Internet address:  http://stats.bls.gov
Technical information:  (202) 606-6567     USDL 96-463

                                           For release:  10:00 A.M.  EST
Media contact:                606-5902     Friday, November 8, 1996
                                     
                                     
           AVERAGE ANNUAL PAY LEVELS IN METROPOLITAN AREAS, 1995
                                     
                                     
   The average annual pay of employees in metropolitan areas increased 3.5
percent from 1994 to 1995, according to preliminary data released today by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor.  The
average annual pay level for jobs in the nation's 311 metropolitan areas
was $29,105 in 1995, up from $28,125 in 1994.  Average annual pay for the
entire nation, metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas combined, was
$27,845 in 1995.  (Average annual pay data by state and industry were
issued on September 25, 1996.)
   
   Annual pay data are compiled from reports submitted by employers subject
to state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) laws covering 115.5
million full- and part-time workers.  Average annual pay is computed by
dividing the total annual payrolls of employees covered under UI programs
by the average monthly number of these employees.  (See Technical Note
beginning on page 3.)  Pay differences between areas reflect the varying
composition of employment by occupation, industry, and hours of work, as
well as other factors.  Similarly, over-the-year pay changes may reflect
shifts in these characteristics, as well as changes in the level of average
pay.  Along with pay data for 311 Metropolitan Statistical Areas and
Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas, table 2 of this release includes
averages and rankings for the 18 areas designated as Consolidated
Metropolitan Statistical Areas.  (See Technical Note for definitions.)
   
Metropolitan and Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas
   
   San Jose, Calif., led the nation with an average annual pay level of
$42,409 in 1995.  (See table 1.)  New York, N.Y., had the second highest
average annual pay level ($42,272), followed by San Francisco, Calif.
($37,975), Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon, N.J. ($37,925), and New Haven-
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury-Waterbury, Conn. ($37,546).  Average pay levels
in these five metropolitan areas ranged from 29 to 46 percent above the
average for all metropolitan areas in the nation.  Of the 311 metropolitan
areas, 38 reported average annual pay levels above the national
metropolitan pay average of $29,105, and 31 had average pay levels in
excess of $30,000.
   
   Jacksonville, N.C., recorded the lowest average annual pay level among
metropolitan areas in 1995 ($16,951), followed by Myrtle Beach, S.C.
($17,910), McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Tex. ($18,031), Yuma, Ariz. ($18,286),
and Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, Tex. ($18,566).  Average annual pay
in the five bottom-ranked metropolitan areas averaged 36 to 42 percent
below the national metropolitan pay average.  A total of 14 metropolitan
areas reported average annual pay levels below $20,000.
   
   The largest percentage increase in average annual pay from 1994 to 1995
occurred in San Jose, Calif. (8.4 percent), followed by Provo-Orem, Utah
(6.9 percent), Dover, Del. (6.2 percent), Boise City, Idaho (6.1 percent),
and Tucson, Ariz. (6.0 percent).  65 metropolitan areas experienced pay
increases of 4.0 percent or greater in 1995.
   
                                  - 2 -

   From 1994 to 1995, average annual pay declined in three metropolitan
areas.  Vallejo-Fairfield-Napa, Calif., had the largest drop (-2.7
percent), followed by Anchorage, Alaska (-1.3 percent), and Cheyenne, Wyo.
(-1.1 percent).  In addition to the three areas in which average pay levels
declined, 13 metropolitan areas experienced pay growth rates of less than 1
percent.
   
Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas
   
   Average annual pay in the 18 consolidated metropolitan statistical areas
increased by 3.7 percent between 1994 and 1995, from $31,469 to $32,642.
(See table 2.)  The New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-
Conn.-Pa., consolidated metropolitan area had the highest pay level, at
$38,047, followed by San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif. ($36,187),
Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, Mich. ($34,118), Washington-Baltimore, D.C.-Md.-
Va.-W.Va. ($32,807), and Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Mass.-
N.H. ($32,791).
   
   Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla., had the lowest average annual pay level of
the consolidated metropolitan areas, with an average of $27,161 in 1995.
Portland-Salem, Ore.-Wash., was second lowest ($27,648), followed by
Milwaukee-Racine, Wis. ($27,830), Cincinnati-Hamilton, Ohio-Ky.-Ind.
($27,886), and Cleveland-Akron, Ohio ($28,382).
   
   San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif., had the highest percentage
increase in average annual pay between 1994 and 1995 (5.0 percent).  The
next largest increases were in New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island,
N.Y.-N.J.-Conn.-Pa., and Portland-Salem, Ore.-Wash. (4.6 percent each), and
Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Mass.-N.H., and Dallas-Fort
Worth, Tex. (4.4 percent each).
   
   None of the 18 consolidated metropolitan areas reported a decline in
average annual pay in 1995.  The smallest increase occurred in Los Angeles-
Riverside-Orange County, Calif. (1.8 percent), followed by Washington-
Baltimore, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W.Va. (2.8 percent), Cleveland-Akron, Ohio (2.9
percent), Cincinnati-Hamilton, Ohio-Ky.-Ind., and Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.
(3.4 percent each).

