For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Friday, January 22, 2016 USDL-16-0111 

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 2015

Median weekly earnings of the nation’s 109.9 million full-time wage and salary workers were $825 in 

the fourth quarter of 2015 (not seasonally adjusted), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. 

This was 3.3 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 0.5 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 (CPS), 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 news release 

are not seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified. Highlights from the fourth-quarter data are: 

 Median weekly earnings were $825 in the fourth quarter of 2015. Women who usually worked 

full time had median weekly earnings of $729, or 80.4 percent of the $907 median for men. (See 

table 2.) 

 The women’s-to-men’s earnings ratio varied by race and ethnicity. White women earned 80.0 

percent as much as their male counterparts, compared with 92.1 percent for black women, 80.1 

percent for Asian women, and 83.9 percent for Hispanic women. (See table 2.) 

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

full-time jobs were $674 per week, or 72.4 percent of the median for white men ($931). The 

difference was less among women, as black women’s median earnings ($621) were 83.4 percent 

of those for white women ($745). Overall, median earnings of Hispanics ($624) and blacks 

($643) who worked full time were lower than those of whites ($847) and Asians ($1,091). (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, at $1,119. Weekly earnings were highest for women age 35 

to 64: weekly earnings were $837 for women age 35 to 44, $797 for women age 45 to 54, and 

$775 for women age 55 to 64. Workers age 16 to 24 had the lowest median weekly earnings, at 

$502. (See table 3.) 

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

professional, and related occupations had the highest median weekly earnings, $1,423 for men 
- 2 - 

and $1,010 for women. Men and women employed in service occupations earned the least, $607 

and $471, respectively. (See table 4.) 

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

had median weekly earnings of $502, compared with $690 for high school graduates (no college) 

and $1,245 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 $3,878 or more per week, compared with $2,486 or more for their female 

counterparts. (See table 5.) 

 Seasonally adjusted median weekly earnings were $820 in the fourth quarter of 2015, little 

changed from the previous quarter ($811). (See table 1.) 

Annual Averages for 2014 and 2015 

In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this news release includes 2014 and 2015 annual averages 

of median weekly earnings for major demographic and occupational groups, and 2015 annual average 

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

weekly earnings for men and women by detailed occupational categories will be posted online at 

www.bls.gov/cps/tables.htm when they become available. 

Revision of Seasonally Adjusted Usual Weekly Earnings Data

Seasonally adjusted median usual weekly earnings data shown in table 1 of this news 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 2011 were subject to 

revision. 

The Usual Weekly Earnings news release for the first quarter of 2016, scheduled for release on 

April 19, 2016, 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 2011 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 (BLS) by the U.S. Census Bureau 

using a scientifically selected national sample of about 

60,000 eligible households, with coverage in all 50 states and 

the District of Columbia. The earnings data are collected 

from one-fourth of the CPS monthly sample and are limited 

to wage and salary workers. All self-employed workers, both 

incorporated and unincorporated, are excluded from CPS 

earnings estimates. 

Material in this news release is in the public domain and 

may be used without permission. This information is 

available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. 

Voice telephone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: 

(800) 877-8339. 

Definitions 

The principal definitions used in connection with the 

earnings data in this news release are described briefly 

below. 

Usual weekly earnings. Data represent earnings before 

taxes and other deductions and include any overtime pay, 

commissions, or tips usually received (at the main job in the 

case of multiple jobholders). Prior to 1994, respondents were 

asked how much they usually earned per week. Since 

January 1994, respondents have been asked to identify the 

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

biweekly, twice monthly, monthly, annually, or other) and 

how much they usually earn in the reported time period.

Earnings reported on a basis other than weekly are 

converted to a weekly equivalent. The term "usual" is 

determined by each respondent’s own understanding of the 

term. If the respondent asks for a definition of "usual," 

interviewers are instructed to define the term as more than 

half the weeks worked during the past 4 or 5 months. 

