News

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

United States 

Department 

of Labor 

Technical information: (202) 691-6378 USDL 09-0077 

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

 For release: 10:00 A.M. (EST) 

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 Thursday, January 22, 2009 

USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS: 

FOURTH QUARTER 2008 

Median weekly earnings of the nation's 105.8 million full-time wage and salary workers were $728 

in the fourth quarter of 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported 

today. This was 4.0 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 1.6 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.) Highlights from the fourth-quarter data are: 

• Women who usually worked full time had median earnings of $650 per week, or 80.5 percent of 

the $807 median for men. The female-to-male earnings ratios were higher among blacks (92.1 

percent) and Hispanics (90.9 percent) than among whites (80.1 percent) or Asians (79.1 percent). 

(See table 1.) 

• Median earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $618 per week, 74.2 percent of 

the median for white men ($833). The difference was less among women, as black women's 

median earnings ($569) were 85.3 percent of those for their white counterparts ($667). Overall, 

median earnings of Hispanics who worked full time ($535) were lower than those of blacks 

($593), whites ($748), and Asians ($889). (See table 1.) 

• Among men, those age 45 to 54 had the highest median weekly earnings ($951). Among 

women, weekly earnings were highest for those age 45 to 54 and age 55 to 64, $714 and $711, 

respectively. (See table 2.) 

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

and related occupations had the highest median weekly earnings—$1,238 for men and $881 for 

women. Persons employed 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 

$459, compared with $619 for high school graduates (no college) and $1,115 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 $2,991 or more 

per week, compared with $2,147 or more for their female counterparts. (See table 4.) 
2

Annual Averages for 2007 and 2008

In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this release includes 2007 and 2008 annual average 

weekly earnings for major demographic and occupational groups and 2008 annual average data for 

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

men and women by detailed occupational categories will appear in the January 2009 version of 

Employment and Earnings Online at http://www.bls.gov/opub/ee/home.htm. 
Technical Note

The estimates in this release were obtained from the Current

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired

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

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

Reliability

Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

population value because of sampling error. BLS analyses are generally

conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.

The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling

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

segment of the population, inability to obtain information for all

respondents in the sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents to

provide correct information, and errors made in the collection or

processing of the data.

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

information on estimating standard errors, see the Household Data

section of the “Explanatory Notes and Estimates of Error” at http://

www.bls.gov/cps/eetech_methods.pdf.

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, such as $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. 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.
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

2007

IV

2008

In current dollars In constant (1982) dollars

IV

2007

IV

2008

IV

2007

IV

2008

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over ..................................................................................... 108,318 105,774 $700 $728 $322 $330

Men, 16 years and over .................................................................................. 60,482 58,505 774 807 356 366

16 to 24 years ............................................................................................. 6,150 5,487 459 462 211 209

25 years and over ....................................................................................... 54,332 53,018 831 859 382 389

Women, 16 years and over ............................................................................ 47,835 47,269 618 650 284 295

16 to 24 years ............................................................................................. 4,744 4,392 421 449 194 203

25 years and over ....................................................................................... 43,091 42,877 649 679 298 308

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White .............................................................................................................. 87,601 85,378 722 748 332 339

Men ............................................................................................................. 50,071 48,379 800 833 368 377

Women ....................................................................................................... 37,530 36,999 632 667 291 302

Black or African American .............................................................................. 12,959 12,593 574 593 264 269

Men ............................................................................................................. 6,100 5,833 599 618 276 280

Women ....................................................................................................... 6,859 6,760 539 569 248 258

Asian ............................................................................................................... 5,200 5,235 856 889 394 403

Men ............................................................................................................. 2,883 2,886 968 989 445 448

Women ....................................................................................................... 2,317 2,348 732 782 337 354

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ............................................................................. 16,298 15,595 507 535 233 242

Men ............................................................................................................. 10,117 9,770 520 563 239 255

Women ....................................................................................................... 6,181 5,825 479 512 221 232

 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 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by age, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and

sex, fourth quarter 2008 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 ......................................................................................... 105,774 $728 58,505 $807 47,269 $650

16 to 24 years ........................................................................................... 9,879 456 5,487 462 4,392 449

16 to 19 years ....................................................................................... 1,320 378 808 387 512 362

20 to 24 years ....................................................................................... 8,559 475 4,679 481 3,880 467

25 years and over ..................................................................................... 95,895 764 53,018 859 42,877 679

25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 78,154 758 43,523 846 34,630 678

