1

Technical information: (202) 691-6378

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 06-98

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Thursday, January 19, 2006

USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS:

FOURTH QUARTER 2005

Median weekly earnings of the nation’s 104.6 million full-time wage and salary workers were $659 in the

fourth quarter of 2005, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This

was 1.9 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 3.8 percent in the Consumer Price Index

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

Data on usual earnings are collected as part of the Current Population Survey, a nationwide sample survey of households in which respondents are asked, among other things, how much each wage and salary

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

—Women who usually worked full time had median earnings of $588 per week, or 80.4 percent of the

$731 median for men. The female-to-male earnings ratios were higher among blacks (87.4 percent) and

Hispanics or Latinos (86.3 percent) than among whites (79.8 percent) or Asians (76.7 percent). (See

table 1.)

—Median earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $579 per week, 76.9 percent of the

median for white men ($753). The difference was less among women, as black women’s median earnings

($506) were 84.2 percent of those for their white counterparts ($601). Overall, median earnings of Hispanics or Latinos who worked full time ($479) were lower than those of blacks ($533), whites ($682), and

Asians ($767). (See table 1.)

—Among men, those 45 to 54 years old had the highest median weekly earnings ($865). Among

women, earnings were highest for those age 55 to 64 ($669). (See table 2.)

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

related occupations had the highest median weekly earnings—$1,130 for men and $829 for women. Men

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

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

$407, compared with $585 for high school graduates (no college) and $1,029 for college graduates holding

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

degree and above), the highest-earning 10 percent of male workers made $2,887 or more per week,

compared with $1,997 or more for their female counterparts. (See table 4.)
2

Annual Averages for 2004 and 2005

In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this release includes 2004 and 2005 annual average weekly

earnings for major demographic, occupational, and 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 2006 issue of Employment and Earnings.
Explanatory Note

The estimates in this release were obtained from the Current

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired

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

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

Reliability

Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

population value because of sampling error. BLS analyses are generally

conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.

The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling

error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to sample a

segment of the population, inability to obtain information for all

respondents in the sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents to

provide correct information, and errors made in the collection or

processing of the data.

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

information on estimating standard errors, see the “Explanatory Notes

and Estimates of Error” section of Employment and Earnings.

Definitions

The principal definitions used in connection with the earnings series

are described briefly below.

Usual weekly earnings. Data represent earnings before taxes and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

worked during the past 4 or 5 months.

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

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

earnings distribution into two equal groups, one having earnings above

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The estimating procedure places each reported or calculated weekly

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

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

interpolation of the interval in which the quantile boundary lies.

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

for specific groups may not necessarily be consistent with the movements

estimated for the overall quantile boundary. The most common reasons

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

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

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

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

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

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

boundary. This could be caused by survey observations that are

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

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

to change more slowly than one in other intervals.

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

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

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

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

of whether or not their businesses are incorporated.

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

week at their sole or principal job.

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

per week at their sole or principal job.

Constant dollars. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers

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

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. This refers to persons who identified

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

Latino. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino

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

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

not seasonally adjusted

Characteristic

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

IV

2004

IV

2005

In current dollars In constant (1982) dollars

IV

2004

IV

2005

IV

2004

IV

2005

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over ........................................................................... 101,551 104,599 $647 $659 $327 $321

 Men, 16 years and over ......................................................................... 57,183 58,886 722 731 365 356

 16 to 24 years ...................................................................................... 6,072 6,152 396 418 201 204

 25 years and over ................................................................................ 51,110 52,733 768 778 389 379

 Women, 16 years and over ................................................................... 44,369 45,713 578 588 293 287

 16 to 24 years ...................................................................................... 4,417 4,785 371 389 188 190

 25 years and over ................................................................................ 39,952 40,928 603 614 305 299

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

 White ..................................................................................................... 82,477 84,822 671 682 340 333

 Men ...................................................................................................... 47,559 48,878 747 753 378 367

 Women ................................................................................................ 34,918 35,945 589 601 298 293

 Black or African American ..................................................................... 12,183 12,521 519 533 263 260

 Men ...................................................................................................... 5,812 5,900 529 579 268 282

 Women ................................................................................................ 6,370 6,621 512 506 259 247

 Asian ...................................................................................................... 4,652 4,808 698 767 353 374

 Men ...................................................................................................... 2,542 2,741 807 868 409 423

