For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Wednesday, January 17, 2018 USDL-18-0079 

Technical information: (202) 691-6378 • cpsinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/cps

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov

USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS

FOURTH QUARTER 2017

Median weekly earnings of the nation's 114.2 million full-time wage and salary workers were $857 in 

the fourth quarter of 2017 (not seasonally adjusted), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. 

This was 0.9 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 2.1 percent in the Consumer 

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

Data on usual weekly 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 in this news release.) Data shown in this 

release are not seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified.

Highlights from the fourth-quarter data:

• Median weekly earnings of full-time workers were $857 in the fourth quarter of 2017. Women 

had median weekly earnings of $769, or 81.3 percent of the $946 median for men. (See table 2.) 

• The women's-to-men's earnings ratio varied by race and ethnicity. White women earned 80.5 

percent as much as their male counterparts, compared with Black women (96.0 percent), Asian 

women (72.3 percent), and Hispanic women (88.4 percent). (See table 2.)

• Among the major race and ethnicity groups, median weekly earnings for Black men working at 

full-time jobs were $681, or 69.3 percent of the median for White men ($982). The difference

was less among women, as Black women's median earnings ($654) were 82.7 percent of those 

for White women ($791). Overall, median earnings of Hispanics ($657) and Blacks ($666) were 

lower than those of Whites ($891) and Asians ($1,061). (See table 2.) 

• Usual weekly earnings of full-time workers varied by age. Among men, those ages 55 to 64 and 

45 to 54 had the highest median weekly earnings, at $1,130 and $1,117, respectively. For 

women, usual weekly earnings were highest for those age 35 to 64: weekly earnings were $855 

for women age 35 to 44, $866 for women age 45 to 54, and $835 for women age 55 to 64. 

Workers age 16 to 24 had the lowest median weekly earnings, at $549. (See table 3.) 

• Among the major occupational groups, persons employed full time in management, 

professional, and related occupations had the highest median weekly earnings—$1,475 for
- 2 - 

men and $1,052 for women. Men and women employed in service jobs earned the least, $602 

and $499, respectively. (See table 4.)

• By educational attainment, full-time workers age 25 and over without a high school diploma 

had median weekly earnings of $531, compared with $714 for high school graduates (no college) 

and $1,278 for those 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 $3,707 or more per week, compared with $2,719 or more for their female 

counterparts. (See table 5.) 

• Seasonally adjusted median weekly earnings were $854 in the fourth quarter of 2017, down 

from the previous quarter ($866). (See table 1.)

Annual Averages for 2016 and 2017 

In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this news release includes 2016 and 2017 annual averages 

on median weekly earnings for major demographic and occupational groups, and 2017 annual average 

data for educational attainment groups. (See tables 7, 8, and 9.) Annual average data on median usual 

weekly earnings for men and women by detailed occupational categories will be posted online at 

https://www.bls.gov/cps/tables.htm#weekearn when they become available.

Revision of Seasonally Adjusted Usual Weekly Earnings Data 

Seasonally adjusted median usual weekly earnings data shown in table 1 of this news release 

have been revised using updated seasonal adjustment factors from the Current Population 

Survey, a procedure done at the end of each calendar year. The revisions directly affected the 

number of full-time wage and salary workers and current dollar estimates of median weekly 

earnings; estimates of constant (1982-84) dollar median weekly earnings were indirectly 

affected. Seasonally adjusted estimates back to the first quarter of 2013 were subject to

revision. 

The Usual Weekly Earnings news release for the first quarter of 2018, scheduled for release on

April 13, 2018, will incorporate revisions to the seasonally adjusted data for the median weekly 

earnings in constant (1982-84) dollars. Seasonally adjusted constant (1982-84) dollar estimates 

back to the first quarter of 2013 will be subject to revision due to annual revisions to seasonally 

adjusted data for the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).
Technical Note 

The estimates in this release were obtained from the 

Current Population Survey (CPS), which provides basic 

information on the labor force, employment, and 

unemployment. The survey is conducted monthly for the 

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) by the U.S. Census Bureau 

using a scientifically selected national sample of about 

60,000 eligible households, with coverage in all 50 states and 

the District of Columbia. The earnings data are collected 

from one-fourth of the CPS monthly sample and are limited 

to wage and salary workers. All self-employed workers, both 

incorporated and unincorporated, are excluded from CPS 

earnings estimates. 

