For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Friday, April 16, 2021 USDL-21-0655

Technical information: cpsinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/cps

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

USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS

FIRST QUARTER 2021

Median weekly earnings of the nation's 112.1 million full-time wage and salary workers were $989 in 

the first quarter of 2021 (not seasonally adjusted), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. 

This was 3.3 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 1.9 percent in the Consumer 

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

Data on usual 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 news 

release are not seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified.

Highlights from the first-quarter data:

• Median weekly earnings of full-time workers were $989 in the first quarter of 2021. Women had 

median weekly earnings of $900, 82.6 percent of the $1,089 median for men. (See table 2.) 

• The women's-to-men's earnings ratio varied by race and ethnicity. White women earned 81.6 

percent as much as their male counterparts, compared with 92.1 percent for Black women, 80.5 

percent for Asian women, and 88.3 percent for Hispanic women. (See table 2.)

• Among the major race and ethnicity groups, median weekly earnings for Blacks ($799) and 

Hispanics ($750) working full-time jobs were lower than those of Whites ($1,006) and Asians 

($1,286). By sex, median weekly earnings for Black men were $834, or 74.6 percent of the median 

for White men ($1,118). Median earnings for Hispanic men were $788, or 70.5 percent of the 

median for White men. The difference was less among women, as Black women's median earnings 

were $768, or 84.2 percent of those for White women ($912), and earnings for Hispanic women 

were $696, or 76.3 percent of those for White women. Earnings for Asian men ($1,408) and women 

($1,134) were higher than those of their White counterparts. (See table 2.)

• By age, median weekly earnings were highest for men ages 45 to 54 ($1,334). Usual weekly 

earnings were highest for women ages 35 to 64: median weekly earnings were $999 for women ages 

35 to 44, $1,002 for women ages 45 to 54, and $964 for women ages 55 to 64. Men and women ages 

16 to 24 had the lowest median weekly earnings, $634 and $593, respectively. Men's and women's 

earnings were closer among younger workers than older workers; for example, women ages 16 to 24 
- 2 -

earned 93.5 percent as much as men in the same age group, while the women's-to-men's earnings 

ratio was 79.9 percent for those age 55 and over. (See table 3.) 

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

and related occupations had the highest median weekly earnings—$1,615 for men and $1,179 for 

women. Men and women employed in service occupations earned the least, $741 and $582, 

respectively. (See table 4.) 

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

median weekly earnings of $613, compared with $792 for high school graduates (no college) and 

$1,426 for those holding at least a bachelor's degree. Among college graduates with advanced 

degrees (master's, professional, and doctoral degrees), the highest earning 10 percent of male 

workers made $4,355 or more per week, compared with $2,907 or more for their female 

counterparts. (See table 5.) 

• Seasonally adjusted median weekly earnings were $984 in the first quarter of 2021, essentially 

unchanged from the previous quarter. (See table 1.)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on Usual Weekly Earnings Data

Usual weekly earnings data for the first quarter of 2021 continue to reflect the impact on the 

labor market of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and efforts to contain it. More 

information on labor market developments in recent months is available at 

www.bls.gov/covid19/effects-of-covid-19-pandemic-and-response-on-the-employmentsituation-news-release.htm. 

Revision of Seasonally Adjusted Usual Weekly Earnings Data

Seasonally adjusted data for median usual weekly earnings in constant (1982-84) dollars have 

been updated using revised seasonally adjusted data for the Consumer Price Index for All 

Urban Consumers (CPI-U). (Data are shown in table 1 of this news release.) Seasonally 

adjusted constant (1982-84) dollar estimates back to the first quarter of 2016 were subject to 

revision.
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

$

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......................................... 105,633 58,682 46,951 790 865 716 335 367 304

2nd quarter........................................ 106,342 59,486 46,855 781 860 715 330 363 302

3rd quarter......................................... 106,726 59,543 47,183 798 878 721 336 370 304

4th quarter......................................... 107,436 60,123 47,313 795 878 724 336 371 306

