For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Thursday, January 20, 2011 USDL-11-0062 

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

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

USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS 

FOURTH QUARTER 2010 

Median weekly earnings of the nation's 100.1 million full-time wage and salary workers were $752 in 

the fourth quarter of 2010 (not seasonally adjusted), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. 

This was 0.5 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 1.3 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.) Data shown in this release are not seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified. Highlights from fourth-quarter data are: 

 Seasonally adjusted median weekly earnings were $751 in the fourth quarter of 2010, an increase of 0.8 percent from the previous quarter, $745. (See table 1.) 

 On a not seasonally adjusted basis, median weekly earnings were $752 in the fourth quarter 

of 2010. Women who usually worked full time had median weekly earnings of $679, or 81.8 

percent of the $830 median for men. (See table 2.) 

 The female-to-male earnings ratio varied by race and ethnicity. White women earned 81.1 percent of their male counterparts, compared with black (96.2 percent), Asian (75.9 percent), and 

Hispanic women (89.9 percent). (See table 2.) 

 Among the major race and ethnicity groups, median weekly earnings for black men working 

at full-time jobs were $629 per week or 73.4 percent of the median for white men ($857). The 

difference was less among women, as black women's median earnings ($605) were 87.1 percent 

of those for white women ($695). Overall, median earnings of Hispanics who worked full time 

($539) were lower than those of blacks ($614), whites ($772), and Asians ($828). (See table 2.) 

 Usual weekly earnings of full-time workers varied by age. Among men, those age 55 to 64 had 

the highest median weekly earnings, $1,003. Usual weekly earnings were highest for women age 

35 to 44 and age 55 to 64, $737 and $742, respectively. Among all full-time workers, usual 

weekly earnings were lowest for those age 16 to 24 ($443). (See table 3.) 

 Among the major occupational groups, persons employed full time in management, professional, and related occupations had the highest median weekly earnings—$1,267 for men and 
- 2 - 

$937 for women. Men and women employed in service jobs earned the least, $585 and $421, 

respectively. (See table 4.) 

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

had median weekly earnings of $438, compared with $633 for high school graduates (no college) and $1,139 for those holding at least a bachelor's degree. Among college graduates with 

advanced degrees (professional or master's degree and above), the highest earning 10 percent of 

male workers made $3,383 or more per week, compared with $2,216 or more for their female 

counterparts. (See table 5.) 

Annual Averages for 2009 and 2010 

In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this release includes 2009 and 2010 annual average weekly 

earnings for major demographic and occupational groups, and 2010 annual average data for educational 

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

women by detailed occupational categories will appear in the January 2011 edition of Employment and 

Earnings Online at www.bls.gov/opub/ee/home.htm. 

Revision of Seasonally Adjusted Usual Weekly Earnings Data 

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

been revised using updated seasonal adjustment factors from the Current Population Survey, 

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

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

estimates of constant (1982-84) dollar median weekly earnings were indirectly affected. Seasonally adjusted estimates back to the first quarter of 2006 were subject to revision. 

The Usual Weekly Earnings news release for the first quarter of 2011, scheduled for release on 

April 19, 2011, will incorporate revisions to the seasonally adjusted data for the median weekly 

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

back to the first quarter of 2006 will be subject to revision due to annual revisions to seasonally adjusted data for the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). 
Technical Note 

The estimates in this release were obtained from the 

Current Population Survey (CPS), which provides basic 

information on the labor force, employment, and 

unemployment. The survey is conducted monthly for the 

Bureau of Labor Statistics 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 onequarter of the CPS monthly sample and are limited to wage 

and salary workers (both incorporated and unincorporated 

self-employed are excluded). The data, therefore, exclude 

self-employment income. 

Information in this release will be made available to 

sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 

(202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (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 errors 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 on a timely basis, mistakes made by respondents, and errors made in the collection or processing of the 

data. 

A full discussion of the reliability of data from the 

Current Population Survey and information on estimating 

standard errors is available on the BLS Web site at 

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

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 estimation 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, or $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 (1982-84) 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. 

Seasonal adjustment 

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

force and other measures of labor market activity undergo 

regularly occurring fluctuations. These recurring events 

include seasonal changes in weather, major holidays, and 

the opening and closing of schools. The effect of such 

seasonal variations can be very large. 

