For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Thursday, January 17, 2019 USDL-19-0077 

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 2018 

Median weekly earnings of the nation's 115.9 million full-time wage and salary workers were $900 in 

the fourth quarter of 2018 (not seasonally adjusted), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. 

This was 5.0 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 2.2 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 in this news release.) Data shown in this news 

release are not seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified.

Highlights from the fourth-quarter data:

• Median weekly earnings of full-time workers were $900 in the fourth quarter of 2018. Women

had median weekly earnings of $794, or 80.0 percent of the $993 median for men. (See table 2.)

• The women's-to-men's earnings ratio varied by race and ethnicity. White women earned 79.7 

percent as much as their male counterparts, compared with 86.0 percent for Black women, 74.6 

percent for Asian women, and 82.9 percent for Hispanic women. (See table 2.) 

• Among the major race and ethnicity groups, median weekly earnings of Blacks ($712) and 

Hispanics ($684) working at full-time jobs were lower than those of Whites ($931) and Asians 

($1,095). By sex, median weekly earnings for Black men were $773, or 75.5 percent of the 

median for White men ($1,024). Median earnings for Hispanic men were $736, or 71.9 percent 

of the median for White men. The difference was less among women, as Black women's median 

earnings were $665, or 81.5 percent of those for White women ($816), and earnings for Hispanic 

women were $610, or 74.8 percent of those for White women. Earnings of Asian men ($1,256) 

and women ($937) were higher than those of their White counterparts. (See table 2.) 

• By age, median weekly earnings were highest for men ages 55 to 64 at $1,191. Usual weekly 

earnings were highest for women ages 35 to 64: median weekly earnings were $877 for women 

ages 35 to 44, $876 for women ages 45 to 54, and $895 for women ages 55 to 64. Men and 

women ages 16 to 24 had the lowest median weekly earnings, $609 and $539, respectively. 

(See table 3.) 
-2- 

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

professional, and related occupations had the highest median weekly earnings—$1,505 for 

men and $1,102 for women. Men and women employed in service jobs earned the least, 

$675 and $512, respectively. (See table 4.) 

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

had median weekly earnings of $543, compared with $746 for high school graduates (no college) 

and $1,340 for those holding at least a bachelor's degree. Among college graduates with 

advanced degrees (master's, professional, and doctoral degrees), the highest earning 10 percent 

of male workers made $3,909 or more per week, compared with $2,884 or more for their female 

counterparts. (See table 5.)

• Seasonally adjusted median weekly earnings were $897 in the fourth quarter of 2018, little 

changed from the previous quarter ($893). (See table 1.) 

Annual Averages for 2017 and 2018 

In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this news release includes 2017 and 2018 annual averages 

on median weekly earnings for major demographic and occupational groups, and 2018 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#weekearn 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 2014 were subject to revision. 

The Usual Weekly Earnings news release for the first quarter of 2019, scheduled for release on April 16, 

2019, 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 2014 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

$

2009

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......................................... 102,161 57,110 45,051 764 841 693 335 368 303

2nd quarter........................................ 102,525 57,079 45,447 772 870 687 337 380 300

3rd quarter......................................... 102,587 57,207 45,380 766 836 693 333 364 302

4th quarter......................................... 103,748 57,772 45,977 771 868 690 333 375 298

2013

1st quarter......................................... 103,928 57,884 46,044 768 860 699 331 370 301

2nd quarter........................................ 103,988 57,944 46,044 777 863 706 335 372 304

3rd quarter......................................... 104,400 58,082 46,318 779 855 705 334 367 302

4th quarter......................................... 104,764 58,095 46,669 782 865 712 334 369 304

2014

1st quarter......................................... 105,633 58,682 46,951 790 865 716 335 367 304

2nd quarter........................................ 106,342 59,486 46,855 781 860 715 330 363 302

3rd quarter......................................... 106,726 59,543 47,183 798 878 721 336 370 304

4th quarter......................................... 107,436 60,123 47,313 795 878 724 336 371 306

2015

1st quarter......................................... 108,486 60,364 48,122 801 886 724 341 377 307

2nd quarter........................................ 108,544 60,400 48,144 803 890 726 339 376 306