2015

1st quarter......................................... 108,448 60,346 48,102 802 886 725 341 377 308

2nd quarter........................................ 108,541 60,386 48,154 803 890 725 339 376 306

3rd quarter......................................... 109,315 61,004 48,311 809 896 727 340 377 306

4th quarter......................................... 110,060 61,292 48,768 821 904 729 345 380 307

2016

1st quarter......................................... 110,323 61,559 48,764 823 904 744 346 380 313

2nd quarter........................................ 110,921 61,770 49,152 828 913 746 345 381 311

3rd quarter......................................... 111,789 62,239 49,550 834 918 748 347 381 311

4th quarter......................................... 111,357 62,182 49,175 845 924 759 349 381 313

2017

1st quarter......................................... 111,846 62,372 49,474 857 941 760 352 386 312

2nd quarter........................................ 113,121 62,938 50,184 863 938 783 354 384 321

3rd quarter......................................... 113,880 63,327 50,552 865 943 768 352 385 313

4th quarter......................................... 114,265 63,310 50,955 853 943 770 345 381 311

2018

1st quarter......................................... 114,502 63,888 50,615 874 956 778 351 384 312

2nd quarter........................................ 115,502 64,146 51,356 881 964 784 351 384 312

3rd quarter......................................... 116,223 64,379 51,844 892 979 796 354 389 316

4th quarter......................................... 116,059 64,178 51,881 897 990 795 355 392 314

2019

1st quarter......................................... 117,202 64,896 52,306 898 995 802 355 393 317

2nd quarter........................................ 117,299 65,054 52,244 914 1,005 818 358 393 320

3rd quarter......................................... 117,426 64,842 52,585 922 1,009 824 360 394 322

4th quarter......................................... 118,423 65,250 53,173 934 1,019 844 362 395 327

2020

1st quarter......................................... 116,986 64,352 52,634 949 1,057 853 367 409 330

2nd quarter........................................ 104,204 57,686 46,517 1,009 1,092 918 393 426 358

3rd quarter......................................... 108,754 59,909 48,846 996 1,110 900 384 428 347

4th quarter......................................... 111,617 61,710 49,908 983 1,069 896 377 410 343

2021

1st quarter......................................... 112,993 62,092 50,901 984 1,080 898 373 410 341

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

1st

2020

1st

2021

In current dollars In constant (1982-84)

dollars

1st

2020

1st

2021

1st

2020

1st

2021

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over.............................................. 115,930 112,070 $957 $989 $370 $376

Men, 16 years and over............................................ 63,555 61,401 1,066 1,089 413 414

16 to 24 years.................................................... 5,251 5,392 593 634 230 241

25 years and over................................................ 58,303 56,009 1,131 1,154 438 438

Women, 16 years and over........................................ 52,375 50,669 857 900 332 342

16 to 24 years.................................................... 4,428 4,420 582 593 226 225

25 years and over................................................ 47,946 46,250 894 941 346 357

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White.................................................................. 89,322 86,452 980 1,006 379 382

Men................................................................. 49,905 48,307 1,096 1,118 424 425

Women............................................................. 39,417 38,146 873 912 338 347

Black or African American......................................... 14,902 14,279 775 799 300 304

Men................................................................. 7,065 6,836 823 834 319 317

Women............................................................. 7,837 7,443 742 768 287 292

Asian.................................................................. 7,736 7,532 1,221 1,286 473 489

Men................................................................. 4,404 4,264 1,360 1,408 527 535

Women............................................................. 3,332 3,268 1,106 1,134 428 431

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................ 21,160 20,312 721 750 279 285

Men................................................................. 12,477 12,026 763 788 295 299

Women............................................................. 8,683 8,286 678 696 262 265

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, 1st quarter 2021 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..................................................... 112,070 $989 61,401 $1,089 50,669 $900

16 to 24 years....................................................... 9,811 611 5,392 634 4,420 593

16 to 19 years.................................................... 1,344 494 773 511 571 467

20 to 24 years.................................................... 8,467 628 4,619 667 3,848 607