Material in this news release is in the public domain and 

may be used without permission. This information is 

available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. 

Voice telephone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: 

(800) 877-8339. 

Definitions 

The principal definitions used in connection with the 

earnings data in this news release 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, or 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 

determined by each respondent’s own understanding of the 

term. 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 midpoint 

in a given earnings distribution, with half of workers having 

earnings above the median and the other half 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 BLS procedure for estimating the median of an 

earnings distribution places each reported or calculated 

weekly earnings value into a $50-wide interval that is 

centered around a multiple of $50. The median is calculated 

through the linear interpolation of the interval in which the 

median lies. 

Changes over time 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 as follows: (1) there could be a change 

in the relative weights of the subgroups. For example, the 

median of 16- to 24-year-olds and the median earnings of 

those 25 years and over may rise, but if the lower earning 16-

to-24 age group accounts for a greatly increased share of the 

total, the overall median could actually fall. (2) there could 

be a large change in the shape of the distribution of reported 

earnings, particularly near a quantile boundary. This change 

could be caused by survey observations that are clustered at 

rounded values, such as $400 or $500. 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. 

Constant dollars. The Consumer Price Index for All 

Urban Consumers (CPI-U) is used to convert current dollars 

to constant (1982-84) dollars. 

Wage and salary workers. These are workers who 

receive wages, salaries, commissions, tips, payment in kind, 

or piece rates. The group includes employees in both the 

private and public sectors but, for the purposes of the 

earnings series, it excludes all self-employed persons, both 

those with incorporated businesses and those with 

unincorporated businesses. 

Full-time workers. For the purpose of producing 

estimates of earnings, workers who usually work 35 hours or 

more per week at their sole or principal job are defined as 

working full time. 

Part-time workers. For the purpose of producing 

estimates of earnings, workers who usually work fewer than 

35 hours per week at their sole or principal job are defined as 

working part time. 

Race. In the survey process, race is determined by the 

household respondent. In accordance with the Office of 

Management and Budget guidelines, white, black or African 

American, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and 

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander are terms used to 

describe a person’s race. Estimates for the latter two race 

groups and persons who selected more than one race are not 

included in this release due to insufficient sample size. 
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. This refers to people who 

identified themselves in the survey process as being of 

Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin. People whose ethnicity 

is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. 

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 component of this difference that occurs 

because samples differ by chance is known as sampling 

error, and its 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. 

Additional information about the reliability of data 

from the CPS is available on the BLS website at 

www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#reliability. 

Seasonal adjustment 

Over the course of a year, the size of the nation's labor 

force and other measures of labor market activity undergo 

regularly occurring fluctuations. These recurring events 

include seasonal changes in weather, major holidays, and the 

opening and closing of schools. The effect of such seasonal 

variations can be very large. 

Because seasonal events follow a more or less regular 

pattern each year, their influence on the level of a series can 

be tempered by adjusting for regular seasonal variation. 

These adjustments make nonseasonal developments easier to 

spot. The seasonally adjusted figures provide a more useful 

tool with which to analyze changes in quarter-to-quarter 

activity. 