Medians (and other quantiles) of weekly earnings. The 

median (or upper limit of the second quartile) is the midpoint 

in a given earnings distribution, with half of workers having 

earnings above the median and the other half having earnings 

below the median. Ten percent of a given distribution have 

earnings below the upper limit of the first decile (90 percent 

have higher earnings), 25 percent have earnings below the 

upper limit of the first quartile (75 percent have higher 

earnings), 75 percent have earnings below the upper limit of 

the third quartile (25 percent have higher earnings), and 90 

percent have earnings below the upper limit of the ninth 

decile (10 percent have higher earnings). 

The BLS procedure for estimating the median of an 

earnings distribution places each reported or calculated 

weekly earnings value into a $50-wide interval that is 

centered around a multiple of $50. The median is calculated 

through the linear interpolation of the interval in which the 

median lies. 

Changes over time in the medians (and other quantile 

boundaries) for specific groups may not necessarily be 

consistent with the movements estimated for the overall 

quantile boundary. The most common reasons for this 

possible anomaly are as follows: (1) there could be a change 

in the relative weights of the subgroups. For example, the 

median of 16- to 24-year-olds and the median earnings of 

those 25 years and over may rise, but if the lower earning 16-

to-24 age group accounts for a greatly increased share of the 

total, the overall median could actually fall. (2) there could 

be a large change in the shape of the distribution of reported 

earnings, particularly near a quantile boundary. This change 

could be caused by survey observations that are clustered at 

rounded values, such as $400 or $500. An estimate lying in 

a $50-wide centered interval containing such a cluster or 

′′spike′′ tends to change more slowly than one in other 

intervals. 

Constant dollars. The Consumer Price Index for All 

Urban Consumers (CPI-U) is used to convert current dollars 

to constant (1982-84) dollars. 

Wage and salary workers. These are workers who 

receive wages, salaries, commissions, tips, payment in kind, 

or piece rates. The group includes employees in both the 

private and public sectors but, for the purposes of the 

earnings series, it excludes all self-employed persons, both 

those with incorporated businesses and those with 

unincorporated businesses. 

Full-time workers. For the purpose of producing 

estimates of earnings, workers who usually work 35 hours or 

more per week at their sole or principal job are defined as 

working full time. 

Part-time workers. For the purpose of producing 

estimates of earnings, workers who usually work fewer than 

35 hours per week at their sole or principal job are defined as 

working part time. 

Race. In the survey process, race is determined by the 

household respondent. In accordance with the Office of 

Management and Budget guidelines, white, black or African 

American, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and 

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander are terms used to 

describe a person’s race. Estimates for the latter two race 

groups and persons who selected more than one race are not 

included in this release due to insufficient sample size. 
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. This refers to people who 

identified themselves in the survey process as being of 

Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin. People whose ethnicity 

is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. 

Reliability 

Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling 

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

population, is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample 

estimates may differ from the true population values they 

represent. The component of this difference that occurs 

because samples differ by chance is known as sampling 

error, and its variability is measured by the standard error of 

the estimate. There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of 

confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will differ by 

no more than 1.6 standard errors from the true population 

value because of sampling error. BLS analyses are generally 

conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence. 

The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. 

Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including the 

failure to sample a segment of the population, inability to 

obtain information for all respondents in the sample, inability 

or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct 

information, and errors made in the collection or processing 

of the data. 

Additional information about the reliability of data 

from the CPS is available on the BLS website at 

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

Seasonal adjustment 

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

force and other measures of labor market activity undergo 

regularly occurring fluctuations. These recurring events 

include seasonal changes in weather, major holidays, and the 

opening and closing of schools. The effect of such seasonal 

variations can be very large. 

Because seasonal events follow a more or less regular 

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

be tempered by adjusting for regular seasonal variation. 

These adjustments make nonseasonal developments easier to 

spot. The seasonally adjusted figures provide a more useful 

tool with which to analyze changes in quarter-to-quarter 

activity. 