                                  - 3 -

Technical Note
   
   
   
   These data are the product of a Federal-State cooperative program in
which State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs) prepare summaries of
employment and total pay of workers covered by unemployment insurance (UI)
legislation.  The summaries are a by-product of the administration of state
unemployment insurance programs that require most employers to pay
quarterly taxes based on the employment and wages of workers covered by UI.
Data for 1995 are preliminary and subject to revision.  A news release
providing average annual pay data by state and industry was issued on
September 25, 1996 (USDL 96-393).
   
Coverage
   
   Employment and wage data for workers covered by state UI laws and for
federal civilian workers covered by the Unemployment Compensation for
Federal Employees (UCFE) program are compiled from quarterly contribution
reports submitted to the SESAs by employers.  In addition to the quarterly
contribution report, employers who operate multiple establishments within a
state complete a questionnaire, called the "Multiple Worksite Report,"
which provides detailed information on the location and industry of each of
their establishments.  Average annual pay data included in this release are
derived from summaries of employment and wages submitted by states to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
   
   UI and UCFE coverage is broad and basically comparable from state to
state.  In 1995, UI and UCFE programs covered workers in 115.5 million
jobs, representing 96.7 percent of wage and salary civilian employment.
Covered workers received $3.216 trillion in pay representing 93.7 percent
of the wage and salary component of personal income and 44.3 percent of the
gross domestic product.  About 82 percent of all covered workers were
employed in metropolitan areas.  Total wages of workers in metropolitan
areas comprised approximately 86 percent of all covered wages in the
United States.
   
   Major exclusions from UI coverage during 1995 included most agricultural
workers on small farms, all members of the Armed Forces, elected officials
in most states, most employees of railroads, some domestic workers, most
student workers at schools, and employees of certain small nonprofit
organizations.
   
Concepts and methodology
   
   Average annual pay was computed by dividing total annual pay of
employees covered by unemployment insurance programs by the average monthly
number of these employees.  Included in the annual payroll data are
bonuses, the cash value of meals and lodging when supplied, tips and other
gratuities, and, in some states, employer contributions to certain deferred
compensation plans, such as 401(k) plans, and stock options.
Monthly employment is based on the number of workers who worked during or
received pay for the pay period including the 12th of the month.  With few
exceptions, all employees of covered firms are reported, including
production and sales workers, corporation officials, executives,
supervisory personnel, and clerical workers.  Workers on paid vacation
and part-time workers are also included.  Percentage changes in average
annual pay were computed using final 1994 data as the base, which may
differ from the preliminary data issued last year.
   
                                  - 4 -

   Average annual pay is affected by the ratio of full-time to part-time
workers as well as the number of individuals in high-paying and low-paying
occupations.  When comparing average annual pay levels between metropolitan
areas, these factors should be taken into consideration.  Annual pay
data only approximate annual earnings because an individual may not be
employed by the same employer all year or may work for more than one
employer.  Year to year changes in average annual pay can result from a
change in the proportion of employment in low and high wage jobs, as well
as from changes in the level of average annual pay.
   
   The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines metropolitan areas for
use in federal statistical activities and updates these definitions as
needed each summer.  Data in this release use metropolitan area criteria
established by OMB in definitions issued July 5, 1994 (OMB Bulletin No. 
94-07).  These definitions reflect information obtained from the 1990
Decennial Census and the 1992 Census Bureau population estimates.  A
complete list of metropolitan area definitions is available from the
National Technical Information Service (NTIS), Document Sales, 5285 Port
Royal Road, Springfield, Va. 22161, telephone 703-487-4650.
   
   Generally speaking, a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is a free-
standing urban area that meets a specified size criteria.  Primary
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (PMSAs) are free-standing areas within very
large MSAs.  Once an area is identified as a PMSA, the term MSA no longer
is used to describe the area.  The large metropolitan area that is the sum
of the PMSAs is called a Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA).
The set of areas known as MSAs, PMSAs, and CMSAs are collectively
designated and referred to as metropolitan areas.
   
   Current metropolitan area definitions are based on standards published
in the Federal Register on March 30, 1990 (55 FR12154-12160).  Under the
1990 standards, an area qualifies for recognition as an MSA in one of two
ways:  (1) if it includes a city of at least 50,000 population, or (2) if
it includes a Census Bureau-defined urbanized area (of at least 50,000
population) and has a total metropolitan population of at least 100,000
(75,000 in New England).  In addition to the county(ies) containing the
main city or urbanized area, an MSA may include additional counties that
have strong economic and social ties to the central county(ies) and meet
other specified requirements of metropolitan character.  The ties are
determined chiefly by census data on commuting to work.  An MSA may contain
more than one city of 50,000 population and may cross state lines.
   