At the end of each calendar year, the seasonally 

adjusted data are revised for the past 5 years when the 

seasonal adjustment factors are updated. More information 

on seasonal adjustment is available on the BLS website at 

www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#sa. 
Table 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex, quarterly averages,

seasonally adjusted

Year and quarter

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

Total Men Women

In current dollars In constant (1982-84) dollars

Total

$

Men

$

Women

$

Total

$

Men

$

Women

$

2008

4th Quarter........................................ 105,617 58,511 47,106 727 806 647 340 377 302

2009

1st Quarter........................................ 101,683 56,302 45,381 732 815 645 345 384 304

2nd Quarter........................................ 99,996 55,233 44,763 737 818 652 345 383 305

3rd Quarter........................................ 99,050 54,481 44,569 742 820 664 345 381 309

4th Quarter........................................ 98,555 54,410 44,145 747 823 666 344 379 307

2010

1st Quarter........................................ 98,143 54,098 44,045 748 836 662 344 384 304

2nd Quarter........................................ 99,605 55,028 44,577 742 814 671 342 374 309

3rd Quarter........................................ 100,412 55,620 44,792 746 821 670 342 377 308

4th Quarter........................................ 99,958 55,486 44,472 750 826 676 341 376 308

2011

1st Quarter........................................ 99,670 55,337 44,333 750 821 679 338 370 306

2nd Quarter........................................ 100,347 55,821 44,526 754 830 687 336 370 306

3rd Quarter........................................ 100,495 56,046 44,449 760 836 681 336 370 301

4th Quarter........................................ 101,337 56,687 44,650 760 838 686 335 369 302

2012

1st Quarter........................................ 102,161 57,110 45,051 764 841 693 335 368 303

2nd Quarter........................................ 102,525 57,079 45,447 772 870 687 337 380 300

3rd Quarter........................................ 102,587 57,207 45,380 766 836 693 333 364 302

4th Quarter........................................ 103,748 57,772 45,977 771 868 690 333 375 298

2013

1st Quarter........................................ 103,928 57,884 46,044 768 860 699 331 370 301

2nd Quarter........................................ 103,988 57,944 46,044 777 863 706 335 372 304

3rd Quarter........................................ 104,400 58,082 46,318 779 855 705 334 367 302

4th Quarter........................................ 104,764 58,095 46,669 782 865 712 334 369 304

2014

1st Quarter........................................ 105,623 58,679 46,943 790 865 716 335 367 304

2nd Quarter........................................ 106,356 59,506 46,850 781 860 714 330 363 302

3rd Quarter........................................ 106,746 59,548 47,197 798 879 722 336 370 304

4th Quarter........................................ 107,402 60,090 47,312 795 878 724 336 371 306

2015

1st Quarter........................................ 108,480 60,370 48,110 801 886 724 340 376 307

2nd Quarter........................................ 108,572 60,432 48,139 803 889 725 339 375 306

3rd Quarter........................................ 109,295 60,985 48,311 811 897 728 341 377 306

4th Quarter........................................ 109,982 61,206 48,776 822 904 730 345 380 307

2016

1st Quarter........................................ 110,434 61,650 48,784 823 904 744 346 380 312

2nd Quarter........................................ 110,973 61,835 49,138 827 912 743 345 381 310

3rd Quarter........................................ 111,600 62,095 49,505 834 918 751 347 382 312

4th Quarter........................................ 111,353 62,138 49,215 846 925 759 349 382 313

2017

1st Quarter........................................ 112,004 62,508 49,496 857 940 759 351 385 311

2nd Quarter........................................ 113,177 63,005 50,172 862 937 779 353 384 319

3rd Quarter........................................ 113,668 63,176 50,492 866 944 773 353 385 315

4th Quarter........................................ 114,219 63,221 50,997 854 944 771 345 382 312

NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
Table 2. 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

4th

2016

4th

2017

In current dollars In constant (1982-84)

dollars

4th

2016

4th

2017

4th

2016

4th

2017

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over.............................................. 111,268 114,151 $849 $857 $351 $347

Men, 16 years and over............................................ 61,933 63,033 927 946 384 383

16 to 24 years.................................................... 5,400 5,503 522 581 216 236

25 years and over................................................ 56,532 57,530 977 998 405 405

Women, 16 years and over........................................ 49,335 51,118 758 769 314 312

16 to 24 years.................................................... 4,319 4,472 506 512 210 208

