For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Tuesday, January 24, 2017 USDL-17-0105 

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 2016

Median weekly earnings of the nation’s 111.3 million full-time wage and salary workers were $849 in 

the fourth quarter of 2016 (not seasonally adjusted), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. 

This was 2.9 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 1.8 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 

release are not seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified. 

Highlights from the fourth-quarter data: 

• Median weekly earnings of full-time workers were $849 in the fourth quarter of 2016. Women 

had median weekly earnings of $758, or 81.8 percent of the $927 median for men. (See table 2.)

• The women’s-to-men’s earnings ratio varied by race and ethnicity. White women earned 81.1 

percent as much as their male counterparts, compared with Black women (92.1 percent), Asian 

women (79.2 percent), and Hispanic women (86.9 percent). (See table 2.) 

• Among the major race and ethnicity groups, median weekly earnings for Black men working at 

full-time jobs were $706, or 73.6 percent of the median for White men ($959). The difference 

was less among women, as Black women’s median earnings ($650) were 83.5 percent of those 

for White women ($778). Overall, median earnings of Hispanics who worked full time ($646) 

were lower than those of Blacks ($675), Whites ($881), and Asians ($1,022). (See table 2.) 

• Usual weekly earnings of full-time workers varied by age. Among men, those ages 55 to 64 and 

45 to 54 had the highest median weekly earnings, at $1,113 and $1,102, respectively. For 

women, usual weekly earnings were highest for those ages 35 to 44 ($859) and 45 to 54 ($840). 

Workers age 16 to 24 had the lowest median weekly earnings, at $516. (See table 3.) 

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

professional, and related occupations had the highest median weekly earnings―$1,443 for men 

and $1,042 for women. Men and women employed in service jobs earned the least, $608 and 

$497, respectively. (See table 4.) 
- 2 - 

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

had median weekly earnings of $519, compared with $698 for high school graduates (no college) 

and $1,270 for those holding at least a bachelor’s degree. Among college graduates with 

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

male workers made $3,893 or more per week, compared with $2,547 or more for their female 

counterparts. (See table 5.) 

• Seasonally adjusted median weekly earnings were $843 in the fourth quarter of 2016, little 

changed from the previous quarter ($835). (See table 1.) 

Annual Averages for 2015 and 2016 

In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this news release includes 2015 and 2016 annual averages 

on median weekly earnings for major demographic and occupational groups, and 2016 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 

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

Revision of Seasonally Adjusted Usual Weekly Earnings Data 

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

revised using updated seasonal adjustment factors from the Current Population Survey, a procedure done 

at the end of each calendar year. The revisions directly affected the number of full-time wage and salary 

workers and current dollar estimates of median weekly earnings; estimates of constant (1982-84) dollar 

median weekly earnings were indirectly affected. Seasonally adjusted estimates back to the first quarter 

of 2012 were subject to revision. 

The Usual Weekly Earnings news release for the first quarter of 2017, scheduled for release on 

April 18, 2017, 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 2012 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

$

2007

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

2008

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

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

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

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

2009

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

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

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

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

2010

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

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

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

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

2011

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

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

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

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

2012

1st Quarter........................................ 102,161 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........................................ 103,896 57,885 46,011 768 860 699 330 370 301

2nd Quarter........................................ 103,976 57,938 46,038 777 866 706 335 373 304

3rd Quarter........................................ 104,429 58,099 46,330 779 855 706 334 367 303

4th Quarter........................................ 104,784 58,081 46,703 782 862 712 334 368 304

2014

1st Quarter........................................ 105,557 58,670 46,888 790 866 715 335 367 304

2nd Quarter........................................ 106,387 59,516 46,871 782 861 715 330 364 302

3rd Quarter........................................ 106,766 59,573 47,193 799 878 722 337 370 304

4th Quarter........................................ 107,413 60,059 47,354 794 876 723 335 369 305

2015

1st Quarter........................................ 108,404 60,356 48,048 801 887 723 340 377 307

2nd Quarter........................................ 108,630 60,453 48,177 804 891 726 339 376 307

3rd Quarter........................................ 109,297 61,017 48,280 811 897 728 341 377 306