25 to 34 years ................................................................................... 25,395 680 14,507 715 10,888 640

35 to 44 years ................................................................................... 26,156 801 14,824 918 11,332 689

45 to 54 years ................................................................................... 26,602 822 14,192 951 12,410 714

55 years and over ................................................................................. 17,741 798 9,495 913 8,247 683

55 to 64 years ................................................................................... 14,998 827 8,012 929 6,985 711

65 years and over ............................................................................. 2,744 644 1,482 804 1,261 553

White

16 years and over ......................................................................................... 85,378 748 48,379 833 36,999 667

16 to 24 years ........................................................................................... 7,936 466 4,489 475 3,447 454

25 years and over ..................................................................................... 77,442 786 43,891 884 33,551 698

25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 62,574 776 35,770 871 26,805 696

55 years and over ................................................................................. 14,868 828 8,121 940 6,747 704

Black or African American

16 years and over ......................................................................................... 12,593 593 5,833 618 6,760 569

16 to 24 years ........................................................................................... 1,277 403 643 399 635 408

25 years and over ..................................................................................... 11,316 614 5,190 655 6,125 587

25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 9,561 614 4,392 652 5,168 589

55 years and over ................................................................................. 1,755 613 798 668 957 573

Asian

16 years and over ......................................................................................... 5,235 889 2,886 989 2,348 782

16 to 24 years ........................................................................................... 319 537 180 522 139 554

25 years and over ..................................................................................... 4,916 925 2,707 1,025 2,209 808

25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 4,136 938 2,304 1,103 1,832 818

55 years and over ................................................................................. 780 840 403 900 377 737

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

16 years and over ......................................................................................... 15,595 535 9,770 563 5,825 512

16 to 24 years ........................................................................................... 1,888 409 1,213 402 675 427

25 years and over ..................................................................................... 13,707 572 8,557 592 5,150 525

25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 12,216 574 7,692 591 4,524 527

55 years and over ................................................................................. 1,491 539 865 593 626 516

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

races. 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 occupation and sex, quarterly averages, not

seasonally adjusted

Occupation and sex

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

IV

2007

IV

2008

IV

2007

IV

2008

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations ................................................... 39,787 40,749 $1,002 $1,019

Management, business, and financial operations occupations ................................ 16,081 16,531 1,067 1,109

Professional and related occupations ....................................................................... 23,707 24,219 966 980

Service occupations ..................................................................................................... 14,708 14,853 460 487

Sales and office occupations ........................................................................................ 25,678 24,765 596 622

Sales and related occupations ................................................................................. 10,125 10,077 647 674

Office and administrative support occupations ......................................................... 15,553 14,688 582 607

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .................................. 12,520 11,305 689 719

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................................... 711 714 388 428

Construction and extraction occupations .................................................................. 7,118 6,269 660 715

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................................... 4,691 4,322 774 769

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ...................................... 15,624 14,101 579 591

Production occupations ............................................................................................ 8,627 7,627 587 600

Transportation and material moving occupations ..................................................... 6,998 6,474 566 581

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations ................................................... 19,308 19,529 1,223 1,238

Management, business, and financial operations occupations ................................ 8,698 8,963 1,274 1,344

Professional and related occupations ....................................................................... 10,609 10,566 1,169 1,171

Service occupations ..................................................................................................... 7,292 7,389 520 539

Sales and office occupations ........................................................................................ 9,554 9,521 708 737

Sales and related occupations ................................................................................. 5,469 5,574 813 826

Office and administrative support occupations ......................................................... 4,085 3,947 604 652

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .................................. 12,045 10,914 695 723

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................................... 579 562 410 441

Construction and extraction occupations .................................................................. 6,937 6,169 661 714

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................................... 4,528 4,183 779 770

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ...................................... 12,284 11,152 617 630

Production occupations ............................................................................................ 6,176 5,551 646 666

Transportation and material moving occupations ..................................................... 6,108 5,602 594 602

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations ................................................... 20,480 21,221 861 881

Management, business, and financial operations occupations ................................ 7,382 7,568 887 926

Professional and related occupations ....................................................................... 13,097 13,653 848 862

Service occupations ..................................................................................................... 7,416 7,464 415 441

Sales and office occupations ........................................................................................ 16,124 15,244 552 583

Sales and related occupations ................................................................................. 4,656 4,503 478 529

Office and administrative support occupations ......................................................... 11,468 10,741 576 596