Because seasonal events follow a more or less regular 

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

be tempered by adjusting for regular seasonal variation. 

These adjustments make nonseasonal developments easier 

to spot. The seasonally adjusted figures provide a more 

useful tool with which to analyze changes in quarter-toquarter activity. 

At the end of each calendar year, the seasonally 

adjusted data are revised for the past 5 years when the 

seasonal adjustment factors are updated. More information 

on seasonal adjustment is available on the BLS Web site at 

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

seasonally adjusted

Year and quarter

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

Total Men Women

In current dollars In constant (1982-84) dollars

Total

$

Men

$

Women

$

Total

$

Men

$

Women

$

2001

4th Quarter.......................................... 100,343 56,541 43,802 603 677 519 340 382 292

2002

1st Quarter.......................................... 99,924 56,096 43,829 607 677 525 341 380 295

2nd Quarter......................................... 100,286 56,640 43,646 608 678 524 339 378 292

3rd Quarter.......................................... 100,183 56,390 43,793 608 679 531 337 376 294

4th Quarter.......................................... 99,895 56,224 43,670 610 683 540 336 376 298

2003

1st Quarter.......................................... 100,136 56,079 44,057 615 689 546 335 376 297

2nd Quarter......................................... 100,255 56,013 44,242 619 692 551 338 378 301

3rd Quarter.......................................... 100,139 56,178 43,961 621 697 554 337 378 300

4th Quarter.......................................... 100,628 56,607 44,021 623 702 560 337 379 302

2004

1st Quarter.......................................... 100,905 56,848 44,057 629 705 562 337 378 301

2nd Quarter......................................... 101,135 56,914 44,221 642 715 576 341 380 306

3rd Quarter.......................................... 101,148 56,931 44,217 635 712 574 335 376 303

4th Quarter.......................................... 101,658 57,289 44,369 646 720 577 337 376 302

2005

1st Quarter.......................................... 102,091 57,710 44,381 647 723 580 336 376 302

2nd Quarter......................................... 103,201 58,099 45,101 647 714 584 334 369 301

3rd Quarter.......................................... 104,310 58,843 45,467 651 723 588 331 368 299

4th Quarter.......................................... 104,605 58,967 45,638 658 730 588 332 368 296

2006

1st Quarter.......................................... 104,708 58,960 45,748 662 737 594 332 370 298

2nd Quarter......................................... 105,798 59,831 45,966 663 732 597 329 364 296

3rd Quarter.......................................... 107,041 60,060 46,981 678 755 603 334 372 297

4th Quarter.......................................... 106,847 60,140 46,707 681 748 607 337 370 300

2007

1st Quarter.......................................... 107,134 60,063 47,072 687 751 609 336 368 298

2nd Quarter......................................... 106,819 60,346 46,473 693 765 610 335 370 295

3rd Quarter.......................................... 107,156 60,220 46,936 698 774 620 336 372 298

4th Quarter.......................................... 108,251 60,571 47,680 700 774 614 332 368 292

2008

1st Quarter.......................................... 107,740 60,328 47,412 712 782 633 335 368 297

2nd Quarter......................................... 107,061 59,588 47,473 723 801 637 335 372 296

3rd Quarter.......................................... 106,088 59,246 46,841 724 803 636 331 367 291

4th Quarter.......................................... 105,711 58,601 47,109 727 807 646 340 378 302

2009

1st Quarter.......................................... 101,612 56,231 45,381 731 814 645 344 383 303

2nd Quarter......................................... 100,033 55,246 44,787 737 817 655 345 383 307

3rd Quarter.......................................... 98,949 54,425 44,525 742 820 663 345 381 308

4th Quarter.......................................... 98,702 54,534 44,168 747 825 665 345 380 307

2010

1st Quarter.......................................... 98,071 54,026 44,044 747 834 662 343 383 304

2nd Quarter......................................... 99,674 55,062 44,612 744 813 674 342 374 310

3rd Quarter.......................................... 100,242 55,524 44,718 745 822 668 342 377 306

4th Quarter.......................................... 100,132 55,620 44,512 751 829 675 342 378 307

NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics,

quarterly averages, not seasonally adjusted

Characteristic

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

4th

2009

4th

2010

In current dollars In constant (1982-84)

dollars

4th

2009

4th

2010

4th

2009

4th

2010

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over............................................... 98,720 100,120 $748 $752 $346 $344

Men, 16 years and over............................................. 54,422 55,500 825 830 382 379

16 to 24 years...................................................... 4,658 4,652 476 449 220 205

25 years and over................................................. 49,764 50,848 871 878 403 401

Women, 16 years and over......................................... 44,298 44,620 670 679 310 310

16 to 24 years...................................................... 3,648 3,612 436 436 202 199

25 years and over................................................. 40,650 41,008 700 709 324 324

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White................................................................... 79,964 81,038 763 772 353 353

Men.................................................................. 45,152 45,917 850 857 393 391

Women.............................................................. 34,813 35,121 679 695 314 318

Black or African American........................................... 11,530 11,838 629 614 291 281

Men.................................................................. 5,324 5,535 653 629 302 287

Women.............................................................. 6,207 6,303 610 605 282 276

Asian................................................................... 4,968 4,951 877 828 406 378

Men.................................................................. 2,744 2,771 941 947 435 433

Women.............................................................. 2,224 2,180 786 719 364 329

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity......................................... 14,513 15,054 547 539 253 246

Men.................................................................. 9,007 9,374 581 567 269 259

Women.............................................................. 5,506 5,680 503 510 233 233

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

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

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

ethnicity, and sex, 4th quarter 2010 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....................................................... 100,120 $752 55,500 $ 830 44,620 $679

16 to 24 years........................................................ 8,264 443 4,652 449 3,612 436

16 to 19 years...................................................... 933 360 588 377 345 335

20 to 24 years...................................................... 7,331 465 4,064 476 3,267 454

25 years and over.................................................... 91,856 788 50,848 878 41,008 709

25 to 54 years...................................................... 73,801 778 41,203 858 32,598 705

25 to 34 years................................................... 24,330 687 13,878 706 10,451 663

35 to 44 years................................................... 24,108 837 13,674 917 10,434 737

45 to 54 years................................................... 25,363 844 13,650 955 11,713 722

55 years and over................................................. 18,055 833 9,645 980 8,410 723

55 to 64 years................................................... 15,277 872 8,058 1,003 7,220 742

65 years and over............................................... 2,778 685 1,588 768 1,190 598

White

16 years and over.................................................... 81,038 772 45,917 857 35,121 695

16 to 24 years...................................................... 6,658 454 3,766 461 2,892 445

25 years and over................................................. 74,380 814 42,151 901 32,229 725

25 to 54 years................................................... 59,202 803 33,886 879 25,317 720

55 years and over............................................... 15,178 869 8,266 1,007 6,912 739

Black or African American

16 years and over.................................................... 11,838 614 5,535 629 6,303 605

16 to 24 years...................................................... 1,099 408 587 406 512 411

25 years and over................................................. 10,739 648 4,947 678 5,792 625

25 to 54 years................................................... 8,940 643 4,167 661 4,773 626

55 years and over............................................... 1,799 678 780 771 1,019 622

Asian

16 years and over.................................................... 4,951 828 2,771 947 2,180 719

16 to 24 years...................................................... 240 551 137 551 103 551

25 years and over................................................. 4,711 858 2,634 986 2,077 736

25 to 54 years................................................... 3,903 877 2,181 1,004 1,722 748

55 years and over............................................... 808 766 453 859 355 657

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

16 years and over.................................................... 15,054 539 9,374 567 5,680 510

16 to 24 years...................................................... 1,684 396 1,029 397 656 393

25 years and over................................................. 13,369 573 8,346 591 5,024 524

25 to 54 years................................................... 11,803 573 7,417 588 4,386 531

55 years and over............................................... 1,566 575 928 609 638 505

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

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

January data.
Table 4. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, quarterly

averages, not seasonally adjusted

Occupation and sex

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

4th

2009

4th

2010

4th

2009

4th

2010

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations................................. 39,555 39,415 $1,036 $1,069

Management, business, and financial operations occupations.................... 15,814 15,670 1,115 1,162