25 years and over................................................... 102,259 1,040 56,009 1,154 46,250 941

25 to 54 years.................................................... 78,164 1,030 42,937 1,142 35,227 937

25 to 34 years.................................................. 28,289 901 15,544 950 12,745 850

35 to 44 years.................................................. 25,871 1,131 14,376 1,232 11,495 999

45 to 54 years.................................................. 24,003 1,161 13,017 1,334 10,986 1,002

55 years and over................................................ 24,095 1,081 13,072 1,194 11,023 954

55 to 64 years.................................................. 19,097 1,108 10,269 1,224 8,828 964

65 years and over............................................. 4,998 997 2,803 1,102 2,195 911

White

16 years and over................................................... 86,452 1,006 48,307 1,118 38,146 912

16 to 24 years.................................................... 7,651 616 4,254 654 3,397 591

25 years and over................................................ 78,801 1,064 44,053 1,174 34,748 951

25 to 54 years.................................................. 59,220 1,049 33,253 1,157 25,967 946

55 years and over............................................. 19,581 1,126 10,800 1,249 8,781 968

Black or African American

16 years and over................................................... 14,279 799 6,836 834 7,443 768

16 to 24 years.................................................... 1,278 514 664 501 614 564

25 years and over................................................ 13,001 842 6,171 901 6,830 803

25 to 54 years.................................................. 10,299 826 4,898 888 5,401 794

55 years and over............................................. 2,702 910 1,274 950 1,428 854

Asian

16 years and over................................................... 7,532 1,286 4,264 1,408 3,268 1,134

16 to 24 years.................................................... 429 872 237 841 192 933

25 years and over................................................ 7,103 1,339 4,027 1,439 3,076 1,162

25 to 54 years.................................................. 5,857 1,397 3,348 1,490 2,510 1,257

55 years and over............................................. 1,246 1,028 679 1,164 567 946

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

16 years and over................................................... 20,312 750 12,026 788 8,286 696

16 to 24 years.................................................... 2,597 584 1,521 609 1,076 538

25 years and over................................................ 17,716 788 10,505 824 7,210 733

25 to 54 years.................................................. 14,721 789 8,734 828 5,988 735

55 years and over............................................. 2,994 781 1,772 814 1,222 728

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

1st

2020

1st

2021

1st

2020

1st

2021

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 51,719 50,956 $1,332 $1,361

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 21,475 21,273 1,445 1,475

Professional and related occupations............................................... 30,244 29,683 1,235 1,288

Service occupations...................................................................... 15,373 13,468 605 626

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 22,031 21,576 796 817

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 9,597 9,266 877 887

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 12,434 12,310 761 795

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 11,106 10,448 880 900

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 842 686 579 582

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 6,013 5,910 884 885

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 4,251 3,851 958 982

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 15,700 15,621 738 738

Production occupations................................................................ 7,297 7,191 759 781

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 8,403 8,430 719 705

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 24,815 24,461 1,556 1,615

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 11,189 11,142 1,652 1,741

Professional and related occupations............................................... 13,626 13,318 1,497 1,536

Service occupations...................................................................... 7,332 6,507 666 741

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 8,752 8,594 961 960

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 5,379 5,163 1,046 1,031

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 3,373 3,431 842 887

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 10,471 9,983 898 911

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 622 562 601 596

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 5,789 5,709 892 892

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 4,060 3,712 970 985

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 12,185 11,856 789 790

Production occupations................................................................ 5,357 5,186 838 853

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 6,828 6,670 753 739

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 26,904 26,496 1,137 1,179

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 10,286 10,131 1,250 1,261

Professional and related occupations............................................... 16,618 16,365 1,067 1,143

Service occupations...................................................................... 8,042 6,961 559 582

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 13,279 12,982 726 758

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 4,217 4,102 707 720

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 9,062 8,879 732 769

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 635 465 653 717

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 220 124 531 499

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 224 202 624 784

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 191 139 804 903

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 3,515 3,765 619 612

Production occupations................................................................ 1,940 2,006 618 616

