1

Technical information: (202) 691-6378

http://www.bls.gov/cps/

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 04-46

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Friday, January 16, 2004

USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS:

FOURTH QUARTER 2003

Median weekly earnings of the nation’s 100.4 million full-time wage and salary workers were $625 in the

fourth quarter of 2003, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This

was 2.0 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 1.9 percent in the Consumer Price Index

for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) over the same period.

Data on usual earnings are collected as part of the Current Population Survey, a nationwide sample

survey of households in which respondents are asked, among other things, how much each wage and salary

worker usually earns. (See the Explanatory Note.) Highlights from the fourth-quarter data are:

—Women who usually worked full time had median earnings of $561 per week, or 79.7 percent of the

$704 median for men. The female-to-male earnings ratios were higher among blacks (89.6 percent) and

Hispanics or Latinos (87.6 percent) than among whites (79.1 percent) or Asians (73.9 percent).

(See table 1.)

—Median earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $560 per week, 76.9 percent of the

median for white men ($728). The difference was less among women, as black women’s median earnings

($502) were 87.2 percent of those for their white counterparts ($576). Overall, median earnings of

Hispanics or Latinos who worked full time ($441) were lower than those of blacks ($522), whites ($646),

and Asians ($680).

—Among men, those age 55 to 64 ($841) had the highest median weekly earnings. Among women,

earnings also were highest for those 55 to 64 years old ($613). (See table 2.)

—Among the major occupational groups, persons employed full time in managerial, professional, and

related occupations had the highest median weekly earnings—$1,072 for men and $766 for women. Men

and women in service jobs earned the least. (See table 3.)

—Full-time workers age 25 and over without a high school diploma had median weekly earnings of

$397, compared with $556 for high school graduates (no college) and $967 for college graduates holding at

least a bachelor’s degree. Among college graduates with advanced degrees (professional or master’s degree

and above), the highest-earning 10 percent of male workers made $2,562 or more per week, compared with

$1,749 or more for their female counterparts. (See table 4.)
2

Annual Averages for 2002 and 2003

In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this release includes 2002 and 2003 annual average weekly

earnings for major demographic, occupation, and education groups (tables 6, 7, and 8). Annual average data

on median usual earnings for men and women by detailed occupational categories will appear in the January

2004 issue of Employment and Earnings.
Explanatory Note

The estimates in this release were obtained from the Current

Population Survey (CPS), which provides the basic information on the

labor force, employment, and unemployment. The survey is conducted

monthly for the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the U.S.Census Bureau

from a scientifically selected national sample of about 60,000 households,

with coverage in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The earnings

data are collected from one-quarter of the CPS monthly sample and are

limited to wages and salaries. The data, therefore, exclude selfemployment income.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired

individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message

referral phone number: 1-800-877-8339.

Reliability

Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and

nonsampling error. When a sample, rather than the entire population,

is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample estimates may differ from

the "true" population values they represent. The exact difference, or

sampling error, varies depending on the particular sample selected, and

this variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate. There

is about a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based

on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true"

population value because of sampling error. BLS analyses are generally

conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.

The CPS data also are affected 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 the collection or

processing of the data.

For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS and

information on estimating standard errors, see the “Explanatory Notes

and Estimates of Error” section of Employment and Earnings.

Definitions

The principal definitions used in connection with the earnings series

are described briefly below.

Usual weekly earnings. Data represent earnings before taxes and

other deductions and include any overtime pay, commissions, or tips

usually received (at the main job in the case of multiple jobholders.) Prior

to 1994, respondents were asked how much they usually earned per

week. Since January 1994, respondents have been asked to identify the

easiest way for them to report earnings (hourly, weekly, biweekly, twice

monthly, monthly, annually, other) and how much they usually earn in

the reported time period. Earnings reported on a basis other than weekly

are converted to a weekly equivalent. The term “usual” is as perceived

by the respondent. If the respondent asks for a definition of usual,

interviewers are instructed to define the term as more than half the weeks

worked during the past 4 or 5 months.