 Women ................................................................................................ 2,110 2,067 601 666 304 324

 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity .................................................................... 14,011 14,923 467 479 237 234

 Men ...................................................................................................... 8,989 9,554 490 498 248 243

 Women ................................................................................................ 5,022 5,370 415 430 210 210

 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 2005, 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 2005 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 ..................................................................................... 104,599 $659 58,886 $731 45,713 $588

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 10,937 406 6,152 418 4,785 389

 16 to 19 years ....................................................................................... 1,515 349 891 370 624 323

 20 to 24 years ....................................................................................... 9,422 416 5,261 431 4,161 402

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 93,661 704 52,733 778 40,928 614

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 78,458 697 44,476 771 33,982 610

 25 to 34 years ..................................................................................... 25,387 611 14,783 647 10,604 574

 35 to 44 years ..................................................................................... 27,221 741 15,734 839 11,487 625

 45 to 54 years ..................................................................................... 25,850 753 13,959 865 11,891 640

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 15,203 735 8,257 816 6,946 645

 55 to 64 years ..................................................................................... 13,180 752 7,101 838 6,080 669

 65 years and over ............................................................................... 2,023 598 1,157 706 867 487

White

16 years and over ..................................................................................... 84,822 682 48,878 753 35,945 601

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 8,916 411 5,151 423 3,765 394

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 75,907 728 43,727 804 32,180 630

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 63,053 724 36,631 798 26,422 625

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 12,854 749 7,096 842 5,757 653

Black or African American

16 years and over ..................................................................................... 12,521 533 5,900 579 6,621 506

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 1,371 354 663 359 708 351

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 11,150 571 5,236 604 5,914 530

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 9,693 566 4,588 601 5,105 528

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 1,458 605 648 675 809 569

Asian

16 years and over ..................................................................................... 4,808 767 2,741 868 2,067 666

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 325 485 169 409 156 529

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 4,483 808 2,572 904 1,911 696

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 3,830 814 2,198 921 1,631 686

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 653 775 374 791 280 758

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

16 years and over ..................................................................................... 14,923 479 9,554 498 5,370 430

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 2,160 372 1,425 382 735 347

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 12,764 503 8,129 522 4,635 461

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 11,581 502 7,399 522 4,182 461

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 1,183 509 729 523 453 463

 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 2005, 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

2004

IV

2005

IV

2004

IV

2005

TOTAL

 Management, professional, and related occupations .............................. 36,334 37,489 $928 $951

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations ............. 14,818 15,318 973 1,004

 Professional and related occupations .................................................... 21,516 22,171 900 922

 Service occupations ................................................................................ 14,031 14,162 413 418

 Sales and office occupations ................................................................... 24,851 25,314 555 581

 Sales and related occupations .............................................................. 10,004 10,009 599 639

 Office and administrative support occupations ...................................... 14,847 15,305 534 556

 Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ............. 11,667 12,499 628 632

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................ 691 692 356 394

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................................... 6,561 7,050 611 605

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................ 4,415 4,757 705 714

 Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ................. 14,668 15,135 537 547

 Production occupations ......................................................................... 8,269 8,310 554 549

 Transportation and material moving occupations .................................. 6,398 6,825 519 544

Men

 Management, professional, and related occupations .............................. 18,215 18,600 1,109 1,130

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations ............. 8,293 8,376 1,162 1,189

 Professional and related occupations .................................................... 9,922 10,223 1,062 1,071

 Service occupations ................................................................................ 7,248 7,052 482 493

 Sales and office occupations ................................................................... 9,134 9,514 690 707

 Sales and related occupations .............................................................. 5,327 5,591 769 791

 Office and administrative support occupations ...................................... 3,807 3,922 588 599

 Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ............. 11,183 12,005 636 636

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................ 549 548 365 402

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................................... 6,407 6,884 613 606

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................ 4,227 4,573 707 714

 Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ................. 11,402 11,715 587 600

 Production occupations ......................................................................... 5,848 5,802 614 622

 Transportation and material moving occupations .................................. 5,554 5,913 544 577

Women

 Management, professional, and related occupations .............................. 18,119 18,889 801 829

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations ............. 6,525 6,941 832 856

 Professional and related occupations .................................................... 11,594 11,948 786 815

 Service occupations ................................................................................ 6,784 7,109 368 383

 Sales and office occupations ................................................................... 15,716 15,800 509 524

