. 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 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 of the
weeks worked during the past 4 or 5 months.
Constant dollars. The Consumer Price Index research series
using current methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert current
dollars to constant dollars. BLS has made numerous improvements to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) over the past
quarter-century. Although these improvements make the
CPI more accurate, historical price index series are not adjusted to reflect the improvements. For a historical series
that measures price change consistently over the entire period, the CPI-U-RS provides an estimate of the CPI incorporating most of the methodological improvements made since
1978 into the entire series. For more information, see “CPI
research series using current methods, 1978-98” by Kenneth
J. Stewart and Stephen B. Reed, Monthly Labor Review, June
1999, pp. 29-38; and “Questions and Answers: Consumer
Price Index Research Series Using Current Methods” on the
Web at www.bls.gov/cpi/cpirsdc.htm.
Medians (and quantiles) of weekly earnings. Most of the
earnings estimates shown in this report are medians. The
median (or upper limit of the second quartile) is the amount
that 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 workers
in 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 BLS estimating procedure for determining the median of an earnings distribution places each reported or cal39
This report uses the most recent version of the CPI-U-RS
available at the time of production. Users should note, however, that the CPI-U-RS is subject to periodic revision. As a
result, the rate of inflation incorporated into the constantdollar earnings estimates in this report may differ from that in
previous reports in this series or in other publications.
The prevailing Federal minimum wage was $2.90 effective
January 1979, $3.10 effective January 1980, $3.35 effective
January 1981, $3.80 effective April 1990, $4.25 effective April
1991, $4.75 effective October 1996, and $5.15 effective September 1997. Data for 1990-91 and 1996-97 in table 17 reflect
changes in the minimum wage during those years.
The presence of workers with hourly earnings below the
minimum wage does not necessarily indicate violations of
the Fair Labor Standards Act, as there are exemptions to the
minimum wage provisions of the law. In addition, some workers might have rounded their hourly earnings to the nearest
dollar in response to survey questions. As a result, some
might have been reported with hourly earnings below the
minimum wage when, in fact, they earned the minimum wage
or higher. This may be more likely to occur in years during
which the minimum wage level is just above a whole dollar
value, as has been the case since September 1997 ($5.15).
Wage and salary workers. These are workers who receive
wages, salaries, commissions, tips, payment in kind, or piece
rates. The group includes employees in both private and
public sectors but, for purposes of the earnings series, excludes all self-employed persons, 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 are defined as
working full time for estimates of earnings.
Reliability
Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and
nonsampling error. When a sample, rather than an entire
population, is surveyed, 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
generally are conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.
Estimates of earnings and their standard errors can be used
to construct approximate confidence intervals, or ranges of
values that include the true population value with known
probabilities.
The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling 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 data collection or processing.
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, on the BLS Web site at www.bls.gov/cps/
eetech_methods.pdf.
Part-time workers. Workers who usually work fewer than 35
hours per week at their sole or principal job are defined as
working part time for estimates of earnings.
Workers paid by the hour. Workers who are paid an hourly
wage make up approximately three-fifths of all wage and salary workers. Workers paid by the hour are, therefore, included in the full- and part-time worker tables in this report,
along with salaried workers and other workers not paid by
the hour. (Data for workers paid at hourly rates are presented separately in tables 9 to 11 and 15 to 17.)
Workers paid at or below the Federal minimum wage. The
estimates of the number of workers with reported earnings at
or below the Federal minimum wage in tables 11 and 17 pertain only to workers who are paid hourly rates. Salaried
workers and other workers who are not paid by the hour are
not included, even though some have earnings that, when
converted to hourly rates, are at or below the minimum wage.
Consequently, the estimates presented in this report likely
understate the actual number of workers with hourly earnings at or below the minimum wage. Research has shown,
however, that the degree of understatement is small. BLS
does not routinely estimate hourly earnings for workers not
paid by the hour because of data quality concerns associated with such an estimation process.
40