1

Technical information: (202) 691-6378

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 07-0076

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Friday, January 19, 2007

USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS:

FOURTH QUARTER 2006

Median weekly earnings of the nation’s 106.9 million full-time wage and salary workers were $682 in the

fourth quarter of 2006, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This

was 3.5 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 1.9 percent in the Consumer Price Index

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

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

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

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

Women who usually worked full-time had median earnings of $609 per week, or 81.3 percent of the

$749 median for men. This ratio has trended up gradually since the data were first collected in 1979;

at that time, it was 62.5 percent. Female-to-male earnings ratios were higher among Hispanics or

Latinos (88.5 percent) and blacks (86.1 percent) than among whites (81.0 percent) or Asians (79.6

percent). (See table 1.)

• Median earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $605 per week, 79.1 percent of the

median for white men ($765), while black women’s median earnings ($521) were 84.0 percent of those

for their white counterparts ($620). Overall, median earnings of Hispanic or Latinos who worked fulltime ($489) were lower than those of blacks ($569), whites ($702), and Asians ($809). (See table 1.)

• Among men, those age 55 to 64 and age 45 to 54 had the highest median weekly earnings, $919 and

$907, respectively. Among women, earnings also were highest for these two age groups—$691 for

55- to 64-year olds and $667 for 45- to 54-year olds. (See table 2.)

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

related occupations had the highest median weekly earnings—$1,150 for men and $859 for women.

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

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

of $415, compared with $597 for high school graduates (no college) and $1,046 for college graduates

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

master’s degree and above), the highest-earning 10 percent of male workers made $3,090 or more per

week, compared with $2,055 or more for their female counterparts. (See table 4.)

•
2

Annual Averages for 2005 and 2006

In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this release includes 2005 and 2006 annual average weekly

earnings for major demographic and occupational groups, and 2006 annual average data for educational

attainment groups (tables 6, 7, and 8). Annual average data on median usual earnings for men and women

by detailed occupational categories will appear in the January 2007 issue of Employment and Earnings.
Technical Note

The estimates in this release were obtained from the Current

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired

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

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

Reliability

Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

population value because of sampling error. BLS analyses are generally

conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.

The CPS data also are affected 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

2005

 IV

2006

In current dollars In constant (1982) dollars

 IV

2005

 IV

2006

 IV

2005

 IV

2006

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over ........................................................................... 104,599 106,903 $659 $682 $321 $326

 Men, 16 years and over ......................................................................... 58,886 60,060 731 749 356 358

 16 to 24 years ...................................................................................... 6,152 6,355 418 429 204 205

 25 years and over ................................................................................ 52,733 53,705 778 800 379 383

 Women, 16 years and over ................................................................... 45,713 46,843 588 609 287 291

 16 to 24 years ...................................................................................... 4,785 4,736 389 403 190 193

 25 years and over ................................................................................ 40,928 42,108 614 638 299 305

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

 White ..................................................................................................... 84,822 86,726 682 702 333 336

 Men ...................................................................................................... 48,878 49,906 753 765 367 366

 Women ................................................................................................ 35,945 36,820 601 620 293 297

 Black or African American ..................................................................... 12,521 12,840 533 569 260 272

 Men ...................................................................................................... 5,900 6,028 579 605 282 289

 Women ................................................................................................ 6,621 6,813 506 521 247 249

 Asian ...................................................................................................... 4,808 4,780 767 809 374 387

 Men ...................................................................................................... 2,741 2,689 868 912 423 436

 Women ................................................................................................ 2,067 2,091 666 726 324 347

 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity .................................................................... 14,923 15,884 479 489 234 234

 Men ...................................................................................................... 9,554 10,187 498 504 243 241

 Women ................................................................................................ 5,370 5,697 430 446 210 214

 NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all

races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by

race. Beginning in January 2006, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey. 
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by age, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and

sex, fourth quarter 2006 averages, not seasonally adjusted

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 ..................................................................................... 106,903 $682 60,060 $749 46,843 $609

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 11,091 416 6,355 429 4,736 403

 16 to 19 years ....................................................................................... 1,546 324 913 342 634 307

 20 to 24 years ....................................................................................... 9,544 435 5,442 458 4,102 418

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 95,813 726 53,705 800 42,108 638

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 79,697 720 45,048 787 34,649 629

 25 to 34 years ..................................................................................... 25,651 624 14,858 662 10,793 589

 35 to 44 years ..................................................................................... 27,239 749 15,581 836 11,658 646

