1

Technical information: (202) 691-6378

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

Media contact: (202) 691-5902

USDL 08-0066

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Thursday, January 17, 2008

USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS:

FOURTH QUARTER 2007

Median weekly earnings of the nation’s 108.3 million full-time wage and salary workers were $700 in

the fourth quarter of 2007, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.

This was 2.6 percent higher than a year earlier compared with a gain of 4.0 percent in the Consumer Price

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

Data on usual weekly earnings are collected as part of the Current Population Survey, a nationwide

sample survey of households in which respondents are asked, among other things, how much each wage

and salary worker usually earns. (See the Technical Note.) Highlights from the fourth-quarter data are:

Women who usually worked full time had median earnings of $618 per week, or 79.8 percent of

the $774 median for men. The female-to-male earnings ratios were higher among Hispanics (92.1

percent) and blacks (90.0 percent) than among whites (79.0 percent) or Asians (75.6 percent).

(See table 1.)

Median earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $599 per week, 74.9 percent of the

median for white men ($800). The difference was less among women, as black women’s median

earnings ($539) were 85.3 percent of those for their white counterparts ($632). Overall, median

earnings of Hispanics who worked full time ($507) were lower than those of blacks ($574), whites

($722), and Asians ($856). (See table 1.)

Among men, those age 55 to 64 and age 45 to 54 had the highest median weekly earnings, $930

and $927, respectively. Among women, earnings were highest for those age 55 to 64 ($702). (See

table 2.)

Among the major occupational groups, persons employed full time in managerial, professional, and

related occupations had the highest median weekly earnings—$1,223 for men and $861 for women.

Persons employed in service jobs earned the least. (See table 3.)

Full-time workers age 25 and over without a high school diploma had median weekly earnings of

$424 compared with $610 for high school graduates (no college) and $1,086 for those holding at

least a bachelor’s degree. Among college graduates with advanced degrees (professional or master’s

degree and above), the highest earning 10 percent of male workers made $2,910 or more per week

compared with $2,095 or more for their female counterparts. (See table 4.)

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Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

ews United States 

Department 

of Labor 
2

Annual Averages for 2006 and 2007

In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this release includes 2006 and 2007 annual average weekly

earnings for major demographic and occupational groups and 2007 annual average data for educational attainment groups (tables 6, 7, and 8). Annual average data on median usual earnings for men and women by

detailed occupational categories will appear in the January 2008 online version of Employment and

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

The estimates in this release were obtained from the Current

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired

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

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

Reliability

Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

population value because of sampling error. BLS analyses are generally

conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.

The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling

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

segment of the population, inability to obtain information for all

respondents in the sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents to

provide correct information, and errors made in the collection or

processing of the data.

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

information on estimating standard errors, see the Household Data

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

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

Definitions

The principal definitions used in connection with the earnings series

are described briefly below.

Usual weekly earnings. Data represent earnings before taxes and

other deductions and include any overtime pay, commissions, or tips

usually received (at the main job in the case of multiple jobholders.) Prior

to 1994, respondents were asked how much they usually earned per

week. Since January 1994, respondents have been asked to identify the

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

monthly, monthly, annually, other) and how much they usually earn in

the reported time period. Earnings reported on a basis other than weekly

are converted to a weekly equivalent. The term “usual” is as perceived

by the respondent. If the respondent asks for a definition of usual,

interviewers are instructed to define the term as more than half the weeks

worked during the past 4 or 5 months.

Medians (and other quantiles) of weekly earnings. The median (or

upper limit of the second quartile) is the amount which divides a given

earnings distribution into two equal groups, one having earnings above

the median and the other having earnings below the median. Ten percent

of a given distribution have earnings below the upper limit of the first

decile (90 percent have higher earnings); 25 percent have earnings below

the upper limit of the first quartile (75 percent have higher earnings); 75

percent have earnings below the upper limit of the third quartile (25

percent have higher earnings); and 90 percent have earnings below the

upper limit of the ninth decile (10 percent have higher earnings).

The estimating procedure places each reported or calculated weekly

earnings value into $50-wide intervals which are centered around

multiples of $50. The actual value is estimated through the linear

interpolation of the interval in which the quantile boundary lies.