4th Quarter........................................ 109,997 61,164 48,833 820 901 728 344 379 306

2016

1st Quarter........................................ 110,362 61,633 48,730 823 905 743 346 380 312

2nd Quarter........................................ 111,029 61,865 49,164 828 914 744 346 382 311

3rd Quarter........................................ 111,601 62,128 49,473 835 919 751 347 382 313

4th Quarter........................................ 111,361 62,094 49,268 843 922 757 348 380 312

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

2015

4th

2016

In current dollars In constant (1982-84)

dollars

4th

2015

4th

2016

4th

2015

4th

2016

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over.............................................. 109,913 111,268 $825 $849 $348 $351

Men, 16 years and over............................................ 61,013 61,933 907 927 382 384

16 to 24 years.................................................... 5,511 5,400 543 522 229 216

25 years and over................................................ 55,502 56,532 958 977 404 405

Women, 16 years and over........................................ 48,900 49,335 729 758 307 314

16 to 24 years.................................................... 4,304 4,319 453 506 191 210

25 years and over................................................ 44,596 45,016 764 794 322 329

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White.................................................................. 86,103 86,250 847 881 357 365

Men................................................................. 48,944 49,288 931 959 393 397

Women............................................................. 37,159 36,962 745 778 314 322

Black or African American......................................... 13,698 14,107 643 675 271 280

Men................................................................. 6,486 6,733 674 706 284 292

Women............................................................. 7,212 7,374 621 650 262 269

Asian.................................................................. 6,567 7,157 1,091 1,022 460 423

Men................................................................. 3,628 3,907 1,178 1,147 496 475

Women............................................................. 2,939 3,250 943 908 398 376

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................ 18,272 19,021 624 646 263 267

Men................................................................. 11,127 11,782 679 685 286 284

Women............................................................. 7,145 7,238 570 595 240 246

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

ethnicity, and sex, 4th quarter 2016 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..................................................... 111,268 $849 61,933 $927 49,335 $758

16 to 24 years....................................................... 9,719 516 5,400 522 4,319 506

16 to 19 years.................................................... 1,148 420 642 449 506 402

20 to 24 years.................................................... 8,571 528 4,758 534 3,813 521

25 years and over................................................... 101,548 896 56,532 977 45,016 794

25 to 54 years.................................................... 78,890 884 44,140 953 34,751 788

25 to 34 years.................................................. 27,771 758 15,557 801 12,214 710

35 to 44 years.................................................. 25,539 950 14,539 1,019 11,000 859

45 to 54 years.................................................. 25,580 962 14,043 1,102 11,537 840

55 years and over................................................ 22,658 944 12,392 1,084 10,265 810

55 to 64 years.................................................. 18,544 954 10,090 1,113 8,454 816

65 years and over............................................. 4,114 888 2,303 979 1,811 791

White

16 years and over................................................... 86,250 881 49,288 959 36,962 778

16 to 24 years.................................................... 7,421 524 4,197 541 3,224 509

25 years and over................................................ 78,829 926 45,091 1,006 33,738 822

25 to 54 years.................................................. 60,428 911 34,791 974 25,637 823

55 years and over............................................. 18,402 985 10,301 1,153 8,101 821

Black or African American

16 years and over................................................... 14,107 675 6,733 706 7,374 650

16 to 24 years.................................................... 1,311 435 642 404 669 474

25 years and over................................................ 12,795 713 6,091 740 6,704 679

25 to 54 years.................................................. 10,263 699 4,862 743 5,401 658

55 years and over............................................. 2,533 741 1,229 729 1,304 751

Asian

16 years and over................................................... 7,157 1,022 3,907 1,147 3,250 908

16 to 24 years.................................................... 462 614 258 621 204 597

25 years and over................................................ 6,695 1,066 3,649 1,172 3,046 933

25 to 54 years.................................................. 5,527 1,126 3,081 1,212 2,446 934

55 years and over............................................. 1,168 945 568 984 601 931

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

16 years and over................................................... 19,021 646 11,782 685 7,238 595

16 to 24 years.................................................... 2,127 500 1,316 520 811 455