   An area that meets these requirements for recognition as an MSA but also
has a total population of one million or more may be recognized as a CMSA
if:  (1) separate component areas can be identified within the entire area
by meeting specified statistical criteria, and (2) local opinion indicates
there is support for the component areas.  If recognized, the component
areas are designated PMSAs, and the entire area becomes a CMSA.  If no
PMSAs are recognized, the entire area is an MSA.
   
   OMB defines metropolitan areas in terms of entire counties, except in
the six New England states where they are defined in terms of cities and
towns.  New England data in this news release, however, are based on a
county concept defined by OMB as New England County Metropolitan Areas
(NECMAs) because county-level data are the most detailed available from the
Covered Employment and Wages program.  NECMAs are county-based alternatives

                                  - 5 -

to the city- and town-based metropolitan areas in New England.  The NECMA
for an MSA or CMSA includes:  (1) the county containing the first-named
city in that MSA/CMSA title (this county may include the first-named cities
of other MSAs/CMSAs), and (2) each additional county having at least half
its population in the MSA(s)/CMSA(s) whose first-named cities are in the
county identified in step 1.
   
Additional statistics and other information
   
   Average annual employment and pay data by state and county are available
upon request from the Division of Occupational and Administrative
Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,
Washington, DC 20212, telephone 202-606-6567.  The comprehensive bulletin,
Employment and Wages, features information by detailed industry on
establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all states.  The
bulletin for 1995, which is due to be issued in late 1996, will be
available for sale from the BLS Publication Sales Center, P.O. Box 2145,
Chicago, Illinois 60690.
   