25 years and over................................................ 45,016 46,646 794 803 329 326

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White.................................................................. 86,250 88,183 881 891 365 361

Men................................................................. 49,288 49,986 959 982 397 398

Women............................................................. 36,962 38,196 778 791 322 321

Black or African American......................................... 14,107 14,769 675 666 280 270

Men................................................................. 6,733 6,962 706 681 292 276

Women............................................................. 7,374 7,806 650 654 269 265

Asian.................................................................. 7,157 7,417 1,022 1,061 423 430

Men................................................................. 3,907 4,022 1,147 1,237 475 502

Women............................................................. 3,250 3,395 908 894 376 362

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................ 19,021 19,667 646 657 267 266

Men................................................................. 11,782 11,997 685 688 284 279

Women............................................................. 7,238 7,670 595 608 246 247

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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the

release of January data.
Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by age, race, Hispanic or Latino

ethnicity, and sex, 4th quarter 2017 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..................................................... 114,151 $857 63,033 $946 51,118 $769

16 to 24 years....................................................... 9,975 549 5,503 581 4,472 512

16 to 19 years.................................................... 1,204 448 687 488 517 408

20 to 24 years.................................................... 8,771 571 4,816 591 3,955 528

25 years and over................................................... 104,176 902 57,530 998 46,646 803

25 to 54 years.................................................... 80,607 887 44,742 974 35,865 799

25 to 34 years.................................................. 28,591 762 16,030 798 12,561 724

35 to 44 years.................................................. 26,171 959 14,628 1,066 11,543 855

45 to 54 years.................................................. 25,845 982 14,084 1,117 11,761 866

55 years and over................................................ 23,569 963 12,787 1,116 10,781 818

55 to 64 years.................................................. 19,193 979 10,323 1,130 8,870 835

65 years and over............................................. 4,375 893 2,464 1,022 1,911 760

White

16 years and over................................................... 88,183 891 49,986 982 38,196 791

16 to 24 years.................................................... 7,741 566 4,346 593 3,394 515

25 years and over................................................ 80,442 935 45,640 1,028 34,802 828

25 to 54 years.................................................. 61,211 916 34,929 1,000 26,282 824

55 years and over............................................. 19,231 999 10,711 1,150 8,520 840

Black or African American

16 years and over................................................... 14,769 666 6,962 681 7,806 654

16 to 24 years.................................................... 1,408 478 717 470 692 489

25 years and over................................................ 13,360 692 6,246 712 7,114 670

25 to 54 years.................................................. 10,865 683 5,108 701 5,757 665

55 years and over............................................. 2,495 724 1,138 768 1,357 693

Asian

16 years and over................................................... 7,417 1,061 4,022 1,237 3,395 894

16 to 24 years.................................................... 349 683 185 732 164 603

25 years and over................................................ 7,068 1,093 3,837 1,293 3,231 913

25 to 54 years.................................................. 5,756 1,135 3,198 1,342 2,557 941

55 years and over............................................. 1,312 939 639 1,135 673 823

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

16 years and over................................................... 19,667 657 11,997 688 7,670 608

16 to 24 years.................................................... 2,221 513 1,323 546 898 477

25 years and over................................................ 17,447 684 10,674 711 6,773 629

25 to 54 years.................................................. 14,759 682 9,074 706 5,685 632

55 years and over............................................. 2,688 699 1,600 758 1,088 617

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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the

release of January data.
Table 4. 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

4th

2016

4th

2017

4th

2016

4th

2017

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 46,187 47,276 $1,213 $1,235

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 18,853 19,461 1,323 1,336

Professional and related occupations............................................... 27,334 27,815 1,153 1,167

Service occupations...................................................................... 15,890 16,336 540 539

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 23,464 23,873 710 719

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 9,841 9,859 763 755

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 13,623 14,013 687 707

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 11,035 11,493 820 810

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 778 856 515 523

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 6,063 6,359 809 807

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 4,195 4,277 911 902

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 14,691 15,173 675 698

Production occupations................................................................ 7,273 7,517 683 704