At the end of each calendar year, the seasonally 

adjusted data are revised for the past 5 years when the 

seasonal adjustment factors are updated. More information 

on seasonal adjustment is available on the BLS website at 

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

seasonally adjusted

Year and quarter

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

Total Men Women

In current dollars In constant (1982-84) dollars

Total

$

Men

$

Women

$

Total

$

Men

$

Women

$

2006

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

2007

1st Quarter........................................ 107,176 60,105 47,070 687 752 610 336 368 298

2nd Quarter........................................ 106,827 60,351 46,476 693 765 610 335 370 295

3rd Quarter........................................ 107,156 60,216 46,940 698 774 621 336 372 298

4th Quarter........................................ 108,178 60,508 47,670 700 774 615 332 368 292

2008

1st Quarter........................................ 107,786 60,378 47,408 713 783 633 335 368 298

2nd Quarter........................................ 107,046 59,586 47,460 722 802 636 335 372 295

3rd Quarter........................................ 106,136 59,273 46,863 724 802 637 331 367 291

4th Quarter........................................ 105,617 58,511 47,106 727 806 647 340 377 302

2009

1st Quarter........................................ 101,683 56,302 45,381 732 815 645 345 384 304

2nd Quarter........................................ 99,996 55,233 44,763 737 818 652 345 383 305

3rd Quarter........................................ 99,050 54,481 44,569 742 820 664 345 381 309

4th Quarter........................................ 98,555 54,410 44,145 747 823 666 344 379 307

2010

1st Quarter........................................ 98,143 54,098 44,045 748 836 662 344 384 304

2nd Quarter........................................ 99,605 55,028 44,577 742 814 671 342 374 309

3rd Quarter........................................ 100,412 55,620 44,792 746 821 670 342 377 308

4th Quarter........................................ 99,958 55,486 44,472 750 826 676 341 376 308

2011

1st Quarter........................................ 99,670 55,337 44,333 750 821 679 338 370 306

2nd Quarter........................................ 100,347 55,821 44,526 754 830 687 336 370 306

3rd Quarter........................................ 100,495 56,046 44,449 760 836 681 336 370 301

4th Quarter........................................ 101,337 56,687 44,650 760 838 686 335 369 302

2012

1st Quarter........................................ 102,150 57,109 45,041 764 841 693 335 368 303

2nd Quarter........................................ 102,510 57,065 45,445 772 870 687 337 380 300

3rd Quarter........................................ 102,632 57,219 45,413 766 836 693 333 364 301

4th Quarter........................................ 103,727 57,770 45,957 772 868 691 333 375 298

2013

1st Quarter........................................ 103,886 57,896 45,989 768 860 699 331 370 301

2nd Quarter........................................ 103,947 57,909 46,037 777 866 706 335 373 304

3rd Quarter........................................ 104,515 58,128 46,387 779 855 706 334 366 302

4th Quarter........................................ 104,733 58,064 46,669 782 862 712 334 368 304

2014

1st Quarter........................................ 105,544 58,692 46,852 790 865 716 336 368 304

2nd Quarter........................................ 106,351 59,476 46,875 782 861 715 330 364 302

3rd Quarter........................................ 106,892 59,618 47,273 798 879 722 336 370 304

4th Quarter........................................ 107,336 60,025 47,310 794 876 723 335 369 305

2015

1st Quarter........................................ 108,377 60,386 47,991 801 887 723 341 377 308

2nd Quarter........................................ 108,597 60,409 48,188 804 891 726 339 376 306

3rd Quarter........................................ 109,459 61,073 48,386 811 898 728 341 377 306

4th Quarter........................................ 109,894 61,119 48,776 820 901 728 345 379 306

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

2014

4th

2015

In current dollars In constant (1982-84)

dollars

4th

2014

4th

2015

4th

2014

4th

2015

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over.............................................. 107,368 109,913 $799 $825 $338 $348