3rd quarter......................................... 109,269 60,977 48,292 810 896 727 341 377 306

4th quarter......................................... 110,049 61,273 48,776 822 904 730 345 380 307

2016

1st quarter......................................... 110,427 61,627 48,799 823 903 743 346 380 312

2nd quarter........................................ 110,929 61,787 49,142 827 914 744 345 382 311

3rd quarter......................................... 111,566 62,082 49,483 833 917 750 346 381 312

4th quarter......................................... 111,463 62,249 49,214 846 924 760 349 382 314

2017

1st quarter......................................... 111,978 62,462 49,516 857 940 759 351 385 311

2nd quarter........................................ 113,118 62,942 50,176 862 939 780 353 385 320

3rd quarter......................................... 113,623 63,155 50,468 865 943 771 353 385 314

4th quarter......................................... 114,372 63,377 50,996 854 943 771 345 381 312

2018

1st quarter......................................... 114,678 64,007 50,671 874 955 776 350 383 311

2nd quarter........................................ 115,481 64,136 51,345 880 964 780 351 385 312

3rd quarter......................................... 115,945 64,198 51,747 893 980 801 355 389 318

4th quarter......................................... 116,160 64,237 51,923 897 991 796 355 392 315

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

2017

4th

2018

In current dollars In constant (1982-84)

dollars

4th

2017

4th

2018

4th

2017

4th

2018

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over.............................................. 114,151 115,928 $857 $900 $347 $357

Men, 16 years and over............................................ 63,033 63,879 946 993 383 394

16 to 24 years.................................................... 5,503 5,417 581 609 236 241

25 years and over................................................ 57,530 58,461 998 1,045 405 415

Women, 16 years and over........................................ 51,118 52,050 769 794 312 315

16 to 24 years.................................................... 4,472 4,594 512 539 208 214

25 years and over................................................ 46,646 47,456 803 834 326 331

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White.................................................................. 88,183 88,968 891 931 361 369

Men................................................................. 49,986 50,212 982 1,024 398 406

Women............................................................. 38,196 38,755 791 816 321 324

Black or African American......................................... 14,769 15,162 666 712 270 282

Men................................................................. 6,962 7,295 681 773 276 307

Women............................................................. 7,806 7,866 654 665 265 264

Asian.................................................................. 7,417 7,850 1,061 1,095 430 435

Men................................................................. 4,022 4,167 1,237 1,256 502 498

Women............................................................. 3,395 3,683 894 937 362 372

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................ 19,667 20,461 657 684 266 272

Men................................................................. 11,997 12,279 688 736 279 292

Women............................................................. 7,670 8,182 608 610 247 242

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 2018 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..................................................... 115,928 $900 63,879 $993 52,050 $794

16 to 24 years....................................................... 10,011 581 5,417 609 4,594 539

16 to 19 years.................................................... 1,257 472 724 501 534 437

20 to 24 years.................................................... 8,754 594 4,694 624 4,060 558

25 years and over................................................... 105,917 946 58,461 1,045 47,456 834

25 to 54 years.................................................... 81,379 924 45,103 1,014 36,276 825

25 to 34 years.................................................. 29,197 820 16,229 877 12,969 763

35 to 44 years.................................................. 26,748 996 15,076 1,112 11,672 877

45 to 54 years.................................................. 25,433 1,006 13,798 1,138 11,635 876

55 years and over................................................ 24,539 1,015 13,359 1,166 11,180 873

55 to 64 years.................................................. 19,835 1,037 10,724 1,191 9,111 895

65 years and over............................................. 4,704 914 2,634 1,037 2,069 757

White

16 years and over................................................... 88,968 931 50,212 1,024 38,755 816

16 to 24 years.................................................... 7,582 593 4,189 624 3,393 553

25 years and over................................................ 81,386 979 46,023 1,086 35,363 859

25 to 54 years.................................................. 61,482 956 34,887 1,043 26,595 850

55 years and over............................................. 19,904 1,054 11,136 1,218 8,768 894

Black or African American

16 years and over................................................... 15,162 712 7,295 773 7,866 665

16 to 24 years.................................................... 1,443 486 702 502 741 462