Over-the-year changes in the medians (and other quantile boundaries)

for specific groups may not necessarily be consistent with the movements

estimated for the overall quantile boundary. The most common reasons

for this possible anomaly are: (1) There could be a change in the relative

weights of the subgroups. For example, the medians of both 16-to-24

year olds and those 25 years and over may rise; but if the lower-earning

16-to-24 group accounts for a greatly increased share of the total, the

overall median could actually fall. (2) There could be a large change in the

shape of the distribution of reported earnings, particularly near a quantile

boundary. This could be caused by survey observations that are

clustered at rounded values, such as $250, $300, $400. An estimate

lying in a $50-wide centered interval containing such a cluster or “spike”

tends to change more slowly than one in other intervals.

Wage and salary workers. Workers who receive wages, salaries,

commissions, tips, payment in kind, or piece rates. The group includes

employees in both the private and public sectors but, for the purposes

of the earnings series, excludes all self-employed persons, regardless

of whether or not their businesses are incorporated.

Full-time workers. Workers who usually work 35 hours or more per

week at their sole or principal job.

Part-time workers. Workers who usually work fewer than 35 hours

per week at their sole or principal job.

Constant dollars. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers

(CPI-U) is used to convert current dollars to constant (1982) dollars.

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. Refers to persons who identified

themselves in the enumeration process as being Spanish, Hispanic, or

Latino. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino

may be of any race.
Table 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, quarterly averages,

not seasonally adjusted

Characteristic

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

IV

2006

IV

2007

In current dollars In constant (1982) dollars

IV

2006

IV

2007

IV

2006

IV

2007

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over ..................................................................................... 106,903 108,318 $682 $700 $326 $322

Men, 16 years and over .................................................................................. 60,060 60,482 749 774 358 356

16 to 24 years ............................................................................................. 6,355 6,150 429 459 205 211

25 years and over ....................................................................................... 53,705 54,332 800 831 383 382

Women, 16 years and over ............................................................................ 46,843 47,835 609 618 291 284

16 to 24 years ............................................................................................. 4,736 4,744 403 421 193 194

25 years and over ....................................................................................... 42,108 43,091 638 649 305 298

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White .............................................................................................................. 86,726 87,601 702 722 336 332

Men ............................................................................................................. 49,906 50,071 765 800 366 368

Women ....................................................................................................... 36,820 37,530 620 632 297 291

Black or African American .............................................................................. 12,840 12,959 569 574 272 264

Men ............................................................................................................. 6,028 6,100 605 599 289 276

Women ....................................................................................................... 6,813 6,859 521 539 249 248

Asian ............................................................................................................... 4,780 5,200 809 856 387 394

Men ............................................................................................................. 2,689 2,883 912 968 436 445

Women ....................................................................................................... 2,091 2,317 726 732 347 337

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ............................................................................. 15,884 16,298 489 507 234 233

Men ............................................................................................................. 10,187 10,117 504 520 241 239

Women ....................................................................................................... 5,697 6,181 446 479 214 221

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

whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by age, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and

sex, fourth quarter 2007 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 ......................................................................................... 108,318 $700 60,482 $774 47,835 $618

16 to 24 years ........................................................................................... 10,894 441 6,150 459 4,744 421

16 to 19 years ....................................................................................... 1,479 355 896 378 583 328

20 to 24 years ....................................................................................... 9,416 464 5,254 479 4,161 443

25 years and over ..................................................................................... 97,423 741 54,332 831 43,091 649

25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 80,495 733 45,270 814 35,225 643

25 to 34 years ................................................................................... 26,138 642 15,040 689 11,098 590

35 to 44 years ................................................................................... 27,165 769 15,433 868 11,732 676

45 to 54 years ................................................................................... 27,192 792 14,797 927 12,395 676

55 years and over ................................................................................. 16,928 797 9,062 912 7,866 672

55 to 64 years ................................................................................... 14,535 825 7,719 930 6,816 702

65 years and over ............................................................................. 2,394 639 1,343 757 1,050 556

White

16 years and over ......................................................................................... 87,601 722 50,071 800 37,530 632

16 to 24 years ........................................................................................... 8,808 444 5,070 463 3,738 422

25 years and over ..................................................................................... 78,792 762 45,000 859 33,792 663

25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 64,564 752 37,256 839 27,308 659

55 years and over ................................................................................. 14,228 820 7,744 944 6,484 683

Black or African American

16 years and over ......................................................................................... 12,959 574 6,100 599 6,859 539

16 to 24 years ........................................................................................... 1,362 414 668 420 694 407