Men, 16 years and over............................................ 59,930 61,013 882 907 374 382

16 to 24 years.................................................... 5,611 5,511 508 543 215 229

25 years and over................................................ 54,319 55,502 929 958 394 404

Women, 16 years and over........................................ 47,438 48,900 724 729 306 307

16 to 24 years.................................................... 4,144 4,304 469 453 198 191

25 years and over................................................ 43,294 44,596 756 764 320 322

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White.................................................................. 84,596 86,103 823 847 349 357

Men................................................................. 48,355 48,944 907 931 384 393

Women............................................................. 36,241 37,159 738 745 313 314

Black or African American......................................... 13,209 13,698 621 643 263 271

Men................................................................. 6,300 6,486 667 674 282 284

Women............................................................. 6,909 7,212 602 621 255 262

Asian.................................................................. 6,111 6,567 959 1,091 406 460

Men................................................................. 3,314 3,628 1,067 1,178 452 496

Women............................................................. 2,797 2,939 826 943 350 398

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................ 17,870 18,272 600 624 254 263

Men................................................................. 11,081 11,127 631 679 267 286

Women............................................................. 6,789 7,145 544 570 230 240

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 2015 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..................................................... 109,913 $825 61,013 $907 48,900 $729

16 to 24 years....................................................... 9,815 502 5,511 543 4,304 453

16 to 19 years.................................................... 1,079 410 601 431 479 389

20 to 24 years.................................................... 8,736 513 4,910 569 3,825 464

25 years and over................................................... 100,098 872 55,502 958 44,596 764

25 to 54 years.................................................... 77,377 859 43,162 926 34,216 764

25 to 34 years.................................................. 26,693 743 15,025 790 11,668 695

35 to 44 years.................................................. 25,064 914 14,209 994 10,855 837

45 to 54 years.................................................. 25,620 920 13,928 1,038 11,693 797

55 years and over................................................ 22,721 930 12,340 1,092 10,380 768

55 to 64 years.................................................. 18,525 943 10,004 1,119 8,521 775

65 years and over............................................. 4,196 870 2,336 991 1,859 710

White

16 years and over................................................... 86,103 847 48,944 931 37,159 745

16 to 24 years.................................................... 7,639 508 4,375 550 3,264 457

25 years and over................................................ 78,464 892 44,569 986 33,895 782

25 to 54 years.................................................. 59,956 876 34,286 950 25,670 780

55 years and over............................................. 18,507 962 10,283 1,144 8,225 789

Black or African American

16 years and over................................................... 13,698 643 6,486 674 7,212 621

16 to 24 years.................................................... 1,382 462 725 500 657 427

25 years and over................................................ 12,317 672 5,762 709 6,555 647

25 to 54 years.................................................. 9,862 663 4,673 703 5,189 641

55 years and over............................................. 2,455 702 1,089 726 1,366 680

Asian

16 years and over................................................... 6,567 1,091 3,628 1,178 2,939 943

16 to 24 years.................................................... 353 610 184 612 168 602

25 years and over................................................ 6,214 1,121 3,444 1,240 2,770 960

25 to 54 years.................................................. 4,921 1,124 2,735 1,247 2,186 966

55 years and over............................................. 1,293 1,101 709 1,200 584 930

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

16 years and over................................................... 18,272 624 11,127 679 7,145 570

16 to 24 years.................................................... 2,094 473 1,260 506 834 423

25 years and over................................................ 16,178 661 9,867 705 6,311 596

25 to 54 years.................................................. 13,857 666 8,485 701 5,372 604

55 years and over............................................. 2,321 641 1,381 730 940 552

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

2014

4th

2015

4th

2014

4th

2015

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 43,551 45,503 $1,152 $1,168

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 17,990 18,919 1,241 1,287

Professional and related occupations............................................... 25,562 26,584 1,099 1,129

