Highlights of Women’s
Earnings in 2005
U.S. Department of Labor
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
September 2006
Report 995
I
year-olds, for example, rose from 58 percent in 1979 to
76 percent in 2005, and the ratio for 45- to 54-year-olds
rose from 57 percent in 1979 to 75 percent 26 years later.
The earnings ratios for teenagers and for workers aged
65 and older, however, showed no consistent pattern
over the period. (See table 12.)
n 2005, women who were full-time wage and
salary workers had median weekly earnings of $585,
or 81 percent of the $722 median for their male
counterparts. (See chart 1.) This ratio has grown since 1979,
the first year comparable earnings data were available; that
year, women earned about 63 percent as much as men did.
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 U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics. Information on earnings is collected from onefourth 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, see the Technical Note.
Highlights
Following are some highlights of women’s and men’s
earnings in 2005.
•
Asian workers of both sexes earned more than their
white, black, and Hispanic counterparts did in 2005.
Asian women’s median weekly earnings ($665) were 12
percent higher than white women’s earnings ($596), 33
percent greater than black women’s earnings ($499),
and 55 percent higher than Hispanic women’s earnings
($429). In comparison, Asian men’s earnings ($825) were
11 percent higher than the earnings of white men ($743),
48 percent greater than the earnings of black men ($559),
and 69 percent higher than those of Hispanic men ($489).
(See tables 1 and 13 and chart 2.)
•
Earnings differences between women and men in 2005
were widest for whites and for Asians. Asian women
earned about 81 percent as much as Asian men did, and
white women earned 80 percent as much as white men
did. Both black women (89 percent) and Hispanic women
(88 percent) had earnings that were closer to those of
their male counterparts. (See table 1.)
•
Growth in earnings for white women has outpaced that
of their black and Hispanic counterparts. Between 1979
and 2005, inflation-adjusted earnings for white women
grew fairly steadily, rising by 30 percent. Earnings
growth over the period among black and Hispanic
women was 18 percent and 9 percent, respectively. In
contrast, real earnings for white and for black men in
2005 were about the same as in 1979, while those for
Hispanic men fell by 11 percent. (See table 13.)
•
Median weekly earnings varied significantly by level
of education. Among women, those with less than a
high school diploma earned $341 per week in 2005,
compared with $883 for those with a college degree.
Among men, high school dropouts had earnings of $455
a week, compared with $1,167 for college graduates.
(See tables 1 and 6.)
Full-time workers
•
•
•
Median weekly earnings were highest for women and
men aged 45 to 64. Among women, 45- to 54-year-olds
had median weekly earnings of $644, little different than
the $639 median for 55- to 64-year-olds. Among men,
median weekly earnings also were about the same for
those aged 45 to 54 ($853) as for those aged 55 to 64
($855). (See table 1.)
The difference between women’s and men’s earnings
was much larger among middle-aged and older workers
than among younger workers. For instance, among
workers aged 45 to 54, women earned 75 percent as
much as men. By comparison, among workers 25 to 34
years old, women earned 89 percent as much as men,
and among 16- to 24-year-olds, the earnings ratio rose
to 93 percent. (See table 1.)
Between 1979 and 2005, 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-
1
•
•
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 was
significantly less than that for men—10 percent versus
28 percent. Earnings for women with college degrees
have increased by 34 percent since 1979 on an inflationadjusted basis, while earnings of male college graduates
have risen by 18 percent. (See table 14 and chart 3.)
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 24 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.)
Part-time workers
Women working full time in management, business, and
financial operations occupations earned $847 per week
in 2005. 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 $792 per week. In
management, business, and finance, the highest paying
occupations for women were chief executives, computer
and information systems managers, medical and health
services managers, human resources managers,
marketing and sales managers, management analysts,
and education administrators. Among those with
professional and related occupations, women working
as pharmacists, lawyers, computer software engineers,
physicians and surgeons, computer programmers, and
physical therapists had the highest median weekly
earnings. (See table 2.)
•
Women are more likely than men to work part time—
that is, fewer than 35 hours per week. Women who
worked part time made up one-fourth of all female wage
and salary workers in 2005. In contrast, just 11 percent
of men in wage and salary jobs worked part time. These
proportions have not changed much over time. (See
tables 4 and 5.)
•
Median weekly earnings of female part-time workers
were $206, compared with $190 for male part-time
workers. 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
less than a third of female part-timers. (See tables 4 and
5.)
Workers paid by the hour
•
•
•
Women and men tend to work in different managerial
and professional occupations. In 2005, among
professional and related occupations, for example,
women were much less likely than men to be employed
in some of the highest paying fields, such as engineering
and computer and mathematical occupations. Instead,
women were more likely to work in lower paying
professional occupations, such as education, training,
and library occupations. (See table 2.)
The ratio of female-to-male earnings varied by place of
residence, from a high of 90.1 percent in California to a
low of 63.1 percent in Wyoming. The differences among
the States reflect, in part, variation 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,
comparisons of State estimates should be made with
care. (See table 3.)
Just 6 percent of women earned $1,500 or more per week,
compared with 14 percent of men. Not surprisingly,
given their higher earnings overall, Asian women were
2
•
About 63 percent of women and 58 percent of men
employed in wage and salary jobs were paid by the
hour in 2005. Women who were paid hourly rates had
median hourly earnings of $10.31. This was 85 percent
of the median for men paid by the hour ($12.16). (See
tables 5, 9, 10, 15, and 16.)
•
Among women who were paid hourly rates in 2005,
about 3 percent had hourly earnings at or below the
prevailing Federal minimum wage of $5.15 an hour. This
compares with 2 percent of men who were paid by the
hour. (See tables 11 and 17. Also see the Technical
Note for information about workers with earnings below
the Federal minimum wage.)
•
Workers paid hourly rates who were aged 16 to 19 were
the most likely to have earnings at or below the minimum
wage. About 9 percent of teenage workers paid by the
hour earned the minimum wage or less, compared with
less than 2 percent of their counterparts aged 25 and
older. Among those aged 20 to 24, about 5 percent had
earnings at or below the minimum wage. (See table 11
and chart 4.)
Chart 1.
Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant
(2005) dollars by sex, 1979—2005 annual averages
Percent
Earnings (dollars)
100
750
Men's earnings
95
700
90
650
85
Women's earnings as a percent of men's
80
600
75
550
70
65
500
60
Women's earnings
450
55
50
400
1979
Chart 2.
1990
1985
1995
2005
2000
Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex, race,
and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2005 annual averages
Earnings (dollars)
1,000
Earnings (dollars)
1,000
Women
Men
825
800
800
743
722
665
600
585
596
600
559
499
489
429
400
400
200
200
0
Total
White
Black or
African
American
3
Asian
Hispanic
or
Latino
0
Chart 3.
Change in median usual weekly earnings from 1979 to 2005 by educational
attainment and sex
Highest educational level
Bachelor's
degree and
higher
Women
Men
Some college or
associate degree
High school,
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,
2005 annual averages
Percent
Percent
15
15
11.1
10
10
6.4
5
5
3.3
3.4
3.0
1.8
0
Total
16 to 19
20 to 24
25 to 34
35 to 44
Years
NOTE: Data relate to female wage and salary workers paid hourly rates.
4
1.3
1.3
45 to 54
55 to 64
65 and older
0
Statistical Tables
Page
0
1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics,
2005 annual averages .............................................................................................................................................
7
2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex,
2005 annual averages .............................................................................................................................................
8
3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by State and sex, 2005 annual averages ....
15
4. Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics,
2005 annual averages .............................................................................................................................................
16
5. Median usual weekly earnings of wage and salary workers by hours usually worked and sex,
2005 annual averages ............................................................................................................................................
17
6. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by
selected characteristics, 2005 annual averages ......................................................................................................
18
7. Distribution of full-time wage and salary workers by usual weekly earnings and selected characteristics,
2005 annual averages .............................................................................................................................................
19
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, 2005 annual averages .............................................................................
20
9. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, by selected characteristics,
2005 annual averages .............................................................................................................................................
21
10. Distribution of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, by hourly earnings and selected characteristics,
2005 annual averages .............................................................................................................................................
22
11. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage
by selected characteristics, 2005 annual averages .................................................................................................
23
12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2005) dollars by sex and
age, 1979-2005 annual averages .............................................................................................................................
25
13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2005) dollars by sex, race,
and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2005 annual averages ...............................................................................
27
14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and older in constant (2005)
dollars by sex and educational attainment, 1979-2005 annual averages ................................................................
30
15. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2005) dollars by sex and
age, 1979-2005 annual averages .............................................................................................................................
32
16. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2005) dollars by sex,
race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2005 annual averages .......................................................................
34
17. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage
by sex, 1979-2005 annual averages .........................................................................................................................
37
5
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6
Table 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2005 annual averages
Both sexes
Women
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
weekly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
Total, 16 years and older...............
16 to 24 years......................................
16 to 19 years...................................
20 to 24 years...................................
25 years and older...............................
25 to 34 years...................................
35 to 44 years...................................
45 to 54 years...................................
55 to 64 years...................................
65 years and older............................
103,560
11,108
1,699
9,409
92,453
25,013
27,103
25,650
12,774
1,913
$651
397
318
411
696
610
731
748
742
569
$2
2
3
2
2
2
3
3
4
13
RACE AND HISPANIC OR
LATINO ETHNICITY
White....................................................
Black or African American....................
Asian....................................................
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity..................
84,110
12,388
4,651
14,673
672
520
753
471
26,750
59,249
17,561
11,823
4,135
1,603
Characteristic
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Men
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Women's
earnings
as
percent
Median
weekly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
45,154
4,711
694
4,018
40,443
10,400
11,563
11,814
5,854
812
$585
381
304
396
612
573
621
644
639
492
$2
3
4
3
2
4
4
5
7
12
58,406
6,396
1,005
5,391
52,010
14,612
15,540
13,836
6,920
1,102
$722
409
330
422
771
644
822
853
855
644
$2
2
6
3
3
4
6
6
9
28
81.0
93.2
92.1
94.0
79.4
89.1
75.6
75.4
74.7
76.4
2
3
8
3
35,538
6,472
2,054
5,241
596
499
665
429
2
4
12
5
48,572
5,916
2,597
9,433
743
559
825
489
3
8
14
3
80.2
89.2
80.6
87.7
515
737
616
652
519
555
2
2
3
4
5
16
11,514
23,507
10,133
6,901
2,019
1,213
505
619
577
605
493
515
3
2
4
4
7
8
15,236
35,742
7,428
4,923
2,116
390
522
827
684
729
573
668
3
4
6
8
14
28
96.7
74.9
84.4
83.1
86.1
77.1
14,207
15,551
88,010
801
795
622
5
5
2
5,761
6,442
38,712
731
726
559
5
5
3
8,446
9,109
49,297
857
855
692
6
6
3
85.3
84.9
80.7
92,453
8,861
27,514
25,471
30,607
696
409
583
670
1,013
2
2
2
3
4
40,443
2,878
11,517
12,103
13,944
612
341
493
587
883
2
3
2
3
5
52,010
5,983
15,997
13,368
16,662
771
455
652
766
1,167
3
4
3
4
6
79.4
75.1
75.6
76.6
75.7
Median
weekly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
of men's ¹
AGE
MARITAL STATUS
Never married......................................
Married, spouse present......................
Other marital status..............................
Divorced............................................
Separated.........................................
Widowed...........................................
UNION AFFILIATION
2
3
Members of unions ............................
Represented by unions 4 ......................
Not represented by a union..................
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
Total, 25 years and older.....................
Less than a high school diploma......
High school, 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.
to a union, as well as to workers who report no union affiliation but whose jobs are
covered by a union or an employee association contract.
5
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
6
Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
Includes persons with a bachelor's, master's, professional, or 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.
Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar
7
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2005 annual averages
Both sexes
Occupation
Total, 16 years and older............................
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……………………………
Budget analysts………………………
Financial analysts……………………
Personal financial advisors…………
Insurance underwriters………………
Loan counselors and officers………
Tax examiners, collectors, and
revenue agents………………………
Tax preparers…………………………
Professional and related occupations……
Computer and mathematical
occupations……………………………
Computer scientists and systems
analysts………………………………
Computer programmers………………
Women
Median
weekly
earnings
103,560
$651
$2
45,154
$585
$2
58,406
$722
$2
81.0
36,908
937
3
18,597
813
5
18,311
1,113
7
73.0
14,977
10,340
1,043
754
997
1,083
1,834
1,099
6
11
79
38
6,782
4,122
253
226
847
902
1,413
932
6
11
39
38
8,195
6,219
790
528
1,167
1,230
1,903
1,152
9
14
12
17
72.6
73.4
74.3
80.9
66
728
73
870
1,235
978
92
39
79
38
283
22
(²)
28
445
51
1,440
1,104
51
80
326
949
263
295
184
1,428
1,061
1,083
1,123
1,099
45
36
60
48
88
100
503
188
48
72
1,094
853
998
227
446
75
247
112
1,540
1,347
1,357
1,147
1,199
60
39
63
30
79
227
757
25
28
(²)
(²)
200
771
26
(³)
77
430
712
89
594
100
680
1,051
1,114
1,788
651
647
61
30
33
129
19
40
13
30
440
9
249
52
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
26
116
689
1,060
1,289
1,852
740
52
31
80
104
21
(³)
(³)
549
525
65
400
272
80
345
48
432
1,089
36
308
1,026
40
123
1,327
161
77.3
341
724
25
193
662
43
149
803
41
82.4
258
838
29
176
784
71
82
990
188
79.1
4,637
871
8
2,660
778
10
1,976
1,037
17
75.0
153
802
49
75
708
82
77
930
83
76.1
271
785
28
145
710
43
126
912
37
77.9
276
789
42
174
706
25
102
971
45
72.6
128
80
893
941
45
44
57
14
67
71
67
877
961
51
40
105.2
585
288
1,383
791
1,229
887
26
66
16
417
128
855
168
160
529
904
1,362
1,072
41
35
40
84.3
72.1
73.1
74
50
74
270
110
387
832
1,050
1,136
1,134
894
861
44
106
97
27
45
42
32
35
33
83
79
210
(²)
(²)
(²)
42
14
41
188
31
178
(²)
(²)
(²)
72
52
21,931
764
668
902
55
169
4
43
36
11,815
(²)
(²)
2,924
1,132
13
647
524
1,091
1,086
37
43
See footnotes at end of table.