25 years and over ..................................................................................... 11,597 599 5,432 625 6,165 575

25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 9,935 597 4,694 626 5,241 572

55 years and over ................................................................................. 1,662 613 737 623 924 598

Asian

16 years and over ......................................................................................... 5,200 856 2,883 968 2,317 732

16 to 24 years ........................................................................................... 342 518 184 491 158 542

25 years and over ..................................................................................... 4,858 895 2,699 1,037 2,159 755

25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 4,132 904 2,306 1,055 1,826 764

55 years and over ................................................................................. 726 847 393 945 334 685

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

16 years and over ......................................................................................... 16,298 507 10,117 520 6,181 479

16 to 24 years ........................................................................................... 2,168 399 1,405 406 764 376

25 years and over ..................................................................................... 14,129 528 8,712 567 5,418 495

25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 12,747 524 7,901 562 4,845 494

55 years and over ................................................................................. 1,383 562 810 606 572 504

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

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

release of January data.
Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, quarterly averages,

not seasonally adjusted

Occupation and sex

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

IV

2006

IV

2007

IV

2006

IV

2007

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations ................................................... 38,414 39,787 $972 $1,002

Management, business, and financial operations occupations ................................ 15,608 16,081 1,018 1,067

Professional and related occupations ....................................................................... 22,806 23,707 950 966

Service occupations ..................................................................................................... 14,669 14,708 426 460

Sales and office occupations ........................................................................................ 25,637 25,678 594 596

Sales and related occupations ................................................................................. 10,002 10,125 639 647

Office and administrative support occupations ......................................................... 15,636 15,553 578 582

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .................................. 12,777 12,520 658 689

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................................... 633 711 392 388

Construction and extraction occupations .................................................................. 7,318 7,118 617 660

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................................... 4,827 4,691 744 774

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ...................................... 15,406 15,624 554 579

Production occupations ............................................................................................ 8,244 8,627 569 587

Transportation and material moving occupations ..................................................... 7,162 6,998 535 566

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations ................................................... 18,735 19,308 1,150 1,223

Management, business, and financial operations occupations ................................ 8,615 8,698 1,201 1,274

Professional and related occupations ....................................................................... 10,120 10,609 1,119 1,169

Service occupations ..................................................................................................... 7,336 7,292 488 520

Sales and office occupations ........................................................................................ 9,687 9,554 704 708

Sales and related occupations ................................................................................. 5,599 5,469 788 813

Office and administrative support occupations ......................................................... 4,088 4,085 620 604

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .................................. 12,204 12,045 664 695

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................................... 507 579 396 410

Construction and extraction occupations .................................................................. 7,110 6,937 619 661

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................................... 4,587 4,528 748 779

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ...................................... 12,098 12,284 601 617

Production occupations ............................................................................................ 5,865 6,176 628 646

Transportation and material moving occupations ..................................................... 6,233 6,108 567 594

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations ................................................... 19,679 20,480 859 861

Management, business, and financial operations occupations ................................ 6,993 7,382 874 887

Professional and related occupations ....................................................................... 12,686 13,097 851 848

Service occupations ..................................................................................................... 7,333 7,416 397 415

Sales and office occupations ........................................................................................ 15,950 16,124 544 552

Sales and related occupations ................................................................................. 4,403 4,656 484 478

Office and administrative support occupations ......................................................... 11,548 11,468 567 576

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .................................. 573 476 547 550

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................................... 125 132 385 339

Construction and extraction occupations .................................................................. 208 181 515 622

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................................... 240 163 675 674

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ...................................... 3,308 3,340 423 433

Production occupations ............................................................................................ 2,379 2,450 437 445

Transportation and material moving occupations ..................................................... 929 890 399 404

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

characteristics, fourth quarter 2007 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 ..................................................................................... 108,318 $336 $470 $700 $1,076 $1,616

Men ................................................................................................................. 60,482 361 505 774 1,215 1,842

Women ........................................................................................................... 47,835 314 421 618 928 1,349

White .............................................................................................................. 87,601 342 482 722 1,107 1,653

Men ............................................................................................................. 50,071 371 516 800 1,245 1,876

Women ....................................................................................................... 37,530 316 428 632 937 1,368

Black or African American .............................................................................. 12,959 312 401 574 842 1,204

Men ............................................................................................................. 6,100 319 412 599 873 1,263

Women ....................................................................................................... 6,859 305 394 539 805 1,158