Service occupations...................................................................... 15,066 14,909 508 520

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 23,334 23,673 648 680

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 9,451 9,749 678 724

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 13,883 13,924 635 663

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 10,882 11,210 771 776

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 788 794 455 510

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 5,827 5,855 786 775

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 4,266 4,561 814 823

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 14,536 14,618 654 669

Production occupations................................................................ 7,560 7,552 655 675

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 6,976 7,065 651 662

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 20,991 21,850 1,366 1,423

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 9,520 10,090 1,435 1,460

Professional and related occupations............................................... 11,471 11,760 1,320 1,393

Service occupations...................................................................... 7,550 7,561 588 607

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 9,347 9,295 753 799

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 5,451 5,449 804 864

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 3,897 3,846 692 727

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 10,496 10,671 776 784

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 663 594 470 536

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 5,703 5,706 786 777

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 4,129 4,371 815 823

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 11,546 11,636 700 715

Production occupations................................................................ 5,549 5,553 718 735

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 5,997 6,083 680 698

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 22,560 23,653 999 1,010

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 8,469 8,829 1,084 1,097

Professional and related occupations............................................... 14,091 14,824 967 970

Service occupations...................................................................... 7,516 7,348 470 471

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 13,987 14,378 605 626

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 4,001 4,300 523 567

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 9,986 10,078 622 646

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 386 539 572 598

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 125 200 390 469

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 124 149 790 729

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 137 191 797 823

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 2,989 2,982 516 502

Production occupations................................................................ 2,011 2,000 511 523

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 978 982 534 468

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 2015 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.............................................. 109,913 $392 $539 $825 $1,330 $1,994

Men................................................................... 61,013 412 592 907 1,464 2,291

Women............................................................... 48,900 373 496 729 1,144 1,750

White.................................................................. 86,103 399 560 847 1,358 2,072

Men................................................................. 48,944 419 606 931 1,500 2,316

Women............................................................. 37,159 380 508 745 1,154 1,756

Black or African American......................................... 13,698 353 459 643 976 1,483

Men................................................................. 6,486 374 492 674 1,006 1,517

Women............................................................. 7,212 336 428 621 956 1,462

Asian.................................................................. 6,567 431 661 1,091 1,752 2,483

Men................................................................. 3,628 488 735 1,178 1,898 2,883

Women............................................................. 2,939 401 600 943 1,539 2,096

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................ 18,272 354 446 624 960 1,457

Men................................................................. 11,127 375 480 679 1,016 1,559

Women............................................................. 7,145 335 412 570 844 1,286

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and over.............................................. 100,098 408 579 872 1,390 2,088

Less than a high school diploma.................................. 6,906 316 390 502 690 1,005

High school graduates, no college1

............................... 25,726 380 492 690 986 1,411

Some college or associate degree................................ 26,740 407 545 757 1,138 1,620

Bachelor’s degree and higher2.................................... 40,726 588 839 1,245 1,892 2,800

Bachelor’s degree only.......................................... 25,478 550 765 1,143 1,758 2,491

Advanced degree................................................. 15,248 679 969 1,445 2,138 3,202

Men, 25 years and over............................................ 55,502 433 621 958 1,533 2,351

Less than a high school diploma............................... 4,724 342 415 548 786 1,125

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 15,722 400 536 776 1,109 1,562

Some college or associate degree............................. 14,073 454 616 887 1,307 1,847

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 20,983 634 929 1,439 2,141 3,237

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 13,482 608 869 1,324 1,911 2,890

Advanced degree.............................................. 7,501 730 1,129 1,732 2,520 3,878

Women, 25 years and over........................................ 44,596 388 520 764 1,176 1,806

Less than a high school diploma............................... 2,182 293 344 418 543 667

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 10,005 351 432 589 803 1,132

Some college or associate degree............................. 12,667 386 496 662 921 1,355

Bachelor’s degree and higher2................................. 19,743 535 759 1,091 1,597 2,282