8
Median
weekly
earnings
990
(²)
(²)
939
972
(²)
923
(²)
762
981
784
888
851
786
Standard
error
of
median
(²)
50
(²)
83
16
42
(²)
60
32
(²)
(²)
16
36
17
(²)
(²)
(²)
85
32
39
(²)
(²)
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Women's
earnings
as
percent
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Standard
error
of
median
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Men
Median
weekly
earnings
(²)
(²)
1,239
(²)
977
(²)
(²)
Standard
error
of
median
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
88
(²)
49
(²)
(²)
of men's ¹
(³)
68.7
(³)
71.0
63.3
73.6
(³)
78.3
75.3
(³)
74.2
(³)
(³)
(³)
(³)
(³)
71.7
(³)
80.5
(³)
(³)
792
5
30
16
10,116
760
1,007
21
2,164
1,174
19
85.7
198
133
983
1,014
54
50
449
391
1,140
1,129
25
38
86.3
89.8
1,058
7
74.9
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex,
2005 annual averages—Continued
Both sexes
Occupation
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Computer software engineers………
Computer support specialists………
Database administrators……………
Network and computer
systems administrators……………
Network systems and data
communications analysts…………
Operations research analysts………
Architecture and engineering
occupations……………………………
Architects, except naval………………
Aerospace 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………………………
Musicians, singers, and related
workers………………….……………
Women
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Men
Median
weekly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
165
95
23
$1,174
858
$59
33
(²)
34
34
(²)
1,062
1,252
41
34
59
38
(²)
2,509
176
88
277
72
330
1,105
1,146
1,362
1,138
1,405
1,350
17
32
160
22
283
25
322
42
10
37
5
22
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
185
306
186
1,161
1,262
769
45
25
20
28
18
42
(²)
(²)
(²)
354
98
805
735
21
58
67
2
(²)
1,164
106
125
109
965
890
935
1,128
18
59
82
85
452
49
55
36
87
106
83
85
1,217
997
966
699
67
34
33
39
21
54
50
25
1,797
499
602
725
740
700
10
15
18
1,054
345
473
237
385
1,162
598
662
785
1,052
1,609
34
27
25
54
146
49
638
203
73
311
1,101
740
52
24
30
261
181
715
25
6,066
808
798
1,072
515
Median
weekly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
778
310
82
$1,401
823
1,116
$25
24
37
201
1,058
254
80
952
945
695
837
(²)
938
80.6
106.1
(²)
(²)
166
1,072
42
(³)
195
43
1,082
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
2,187
134
78
239
66
309
1,133
1,147
1,449
1,166
1,524
1,354
12
58
91
22
81
28
(³)
(³)
(³)
(³)
(³)
(²)
(²)
(²)
157
288
144
1,198
1,265
783
46
26
29
(³)
(³)
(³)
287
96
819
742
21
58
(³)
712
56
70
72
1,073
1,000
934
1,241
40
69
91
107
66
52
32
60
1,223
1,138
168
55
701
47
12
16
19
742
154
129
797
788
780
22
52
52
17
90
335
524
395
751
813
1,531
1,748
131
31
85
34
32
(²)
21
68
(²)
27
(²)
175
(²)
608
(²)
846
1,354
84
144
(²)
(²)
19
46
(²)
43
50
(²)
24
144
702
29
37
(²)
8
29
4,405
323
753
924
5
29
1,660
485
521
16
495
520
12
19
2,204
1,037
382
306
163
546
826
878
868
728
829
398
10
15
28
24
44
8
1,801
577
327
187
137
496
813
841
853
657
826
398
9
16
32
23
81
9
403
460
55
120
25
50
1,488
83
500
75
819
868
816
971
17
92
33
80
623
28
218
28
17
123
713
59
51
893
58
9
735
(²)
(²)
737
See footnotes at end of table.
(²)
(²)
(²)
865
54
282
48
21
(²)
(²)
102
13
(²)
(²)
38
(²)
653
of men's ¹
$25
23
309
(²)
683
728
682
Women's
earnings
as
percent
$1,456
809
1,314
(²)
(²)
Standard
Median
error
weekly
of
earnings
median
612
215
58
(²)
898
909
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
(²)
29
769
960
1,173
(²)
909
942
949
803
(²)
32
(²)
(²)
(²)
259
(²)
12
39
(²)
22
21
69
69
(²)
(³)
88.0
(³)
83.4
84.9
78.0
(³)
100.4
(³)
(³)
78.9
(³)
(³)
85.8
92.4
87.5
80.9
(³)
55.3
77.5
(³)
95.8
(³)
78.5
78.8
(³)
89.4
89.3
89.9
81.8
(³)
398
17
100.0
885
989
920
23
147
28
(³)
(²)
749
(²)
(²)
51
(²)
83.0
71.0
(³)
(³)
(³)
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex,
2005 annual averages—Continued
Both sexes
Occupation
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
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……………………
Occupational therapists………………
Physical therapists……………………
Respiratory therapists………………
Speech-language pathologists………
Clinical laboratory technologists
and technicians………………………
Dental hygienists………………………
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…
Women
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
weekly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
62
135
108
70
$866
860
865
887
$98
53
37
161
31
86
59
43
(²)
(²)
64
53
813
721
34
100
6
19
(²)
(²)
4,821
51
185
562
52
1,805
59
117
80
68
878
666
1,557
1,547
1,155
935
996
1,036
854
933
8
154
38
44
89
11
41
81
44
45
3,560
47
89
187
26
1,654
55
74
46
60
279
53
750
895
22
35
197
49
212
873
40
145
144
658
49
34
290
504
13
237
503
401
625
13
369
Median
weekly
earnings
$817
794
834
(²)
1,483
1,134
(²)
930
983
1,014
(²)
914
725
(²)
789
Men
Standard
error
of
median
(²)
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
(²)
31
49
49
27
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
59
34
(²)
$78
60
9
(²)
112
88
(²)
10
39
28
(²)
32
27
(²)
82
3
1,043
(²)
1,597
1,862
(²)
1,011
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
836
(²)
$38
(²)
30
(²)
79
150
(²)
50
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
47
(²)
of men's ¹
(³)
(³)
(³)
(³)
(³)
(³)
79.9
(³)
92.9
60.9
(³)
92.0
(³)
(³)
(³)
(³)
86.7
(³)
973
30
110
730
32
12
53
521
57
621
12
31
(²)
(²)
(³)
(²)
(²)
(³)
(²)
104
543
33
88
522
17
15
413
410
2
4
7,099
1,842
379
408
2
4
7,024
243
1,334
150
2,549
388
474
678
4
18
12
1,181
142
525
385
479
514
5
15
12
153
8
2,025
121
228
1,009
944
68
31
15
9
401
605
14
115
119
669
68
1,054
826
662
59
18
54
31
97
29
667
481
12
159
4,007
275
356
486
3
15
1,966
46
451
1,198
339
210
422
336
321
420
12
5
6
12
272
433
189
107
398
314
318
417
132
310
11
98
90
848
82
292
352
409
11
9
19
56
556
42
163
347
15
72
10
$823
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
Women's
earnings
as
percent
67
(²)
57
1,262
3
96
375
26
151
5
43
34
7
14,123
2,085
See footnotes at end of table.
Standard
Median
error
weekly
of
earnings
median
478
422
406
(²)
4
11
13
(²)
81.1
(³)
96.5
79.4
96.8
94.8
(³)
729
13
105
219
1,010
952
63
37
286
632
34
88
573
39
1,188
849
98
19
16
507
508
14
5
2,041
229
371
494
4
19
10
5
8
16
179
766
149
102
522
350
324
422
34
6
12
27
308
14
34
(²)
(²)
(³)
289
332
17
12
34
292
40
(²)
(²)
(³)
(²)
(²)
531
(²)
738
(²)
405
337
(²)
(²)
325
(²)
(²)
35
(²)
22
(²)
(²)
(²)
17
92
(²)
384
(²)
367
(²)
16
(²)
21
70.4
(³)
(³)
84.0
(³)
86.9
(³)
79.9
91.0
(³)
76.3
89.7
98.0
98.9
86.3
(³)
88.6
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex,
2005 annual averages—Continued
Both sexes
Occupation
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Dishwashers…………………………
Hosts and hostesses, restaurant,
lounge, and coffee shop……………
Building and grounds cleaning and
maintenance occupations………………
First-line supervisors/managers of
housekeeping and janitorial
workers………………………………
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……………
Nonfarm animal caretakers…………
Gaming services workers……………
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and
cosmetologists………………………
Baggage porters, bellhops, and
concierges……………………………
Transportation attendants……………
Childcare workers……………………
Personal and home care aides………
Recreation and fitness workers……
Sales and office occupations………………
Sales and related occupations……………
First-line supervisors/managers of
retail salesworkers…………………
First-line supervisors/managers of
non-retail salesworkers……………
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 salesworkers, news
and street vendors, and related
workers………………………………
Office and administrative support
occupations………………………………
First-line supervisors/managers
of office and administrative
support workers………………………
Bill and account collectors……………
Billing and posting clerks and
machine operators…………………
Bookkeeping, accounting, and
auditing clerks………………………
Payroll and timekeeping clerks………
Tellers…………………………………
Median
weekly
earnings
Women
Standard
error
of
median
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
weekly
earnings
Men
Standard
error
of
median
(²)
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Standard
Median
error
weekly
of
earnings
median
Women's
earnings
as
percent
of men's ¹
141
$296
$9
29
(²)
77
332
15
65
$322
3,425
394
3
1,249
177
537
50
57
101
1,477
829
55
787
2,057
593
408
335
508
389
409
32
5
7
26
7
5
3
421
724
1
43
1,517
(²)
81
628
37
41
(²)
(²)
40
(²)
(²)
(³)
58
57
77
577
379
579
47
31
25
31
43
38
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
27
14
39
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(³)
(³)
(³)
285
416
12
258
27
(²)
(²)
(³)
60
77
444
402
181
457
680
332
390
487
53
40
9
10
18
11
55
414
328
107
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(³)
(³)
(³)
25,193
10,031
575
622
3
5
2,365
631
922
1,428
102
123
1,869
194
341
$293
$13
12
(²)
344
5
2,176
428
7
80.4
433
27
120
613
26
70.6
98
1,056
105
54
744
540
598
441
390
511
393
491
32
12
18
25
7
12
363
328
(²)
(²)
390
409
(²)
(²)
8
6
(²)
(²)
5
12
(²)
$10
(³)
112
(²)
(³)
(³)
82.5
84.0
(³)
(³)
79.5
619
330
381
479
53
9
10
31
49
22
30
75
73
15,654
4,449
520
483
2
5
9
979
525
881
336
429
562
494
870
742
27
6
48
42
8
93
18
250
1,064
48
14
810
99
178
753
322
288
56
1,007
593
133
33
93
46
369
814
66
112
648
1,140
920
24
289
489
98
773
367
34
18
275
70
66
422
51
21
15,161
550
3
11,205
533
3
3,957
605
6
88.0
1,399
175
686
518
10
11
953
115
656
519
10
13
447
60
796
516
30
19
82.5
100.6
355
572
17
313
566
18
42
(²)
964
136
296
555
613
426
12
17
10
861
123
270
551
611
425
12
16
9
102
12
26
(²)
(²)
See footnotes at end of table.