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .................................. 476 390 550 596

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................................... 132 152 339 396

Construction and extraction occupations .................................................................. 181 100 622 769

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................................... 163 138 674 719

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ...................................... 3,340 2,949 433 458

Production occupations ............................................................................................ 2,450 2,077 445 458

Transportation and material moving occupations ..................................................... 890 873 404 460

 NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
Table 4. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected

characteristics, fourth quarter 2008 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 ..................................................................................... 105,774 $349 $490 $728 $1,129 $1,732

Men ................................................................................................................. 58,505 372 520 807 1,258 1,901

Women ........................................................................................................... 47,269 328 453 650 960 1,424

White .............................................................................................................. 85,378 356 499 748 1,152 1,756

Men ............................................................................................................. 48,379 378 532 833 1,288 1,915

Women ....................................................................................................... 36,999 336 464 667 978 1,443

Black or African American .............................................................................. 12,593 309 409 593 853 1,251

Men ............................................................................................................. 5,833 326 426 618 901 1,333

Women ....................................................................................................... 6,760 297 397 569 802 1,164

Asian ............................................................................................................... 5,235 386 563 889 1,445 1,993

Men ............................................................................................................. 2,886 400 606 989 1,592 2,269

Women ....................................................................................................... 2,348 367 509 782 1,163 1,729

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ............................................................................. 15,595 301 382 535 800 1,211

Men ............................................................................................................. 9,770 310 391 563 833 1,311

Women ....................................................................................................... 5,825 288 363 512 752 1,066

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and over ..................................................................................... 95,895 368 513 764 1,170 1,770

Less than a high school diploma .................................................................... 8,220 282 341 459 632 883

High school graduates, no college 1 ............................................................... 26,650 332 449 619 888 1,247

Some college or associate degree ................................................................. 26,685 385 515 719 1,008 1,402

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ...................................................................... 34,340 541 761 1,115 1,673 2,324

Bachelor’s degree only ............................................................................... 22,229 507 717 1,016 1,544 2,209

Advanced degree ....................................................................................... 12,111 639 891 1,272 1,893 2,662

Men, 25 years and over .................................................................................. 53,018 394 575 859 1,332 1,923

Less than a high school diploma ................................................................ 5,566 299 378 503 698 950

High school graduates, no college 1 ........................................................... 15,673 368 501 710 1,003 1,385

Some college or associate degree ............................................................. 13,599 427 597 826 1,165 1,596

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .................................................................. 18,180 590 860 1,297 1,902 2,717

Bachelor’s degree only ........................................................................... 11,889 551 806 1,188 1,773 2,480

Advanced degree ................................................................................... 6,291 670 998 1,527 2,123 2,991

Women, 25 years and over ............................................................................ 42,877 340 477 679 994 1,476

Less than a high school diploma ................................................................ 2,654 251 301 377 502 669

High school graduates, no college 1 ........................................................... 10,977 305 395 525 704 961

Some college or associate degree ............................................................. 13,087 353 477 634 860 1,155

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .................................................................. 16,160 507 705 960 1,396 1,909

Bachelor’s degree only ........................................................................... 10,340 480 644 878 1,268 1,770

Advanced degree ................................................................................... 5,819 613 817 1,109 1,562 2,147

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 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

2007

IV

2008

IV

2007

IV

2008

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over ............................................................................................... 22,140 22,913 $214 $218

Men, 16 years and over ............................................................................................ 7,191 7,528 206 212

16 to 24 years ....................................................................................................... 3,556 3,601 165 164

25 years and over ................................................................................................. 3,635 3,927 266 279

Women, 16 years and over ...................................................................................... 14,949 15,385 218 221

16 to 24 years ....................................................................................................... 4,589 4,614 151 157

25 years and over ................................................................................................. 10,360 10,770 259 261

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White ........................................................................................................................ 18,630 19,158 216 219

Men ....................................................................................................................... 5,881 6,200 205 211

Women ................................................................................................................. 12,749 12,958 224 222

Black or African American ........................................................................................ 2,092 2,250 204 210

Men ....................................................................................................................... 792 812 226 218

Women ................................................................................................................. 1,300 1,438 191 207

Asian ......................................................................................................................... 847 901 204 240

Men ....................................................................................................................... 288 285 185 211

Women ................................................................................................................. 559 616 213 256

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ....................................................................................... 2,736 2,886 209 221

Men ....................................................................................................................... 1,038 1,088 227 243