 45 to 54 years ..................................................................................... 26,808 789 14,609 907 12,198 667

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 16,116 759 8,657 878 7,459 671

 55 to 64 years ..................................................................................... 13,955 784 7,418 919 6,538 691

 65 years and over ............................................................................... 2,160 597 1,239 640 921 534

White

16 years and over ..................................................................................... 86,726 702 49,906 765 36,820 620

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 9,007 419 5,289 432 3,718 407

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 77,718 745 44,616 821 33,102 656

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 64,055 738 37,142 807 26,913 648

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 13,664 783 7,474 912 6,189 684

Black or African American

16 years and over ..................................................................................... 12,840 569 6,028 605 6,813 521

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 1,396 395 716 417 680 357

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 11,444 592 5,312 630 6,132 548

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 9,849 589 4,634 630 5,215 543

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 1,596 611 678 627 918 589

Asian

16 years and over ..................................................................................... 4,780 809 2,689 912 2,091 726

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 293 474 142 437 151 495

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 4,487 844 2,547 939 1,940 745

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 3,891 873 2,188 963 1,704 754

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 596 700 359 716 236 684

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

16 years and over ..................................................................................... 15,884 489 10,187 504 5,697 446

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 2,344 381 1,579 388 765 365

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 13,540 509 8,608 524 4,932 474

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 12,232 507 7,805 522 4,427 470

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 1,308 541 803 561 505 516

 NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all

races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by

race. Beginning in January 2006, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey. 
Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, quarterly averages, 

not seasonally adjusted

Occupation and sex

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

 IV

2005

 IV

2006

 IV

2005

 IV

2006

TOTAL

 Management, professional, and related occupations .............................. 37,489 38,414 $951 $972

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations ............. 15,318 15,608 1,004 1,018

 Professional and related occupations .................................................... 22,171 22,806 922 950

 Service occupations ................................................................................ 14,162 14,669 418 426

 Sales and office occupations ................................................................... 25,314 25,637 581 594

 Sales and related occupations .............................................................. 10,009 10,002 639 639

 Office and administrative support occupations ...................................... 15,305 15,636 556 578

 Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ............. 12,499 12,777 632 658

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................ 692 633 394 392

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................................... 7,050 7,318 605 617

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................ 4,757 4,827 714 744

 Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ................. 15,135 15,406 547 554

 Production occupations ......................................................................... 8,310 8,244 549 569

 Transportation and material moving occupations .................................. 6,825 7,162 544 535

Men

 Management, professional, and related occupations .............................. 18,600 18,735 1,130 1,150

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations ............. 8,376 8,615 1,189 1,201

 Professional and related occupations .................................................... 10,223 10,120 1,071 1,119

 Service occupations ................................................................................ 7,052 7,336 493 488

 Sales and office occupations ................................................................... 9,514 9,687 707 704

 Sales and related occupations .............................................................. 5,591 5,599 791 788

 Office and administrative support occupations ...................................... 3,922 4,088 599 620

 Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ............. 12,005 12,204 636 664

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................ 548 507 402 396

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................................... 6,884 7,110 606 619

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................ 4,573 4,587 714 748

 Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ................. 11,715 12,098 600 601

 Production occupations ......................................................................... 5,802 5,865 622 628

 Transportation and material moving occupations .................................. 5,913 6,233 577 567

Women

 Management, professional, and related occupations .............................. 18,889 19,679 829 859

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations ............. 6,941 6,993 856 874

 Professional and related occupations .................................................... 11,948 12,686 815 851

 Service occupations ................................................................................ 7,109 7,333 383 397

 Sales and office occupations ................................................................... 15,800 15,950 524 544

 Sales and related occupations .............................................................. 4,418 4,403 487 484

 Office and administrative support occupations ...................................... 11,382 11,548 543 567

 Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ............. 494 573 513 547

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................ 144 125 324 385

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................................... 166 208 501 515

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................ 184 240 731 675

 Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ................. 3,420 3,308 421 423

 Production occupations ......................................................................... 2,508 2,379 426 437

 Transportation and material moving occupations .................................. 912 929 405 399

 NOTE: Beginning in January 2006, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey. 
Table 4. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected

characteristics, fourth quarter 2006 averages, not seasonally adjusted

Characteristic

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Upper limit of:

First

decile

First

quartile

Second

quartile

(median)

Third

quartile

Ninth

decile

SEX, RACE, AND HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY

Total, 16 years and over ........................................................................... 106,903 $323 $452 $682 $1,041 $1,567