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 7,418 7,656 665 692

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 22,154 22,638 1,443 1,475

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 10,264 10,273 1,512 1,548

Professional and related occupations............................................... 11,889 12,364 1,373 1,434

Service occupations...................................................................... 8,156 8,165 608 602

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 9,498 9,453 829 845

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 5,670 5,634 932 902

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 3,828 3,818 719 760

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 10,560 10,942 830 818

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 619 672 519 556

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 5,867 6,192 813 807

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 4,074 4,078 909 910

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 11,564 11,836 712 743

Production occupations................................................................ 5,304 5,340 744 776

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 6,261 6,495 688 715

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 24,033 24,639 1,042 1,052

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 8,589 9,188 1,126 1,137

Professional and related occupations............................................... 15,445 15,451 1,014 1,012

Service occupations...................................................................... 7,733 8,171 497 499

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 13,966 14,420 656 675

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 4,171 4,225 598 618

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 9,795 10,195 678 691

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 475 551 591 597

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 158 184 503 489

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 196 168 622 810

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 120 199 944 658

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 3,127 3,338 534 558

Production occupations................................................................ 1,970 2,177 533 572

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 1,157 1,161 534 520

NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
Table 5. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by

selected characteristics, 4th quarter 2017 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.............................................. 114,151 $417 $580 $857 $1,372 $2,097

Men................................................................... 63,033 451 612 946 1,525 2,312

Women............................................................... 51,118 393 529 769 1,181 1,829

White.................................................................. 88,183 430 596 891 1,413 2,123

Men................................................................. 49,986 469 634 982 1,550 2,350

Women............................................................. 38,196 402 549 791 1,215 1,866

Black or African American......................................... 14,769 372 485 666 1,010 1,540

Men................................................................. 6,962 390 493 681 1,047 1,718

Women............................................................. 7,806 353 477 654 988 1,416

Asian.................................................................. 7,417 458 661 1,061 1,757 2,702

Men................................................................. 4,022 494 719 1,237 1,952 2,924

Women............................................................. 3,395 411 601 894 1,424 2,095

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................ 19,667 382 483 657 978 1,503

Men................................................................. 11,997 395 502 688 1,017 1,632

Women............................................................. 7,670 356 443 608 897 1,369

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and over.............................................. 104,176 437 603 902 1,435 2,180

Less than a high school diploma.................................. 7,214 342 410 531 736 1,057

High school graduates, no college1

............................... 26,376 398 520 714 1,023 1,461

Some college or associate degree................................ 27,595 431 579 800 1,171 1,635

Bachelor’s degree and higher2.................................... 42,990 600 849 1,278 1,931 2,901

Bachelor’s degree only.......................................... 27,032 573 772 1,170 1,859 2,688

Advanced degree................................................. 15,959 706 1,002 1,487 2,198 3,260

Men, 25 years and over............................................ 57,530 477 650 998 1,586 2,396

Less than a high school diploma............................... 4,925 376 441 586 817 1,224

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 15,935 449 585 798 1,160 1,601

Some college or associate degree............................. 14,695 485 643 915 1,351 1,882

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 21,974 621 965 1,507 2,283 3,275

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 14,144 592 882 1,395 2,091 2,990

Advanced degree.............................................. 7,830 735 1,152 1,756 2,496 3,707

Women, 25 years and over........................................ 46,646 406 562 803 1,232 1,878

Less than a high school diploma............................... 2,289 298 380 467 594 754

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 10,441 356 468 611 824 1,131

Some college or associate degree............................. 12,900 398 517 697 977 1,365

Bachelor’s degree and higher2................................. 21,017 586 779 1,125 1,670 2,321

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 12,888 540 721 1,000 1,498 2,126

Advanced degree.............................................. 8,129 684 917 1,285 1,883 2,719

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.

Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release

of January data.
Table 6. 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

4th

2016

4th

2017

4th

2016

4th

2017

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over................................................................. 25,237 23,779 $255 $256

Men, 16 years and over............................................................... 8,691 8,310 244 241

16 to 24 years........................................................................ 3,859 3,628 198 194

25 years and over................................................................... 4,832 4,682 293 298

Women, 16 years and over........................................................... 16,546 15,468 261 263

16 to 24 years........................................................................ 4,738 4,652 193 196

25 years and over................................................................... 11,808 10,816 295 303

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White..................................................................................... 19,879 18,642 258 258

Men.................................................................................... 6,614 6,389 242 239

Women................................................................................ 13,265 12,253 265 266

Black or African American............................................................ 3,091 2,878 237 247

Men.................................................................................... 1,181 1,085 240 244

Women................................................................................ 1,911 1,793 234 248

Asian..................................................................................... 1,275 1,206 267 259

Men.................................................................................... 506 446 264 248

Women................................................................................ 769 760 270 265

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................................... 4,267 3,882 260 262

Men.................................................................................... 1,432 1,379 261 264

Women................................................................................ 2,835 2,504 260 260

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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the

release of January data.
Table 7. 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

2016 2017

In current dollars In constant (1982-84)

dollars

2016 2017 2016 2017

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over.............................................. 111,091 113,272 $832 $860 $347 $351

Men, 16 years and over............................................ 61,930 62,980 915 941 381 384

16 to 24 years.................................................... 5,646 5,791 512 547 213 223

25 years and over................................................ 56,284 57,190 969 996 404 406

Women, 16 years and over........................................ 49,161 50,291 749 770 312 314

16 to 24 years.................................................... 4,430 4,490 486 499 203 204

25 years and over................................................ 44,731 45,801 784 810 327 330

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White.................................................................. 86,474 87,730 862 890 359 363

Men................................................................. 49,310 50,003 942 971 393 396

Women............................................................. 37,163 37,727 766 795 319 324

Black or African American......................................... 13,963 14,521 678 682 282 278

Men................................................................. 6,728 6,928 718 710 299 289

Women............................................................. 7,235 7,593 641 657 267 268

Asian.................................................................. 7,030 7,320 1,021 1,043 425 426

Men................................................................. 3,888 4,014 1,151 1,207 479 492

Women............................................................. 3,142 3,306 902 903 376 368

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................ 18,950 19,615 624 655 260 267

Men................................................................. 11,666 11,896 663 690 276 282

Women............................................................. 7,284 7,719 586 603 244 246

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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the

release of January data.
Table 8. 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

2016 2017 2016 2017

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 45,930 47,207 $1,188 $1,224

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 19,023 19,414 1,284 1,327

Professional and related occupations............................................... 26,907 27,794 1,141 1,160

Service occupations...................................................................... 15,908 16,044 523 544

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 23,625 23,686 698 718

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 9,759 9,953 744 763

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 13,866 13,733 679 701

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 11,022 11,509 786 801

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 842 962 520 539

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 5,979 6,147 784 796

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 4,201 4,400 861 878

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 14,606 14,825 665 692

Production occupations................................................................ 7,513 7,589 668 701

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 7,093 7,236 662 681

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 22,256 22,815 1,420 1,442

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 10,261 10,415 1,491 1,526

Professional and related occupations............................................... 11,995 12,400 1,364 1,391

Service occupations...................................................................... 7,994 7,985 595 608

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 9,461 9,481 805 834

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 5,509 5,598 904 934

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 3,952 3,884 708 735

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 10,558 10,994 794 809

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 673 756 544 585

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 5,828 5,987 786 796

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 4,057 4,251 863 883

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 11,661 11,705 704 736

Production occupations................................................................ 5,564 5,545 723 769

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 6,097 6,160 685 710

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 23,674 24,393 1,027 1,052

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 8,761 8,999 1,099 1,134

Professional and related occupations............................................... 14,912 15,394 998 1,014