Asian ............................................................................................................... 5,200 363 520 856 1,360 1,907

Men ............................................................................................................. 2,883 398 612 968 1,532 2,024

Women ....................................................................................................... 2,317 320 467 732 1,134 1,730

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ............................................................................. 16,298 292 365 507 769 1,152

Men ............................................................................................................. 10,117 303 381 520 818 1,219

Women ....................................................................................................... 6,181 279 338 479 718 1,015

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and over ..................................................................................... 97,423 354 496 741 1,135 1,691

Less than a high school diploma .................................................................... 8,354 280 323 424 594 810

High school graduates, no college 1 ............................................................... 28,354 325 429 610 870 1,174

Some college or associate degree ................................................................. 26,987 371 497 697 996 1,368

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ...................................................................... 33,729 525 746 1,086 1,601 2,297

Bachelor’s degree only ............................................................................... 22,134 496 695 994 1,498 2,078

Advanced degree ....................................................................................... 11,594 621 884 1,259 1,830 2,691

Men, 25 years and over .................................................................................. 54,332 384 550 831 1,272 1,888

Less than a high school diploma ................................................................ 5,639 290 354 482 642 902

High school graduates, no college 1 ........................................................... 16,400 364 493 697 972 1,326

Some college or associate degree ............................................................. 14,161 407 575 799 1,149 1,532

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .................................................................. 18,132 592 846 1,265 1,875 2,599

Bachelor’s degree only ........................................................................... 11,994 555 771 1,164 1,749 2,388

Advanced degree ................................................................................... 6,139 708 980 1,466 2,047 2,910

Women, 25 years and over ............................................................................ 43,091 326 445 649 961 1,393

Less than a high school diploma ................................................................ 2,715 256 298 365 468 614

High school graduates, no college 1 ........................................................... 11,954 296 381 516 705 941

Some college or associate degree ............................................................. 12,826 341 441 606 843 1,138

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .................................................................. 15,596 492 669 937 1,330 1,866

Bachelor’s degree only ........................................................................... 10,141 469 623 858 1,194 1,729

Advanced degree ................................................................................... 5,456 590 802 1,087 1,527 2,095

1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent. 2 Includes persons with bachelor’s, master’s, professional, and doctoral

degrees.

 NOTE: Ten percent of all full-time wage and salary workers earn less

than the upper limit of the first decile; 25 percent earn less than the upper

limit of the first quartile; 50 percent earn less than the upper limit of the

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

third quartile; and 90 percent earn less than the upper limit of the ninth

decile. Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African

American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented

for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino

may be of any race. Updated population controls are introduced annually

with the release of January data.
Table 5. Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, quarterly averages,

not seasonally adjusted

Characteristic

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

IV

2006

IV

2007

IV

2006

IV

2007

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over ............................................................................................... 22,556 22,140 $208 $214

Men, 16 years and over ............................................................................................ 7,176 7,191 193 206

16 to 24 years ....................................................................................................... 3,697 3,556 151 165

25 years and over ................................................................................................. 3,479 3,635 261 266

Women, 16 years and over ...................................................................................... 15,380 14,949 215 218

16 to 24 years ....................................................................................................... 4,651 4,589 150 151

25 years and over ................................................................................................. 10,729 10,360 258 259

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White ........................................................................................................................ 18,818 18,630 209 216

Men ....................................................................................................................... 5,816 5,881 191 205

Women ................................................................................................................. 13,002 12,749 218 224

Black or African American ........................................................................................ 2,237 2,092 197 204

Men ....................................................................................................................... 807 792 206 226

Women ................................................................................................................. 1,430 1,300 192 191

Asian ......................................................................................................................... 954 847 217 204

Men ....................................................................................................................... 364 288 208 185

Women ................................................................................................................. 590 559 220 213

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ....................................................................................... 2,458 2,736 206 209

Men ....................................................................................................................... 775 1,038 215 227

Women ................................................................................................................. 1,683 1,697 202 197

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

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

data.
Table 6. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, annual averages

Characteristic

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

2006 2007

In current dollars In constant (1982) dollars

2006 2007 2006 2007

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over ........................................................................... 106,106 107,339 $671 $695 $321 $323

Men, 16 years and over ........................................................................ 59,747 60,298 743 766 356 356

16 to 24 years ................................................................................... 6,559 6,458 418 443 200 206

25 years and over ............................................................................. 53,188 53,840 797 823 381 383