 Sales and related occupations .............................................................. 4,677 4,418 459 487

 Office and administrative support occupations ...................................... 11,040 11,382 521 543

 Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ............. 484 494 472 513

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................ 142 144 314 324

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................................... 154 166 471 501

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................ 188 184 659 731

 Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ................. 3,265 3,420 415 421

 Production occupations ......................................................................... 2,421 2,508 415 426

 Transportation and material moving occupations .................................. 844 912 416 405

 NOTE: Beginning in January 2005, 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 2005 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 ........................................................................... 104,599 $316 $437 $659 $1,012 $1,535

 Men ......................................................................................................... 58,886 341 484 731 1,142 1,735

 Women ................................................................................................... 45,713 297 400 588 879 1,266

 White ...................................................................................................... 84,822 323 452 682 1,037 1,564

 Men ....................................................................................................... 48,878 353 496 753 1,168 1,756

 Women ................................................................................................. 35,945 300 407 601 892 1,280

 Black or African American ...................................................................... 12,521 287 376 533 769 1,147

 Men ....................................................................................................... 5,900 293 399 579 829 1,177

 Women ................................................................................................. 6,621 282 360 506 728 1,090

 Asian ....................................................................................................... 4,808 338 486 767 1,264 1,910

 Men ....................................................................................................... 2,741 375 529 868 1,417 2,107

 Women ................................................................................................. 2,067 316 423 666 1,102 1,663

 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ..................................................................... 14,923 282 349 479 718 1,101

 Men ....................................................................................................... 9,554 294 370 498 750 1,195

 Women ................................................................................................. 5,370 259 319 430 650 973

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

 Total, 25 years and over ......................................................................... 93,661 337 475 704 1,067 1,587

 Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 8,625 260 313 407 573 798

 High school graduates, no college1 ...................................................... 27,781 316 418 585 810 1,132

 Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 26,055 362 482 674 963 1,336

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 31,201 498 721 1,029 1,539 2,218

 Bachelor’s degree only ....................................................................... 20,182 469 658 958 1,416 1,995

 Advanced degree ............................................................................... 11,018 607 836 1,200 1,766 2,490

 Men, 25 years and over ........................................................................ 52,733 375 517 778 1,201 1,773

 Less than a high school diploma ........................................................ 5,760 287 347 452 620 898

 High school graduates, no college1 .................................................... 16,142 359 482 658 922 1,254

 Some college or associate degree ..................................................... 13,893 401 560 775 1,099 1,484

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .......................................................... 16,939 530 778 1,187 1,758 2,477

 Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 10,982 500 736 1,079 1,600 2,277

 Advanced degree ............................................................................. 5,958 653 946 1,412 2,002 2,887

 Women, 25 years and over .................................................................. 40,928 310 420 614 916 1,330

 Less than a high school diploma ........................................................ 2,865 227 280 338 442 600

 High school graduates, no college1 .................................................... 11,640 289 373 493 665 894

 Some college or associate degree ..................................................... 12,162 332 428 583 799 1,085

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .......................................................... 14,261 469 648 905 1,268 1,843

 Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 9,201 431 604 837 1,171 1,659

 Advanced degree ............................................................................. 5,061 585 758 1,026 1,449 1,997

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 2005, 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

2004

IV

2005

IV

2004

IV

2005

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over ........................................................................... 22,841 22,456 $194 $198

 Men, 16 years and over ......................................................................... 7,249 7,045 182 182

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

 25 years and over ................................................................................ 3,552 3,365 242 249

 Women, 16 years and over ................................................................... 15,592 15,410 201 206

 16 to 24 years ...................................................................................... 4,882 4,607 144 140

 25 years and over ................................................................................ 10,709 10,803 236 246

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

 White ..................................................................................................... 19,302 18,878 195 198

 Men ...................................................................................................... 6,040 5,768 182 179

 Women ................................................................................................ 13,261 13,111 202 207

 Black or African American ..................................................................... 2,065 2,114 187 205

 Men ...................................................................................................... 671 734 175 194

 Women ................................................................................................ 1,394 1,379 192 210

 Asian ...................................................................................................... 796 837 240 186

 Men ...................................................................................................... 326 320 230 188

 Women ................................................................................................ 471 517 246 184

 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity .................................................................... 2,602 2,501 191 201

 Men ...................................................................................................... 883 865 194 203