Service occupations...................................................................... 7,914 8,059 487 501

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 14,163 14,205 649 672

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 4,250 4,355 590 609

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 9,913 9,850 669 691

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 464 515 580 579

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 169 206 465 471

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 151 160 639 802

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 144 149 783 736

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 2,945 3,119 531 545

Production occupations................................................................ 1,949 2,044 527 564

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 997 1,075 540 514

NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
Table 9. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by

selected characteristics, 2017 annual averages

Characteristic

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.............................................. 102,991 $434 $604 $907 $1,425 $2,139

Less than a high school diploma.................................. 7,038 329 405 520 723 1,013

High school graduates, no college1

............................... 26,011 396 516 712 1,020 1,471

Some college or associate degree................................ 27,387 430 580 798 1,159 1,629

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

.................................... 42,555 608 865 1,279 1,911 2,887

Bachelor’s degree only.......................................... 26,456 577 790 1,173 1,817 2,604

Advanced degree................................................. 16,099 715 1,001 1,470 2,186 3,154

Men

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 57,190 471 648 996 1,573 2,384

Less than a high school diploma............................... 4,781 361 435 584 799 1,149

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 15,980 432 580 797 1,150 1,628

Some college or associate degree............................. 14,541 478 637 917 1,333 1,878

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 21,887 648 972 1,481 2,257 3,221

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 13,908 608 901 1,378 2,019 2,913

Advanced degree.............................................. 7,980 757 1,138 1,737 2,497 3,734

Women

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 45,801 407 560 810 1,232 1,869

Less than a high school diploma............................... 2,257 294 368 447 577 757

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 10,031 361 463 610 833 1,143

Some college or associate degree............................. 12,846 403 520 700 978 1,346

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 20,668 584 785 1,131 1,655 2,313

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 12,548 532 728 1,013 1,490 2,100

Advanced degree.............................................. 8,119 680 928 1,291 1,879 2,690

White, total

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 79,864 451 621 937 1,460 2,208

Less than a high school diploma............................... 5,589 336 410 527 745 1,033

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 20,187 410 538 746 1,070 1,519

Some college or associate degree............................. 21,105 448 598 834 1,209 1,708

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 32,983 623 886 1,314 1,922 2,898

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 20,930 593 817 1,209 1,864 2,690

Advanced degree.............................................. 12,053 735 1,018 1,487 2,215 3,265

White men

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 45,461 484 673 1,023 1,614 2,409

Less than a high school diploma............................ 3,942 371 443 591 812 1,165

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 12,767 453 597 831 1,188 1,683

Some college or associate degree.......................... 11,518 495 666 959 1,386 1,903

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

............................... 17,235 675 995 1,516 2,284 3,306

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 11,259 628 933 1,410 2,090 2,959

Advanced degree........................................... 5,976 781 1,156 1,760 2,519 3,860

White women

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 34,403 417 580 836 1,254 1,885

Less than a high school diploma............................ 1,647 295 372 446 576 758

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 7,420 374 479 627 861 1,171

Some college or associate degree.......................... 9,587 413 534 717 1,006 1,387

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

............................... 15,749 597 803 1,141 1,665 2,322

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 9,671 560 741 1,031 1,523 2,121

Advanced degree........................................... 6,078 703 943 1,306 1,879 2,688

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 9. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by

selected characteristics, 2017 annual averages — Continued

Characteristic

Number of

workers

(in

thousands)

Upper limit of:

First decile First

quartile

Second

quartile

(median)

Third

quartile

Ninth

decile

Black or African American, total

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 13,100 383 503 712 1,071 1,591

Less than a high school diploma............................... 764 300 378 483 619 880

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 3,893 354 446 599 817 1,160

Some college or associate degree............................. 4,226 388 502 678 951 1,305

Bachelor’s degree and higher2................................. 4,218 499 708 1,021 1,526 2,281

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 2,636 468 657 933 1,389 2,017

Advanced degree.............................................. 1,582 613 825 1,188 1,744 2,582