Women, 16 years and over .................................................................. 46,358 47,041 600 614 287 286

16 to 24 years ................................................................................... 4,802 4,792 395 409 189 190

25 years and over ............................................................................. 41,556 42,249 627 646 300 301

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White .................................................................................................... 86,055 86,653 690 716 330 333

Men ................................................................................................... 49,650 49,889 761 788 364 367

Women ............................................................................................. 36,405 36,764 609 626 292 291

Black or African American .................................................................... 12,745 13,061 554 569 265 265

Men ................................................................................................... 6,025 6,186 591 600 283 279

Women ............................................................................................. 6,720 6,874 519 533 248 248

Asian ..................................................................................................... 4,840 5,155 784 830 375 386

Men ................................................................................................... 2,717 2,858 882 936 422 435

Women ............................................................................................. 2,123 2,297 699 731 335 340

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ................................................................... 15,693 16,201 486 503 233 234

Men ................................................................................................... 10,007 10,248 505 520 242 242

Women ............................................................................................. 5,686 5,953 440 473 211 220

 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 occupation and sex, annual averages

Occupation and sex

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

2006 2007 2006 2007

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations ................................................... 37,824 39,147 $967 $996

Management, business, and financial operations occupations ................................ 15,447 15,977 1,045 1,080

Professional and related occupations ....................................................................... 22,378 23,170 928 951

Service occupations ..................................................................................................... 14,749 14,716 422 454

Sales and office occupations ........................................................................................ 25,688 25,702 589 598

Sales and related occupations ................................................................................. 10,336 10,448 628 643

Office and administrative support occupations ......................................................... 15,351 15,253 572 581

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .................................. 12,512 12,486 653 670

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................................... 716 739 387 372

Construction and extraction occupations .................................................................. 7,166 7,227 619 646

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................................... 4,630 4,520 742 749

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ...................................... 15,332 15,289 557 577

Production occupations ............................................................................................ 8,391 8,389 559 581

Transportation and material moving occupations ..................................................... 6,942 6,900 556 570

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations ................................................... 18,686 19,222 1,154 1,187

Management, business, and financial operations occupations ................................ 8,536 8,684 1,231 1,261

Professional and related occupations ....................................................................... 10,149 10,538 1,109 1,148

Service occupations ..................................................................................................... 7,275 7,371 494 515

Sales and office occupations ........................................................................................ 9,753 9,725 696 714

Sales and related occupations ................................................................................. 5,777 5,773 761 791

Office and administrative support occupations ......................................................... 3,976 3,952 619 619

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .................................. 11,989 12,028 660 674

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................................... 569 601 401 382

Construction and extraction occupations .................................................................. 6,995 7,071 621 648

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................................... 4,425 4,357 744 750

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ...................................... 12,045 11,951 601 616

Production occupations ............................................................................................ 5,979 5,992 621 641

Transportation and material moving occupations ..................................................... 6,066 5,959 581 596

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations ................................................... 19,138 19,924 840 858

Management, business, and financial operations occupations ................................ 6,910 7,293 881 908

Professional and related occupations ....................................................................... 12,228 12,632 816 835

Service occupations ..................................................................................................... 7,473 7,345 390 406

Sales and office occupations ........................................................................................ 15,935 15,976 538 550

Sales and related occupations ................................................................................. 4,560 4,675 487 493

Office and administrative support occupations ......................................................... 11,375 11,301 557 570

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .................................. 524 457 518 539

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................................... 147 138 342 348

Construction and extraction occupations .................................................................. 172 156 533 573

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................................... 205 163 697 726

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ...................................... 3,288 3,338 426 437

Production occupations ............................................................................................ 2,412 2,396 432 443

Transportation and material moving occupations ..................................................... 876 942 414 424

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

2007 annual averages

Characteristic

Number of

workers

(in

thousands)

Upper limit of:

First decile First quartile

Second

quartile

(median)

Third quartile Ninth decile

TOTAL

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 96,089 $353 $495 $738 $1,133 $1,668

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 8,746 278 326 428 603 839

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 27,997 324 428 604 860 1,175

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 26,190 373 499 704 1,002 1,391

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 33,157 519 740 1,072 1,578 2,287

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 21,673 492 690 987 1,470 2,045

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 11,484 619 863 1,236 1,843 2,594

Men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 53,840 385 547 823 1,258 1,887

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 5,990 290 356 481 656 915

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 16,253 368 493 689 968 1,326