25 years and over................................................ 13,719 756 6,593 805 7,125 697

25 to 54 years.................................................. 11,049 736 5,366 793 5,683 681

55 years and over............................................. 2,670 826 1,228 907 1,442 791

Asian

16 years and over................................................... 7,850 1,095 4,167 1,256 3,683 937

16 to 24 years.................................................... 463 696 234 787 229 623

25 years and over................................................ 7,387 1,146 3,933 1,324 3,454 964

25 to 54 years.................................................. 5,919 1,175 3,225 1,370 2,693 994

55 years and over............................................. 1,468 942 708 1,150 760 863

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

16 years and over................................................... 20,461 684 12,279 736 8,182 610

16 to 24 years.................................................... 2,427 545 1,386 599 1,041 490

25 years and over................................................ 18,034 716 10,893 765 7,141 643

25 to 54 years.................................................. 15,166 711 9,085 753 6,081 651

55 years and over............................................. 2,868 761 1,808 846 1,060 609

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

2017

4th

2018

4th

2017

4th

2018

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 47,276 48,938 $1,235 $1,269

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 19,461 19,975 1,336 1,384

Professional and related occupations............................................... 27,815 28,963 1,167 1,202

Service occupations...................................................................... 16,336 15,936 539 574

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 23,873 23,801 719 743

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 9,859 9,934 755 826

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 14,013 13,867 707 713

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 11,493 11,689 810 842

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 856 844 523 538

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 6,359 6,525 807 814

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 4,277 4,320 902 957

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 15,173 15,565 698 723

Production occupations................................................................ 7,517 7,730 704 744

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 7,656 7,835 692 699

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 22,638 23,404 1,475 1,505

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 10,273 10,578 1,548 1,561

Professional and related occupations............................................... 12,364 12,826 1,434 1,459

Service occupations...................................................................... 8,165 7,559 602 675

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 9,453 9,556 845 852

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 5,634 5,487 902 969

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 3,818 4,070 760 729

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 10,942 11,167 818 858

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 672 646 556 575

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 6,192 6,341 807 815

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 4,078 4,180 910 964

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 11,836 12,192 743 782

Production occupations................................................................ 5,340 5,681 776 804

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 6,495 6,511 715 748

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 24,639 25,534 1,052 1,102

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 9,188 9,398 1,137 1,222

Professional and related occupations............................................... 15,451 16,137 1,012 1,038

Service occupations...................................................................... 8,171 8,377 499 512

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 14,420 14,244 675 698

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 4,225 4,447 618 668

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 10,195 9,797 691 708

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 551 522 597 581

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 184 197 489 490

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 168 184 810 762

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 199 140 658 692

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 3,338 3,372 558 584

Production occupations................................................................ 2,177 2,049 572 594

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 1,161 1,323 520 569

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 2018 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.............................................. 115,928 $444 $601 $900 $1,437 $2,213

Men................................................................... 63,879 482 652 993 1,579 2,413

Women............................................................... 52,050 413 554 794 1,248 1,912

White.................................................................. 88,968 460 616 931 1,474 2,278

Men................................................................. 50,212 493 678 1,024 1,616 2,484

Women............................................................. 38,755 422 569 816 1,266 1,914

Black or African American......................................... 15,162 395 518 712 1,075 1,655

Men................................................................. 7,295 403 547 773 1,134 1,731

Women............................................................. 7,866 388 502 665 1,020 1,570

Asian.................................................................. 7,850 488 690 1,095 1,868 2,704

Men................................................................. 4,167 519 774 1,256 1,995 2,918

Women............................................................. 3,683 446 611 937 1,571 2,304

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................ 20,461 399 501 684 1,011 1,570

Men................................................................. 12,279 421 535 736 1,083 1,669

Women............................................................. 8,182 378 464 610 915 1,370

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and over.............................................. 105,917 468 625 946 1,500 2,294

Less than a high school diploma.................................. 6,934 360 436 543 727 1,002

High school graduates, no college1

............................... 26,746 421 542 746 1,072 1,534

Some college or associate degree................................ 27,130 459 606 853 1,237 1,759

Bachelor’s degree and higher2.................................... 45,107 621 880 1,340 1,999 2,952