Medians (and other quantiles) of weekly earnings. The median (or

upper limit of the second quartile) is the amount which divides a given

earnings distribution into two equal groups, one having earnings above

the median and the other having earnings below the median. Ten percent

of a given distribution have earnings below the upper limit of the first

decile (90 percent have higher earnings); 25 percent have earnings below

the upper limit of the first quartile (75 percent have higher earnings); 75

percent have earnings below the upper limit of the third quartile (25

percent have higher earnings); and 90 percent have earnings below the

upper limit of the ninth decile (10 percent have higher earnings).

The estimating procedure places each reported or calculated weekly

earnings value into $50-wide intervals which are centered around

multiples of $50. The actual value is estimated through the linear

interpolation of the interval in which the quantile boundary lies.

Over-the-year changes in the medians (and other quantile boundaries)

for specific groups may not necessarily be consistent with the movements

estimated for the overall quantile boundary. The most common reasons

for this possible anomaly are: (1) There could be a change in the relative

weights of the subgroups. For example, the medians of both 16-to-24

year olds and those 25 years and over may rise; but if the lower-earning

16-to-24 group accounts for a greatly increased share of the total, the

overall median could actually fall. (2) There could be a large change in the

shape of the distribution of reported earnings, particularly near a quantile

boundary. This could be caused by survey observations that are

clustered at rounded values, e.g., $250, $300, $400. An estimate lying

in a $50-wide centered interval containing such a cluster or “spike” tends

to change more slowly than one in other intervals.

Wage and salary workers. Workers who receive wages, salaries,

commissions, tips, payment in kind, or piece rates. The group includes

employees in both the private and public sectors but, for the purposes

of the earnings series, excludes all self-employed persons, regardless

of whether or not their businesses are incorporated.

Full-time workers. Workers who usually work 35 hours or more per

week at their sole or principal job.

Part-time workers. Workers who usually work fewer than 35 hours

per week at their sole or principal job.

Constant dollars. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers

(CPI-U) is used to convert current dollars to constant (1982) dollars.

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. This refers to persons who identified

themselves in the enumeration process as being Spanish, Hispanic, or

Latino. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino

may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well

as by race.
Table 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, quarterly averages,

not seasonally adjusted

Characteristic

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

 IV

2002

 IV

2003

In current dollars In constant (1982) dollars

 IV

2002

 IV

2003

 IV

2002

 IV

2003

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over ........................................................................... 99,575 100,407 $613 $625 $326 $327

 Men, 16 years and over ......................................................................... 56,029 56,459 686 704 365 368

 16 to 24 years ...................................................................................... 6,111 5,851 390 409 208 214

 25 years and over ................................................................................ 49,918 50,608 737 750 393 392

 Women, 16 years and over ................................................................... 43,545 43,948 542 561 289 293

 16 to 24 years ...................................................................................... 4,483 4,408 384 372 204 194

 25 years and over ................................................................................ 39,062 39,540 576 588 306 307

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

 White1 .................................................................................................... 81,782 81,815 630 646 335 338

 Men ...................................................................................................... 47,043 46,976 710 728 378 380

 Women ................................................................................................ 34,740 34,839 564 576 300 301

 Black or African American1 ................................................................... 12,075 11,977 495 522 264 273

 Men ...................................................................................................... 5,769 5,773 520 560 277 293

 Women ................................................................................................ 6,307 6,204 469 502 250 262

 Asian1 .................................................................................................... 4,718 4,402 667 680 355 356

 Men ...................................................................................................... 2,645 2,489 756 784 402 410

 Women ................................................................................................ 2,073 1,913 570 579 303 303

 Hispanic or Latino .................................................................................. 13,227 13,454 435 441 232 230

 Men ...................................................................................................... 8,443 8,737 457 468 243 245

 Women ................................................................................................ 4,784 4,717 408 410 217 214

1 Beginning in 2003, 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 group were included in

the group they indentified as the main race.

 NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African

American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented

for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic

or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as

well as by race. Beginning in January 2003, data reflect revised population

controls used in the household survey. 
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by age, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and

sex, fourth quarter 2003 averages, not seasonally adjusted

Age, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Total Men Women

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

TOTAL

16 years and over ..................................................................................... 100,407 $625 56,459 $704 43,948 $561

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 10,259 395 5,851 409 4,408 372

 16 to 19 years ....................................................................................... 1,409 311 830 322 580 301

 20 to 24 years ....................................................................................... 8,849 409 5,021 422 3,828 390

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 90,148 667 50,608 750 39,540 588

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 76,625 664 43,232 741 33,393 587

 25 to 34 years ..................................................................................... 24,700 596 14,379 629 10,321 547

 35 to 44 years ..................................................................................... 27,219 702 15,593 791 11,626 596

 45 to 54 years ..................................................................................... 24,706 718 13,260 822 11,446 606

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 13,524 690 7,376 813 6,147 593

 55 to 64 years ..................................................................................... 11,732 719 6,343 841 5,389 613

 65 years and over ............................................................................... 1,792 515 1,034 609 758 460

White1

16 years and over ..................................................................................... 81,815 646 46,976 728 34,839 576

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 8,423 403 4,854 418 3,569 380

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 73,392 689 42,122 770 31,270 598

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 61,886 686 35,787 760 26,099 599

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 11,506 708 6,335 843 5,171 593

Black or African American1

16 years and over ..................................................................................... 11,977 522 5,773 560 6,204 502

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 1,250 352 645 365 605 344

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 10,727 560 5,128 595 5,599 517

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 9,404 549 4,480 588 4,925 513

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 1,323 607 648 618 675 584

Asian1

16 years and over ..................................................................................... 4,402 680 2,489 784 1,913 579

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 239 411 132 429 107 366

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 4,162 700 2,357 836 1,806 585

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 3,659 699 2,056 853 1,602 582

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 504 702 301 737 203 642

Hispanic or Latino

16 years and over ..................................................................................... 13,454 441 8,737 468 4,717 410

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 1,953 351 1,297 373 655 321

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 11,501 466 7,440 489 4,061 426

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 10,514 461 6,808 485 3,706 424

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 987 503 632 546 356 457

1 Beginning in 2003, 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 group were included in

the group they indentified as the main race.

 NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African

American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented

for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic

or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as

well as by race. Beginning in January 2003, data reflect revised population

controls used in the household survey. 
Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, quarterly averages, 

not seasonally adjusted

Occupation and sex

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

 IV

2002

 IV

2003

 IV

2002

 IV

2003

TOTAL

 Managerial, professional, and related occupations ................................. 35,650 35,874 $865 $894

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations ............. 14,468 14,413 921 991

 Professional and related occupations .................................................... 21,181 21,461 837 848

 Service occupations ................................................................................ 12,828 12,826 405 409

 Sales and office occupations ................................................................... 24,527 25,213 533 549

 Sales and related occupations .............................................................. 9,638 9,854 597 605

 Office and administrative support occupations ...................................... 14,889 15,359 514 526

 Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ............. 11,082 11,510 594 610

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................ 886 915 320 355

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................................... 6,100 6,062 583 613

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................ 4,096 4,533 670 680

 Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ................. 15,488 14,985 509 523

 Production occupations ......................................................................... 8,675 8,514 511 522

 Transportation and material moving occupations .................................. 6,813 6,471 506 523

Men

 Managerial, professional, and related occupations ................................. 17,713 17,838 1,040 1,072

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations ............. 7,963 8,058 1,130 1,170

 Professional and related occupations .................................................... 9,750 9,781 994 994

 Service occupations ................................................................................ 6,584 6,531 475 475

 Sales and office occupations ................................................................... 9,229 9,429 634 675

 Sales and related occupations .............................................................. 5,429 5,483 727 749

 Office and administrative support occupations ...................................... 3,800 3,946 528 599

 Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ............. 10,589 11,031 598 618

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................ 723 765 342 370

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................................... 5,944 5,924 584 618

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................ 3,921 4,342 675 686

 Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ................. 11,915 11,630 555 576

 Production occupations ......................................................................... 6,051 6,011 577 584

 Transportation and material moving occupations .................................. 5,864 5,619 525 560

Women

 Managerial, professional, and related occupations ................................. 17,936 18,036 735 766