11
442
494
27
22
86.1
96.9
9,539
5,582
690
762
6
6
75.3
63.4
11
1,386
723
14
72.6
22
3
673
363
55
109
1,060
95
162
944
389
589
586
606
1,017
908
24
14
78
28
13
80
54
79.7
82.6
195
11
1,239
41
257
919
50
70.5
737
25
851
960
18
76.8
716
360
42
21
213
28
(²)
(²)
(³)
46
(²)
(²)
(³)
(²)
(²)
401
730
624
733
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
8
32
20
57
(²)
(²)
(²)
989
580
53
(²)
38
(²)
27
(²)
(²)
(³)
(³)
66.2
71.8
68.7
59.2
(³)
72.5
(³)
94.9
(³)
(³)
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex,
2005 annual averages—Continued
Both sexes
Occupation
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Court, municipal, and license clerks
Credit authorizers, checkers, and
clerks…………………………………
Customer service representatives…
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…………………………………
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…………………
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……………………………
Women
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
weekly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
95
$575
$40
81
64
1,490
255
107
607
524
507
376
30
9
11
17
49
1,010
201
66
128
58
179
120
502
517
623
519
12
38
24
19
60
601
923
Men
Median
weekly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
$571
$54
(²)
Standard
Median
error
weekly
of
earnings
median
Women's
earnings
as
percent
of men's ¹
14
(²)
(²)
(³)
(²)
(³)
5
11
14
15
480
54
41
(²)
505
505
367
(²)
(²)
(³)
99
54
134
77
501
496
614
509
12
35
18
23
29
5
45
42
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(³)
(³)
(³)
(³)
33
55
580
30
5
(²)
(²)
(³)
466
7
846
463
7
76
134
212
274
147
295
626
664
584
791
832
42
34
16
31
15
90
31
168
58
110
61
109
751
28
275
694
472
1,012
586
(²)
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
$624
513
504
(²)
$17
26
32
(²)
80.9
98.5
91.9
(³)
(³)
556
750
733
20
35
51
44
182
105
89
185
50
742
33
59
763
46
97.2
20
152
650
18
123
767
24
84.8
488
427
10
9
138
361
450
409
17
8
334
651
504
448
11
14
89.4
91.1
60
467
54
35
2,684
164
403
216
562
599
509
500
6
53
8
13
2,611
89
324
206
559
541
507
499
6
25
7
13
73
76
79
10
(²)
(²)
(³)
238
560
25
204
565
23
35
(²)
(²)
(³)
99
672
508
518
15
9
52
574
480
509
21
9
47
98
(²)
(²)
(³)
12,086
623
4
517
486
16
755
372
7
154
327
12
63
64
402
483
25
46
48
2
6,826
604
4
163
645
830
23
20
(²)
166
1,213
598
556
27
15
—
17
(²)
178
482
16
2
90
1,170
519
502
17
6
367
733
185
747
511
713
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
26
678
613
830
874
44
18
23
16
(²)
654
674
529
(²)
45
47
112
90.7
90.3
83.9
(³)
85.6
80.2
95.9
591
23
86.1
11,569
628
4
77.3
601
388
9
84.2
15
62
(²)
(²)
(³)
(³)
485
45
6,663
606
4
626
839
26
(³)
(²)
166
1,196
598
559
27
15
(³)
(²)
(²)
176
484
16
(³)
2
38
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
88
1,132
518
504
17
6
(³)
(³)
22
11
(²)
(²)
356
735
22
(³)
15
14
1
13
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
184
734
510
712
15
14
(³)
(³)
See footnotes at end of table.
12
480
—
24
(²)
—
79.1
—
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex,
2005 annual averages—Continued
Both sexes
Occupation
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
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…
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……………
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…………………………
Precision instrument and
equipment repairers…………………
Production, transportation, and materialmoving 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……………………
Computer control programmers
and operators………………………
Cutting, punching, and press
machine setters, operators, and
tenders, metal and plastic…………
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and
buffing machine tool setters,
operators, and tenders, metal
and plastic……………………………
Women
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Men
Standard
error
of
median
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Standard
Median
error
weekly
of
earnings
median
Women's
earnings
as
percent
Median
weekly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
384
$466
$17
17
(²)
(²)
367
$469
$18
(³)
550
209
127
58
110
703
500
653
772
437
19
20
30
49
45
2
6
4
1
2
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
547
203
123
57
108
704
503
655
768
430
19
21
31
48
40
(³)
(³)
(³)
(³)
(³)
84
86
791
581
61
43
9
3
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
75
83
824
575
47
45
(³)
(³)
4,504
705
6
199
$691
4,305
706
6
307
814
43
18
(²)
(²)
289
817
42
(³)
336
753
28
45
(²)
(²)
291
749
27
(³)
206
861
51
29
(²)
(²)
177
858
49
(³)
56
705
104
3
(²)
(²)
53
730
33
(³)
137
919
35
8
(²)
(²)
129
920
38
(³)
137
587
48
2
(²)
(²)
135
579
41
(³)
724
629
16
13
(²)
(²)
711
631
16
(³)
326
694
23
1
(²)
(²)
325
693
23
(³)
218
726
20
1
(²)
(²)
216
727
20
(³)
314
693
21
3
(²)
(²)
311
694
21
(³)
444
724
20
14
(²)
(²)
430
724
20
(³)
305
58
631
824
28
245
11
3
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
294
55
635
891
31
100
(³)
(³)
105
868
55
4
(²)
(²)
102
875
49
(³)
145
788
42
9
(²)
(²)
136
780
60
(³)
54
819
234
4
(²)
(²)
50
877
221
(³)
15,251
8,403
540
538
4
5
3,288
2,412
420
423
3
4
11,963
5,991
591
608
3
4
71.1
69.6
825
761
15
162
545
33
662
817
22
66.7
195
117
473
411
18
18
117
59
441
357
21
34
79
58
528
480
50
27
83.6
74.4
262
71
444
465
19
25
56
26
17
(²)
(²)
206
44
(²)
(²)
(³)
54
697
39
5
(²)
(²)
49
(²)
(²)
(³)
120
502
20
30
(²)
(²)
90
55
557
61
7
(²)
(²)
48
See footnotes at end of table.
13
Median
weekly
earnings
400
$39
471
533
(²)
22
37
(²)
of men's ¹
97.9
85.0
(³)
(³)
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex,
2005 annual averages—Continued
Both sexes
Occupation
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Machinists……………………………
Molders and molding machine
setters, operators, and tenders,
metal and plastic……………………
Tool and die makers…………………
Welding, soldering, and brazing
workers………………………………
Printing machine operators…………
Laundry and dry-cleaning workers…
Sewing machine operators…………
Cabinetmakers and bench
carpenters……………………………
Sawing machine setters, operators,
and tenders, wood…………………
Stationary engineers and boiler
operators……………………………
Water and liquid waste treatment
plant and system 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……………………..
Paper goods machine setters,
operators, and tenders………………
Transportation and material-moving
occupations………………………………
Supervisors, transportation and
material-moving workers……………
Aircraft pilots and flight engineers…
Busdrivers…………………………….
Driver/salesworkers and truck
drivers…………………………………
Taxi drivers and chauffeurs…………
Locomotive engineers and
operators……………………………
Railroad conductors and
yardmasters…………………………
Service station attendants……………
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……………………………
Women
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Men
Standard
error
of
median
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Standard
Median
error
weekly
of
earnings
median
Women's
earnings
as
percent
Median
weekly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
401
$697
$17
25
(²)
(²)
376
$712
60
91
529
821
51
55
13
1
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
46
91
(²)
550
201
125
236
599
585
372
360
11
22
17
13
32
30
82
171
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
518
170
43
64
53
516
18
4
(²)
(²)
50
54
428
39
6
(²)
(²)
48
108
819
73
2
(²)
(²)
105
797
94
(³)
69
674
80
2
(²)
(²)
67
710
131
(³)
56
769
95
7
(²)
(²)
50
717
35
(³)
95
94
498
496
24
29
11
22
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
84
72
503
525
23
36
(³)
(³)
618
596
18
237
380
679
24
76
545
57
37
(²)
291
177
410
562
11
29
159
23
(²)
(²)
132
155
58
603
30
16
(²)
(²)
42
6,848
543
6
876
194
98
353
734
1,366
517
28
102
14
29
6
141
2,758
179
624
483
7
23
101
24
(²)
53
998
199
1
(²)
50
68
69
1,017
323
727
44
10
47
—
9
2
(²)
(²)
67
616
40
—
514
499
9
31
(²)
224
385
13
27
(²)
1,384
377
456
372
10
10
210
240
66
491
28
4
2
— Data not available.
1
These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ slightly
from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this table.
14
Median
weekly
earnings
$347
355
486
384
412
(²)
(²)
456
473
—
—
406
358
(²)
$17
15
11
(²)
12
7
39
$18
(²)
824
55
608
617
12
21
(²)
(²)
372
26
518
18
(²)
(²)
452
592
(²)
(²)
(²)
19
22
(²)
of men's ¹
(³)
(³)
(³)
(³)
(³)
(³)
95.3
(³)
(³)
71.6
(³)
84.9
(³)
(³)
5,972
574
6
164
92
213
751
1,368
576
31
121
31
(²)
2,657
155
631
500
9
23
(³)
(²)
52
1,013
195
(³)
50
59
66
1,017
333
727
44
27
57
(³)
(³)
67
616
40
(²)
483
494
9
(³)
(²)
197
390
13
(³)
1,173
137
469
406
10
19
62
501
31
(²)
(²)
38
31
—
(²)
(²)
—
11
10
(²)
71.7
(³)
(³)
79.1
75.0
—
—
86.6
88.3
(³)
Data not shown where base is less than 50,000.
Data not shown where base for either the numerator or the denominator
is less than 50,000.
3
Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by State and sex, 2005 annual averages
Both sexes
Women
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
weekly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
UNITED STATES.....................
103,560
$651
$2
Alabama.......................................
Alaska..........................................
Arizona.........................................
Arkansas......................................
California......................................
1,647
223
2,025
967
12,067
612
784
624
542
703
Colorado......................................
Connecticut..................................
Delaware......................................
District of Columbia......................
Florida..........................................
1,690
1,241
332
228
6,360
Georgia........................................
Hawaii..........................................
Idaho............................................
Illinois...........................................
Indiana.........................................
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Men
Median
weekly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
45,154
$585
$2
9
13
10
16
6
740
98
842
448
4,941
518
679
582
479
662
721
796
683
804
604
12
26
13
18
4
693
543
152
116
2,907
3,290
446
474
4,439
2,292
620
660
585
691
632
8
16
12
9
12
Iowa.............................................
Kansas.........................................
Kentucky......................................
Louisiana.....................................
Maine...........................................
1,067
973
1,404
1,501
441
626
626
601
586
616
Maryland......................................
Massachusetts.............................
Michigan......................................
Minnesota....................................
Mississippi....................................
2,154
2,215
3,314
1,891
926
Missouri........................................
Montana.......................................
Nebraska.....................................
Nevada........................................
New Hampshire...........................
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Women's
earnings
as
percent
Median
weekly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
of men's ¹
58,406
$722
$2
81.0
11
17
12
12
10
907
124
1,183
520
7,126
684
866
670
617
734
22
20
17
11
8
75.8
78.4
86.9
77.7
90.1
639
679
613
770
544
17
23
14
18
13
997
698
180
112
3,452
790
905
750
858
655
28
21
19
35
10
80.9
75.1
81.7
89.8
83.1
1,479
206
199
1,902
980
584
598
501
610
557
9
14
9
9
13
1,811
240
276
2,537
1,313
668
718
678
787
714
16
19
16
15
16
87.4
83.3
73.8
77.5
78.1
11
11
10
9
11
483
417
629
718
200
568
558
530
488
545
19
17
17
11
21
585
556
775
783
241
699
700
656
651
688
17
17
19
16
20
81.2
79.8
80.7
75.0
79.3
762
755
718
736
545
14
10
11
14
17
985
989
1,397
818
426
705
661
609
653
471
24
12
10
15
14
1,169
1,225
1,917
1,074
500
832
844
803
818
620
26
20
16
21
15
84.8
78.3
75.8
79.9
76.0
2,084
305
663
923
499
622
547
615
600
727
11
13
11
7
15
931
136
294
384
211
551
477
536
558
624
19
11
17
18
15
1,153
169
369
539
289
713
617
675
632
839
20
11
16
14
32
77.3
77.2
79.4
88.4
74.4
New Jersey..................................
New Mexico.................................
New York.....................................
North Carolina..............................
North Dakota................................
3,213
636
6,566
3,034
225
772
599
679
589
586
11
10
7
8
10
1,390
268
2,917
1,351
101
671
544
611
523
508
15
22
7
10
9
1,823
368
3,649
1,683
124
860
644
748
644
649
15
24
8
15
14
78.0
84.4
81.7
81.3
78.2
Ohio.............................................
Oklahoma....................................
Oregon.........................................
Pennsylvania...............................
Rhode Island................................
3,970
1,214
1,174
4,445
379
653
586
634
650
682
8
9
17
8
18
1,778
533
499
1,960
170
571
490
554
576
597
12
12
20
8
14
2,191
681
675
2,485
209
730
656
731
739
767
11
17
21
11
25
78.3
74.7
75.8
78.0
77.9
South Carolina.............................
South Dakota...............................
Tennessee...................................
Texas...........................................
Utah.............................................
1,449
274
1,993
8,103
792
586
569
572
590
598
10
12
14
5
12
682
127
906
3,439
301
504
493
508
524
496
11
9
11
9
10
768
147
1,087
4,664
491
660
624
621
631
686
16
13
14
10
19
76.3
79.0
81.7
83.0
72.2
Vermont.......................................
Virginia.........................................
Washington..................................
West Virginia................................
Wisconsin.....................................
Wyoming......................................
222
2,893
2,177
562
1,974
186
650
686
743
590
671
628
15
14
14
12
14
13
99
1,302
897
249
850
74
590
615
626
499
558
481
15
13
21
12
15
11
123
1,591
1,280
313
1,123
112
709
758
835
668
789
762
17
17
23
20
16
20
83.1
81.1
75.0
74.8
70.7
63.1
State
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 older.
15
Table 4. Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2005 annual averages
Both sexes
Characteristic
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Women
Median
weekly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Men
Median Standard
error
weekly
of
earnings
median
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median Standard
error
weekly
of
earnings
median
Women's
earnings
as
percent
of men's ¹
AGE
Total, 16 years and older...............