   This news release, along with other BLS statistics and information, is
available via the Internet at the BLS World Wide Web site
(http://stats.bls.gov).  Information in this release will be made available
to sensory impaired individuals upon request.  Voice phone:  202-606-STAT;
TDD phone:  202-606-5897; TDD message referral phone number: 
1-800-326-2577.
   Table 1.  Average annual pay for 1994 and 1995 for all covered workers 1/ by metropolitan area
                                                                 Average annual pay          Ranking of areas
                                                                                                        By percent
                                                                                           By level of  change in
                                                                               Percent     average      average
                                                                               change,     annual pay   annual pay,
                     Metropolitan area 2/                     1994    1995 3/  1994-95 4/  for 1995     1994-95
        All metropolitan areas..............................$28,125  $29,105      3.5          ---       ---   
   Abilene, Tex............................................. 20,320   20,365      0.2          293       307
   Akron, Ohio.............................................. 26,357   27,090      2.8           78       183
   Albany, Ga............................................... 23,317   23,877      2.4          179       224
   Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y............................. 27,231   27,694      1.7           59       266
   Albuquerque, N.M......................................... 24,309   25,019      2.9          137       176
   Alexandria, La........................................... 20,712   21,268      2.7          278       208
   Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pa........................... 26,602   27,804      4.5           58        28
   Altoona, Pa.............................................. 21,127   21,768      3.0          266       168
   Amarillo, Tex............................................ 22,108   22,633      2.4          233       224
   Anchorage, Alaska........................................ 34,098   33,650     -1.3           14       310
   Ann Arbor, Mich.......................................... 29,258   30,013      2.6           31       214
   Anniston, Ala............................................ 21,433   22,024      2.8          256       183
   Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, Wis............................. 25,381   26,279      3.5          104       104
   Asheville, N.C........................................... 21,892   22,880      4.5          223        28
   Athens, Ga............................................... 22,234   22,761      2.4          228       224
   Atlanta, Ga.............................................. 28,688   29,952      4.4           32        37
   Atlantic-Cape May, N.J................................... 26,185   26,585      1.5           93       279
   Augusta-Aiken, Ga.-S.C................................... 24,919   25,609      2.8          116       183
   Austin-San Marcos, Tex................................... 25,618   26,922      5.1           80        13
   Bakersfield, Calif....................................... 24,591   24,659      0.3          154       306
   Baltimore, Md............................................ 27,955   28,745      2.8           41       183
   Bangor, Maine............................................ 22,335   22,953      2.8          222       183
   Barnstable-Yarmouth, Mass................................ 22,371   23,097      3.2          212       141
   Baton Rouge, La.......................................... 24,410   25,172      3.1          132       153
   Beaumont-Port Arthur, Tex................................ 26,397   26,827      1.6           88       272
   Bellingham, Wash......................................... 21,554   22,357      3.7          246        83
   Benton Harbor, Mich...................................... 24,854   25,188      1.3          131       287
   Bergen-Passaic, N.J...................................... 34,675   35,746      3.1            8       153
   Billings, Mont........................................... 22,320   22,813      2.2          227       240
   Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula, Miss......................... 22,299   22,869      2.6          224       214
   Binghamton, N.Y.......................................... 25,744   26,008      1.0          110       294
   Birmingham, Ala.......................................... 26,252   27,337      4.1           71        54
   Bismarck, N.D............................................ 21,317   22,014      3.3          257       132
   Bloomington, Ind......................................... 21,880   22,590      3.2          236       141
   Bloomington-Normal, Ill.................................. 27,769   29,020      4.5           40        28
   Boise City, Idaho........................................ 24,571   26,072      6.1          109         4
   Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Mass.-N.H..... 31,403   32,791      4.4           17        37
   Boulder-Longmont, Colo................................... 26,948   28,441      5.5           46         9
   Brazoria, Tex............................................ 28,941   29,892      3.3           33       132
   Bremerton, Wash.......................................... 25,095   25,877      3.1          111       153
   Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, Tex.................... 17,952   18,566      3.4          307       120
   Bryan-College Station, Tex............................... 19,255   19,788      2.8          303       183
   Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y............................... 25,780   26,749      3.8           89        71
   Burlington, Vt........................................... 25,582   26,480      3.5           97       104
   Canton-Massillon, Ohio................................... 23,945   24,644      2.9          156       176
   Casper, Wyo.............................................. 22,152   22,621      2.1          234       246
   Cedar Rapids, Iowa....................................... 25,706   26,572      3.4           94       120
   Champaign-Urbana, Ill.................................... 23,318   24,356      4.5          164        28
   Charleston-North Charleston, S.C......................... 22,175   22,508      1.5          241       279
   Charleston, W.Va......................................... 25,116   25,845      2.9          113       176
   Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, N.C.-S.C................... 26,520   27,859      5.0           56        15
   Charlottesville, Va...................................... 23,860   24,705      3.5          149       104
   Chattanooga, Tenn.-Ga.................................... 23,747   24,775      4.3          148        42
   Cheyenne, Wyo............................................ 22,167   21,913     -1.1          260       309
   Chicago, Ill............................................. 31,340   32,524      3.8           18        71
   Chico-Paradise, Calif.................................... 20,380   20,573      0.9          290       296
   Cincinnati, Ohio-Ky.-Ind................................. 27,106   28,057      3.5           50       104
   Clarksville-Hopkinsville, Tenn.-Ky....................... 19,893   20,728      4.2          289        46
   Cleveland-Lorain-Elyria, Ohio............................ 27,927   28,742      2.9           42       176
   Colorado Springs, Colo................................... 23,754   24,500      3.1          160       153
   Columbia, Mo............................................. 22,636   23,150      2.3          209       233
   Columbia, S.C............................................ 22,901   23,647      3.3          186       132
   Columbus, Ga.-Ala........................................ 21,478   22,255      3.6          251        94
   Columbus, Ohio........................................... 26,291   26,948      2.5           79       220
   Corpus Christi, Tex...................................... 23,660   24,032      1.6          173       272
   Cumberland, Md.-W.Va..................................... 21,268   21,958      3.2          258       141
   Dallas, Tex.............................................. 30,105   31,502      4.6           23        26
   Danville, Va............................................. 21,192   21,931      3.5          259       104
   Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, Iowa-Ill................... 25,434   25,861      1.7          112       266
   Dayton-Springfield, Ohio................................. 26,721   27,673      3.6           60        94
   Daytona Beach, Fla....................................... 19,895   20,494      3.0          291       168
