Internet address:  http://stat.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information:  (202) 606-6378           USDL 99-15

                                                 For release:  10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                606-5902           Wednesday, January 20, 1999
                                     
                                     
             USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS:
                            FOURTH QUARTER 1998
   
   Median weekly earnings of the nation's 96.2 million full-time wage and
salary workers were $541 in the fourth quarter of 1998, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  This was
5.9 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 1.5 percent
in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) over the same
period.
   
   Data on usual 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 explanatory note.)  Highlights from the fourth-quarter data
are:
   
   ---Women who usually worked full time had median earnings of $471 a
week, or 76.7 percent of the $614 median for men.  The female-male earnings
ratios for blacks (84.2 percent) and for Hispanics (84.9 percent) were higher
than for whites (75.7 percent).  (See table 1.)
   
   ---Median earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $481 per
week, 75.7 percent of the median for white men ($635).  The difference was
much less among women, as black women's median earnings ($405) were
84.2 percent of those for their white counterparts ($481).  Overall, median
earnings of Hispanics who worked full time ($372) were lower than those of
blacks ($439) and whites ($565).  (See table 1.)
   
   ---Among men, those in the 45- to 54-year age group had the highest
median weekly earnings ($749), followed by 55- to 64-year-old men, with
median earnings of $715.  Among women, earnings also were highest for those
45-to-54 years old, who had a median of $520, followed by 35- to 44-year-
olds, with a median of $508.  (See table 2.)
   
   ---Among the major occupational groups, persons employed full time in
managerial and professional specialty occupations had the highest median
weekly earnings--$942 for men and $672 for women--while men and women in
service and farm jobs earned the least.  (See table 3.)
   
   ---Full-time workers age 25 and over with less than a high school
diploma had median weekly earnings of $341, compared with $486 for high
school graduates (no college) and $851 for college graduates.  Among
college graduates with advanced degrees (professional or master's degree
and above), the highest 10 percent of male workers earned $2,283 or more,
compared with $1,495 or more for their female counterparts.  (See table 4.)
   
Annual Averages for 1997 and 1998
   
   In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this release includes
1997 and 1998 annual average weekly earnings for major demographic,
occupation, and education groups (tables 6, 7, and 8).  Annual average
information on median usual earnings for men and women by detailed
occupational categories will appear in the January 1999 issue of Employment
and Earnings.
Explanatory Note
     
     
     The estimates in this release were obtained from the Current
Population Survey (CPS), which provides the basic information on the labor
force, employment, and unemployment.  The survey is conducted monthly for
the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the Bureau of the Census from a
scientifically selected national sample of about 50,000 households, with
coverage in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  The earnings data
are collected from one-quarter of the CPS monthly sample and are limited to
wages and  salaries.  The data, therefore, exclude self-employment income.
     
     Information in this release will be made available to sensory
impaired individuals upon request.  Voice phone:  202-606-STAT; TDD phone:
202-606-5897; TDD message referral phone number:  1-800-326-2577.
     
Reliability
     
     Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and nonsam-
pling error.  When a sample, rather than the entire population, is surveyed,
there is a chance that the sample estimates may differ from the "true"
population values they represent.  The exact difference, or sampling error,
varies depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is
measured by the standard error of the estimate.  There is about a 90-percent
chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will
differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true" population value
because of sampling error.  BLS analyses are generally conducted at the
90-percent level of confidence.

     The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error.  Nonsampling error
can occur for many reasons, including the failure to sample a segment of the
population, inability to obtain information for all respondents in
the sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct
information, and errors made in the collection or processing of the data.

     For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS and
information on estimating standard errors, see the "Explanatory Notes and
Estimates of Error" section of the February 1994 and subsequent issues of
Employment and Earnings.
     
Definitions
     
     The principal definitions used in connection with the earnings series
are described briefly below.
     
     Usual weekly earnings. Data represent earnings before taxes and other
deductions and include any overtime pay, commissions, or tips usually
received (at the main job in the case of multiple jobholders.)  Prior to
1994, respondents were asked how much they usually earned per week.  Since
January 1994, respondents have been asked to identify the easiest way for
them to report earnings (hourly, weekly, biweekly, twice monthly, monthly,
annually, other) and how much they usually earn in the reported time
period.  Earnings reported on a basis other than weekly are converted to a
weekly equivalent.  The term "usual" is as perceived by the respondent.  If
the respondent asks for a definition of usual, interviewers are instructed
to define the term as more than half the weeks worked during the past 4 or
5 months.
     