 Men ......................................................................................................... 60,060 345 490 749 1,163 1,810

 Women ................................................................................................... 46,843 305 411 609 908 1,321

 White ...................................................................................................... 86,726 328 465 702 1,069 1,604

 Men ....................................................................................................... 49,906 351 498 765 1,187 1,859

 Women ................................................................................................. 36,820 307 418 620 926 1,337

 Black or African American ...................................................................... 12,840 299 396 569 831 1,198

 Men ....................................................................................................... 6,028 308 422 605 913 1,262

 Women ................................................................................................. 6,813 293 376 521 757 1,142

 Asian ....................................................................................................... 4,780 350 518 809 1,326 1,904

 Men ....................................................................................................... 2,689 378 577 912 1,504 2,101

 Women ................................................................................................. 2,091 332 493 726 1,109 1,556

 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ..................................................................... 15,884 280 345 489 722 1,073

 Men ....................................................................................................... 10,187 290 362 504 735 1,117

 Women ................................................................................................. 5,697 258 320 446 698 1,035

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

 Total, 25 years and over ......................................................................... 95,813 344 485 726 1,107 1,640

 Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 8,821 269 318 415 579 774

 High school graduates, no college1 ...................................................... 28,320 320 421 597 845 1,182

 Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 26,454 366 490 700 993 1,365

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 32,219 525 738 1,046 1,559 2,287

 Bachelor’s degree only ....................................................................... 20,969 492 684 966 1,438 2,004

 Advanced degree ............................................................................... 11,250 634 859 1,217 1,827 2,723

 Men, 25 years and over ........................................................................ 53,705 376 521 800 1,230 1,882

 Less than a high school diploma ........................................................ 5,963 283 342 461 616 815

 High school graduates, no college1 .................................................... 16,414 356 481 674 948 1,326

 Some college or associate degree ..................................................... 13,980 400 564 802 1,131 1,520

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .......................................................... 17,348 589 814 1,207 1,860 2,659

 Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 11,396 552 758 1,123 1,664 2,306

 Advanced degree ............................................................................. 5,952 694 958 1,417 2,142 3,090

 Women, 25 years and over .................................................................. 42,108 319 436 638 948 1,362

 Less than a high school diploma ........................................................ 2,858 243 292 363 474 647

 High school graduates, no college1 .................................................... 11,906 294 374 506 686 946

 Some college or associate degree ..................................................... 12,474 337 439 604 843 1,147

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .......................................................... 14,870 490 670 917 1,289 1,764

 Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 9,573 450 614 851 1,177 1,636

 Advanced degree ............................................................................. 5,298 606 786 1,043 1,495 2,055

1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent. 2 Includes persons with bachelor’s, master’s, professional, and doctoral

degrees. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

well as by race. Beginning in January 2006, data reflect revised

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

not seasonally adjusted

Characteristic

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

 IV

2005

 IV

2006

 IV

2005

 IV

2006

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over ........................................................................... 22,456 22,556 $198 $208

 Men, 16 years and over ......................................................................... 7,045 7,176 182 193

 16 to 24 years ...................................................................................... 3,680 3,697 144 151

 25 years and over ................................................................................ 3,365 3,479 249 261

 Women, 16 years and over ................................................................... 15,410 15,380 206 215

 16 to 24 years ...................................................................................... 4,607 4,651 140 150

 25 years and over ................................................................................ 10,803 10,729 246 258

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

 White ..................................................................................................... 18,878 18,818 198 209

 Men ...................................................................................................... 5,768 5,816 179 191

 Women ................................................................................................ 13,111 13,002 207 218

 Black or African American ..................................................................... 2,114 2,237 205 197

 Men ...................................................................................................... 734 807 194 206

 Women ................................................................................................ 1,379 1,430 210 192

 Asian ...................................................................................................... 837 954 186 217

 Men ...................................................................................................... 320 364 188 208

 Women ................................................................................................ 517 590 184 220

 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity .................................................................... 2,501 2,458 201 206

 Men ...................................................................................................... 865 775 203 215

 Women ................................................................................................ 1,636 1,683 201 202

 NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all

races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by

race. Beginning in January 2006, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey. 
Table 6. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, annual averages

Characteristic

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

2005 2006

In current dollars In constant (1982) dollars

2005 2006 2005 2006

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over ........................................................................... 103,560 106,106 $651 $671 $322 $321

 Men, 16 years and over .......................................................................... 58,406 59,747 722 743 357 356