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations ............. 6,505 6,356 745 810

 Professional and related occupations .................................................... 11,431 11,680 730 752

 Service occupations ................................................................................ 6,244 6,295 359 372

 Sales and office occupations ................................................................... 15,298 15,783 501 504

 Sales and related occupations .............................................................. 4,209 4,371 444 468

 Office and administrative support occupations ...................................... 11,089 11,413 510 514

 Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ............. 494 479 455 402

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................ 163 150 291 306

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................................... 156 138 524 499

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................ 175 191 605 517

 Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ................. 3,573 3,355 400 410

 Production occupations ......................................................................... 2,624 2,503 401 417

 Transportation and material moving occupations .................................. 949 852 398 385

 NOTE: Occupations reflect the introduction of the 2002 Census

occupational classification system derived from the 2000 Standard

Occupational Classification system into the Current Population Survey.

Beginning in January 2003, data reflect revised population controls used

in the household survey. 
Table 4. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected

characteristics, fourth quarter 2003 averages, not seasonally adjusted

Characteristic

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Upper limit of:

First

decile

First

quartile

Second

quartile

(median)

Third

quartile

Ninth

decile

SEX, RACE, AND HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY

Total, 16 years and over ........................................................................... 100,407 $303 $416 $625 $956 $1,440

 Men ......................................................................................................... 56,459 320 461 704 1,073 1,592

 Women ................................................................................................... 43,948 288 386 561 818 1,169

 White1 ..................................................................................................... 81,815 308 427 646 982 1,473

 Men ....................................................................................................... 46,976 328 479 728 1,111 1,653

 Women ................................................................................................. 34,839 291 392 576 831 1,194

 Black or African American1 .................................................................... 11,977 283 375 522 774 1,086

 Men ....................................................................................................... 5,773 292 388 560 817 1,153

 Women ................................................................................................. 6,204 274 359 502 735 1,009

 Asian1 ..................................................................................................... 4,402 307 421 680 1,132 1,669

 Men ....................................................................................................... 2,489 324 479 784 1,235 1,772

 Women ................................................................................................. 1,913 291 390 579 911 1,401

 Hispanic or Latino ................................................................................... 13,454 263 315 441 653 944

 Men ....................................................................................................... 8,737 276 327 468 684 986

 Women ................................................................................................. 4,717 247 300 410 601 857

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

 Total, 25 years and over ......................................................................... 90,148 318 449 667 999 1,487

 Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 8,530 248 302 397 551 758

 High school graduates, no college ....................................................... 27,182 302 398 556 776 1,043

 Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 24,806 340 469 648 913 1,247

 Bachelor’s degree and higher ............................................................... 29,630 471 669 967 1,451 1,970

 Bachelor’s degree only ....................................................................... 19,403 443 620 901 1,351 1,879

 Advanced degree ............................................................................... 10,227 535 763 1,124 1,639 2,288

 Men, 25 years and over ........................................................................ 50,608 345 499 750 1,135 1,666

 Less than a high school diploma ........................................................ 5,765 274 320 423 611 841

 High school graduates, no college ..................................................... 15,418 333 457 632 869 1,152

 Some college or associate degree ..................................................... 13,155 381 535 750 1,031 1,427

 Bachelor’s degree and higher ............................................................. 16,271 503 758 1,138 1,657 2,303

 Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 10,634 482 715 1,061 1,538 2,113

 Advanced degree ............................................................................. 5,637 593 855 1,317 1,893 2,562

 Women, 25 years and over .................................................................. 39,540 298 405 588 849 1,213

 Less than a high school diploma ........................................................ 2,765 227 278 331 446 593

 High school graduates, no college ..................................................... 11,764 281 355 477 630 860

 Some college or associate degree ..................................................... 11,652 313 413 566 760 1,010

 Bachelor’s degree and higher ............................................................. 13,359 442 606 834 1,163 1,582

 Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 8,770 422 582 772 1,067 1,494

 Advanced degree ............................................................................. 4,589 502 722 953 1,335 1,749

1 Beginning in 2003, 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 group were included in

the group they indentified as the main race.