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 11,996 499 698 990 1,485 2,077

Advanced degree.............................................. 7,747 643 899 1,225 1,772 2,486

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

2014

4th

2015

4th

2014

4th

2015

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over................................................................. 24,799 24,478 $237 $246

Men, 16 years and over............................................................... 8,538 8,342 234 241

16 to 24 years........................................................................ 3,614 3,617 179 190

25 years and over................................................................... 4,924 4,725 284 290

Women, 16 years and over........................................................... 16,260 16,135 239 249

16 to 24 years........................................................................ 4,780 4,744 172 190

25 years and over................................................................... 11,480 11,391 274 283

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White..................................................................................... 19,815 19,281 242 249

Men.................................................................................... 6,625 6,372 239 241

Women................................................................................ 13,189 12,909 244 254

Black or African American............................................................ 2,856 3,092 214 230

Men.................................................................................... 1,079 1,148 211 243

Women................................................................................ 1,778 1,945 217 224

Asian..................................................................................... 1,327 1,265 246 266

Men.................................................................................... 506 447 249 256

Women................................................................................ 821 819 245 273

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................................... 4,129 3,936 236 242

Men.................................................................................... 1,669 1,464 256 248

Women................................................................................ 2,460 2,472 225 239

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

2014 2015

In current dollars In constant (1982-84)

dollars

2014 2015 2014 2015

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over.............................................. 106,526 109,080 $791 $809 $334 $341

Men, 16 years and over............................................ 59,450 60,746 871 895 368 377

16 to 24 years.................................................... 5,493 5,476 493 510 208 215

25 years and over................................................ 53,957 55,270 922 947 389 400

Women, 16 years and over........................................ 47,076 48,334 719 726 304 307

16 to 24 years.................................................... 4,090 4,314 451 450 190 190

25 years and over................................................ 42,986 44,020 752 761 318 321

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White.................................................................. 84,177 85,443 816 835 344 352

Men................................................................. 48,058 48,746 897 920 379 388

Women............................................................. 36,119 36,698 734 743 310 314

Black or African American......................................... 12,910 13,587 639 641 270 271

Men................................................................. 6,129 6,445 680 680 287 287

Women............................................................. 6,781 7,142 611 615 258 259

Asian.................................................................. 6,273 6,638 953 993 403 419

Men................................................................. 3,488 3,684 1,080 1,129 456 476

Women............................................................. 2,784 2,954 841 877 355 370

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................ 17,475 18,311 594 604 251 255

Men................................................................. 10,754 11,142 616 631 260 266

Women............................................................. 6,721 7,168 548 566 231 239

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

2014 2015 2014 2015

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 43,016 44,844 $1,137 $1,158

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 17,561 18,422 1,227 1,258

Professional and related occupations............................................... 25,455 26,423 1,078 1,112

Service occupations...................................................................... 15,019 15,279 505 509

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 23,402 23,620 666 673

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 9,626 9,725 705 716

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 13,776 13,894 651 656

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 10,763 10,834 756 761

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 776 810 429 464

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 5,756 5,722 756 749

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 4,231 4,301 821 839

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 14,326 14,504 642 656

Production occupations................................................................ 7,481 7,551 646 663

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 6,845 6,953 637 646

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 20,758 21,807 1,346 1,383

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 9,385 10,018 1,416 1,436

Professional and related occupations............................................... 11,373 11,789 1,286 1,343

Service occupations...................................................................... 7,622 7,629 583 585

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 9,251 9,384 766 777

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 5,411 5,423 841 880

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 3,840 3,961 701 693

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 10,346 10,381 764 770

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 625 637 457 477

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 5,635 5,586 757 751

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 4,085 4,159 824 842

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 11,474 11,546 689 704

Production occupations................................................................ 5,546 5,548 711 729