Bachelor’s degree only.......................................... 27,963 589 804 1,205 1,868 2,696

Advanced degree................................................. 17,144 732 1,025 1,544 2,309 3,416

Men, 25 years and over............................................ 58,461 499 693 1,045 1,647 2,503

Less than a high school diploma............................... 4,723 387 475 595 787 1,170

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 16,389 467 603 835 1,198 1,711

Some college or associate degree............................. 14,727 510 687 989 1,396 1,920

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 22,622 702 1,000 1,541 2,304 3,409

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 14,364 665 917 1,399 2,077 3,084

Advanced degree.............................................. 8,258 838 1,195 1,833 2,711 3,909

Women, 25 years and over........................................ 47,456 428 581 834 1,300 1,988

Less than a high school diploma............................... 2,211 325 391 480 567 723

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 10,357 389 486 622 849 1,174

Some college or associate degree............................. 12,403 413 549 720 1,018 1,432

Bachelor’s degree and higher2................................. 22,485 580 790 1,155 1,755 2,485

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 13,599 540 733 1,030 1,566 2,275

Advanced degree.............................................. 8,886 675 934 1,342 1,975 2,884

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

2017

4th

2018

4th

2017

4th

2018

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over................................................................. 23,779 24,763 $256 $272

Men, 16 years and over............................................................... 8,310 8,642 241 265

16 to 24 years........................................................................ 3,628 3,683 194 195

25 years and over................................................................... 4,682 4,959 298 335

Women, 16 years and over........................................................... 15,468 16,121 263 275

16 to 24 years........................................................................ 4,652 4,671 196 200

25 years and over................................................................... 10,816 11,450 303 315

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White..................................................................................... 18,642 19,269 258 275

Men.................................................................................... 6,389 6,646 239 268

Women................................................................................ 12,253 12,623 266 279

Black or African American............................................................ 2,878 3,065 247 264

Men.................................................................................... 1,085 1,118 244 258

Women................................................................................ 1,793 1,947 248 267

Asian..................................................................................... 1,206 1,351 259 283

Men.................................................................................... 446 499 248 283

Women................................................................................ 760 853 265 284

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................................... 3,882 4,461 262 267

Men.................................................................................... 1,379 1,538 264 292

Women................................................................................ 2,504 2,923 260 256

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

2017 2018

In current dollars In constant (1982-84)

dollars

2017 2018 2017 2018

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over.............................................. 113,272 115,567 $860 $886 $351 $353

Men, 16 years and over............................................ 62,980 64,142 941 973 384 387

16 to 24 years.................................................... 5,791 5,818 547 575 223 229

25 years and over................................................ 57,190 58,324 996 1,026 406 409

Women, 16 years and over........................................ 50,291 51,425 770 789 314 314

16 to 24 years.................................................... 4,490 4,611 499 522 204 208

25 years and over................................................ 45,801 46,814 810 830 330 330

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White.................................................................. 87,730 88,953 890 916 363 365

Men................................................................. 50,003 50,570 971 1,002 396 399

Women............................................................. 37,727 38,384 795 817 324 325

Black or African American......................................... 14,521 15,041 682 694 278 276

Men................................................................. 6,928 7,282 710 735 289 293

Women............................................................. 7,593 7,760 657 654 268 260

Asian.................................................................. 7,320 7,643 1,043 1,095 426 436

Men................................................................. 4,014 4,169 1,207 1,241 492 494

Women............................................................. 3,306 3,474 903 937 368 373

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................ 19,615 20,297 655 680 267 271

Men................................................................. 11,896 12,226 690 720 282 287

Women............................................................. 7,719 8,071 603 617 246 246

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

2017 2018 2017 2018

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 47,207 48,808 $1,224 $1,246

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 19,414 19,863 1,327 1,355

Professional and related occupations............................................... 27,794 28,945 1,160 1,176

Service occupations...................................................................... 16,044 16,288 544 569

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 23,686 23,714 718 742

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 9,953 10,077 763 798

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 13,733 13,637 701 717

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 11,509 11,546 801 824

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 962 850 539 581

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 6,147 6,414 796 808

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 4,400 4,282 878 934

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 14,825 15,210 692 707

Production occupations................................................................ 7,589 7,668 701 723