 16 to 24 years ........................................................................................ 6,396 6,559 409 418 202 200

 25 years and over .................................................................................. 52,010 53,188 771 797 381 381

 Women, 16 years and over .................................................................... 45,154 46,358 585 600 289 287

 16 to 24 years ........................................................................................ 4,711 4,802 381 395 188 189

 25 years and over .................................................................................. 40,443 41,556 612 627 302 300

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

 White ..................................................................................................... 84,110 86,055 672 690 332 330

 Men ....................................................................................................... 48,572 49,650 743 761 367 364

 Women ................................................................................................. 35,538 36,405 596 609 295 292

 Black ...................................................................................................... 12,388 12,745 520 554 257 265

 Men ....................................................................................................... 5,916 6,025 559 591 276 283

 Women ................................................................................................. 6,472 6,720 499 519 246 248

 Asian ...................................................................................................... 4,651 4,840 753 784 372 375

 Men ....................................................................................................... 2,597 2,717 825 882 408 422

 Women ................................................................................................. 2,054 2,123 665 699 329 335

 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ..................................................................... 14,673 15,693 471 486 233 233

 Men ....................................................................................................... 9,433 10,007 489 505 241 242

 Women ................................................................................................. 5,241 5,686 429 440 212 211

 NOTE: Estimates for the race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. In

addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as race. Beginning

in January 2006, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
Table 7. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, annual averages

Occupation and sex

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

2005 2006 2005 2006

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations ........................................... 36,908 37,824 $937 $967

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations .......................... 14,977 15,447 997 1,045

 Professional and related occupations ................................................................. 21,931 22,378 902 928

Service occupations ............................................................................................. 14,123 14,749 413 422

Sales and office occupations ................................................................................ 25,193 25,688 575 589

 Sales and related occupations ........................................................................... 10,031 10,336 622 628

 Office and administrative support occupations ................................................... 15,161 15,351 550 572

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .......................... 12,086 12,512 623 653

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ......................................................... 755 716 372 387

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................................................ 6,826 7,166 604 619

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ............................................. 4,504 4,630 705 742

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations .............................. 15,251 15,332 540 557

 Production occupations ...................................................................................... 8,403 8,391 538 559

 Transportation and material moving occupations ............................................... 6,848 6,942 543 556

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations ........................................... 18,311 18,686 1,113 1,154

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations .......................... 8,195 8,536 1,167 1,231

 Professional and related occupations ................................................................. 10,116 10,149 1,058 1,109

Service occupations ............................................................................................. 7,024 7,275 478 494

Sales and office occupations ................................................................................ 9,539 9,753 690 696

 Sales and related occupations ........................................................................... 5,582 5,777 762 761

 Office and administrative support occupations ................................................... 3,957 3,976 605 619

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .......................... 11,569 11,989 628 660

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ......................................................... 601 569 388 401

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................................................ 6,663 6,995 606 621

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ............................................. 4,305 4,425 706 744

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations .............................. 11,963 12,045 591 601

 Production occupations ...................................................................................... 5,991 5,979 608 621

 Transportation and material moving occupations ............................................... 5,972 6,066 574 581

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations ........................................... 18,597 19,138 813 840

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations .......................... 6,782 6,910 847 881

 Professional and related occupations ................................................................. 11,815 12,228 792 816

Service occupations ............................................................................................. 7,099 7,473 379 390

Sales and office occupations ................................................................................ 15,654 15,935 520 538

 Sales and related occupations ........................................................................... 4,449 4,560 483 487

 Office and administrative support occupations ................................................... 11,205 11,375 533 557

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .......................... 517 524 486 518

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ......................................................... 154 147 327 342

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................................................ 163 172 480 533

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ............................................. 199 205 691 697

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations .............................. 3,288 3,288 420 426

 Production occupations ...................................................................................... 2,412 2,412 423 432

 Transportation and material moving occupations ............................................... 876 876 412 414

 NOTE: Beginning in January 2006, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
Table 8. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected

characteristics, 2006 annual averages

Educational attainment, sex, race,

and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Upper limit of:

First

decile

First

quartile

Second

quartile

(median)

Third

quartile

Ninth

decile

TOTAL

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 94,744 $342 $483 $718 $1,089 $1,607

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 9,029 262 319 419 585 793

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 28,023 317 419 595 843 1,162

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 26,027 363 491 692 977 1,347

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 31,665 513 725 1,039 1,552 2,223

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 20,563 483 665 962 1,433 1,963

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 11,102 618 847 1,203 1,804 2,577