Women ................................................................................................................. 1,697 1,799 197 211

 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 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

2007 2008

In current dollars In constant (1982) dollars

2007 2008 2007 2008

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over ........................................................................... 107,339 106,648 $695 $722 $323 $323

Men, 16 years and over ........................................................................ 60,298 59,439 766 798 356 358

16 to 24 years ................................................................................... 6,458 5,996 443 461 206 207

25 years and over ............................................................................. 53,840 53,444 823 857 383 384

Women, 16 years and over .................................................................. 47,041 47,209 614 638 286 286

16 to 24 years ................................................................................... 4,792 4,625 409 420 190 188

25 years and over ............................................................................. 42,249 42,584 646 670 301 300

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White .................................................................................................... 86,653 86,022 716 742 333 333

Men ................................................................................................... 49,889 49,082 788 825 367 370

Women ............................................................................................. 36,764 36,940 626 654 291 293

Black or African American .................................................................... 13,061 12,821 569 589 265 264

Men ................................................................................................... 6,186 6,031 600 620 279 278

Women ............................................................................................. 6,874 6,790 533 554 248 248

Asian ..................................................................................................... 5,155 5,266 830 861 386 386

Men ................................................................................................... 2,858 2,919 936 966 435 433

Women ............................................................................................. 2,297 2,347 731 753 340 337

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ................................................................... 16,201 15,807 503 529 234 237

Men ................................................................................................... 10,248 9,961 520 559 242 251

Women ............................................................................................. 5,953 5,846 473 501 220 225

 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 occupation and sex, annual averages

Occupation and sex

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

2007 2008 2007 2008

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations ................................................... 39,147 40,154 $996 $1,025

Management, business, and financial operations occupations ................................ 15,977 16,310 1,080 1,128

Professional and related occupations ....................................................................... 23,170 23,845 951 980

Service occupations ..................................................................................................... 14,716 14,814 454 475

Sales and office occupations ........................................................................................ 25,702 25,232 598 614

Sales and related occupations ................................................................................. 10,448 10,113 643 656

Office and administrative support occupations ......................................................... 15,253 15,119 581 601

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .................................. 12,486 11,609 670 702

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................................... 739 756 372 420

Construction and extraction occupations .................................................................. 7,227 6,432 646 688

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................................... 4,520 4,420 749 774

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ...................................... 15,289 14,840 577 594

Production occupations ............................................................................................ 8,389 8,008 581 595

Transportation and material moving occupations ..................................................... 6,900 6,832 570 593

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations ................................................... 19,222 19,619 1,187 1,238

Management, business, and financial operations occupations ................................ 8,684 8,847 1,261 1,343

Professional and related occupations ....................................................................... 10,538 10,773 1,148 1,169

Service occupations ..................................................................................................... 7,371 7,355 515 537

Sales and office occupations ........................................................................................ 9,725 9,597 714 733

Sales and related occupations ................................................................................. 5,773 5,594 791 796

Office and administrative support occupations ......................................................... 3,952 4,003 619 651

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .................................. 12,028 11,159 674 705

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................................... 601 612 382 427

Construction and extraction occupations .................................................................. 7,071 6,293 648 688

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................................... 4,357 4,253 750 774

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ...................................... 11,951 11,709 616 637

Production occupations ............................................................................................ 5,992 5,763 641 659

Transportation and material moving occupations ..................................................... 5,959 5,946 596 615

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations ................................................... 19,924 20,535 858 892

Management, business, and financial operations occupations ................................ 7,293 7,463 908 941

Professional and related occupations ....................................................................... 12,632 13,072 835 867

Service occupations ..................................................................................................... 7,345 7,458 406 418

Sales and office occupations ........................................................................................ 15,976 15,635 550 578

Sales and related occupations ................................................................................. 4,675 4,518 493 516

Office and administrative support occupations ......................................................... 11,301 11,117 570 590

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .................................. 457 450 539 607

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................................... 138 144 348 392

Construction and extraction occupations .................................................................. 156 139 573 747

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................................... 163 167 726 779

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ...................................... 3,338 3,131 437 462

Production occupations ............................................................................................ 2,396 2,245 443 464

Transportation and material moving occupations ..................................................... 942 886 424 455

 NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
Table 8. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2008

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 ........................................................................... 96,027 $369 $511 $761 $1,167 $1,758

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 8,120 282 342 453 618 873

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 27,392 335 445 618 886 1,229

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 26,526 383 513 722 1,023 1,421