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 1,575 1,760 620 608

NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data. Effective with January 2020 data, occupations reflect

the introduction of the 2018 Census occupational classification system, derived from the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). No

historical data have been revised. Data for 2020 are not strictly comparable with earlier years.
Table 5. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by

selected characteristics, 1st quarter 2021 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.............................................. 112,070 $486 $657 $989 $1,563 $2,424

Men................................................................... 61,401 506 703 1,089 1,754 2,790

Women............................................................... 50,669 463 613 900 1,373 2,013

White.................................................................. 86,452 495 674 1,006 1,593 2,476

Men................................................................. 48,307 517 720 1,118 1,773 2,818

Women............................................................. 38,146 474 622 912 1,390 2,021

Black or African American......................................... 14,279 413 576 799 1,237 1,853

Men................................................................. 6,836 416 587 834 1,361 1,993

Women............................................................. 7,443 409 562 768 1,145 1,639

Asian.................................................................. 7,532 568 781 1,286 2,024 3,107

Men................................................................. 4,264 602 838 1,408 2,305 3,270

Women............................................................. 3,268 515 741 1,134 1,801 2,887

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................ 20,312 422 558 750 1,160 1,769

Men................................................................. 12,026 448 586 788 1,257 1,899

Women............................................................. 8,286 398 518 696 1,019 1,553

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and over.............................................. 102,259 508 695 1,040 1,640 2,510

Less than a high school diploma.................................. 5,842 381 485 613 808 1,162

High school graduates, no college1

............................... 24,209 446 589 792 1,153 1,613

Some college or associate degree................................ 25,390 493 649 912 1,325 1,881

Bachelor’s degree and higher2.................................... 46,818 682 956 1,426 2,158 3,260

Bachelor’s degree only.......................................... 28,896 632 875 1,296 1,923 2,908

Advanced degree................................................. 17,922 819 1,142 1,667 2,510 3,801

Men, 25 years and over............................................ 56,009 541 745 1,154 1,852 2,889

Less than a high school diploma............................... 3,966 399 511 664 914 1,299

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 14,901 497 643 893 1,300 1,778

Some college or associate degree............................. 13,256 535 731 1,021 1,528 2,094

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 23,886 722 1,073 1,658 2,518 3,828

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 15,037 662 972 1,468 2,282 3,328

Advanced degree.............................................. 8,849 880 1,323 1,919 2,921 4,355

Women, 25 years and over........................................ 46,250 484 642 941 1,431 2,088

Less than a high school diploma............................... 1,876 334 419 533 659 828

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 9,308 390 512 675 922 1,295

Some college or associate degree............................. 12,134 466 593 794 1,119 1,531

Bachelor’s degree and higher2................................. 22,932 658 889 1,259 1,855 2,658

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 13,859 616 810 1,149 1,688 2,408

Advanced degree.............................................. 9,073 771 1,043 1,441 2,028 2,907

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

1st

2020

1st

2021

1st

2020

1st

2021

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over................................................................. 24,785 21,757 $293 $310

Men, 16 years and over............................................................... 8,684 7,725 285 303

16 to 24 years........................................................................ 3,781 3,196 232 234

25 years and over................................................................... 4,903 4,529 349 366

Women, 16 years and over........................................................... 16,102 14,032 298 314

16 to 24 years........................................................................ 4,666 4,231 217 239

25 years and over................................................................... 11,436 9,801 344 367

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White..................................................................................... 19,308 16,953 292 309

Men.................................................................................... 6,607 5,982 281 299

Women................................................................................ 12,701 10,971 298 314

Black or African American............................................................ 3,147 2,554 285 303

Men.................................................................................... 1,190 962 290 299

Women................................................................................ 1,957 1,592 280 305

Asian..................................................................................... 1,290 1,369 314 354

Men.................................................................................... 486 460 300 341

Women................................................................................ 803 909 334 359

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................................... 4,484 3,895 296 303

Men.................................................................................... 1,597 1,530 293 303

Women................................................................................ 2,888 2,366 298 304

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.