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 7,236 7,542 681 689

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 22,815 23,685 1,442 1,468

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 10,415 10,668 1,526 1,537

Professional and related occupations............................................... 12,400 13,017 1,391 1,425

Service occupations...................................................................... 7,985 7,948 608 641

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 9,481 9,548 834 846

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 5,598 5,621 934 949

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 3,884 3,926 735 738

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 10,994 11,030 809 834

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 756 667 585 602

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 5,987 6,223 796 809

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 4,251 4,140 883 936

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 11,705 11,932 736 762

Production occupations................................................................ 5,545 5,627 769 793

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 6,160 6,305 710 724

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 24,393 25,123 1,052 1,078

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 8,999 9,195 1,134 1,168

Professional and related occupations............................................... 15,394 15,929 1,014 1,024

Service occupations...................................................................... 8,059 8,340 501 511

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 14,205 14,166 672 696

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 4,355 4,455 609 651

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 9,850 9,711 691 711

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 515 516 579 638

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 206 183 471 483

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 160 191 802 785

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 149 142 736 823

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 3,119 3,279 545 561

Production occupations................................................................ 2,044 2,041 564 575

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 1,075 1,237 514 538

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, 2018 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.............................................. 105,138 $458 $619 $932 $1,468 $2,265

Less than a high school diploma.................................. 6,999 350 430 553 737 1,020

High school graduates, no college1

............................... 26,237 410 527 730 1,056 1,508

Some college or associate degree................................ 27,476 451 596 826 1,207 1,703

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

.................................... 44,427 620 882 1,324 1,975 2,913

Bachelor’s degree only.......................................... 27,660 589 809 1,198 1,845 2,690

Advanced degree................................................. 16,767 728 1,015 1,521 2,291 3,395

Men

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 58,324 492 679 1,026 1,625 2,489

Less than a high school diploma............................... 4,761 385 477 607 809 1,152

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 16,105 455 592 819 1,181 1,650

Some college or associate degree............................. 14,721 501 672 951 1,377 1,901

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 22,738 678 990 1,524 2,297 3,367

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 14,451 632 914 1,384 2,072 2,982

Advanced degree.............................................. 8,287 822 1,170 1,774 2,697 3,906

Women

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 46,814 420 576 830 1,266 1,901

Less than a high school diploma............................... 2,238 307 384 469 581 751

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 10,132 379 477 616 844 1,169

Some college or associate degree............................. 12,755 411 536 717 1,007 1,381

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 21,689 589 798 1,145 1,708 2,384

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 13,208 551 741 1,041 1,533 2,145

Advanced degree.............................................. 8,480 679 927 1,323 1,903 2,792

White, total

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 80,968 476 644 965 1,507 2,293

Less than a high school diploma............................... 5,534 358 438 565 751 1,048

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 20,185 427 559 768 1,107 1,565

Some college or associate degree............................. 21,073 472 616 869 1,256 1,760

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 34,176 638 901 1,342 1,998 2,990

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 21,637 604 833 1,229 1,879 2,785

Advanced degree.............................................. 12,539 746 1,034 1,534 2,305 3,479

White men

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 46,005 505 703 1,064 1,662 2,517

Less than a high school diploma............................ 3,921 387 481 612 818 1,175

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 12,730 481 613 861 1,227 1,726

Some college or associate degree.......................... 11,644 516 701 993 1,433 1,924

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

............................... 17,710 703 1,017 1,550 2,320 3,471

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 11,521 657 946 1,428 2,111 3,106

Advanced degree........................................... 6,189 846 1,215 1,836 2,804 4,089

White women

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 34,963 432 593 857 1,293 1,909

Less than a high school diploma............................ 1,613 311 387 473 580 753

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 7,454 386 489 641 880 1,211

Some college or associate degree.......................... 9,429 421 555 742 1,038 1,428

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

............................... 16,467 602 813 1,152 1,707 2,397

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 10,117 574 752 1,051 1,538 2,185

Advanced degree........................................... 6,350 699 943 1,330 1,898 2,775

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, 2018 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........................................... 13,592 396 518 727 1,131 1,719