25 years and over................................................ 16,894 676 10,466 712 6,428 614

25 to 54 years.................................................. 14,611 677 9,065 709 5,546 617

55 years and over............................................. 2,282 671 1,401 738 881 596

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

2015

4th

2016

4th

2015

4th

2016

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 45,503 46,187 $1,168 $1,213

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 18,919 18,853 1,287 1,323

Professional and related occupations............................................... 26,584 27,334 1,129 1,153

Service occupations...................................................................... 14,909 15,890 520 540

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 23,673 23,464 680 710

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 9,749 9,841 724 763

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 13,924 13,623 663 687

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 11,210 11,035 776 820

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 794 778 510 515

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 5,855 6,063 775 809

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 4,561 4,195 823 911

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 14,618 14,691 669 675

Production occupations................................................................ 7,552 7,273 675 683

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 7,065 7,418 662 665

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 21,850 22,154 1,423 1,443

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 10,090 10,264 1,460 1,512

Professional and related occupations............................................... 11,760 11,889 1,393 1,373

Service occupations...................................................................... 7,561 8,156 607 608

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 9,295 9,498 799 829

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 5,449 5,670 864 932

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 3,846 3,828 727 719

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 10,671 10,560 784 830

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 594 619 536 519

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 5,706 5,867 777 813

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 4,371 4,074 823 909

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 11,636 11,564 715 712

Production occupations................................................................ 5,553 5,304 735 744

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 6,083 6,261 698 688

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 23,653 24,033 1,010 1,042

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 8,829 8,589 1,097 1,126

Professional and related occupations............................................... 14,824 15,445 970 1,014

Service occupations...................................................................... 7,348 7,733 471 497

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 14,378 13,966 626 656

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 4,300 4,171 567 598

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 10,078 9,795 646 678

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 539 475 598 591

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 200 158 469 503

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 149 196 729 622

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 191 120 823 944

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 2,982 3,127 502 534

Production occupations................................................................ 2,000 1,970 523 533

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 982 1,157 468 534

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 2016 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.............................................. 111,268 $404 $558 $849 $1,351 $2,067

Men................................................................... 61,933 423 597 927 1,492 2,316

Women............................................................... 49,335 385 514 758 1,178 1,758

White.................................................................. 86,250 414 580 881 1,390 2,108

Men................................................................. 49,288 441 616 959 1,530 2,365

Women............................................................. 36,962 392 527 778 1,210 1,782

Black or African American......................................... 14,107 354 475 675 1,001 1,496

Men................................................................. 6,733 364 474 706 1,012 1,563

Women............................................................. 7,374 348 475 650 988 1,415

Asian.................................................................. 7,157 423 609 1,022 1,748 2,700

Men................................................................. 3,907 442 669 1,147 1,918 2,923

Women............................................................. 3,250 407 551 908 1,459 2,114

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................ 19,021 374 473 646 981 1,483

Men................................................................. 11,782 391 493 685 1,030 1,569

Women............................................................. 7,238 337 422 595 882 1,333

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and over.............................................. 101,548 420 591 896 1,409 2,132

Less than a high school diploma.................................. 6,886 336 404 519 711 1,012

High school graduates, no college1

............................... 25,919 388 500 698 1,012 1,455

Some college or associate degree................................ 27,535 418 569 790 1,159 1,598

Bachelor’s degree and higher2.................................... 41,209 594 862 1,270 1,908 2,894

Bachelor’s degree only.......................................... 25,712 555 783 1,161 1,771 2,594

Advanced degree................................................. 15,496 711 1,005 1,476 2,212 3,341

Men, 25 years and over............................................ 56,532 451 637 977 1,551 2,401

Less than a high school diploma............................... 4,838 372 433 586 794 1,143

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 15,999 412 541 779 1,126 1,562

Some college or associate degree............................. 14,516 473 642 906 1,301 1,772

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 21,179 654 964 1,501 2,293 3,441

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 13,410 613 898 1,364 2,083 2,976

Advanced degree.............................................. 7,769 782 1,154 1,774 2,623 3,893

Women, 25 years and over........................................ 45,016 397 539 794 1,234 1,821