 NOTE: Ten percent of all full-time wage and salary workers earn less

than the upper limit of the first decile; 25 percent earn less than the upper

limit of the first quartile; 50 percent earn less than the upper limit of the

second quartile, or median; 75 percent earn less than the upper limit of the

third quartile; and 90 percent earn less than the upper limit of the ninth

decile. Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African

American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented

for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic

or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as

well as by race. Beginning in January 2003, data reflect revised population

controls used in the household survey. 
Table 5. Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, quarterly averages,

not seasonally adjusted

Characteristic

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

 IV

2002

 IV

2003

 IV

2002

 IV

2003

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over ........................................................................... 22,028 22,455 $186 $189

 Men, 16 years and over ......................................................................... 6,824 7,082 172 174

 16 to 24 years ...................................................................................... 3,609 3,689 134 139

 25 years and over ................................................................................ 3,215 3,393 239 230

 Women, 16 years and over ................................................................... 15,204 15,373 193 197

 16 to 24 years ...................................................................................... 4,700 4,697 136 135

 25 years and over ................................................................................ 10,504 10,675 229 233

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

 White1 .................................................................................................... 18,833 19,014 187 190

 Men ...................................................................................................... 5,765 5,957 171 173

 Women ................................................................................................ 13,068 13,057 194 198

 Black or African American1 ................................................................... 2,048 2,022 180 174

 Men ...................................................................................................... 656 634 183 169

 Women ................................................................................................ 1,392 1,387 178 177

 Asian1 .................................................................................................... 934 789 196 217

 Men ...................................................................................................... 343 268 167 199

 Women ................................................................................................ 591 521 216 220

 Hispanic or Latino .................................................................................. 2,347 2,618 189 197

 Men ...................................................................................................... 800 918 199 206

 Women ................................................................................................ 1,547 1,700 185 193

1 Beginning in 2003, 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 group were included

in the group they indentified as the main race.

 NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African

American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not

presented for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified

as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by

ethnicity as well as by race. Beginning in January 2003, data reflect

revised population controls used in the household survey. 
Table 6. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, annual averages

Characteristic

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

2002 2003

In current dollars In constant (1982) dollars

2002 2003 2002 2003

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over ........................................................................... 100,081 100,302 $608 $620 $326 $325

 Men, 16 years and over .......................................................................... 56,345 56,227 679 695 364 364

 16 to 24 years ........................................................................................ 6,317 6,158 391 398 210 209

 25 years and over .................................................................................. 50,027 50,069 732 744 393 390

 Women, 16 years and over .................................................................... 43,737 44,076 529 552 284 290

 16 to 24 years ........................................................................................ 4,804 4,632 367 371 197 195

 25 years and over .................................................................................. 38,933 39,444 568 584 305 306

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

 White 1 .................................................................................................... 82,324 81,916 623 636 334 334

 Men ....................................................................................................... 47,417 47,001 702 715 377 375

 Women ................................................................................................. 34,908 34,916 547 567 294 298

 Black 1 .................................................................................................... 12,109 11,887 498 514 267 269

 Men ....................................................................................................... 5,789 5,585 524 555 281 291

 Women ................................................................................................. 6,319 6,301 473 491 254 257

 Asian 1 .................................................................................................... 4,613 4,314 658 693 353 363

 Men ....................................................................................................... 2,556 2,442 756 772 405 405

 Women ................................................................................................. 2,058 1,872 566 598 304 314

 Hispanic or Latino ................................................................................... 13,137 13,634 424 440 227 231

 Men ....................................................................................................... 8,272 8,677 451 464 242 243

 Women ................................................................................................. 4,865 4,957 397 410 213 215

1 Beginning in 2003, 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 group were included in

the group they identified as their main race.