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 5,927 5,998 664 679

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 22,258 23,038 981 996

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 8,176 8,404 1,056 1,073

Professional and related occupations............................................... 14,082 14,634 948 963

Service occupations...................................................................... 7,398 7,650 461 463

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 14,151 14,236 620 627

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 4,215 4,303 570 578

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 9,936 9,933 637 646

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 417 453 509 580

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 151 174 375 437

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 121 137 691 704

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 146 143 725 761

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 2,852 2,958 504 512

Production occupations................................................................ 1,935 2,003 502 519

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 918 955 510 494

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, 2015 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.............................................. 99,291 $402 $572 $860 $1,358 $2,016

Less than a high school diploma.................................. 7,289 312 384 493 667 941

High school graduates, no college1

............................... 25,221 374 488 678 976 1,395

Some college or associate degree................................ 26,801 400 537 762 1,130 1,592

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

.................................... 39,979 588 828 1,230 1,878 2,711

Bachelor’s degree only.......................................... 25,043 554 761 1,137 1,730 2,471

Advanced degree................................................. 14,937 679 956 1,403 2,076 3,080

Men

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 55,270 423 610 947 1,502 2,293

Less than a high school diploma............................... 5,035 336 404 520 726 1,022

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 15,316 397 528 759 1,089 1,532

Some college or associate degree............................. 14,109 441 609 883 1,277 1,796

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 20,811 630 935 1,420 2,091 3,096

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 13,295 600 860 1,304 1,907 2,881

Advanced degree.............................................. 7,516 740 1,104 1,637 2,408 3,833

Women

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 44,020 382 518 761 1,163 1,757

Less than a high school diploma............................... 2,255 286 341 418 549 698

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 9,905 341 427 586 795 1,105

Some college or associate degree............................. 12,692 377 491 664 931 1,334

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 19,169 550 752 1,064 1,554 2,208

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 11,748 511 698 975 1,446 2,009

Advanced degree.............................................. 7,420 635 878 1,204 1,743 2,424

White, total

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 77,819 413 589 885 1,385 2,084

Less than a high school diploma............................... 5,868 317 388 498 682 972

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 19,737 384 503 706 1,012 1,450

Some college or associate degree............................. 21,010 414 567 792 1,164 1,654

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 31,204 603 844 1,245 1,888 2,792

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 19,682 576 775 1,154 1,757 2,516

Advanced degree.............................................. 11,522 704 966 1,410 2,087 3,099

White men

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 44,372 440 630 974 1,533 2,316

Less than a high school diploma............................ 4,213 339 408 524 738 1,041

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 12,224 409 560 792 1,137 1,579

Some college or associate degree.......................... 11,430 468 633 916 1,336 1,867

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

............................... 16,505 662 952 1,448 2,120 3,160

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 10,727 623 887 1,345 1,924 2,900

Advanced degree........................................... 5,778 757 1,123 1,661 2,480 3,858

White women

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 33,447 391 536 778 1,178 1,762

Less than a high school diploma............................ 1,654 287 342 418 550 697

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 7,513 350 446 602 826 1,136

Some college or associate degree.......................... 9,580 387 503 680 960 1,364

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

............................... 14,700 572 760 1,070 1,553 2,227

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 8,956 521 708 981 1,450 2,074

Advanced degree........................................... 5,744 660 890 1,206 1,730 2,414

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, 2015 annual averages — Continued

Characteristic

Number of

workers

(in

thousands)

Upper limit of:

First decile First

quartile

Second

quartile

(median)

Third

quartile

Ninth

decile

Black or African American, total

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 12,265 359 480 682 1,031 1,550

Less than a high school diploma............................... 733 291 355 448 589 788

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 3,720 335 416 578 788 1,102

Some college or associate degree............................. 4,006 356 465 642 909 1,289

Bachelor’s degree and higher2................................. 3,806 502 682 1,010 1,527 2,107

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 2,446 492 641 948 1,426 1,904