Professional and related occupations................................................ 23,741 23,746 994 1,016

Service occupations....................................................................... 14,002 14,144 482 485

Sales and office occupations............................................................. 22,950 23,086 633 633

Sales and related occupations........................................................ 9,391 9,384 662 661

Office and administrative support occupations...................................... 13,559 13,702 623 622

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations..................... 9,685 9,569 742 718

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.......................................... 670 738 414 414

Construction and extraction occupations............................................. 5,119 4,598 737 712

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.................................. 3,895 4,234 811 793

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 12,529 13,905 612 592

Production occupations................................................................. 6,475 7,280 617 592

Transportation and material moving occupations................................... 6,054 6,626 605 592

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations................................. 18,965 19,022 1,227 1,267

Management, business, and financial operations occupations.................... 8,576 8,506 1,278 1,396

Professional and related occupations................................................ 10,388 10,516 1,169 1,171

Service occupations....................................................................... 6,991 7,175 566 585

Sales and office occupations............................................................. 9,116 8,982 737 732

Sales and related occupations........................................................ 5,359 5,253 780 767

Office and administrative support occupations...................................... 3,757 3,730 673 673

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations..................... 9,317 9,210 751 724

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.......................................... 546 621 428 433

Construction and extraction occupations............................................. 5,025 4,512 738 713

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.................................. 3,747 4,077 817 799

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 10,034 11,111 651 641

Production occupations................................................................. 4,775 5,338 680 661

Transportation and material moving occupations................................... 5,259 5,773 624 617

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations................................. 20,591 20,394 909 937

Management, business, and financial operations occupations.................... 7,238 7,163 943 967

Professional and related occupations................................................ 13,353 13,230 892 922

Service occupations....................................................................... 7,011 6,969 418 421

Sales and office occupations............................................................. 13,834 14,104 593 602

Sales and related occupations........................................................ 4,032 4,131 519 517

Office and administrative support occupations...................................... 9,803 9,973 611 615

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations..................... 368 360 506 533

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.......................................... 124 117 374 356

Construction and extraction occupations............................................. 95 86 687 626

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.................................. 149 157 632 620

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 2,495 2,794 482 468

Production occupations................................................................. 1,700 1,941 483 478

Transportation and material moving occupations................................... 795 853 480 446

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

selected characteristics, 4th quarter 2010 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............................................... 100,120 $354 $ 495 $ 752 $1,161 $1,820

Men..................................................................... 55,500 372 529 830 1,301 1,972

Women................................................................. 44,620 336 463 679 1,008 1,495

White................................................................... 81,038 358 506 772 1,193 1,866

Men.................................................................. 45,917 375 551 857 1,346 2,002

Women.............................................................. 35,121 339 477 695 1,029 1,518

Black or African American........................................... 11,838 329 421 614 912 1,357

Men.................................................................. 5,535 338 443 629 963 1,447

Women.............................................................. 6,303 323 412 605 860 1,252

Asian................................................................... 4,951 376 514 828 1,364 2,104

Men.................................................................. 2,771 399 583 947 1,551 2,300

Women.............................................................. 2,180 333 477 719 1,172 1,873

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity......................................... 15,054 297 377 539 805 1,223

Men.................................................................. 9,374 303 386 567 837 1,277

Women.............................................................. 5,680 289 359 510 762 1,112

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and over............................................... 91,856 375 519 788 1,208 1,877

Less than a high school diploma................................... 7,004 285 339 438 600 801

High school graduates, no college1

............................... 24,920 344 454 633 910 1,261

Some college or associate degree................................. 25,650 384 511 727 1,035 1,444

Bachelor’s degree and higher2.................................... 34,283 563 778 1,139 1,740 2,486

Bachelor’s degree only............................................ 22,048 515 732 1,049 1,574 2,281

Advanced degree.................................................. 12,235 656 911 1,334 1,918 2,891

Men, 25 years and over............................................. 50,848 393 578 878 1,363 2,019

Less than a high school diploma................................ 4,788 297 362 479 644 876

High school graduates, no college1............................ 14,817 374 502 718 1,010 1,416

Some college or associate degree.............................. 13,175 425 588 846 1,174 1,637