     Medians (and other quantiles) of weekly earnings. The median (or upper
limit of the second quartile) is the amount which divides a given earnings
distribution into two equal groups, one having earnings above the median
and the other having earnings below the median.  Ten percent of a given
distribution have earnings below the upper limit of the first decile (90
percent have higher earnings); 25 percent have earnings below the upper
limit of the first quartile (75 percent have higher earnings); 75 percent
have earnings below the upper limit of the third quartile (25 percent have
higher earnings); and 90 percent have earnings below the upper limit of the
ninth decile (10 percent have higher earnings).
     
     The estimating procedure places each reported or calculated weekly
earnings value into $50-wide intervals which are centered around multiples
of $50.  The actual value is estimated through the linear interpolation of
the interval in which the quantile boundary lies.
     
     Over-the-year changes in the medians (and other quantile boundaries)
for specific groups may not necessarily be consistent with the movements
estimated for the overall quantile boundary.  The most common reasons for
this possible anomaly are: (1) There could be a change in the relative
weights of the subgroups.  For example, the medians of both 16-to-24 year
olds and those 25 years and over may rise; but if the lower-earning 16-to-
24 group accounts for a greatly increased share of the total, the overall
median could actually fall. (2) There could be a large change in the shape
of the distribution of reported earnings, particularly near a quantile
boundary.  This could be caused by survey observations that are clustered
at rounded values, e.g., $250, $300, $400.  An estimate lying in a $50-wide
centered interval containing such a cluster or "spike" tends to change more
slowly than one in other intervals.
     
     Wage and salary workers. Workers who receive wages, salaries,
commissions, tips, payment in kind, or piece rates.  The group includes
employees in both the private and public sectors but, for the purposes of
the earnings series, excludes all self-employed persons, regardless of
whether or not their businesses are incorporated.

                                  - 2 -

     Full-time workers. Workers who usually work 35 hours or more per week
at their sole or principal job.
     
     Part-time workers. Workers who usually work fewer than 35 hours per
week at their sole or principal job.
     
     Constant dollars. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers
(CPI-U) is used to convert current dollars to constant (1982) dollars.
     
     Hispanic origin. Refers to persons who are of Mexican, Puerto Rican,
Cuban, Central or South  American, or other Hispanic origin or descent.
Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race; hence, they are included in
the numbers for the white and black populations.
 Table 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, quarterly averages,
 not seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                              Number of workers              Median weekly earnings          
                                                                (in thousands)                                               
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                       Characteristic                                               In current dollars    In constant (1982) 
                                                                                                               dollars       
                                                                IV         IV                                                
                                                               1997       1998                                               
                                                                                      IV         IV         IV         IV    
                                                                                     1997       1998       1997       1998   
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                        SEX AND AGE                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
 Total, 16 years and over..................................    94,355     96,213       $511       $541       $305       $318 
                                                                                                                             
    Men, 16 years and over.................................    53,455     54,459        587        614        350        361 
      16 to 24 years.......................................     5,956      6,245        323        342        193        201 
      25 years and over....................................    47,499     48,214        621        664        371        391 
                                                                                                                             
    Women, 16 years and over...............................    40,900     41,754        440        471        263        277 
      16 to 24 years.......................................     4,364      4,563        299        311        179        183 
      25 years and over....................................    36,535     37,191        470        495        281        292 
                                                                                                                             
               RACE, HISPANIC ORIGIN, AND SEX                                                                                
                                                                                                                             
    White..................................................    78,440     79,627        528        565        315        332 
      Men..................................................    45,462     46,128        602        635        360        374 
      Women................................................    32,978     33,499        454        481        271        283 
                                                                                                                             
    Black..................................................    11,516     12,015        410        439        245        258 
      Men..................................................     5,597      5,807        457        481        273        283 
      Women................................................     5,918      6,208        371        405        222        239 
                                                                                                                             
    Hispanic origin........................................    10,293     10,812        354        372        211        219 
      Men..................................................     6,649      6,875        375        397        224        234 
      Women................................................     3,644      3,937        317        337        190        198 

      NOTE:   Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data for the "other races"
 group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups.  Beginning in January
 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used in the household survey.






 Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by age, race, Hispanic origin, and sex, fourth
 quarter 1998 averages, not seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                                    Total                  Men                  Women        
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
               Age, race, and Hispanic origin                 Number                Number                Number             
                                                                of       Median       of       Median       of       Median  
                                                              workers    weekly     workers    weekly     workers    weekly  
                                                                (in     earnings      (in     earnings      (in     earnings 
                                                            thousands)            thousands)            thousands)           
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                           TOTAL                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    96,213       $541     54,459       $614     41,754       $471 
   16 to 24 years..........................................    10,808        324      6,245        342      4,563        311 
     16 to 19 years........................................     1,941        282      1,146        296        795        262 
     20 to 24 years........................................     8,867        343      5,099        361      3,768        324 
   25 years and over.......................................    85,405        585     48,214        664     37,191        495 
     25 to 54 years........................................    75,401        585     42,591        660     32,810        497 
       25 to 34 years......................................    25,563        516     14,693        572     10,870        465 
       35 to 44 years......................................    28,439        608     16,291        697     12,148        508 
       45 to 54 years......................................    21,399        636     11,607        749      9,792        520 
     55 years and over.....................................    10,004        587      5,623        699      4,381        479 
       55 to 64 years......................................     8,915        599      4,992        715      3,923        493 
       65 years and over...................................     1,089        416        631        525        458        356 
                                                                                                                             
                           White                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    79,627        565     46,128        635     33,499        481 
   16 to 24 years..........................................     9,017        331      5,381        348      3,636        314 
   25 years and over.......................................    70,610        603     40,747        689     29,863        505 
     25 to 54 years........................................    62,006        603     35,855        685     26,151        507 
     55 years and over.....................................     8,604        603      4,892        736      3,712        490 
                                                                                                                             
                           Black                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    12,015        439      5,807        481      6,208        405 
   16 to 24 years..........................................     1,371        303        655        309        717        297 
   25 years and over.......................................    10,644        467      5,153        503      5,491        429 
     25 to 54 years........................................     9,636        470      4,674        505      4,962        431 
     55 years and over.....................................     1,007        444        479        479        529        408 
                                                                                                                             
                      Hispanic origin                                                                                        
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    10,812        372      6,875        397      3,937        337 
   16 to 24 years..........................................     1,965        296      1,311        300        654        288 
   25 years and over.......................................     8,847        402      5,564        432      3,283        353 
     25 to 54 years........................................     8,123        402      5,109        429      3,014        354 
     55 years and over.....................................       725        411        456        474        269        343 


      NOTE:   Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data for the "other races"
 group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups.  Beginning in January
 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used in the household survey.






  Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, quarterly averages, not
  seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                                                                    Number of workers             Median weekly earnings    
                                                                      (in thousands)                                        
                      Occupation and sex                                                                                    
                                                                                                                            
                                                                    IV              IV              IV              IV      
                                                                   1997            1998            1997            1998     
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                            TOTAL                                                                                           
                                                                                                                            
   Managerial and professional specialty....................      28,609          30,396             $754            $792   
     Executive, administrative, and managerial..............      14,162          15,034              741             788   
     Professional specialty.................................      14,447          15,362              764             795   
   Technical, sales, and administrative support.............      27,306          27,225              466             482   
     Technicians and related support........................       3,554           3,349              601             611   
     Sales occupations......................................       9,724           9,734              502             510   
     Administrative support, including clerical.............      14,028          14,143              419             443   
   Service occupations......................................      10,342          10,469              320             325   
     Private household......................................         389             413              244             236   
     Protective service.....................................       1,891           2,071              587             615   
     Service, except private household and protective.......       8,062           7,985              300             306   
   Precision production, craft, and repair..................      11,447          11,245              541             585   
     Mechanics and repairers................................       4,148           3,807              573             606   
     Construction trades....................................       3,734           4,049              541             566   
     Other precision production, craft, and repair..........       3,565           3,389              515             580   
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers.....................      15,337          15,158              405             423   
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors..........       7,118           6,985              397             420   
     Transportation and material moving occupations.........       4,412           4,349              499             520   
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers....       3,807           3,824              323             359   
   Farming, forestry, and fishing...........................       1,314           1,721              292             303   
                                                                                                                            