 Women ................................................................................................ 1,718 1,636 189 201

 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 2005, 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

2004 2005

In current dollars In constant (1982) dollars

2004 2005 2004 2005

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over ........................................................................... 101,224 103,560 $638 $651 $326 $322

 Men, 16 years and over .......................................................................... 57,001 58,406 713 722 364 357

 16 to 24 years ........................................................................................ 6,243 6,396 400 409 204 202

 25 years and over .................................................................................. 50,758 52,010 762 771 389 381

 Women, 16 years and over .................................................................... 44,223 45,154 573 585 292 289

 16 to 24 years ........................................................................................ 4,633 4,711 375 381 191 188

 25 years and over .................................................................................. 39,590 40,443 599 612 306 302

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

 White ..................................................................................................... 82,468 84,110 657 672 336 332

 Men ....................................................................................................... 47,495 48,572 732 743 374 367

 Women ................................................................................................. 34,972 35,538 584 596 298 295

 Black ...................................................................................................... 12,032 12,388 525 520 268 257

 Men ....................................................................................................... 5,706 5,916 569 559 290 276

 Women ................................................................................................. 6,326 6,472 505 499 258 246

 Asian ...................................................................................................... 4,457 4,651 708 753 362 372

 Men ....................................................................................................... 2,504 2,597 802 825 409 408

 Women ................................................................................................. 1,953 2,054 613 665 313 329

 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ..................................................................... 14,061 14,673 456 471 233 233

 Men ....................................................................................................... 8,996 9,433 480 489 245 241

 Women ................................................................................................. 5,065 5,241 419 429 214 212

 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 2005, 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

2004 2005 2004 2005

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations ........................................... 36,149 36,908 $918 $937

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations .......................... 14,778 14,977 965 997

 Professional and related occupations ................................................................. 21,371 21,931 883 902

Service occupations ............................................................................................. 13,763 14,123 411 413

Sales and office occupations ................................................................................ 24,950 25,193 558 575

 Sales and related occupations ........................................................................... 9,984 10,031 604 622

 Office and administrative support occupations ................................................... 14,966 15,161 535 550

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .......................... 11,280 12,086 621 623

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ......................................................... 718 755 356 372

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................................................ 6,232 6,826 604 604

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ............................................. 4,330 4,504 704 705

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations .............................. 15,082 15,251 523 540

 Production occupations ...................................................................................... 8,478 8,403 526 538

 Transportation and material moving occupations ............................................... 6,604 6,848 520 543

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations ........................................... 17,981 18,311 1,098 1,113

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations .......................... 8,170 8,195 1,158 1,167

 Professional and related occupations ................................................................. 9,811 10,116 1,049 1,058

Service occupations ............................................................................................. 6,989 7,024 476 478

Sales and office occupations ................................................................................ 9,410 9,539 669 690

 Sales and related occupations ........................................................................... 5,562 5,582 747 762

 Office and administrative support occupations ................................................... 3,848 3,957 587 605

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .......................... 10,835 11,569 626 628

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ......................................................... 585 601 367 388

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................................................ 6,109 6,663 606 606

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ............................................. 4,140 4,305 707 706

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations .............................. 11,786 11,963 578 591

 Production occupations ...................................................................................... 6,024 5,991 597 608

 Transportation and material moving occupations ............................................... 5,762 5,972 549 574

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations ........................................... 18,168 18,597 780 813

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations .......................... 6,609 6,782 812 847

 Professional and related occupations ................................................................. 11,560 11,815 767 792

Service occupations ............................................................................................. 6,773 7,099 374 379

Sales and office occupations ................................................................................ 15,540 15,654 512 520

 Sales and related occupations ........................................................................... 4,422 4,449 464 483

 Office and administrative support occupations ................................................... 11,118 11,205 522 533

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .......................... 445 517 453 486

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ......................................................... 133 154 322 327

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................................................ 123 163 504 480

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ............................................. 190 199 611 691

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations .............................. 3,296 3,288 406 420

 Production occupations ...................................................................................... 2,454 2,412 405 423

 Transportation and material moving occupations ............................................... 842 876 410 412

 NOTE: Beginning in January 2005, 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, 2005 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 ........................................................... 92,453 $331 $470 $696 $1,048 $1,559

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 8,861 256 311 409 576 796

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 27,514 311 411 583 809 1,111