 NOTE: Estimates for the race groups (white, black or African

American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented

for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic

or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as

well as race. Data for 2002 have been revised to incorporate changes to

the class of worker status associated with the introduction of the 2002

Census industry and occupational classification systems into the Current

Population Survey. Beginning in January 2003, data reflect revised

population controls used in the household survey.
Table 7. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, annual averages

Occupation and sex

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

2002 2003 2002 2003

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations ....................................... 35,441 35,680 $859 $887

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations ....................... 14,537 14,493 922 961

 Professional and related occupations .............................................................. 20,904 21,186 823 845

Service occupations ......................................................................................... 13,136 13,333 396 403

Sales and office occupations ............................................................................ 24,983 25,108 527 545

 Sales and related occupations ........................................................................ 9,772 9,924 592 598

 Office and administrative support occupations ................................................ 15,211 15,184 511 523

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ...................... 10,780 11,082 597 608

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ...................................................... 819 778 340 369

 Construction and extraction occupations ......................................................... 5,974 5,973 589 599

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations .......................................... 3,987 4,331 663 673

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations .......................... 15,741 15,100 511 519

 Production occupations ................................................................................... 9,055 8,599 508 519

 Transportation and material moving occupations ............................................ 6,685 6,501 514 520

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations ....................................... 17,779 17,718 1,019 1,059

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations ....................... 8,122 8,047 1,098 1,143

 Professional and related occupations .............................................................. 9,657 9,671 974 1,005

Service occupations ......................................................................................... 6,738 6,708 448 463

Sales and office occupations ............................................................................ 9,398 9,456 647 658

 Sales and related occupations ........................................................................ 5,514 5,557 730 731

 Office and administrative support occupations ................................................ 3,884 3,899 570 584

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ...................... 10,269 10,612 603 613

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ...................................................... 631 626 362 384

 Construction and extraction occupations ......................................................... 5,829 5,831 590 602

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations .......................................... 3,809 4,155 665 675

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations .......................... 12,160 11,733 558 570

 Production occupations ................................................................................... 6,355 6,069 574 583

 Transportation and material moving occupations ............................................ 5,805 5,664 539 547

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations ....................................... 17,662 17,962 735 758

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations ....................... 6,415 6,446 756 799

 Professional and related occupations .............................................................. 11,247 11,516 723 739

Service occupations ......................................................................................... 6,398 6,625 355 366

Sales and office occupations ............................................................................ 15,584 15,652 488 502

 Sales and related occupations ........................................................................ 4,257 4,367 430 452

 Office and administrative support occupations ................................................ 11,327 11,286 500 513

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ...................... 512 469 431 449

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ...................................................... 187 152 297 318

 Construction and extraction occupations ......................................................... 146 141 523 497

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations .......................................... 179 176 593 629

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations .......................... 3,581 3,367 399 407

 Production occupations ................................................................................... 2,700 2,530 400 406

 Transportation and material moving occupations ............................................ 880 837 396 410

 NOTE: Occupations reflect the introduction of the 2002 Census

occupational classification system derived from the 2000 Standard

Occupational Classification system into the Current Population Survey. 

Beginning in January 2003, data reflect revised population controls used in

the household survey.
Table 8. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected

characteristics, 2003 annual averages 

Educational attainment, sex, race,

and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Upper limit of:

First

decile

First

quartile

Second

quartile

(median)

Third

quartile

Ninth

decile

TOTAL

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 89,513 $318 $447 $662 $994 $1,470

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 8,594 243 302 396 535 753

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 27,082 301 399 554 772 1,049

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 24,610 339 462 639 907 1,235

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 29,226 477 671 964 1,430 1,976

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 19,217 447 624 900 1,330 1,879

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 10,009 578 772 1,126 1,621 2,278

Men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 50,069 352 498 744 1,131 1,655

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 5,755 269 324 429 599 827

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 15,272 339 458 628 875 1,163

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 12,891 385 524 740 1,023 1,406

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 16,151 516 755 1,131 1,636 2,293

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 10,596 492 709 1,044 1,525 2,090

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 5,555 609 875 1,315 1,881 2,548

Women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 39,444 295 400 584 843 1,195

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 2,839 217 273 329 430 575

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 11,810 277 351 474 631 847

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 11,719 310 409 560 759 1,012

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 13,075 439 608 832 1,157 1,580

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 8,621 412 578 767 1,061 1,472

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 4,454 526 719 953 1,324 1,800

White, total 

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 72,994 325 463 683 1,020 1,515