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

.................................. 18,068 599 873 1,331 1,920 2,896

Bachelor’s degree only......................................... 11,743 574 818 1,196 1,834 2,519

Advanced degree............................................... 6,325 711 1,036 1,559 2,312 3,383

Women, 25 years and over......................................... 41,008 352 484 709 1,042 1,541

Less than a high school diploma................................ 2,216 265 307 392 502 618

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 10,103 317 405 539 743 1,007

Some college or associate degree.............................. 12,474 354 467 633 881 1,193

Bachelor’s degree and higher2.................................. 16,214 515 726 981 1,423 1,996

Bachelor’s degree only......................................... 10,305 485 672 910 1,287 1,889

Advanced degree............................................... 5,910 620 840 1,126 1,585 2,216

1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.

2 Includes persons with bachelor’s, master’s, professional, and doctoral degrees.

NOTE: Ten percent of all full-time wage and salary workers earn less than the upper limit of the first decile; 25 percent earn less than the upper limit of

the first quartile; 50 percent earn less than the upper limit of the second quartile, or median; 75 percent earn less than the upper limit of the third quartile;

and 90 percent earn less than the upper limit of the ninth decile. Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not

sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Updated

population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
Table 6. Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics,

quarterly averages, not seasonally adjusted

Characteristic

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

4th

2009

4th

2010

4th

2009

4th

2010

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over.................................................................. 24,548 24,409 $228 $226

Men, 16 years and over................................................................ 8,299 8,349 224 217

16 to 24 years........................................................................ 3,285 3,541 171 168

25 years and over.................................................................... 5,015 4,808 273 266

Women, 16 years and over............................................................ 16,249 16,061 230 232

16 to 24 years........................................................................ 4,623 4,620 165 164

25 years and over.................................................................... 11,625 11,440 266 267

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White...................................................................................... 20,685 20,225 227 228

Men..................................................................................... 6,859 6,768 221 217

Women................................................................................. 13,826 13,457 231 235

Black or African American............................................................. 2,351 2,519 225 211

Men..................................................................................... 877 924 244 211

Women................................................................................. 1,474 1,595 214 212

Asian...................................................................................... 856 1,038 268 245

Men..................................................................................... 297 366 276 240

Women................................................................................. 559 672 265 248

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity............................................................ 3,548 3,341 223 228

Men..................................................................................... 1,466 1,411 234 239

Women................................................................................. 2,082 1,930 218 220

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

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

January data.
Table 7. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, annual

averages

Characteristic

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

2009 2010

In current dollars In constant (1982-84)

dollars

2009 2010 2009 2010

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over............................................... 99,820 99,531 $739 $747 $345 $342

Men, 16 years and over............................................. 55,108 55,059 819 824 382 378

16 to 24 years...................................................... 5,014 4,770 458 443 214 203

25 years and over................................................. 50,094 50,289 873 874 407 401

Women, 16 years and over......................................... 44,712 44,472 657 669 306 307

16 to 24 years...................................................... 3,943 3,782 424 422 198 194

25 years and over................................................. 40,769 40,691 687 704 320 323

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White................................................................... 80,873 80,656 757 765 353 351

Men.................................................................. 45,730 45,685 845 850 394 390

Women.............................................................. 35,144 34,971 669 684 312 313

Black or African American........................................... 11,713 11,658 601 611 280 280

Men.................................................................. 5,386 5,376 621 633 289 290

Women.............................................................. 6,327 6,283 582 592 271 271

Asian................................................................... 4,923 4,946 880 855 410 392

Men.................................................................. 2,727 2,753 952 936 444 429

Women.............................................................. 2,196 2,193 779 773 363 355

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity......................................... 14,624 14,837 541 535 252 245

Men.................................................................. 9,150 9,239 569 560 265 257

Women.............................................................. 5,474 5,598 509 508 237 233

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

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

January data.
Table 8. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, annual

averages

Occupation and sex

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

2009 2010 2009 2010

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations................................. 39,080 39,145 $1,044 $1,063

Management, business, and financial operations occupations.................... 15,879 15,648 1,138 1,155

Professional and related occupations................................................ 23,201 23,497 994 1,008