16 to 24 years......................................
16 to 19 years...................................
20 to 24 years...................................
25 years and older...............................
25 to 34 years...................................
35 to 44 years...................................
45 to 54 years...................................
55 to 64 years...................................
65 years and older............................
22,052
8,129
4,167
3,963
13,923
3,387
3,484
2,993
2,351
1,708
$201
149
121
183
246
242
265
269
239
188
$1
1
1
2
2
3
4
4
5
4
15,152
4,687
2,323
2,364
10,466
2,476
2,865
2,454
1,680
990
$206
147
119
179
245
239
263
266
238
173
$1
2
2
3
2
4
4
4
5
5
6,900
3,443
1,844
1,599
3,457
911
619
539
670
717
$190
151
124
189
250
253
275
284
242
209
$2
2
2
3
4
7
10
11
9
7
108.6
97.3
95.9
94.9
98.0
94.5
95.4
93.8
98.0
82.9
RACE AND HISPANIC OR
LATINO ETHNICITY
White....................................................
Black or African American...................
Asian....................................................
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity..................
18,618
2,046
822
2,500
202
197
204
198
1
3
7
3
12,868
1,373
541
1,620
208
198
210
194
2
4
8
3
5,751
673
281
880
190
195
190
206
2
5
12
5
109.6
101.7
110.6
94.1
9,936
9,333
2,783
1,505
619
659
160
256
220
235
215
196
1
2
3
5
5
7
5,603
7,349
2,200
1,172
464
564
158
255
216
232
208
194
2
3
3
6
6
7
4,333
1,984
583
333
155
95
163
261
241
250
243
214
2
5
9
16
12
22
96.8
97.7
89.4
92.7
85.5
90.5
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 wage and salary workers by hours usually worked and sex, 2005 annual averages
Both sexes
Women
Men
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
weekly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
Total, 16 years and older...............
125,889
$577
$2
60,423
$486
$2
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...................................
19,283
467
1,045
1,725
2,418
5,860
2,595
5,173
206
54
65
102
137
193
233
309
1
3
1
2
2
2
3
3
13,382
334
745
1,229
1,663
4,009
1,772
3,630
212
54
66
106
143
200
239
318
35 hours or more.................................
35 to 39 hours...................................
40 hours............................................
41 hours or more..............................
41 to 44 hours................................
45 to 48 hours................................
49 to 59 hours................................
60 hours or more...........................
97,242
7,617
68,599
21,026
1,310
5,971
9,359
4,386
654
435
605
976
722
870
1,047
1,112
2
5
1
5
13
8
9
17
42,794
5,210
31,235
6,348
525
2,091
2,726
1,006
9,364
2,769
6,319
408
164
602
5
3
6
4,247
1,770
2,361
Hours of work
Hours vary………………………………
Usually less than 35 hours……………
Usually 35 hours or more……………
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
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
Standard
Median
error
weekly
of
earnings median
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Women's
earnings
as
percent
Median
weekly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
of men's ¹
65,466
$663
$3
73.2
2
4
2
2
3
2
4
3
5,901
133
301
495
755
1,851
824
1,542
195
55
64
93
126
179
222
290
2
7
3
3
4
3
4
5
108.7
97.6
103.5
114.0
112.9
112.0
107.6
109.8
589
438
567
878
669
806
967
955
2
6
3
8
19
13
12
16
54,448
2,407
37,364
14,678
784
3,880
6,633
3,380
724
428
643
1,020
751
915
1,086
1,155
2
9
3
6
5
2
3
4
81.3
102.4
88.1
86.1
89.2
88.1
89.1
82.7
286
165
463
5
4
14
5,117
999
3,958
567
161
688
3
5
3
50.4
102.9
67.3
workers. Estimates for the above "hours vary" groups do 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, 2005 annual averages
Characteristic
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Upper limit of:
First
decile
First
quartile
Second
quartile
(median)
Third
quartile
Ninth
decile
SEX, RACE, AND HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY
Total, 16 years and older.......................................................…
Women..................................................................................
Men........................................................................................
103,560
45,154
58,406
$310
292
331
$429
395
476
$651
585
722
$997
862
1,119
$1,506
1,250
1,689
White....................................................................................……
Women..................................................................................
Men....................................................................................…
84,110
35,538
48,572
317
296
340
445
404
488
672
596
743
1,021
875
1,145
1,541
1,267
1,739
Black or African American........................................................
Women..................................................................................
Men....................................................................................…
12,388
6,472
5,916
284
279
292
367
351
387
520
499
559
768
733
821
1,122
1,053
1,166
Asian.........................................................................................
Women..................................................................................
Men....................................................................................…
4,651
2,054
2,597
330
308
359
483
427
518
753
665
825
1,170
1,035
1,341
1,806
1,514
1,917
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.......................................................
Women..................................................................................
Men....................................................................................…
14,673
5,241
9,433
276
253
285
335
313
352
471
429
489
695
637
726
1,041
936
1,106
Total, 25 years and older..........................................................
Less than a high school diploma...........................................
High school, no college 1........................................................
Some college or associate degree........................................
Bachelor's degree and higher 2 .............................................
92,453
8,861
27,514
25,471
30,607
331
256
311
351
494
470
311
411
481
705
696
409
583
670
1,013
1,048
576
809
952
1,524
1,559
796
1,111
1,309
2,115
Women, 25 years and older......................................................
Less than a high school diploma...........................................
High school, no college 1........................................................
Some college or associate degree........................................
Bachelor's degree and higher 2 .............................................
40,443
2,878
11,517
12,103
13,944
306
226
286
322
463
417
279
366
425
634
612
341
493
587
883
900
441
667
801
1,242
1,297
595
887
1,088
1,735
Men, 25 years and older...........................................................
Less than a high school diploma...........................................
High school, no college 1........................................................
Some college or associate degree........................................
Bachelor's degree and higher 2 .............................................
52,010
5,983
15,997
13,368
16,662
365
282
349
395
538
511
339
476
547
781
771
455
652
766
1,167
1,168
625
912
1,074
1,756
1,760
879
1,217
1,453
2,414
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
1
Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
2
Includes persons with a bachelor's, master's, professional, or 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 earn less than the upper limit of the
18
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.
Table 7. Distribution of full-time wage and salary workers by usual weekly earnings and selected characteristics, 2005 annual
averages
(In thousands)
Number of workers by usual weekly earnings
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
$1,000.00
to
$1,499.99
$1,500.00
or
more
AGE AND SEX
Total, 16 years and older.................................. 103,560
16 to 24 years.......................................................... 11,108
16 to 19 years.......................................................
1,699
9,409
20 to 24 years.......................................................
25 years and older................................................... 92,453
25 to 34 years....................................................... 25,013
35 to 44 years....................................................... 27,103
45 to 54 years....................................................... 25,650
55 to 64 years....................................................... 12,774
65 years and older................................................
1,913
967
266
92
174
700
198
169
173
98
63
2,972
961
293
668
2,012
640
549
455
271
96
10,368
2,838
610
2,228
7,529
2,513
2,001
1,850
892
274
19,900
3,591
473
3,118
16,309
5,476
4,413
3,964
2,055
400
25,711
2,410
181
2,229
23,301
7,156
6,599
6,133
3,031
383
17,046
682
37
645
16,364
4,277
4,878
4,699
2,282
227
15,888
287
9
277
15,601
3,236
4,941
4,818
2,367
239
10,710
73
3
70
10,636
1,517
3,552
3,558
1,778
231
Women, 16 years and older..............................
16 to 24 years..........................................................
16 to 19 years.......................................................
20 to 24 years.......................................................
25 years and older...................................................
25 to 34 years.......................................................
35 to 44 years.......................................................
45 to 54 years.......................................................
55 to 64 years.......................................................
65 years and older................................................
45,154
4,711
694
4,018
40,443
10,400
11,563
11,814
5,854
812
558
144
47
96
414
103
104
108
62
39
1,756
502
144
358
1,254
376
362
285
187
45
5,579
1,284
265
1,019
4,295
1,180
1,220
1,203
558
133
10,085
1,527
185
1,342
8,558
2,522
2,368
2,268
1,196
203
11,893
915
41
873
10,978
3,082
3,049
3,139
1,531
177
7,001
243
6
237
6,758
1,662
1,950
2,048
1,001
97
5,546
83
4
80
5,463
1,042
1,634
1,824
886
76
2,737
14
1
13
2,723
433
876
939
433
41
Men, 16 years and older...................................
16 to 24 years..........................................................
16 to 19 years.......................................................
20 to 24 years.......................................................
25 years and older...................................................
25 to 34 years.......................................................
35 to 44 years.......................................................
45 to 54 years.......................................................
55 to 64 years.......................................................
65 years and older................................................
58,406
6,396
1,005
5,391
52,010
14,612
15,540
13,836
6,920
1,102
409
123
45
78
286
95
65
65
36
24
1,216
459
149
310
757
265
188
170
85
51
4,789
1,554
344
1,209
3,235
1,334
781
646
334
140
9,815
2,064
288
1,776
7,752
2,954
2,045
1,696
860
197
13,818
1,495
139
1,356
12,323
4,074
3,550
2,994
1,500
206
10,045
439
31
408
9,606
2,615
2,928
2,652
1,281
131
10,342
204
6
198
10,138
2,193
3,307
2,994
1,481
163
7,973
59
3
57
7,913
1,084
2,676
2,619
1,345
190
White, 16 years and older....................................
Women....................................................................
Men..........................................................................
84,110
35,538
48,572
748
442
306
2,242
1,323
919
7,744
4,082
3,663
15,501
7,720
7,781
20,889
9,476
11,413
14,253
5,721
8,532
13,451
4,520
8,931
9,282
2,255
7,026
Black or African American, 16 years and older....
Women....................................................................
Men..........................................................................
12,388
6,472
5,916
145
75
70
534
317
217
1,939
1,129
810
3,110
1,728
1,382
3,219
1,636
1,584
1,617
784
833
1,298
569
730
525
234
291
Asian, 16 years and older.....................................
Women....................................................................
Men..........................................................................
4,651
2,054
2,597
42
24
19
116
67
49
366
206
160
725
366
359
1,006
490
515
811
346
465
833
344
489
751
210
541
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 16 years and older..
Women....................................................................
Men..........................................................................
14,673
5,241
9,433
157
79
77
734
382
352
2,897
1,190
1,706
4,249
1,494
2,755
3,393
1,127
2,265
1,545
511
1,034
1,159
354
805
540
103
437
RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO
ETHNICITY, AND SEX
NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all
races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by
race.
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, 2005 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 years, none younger……………………
With children under 6 years old…………………………………
With no children under 18 years old………………………………
45,154
16,724
10,549
6,175
28,430
$585
574
587
539
591
$2
4
4
7
2
Total, married, spouse present………………………………………
With children under 18 years old…………………………………
With children 6 to 17 years, none younger……………………
With children under 6 years old…………………………………
With no children under 18 years old………………………………
23,507
11,161
6,858
4,304
12,346
619
611
611
611
628
2
3
4
5
4
Total, other marital statuses 1………………………………………
With children under 18 years old…………………………………
With children 6 to 17 years, none younger……………………
With children under 6 years old…………………………………
With no children under 18 years old………………………………
21,647
5,563
3,692
1,872
16,084
531
494
531
421
556
3
4
7
6
4
Total, all marital statuses……………………………………………
With children under 18 years old…………………………………
With children 6 to 17 years, none younger……………………
With children under 6 years old…………………………………
With no children under 18 years old………………………………
58,406
22,157
11,937
10,221
36,249
722
811
853
765
667
2
4
7
6
3
Total, married, spouse present………………………………………
With children under 18 years old…………………………………
With children 6 to 17 years, none younger……………………
With children under 6 years old…………………………………
With no children under 18 years old………………………………
35,742
20,491
10,939
9,552
15,251
827
830
870
787
822
4
5
7
7
6
Total, other marital statuses 1………………………………………
With children under 18 years old…………………………………
With children 6 to 17 years, none younger……………………
With children under 6 years old…………………………………
With no children under 18 years old………………………………
22,664
1,667
998
669
20,998
581
623
704
527
578
3
10
14
15
3
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, as well as
unrelated children.
20
Table 9. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, by selected characteristics, 2005 annual averages
Both sexes
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Characteristic
AGE
Total, 16 years and older...............
16 to 24 years......................................
16 to 19 years...................................
20 to 24 years...................................
25 years and older...............................
25 to 34 years...................................
35 to 44 years...................................
45 to 54 years...................................
55 to 64 years...................................
65 years and older............................