   Decatur, Ala............................................. 24,133   24,853      3.0          144       168
   Decatur, Ill............................................. 27,071   27,339      1.0           70       294
   Denver, Colo............................................. 28,965   30,059      3.8           30        71
   Des Moines, Iowa......................................... 25,509   26,376      3.4          100       120
   Detroit, Mich............................................ 33,201   34,706      4.5           10        28
   Dothan, Ala.............................................. 22,155   23,094      4.2          213        46
   Dover, Del............................................... 21,709   23,054      6.2          218         3
   Dubuque, Iowa............................................ 23,277   24,053      3.3          172       132
   Duluth-Superior, Minn.-Wis............................... 22,712   23,288      2.5          202       220
   Dutchess County, N.Y..................................... 28,860   29,707      2.9           35       176
   Eau Claire, Wis.......................................... 21,151   21,613      2.2          269       240
   El Paso, Tex............................................. 20,221   20,971      3.7          285        83
   Elkhart-Goshen, Ind...................................... 24,690   25,155      1.9          133       255
   Elmira, N.Y.............................................. 22,880   23,749      3.8          183        71
   Enid, Okla............................................... 19,601   19,934      1.7          299       266
   Erie, Pa................................................. 24,518   25,204      2.8          130       183
   Eugene-Springfield, Ore.................................. 22,510   23,206      3.1          208       153
   Evansville-Henderson, Ind.-Ky............................ 23,821   24,269      1.9          166       255
   Fargo-Moorhead, N.D.-Minn................................ 21,397   22,087      3.2          255       141
   Fayetteville, N.C........................................ 20,928   21,557      3.0          272       168
   Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark...................... 21,597   22,363      3.6          244        94
   Flint, Mich.............................................. 33,219   33,389      0.5           15       301
   Florence, Ala............................................ 21,798   22,310      2.3          247       233
   Florence, S.C............................................ 21,681   22,605      4.3          235        42
   Fort Collins-Loveland, Colo.............................. 24,221   24,983      3.1          139       153
   Fort Lauderdale, Fla..................................... 25,830   26,695      3.3           91       132
   Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Fla............................... 21,814   22,230      1.9          252       255
   Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie, Fla.......................... 22,275   23,065      3.5          217       104
   Fort Smith, Ark.-Okla.................................... 20,982   21,461      2.3          274       233
   Fort Walton Beach, Fla................................... 19,325   19,789      2.4          302       224
   Fort Wayne, Ind.......................................... 24,774   25,557      3.2          119       141
   Fort Worth-Arlington, Tex................................ 26,463   27,454      3.7           66        83
   Fresno, Calif............................................ 21,253   21,332      0.4          277       303
   Gadsden, Ala............................................. 22,609   23,558      4.2          193        46
   Gainesville, Fla......................................... 21,302   21,822      2.4          263       224
   Galveston-Texas City, Tex................................ 25,178   26,361      4.7          102        23
   Gary, Ind................................................ 26,671   27,498      3.1           65       153
   Glens Falls, N.Y......................................... 23,204   23,346      0.6          200       299
   Goldsboro, N.C........................................... 19,476   20,343      4.5          294        28
   Grand Forks, N.D.-Minn................................... 19,416   19,918      2.6          300       214
   Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, Mich...................... 26,431   27,297      3.3           72       132
   Great Falls, Mont........................................ 19,985   20,213      1.1          296       293
   Greeley, Colo............................................ 22,929   23,468      2.3          195       233
   Green Bay, Wis........................................... 25,289   26,298      4.0          103        59
   Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point, N.C................. 24,197   25,229      4.3          129        42
   Greenville, N.C.......................................... 22,490   22,635      0.6          232       299
   Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, S.C..................... 23,497   24,667      5.0          153        15
   Hagerstown, Md........................................... 22,983   23,695      3.1          185       153
   Hamilton-Middletown, Ohio................................ 25,804   26,601      3.1           92       153
   Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, Pa.......................... 25,982   26,856      3.4           85       120
   Hartford, Conn........................................... 33,172   33,948      2.3           13       233
   Hattiesburg, Miss........................................ 20,063   20,867      4.0          286        59
   Hickory-Morganton, N.C................................... 21,385   21,724      1.6          267       272
   Honolulu, Hawaii......................................... 27,736   27,936      0.7           52       297
   Houma, La................................................ 22,431   22,969      2.4          221       224
   Houston, Tex............................................. 30,349   31,390      3.4           25       120
   Huntington-Ashland, W.Va.-Ky.-Ohio....................... 23,368   23,408      0.2          197       307
   Huntsville, Ala.......................................... 30,389   31,233      2.8           26       183
   Indianapolis, Ind........................................ 27,437   28,081      2.3           49       233
   Iowa City, Iowa.......................................... 24,131   24,798      2.8          147       183
   Jackson, Mich............................................ 26,414   26,848      1.6           87       272
   Jackson, Miss............................................ 23,030   24,193      5.1          168        13
   Jackson, Tenn............................................ 22,591   23,901      5.8          177         7
   Jacksonville, Fla........................................ 24,315   25,255      3.9          128        66
   Jacksonville, N.C........................................ 16,332   16,951      3.8          311        71
   Jamestown, N.Y........................................... 22,051   22,358      1.4          245       282
   Janesville-Beloit, Wis................................... 25,819   26,885      4.1           83        54
   Jersey City, N.J......................................... 33,012   34,621      4.9           11        19
   Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, Tenn.-Va................. 22,643   23,424      3.5          196       104
   Johnstown, Pa............................................ 20,644   21,085      2.1          282       246
   Joplin, Mo............................................... 20,296   21,359      5.2          276        11
   Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Mich............................. 26,517   27,259      2.8           75       183
   Kankakee, Ill............................................ 22,991   23,952      4.2          175        46
   Kansas City, Mo.-Kan..................................... 26,601   27,597      3.7           61        83
   Kenosha, Wis............................................. 24,001   24,933      3.9          141        66
   Killeen-Temple, Tex...................................... 20,850   21,589      3.5          270       104
   Knoxville, Tenn.......................................... 23,711   24,567      3.6          158        94
   Kokomo, Ind.............................................. 33,231   33,967      2.2           12       240
   LaCrosse, Wis.-Minn...................................... 21,517   21,876      1.7          261       266
   Lafayette, Ind........................................... 24,487   25,263      3.2          127       141
   Lafayette, La............................................ 21,974   22,735      3.5          231       104
   Lake Charles, La......................................... 24,741   25,399      2.7          123       208
   Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla............................... 22,377   23,238      3.9          205        66
   Lancaster, Pa............................................ 24,838   25,605      3.1          117       153
   Lansing-East Lansing, Mich............................... 28,026   28,151      0.4           48       303
   Laredo, Tex.............................................. 18,730   19,174      2.4          306       224
   Las Cruces, N.M.......................................... 19,451   19,997      2.8          298       183
   Las Vegas, Nev.-Ariz..................................... 25,247   26,263      4.0          105        59
   Lawrence, Kan............................................ 20,287   20,860      2.8          287       183
   Lawton, Okla............................................. 20,268   20,780      2.5          288       220
   Lewiston-Auburn, Maine................................... 20,809   21,582      3.7          271        83
   Lexington, Ky............................................ 23,510   24,501      4.2          159        46
   Lima, Ohio............................................... 24,359   24,694      1.4          150       282
   Lincoln, Neb............................................. 22,564   23,285      3.2          203       141
   Little Rock-North Little Rock, Ark....................... 23,678   24,569      3.8          157        71
   Longview-Marshall, Tex................................... 22,397   23,080      3.0          215       168
   Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif............................ 31,831   32,445      1.9           19       255
   Louisville, Ky.-Ind...................................... 24,627   25,554      3.8          120        71
   Lubbock, Tex............................................. 21,259   21,529      1.3          273       287
   Lynchburg, Va............................................ 22,340   23,074      3.3          216       132
   Macon, Ga................................................ 23,333   23,850      2.2          181       240
   Madison, Wis............................................. 25,432   26,364      3.7          101        83
   Mansfield, Ohio.......................................... 22,908   23,584      2.9          192       176
   McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Tex............................ 17,683   18,031      2.0          309       251
   Medford-Ashland, Ore..................................... 21,541   22,112      2.7          253       208
   Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, Fla....................... 26,325   26,853      2.0           86       251
   Memphis, Tenn.-Ark.-Miss................................. 25,840   26,915      4.2           81        46
   Merced, Calif............................................ 20,007   20,253      1.2          295       291
   Miami, Fla............................................... 26,488   27,452      3.6           67        94
   Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon, N.J........................ 36,690   37,925      3.4            4       120
   Milwaukee-Waukesha, Wis.................................. 26,958   27,926      3.6           53        94
   Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.-Wis.......................... 29,102   30,185      3.7           29        83
   Mobile, Ala.............................................. 22,687   23,318      2.8          201       183
   Modesto, Calif........................................... 23,037   23,374      1.5          199       279
   Monmouth-Ocean, N.J...................................... 28,338   29,033      2.5           39       220
   Monroe, La............................................... 21,978   22,977      4.5          220        28
   Montgomery, Ala.......................................... 22,984   23,798      3.5          182       104
   Muncie, Ind.............................................. 23,671   24,123      1.9          170       255
   Myrtle Beach, S.C........................................ 17,498   17,910      2.4          310       224
   Naples, Fla.............................................. 21,568   22,747      5.5          229         9
   Nashville, Tenn.......................................... 26,200   27,345      4.4           69        37
   Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y...................................... 30,765   31,635      2.8           21       183
   New Haven-Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury-Waterbury, Conn.... 35,535   37,546      5.7            5         8
   New London-Norwich, Conn................................. 30,015   30,892      2.9           27       176
   New Orleans, La.......................................... 24,748   25,594      3.4          118       120
   New York, N.Y............................................ 39,933   42,272      5.9            2         6
   Newark, N.J.............................................. 35,910   37,224      3.7            6        83
   Newburgh, N.Y.-Pa........................................ 24,507   25,016      2.1          138       246
   Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, Va.-N.C............. 22,988   23,540      2.4          194       224
   Oakland, Calif........................................... 32,157   33,180      3.2           16       141
   Ocala, Fla............................................... 20,273   21,084      4.0          283        59
   Odessa-Midland, Tex...................................... 24,722   25,032      1.3          136       287
   Oklahoma City, Okla...................................... 23,298   23,626      1.4          187       282
   Olympia, Wash............................................ 25,300   26,083      3.1          107       153
   Omaha, Neb.-Iowa......................................... 23,748   24,977      5.2          140        11
   Orange County, Calif..................................... 30,315   30,889      1.9           28       255
   Orlando, Fla............................................. 23,630   24,448      3.5          162       104
   Owensboro, Ky............................................ 20,784   21,371      2.8          275       183
   Panama City, Fla......................................... 19,858   20,489      3.2          292       141
   Parkersburg-Marietta, W.Va.-Ohio......................... 23,475   24,000      2.2          174       240
   Pensacola, Fla........................................... 22,078   22,509      2.0          240       251
   Peoria-Pekin, Ill........................................ 27,010   27,548      2.0           64       251
   Philadelphia, Pa.-N.J.................................... 30,519   31,695      3.9           20        66
   Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz....................................... 25,738   26,748      3.9           90        66
   Pine Bluff, Ark.......................................... 21,740   22,457      3.3          242       132
   Pittsburgh, Pa........................................... 27,121   28,051      3.4           51       120
   Pittsfield, Mass......................................... 24,658   25,513      3.5          121       104
   Portland, Maine.......................................... 24,455   25,359      3.7          125        83
   Portland-Vancouver, Ore.-Wash............................ 27,065   28,357      4.8           47        22
   Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, R.I........................ 25,515   26,487      3.8           96        71
   Provo-Orem, Utah......................................... 21,377   22,848      6.9          225         2
   Pueblo, Colo............................................. 21,066   21,869      3.8          262        71
   Punta Gorda, Fla......................................... 20,048   21,058      5.0          284        15
   Racine, Wis.............................................. 26,410   26,861      1.7           84       266
   Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.......................... 26,703   27,925      4.6           54        26
   Rapid City, S.D.......................................... 19,584   20,107      2.7          297       208
   Reading, Pa.............................................. 26,705   27,442      2.8           68       183
   Redding, Calif........................................... 23,431   23,590      0.7          191       297
   Reno, Nev................................................ 25,632   26,513      3.4           95       120
   Richland-Kennewick-Pasco, Wash........................... 26,835   27,570      2.7           63       208
   Richmond-Petersburg, Va.................................. 26,483   27,596      4.2           62        46
   Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.......................... 24,477   24,816      1.4          145       282
   Roanoke, Va.............................................. 22,825   23,951      4.9          176        19