Less than a high school diploma............................... 2,048 292 354 436 549 729

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 9,920 354 454 603 820 1,180

Some college or associate degree............................. 13,019 392 505 695 988 1,392

Bachelor’s degree and higher2................................. 20,029 550 766 1,117 1,608 2,305

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 12,302 511 717 995 1,457 1,983

Advanced degree.............................................. 7,728 668 919 1,279 1,844 2,547

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

2015

4th

2016

4th

2015

4th

2016

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over................................................................. 24,478 25,237 $246 $255

Men, 16 years and over............................................................... 8,342 8,691 241 244

16 to 24 years........................................................................ 3,617 3,859 190 198

25 years and over................................................................... 4,725 4,832 290 293

Women, 16 years and over........................................................... 16,135 16,546 249 261

16 to 24 years........................................................................ 4,744 4,738 190 193

25 years and over................................................................... 11,391 11,808 283 295

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White..................................................................................... 19,281 19,879 249 258

Men.................................................................................... 6,372 6,614 241 242

Women................................................................................ 12,909 13,265 254 265

Black or African American............................................................ 3,092 3,091 230 237

Men.................................................................................... 1,148 1,181 243 240

Women................................................................................ 1,945 1,911 224 234

Asian..................................................................................... 1,265 1,275 266 267

Men.................................................................................... 447 506 256 264

Women................................................................................ 819 769 273 270

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................................... 3,936 4,267 242 260

Men.................................................................................... 1,464 1,432 248 261

Women................................................................................ 2,472 2,835 239 260

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

2015 2016

In current dollars In constant (1982-84)

dollars

2015 2016 2015 2016

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over.............................................. 109,080 111,091 $809 $832 $341 $347

Men, 16 years and over............................................ 60,746 61,930 895 915 377 381

16 to 24 years.................................................... 5,476 5,646 510 512 215 213

25 years and over................................................ 55,270 56,284 947 969 400 404

Women, 16 years and over........................................ 48,334 49,161 726 749 307 312

16 to 24 years.................................................... 4,314 4,430 450 486 190 203

25 years and over................................................ 44,020 44,731 761 784 321 327

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White.................................................................. 85,443 86,474 835 862 352 359

Men................................................................. 48,746 49,310 920 942 388 393

Women............................................................. 36,698 37,163 743 766 314 319

Black or African American......................................... 13,587 13,963 641 678 271 282

Men................................................................. 6,445 6,728 680 718 287 299

Women............................................................. 7,142 7,235 615 641 259 267

Asian.................................................................. 6,638 7,030 993 1,021 419 425

Men................................................................. 3,684 3,888 1,129 1,151 476 479

Women............................................................. 2,954 3,142 877 902 370 376

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................ 18,311 18,950 604 624 255 260

Men................................................................. 11,142 11,666 631 663 266 276

Women............................................................. 7,168 7,284 566 586 239 244

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

2015 2016 2015 2016

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 44,844 45,930 $1,158 $1,188

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 18,422 19,023 1,258 1,284

Professional and related occupations............................................... 26,423 26,907 1,112 1,141

Service occupations...................................................................... 15,279 15,908 509 523

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 23,620 23,625 673 698

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 9,725 9,759 716 744

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 13,894 13,866 656 679

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 10,834 11,022 761 786

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 810 842 464 520

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 5,722 5,979 749 784

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 4,301 4,201 839 861

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 14,504 14,606 656 665

Production occupations................................................................ 7,551 7,513 663 668

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 6,953 7,093 646 662

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 21,807 22,256 1,383 1,420

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 10,018 10,261 1,436 1,491

Professional and related occupations............................................... 11,789 11,995 1,343 1,364

Service occupations...................................................................... 7,629 7,994 585 595

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 9,384 9,461 777 805

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 5,423 5,509 880 904

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 3,961 3,952 693 708

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 10,381 10,558 770 794

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 637 673 477 544

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 5,586 5,828 751 786

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 4,159 4,057 842 863

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 11,546 11,661 704 704

Production occupations................................................................ 5,548 5,564 729 723

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 5,998 6,097 679 685

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations................................ 23,038 23,674 996 1,027