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 33,990 550 758 1,115 1,649 2,314

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 22,033 510 710 1,012 1,524 2,112

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 11,957 640 890 1,287 1,883 2,719

Men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 53,444 397 574 857 1,326 1,914

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 5,554 298 377 497 683 935

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 15,941 378 504 709 997 1,369

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 13,770 426 592 830 1,172 1,590

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 18,178 599 861 1,285 1,891 2,719

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 11,831 572 798 1,172 1,753 2,406

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 6,347 692 993 1,512 2,116 3,113

Women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 42,584 338 470 670 994 1,456

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 2,566 252 303 378 497 646

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 11,451 304 392 520 711 966

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 12,756 349 470 628 870 1,171

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 15,812 506 688 955 1,369 1,888

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 10,202 478 636 878 1,250 1,755

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 5,610 609 817 1,128 1,544 2,111

White, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 77,431 379 524 784 1,199 1,802

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 6,650 285 348 466 631 895

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 22,046 345 467 643 918 1,269

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 21,249 393 529 746 1,066 1,461

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 27,487 566 769 1,133 1,689 2,392

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 17,850 521 726 1,035 1,557 2,201

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 9,637 651 898 1,293 1,893 2,796

White men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 44,148 406 589 883 1,352 1,952

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 4,770 301 380 502 693 957

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 13,132 389 522 738 1,028 1,407

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 11,328 443 612 866 1,212 1,636

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 14,917 610 879 1,329 1,905 2,876

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 9,816 585 830 1,223 1,826 2,499

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 5,101 705 1,001 1,527 2,202 3,197

White women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 33,283 346 481 688 1,013 1,474

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 1,879 253 304 378 497 647

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 8,914 311 401 535 727 985

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 9,920 358 479 644 891 1,199

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 12,569 515 697 961 1,375 1,898

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 8,034 483 642 883 1,256 1,764

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 4,535 622 828 1,130 1,549 2,156

Black or African American, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 11,511 324 432 611 901 1,314

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 885 260 319 408 547 698

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 3,918 301 387 515 712 980

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 3,705 337 458 608 844 1,143

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 3,004 471 644 912 1,338 1,831

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 2,077 438 613 842 1,231 1,665

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 927 581 764 1,127 1,536 2,010

Black or African American men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 5,360 342 476 654 954 1,383

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 8. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2008

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 men

—Continued

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 453 $277 $353 $449 $600 $747

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 1,989 325 422 581 784 1,046

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 1,611 370 497 665 925 1,244

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 1,307 477 674 966 1,420 1,994

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 904 437 637 886 1,294 1,779

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 403 597 868 1,235 1,732 2,286

Black or African American women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 6,151 310 408 582 843 1,240

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 432 251 302 382 490 615

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 1,929 283 361 480 626 888

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 2,094 323 422 576 777 1,029

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 1,697 468 621 862 1,260 1,680

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 1,173 439 599 804 1,187 1,564

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 524 564 737 1,026 1,389 1,858

Asian, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 4,923 380 561 895 1,430 1,958

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 341 248 323 419 603 813

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 822 310 410 568 765 1,114

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 795 356 490 695 989 1,453

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 2,964 527 788 1,167 1,738 2,308

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 1,737 493 718 1,027 1,508 1,994

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 1,228 642 943 1,438 1,909 2,774

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 13,773 305 395 568 840 1,256

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 4,308 281 332 422 577 773

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 4,227 309 397 553 775 1,084

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 3,047 359 483 663 943 1,340

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 2,192 444 641 945 1,399 2,003

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 1,541 430 608 872 1,256 1,886

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 650 494 783 1,147 1,699 2,387

Hispanic or Latino men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 8,674 320 412 591 887 1,335

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 3,151 293 358 472 610 822

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 2,704 333 426 603 850 1,172

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 1,678 388 516 724 1,042 1,482

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 1,141 452 694 1,059 1,638 2,318

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 793 434 646 990 1,435 2,200

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 348 499 856 1,378 1,895 2,886

Hispanic or Latino women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 5,099 288 365 518 767 1,131

Less than a high school diploma 1 ....................................................... 1,156 247 296 360 465 599

High school graduates, no college ....................................................... 1,523 287 354 479 654 874

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 1,369 326 440 601 805 1,121

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 1,051 436 610 852 1,184 1,613

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 749 427 580 802 1,097 1,487

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 302 489 734 1,007 1,421 1,909

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.