   Rochester, Minn.......................................... 28,262   29,155      3.2           38       141
   Rochester, N.Y........................................... 28,299   29,302      3.5           36       104
   Rockford, Ill............................................ 26,488   27,229      2.8           76       183
   Rocky Mount, N.C......................................... 21,749   22,532      3.6          239        94
   Sacramento, Calif........................................ 28,125   29,289      4.1           37        54
   Saginaw-Bay City-Midland, Mich........................... 29,080   29,863      2.7           34       208
   Salem, Ore............................................... 22,419   23,108      3.1          211       153
   Salinas, Calif........................................... 23,462   24,261      3.4          167       120
   Salt Lake City-Ogden, Utah............................... 23,839   24,693      3.6          151        94
   San Angelo, Tex.......................................... 20,543   21,124      2.8          281       183
   San Antonio, Tex......................................... 23,016   23,725      3.1          184       153
   San Diego, Calif......................................... 27,261   27,842      2.1           57       246
   San Francisco, Calif..................................... 36,510   37,975      4.0            3        59
   San Jose, Calif.......................................... 39,123   42,409      8.4            1         1
   San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, Calif............ 22,327   23,026      3.1          219       153
   Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, Calif.................. 25,390   25,806      1.6          114       272
   Santa Cruz-Watsonville, Calif............................ 24,068   25,036      4.0          135        59
   Santa Fe, N.M............................................ 22,596   23,613      4.5          189        28
   Santa Rosa, Calif........................................ 25,232   26,178      3.7          106        83
   Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.................................. 21,282   22,279      4.7          248        23
   Savannah, Ga............................................. 23,130   23,865      3.2          180       141
   Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton, Pa....................... 22,430   23,278      3.8          204        71
   Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash........................... 30,181   31,550      4.5           22        28
   Sharon, Pa............................................... 22,403   22,815      1.8          226       263
   Sheboygan, Wis........................................... 24,411   24,874      1.9          143       255
   Sherman-Denison, Tex..................................... 23,231   23,879      2.8          178       183
   Shreveport-Bossier City, La.............................. 22,990   23,408      1.8          197       263
   Sioux City, Iowa-Neb..................................... 21,367   22,443      5.0          243        15
   Sioux Falls, S.D......................................... 21,979   22,739      3.5          230       104
   South Bend, Ind.......................................... 24,115   25,096      4.1          134        54
   Spokane, Wash............................................ 22,828   23,595      3.4          190       120
   Springfield, Ill......................................... 27,963   28,614      2.3           44       233
   Springfield, Mass........................................ 25,661   26,437      3.0           98       168
   Springfield, Mo.......................................... 21,183   22,111      4.4          254        37
   St. Cloud, Minn.......................................... 21,253   21,717      2.2          268       240
   St. Joseph, Mo........................................... 21,911   22,279      1.7          248       266
   St. Louis, Mo.-Ill....................................... 27,392   28,599      4.4           45        37
   State College, Pa........................................ 23,641   24,298      2.8          165       183
   Steubenville-Weirton, Ohio-W.Va.......................... 25,254   25,649      1.6          115       272
   Stockton-Lodi, Calif..................................... 24,263   24,376      0.5          163       301
   Sumter, S.C.............................................. 19,334   19,880      2.8          301       183
   Syracuse, N.Y............................................ 26,577   27,267      2.6           73       214
   Tacoma, Wash............................................. 23,832   24,687      3.6          152        94
   Tallahassee, Fla......................................... 22,246   23,141      4.0          210        59
   Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla..................... 23,767   24,650      3.7          155        83
   Terre Haute, Ind......................................... 21,972   22,583      2.8          237       183
   Texarkana, Tex.-Texarkana, Ark........................... 21,169   21,770      2.8          264       183
   Toledo, Ohio............................................. 25,921   26,907      3.8           82        71
   Topeka, Kan.............................................. 23,912   24,904      4.1          142        54
   Trenton, N.J............................................. 35,345   36,614      3.6            7        94
   Tucson, Ariz............................................. 22,286   23,622      6.0          188         5
   Tulsa, Okla.............................................. 24,805   25,338      2.1          126       246
   Tuscaloosa, Ala.......................................... 23,772   24,487      3.0          161       168
   Tyler, Tex............................................... 23,729   24,176      1.9          169       255
   Utica-Rome, N.Y.......................................... 22,808   23,207      1.8          207       263
   Vallejo-Fairfield-Napa, Calif............................ 26,181   25,464     -2.7          122       311
   Ventura, Calif........................................... 26,905   27,262      1.3           74       287
   Victoria, Tex............................................ 21,553   22,267      3.3          250       132
   Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, N.J........................ 26,430   27,104      2.6           77       214
   Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, Calif........................ 18,807   19,457      3.5          304       104
   Waco, Tex................................................ 21,777   22,534      3.5          238       104
   Washington, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W.Va............................ 33,947   34,891      2.8            9       183
   Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa............................... 24,181   24,813      2.6          146       214
   Wausau, Wis.............................................. 23,313   24,112      3.4          171       120
   West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Fla.......................... 26,617   27,911      4.9           55        19
   Wheeling, W.Va.-Ohio..................................... 21,516   21,769      1.2          265       291
   Wichita, Kan............................................. 25,291   26,388      4.3           99        42
   Wichita Falls, Tex....................................... 20,624   21,264      3.1          279       153
   Williamsport, Pa......................................... 22,368   23,093      3.2          214       141
   Wilmington-Newark, Del.-Md............................... 30,175   31,439      4.2           24        46
   Wilmington, N.C.......................................... 22,552   23,233      3.0          206       168
   Yakima, Wash............................................. 18,398   19,271      4.7          305        23
   Yolo, Calif.............................................. 27,825   28,616      2.8           43       183
   York, Pa................................................. 25,113   26,074      3.8          108        71
   Youngstown-Warren, Ohio.................................. 25,025   25,380      1.4          124       282
   Yuba City, Calif......................................... 21,145   21,237      0.4          280       303
   Yuma, Ariz............................................... 17,996   18,286      1.6          308       272
   1/  Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal
   Employees (UCFE) programs.
   2/  Includes data for Metropolitan Statistical Areas as of July 5, 1994.  In the New England areas,
   the New England County Metropolitan Area (NECMA) definitions were used.  See Technical Note.
   3/ Data are preliminary.
   4/ Percent changes were computed from unrounded average annual pay data and may differ from those
   computed using data rounded to the nearest dollar.
 