Service occupations....................................................................... 14,299 14,424 470 479

Sales and office occupations............................................................. 23,503 23,060 624 631

Sales and related occupations........................................................ 9,489 9,121 665 666

Office and administrative support occupations...................................... 14,014 13,939 612 619

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations..................... 10,216 9,869 719 719

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.......................................... 707 729 416 416

Construction and extraction occupations............................................. 5,267 5,020 718 709

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.................................. 4,242 4,120 781 794

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 12,722 13,034 605 599

Production occupations................................................................. 6,576 6,861 610 599

Transportation and material moving occupations................................... 6,145 6,172 599 599

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations................................. 18,928 19,009 1,248 1,256

Management, business, and financial operations occupations.................... 8,635 8,552 1,334 1,363

Professional and related occupations................................................ 10,293 10,457 1,191 1,179

Service occupations....................................................................... 7,113 7,294 524 543

Sales and office occupations............................................................. 9,045 8,840 737 736

Sales and related occupations........................................................ 5,281 5,058 793 805

Office and administrative support occupations...................................... 3,765 3,782 657 656

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations..................... 9,800 9,464 727 726

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.......................................... 572 577 428 438

Construction and extraction occupations............................................. 5,154 4,918 719 710

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.................................. 4,075 3,968 787 799

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 10,222 10,453 648 640

Production occupations................................................................. 4,865 5,085 678 664

Transportation and material moving occupations................................... 5,357 5,368 618 618

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations................................. 20,152 20,136 907 923

Management, business, and financial operations occupations.................... 7,244 7,096 955 971

Professional and related occupations................................................ 12,908 13,040 880 900

Service occupations....................................................................... 7,187 7,129 418 423

Sales and office occupations............................................................. 14,458 14,220 590 597

Sales and related occupations........................................................ 4,208 4,063 525 516

Office and administrative support occupations...................................... 10,249 10,158 602 612

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations..................... 416 406 542 537

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.......................................... 135 151 372 369

Construction and extraction occupations............................................. 113 102 673 646

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.................................. 167 152 644 683

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 2,500 2,581 472 473

Production occupations................................................................. 1,712 1,776 472 481

Transportation and material moving occupations................................... 788 805 472 447

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

selected characteristics, 2010 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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90,979 $377 $ 520 $ 782 $1,203 $1,848

Less than a high school diploma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,153 282 342 444 605 824

High school graduates, no college1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,200 345 453 626 901 1,236

Some college or associate degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,896 387 518 734 1,037 1,444

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33,731 554 773 1,144 1,732 2,460

Bachelor’s degree only. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,593 510 725 1,038 1,551 2,270

Advanced degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,138 658 918 1,351 1,911 2,885

Men

Total, 25 years and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,289 397 577 874 1,357 2,004

Less than a high school diploma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,832 295 370 486 661 898

High school graduates, no college1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,751 378 502 710 1,001 1,381

Some college or associate degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,878 427 593 845 1,169 1,608

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,828 594 871 1,330 1,915 2,888

Bachelor’s degree only. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,428 553 807 1,188 1,810 2,519

Advanced degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,400 705 1,030 1,552 2,285 3,291

Women

Total, 25 years and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40,691 351 484 704 1,041 1,535

Less than a high school diploma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,321 252 308 388 502 633

High school graduates, no college1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,449 318 405 543 739 997

Some college or associate degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,018 356 476 638 889 1,203

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,903 515 717 986 1,427 1,922

Bachelor’s degree only. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,164 485 655 909 1,291 1,830

Advanced degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,738 621 845 1,158 1,619 2,213

White, total

Total, 25 years and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73,665 382 537 808 1,237 1,882

Less than a high school diploma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,859 281 342 446 610 834

High school graduates, no college1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20,403 353 473 649 927 1,271

Some college or associate degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,961 395 535 758 1,072 1,483

Bachelor’s degree and higher2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27,442 573 791 1,159 1,756 2,507

Bachelor’s degree only. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,671 522 737 1,065 1,587 2,306

Advanced degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,771 674 935 1,368 1,921 2,903

White men

Total, 25 years and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41,711 404 591 899 1,389 2,076