Management, business, and financial operations occupations................... 8,404 8,761 1,073 1,099

Professional and related occupations............................................... 14,634 14,912 963 998

Service occupations...................................................................... 7,650 7,914 463 487

Sales and office occupations............................................................ 14,236 14,163 627 649

Sales and related occupations....................................................... 4,303 4,250 578 590

Office and administrative support occupations..................................... 9,933 9,913 646 669

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations.................... 453 464 580 580

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations......................................... 174 169 437 465

Construction and extraction occupations............................................ 137 151 704 639

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations................................. 143 144 761 783

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....................... 2,958 2,945 512 531

Production occupations................................................................ 2,003 1,949 519 527

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................. 955 997 494 540

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, 2016 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.............................................. 101,015 $415 $588 $885 $1,392 $2,095

Less than a high school diploma.................................. 7,108 322 394 504 689 974

High school graduates, no college1

............................... 25,475 383 498 692 996 1,431

Some college or associate degree................................ 27,307 414 561 779 1,147 1,609

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

.................................... 41,125 602 855 1,259 1,894 2,877

Bachelor’s degree only.......................................... 25,503 570 781 1,156 1,757 2,519

Advanced degree................................................. 15,622 707 986 1,444 2,115 3,123

Men

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 56,284 447 626 969 1,540 2,318

Less than a high school diploma............................... 4,904 348 415 551 753 1,059

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 15,619 409 543 769 1,120 1,563

Some college or associate degree............................. 14,383 463 623 896 1,285 1,823

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 21,378 660 960 1,464 2,202 3,236

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 13,516 618 893 1,348 1,977 2,907

Advanced degree.............................................. 7,862 771 1,132 1,707 2,494 3,838

Women

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 44,731 392 534 784 1,203 1,806

Less than a high school diploma............................... 2,204 291 352 423 553 716

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 9,856 348 442 599 809 1,128

Some college or associate degree............................. 12,924 390 504 688 965 1,358

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 19,747 564 766 1,101 1,593 2,284

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 11,987 516 712 994 1,461 2,047

Advanced degree.............................................. 7,760 659 904 1,257 1,809 2,503

White, total

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 78,676 425 603 912 1,424 2,117

Less than a high school diploma............................... 5,651 327 397 510 704 1,002

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 19,864 393 513 717 1,038 1,488

Some college or associate degree............................. 21,232 426 581 808 1,181 1,661

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 31,929 617 875 1,274 1,904 2,888

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 20,020 585 808 1,180 1,800 2,613

Advanced degree.............................................. 11,908 728 998 1,444 2,118 3,238

White men

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 44,814 464 649 996 1,563 2,376

Less than a high school diploma............................ 4,065 350 418 567 772 1,094

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 12,437 423 575 806 1,162 1,615

Some college or associate degree.......................... 11,501 481 648 927 1,336 1,868

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

............................... 16,811 683 983 1,491 2,275 3,341

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 10,820 641 926 1,385 2,036 2,922

Advanced degree........................................... 5,991 809 1,140 1,726 2,508 3,861

White women

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 33,862 400 553 806 1,229 1,836

Less than a high school diploma............................ 1,586 293 355 421 555 715

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 7,428 354 456 610 828 1,157

Some college or associate degree.......................... 9,730 397 514 704 995 1,395

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

............................... 15,117 581 780 1,115 1,594 2,282

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 9,200 530 727 1,005 1,471 2,083

Advanced degree........................................... 5,917 679 915 1,260 1,791 2,492

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, 2016 annual averages — Continued

Characteristic

Number of

workers

(in

thousands)

Upper limit of:

First decile First

quartile

Second

quartile

(median)

Third

quartile

Ninth

decile

Black or African American, total

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 12,647 378 497 715 1,040 1,594

Less than a high school diploma............................... 749 303 372 467 610 821

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 3,809 347 426 592 812 1,142

Some college or associate degree............................. 4,093 385 493 682 945 1,326

Bachelor’s degree and higher2................................. 3,996 525 712 990 1,521 2,204

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 2,559 499 665 927 1,397 1,980