                             Men                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
   Managerial and professional specialty....................      14,483          15,579              908             942   
     Executive, administrative, and managerial..............       7,446           8,111              901             947   
     Professional specialty.................................       7,036           7,468              915             937   
   Technical, sales, and administrative support.............      10,427          10,349              595             612   
     Technicians and related support........................       1,857           1,698              691             738   
     Sales occupations......................................       5,291           5,238              630             635   
     Administrative support, including clerical.............       3,279           3,414              493             526   
   Service occupations......................................       5,254           5,239              381             396   
     Private household......................................          48              30           (1)             (1)      
     Protective service.....................................       1,576           1,739             $614            $629   
     Service, except private household and protective.......       3,630           3,469              321             321   
   Precision production, craft, and repair..................      10,528          10,317              562             597   
     Mechanics and repairers................................       4,034           3,681              576             604   
     Construction trades....................................       3,684           3,985              545             567   
     Other precision production, craft, and repair..........       2,810           2,651              564             617   
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers.....................      11,621          11,501              447             467   
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors..........       4,445           4,490             $477            $487   
     Transportation and material moving occupations.........       4,079           3,979              505             537   
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers....       3,097           3,032              339             372   
   Farming, forestry, and fishing...........................       1,143           1,475              296             313   
                                                                                                                            
                            Women                                                                                           
                                                                                                                            
   Managerial and professional specialty....................      14,126          14,817              644             672   
     Executive, administrative, and managerial..............       6,715           6,923              614             642   
     Professional specialty.................................       7,411           7,894              676             698   
   Technical, sales, and administrative support.............      16,879          16,876              408             422   
     Technicians and related support........................       1,697           1,651              524             519   
     Sales occupations......................................       4,433           4,496              360             375   
     Administrative support, including clerical.............      10,749          10,729              406             421   
   Service occupations......................................       5,088           5,230              286             298   
     Private household......................................         341             382              238             227   
     Protective service.....................................         315             331              449             542   
     Service, except private household and protective.......       4,432           4,516              283             296   
   Precision production, craft, and repair..................         919             928              389             439   
     Mechanics and repairers................................         114             126              456             690   
     Construction trades....................................          50              64           (1)             (1)      
     Other precision production, craft, and repair..........         755             737             $384            $414   
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers.....................       3,716           3,657              313             342   
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors..........       2,673           2,495              316             345   
     Transportation and material moving occupations.........         333             370              400             406   
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers....         711             793              285             315   
   Farming, forestry, and fishing...........................         171             246              271             253   

    1 Data not shown where base is less than 100,000.
  Beginning in January 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used in the
  household survey.






 Table 4. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected
 characteristics, fourth quarter 1998 averages, not seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                              Number                       Upper limit of:                   
                                                                of                                                           
                       Characteristic                         workers                                                        
                                                                (in       First      First     Second      Third      Ninth  
                                                            thousands)   decile    quartile   quartile   quartile    decile  
                                                                                              (median)                       
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
               SEX, RACE, AND HISPANIC ORIGIN                                                                                
                                                                                                                             
 Total, 16 years and over..................................    96,213       $262       $355       $541       $823     $1,192 
   Men.....................................................    54,459        284        397        614        926      1,363 
   Women...................................................    41,754        240        317        471        684        964 
                                                                                                                             
   White...................................................    79,627        267        369        565        850      1,238 
     Men...................................................    46,128        289        411        635        953      1,408 
     Women.................................................    33,499        244        324        481        699        982 
                                                                                                                             
   Black...................................................    12,015        235        305        439        633        907 
     Men...................................................     5,807        256        323        481        705        990 
     Women.................................................     6,208        223        290        405        590        828 
                                                                                                                             
   Hispanic................................................    10,812        214        272        372        560        842 
     Men...................................................     6,875        228        285        397        598        918 
     Women.................................................     3,937        198        252        337        500        720 
                                                                                                                             