Advanced degree.............................................. 1,360 535 770 1,160 1,744 2,490

Black or African American men

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 5,798 380 502 722 1,110 1,587

Less than a high school diploma............................ 408 308 381 492 642 816

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 2,055 362 466 614 877 1,201

Some college or associate degree.......................... 1,740 382 501 715 1,022 1,427

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

............................... 1,595 515 710 1,103 1,581 2,312

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 1,081 498 638 1,002 1,506 2,076

Advanced degree........................................... 514 591 870 1,304 1,903 2,902

Black or African American women

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 6,467 343 451 651 974 1,501

Less than a high school diploma............................ 325 279 332 406 517 666

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 1,665 317 388 511 707 920

Some college or associate degree.......................... 2,266 336 433 601 829 1,160

Bachelor’s degree and higher2............................... 2,211 493 668 961 1,454 1,972

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 1,365 487 642 914 1,350 1,886

Advanced degree........................................... 846 506 739 1,091 1,595 2,221

Asian, total

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 6,261 413 618 1,031 1,705 2,404

Less than a high school diploma............................... 349 300 367 475 624 977

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 975 346 439 611 880 1,268

Some college or associate degree............................. 924 394 527 750 1,128 1,605

Bachelor’s degree and higher2................................. 4,013 587 886 1,351 1,923 2,883

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 2,255 526 767 1,170 1,768 2,312

Advanced degree.............................................. 1,758 711 1,060 1,572 2,297 3,362

Asian men

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 3,477 444 686 1,157 1,884 2,743

Less than a high school diploma............................... 182 309 383 495 697 1,232

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 542 360 480 654 974 1,438

Some college or associate degree............................. 477 408 580 825 1,212 1,785

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 2,276 631 973 1,495 2,155 3,101

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 1,193 578 862 1,316 1,898 2,594

Advanced degree.............................................. 1,082 765 1,159 1,745 2,408 3,796

Asian women

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 2,784 393 575 902 1,446 2,087

Less than a high school diploma............................... 167 289 352 443 582 718

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 433 329 416 577 758 1,060

Some college or associate degree............................. 447 385 501 681 988 1,467

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 1,737 533 777 1,162 1,758 2,323

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 1,062 495 712 1,070 1,559 2,081

Advanced degree.............................................. 675 640 931 1,361 1,997 2,884

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, 2015 annual averages — Continued

Characteristic

Number of

workers

(in

thousands)

Upper limit of:

First decile First

quartile

Second

quartile

(median)

Third

quartile

Ninth

decile

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, total

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 16,115 351 449 631 967 1,476

Less than a high school diploma............................... 4,296 314 379 478 621 842

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 4,823 349 449 611 877 1,244

Some college or associate degree............................. 3,802 385 506 700 1,006 1,419

Bachelor’s degree and higher2................................. 3,195 496 709 1,044 1,563 2,319

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 2,184 480 659 969 1,481 2,182

Advanced degree.............................................. 1,011 558 850 1,227 1,852 2,580

Hispanic or Latino men

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 9,812 369 477 674 1,018 1,548

Less than a high school diploma............................ 3,072 334 395 502 672 905

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 3,047 377 488 678 957 1,361

Some college or associate degree.......................... 2,070 410 561 796 1,146 1,553

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

............................... 1,623 517 747 1,167 1,818 2,515

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 1,144 507 706 1,068 1,639 2,382

Advanced degree........................................... 478 568 946 1,424 2,106 3,442

Hispanic or Latino women

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 6,303 329 417 593 881 1,340

Less than a high school diploma............................ 1,223 287 339 410 524 649

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 1,776 322 402 532 719 998

Some college or associate degree.......................... 1,732 359 473 618 839 1,151

Bachelor’s degree and higher2............................... 1,572 470 665 958 1,403 2,020

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 1,040 444 610 893 1,324 1,912

Advanced degree........................................... 532 544 801 1,106 1,542 2,183

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.