Advanced degree.............................................. 1,437 591 826 1,162 1,739 2,530

Black or African American men

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 6,088 393 518 751 1,126 1,711

Less than a high school diploma............................ 412 328 399 496 669 843

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 2,124 372 469 626 891 1,241

Some college or associate degree.......................... 1,836 407 546 759 1,067 1,501

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

............................... 1,717 554 740 1,052 1,644 2,493

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 1,150 531 704 965 1,503 2,175

Advanced degree........................................... 566 619 865 1,331 1,884 2,912

Black or African American women

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 6,559 361 479 677 990 1,490

Less than a high school diploma............................ 337 288 340 422 553 793

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 1,685 331 402 539 730 1,004

Some college or associate degree.......................... 2,258 370 468 622 842 1,163

Bachelor’s degree and higher2............................... 2,279 508 688 960 1,440 2,014

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 1,408 482 635 877 1,258 1,884

Advanced degree........................................... 871 574 799 1,115 1,614 2,298

Asian, total

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 6,586 436 639 1,069 1,762 2,569

Less than a high school diploma............................... 383 310 395 502 649 841

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 993 368 453 630 905 1,211

Some college or associate degree............................. 984 412 550 758 1,118 1,601

Bachelor’s degree and higher2................................. 4,227 601 928 1,429 2,035 2,915

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 2,289 537 810 1,251 1,841 2,527

Advanced degree.............................................. 1,938 721 1,130 1,708 2,378 3,466

Asian men

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 3,660 478 707 1,190 1,910 2,895

Less than a high school diploma............................... 200 346 414 568 709 954

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 557 380 478 683 979 1,360

Some college or associate degree............................. 517 442 585 827 1,172 1,774

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 2,386 677 1,032 1,600 2,308 3,232

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 1,228 594 894 1,371 1,975 2,882

Advanced degree.............................................. 1,158 788 1,248 1,878 2,641 3,856

Asian women

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 2,926 407 584 940 1,496 2,137

Less than a high school diploma............................... 183 295 379 461 579 705

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 436 348 427 592 818 1,028

Some college or associate degree............................. 466 393 515 710 983 1,420

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

................................. 1,841 522 828 1,262 1,777 2,491

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 1,061 498 730 1,129 1,582 2,111

Advanced degree.............................................. 779 632 988 1,457 1,948 2,912

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, 2016 annual averages — Continued

Characteristic

Number of

workers

(in

thousands)

Upper limit of:

First decile First

quartile

Second

quartile

(median)

Third

quartile

Ninth

decile

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, total

Total, 25 years and over........................................... 16,625 370 475 664 1,007 1,541

Less than a high school diploma............................... 4,178 321 390 492 658 905

High school graduates, no college1

............................ 5,067 367 468 621 880 1,234

Some college or associate degree............................. 3,950 398 519 715 1,044 1,474

Bachelor’s degree and higher2................................. 3,430 534 742 1,127 1,688 2,388

Bachelor’s degree only........................................ 2,280 516 692 1,022 1,540 2,278

Advanced degree.............................................. 1,150 597 871 1,305 1,901 2,732

Hispanic or Latino men

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 10,265 386 494 697 1,078 1,614

Less than a high school diploma............................ 3,036 343 407 518 704 975

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 3,282 389 499 679 960 1,350

Some college or associate degree.......................... 2,151 424 586 803 1,171 1,591

Bachelor’s degree and higher2

............................... 1,797 566 805 1,246 1,879 2,787

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 1,241 547 749 1,157 1,707 2,499

Advanced degree........................................... 556 659 971 1,518 2,165 3,350

Hispanic or Latino women

Total, 25 years and over........................................ 6,360 341 427 609 914 1,399

Less than a high school diploma............................ 1,142 291 347 413 524 667

High school graduates, no college1

......................... 1,785 327 411 550 737 970

Some college or associate degree.......................... 1,800 380 484 630 887 1,243

Bachelor’s degree and higher2............................... 1,633 497 687 988 1,463 2,017

Bachelor’s degree only..................................... 1,040 479 633 910 1,347 1,916

Advanced degree........................................... 594 567 805 1,141 1,671 2,218

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.