Black or African American men

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 6,230 396 521 743 1,139 1,742

Less than a high school diploma............................ 414 311 394 504 683 952

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 2,106 381 489 653 918 1,256

Some college or associate degree.......................... 1,957 408 530 736 1,023 1,468

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

............................... 1,754 495 705 1,109 1,692 2,475

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 1,155 473 653 998 1,558 2,381

Advanced degree........................................... 599 604 867 1,295 1,890 2,721

Black or African American women

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 6,871 373 489 685 1,012 1,488

Less than a high school diploma............................ 350 289 355 450 580 762

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 1,787 331 410 539 709 1,003

Some college or associate degree.......................... 2,269 375 484 633 871 1,157

Bachelor’s degree and higher2............................... 2,464 503 710 980 1,406 2,014

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 1,481 465 660 897 1,256 1,767

Advanced degree........................................... 983 618 806 1,133 1,610 2,487

Asian, total

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 6,874 460 666 1,099 1,794 2,610

Less than a high school diploma............................... 358 327 395 505 680 1,021

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 1,059 370 484 653 931 1,382

Some college or associate degree............................. 1,047 432 559 772 1,105 1,542

Bachelor’s degree and higher2................................. 4,410 624 939 1,441 2,098 2,922

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 2,265 580 831 1,274 1,888 2,677

Advanced degree.............................................. 2,146 733 1,095 1,673 2,340 3,268

Asian men

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 3,778 500 752 1,253 1,921 2,900

Less than a high school diploma............................... 182 357 449 590 823 1,187

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 575 392 512 714 1,064 1,516

Some college or associate degree............................. 556 445 601 856 1,214 1,716

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 2,465 715 1,078 1,625 2,328 3,287

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 1,193 646 968 1,437 2,100 2,919

Advanced degree.............................................. 1,272 810 1,203 1,800 2,524 3,523

Asian women

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 3,096 412 592 932 1,532 2,183

Less than a high school diploma............................... 176 310 367 438 570 719

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 484 349 452 591 805 1,069

Some college or associate degree............................. 491 420 519 710 958 1,330

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 1,946 567 829 1,248 1,870 2,538

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 1,072 500 735 1,090 1,641 2,192

Advanced degree.............................................. 874 645 969 1,462 1,991 2,890

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 9. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by

selected characteristics, 2017 annual averages — Continued

Characteristic

Number of

workers

(in

thousands)

Upper limit of:

First decile First

quartile

Second

quartile

(median)

Third

quartile

Ninth

decile

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, total

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 17,241 384 488 688 1,024 1,611

Less than a high school diploma............................... 4,236 327 404 510 699 952

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 5,239 385 488 651 909 1,300

Some college or associate degree............................. 4,050 410 533 737 1,051 1,546

Bachelor’s degree and higher2................................. 3,716 488 718 1,066 1,668 2,324

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 2,563 470 672 989 1,514 2,184

Advanced degree.............................................. 1,153 584 861 1,307 1,904 2,813

Hispanic or Latino men

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 10,486 398 510 719 1,099 1,743

Less than a high school diploma............................ 3,053 360 425 564 755 1,018

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 3,375 410 520 709 1,007 1,451

Some college or associate degree.......................... 2,185 438 598 812 1,196 1,764

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

............................... 1,872 493 736 1,173 1,884 2,716

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 1,326 477 689 1,066 1,712 2,392

Advanced degree........................................... 546 600 927 1,588 2,290 3,107

Hispanic or Latino women

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 6,756 357 452 634 940 1,416

Less than a high school diploma............................ 1,183 288 363 431 529 690

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 1,864 340 424 575 760 1,003

Some college or associate degree.......................... 1,865 393 494 663 906 1,255

Bachelor’s degree and higher2............................... 1,844 483 703 992 1,448 1,998

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 1,237 463 656 915 1,346 1,896

Advanced degree........................................... 607 562 827 1,155 1,670 2,285

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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any

race. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.