Median
hourly
earnings
Women
Standard
error
of
median
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
hourly
earnings
Men
Standard
error
of
median
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
hourly
earnings
Standard
error
of
median
Women's
earnings
as
percent
of men's ¹
75,609
16,374
5,528
10,846
59,235
16,779
16,761
15,419
8,015
2,261
$11.19
8.07
7.05
8.91
12.48
11.76
13.11
13.48
12.95
9.93
$0.03
.02
.02
.03
.05
.07
.05
.11
.08
.05
37,957
8,086
2,874
5,212
29,871
7,716
8,387
8,197
4,319
1,252
$10.31
7.80
6.92
8.50
11.58
10.86
11.84
12.13
11.86
9.82
$0.04
.03
.02
.07
.06
.06
.05
.05
.07
.08
37,652
8,288
2,654
5,634
29,364
9,063
8,374
7,222
3,695
1,009
$12.16
8.42
7.21
9.20
13.91
12.17
14.88
15.13
14.79
10.04
$0.03
.06
.03
.05
.04
.04
.05
.06
.14
.07
84.8
92.6
96.0
92.3
83.3
89.2
79.6
80.1
80.2
97.7
60,978
9,793
2,720
12,527
11.48
10.17
12.01
9.95
.06
.03
.09
.03
30,078
5,372
1,437
5,060
10.50
9.93
11.64
9.18
.06
.04
.41
.06
30,901
4,421
1,283
7,467
12.47
10.90
12.75
10.19
.08
.07
.41
.03
84.2
91.1
91.3
90.0
26,288
36,340
12,982
8,229
3,212
1,541
9.14
13.01
11.79
12.30
10.20
10.69
.02
.04
.06
.10
.05
.18
12,307
17,645
8,005
5,026
1,738
1,241
8.72
11.82
10.98
11.61
9.96
10.44
.05
.04
.06
.14
.07
.21
13,980
18,695
4,977
3,203
1,475
299
9.79
14.75
13.01
14.24
10.93
12.03
.03
.09
.11
.20
.16
.51
89.1
80.1
84.4
81.6
91.2
86.8
9,755
10,586
65,023
16.16
16.02
10.69
.11
.08
.04
3,635
4,051
33,906
13.98
13.90
10.10
.12
.12
.02
6,120
6,535
31,117
17.81
17.62
11.45
.15
.20
.08
78.5
78.9
88.2
59,235
8,267
22,698
18,516
9,754
12.48
9.57
12.03
13.51
16.75
.05
.11
.03
.10
.20
29,871
3,245
10,856
10,179
5,591
11.58
8.21
10.55
12.23
16.71
.06
.04
.07
.06
.24
29,364
5,022
11,842
8,337
4,163
13.91
10.20
13.90
15.13
16.78
.04
.03
.05
.05
.33
83.3
80.6
75.9
80.8
99.6
RACE AND HISPANIC OR
LATINO ETHNICITY
White....................................................
Black or African American....................
Asian....................................................
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity..................
MARITAL STATUS
Never married......................................
Married, spouse present......................
Other marital status..............................
Divorced............................................
Separated.........................................
Widowed...........................................
UNION AFFILIATION
2
3
Members of unions .............................
4
Represented by a union .....................
Not represented by a union..................
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
Total, 25 years and older.....................
Less than a high school diploma......
High school, 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.
a union, as well as to workers who report no union affiliation but whose jobs are
covered by a union or an employee association contract.
5
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
6
Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
Includes persons with a bachelor's, master's, professional, or doctoral degree.
NOTE: Workers paid by the hour 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. Distribution of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, by hourly earnings and selected characteristics, 2005 annual
averages
(In thousands)
Number of workers by hourly earnings
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
to
$11.99
$12.00
to
$14.99
$15.00
to
$19.99
$20.00
or
more
AGE AND SEX
Total, 16 years and older..................................
16 to 24 years..........................................................
16 to 19 years.......................................................
20 to 24 years.......................................................
25 years and older...................................................
25 to 34 years.......................................................
35 to 44 years.......................................................
45 to 54 years.......................................................
55 to 64 years.......................................................
65 years and older................................................
75,609
16,374
5,528
10,846
59,235
16,779
16,761
15,419
8,015
2,261
941
482
169
313
459
223
117
75
29
15
143
62
27
34
82
39
17
19
3
3
2,013
1,194
791
403
819
286
196
149
110
77
11,433
5,435
2,695
2,740
5,998
1,985
1,499
1,302
755
456
13,366
4,154
1,173
2,981
9,212
2,968
2,425
2,094
1,209
517
11,956
2,434
427
2,007
9,522
2,979
2,498
2,337
1,279
430
12,245
1,612
160
1,452
10,633
3,242
3,033
2,711
1,361
286
11,832
749
61
689
11,083
2,928
3,269
3,101
1,548
237
11,680
252
25
227
11,428
2,127
3,707
3,631
1,721
241
Women, 16 years and older..............................
16 to 24 years..........................................................
16 to 19 years.......................................................
20 to 24 years.......................................................
25 years and older...................................................
25 to 34 years.......................................................
35 to 44 years.......................................................
45 to 54 years.......................................................
55 to 64 years.......................................................
65 years and older................................................
37,957
8,086
2,874
5,212
29,871
7,716
8,387
8,197
4,319
1,252
660
350
131
219
309
138
84
58
18
12
90
36
20
16
54
23
13
14
3
1
1,243
712
470
242
532
174
135
88
83
51
6,794
2,961
1,464
1,497
3,833
1,159
1,023
917
488
246
7,391
1,955
547
1,408
5,436
1,489
1,495
1,356
787
309
6,267
1,080
175
905
5,188
1,417
1,409
1,367
750
245
6,027
663
51
613
5,363
1,412
1,511
1,508
772
160
4,845
229
13
216
4,616
1,056
1,309
1,424
711
116
4,640
100
4
96
4,540
849
1,407
1,465
707
113
Men, 16 years and older...................................
16 to 24 years..........................................................
16 to 19 years.......................................................
20 to 24 years.......................................................
25 years and older...................................................
25 to 34 years.......................................................
35 to 44 years.......................................................
45 to 54 years.......................................................
55 to 64 years.......................................................
65 years and older................................................
37,652
8,288
2,654
5,634
29,364
9,063
8,374
7,222
3,695
1,009
281
131
37
94
149
85
33
17
11
3
53
26
7
18
28
17
3
5
—
2
770
483
321
161
287
112
61
61
27
26
4,639
2,475
1,231
1,243
2,165
827
476
385
267
210
5,975
2,198
626
1,573
3,777
1,479
930
738
421
208
5,689
1,355
253
1,102
4,334
1,563
1,089
970
529
185
6,218
949
109
840
5,270
1,830
1,522
1,203
589
126
6,987
520
48
472
6,467
1,872
1,960
1,676
838
121
7,040
152
22
130
6,888
1,278
2,300
2,167
1,014
128
White, 16 years and older....................................
Women....................................................................
Men..........................................................................
60,978
30,078
30,901
809
590
219
125
81
44
1,565
984
581
9,073
5,340
3,732
10,241
5,577
4,665
9,529
4,957
4,572
9,911
4,851
5,059
9,890
3,951
5,939
9,836
3,746
6,090
Black or African American, 16 years and older....
Women....................................................................
Men..........................................................................
9,793
5,372
4,421
67
36
32
12
4
8
335
193
141
1,613
1,016
597
2,267
1,333
934
1,717
943
774
1,557
766
791
1,223
568
654
1,002
513
490
Asian, 16 years and older.....................................
Women....................................................................
Men..........................................................................
2,720
1,437
1,283
33
17
16
4
3
1
51
29
22
374
219
156
457
262
195
380
199
181
438
242
196
425
197
228
558
270
288
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 16 years and older..
Women....................................................................
Men..........................................................................
12,527
5,060
7,467
122
76
46
24
14
9
345
194
151
2,595
1,351
1,244
2,752
1,147
1,605
2,235
855
1,380
1,897
654
1,243
1,502
470
1,033
1,056
300
756
RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO
ETHNICITY, AND SEX
— Data not available.
NOTE: Workers paid hourly rates represent 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
22
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.
Table 11. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum
wage by selected characteristics, 2005 annual averages
(Numbers in thousands)
Workers paid hourly rates 1
Characteristic
Total
Below
prevailing
Federal
minimum
wage
At
prevailing
Federal
minimum
wage
Total at or below prevailing
Federal minimum wage
Number
Percent of
workers
paid hourly
rates
AGE AND SEX
Total, 16 years and older......................................................
16 to 24 years..............................................................................
16 to 19 years..........................................................................
20 to 24 years..........................................................................
25 years and older.......................................................................
25 to 34 years..........................................................................
35 to 44 years..........................................................................
45 to 54 years..........................................................................
55 to 64 years..........................................................................
65 years and older...................................................................
75,609
16,374
5,528
10,846
59,235
16,779
16,761
15,419
8,015
2,261
1,403
720
312
408
683
306
169
134
42
32
479
283
179
104
196
67
39
30
37
24
1,882
1,002
491
511
880
373
208
164
79
56
2.5
6.1
8.9
4.7
1.5
2.2
1.2
1.1
1.0
2.5
Women, 16 years and older..................................................
16 to 24 years..............................................................................
16 to 19 years..........................................................................
20 to 24 years..........................................................................
25 years and older.......................................................................
25 to 34 years..........................................................................
35 to 44 years..........................................................................
45 to 54 years..........................................................................
55 to 64 years..........................................................................
65 years and older...................................................................
37,957
8,086
2,874
5,212
29,871
7,716
8,387
8,197
4,319
1,252
944
496
225
271
447
185
122
93
26
22
290
153
93
60
137
45
25
17
30
20
1,234
650
318
331
584
229
148
109
56
42
3.3
8.0
11.1
6.4
2.0
3.0
1.8
1.3
1.3
3.4
Men, 16 years and older.......................................................
16 to 24 years..............................................................................
16 to 19 years..........................................................................
20 to 24 years..........................................................................
25 years and older.......................................................................
25 to 34 years..........................................................................
35 to 44 years..........................................................................
45 to 54 years..........................................................................
55 to 64 years..........................................................................
65 years and older...................................................................
37,652
8,288
2,654
5,634
29,364
9,063
8,374
7,222
3,695
1,009
459
223
86
137
236
122
46
42
16
10
189
130
86
43
60
22
14
13
7
4
648
353
173
180
296
144
60
55
23
14
1.7
4.3
6.5
3.2
1.0
1.6
0.7
0.8
0.6
1.4
White, 16 years and older........................................................
Women....................................................................................……
Men....................................................................................………
60,978
30,078
30,901
1,188
836
352
349
216
133
1,537
1,053
485
2.5
3.5
1.6
Black or African American, 16 years and older........................
Women....................................................................................……
Men....................................................................................………
9,793
5,372
4,421
119
57
63
96
54
42
215
111
105
2.2
2.1
2.4
Asian, 16 years and older........................................................
Women....................................................................................……
Men....................................................................................………
2,720
1,437
1,283
51
26
25
14
9
5
65
35
30
2.4
2.4
2.3
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 16 years and older......................
Women....................................................................................……
Men....................................................................................………
12,527
5,060
7,467
210
125
85
71
42
29
282
167
114
2.2
3.3
1.5
Full-time workers......................................................................
Women....................................................................................……
Men....................................................................................………
57,385
25,474
31,911
608
356
252
143
74
69
752
430
321
1.3
1.7
1.0
Part-time workers.....................................................................
Women....................................................................................……
Men....................................................................................………
18,084
12,415
5,669
790
583
207
336
216
120
1,126
799
327
6.2
6.4
5.8
RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO
ETHNICITY, AND SEX
FULL- AND PART-TIME STATUS AND SEX
2
See footnotes at end of table.
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 do not sum to totals because full
or part-time status on the principal job is not identifiable for a small
number of multiple jobholders.
24
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.
Table 12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2005) dollars by sex and age,
1979-2005 annual averages
Year and sex
Total,
16 years
and
older
16 to 24 years
Total
16 to 19
years
25 years and older
20 to 24
years
Total
25 to 34
years
35 to 44
years
45 to 54
years
55 to 64
years
65 years
and
older
BOTH SEXES
1979………………………………
$601
$429
$359
$464
$661
$637
$699
$689
$652
$494
1980………………………………
1981………………………………
1982………………………………
1983………………………………
1984………………………………
1985………………………………
1986 1……………………………
1987………………………………
1988………………………………
1989………………………………
587
581
586
582
583
595
610
614
611
606
420
411
404
392
388
387
394
398
395
394
346
331
318
304
302
301
303
305
310
310
449
437
427
414
413
415
422
425
421
420
642
632
634
638
647
655
665
662
657
650
618
607
603
597
600
604
612
613
607
599
677
667
686
687
696
702
712
715
713
718
667
656
669
682
689
693
707
704
718
718
639
633
631
643
654
659
674
666
664
655
456
455
490
484
486
513
507
509
512
507
1990 1……………………………
1991………………………………
1992………………………………
1993…………………………….
1994 1……………………………
1995………………………………
1996………………………………
1997 1……………………………
1998 1……………………………
1999 1……………………………
597
595
601
610
609
609
608
611
625
643
390
388
377
375
373
372
369
372
382
400
303
298
290
284
288
293
297
306
320
330
413
407
395
395
390
389
386
390
405
425
650
653
653
653
651
649
645
655
684
693
590
581
575
580
573
574
574
584
600
606
705
696
686
688
700
700
692
702
714
715
708
709
713
720
738
740
736
737
742
763
662
656
659
654
653
654
663
677
709
708
498
533
516
522
501
495
476
477
484
473
2000 1……………………………
2001………………………………
2002………………………………
2003 1……………………………
2004 1……………………………
2005 1……………………………
653
657
660
658
659
651
409
414
413
411
403
397
337
336
331
330
319
318
434
435
433
426
419
411
690
695
702
703
706
696
622
636
641
630
624
610
708
724
726
730
737
731
758
765
766
767
767
748
702
703
732
751
748
742
525
538
545
547
579
569
1979………………………………
454
384
329
402
486
496
488
479
471
425
1980………………………………
1981………………………………
1982…………………………….