Less than a high school diploma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,110 294 368 488 665 899

High school graduates, no college1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,194 386 520 736 1,027 1,428

Some college or associate degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,616 446 613 877 1,208 1,649

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,790 608 897 1,354 1,963 2,908

Bachelor’s degree only. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,622 575 835 1,231 1,867 2,675

Advanced degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,168 729 1,059 1,578 2,307 3,468

White women

Total, 25 years and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31,954 356 493 719 1,061 1,557

Less than a high school diploma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,749 249 306 382 501 635

High school graduates, no college1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,209 323 412 558 751 1,011

Some college or associate degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,345 362 485 654 905 1,228

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,651 524 724 996 1,438 1,973

Bachelor’s degree only. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,049 491 661 918 1,309 1,865

Advanced degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,602 629 856 1,169 1,627 2,218

Black or African American, total

Total, 25 years and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,625 340 447 638 945 1,354

Less than a high school diploma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 771 284 341 426 577 761

High school graduates, no college1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,381 313 401 532 761 1,028

Some college or associate degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,534 351 452 614 867 1,182

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,938 494 674 934 1,350 1,836

Bachelor’s degree only. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,960 483 634 874 1,242 1,711

Advanced degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 978 575 762 1,065 1,532 2,070

Black or African American men

Total, 25 years and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,876 359 479 665 991 1,460

Less than a high school diploma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 423 301 375 466 624 862

High school graduates, no college1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,738 336 428 593 849 1,107

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

selected characteristics, 2010 annual averages — Continued

Characteristic

Number of

workers

(in

thousands)

Upper limit of:

First decile First

quartile

Second

quartile

(median)

Third

quartile

Ninth

decile

Some college or associate degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,525 $377 $493 $ 657 $ 942 $1,271

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,189 489 678 1,010 1,508 1,993

Bachelor’s degree only. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 795 482 646 941 1,417 1,888

Advanced degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394 508 815 1,176 1,730 2,306

Black or African American women

Total, 25 years and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,749 328 423 615 896 1,262

Less than a high school diploma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348 264 313 402 493 613

High school graduates, no college1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,643 301 381 490 685 930

Some college or associate degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,009 338 420 587 797 1,100

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,749 497 673 889 1,232 1,692

Bachelor’s degree only. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,164 484 624 841 1,165 1,573

Advanced degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 585 588 756 1,010 1,426 1,846

Asian, total

Total, 25 years and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,679 386 565 885 1,459 2,106

Less than a high school diploma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302 277 347 457 593 794

High school graduates, no college1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 811 329 410 579 774 1,130

Some college or associate degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779 382 507 704 981 1,346

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,786 519 788 1,217 1,839 2,457

Bachelor’s degree only. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,574 453 696 1,062 1,558 2,076

Advanced degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,212 661 933 1,466 2,083 2,797

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, total

Total, 25 years and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,164 306 395 571 848 1,301

Less than a high school diploma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,906 278 330 414 560 736

High school graduates, no college1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,044 312 396 543 770 1,117

Some college or associate degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,885 360 487 660 932 1,316

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,330 438 642 949 1,451 2,128

Bachelor’s degree only. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,684 418 607 860 1,307 1,906

Advanced degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 647 523 841 1,241 1,843 2,724

Hispanic or Latino men

Total, 25 years and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,189 317 407 590 897 1,400

Less than a high school diploma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,811 289 351 443 596 783

High school graduates, no college1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,602 329 416 590 842 1,215

Some college or associate degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,540 388 528 731 1,027 1,468

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,236 480 694 1,065 1,645 2,501

Bachelor’s degree only. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 881 467 647 977 1,488 2,277

Advanced degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355 562 896 1,387 2,178 3,242

Hispanic or Latino women

Total, 25 years and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,975 293 372 527 773 1,154

Less than a high school diploma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,095 247 299 364 467 594

High school graduates, no college1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,442 295 362 490 653 889

Some college or associate degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,345 334 439 601 797 1,102

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,094 409 606 849 1,252 1,770

Bachelor’s degree only. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 803 396 578 771 1,112 1,571

Advanced degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291 508 769 1,126 1,575 2,063

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.