Less than a high school diploma............................... 714 305 386 487 622 871

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 4,043 375 463 604 838 1,194

Some college or associate degree............................. 4,309 399 519 684 978 1,342

Bachelor’s degree and higher2................................. 4,526 517 723 1,065 1,613 2,301

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 2,868 498 676 970 1,462 2,087

Advanced degree.............................................. 1,658 586 838 1,240 1,887 2,710

Black or African American men

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 6,551 411 553 775 1,182 1,809

Less than a high school diploma............................ 386 341 424 526 710 977

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 2,192 390 495 667 955 1,283

Some college or associate degree.......................... 2,004 422 570 755 1,114 1,480

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

............................... 1,970 510 732 1,139 1,706 2,492

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 1,312 494 684 1,038 1,515 2,124

Advanced degree........................................... 657 593 900 1,360 2,017 2,899

Black or African American women

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 7,040 386 499 683 1,052 1,629

Less than a high school diploma............................ 328 286 349 423 562 705

High school graduates, no college1......................... 1,851 343 426 546 721 1,042

Some college or associate degree.......................... 2,305 388 490 628 867 1,196

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

............................... 2,556 523 716 1,013 1,547 2,209

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 1,556 501 669 937 1,431 2,005

Advanced degree........................................... 1,000 583 800 1,169 1,758 2,508

Asian, total

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 7,194 478 690 1,140 1,856 2,698

Less than a high school diploma............................... 362 359 438 521 668 929

High school graduates, no college1............................ 1,088 382 487 659 970 1,403

Some college or associate degree............................. 1,042 445 585 817 1,215 1,670

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 4,702 652 946 1,465 2,124 2,977

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 2,476 583 834 1,270 1,895 2,676

Advanced degree.............................................. 2,226 782 1,126 1,731 2,419 3,432

Asian men

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 3,942 507 773 1,280 2,005 2,905

Less than a high school diploma............................... 192 375 459 579 776 1,017

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 619 404 510 748 1,111 1,509

Some college or associate degree............................. 545 462 612 887 1,290 1,825

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 2,586 725 1,098 1,685 2,403 3,254

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 1,293 667 956 1,462 2,119 2,896

Advanced degree.............................................. 1,293 873 1,274 1,882 2,705 3,828

Asian women

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 3,252 444 612 974 1,559 2,289

Less than a high school diploma............................... 170 351 424 491 602 731

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 470 347 448 583 773 1,138

Some college or associate degree............................. 497 436 552 717 1,106 1,525

Bachelor’s degree and higher2................................. 2,116 585 840 1,242 1,881 2,508

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 1,183 508 743 1,124 1,633 2,236

Advanced degree.............................................. 933 713 988 1,460 2,105 3,027

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, 2018 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........................................... 17,916 400 511 710 1,058 1,630

Less than a high school diploma............................... 4,173 351 429 544 708 966

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 5,682 400 504 672 926 1,366

Some college or associate degree............................. 4,157 434 572 763 1,081 1,509

Bachelor’s degree and higher2................................. 3,903 516 734 1,101 1,699 2,477

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 2,701 500 692 1,002 1,577 2,298

Advanced degree.............................................. 1,202 606 902 1,333 1,910 2,897

Hispanic or Latino men

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 10,818 424 550 755 1,139 1,755

Less than a high school diploma............................ 2,976 385 474 598 765 1,038

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 3,610 429 548 738 1,023 1,504

Some college or associate degree.......................... 2,298 484 623 875 1,208 1,690

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

............................... 1,935 534 790 1,234 1,901 2,790

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 1,374 507 725 1,115 1,766 2,517

Advanced degree........................................... 560 679 1,032 1,502 2,271 3,181

Hispanic or Latino women

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 7,097 377 478 644 947 1,462

Less than a high school diploma............................ 1,197 304 380 457 545 678

High school graduates, no college1......................... 2,072 371 453 582 774 1,052

Some college or associate degree.......................... 1,859 400 512 677 901 1,256

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

............................... 1,968 504 700 991 1,492 2,115

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 1,327 492 668 914 1,383 1,976

Advanced degree........................................... 642 568 810 1,158 1,662 2,421

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.