1983………………………………
1984………………………………
1985………………………………
1986 1……………………………
1987…………………………….
1988………………………………
1989……………………………
451
449
463
468
474
480
494
498
499
498
375
370
372
367
364
364
372
372
373
374
325
316
306
294
289
287
289
282
292
299
392
392
390
385
382
382
394
397
399
396
477
478
493
498
506
512
525
527
531
533
489
490
500
505
509
512
520
519
518
517
481
487
501
505
522
531
543
553
561
562
468
461
488
491
499
505
525
532
538
542
459
455
474
478
483
492
503
506
503
506
392
387
409
394
391
419
435
429
443
444
1990 1……………………………
1991………………………………
1992………………………………
1993…………………………….
1994 1……………………………
1995………………………………
1996………………………………
1997 1……………………………
1998 1……………………………
1999 1……………………………
502
512
518
523
520
516
518
523
546
554
368
372
364
363
359
350
352
354
365
379
287
286
279
273
276
273
276
291
298
312
389
392
382
385
378
370
370
372
382
402
535
541
545
552
549
544
550
560
580
582
516
518
521
525
518
513
515
518
540
551
566
570
570
579
584
577
574
585
595
589
547
556
569
585
587
590
596
600
617
626
504
507
513
525
519
513
521
525
570
576
435
446
448
445
439
449
414
422
419
433
2000 1……………………………
2001………………………………
2002………………………………
2003 1……………………………
2004 1……………………………
2005 1……………………………
559
565
575
586
592
585
391
389
398
394
387
381
320
318
320
318
303
304
415
414
418
411
404
396
585
598
617
620
619
612
559
565
575
580
580
573
590
603
620
627
628
621
640
648
653
646
646
644
576
591
623
638
635
639
445
431
467
462
494
492
WOMEN
See footnotes at end of table.
25
Table 12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2005) dollars by sex and age,
1979-2005 annual averages—Continued
Total,
16 years
and
older
Year and sex
16 to 24 years
Total
16 to 19
years
25 years and older
20 to 24
years
Total
25 to 34
years
35 to 44
years
45 to 54
years
55 to 64
years
65 years
and
older
MEN
1979………………………………
$727
$489
$386
$526
$783
$737
$837
$842
$779
$546
1980………………………………
1981………………………………
1982…………………………….
1983………………………………
1984………………………………
1985………………………………
1986 1……………………………
1987…………………………….
1988………………………………
1989……………………………
701
696
706
704
701
704
713
712
712
711
467
448
436
415
414
416
418
422
414
412
363
344
329
312
312
316
316
322
325
318
502
486
473
449
448
447
449
451
442
441
761
761
762
756
755
766
787
784
773
760
705
696
693
689
684
681
683
676
667
659
823
814
818
822
843
842
848
838
820
824
822
812
811
825
840
846
860
854
870
864
773
773
773
774
786
809
824
813
806
792
513
546
582
573
586
635
609
624
626
598
1990 ……………………………
1991………………………………
1992………………………………
1993…………………………….
1994 1……………………………
1995………………………………
1996………………………………
1997 1……………………………
1998 1……………………………
1999 1……………………………
697
690
683
679
681
685
690
702
716
724
408
399
387
383
383
386
381
385
399
417
316
306
298
293
297
311
311
318
337
341
432
419
406
403
400
401
398
410
427
444
742
732
731
738
751
748
743
746
764
782
651
641
636
633
625
623
618
625
651
676
812
805
793
792
805
794
784
790
810
822
857
857
864
869
874
871
865
865
875
893
791
788
790
779
786
792
796
811
836
849
583
653
574
600
575
561
592
548
577
551
2000 1……………………………
2001………………………………
2002………………………………
2003 1……………………………
2004 1……………………………
2005 1……………………………
726
739
737
737
736
722
425
431
425
423
413
409
347
352
339
341
328
330
447
450
445
438
430
422
786
794
795
790
787
771
678
680
681
667
660
644
825
831
825
823
830
822
874
881
876
885
885
853
833
838
871
878
870
855
592
623
633
649
662
644
1
WOMEN'S EARNINGS
AS PERCENT OF MEN'S
2
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………………………………
1986 1……………………………
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
1990 1……………………………
1991………………………………
1992………………………………
1993…………………………….
1994 1……………………………
1995………………………………
1996………………………………
1997 1……………………………
1998 1……………………………
1999 1……………………………
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
2000 1……………………………
2001………………………………
2002………………………………
2003 1……………………………
2004 1……………………………
2005 1……………………………
77.0
76.4
77.9
79.5
80.3
81.0
92.0
90.2
93.7
93.3
93.7
93.2
92.3
90.3
94.5
93.2
92.2
92.1
92.8
91.9
93.9
94.0
93.8
94.0
74.5
75.3
77.6
78.5
78.7
79.4
82.5
83.0
84.4
87.0
87.9
89.1
71.5
72.6
75.2
76.2
75.6
75.6
73.2
73.5
74.5
73.0
73.0
75.4
69.2
70.5
71.5
72.6
73.0
74.7
75.1
69.1
73.8
71.2
74.6
76.4
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 2006 and subsequent issues of Employment and
Earnings , a monthly BLS periodical.
2
These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ
26
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.
Table 13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2005)
dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2005 annual averages
Year and sex
Total,
16 years
and older
Black or
African
American
White
Hispanic
or
Latino
Asian
#
#
BOTH SEXES
1979………………………………………
$601
$617
$496
—
$483
1980………………………………………
1981………………………………………
1982………………………………………
1983………………………………………
1984………………………………………
1985………………………………………
1986 1……………………………….........
1987………………………………………
1988………………………………………
1989………………………………………
587
581
586
582
583
595
610
614
611
606
602
595
600
595
602
615
630
631
626
622
476
481
475
486
481
480
495
494
498
485
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
469
457
465
464
464
467
471
468
460
453
1990 1………………………………………
1991………………………………………
1992………………………………………
1993………………………………………
1994 1………………………………………
1995………………………………………
1996………………………………………
1997 1………………………………………
1998 1………………………………………
1999 1………………………………………
597
595
601
610
609
609
608
611
625
643
614
619
625
632
630
629
626
630
652
671
477
487
486
491
484
487
480
485
509
521
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
440
437
439
440
423
418
420
426
443
451
2000 1………………………………………
2001………………………………………
2002………………………………………
2003 1………………………………………
2004 1………………………………………
2005 1………………………………………
653
657
660
658
659
651
669
673
677
676
679
672
538
541
540
546
542
520
$697
705
715
736
732
753
452
460
460
467
471
471
1979………………………………………
454
459
422
—
392
1980………………………………………
1981………………………………………
1982………………………………………
1983………………………………………
1984………………………………………
1985………………………………………
1986 1………………………………………
1987………………………………………
1988………………………………………
1989………………………………………
451
449
463
468
474
480
494
498
499
498
455
452
469
473
480
487
501
505
505
507
415
422
421
431
431
437
449
453
457
458
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
387
389
394
399
399
397
411
413
413
409
1990 1………………………………………
1991………………………………………
1992………………………………………
1993………………………………………
1994 1………………………………………
1995………………………………………
1996………………………………………
1997 1………………………………………
1998 1………………………………………
1999 1………………………………………
502
512
518
523
520
516
518
523
546
554
512
521
527
533
532
527
530
539
560
566
447
451
457
462
451
451
449
455
478
479
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
403
409
412
416
397
388
392
386
403
407
2000 1………………………………………
2001………………………………………
2002………………………………………
2003 1………………………………………
2004 1………………………………………
2005 1………………………………………
559
565
575
586
592
585
569
575
594
602
603
596
487
501
514
521
522
499
620
621
615
635
633
665
416
428
431
435
432
429
WOMEN
See footnotes at end of table.
27
Table 13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2005)
dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2005 annual averages—Continued
Year and sex
Total,
16 years
and older
Black or
African
American
White
Hispanic
or
Latino
Asian
#
#
MEN
1979………………………………………
$727
$744
$567
—
$547
1980………………………………………
1981………………………………………
1982………………………………………
1983………………………………………
1984………………………………………
1985………………………………………
1986 1……………………………….........
1987………………………………………
1988………………………………………
1989………………………………………
701
696
706
704
701
704
713
712
712
711
717
717
728
720
717
722
737
740
737
732
548
550
539
546
542
527
542
537
551
529
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
525
515
520
510
513
511
509
503
488
478
1990 1………………………………………
1991………………………………………
1992………………………………………
1993………………………………………
1994 1………………………………………
1995………………………………………
1996………………………………………
1997 1………………………………………
1998 1………………………………………
1999 1………………………………………
697
690
683
679
681
685
690
702
716
724
716
707
701
697
713
721
719
722
735
748
522
524
519
521
522
523
510
524
559
572
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
461
452
462
460
447
445
441
451
466
475
2000 1………………………………………
2001………………………………………
2002………………………………………
2003 1………………………………………
2004 1………………………………………
2005 1………………………………………
726
739
737
737
736
722
750
760
762
759
756
743
578
584
568
589
587
559
$776
808
821
819
828
825
472
485
490
493
496
489
WOMEN'S EARNINGS
2
AS PERCENT OF MEN'S
1979………………………………………
62.5
61.7
74.3
—
71.7
1980………………………………………
1981………………………………………
1982………………………………………
1983………………………………………
1984………………………………………
1985………………………………………
1986 1……………………………….........
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
1990 1………………………………………
1991………………………………………
1992………………………………………
1993………………………………………
1994 1………………………………………
1995………………………………………
1996………………………………………
1997 1………………………………………
1998 1………………………………………
1999 1………………………………………
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
2000 1………………………………………
2001………………………………………
2002………………………………………
2003 1………………………………………
2004 1………………………………………
2005 1………………………………………
77.0
76.4
77.9
79.5
80.3
81.0
75.8
75.6
78.0
79.4
79.8
80.2
84.2
85.8
90.4
88.4
88.9
89.2
79.9
76.9
74.9
77.5
76.4
80.6
88.0
88.2
88.1
88.3
87.1
87.7
See footnotes at end of table.
28
— Data not available.
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 2006 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: As of 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 race groups
do 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
2000-2002 are for the category Asians and Pacific
Islanders. As of 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 older in constant (2005)
dollars by sex and educational attainment, 1979-2005 annual averages
Year and sex
Total,
25 years
and older
High
school,
no college 1
Less than a
high school
diploma
Bachelor's
degree and
higher 2
Some college
or associate
degree
#
#
BOTH SEXES
1979………………………………………………………………………
$661
$524
$620
$703
$858
1980………………………………………………………………………
1981………………………………………………………………………
1982………………………………………………………………………
1983………………………………………………………………………
1984………………………………………………………………………
1985………………………………………………………………………
1986 3 ……………………………….................................................
1987………………………………………………………………………
1988………………………………………………………………………
1989………………………………………………………………………
642
632
634
638
647
655
665
662
657
650
498
491
480
476
471
467
473
466
457
452
597
587
585
579
577
577
584
585
583
570
681
664
680
674
683
689
696
691
682
688
844
833
848
857
869
875
892
925
928
926
1990 3 ……………………………………………………………………
1991………………………………………………………………………
1992………………………………………………………………………
1993………………………………………………………………………
1994 3 ……………………………………………………………………
1995………………………………………………………………………
1996………………………………………………………………………
1997 3 ……………………………………………………………………
1998 3 ……………………………………………………………………
1999 3 ……………………………………………………………………
650
653
653
653
651
649
645
655
684
693
439
430
424
418
401
393
393
389
403
405
559
555
550
552
549
549
549
559
573
574
690
685
661
657
650
646
641
649
667
679
924
931
949
950
956
950
940
946
982
1,007
2000 3 ……………………………………………………………………
2001………………………………………………………………………
2002………………………………………………………………………
2003 3 ……………………………………………………………………
2004 3 ……………………………………………………………………
2005 3 ……………………………………………………………………
690
695
702
703
706
696
410
422
422
421
414
409
573
574
581
588
593
583
676
680
683
678
682
670
1,010
1,015
1,021
1,023
1,019
1,013
1979………………………………………………………………………
486
378
461
525
658
1980………………………………………………………………………
1981………………………………………………………………………
1982………………………………………………………………………
1983………………………………………………………………………
1984………………………………………………………………………
1985………………………………………………………………………
1986 3 ……………………………….................................................
1987………………………………………………………………………
1988………………………………………………………………………
1989………………………………………………………………………
477
478
493
498
506
512
525
527
531
533
367
358
357
362
357
350
353
352
350
352
450
445
457
458
463
463
471
472
472
463
518
523
532
535
545
549
561
570
570
576
650
652
672
686
698
717
741
765
769
771
1990 3 ……………………………………………………………………
1991………………………………………………………………………
1992………………………………………………………………………
1993………………………………………………………………………
1994 3 ……………………………………………………………………
1995………………………………………………………………………
1996………………………………………………………………………
1997 3 ……………………………………………………………………
1998 3 ……………………………………………………………………
1999 3 ……………………………………………………………………
535
541
545
552
549
544
550
560
580
582
348
349
349
350
335
333
332
334
338
339
456
459
459
461
458
453
452
459
474
474
572
571
556
561
551
543
547
557
570
572
776
786
810
812
827
819
814
816
846
866
2000 3 ……………………………………………………………………
2001………………………………………………………………………
2002………………………………………………………………………
2003 3 ……………………………………………………………………
2004 3 ……………………………………………………………………
2005 3 ……………………………………………………………………
585
598
617
620
619
612
345
348
353
349
345
341
477
488
497
504
504
493
573
573
590
595
596
587
857
867
878
883
888
883
WOMEN
See footnotes at end of table.