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 6,972 247 304 401 547 767

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 22,054 307 409 576 794 1,079

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 19,898 349 478 659 934 1,267

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 24,069 490 689 988 1,463 2,030

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 15,794 463 641 925 1,365 1,904

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 8,275 588 792 1,139 1,647 2,299

White men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 41,811 363 511 766 1,153 1,727

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 4,853 272 325 432 601 833

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 12,648 351 478 652 898 1,185

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 10,699 397 547 761 1,054 1,434

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 13,612 544 781 1,151 1,676 2,320

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 9,004 511 737 1,081 1,558 2,181

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 4,608 626 905 1,339 1,892 2,680

White women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 31,183 299 408 595 855 1,221

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 2,120 224 275 331 435 578

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 9,407 281 359 484 646 856

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 9,200 316 415 573 771 1,032

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 10,457 450 616 839 1,167 1,622

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 6,790 417 584 771 1,072 1,495

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 3,667 550 728 964 1,338 1,827

Black or African American, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 10,664 290 386 542 786 1,112

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 1,061 219 287 376 509 714

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 3,719 280 357 476 652 901

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 3,383 304 402 551 759 1,010

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 2,502 407 584 793 1,133 1,490

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 1,808 393 553 762 1,054 1,413

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 693 471 665 887 1,271 1,722

See note at end of table.
Table 8. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected

characteristics, 2003 annual averages — Continued

Educational attainment, sex, race,

and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Upper limit of:

First

decile

First

quartile

Second

quartile

(median)

Third

quartile

Ninth

decile

Black or African American men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 4,979 $310 $410 $588 $830 $1,171

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 565 250 316 421 606 809

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 1,868 305 393 519 723 988

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 1,497 322 434 609 852 1,133

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 1,049 402 587 790 1,171 1,549

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 771 396 568 774 1,114 1,444

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 278 442 643 863 1,381 1,889

Black or African American women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 5,685 277 364 508 749 1,037

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 496 198 260 324 423 597

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 1,851 259 326 434 582 797

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 1,886 293 384 510 685 907

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 1,453 412 582 797 1,091 1,451

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 1,037 390 545 756 1,022 1,384

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 416 482 686 893 1,230 1,604

Asian, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 3,984 314 460 723 1,142 1,729

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 325 226 289 369 490 611

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 741 283 362 491 696 993

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 671 324 442 624 891 1,204

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 2,247 425 635 954 1,429 1,912

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 1,325 395 585 847 1,221 1,732

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 922 524 757 1,153 1,726 2,280

Hispanic or Latino, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 11,532 270 333 473 700 1,018

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 4,127 238 293 371 487 649

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 3,410 280 352 485 676 907

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 2,351 303 404 576 800 1,084

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 1,644 354 535 799 1,162 1,739

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 1,190 335 502 747 1,078 1,575

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 454 437 652 949 1,426 1,905

Hispanic or Latino men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 7,292 283 355 493 730 1,083

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 2,975 254 306 393 510 693

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 2,106 298 386 522 735 987

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 1,302 324 447 623 875 1,173

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 909 364 571 879 1,351 1,906

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 643 342 515 810 1,230 1,863

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 265 459 694 1,090 1,544 2,260

Hispanic or Latino women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 4,240 247 309 425 638 918

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 1,152 216 265 314 399 514

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 1,304 248 311 415 584 781

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 1,049 287 374 509 706 957

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 735 341 513 737 1,018 1,419

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 546 326 492 694 959 1,381

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 189 398 616 833 1,145 1,663

 NOTE: Ten percent of all full-time wage and salary workers earn

less than the upper limit of the first decile; 25 percent earn less than

the upper limit of the first quartile; 50 percent earn less than the upper

limit of the second quartile, or median; 75 percent earn less than the

upper limit of the third quartile; and 90 percent earn less than the

upper limit of the ninth decile. Estimates for the race groups (white,

black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because

data are not presented for all races. In addition, persons whose

ethnicity is identified as "Hispanic or Latino" may be of any race and,

therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as race. Beginning in

January 2003, data reflect revised population controls used in the

household survey.