Men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 53,188 378 523 797 1,216 1,843

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 6,084 285 352 469 633 862

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 16,313 357 486 678 952 1,272

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 13,588 406 564 796 1,123 1,492

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 17,204 575 801 1,205 1,828 2,496

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 11,128 521 743 1,118 1,637 2,284

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 6,075 674 953 1,430 2,012 2,907

Women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 41,556 313 428 627 927 1,347

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 2,945 232 285 358 471 620

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 11,711 290 374 500 678 919

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 12,439 329 434 602 829 1,115

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 14,461 482 652 905 1,269 1,764

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 9,435 444 611 839 1,182 1,640

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 5,026 587 763 1,020 1,448 2,000

White, total 

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 76,775 351 495 737 1,122 1,646

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 7,396 265 321 423 594 805

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 22,735 328 437 615 873 1,189

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 20,990 375 504 717 1,006 1,380

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 25,654 522 735 1,058 1,576 2,288

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 16,687 490 679 980 1,460 2,017

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 8,966 626 856 1,225 1,843 2,684

White men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 44,171 386 546 821 1,242 1,875

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 5,163 287 356 477 642 877

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 13,515 374 502 704 978 1,316

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 11,280 423 587 826 1,148 1,524

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 14,212 584 825 1,237 1,861 2,581

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 9,267 538 760 1,142 1,680 2,306

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 4,946 685 964 1,446 2,089 2,922

White women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 32,605 317 438 640 941 1,358

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 2,233 232 283 355 471 615

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 9,220 295 382 510 694 935

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 9,710 334 444 612 847 1,135

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 11,441 485 660 911 1,273 1,786

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 7,421 445 617 846 1,184 1,661

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 4,021 591 769 1,028 1,449 2,015

Black or African American, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 11,372 306 406 585 866 1,234

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 1,064 241 306 393 507 721

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 3,907 288 369 497 682 952

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 3,576 327 422 588 818 1,114

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 2,824 467 626 886 1,256 1,756

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 1,951 445 598 803 1,165 1,602

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 874 560 743 1,015 1,483 1,985

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

characteristics, 2006 annual averages—Continued

Educational attainment, sex, race,

and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Upper limit of:

First

decile

First

quartile

Second

quartile

(median)

Third

quartile

Ninth

decile

Black or African American men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 5,336 $319 $428 $620 $932 $1,310

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 585 276 331 419 560 782

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 1,986 306 401 543 766 1,014

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 1,561 344 471 642 927 1,218

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 1,204 464 663 959 1,363 1,911

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 854 443 619 875 1,262 1,822

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 350 574 827 1,181 1,669 2,293

Black or African American women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 6,036 297 390 545 794 1,154

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 479 229 287 359 446 587

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 1,921 275 342 455 609 832

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 2,015 316 405 534 742 997

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 1,621 468 611 827 1,166 1,603

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 1,097 446 588 767 1,118 1,498

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 524 550 704 948 1,353 1,772

Asian, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 4,517 369 529 826 1,347 1,903

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 302 243 313 436 594 765

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 760 305 397 554 765 1,131

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 750 339 476 647 919 1,304

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 2,705 506 733 1,127 1,606 2,203

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 1,580 470 642 975 1,436 1,911

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 1,125 623 875 1,339 1,888 2,500

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 13,382 285 366 508 752 1,137

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 4,618 255 307 396 518 703

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 4,047 291 375 509 715 1,009

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 2,739 339 445 611 867 1,197

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 1,978 400 599 860 1,324 1,895

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 1,387 386 576 788 1,172 1,698

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 591 477 702 1,027 1,628 2,308

Hispanic or Latino men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 8,477 301 387 531 787 1,197

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 3,303 278 331 420 565 751

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 2,592 312 404 569 775 1,103

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 1,515 379 494 673 975 1,363

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 1,066 416 632 945 1,491 2,077

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 737 406 613 874 1,347 1,869

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 330 467 730 1,142 1,897 2,499

Hispanic or Latino women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 4,905 259 325 464 692 1,018

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 1,315 229 273 325 420 544

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 1,455 266 327 428 610 824

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 1,223 305 404 544 742 1,001

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 912 381 562 773 1,135 1,557

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 651 361 515 735 1,059 1,473

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 261 484 683 954 1,316 1,883

1 Includes persons with high school diploma or equivalent. 2 Includes persons with bachelor’s, master’s, professional, and

doctoral degrees.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

January 2006, data reflect revised population controls used in the

household survey.