30
Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and older in constant (2005)
dollars by sex and educational attainment, 1979-2005 annual averages—Continued
Year and sex
Total,
25 years
and older
Less than a
high school
diploma
High
school,
1
no college
Bachelor's
degree and
higher 2
Some college
or associate
degree
#
#
MEN
1979………………………………………………………………………
$783
$629
$769
$821
$987
1980………………………………………………………………………
1981………………………………………………………………………
1982………………………………………………………………………
1983………………………………………………………………………
1984………………………………………………………………………
1985………………………………………………………………………
1986 3 ……………………………….................................................
1987………………………………………………………………………
1988………………………………………………………………………
1989………………………………………………………………………
761
761
762
756
755
766
787
784
773
760
600
586
569
560
551
543
546
532
527
526
734
730
725
721
713
705
707
694
692
684
803
797
797
785
797
816
826
816
797
786
958
974
975
964
1,005
1,021
1,051
1,072
1,076
1,072
1990 3 ……………………………………………………………………
1991………………………………………………………………………
1992………………………………………………………………………
1993………………………………………………………………………
1994 3 ……………………………………………………………………
1995………………………………………………………………………
1996………………………………………………………………………
1997 3 ……………………………………………………………………
1998 3 ……………………………………………………………………
1999 3 ……………………………………………………………………
742
732
731
738
751
748
743
746
764
782
506
488
479
474
446
441
442
443
458
462
665
658
653
647
647
645
640
649
668
679
786
787
757
761
765
758
749
754
770
778
1,074
1,069
1,079
1,072
1,077
1,075
1,083
1,087
1,123
1,144
2000 3 ……………………………………………………………………
2001………………………………………………………………………
2002………………………………………………………………………
2003 3 ……………………………………………………………………
2004 3 ……………………………………………………………………
2005 3 ……………………………………………………………………
786
794
795
790
787
771
461
462
457
456
461
455
670
671
670
667
666
652
783
797
794
785
787
766
1,157
1,177
1,184
1,201
1,181
1,167
1979………………………………………………………………………
62.1
60.2
60.0
64.0
66.6
1980………………………………………………………………………
1981………………………………………………………………………
1982………………………………………………………………………
1983………………………………………………………………………
1984………………………………………………………………………
1985………………………………………………………………………
1986 3 ……………………………….................................................
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
1990 3 ……………………………………………………………………
1991………………………………………………………………………
1992………………………………………………………………………
1993………………………………………………………………………
1994 3 ……………………………………………………………………
1995………………………………………………………………………
1996………………………………………………………………………
1997 3 ……………………………………………………………………
1998 3 ……………………………………………………………………
1999 3 ……………………………………………………………………
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
2000 3 ……………………………………………………………………
2001………………………………………………………………………
2002………………………………………………………………………
2003 3 ……………………………………………………………………
2004 3 ……………………………………………………………………
2005 3 ……………………………………………………………………
74.5
75.3
77.6
78.5
78.7
79.4
74.9
75.4
77.1
76.7
74.9
75.1
71.2
72.7
74.3
75.6
75.6
75.6
73.1
71.9
74.3
75.7
75.8
76.6
74.1
73.7
74.2
73.6
75.2
75.7
WOMEN'S EARNINGS
4
AS PERCENT OF MEN'S
1
Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
issues of Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS periodical.
2
Includes persons with a bachelor's, master's, professional, or 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 2006 and subsequent
31
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.
Table 15. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2005) dollars by sex and age,
1979-2005 annual averages
Total,
16 years
and
older
16 to 24 years
25 years and older
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
older
1979……………………………… $11.09
$8.72
$7.77
$10.06
$12.77
$13.00
$13.23
$12.89
$12.41
$8.08
1980………………………………
1981………………………………
1982…………………………….
1983………………………………
1984………………………………
1985………………………………
1986 1 ……………………………
1987…………………………….
1988………………………………
1989……………………………
10.84
10.57
10.48
10.42
10.45
10.45
10.57
10.63
10.67
10.64
8.35
8.15
7.87
7.60
7.49
7.39
7.52
7.55
7.60
7.54
7.25
7.35
7.00
6.73
6.55
6.37
6.32
6.27
6.39
6.43
9.64
9.46
9.06
8.73
8.64
8.57
8.63
8.57
8.54
8.61
12.46
12.30
12.19
12.19
12.25
12.21
12.31
12.26
12.28
12.09
12.71
12.50
12.32
12.09
12.12
11.99
11.94
11.83
11.80
11.62
12.93
12.73
12.84
12.86
12.85
12.98
13.26
13.05
12.97
13.03
12.70
12.34
12.46
12.53
12.68
12.78
13.17
12.93
12.95
12.81
12.11
11.92
11.86
11.93
11.86
11.97
12.20
12.19
11.87
11.90
8.01
8.05
8.00
8.19
8.30
8.21
8.46
8.36
8.31
8.25
1990 1 ……………………………
1991………………………………
1992………………………………
1993…………………………….
1994 1 ……………………………
1995………………………………
1996………………………………
1997 1 ……………………………
1998 1 ……………………………
1999 1 ……………………………
10.50
10.51
10.54
10.47
10.46
10.41
10.42
10.63
10.90
11.17
7.49
7.38
7.34
7.33
7.34
7.39
7.37
7.47
7.88
8.06
6.53
6.57
6.46
6.39
6.41
6.42
6.41
6.69
7.04
7.13
8.58
8.41
8.25
8.19
8.13
8.18
8.31
8.39
8.67
9.08
11.85
11.88
11.93
11.91
11.91
11.92
11.93
11.99
12.13
12.28
11.47
11.26
11.16
11.01
10.94
11.09
10.94
10.99
11.55
11.69
12.79
12.83
12.81
12.79
12.95
12.76
12.58
12.58
13.00
12.92
12.76
12.75
13.00
13.13
13.08
12.90
12.70
12.88
13.12
13.28
11.64
11.46
11.59
11.85
11.78
11.71
11.64
11.82
12.07
12.16
8.35
8.32
8.39
8.51
8.34
8.48
8.40
8.38
8.87
9.03
2000 1 ……………………………
2001………………………………
2002………………………………
2003 1 ……………………………
2004 1 ……………………………
2005 1 ……………………………
11.23
11.23
11.37
11.52
11.36
11.19
8.21
8.48
8.48
8.39
8.25
8.07
7.27
7.45
7.50
7.35
7.23
7.05
9.15
9.24
9.20
9.19
9.07
8.91
12.33
12.57
12.84
12.80
12.63
12.48
11.54
11.76
11.92
11.94
11.75
11.76
12.87
13.20
13.23
13.22
13.32
13.11
13.40
13.42
13.53
13.77
13.66
13.48
12.27
12.54
12.87
12.94
13.00
12.95
9.12
9.41
9.85
9.76
9.94
9.93
1979………………………………
9.04
7.97
7.57
8.79
9.74
10.10
9.92
9.60
9.38
7.81
1980………………………………
1981………………………………
1982…………………………….
1983………………………………
1984………………………………
1985………………………………
1986 1 ……………………………
1987…………………………….
1988………………………………
1989……………………………
8.89
8.78
8.95
8.95
8.90
8.90
9.09
9.21
9.27
9.30
7.75
7.61
7.35
7.11
7.04
6.95
7.00
6.94
7.12
7.15
7.06
7.23
6.90
6.62
6.44
6.26
6.22
6.10
6.21
6.24
8.53
8.41
8.14
7.93
7.82
7.91
8.03
8.05
8.02
7.96
9.53
9.63
9.76
9.74
9.83
9.94
10.13
10.14
10.22
10.32
9.98
10.04
10.08
10.13
10.04
10.03
10.13
10.10
10.10
10.17
9.63
9.80
9.86
9.88
10.05
10.24
10.44
10.44
10.73
10.80
9.50
9.43
9.62
9.67
9.88
9.98
10.20
10.32
10.45
10.51
9.17
9.09
9.32
9.44
9.45
9.46
9.80
9.92
9.65
9.70
7.61
7.63
7.64
7.76
7.84
7.69
8.07
7.98
8.13
7.82
1990 1 ……………………………
1991………………………………
1992………………………………
1993…………………………….
1994 1 ……………………………
1995………………………………
1996………………………………
1997 1 ……………………………
1998 1 ……………………………
1999 1 ……………………………
9.35
9.45
9.50
9.48
9.46
9.50
9.59
9.65
9.86
10.13
7.19
7.13
7.06
7.02
6.95
6.99
7.05
7.23
7.47
7.74
6.32
6.50
6.41
6.30
6.31
6.30
6.32
6.59
6.92
7.01
8.09
7.99
7.89
7.94
7.81
7.76
7.77
7.96
8.30
8.46
10.26
10.28
10.46
10.48
10.50
10.41
10.46
10.64
10.94
11.17
10.17
10.07
10.18
10.14
10.16
10.09
10.00
9.96
10.54
10.67
10.69
10.83
10.91
10.86
11.02
10.99
11.03
11.11
11.57
11.52
10.39
10.65
10.84
10.89
11.04
11.11
11.09
11.25
11.71
11.67
9.76
9.74
9.84
10.07
10.20
10.11
10.01
10.09
10.59
10.94
7.91
8.06
8.16
8.23
8.15
8.22
8.01
8.30
8.63
8.80
2000 1 ……………………………
2001………………………………
2002………………………………
2003 1 ……………………………
2004 1 ……………………………
2005 1 ……………………………
10.28
10.62
10.74
10.70
10.50
10.31
7.94
7.99
8.09
8.06
7.97
7.80
7.07
7.29
7.38
7.27
7.09
6.92
8.84
8.82
8.81
8.70
8.59
8.50
11.22
11.25
11.63
11.69
11.60
11.58
10.99
10.96
10.99
11.16
10.97
10.86
11.37
11.51
11.92
11.86
11.83
11.84
11.54
11.97
12.13
12.51
12.35
12.13
11.16
11.45
11.74
11.73
11.95
11.86
8.92
8.98
9.48
9.39
9.46
9.82
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 (2005) dollars by sex and age,
1979-2005 annual averages—Continued
Total,
16 years
and
older
16 to 24 years
25 years and older
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
older
1979……………………………… $14.12
$9.76
$7.98
$11.60
$16.71
$15.93
$17.78
$17.73
$16.45
$8.91
1980………………………………
1981………………………………
1982…………………………….
1983………………………………
1984………………………………
1985………………………………
1986 1 ……………………………
1987…………………………….
1988………………………………
1989……………………………
13.69
13.47
13.30
12.88
12.76
12.70
12.92
12.78
12.56
12.32
9.22
8.86
8.50
8.16
8.19
8.12
8.17
8.07
7.99
7.87
7.59
7.48
7.11
6.84
6.67
6.51
6.51
6.51
6.58
6.68
11.05
10.49
9.95
9.40
9.26
9.07
9.25
9.34
9.20
9.16
16.21
15.97
15.68
15.47
15.40
15.33
15.35
15.07
14.88
14.77
15.55
15.05
14.88
14.41
14.12
13.85
13.68
13.58
13.34
13.03
17.53
17.02
17.24
17.15
17.03
16.98
17.01
16.59
16.22
16.12
17.47
17.43
17.24
17.05
17.35
17.27
17.27
16.83
16.96
16.55
16.25
16.17
15.80
16.27
15.88
15.66
16.24
15.97
15.46
15.21
8.52
8.66
8.67
8.85
8.80
8.64
8.83
8.75
8.77
8.98
1990 1 ……………………………
1991………………………………
1992………………………………
1993…………………………….
1994 1 ……………………………
1995………………………………
1996………………………………
1997 1 ……………………………
1998 1 ……………………………
1999 1 ……………………………
12.00
12.03
11.84
11.80
11.75
11.75
11.81
11.94
12.04
12.09
7.90
7.81
7.72
7.66
7.67
7.70
7.66
7.83
8.28
8.35
6.74
6.65
6.56
6.49
6.51
6.56
6.52
6.82
7.16
7.25
8.97
8.73
8.53
8.44
8.57
8.69
8.68
8.72
9.31
9.42
14.28
13.97
13.74
13.55
13.43
13.66
13.37
13.49
14.03
14.07
12.82
12.52
12.32
12.11
11.88
12.05
12.03
12.05
12.24
12.70
15.57
15.38
14.93
14.86
15.01
15.14
14.77
14.66
14.94
14.98
16.15
16.39
16.41
16.17
15.79
15.68
15.38
15.55
15.61
16.03
14.76
14.11
14.18
14.59
14.43
14.15
13.83
14.33
14.63
14.31
8.83
8.71
8.82
8.93
8.67
8.73
8.73
8.46
9.27
9.22
2000 1 ……………………………
2001………………………………
2002………………………………
2003 1 ……………………………
2004 1 ……………………………
2005 1 ……………………………
12.25
12.48
12.64
12.62
12.41
12.16
8.65
8.83
8.74
8.64
8.48
8.42
7.53
7.61
7.63
7.45
7.39
7.21
9.52
9.84
9.64
9.55
9.37
9.20
13.88
14.20
14.17
14.06
14.20
13.91
12.44
12.76
12.91
12.75
12.43
12.17
14.90
15.35
15.16
15.00
15.09
14.88
15.76
15.71
15.64
15.85
15.61
15.13
14.52
14.28
14.53
14.96
15.02
14.79
9.42
9.93
10.62
10.39
10.23
10.04
Year and sex
MEN
WOMEN'S EARNINGS
AS PERCENT OF MEN'S 2
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………………………………
1986 1 ……………………………
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
1990 1 ……………………………
1991………………………………
1992………………………………
1993…………………………….