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 13,715 412 581 810 1,150 1,537

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 17,883 587 832 1,243 1,866 2,592

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 11,699 540 767 1,147 1,717 2,379

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 6,183 683 961 1,446 2,068 2,918

Women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 42,249 323 444 646 960 1,392

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 2,756 248 297 369 483 624

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 11,744 295 382 512 698 938

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 12,475 337 446 609 845 1,151

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 15,274 486 667 932 1,313 1,841

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 9,974 458 622 860 1,212 1,666

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 5,300 584 779 1,069 1,473 2,046

White, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 77,470 363 508 759 1,154 1,737

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 7,170 281 331 437 612 860

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 22,509 333 450 624 892 1,222

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 21,035 381 512 729 1,035 1,432

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 26,755 538 754 1,099 1,628 2,318

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 17,511 504 708 1,010 1,512 2,117

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 9,244 632 875 1,248 1,878 2,709

White men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 44,493 394 573 850 1,293 1,903

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 5,105 293 362 486 666 921

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 13,421 380 511 718 998 1,368

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 11,310 427 600 841 1,177 1,569

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 14,657 604 855 1,267 1,889 2,714

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 9,663 576 793 1,170 1,758 2,424

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 4,995 707 980 1,472 2,114 3,054

White women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 32,976 328 456 663 975 1,417

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 2,065 247 296 368 480 629

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 9,088 299 390 523 716 954

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 9,725 342 454 621 863 1,161

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 12,098 490 676 942 1,328 1,872

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 7,849 463 631 870 1,228 1,727

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 4,250 587 791 1,072 1,487 2,076

Black or African American, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 11,697 317 417 596 871 1,247

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 988 261 310 400 552 726

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 4,033 299 381 504 694 963

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 3,663 338 441 594 828 1,151

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 3,013 469 628 877 1,246 1,685

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 2,098 443 602 815 1,161 1,576

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 915 528 727 1,046 1,439 1,903

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

2007 annual averages—Continued

Characteristic

Number of

workers

(in

thousands)

Upper limit of:

First decile First quartile

Second

quartile

(median)

Third quartile Ninth decile

Black or African American men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 5,500 $332 $447 $629 $936 $1,348

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 538 275 322 449 616 788

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 2,002 321 408 549 768 1,043

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 1,637 360 484 645 908 1,234

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 1,323 441 649 931 1,376 1,867

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 931 423 618 875 1,253 1,713

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 392 496 757 1,125 1,540 2,077

Black or African American women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 6,197 307 401 566 815 1,171

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 450 252 299 374 490 611

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 2,031 286 355 470 621 857

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 2,026 326 418 552 751 1,034

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 1,690 482 619 837 1,171 1,547

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 1,167 461 596 771 1,103 1,477

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 523 566 709 1,003 1,338 1,774

Asian, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 4,832 369 524 864 1,363 1,906

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 306 243 318 418 563 811

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 824 292 392 538 758 1,065

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 795 342 485 696 960 1,341

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 2,907 492 756 1,142 1,633 2,196

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 1,722 457 696 1,006 1,520 1,918

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 1,185 628 899 1,334 1,869 2,477

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 13,885 294 377 525 802 1,206

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 4,682 277 316 406 545 734

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 4,188 297 382 524 749 1,046

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 2,830 341 456 633 916 1,269

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 2,185 419 625 923 1,387 1,958

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 1,577 402 591 858 1,264 1,863

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 608 525 771 1,141 1,647 2,377

Hispanic or Latino men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 8,753 306 394 562 853 1,265

Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 3,441 287 336 428 588 795

High school graduates, no college 1 ..................................................... 2,609 318 412 584 832 1,146

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 1,527 377 500 714 1,009 1,419

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 1,176 449 654 1,005 1,556 2,290

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 854 415 609 927 1,411 2,011

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 322 611 871 1,248 1,887 2,521

Hispanic or Latino women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................................... 5,131 279 344 493 734 1,094

Less than a high school diploma 1 ....................................................... 1,241 239 289 343 438 566

High school graduates, no college ....................................................... 1,578 275 339 469 629 830

Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 1,303 312 414 564 775 1,080

Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 ............................................................ 1,009 400 597 848 1,225 1,651

Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 723 390 563 795 1,129 1,522

Advanced degree ............................................................................. 286 449 730 987 1,446 2,001

1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent. 2 Includes persons with a 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.