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 25,471 351 481 670 952 1,309

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 30,607 494 705 1,013 1,524 2,115

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 19,843 464 646 937 1,392 1,920

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 10,764 604 829 1,173 1,747 2,421

Men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 52,010 365 511 771 1,168 1,760

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 5,983 282 339 455 625 879

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 15,997 349 476 652 912 1,217

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 13,368 395 547 766 1,074 1,453

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 16,662 538 781 1,167 1,756 2,414

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 10,786 501 731 1,071 1,603 2,231

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 5,876 650 934 1,387 1,924 2,883

Women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 40,443 306 417 612 900 1,297

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 2,878 226 279 341 441 595

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 11,517 286 366 493 667 887

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 12,103 322 425 587 801 1,088

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 13,944 463 634 883 1,242 1,735

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 9,057 431 594 813 1,148 1,574

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 4,887 578 752 1,007 1,409 1,908

White, total 

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 75,035 341 485 719 1,080 1,600

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 7,254 261 314 414 587 813

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 22,215 321 426 600 836 1,144

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 20,597 365 496 697 980 1,347

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 24,969 507 723 1,039 1,552 2,202

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 16,186 480 665 960 1,438 1,994

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 8,783 612 841 1,195 1,760 2,496

White men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 43,221 377 528 796 1,207 1,802

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 5,071 285 344 464 640 893

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 13,182 366 491 677 942 1,254

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 11,109 410 578 794 1,111 1,487

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 13,859 574 809 1,210 1,791 2,494

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 9,036 519 749 1,122 1,658 2,297

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 4,824 666 952 1,409 1,990 2,896

White women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 31,814 311 429 624 915 1,327

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 2,183 225 278 340 442 596

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 9,033 290 377 504 682 900

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 9,488 331 439 600 822 1,111

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 11,110 477 646 891 1,253 1,748

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 7,150 442 602 824 1,158 1,607

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 3,959 584 757 1,014 1,415 1,909

Black or African American, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 11,051 295 389 558 809 1,153

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 1,017 234 293 372 484 633

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 3,982 285 359 488 675 921

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 3,405 307 405 559 764 1,063

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 2,649 416 595 828 1,166 1,663

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 1,824 397 557 763 1,092 1,526

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 825 497 722 955 1,366 1,915

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, 2005 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 ........................................................... 5,247 $309 $412 $593 $860 $1,214

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 553 253 311 404 523 697

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 2,073 301 392 528 735 995

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 1,486 334 447 611 850 1,149

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 1,134 415 604 878 1,310 1,869

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 815 406 581 827 1,191 1,734

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 319 483 737 1,046 1,514 2,258

Black or African American women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 5,804 286 368 518 759 1,093

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 463 221 275 339 428 545

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 1,908 276 330 436 609 822

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 1,918 296 381 513 712 984

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 1,514 416 590 789 1,100 1,542

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 1,009 389 537 725 1,007 1,426

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 506 524 705 930 1,265 1,856

Asian, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 4,342 344 501 782 1,216 1,852

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 342 247 304 396 562 754

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 720 293 387 535 736 974

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 764 337 468 640 894 1,267

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 2,515 478 714 1,031 1,544 2,086

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 1,488 425 613 917 1,271 1,812

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 1,027 626 861 1,269 1,856 2,410

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 12,525 283 354 495 736 1,103

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 4,444 255 304 388 510 706

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 3,727 291 373 499 685 952

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 2,598 316 425 599 839 1,193

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 1,756 392 588 866 1,268 1,881

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 1,261 380 535 799 1,162 1,652

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 496 474 737 1,073 1,634 2,289

Hispanic or Latino men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 7,980 295 376 513 769 1,174

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 3,187 279 321 414 550 761

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 2,371 309 396 530 737 1,020

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 1,451 336 473 659 968 1,323

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 970 392 596 946 1,500 2,077

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 692 384 546 873 1,322 1,867

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 278 445 797 1,263 1,882 2,501

Hispanic or Latino women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 4,545 258 321 452 669 977

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 1,257 227 270 323 411 522

 High school graduates, no college1 ........................................ 1,356 272 326 435 598 804

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 1,146 297 394 528 728 993

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 787 391 582 787 1,081 1,442

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 569 377 526 744 1,003 1,352

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 218 495 676 931 1,242 1,792

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 2005, data reflect revised population controls used in the

household survey.