1994 1 ……………………………
1995………………………………
1996………………………………
1997 1 ……………………………
1998 1 ……………………………
1999 1 ……………………………
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
2000 1 ……………………………
2001………………………………
2002………………………………
2003 1 ……………………………
2004 1 ……………………………
2005 1 ……………………………
83.9
85.1
85.0
84.8
84.6
84.8
91.8
90.5
92.5
93.2
93.9
92.6
93.8
95.8
96.8
97.6
95.9
96.0
92.9
89.6
91.4
91.1
91.7
92.3
80.8
79.2
82.1
83.1
81.7
83.3
88.3
85.9
85.1
87.6
88.3
89.2
76.3
75.0
78.6
79.0
78.4
79.6
73.2
76.2
77.6
79.0
79.1
80.1
76.8
80.2
80.8
78.4
79.6
80.2
94.6
90.4
89.2
90.4
92.5
97.7
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 2006 and subsequent issues of Employment and
Earnings , a monthly BLS periodical.
2
These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ
33
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.
Table 16. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant
(2005) dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2005 annual averages
Year and sex
Total,
16 years
and older
Black or
African
American
White
Hispanic
or
Latino
Asian
#
#
BOTH SEXES
1979………………………………………
$11.09
$11.26
$10.27
—
$10.19
1980………………………………………
1981………………………………………
1982………………………………………
1983………………………………………
1984………………………………………
1985………………………………………
1986 1……………………………….........
1987………………………………………
1988………………………………………
1989………………………………………
10.84
10.57
10.48
10.42
10.45
10.45
10.57
10.63
10.67
10.64
10.96
10.64
10.62
10.55
10.57
10.57
10.69
10.79
10.81
10.78
9.99
10.07
9.83
9.58
9.61
9.53
9.89
9.85
9.76
9.78
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
9.97
9.87
9.73
9.48
9.45
9.48
9.63
9.58
9.45
9.25
1990 1………………………………………
1991………………………………………
1992………………………………………
1993………………………………………
1994 1………………………………………
1995………………………………………
1996………………………………………
1997 1………………………………………
1998 1………………………………………
1999 1………………………………………
10.50
10.51
10.54
10.47
10.46
10.41
10.42
10.63
10.90
11.17
10.64
10.66
10.68
10.61
10.58
10.59
10.63
10.79
11.04
11.41
9.88
9.80
9.64
9.56
9.52
9.76
9.63
9.73
10.05
10.37
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
9.11
9.05
9.08
9.09
9.04
8.92
8.90
8.98
9.49
9.47
2000 1………………………………………
2001………………………………………
2002………………………………………
2003 1………………………………………
2004 1………………………………………
2005 1………………………………………
11.23
11.23
11.37
11.52
11.36
11.19
11.30
11.31
11.63
11.64
11.50
11.48
10.59
10.78
10.78
10.78
10.53
10.17
1979………………………………………
9.04
9.05
8.87
—
8.60
1980………………………………………
1981………………………………………
1982………………………………………
1983………………………………………
1984………………………………………
1985………………………………………
1986 1………………………………………
1987………………………………………
1988………………………………………
1989………………………………………
8.89
8.78
8.95
8.95
8.90
8.90
9.09
9.21
9.27
9.30
8.90
8.80
8.96
8.95
8.92
8.91
9.12
9.24
9.31
9.34
8.72
8.61
8.73
8.79
8.74
8.74
8.81
8.89
8.91
8.95
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
8.49
8.42
8.42
8.24
8.34
8.36
8.52
8.40
8.38
8.42
1990 1………………………………………
1991………………………………………
1992………………………………………
1993………………………………………
1994 1………………………………………
1995………………………………………
1996………………………………………
1997 1………………………………………
1998 1………………………………………
1999 1………………………………………
9.35
9.45
9.50
9.48
9.46
9.50
9.59
9.65
9.86
10.13
9.38
9.47
9.55
9.53
9.58
9.61
9.67
9.72
9.98
10.23
9.04
9.17
9.07
9.15
9.05
9.07
8.93
9.22
9.46
9.54
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
8.42
8.38
8.44
8.41
8.36
8.41
8.40
8.28
8.64
8.75
2000 1………………………………………
2001………………………………………
2002………………………………………
2003 1………………………………………
2004 1………………………………………
2005 1………………………………………
10.28
10.62
10.74
10.70
10.50
10.31
10.31
10.73
10.79
10.74
10.55
10.50
10.04
10.09
10.26
10.51
10.26
9.93
11.08
11.10
10.97
11.34
10.92
11.64
8.95
9.13
9.27
9.42
9.34
9.18
$11.41
11.85
11.25
11.80
11.47
12.01
9.68
9.99
10.01
10.36
10.13
9.95
WOMEN
See footnotes at end of table.
34
Table 16. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in
constant (2005) dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2005
annual averages—Continued
Year and sex
Total,
16 years
and older
Black or
African
American
White
Hispanic
or
Latino
Asian
#
#
MEN
1979………………………………………
$14.12
$14.47
$12.21
—
$11.97
1980………………………………………
1981………………………………………
1982………………………………………
1983………………………………………
1984………………………………………
1985………………………………………
1986 1……………………………….........
1987………………………………………
1988………………………………………
1989………………………………………
13.69
13.47
13.30
12.88
12.76
12.70
12.92
12.78
12.56
12.32
13.98
13.77
13.55
13.16
13.00
13.14
13.26
13.04
12.79
12.60
11.63
11.92
11.60
11.09
11.03
10.65
11.19
11.08
11.01
10.77
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
11.29
11.02
11.13
10.82
10.81
10.52
10.55
10.47
10.33
10.13
1990 1………………………………………
1991………………………………………
1992………………………………………
1993………………………………………
1994 1………………………………………
1995………………………………………
1996………………………………………
1997 1………………………………………
1998 1………………………………………
1999 1………………………………………
12.00
12.03
11.84
11.80
11.75
11.75
11.81
11.94
12.04
12.09
12.41
12.35
12.14
12.08
12.02
12.26
12.14
12.10
12.18
12.44
10.70
10.60
10.41
10.21
10.34
10.39
10.15
10.54
10.88
11.46
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
9.79
9.64
9.55
9.48
9.36
9.25
9.45
9.60
9.87
10.10
2000 1………………………………………
2001………………………………………
2002………………………………………
2003 1………………………………………
2004 1………………………………………
2005 1………………………………………
12.25
12.48
12.64
12.62
12.41
12.16
12.41
12.80
12.88
12.77
12.56
12.47
11.32
11.22
11.12
11.47
11.24
10.90
$12.24
13.06
11.97
12.62
12.30
12.75
10.25
10.66
10.77
10.65
10.35
10.19
WOMEN'S EARNINGS
AS PERCENT OF MEN'S 2
1979………………………………………
64.0
62.6
72.6
—
71.8
1980………………………………………
1981………………………………………
1982………………………………………
1983………………………………………
1984………………………………………
1985………………………………………
1986 1……………………………….........
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
1990 1………………………………………
1991………………………………………
1992………………………………………
1993………………………………………
1994 1………………………………………
1995………………………………………
1996………………………………………
1997 1………………………………………
1998 1………………………………………
1999 1………………………………………
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
2000 1………………………………………
2001………………………………………
2002………………………………………
2003 1………………………………………
2004 1………………………………………
2005 1………………………………………
83.9
85.1
85.0
84.8
84.6
84.8
83.0
83.9
83.8
84.1
84.0
84.2
88.7
89.9
92.3
91.6
91.3
91.1
90.6
85.0
91.7
89.8
88.8
91.3
87.4
85.7
86.1
88.5
90.2
90.0
See footnotes at end of table.
35
— Data not available.
included. Prior to 2003, persons who reported more
than one race were included in the group they identified
as the main race. Estimates for race groups do 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 2000-2002 are
for the category Asians and Pacific Islanders. As of
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 (CPIU-RS) is used to convert current dollars to constant
dollars. See Technical Note.
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 2006 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: As of 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
36
Table 17. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by
sex, 1979-2005 annual averages
(Numbers in thousands)
Workers paid hourly rates
Year and sex
Total
wage and
salary
workers
Percent
of total
wage and
salary
workers
Total
Below
prevailing
Federal
minimum
wage
At
prevailing
Federal
minimum
wage
Total at or below prevailing
Federal minimum wage
Number
Percent of
workers
paid hourly
rates
BOTH SEXES
87,529
51,721
59.1
2,916
3,997
6,912
13.4
87,644
1980………………………………………………
1981………………………………………………
88,516
1982………………………………………………
87,368
88,290
1983………………………………………………
1984………………………………………………
92,194
1985………………………………………………
94,521
19861 ……………………………………………… 96,903
1987………………………………………………
99,303
1988……………………………………………… 101,407
1989……………………………………………… 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
2,132
2,377
1,939
1,707
1,995
1,699
2 1,863
2 2,990
2,834
2,194
2 1,096
2
20001 …………………………………………….
2001………………………………………………
2002………………………………………………
20031 ………………………………………………
20041 ………………………………………………
20051 ………………………………………………
122,089
122,229
121,826
122,358
123,554
125,889
73,496
73,392
72,508
72,946
73,939
75,609
60.2
60.0
59.5
59.6
59.8
60.1
1,752
1,518
1,579
1,555
1,483
1,403
898
656
567
545
520
479
2,650
2,174
2,146
2,100
2,003
1,882
3.6
3.0
3.0
2.9
2.7
2.5
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
2 1,420
2
1,582
1,286
1,133
1,322
1,157
2 1,244
2
1,843
1,794
1,426
2 1,792
1,751
1,534
1,241
1,161
2 1,106
2 1,092
965
700
3,374
3,036
2,667
2,563
2,318
2 2,350
2 2,935
2,760
2,126
20001 …………………………………………….
2001………………………………………………
2002………………………………………………
20031 ………………………………………………
20041 ………………………………………………
20051 ………………………………………………
58,427
58,582
58,555
59,122
59,408
60,423
36,777
36,848
36,508
37,093
37,133
37,957
62.9
62.9
62.3
62.7
62.5
62.8
1,170
1,021
997
1,062
1,013
944
579
409
350
332
310
290
1,749
1,430
1,347
1,394
1,323
1,234
1979………………………………………………
2
2
2,906
2,982
2,625
2,132
1,956
2 1,861
2 1,764
1,593
1,146
2
2
3,228
5,283
4,921
4,332
4,128
3,656
2 3,724
2
4,754
4,427
3,340
2
2
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
711
2 2,131
2
2 6.9
2
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
3.3
Table 17. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by
sex, 1979-2005 annual averages—Continued
(Numbers in thousands)
Workers paid hourly rates
Year and sex
Total
wage and
salary
workers
Percent
of total
wage and
salary
workers
Total
Below
prevailing
Federal
minimum
wage
At
prevailing
Federal
minimum
wage
Total at or below prevailing
Federal minimum wage
Number
Percent of
workers
paid hourly
rates
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
2
712
795
653
573
674
542
2
619
2 1,147
1,039
768
2 3.4
2
20001 …………………………………………….
2001………………………………………………
2002………………………………………………
20031 ………………………………………………
20041 ………………………………………………
20051 ………………………………………………
63,662
63,647
63,272
63,236
64,145
65,466
36,720
36,544
36,000
35,853
36,806
37,652
57.7
57.4
56.9
56.7
57.4
57.5
582
497
582
493
470
459
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 2006 and subsequent
issues of Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS periodical.
2
2
385
2 1,097
2 1,114
2
2 1,909
1,231
1,091
891
796
2
755
2
673
628
446
1,885
1,664
1,565
1,338
2
1,374
2
1,820
1,667
1,214
6.0
5.9
5.1
4.7
3.9
2
3.9
2
5.1
4.7
3.4
319
247
217
213
210
189
901
744
799
706
680
648
2.5
2.0
2.2
2.0
1.8
1.7
that 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.
Data for 1990-91 and 1996-97 reflect changes in the minimum wage
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.
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 24year-olds 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.
• 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.
Concepts and definitions
The principal concepts and definitions used in connection
with the earnings data in this report are described below.
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). Selfemployed 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 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. While these improvements make the
present and future CPI more accurate, historical price index
series are not adjusted to reflect the improvements. Because
many researchers need a historical series that measures price
change consistently over the entire period, the CPI-U-RS
provides an estimate of the CPI that incorporates most of
the methodological improvements made since 1978 into the
entire series. For further 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
Internet 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 calculated
39
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
constant-dollar earnings estimates in this report may differ
from that in previous reports in this series or in other
publications.
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 that took place 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 the 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, there is a chance that the sample
estimates may differ from the “true” population values they
represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies
depending on the particular sample selected, and this
variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.
There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence,
that an estimate based on a sample will differ by no more
than 1.6 standard errors from the “true” population value
because of sampling error. BLS analyses 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 numbers 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.
The prevailing Federal minimum wage was: $2.90 effective
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