   Table 2.  Average annual pay for 1994 and 1995 for all covered workers 1/ by Consolidated Metropolitan
   Statistical Area
                                                                 Average annual pay          Ranking of areas
                                                                                                        By percent
                                                                                           By level of  change in
                                                                               Percent     average      average
                                                                               change,     annual pay   annual pay,
          Consolidated metropolitan statistical area 2/       1994    1995 3/  1994-95 4/  for 1995     1994-95
        All consolidated metropolitan statistical areas.....$31,469  $32,642      3.7           --        --
   Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Mass.-N.H..... 31,403   32,791      4.4            5         4
   Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, Ill.-Ind.-Wis...................... 30,888   32,047      3.8            6        10
   Cincinnati-Hamilton,  Ohio-Ky.-Ind....................... 26,958   27,886      3.4           15        14
   Cleveland-Akron, Ohio.................................... 27,585   28,382      2.9           14        16
   Dallas-Fort Worth, Tex................................... 29,050   30,340      4.4           10         4
   Denver-Boulder-Greeley, Colo............................. 28,416   29,531      3.9           12         9
   Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, Mich............................ 32,788   34,118      4.1            3         7
   Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, Tex.......................... 30,059   31,107      3.5            8        12
   Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, Calif............... 30,368   30,912      1.8            9        18
   Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla............................... 26,239   27,161      3.5           18        12
   Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.................................... 26,909   27,830      3.4           16        14
   New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Conn. 36,357   38,047      4.6            1         2
   Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md.. 30,120   31,238      3.7            7        11
   Portland-Salem, Ore.-Wash................................ 26,427   27,648      4.6           17         2
   Sacramento-Yolo, Calif................................... 28,092   29,214      4.0           13         8
   San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif.................... 34,475   36,187      5.0            2         1
   Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, Wash........................... 28,809   30,052      4.3           11         6
   Washington-Baltimore, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W.Va.................. 31,920   32,807      2.8            4        17
   1/  Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal
   Employees (UCFE) programs.
   2/  Includes data for Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas as of July 5, 1994.  In the New England areas,
   the New England County Metropolitan Area (NECMA) definitions were used.  See Technical Note.
   3/ Data are preliminary.
   4/ Percent changes were computed from unrounded average annual pay data and may differ from those
   computed using data rounded to the nearest dollar.