                   EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT                                                                                    
                                                                                                                             
   Total, 25 years and over................................    85,405        278        385        585        867      1,249 
     Less than a high school diploma.......................     8,388        210        261        341        491        700 
     High school graduates, no college.....................    26,875        263        341        486        680        909 
     Some college or associate degree......................    23,304        290        394        566        796      1,076 
     College graduates, total..............................    26,838        422        601        851      1,230      1,725 
       Bachelor's degree only..............................    17,747        399        572        777      1,144      1,593 
       Advanced degree.....................................     9,091        496        689        968      1,401      1,921 
                                                                                                                             
     Men, 25 years and over................................    48,214        304        438        664        973      1,426 
       Less than a high school diploma.....................     5,569        232        287        389        548        772 
       High school graduates, no college...................    15,191        297        398        562        764      1,004 
       Some college or associate degree....................    12,256        329        465        662        909      1,176 
       College graduates, total............................    15,198        474        683        974      1,420      1,915 
         Bachelor's degree only............................    10,072        447        638        925      1,328      1,876 
         Advanced degree...................................     5,127        547        774      1,125      1,561      2,283 
                                                                                                                             
     Women, 25 years and over..............................    37,191        252        336        495        715        998 
       Less than a high school diploma.....................     2,819        187        231        284        373        498 
       High school graduates, no college...................    11,684        234        299        400        550        724 
       Some college or associate degree....................    11,048        269        346        482        651        896 
       College graduates, total............................    11,640        387        527        720        969      1,360 
         Bachelor's degree only............................     7,676        369        495        669        888      1,227 
         Advanced degree...................................     3,964        470        614        843      1,153      1,495 

      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.  Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data
 for the "other races" group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups. 
 Beginning in January 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used in the
 household survey.






  Table 5. Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, quarterly
  averages, not seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                                                                    Number of workers             Median weekly earnings    
                                                                      (in thousands)                                        
                        Characteristic                                                                                      
                                                                                                                            
                                                                    IV              IV              IV              IV      
                                                                   1997            1998            1997            1998     
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                         SEX AND AGE                                                                                        
                                                                                                                            
  Total, 16 years and over..................................      21,205          21,324             $150            $158   
                                                                                                                            
     Men, 16 years and over.................................       6,635           6,739              137             143   
       16 to 24 years.......................................       3,629           3,622              111             115   
       25 years and over....................................       3,006           3,117              187             195   
                                                                                                                            
     Women, 16 years and over...............................      14,570          14,585              155             165   
       16 to 24 years.......................................       4,586           4,615              111             117   
       25 years and over....................................       9,984           9,970              185             199   
                                                                                                                            
                RACE, HISPANIC ORIGIN, AND SEX                                                                              
                                                                                                                            
     White..................................................      18,298          18,310              151             159   
       Men..................................................       5,632           5,639              136             143   
       Women................................................      12,666          12,671              157             167   
                                                                                                                            
     Black..................................................       2,041           2,172              140             148   
       Men..................................................         686             735              141             138   
       Women................................................       1,355           1,437              139             154   
                                                                                                                            
     Hispanic origin........................................       1,809           1,752              151             163   
       Men..................................................         657             587              148             171   
       Women................................................       1,152           1,166              152             158   

       NOTE:   Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data for the "other
  races" group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups.  Beginning in
  January 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used in the household
  survey.






 Table 6.  Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, annual averages
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                              Number of workers              Median weekly earnings          
                                                                (in thousands)                                               
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                       Characteristic                                               In current dollars    In constant (1982) 
                                                                                                               dollars       
                                                               1997       1998                                               
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                     1997       1998       1997       1998   
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                        SEX AND AGE                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
 Total, 16 years and over..................................   93,578     95,595      $503       $523       $303       $309   
                                                                                                                             
    Men, 16 years and over.................................   53,220     54,313       579        598        348        354   
      16 to 24 years.......................................    6,174      6,325       317        334        191        198   
      25 years and over....................................   47,046     47,988       615        639        370        378   
                                                                                                                             
    Women, 16 years and over...............................   40,358     41,282       431        456        259        270   
      16 to 24 years.......................................    4,522      4,721       292        305        176        180   
      25 years and over....................................   35,836     36,561       462        485        278        287   
                                                                                                                             
               RACE, HISPANIC ORIGIN, AND SEX                                                                                
                                                                                                                             
    White..................................................   77,973     79,403       519        545        312        323   
      Men..................................................   45,349     46,087       595        615        358        364   
      Women................................................   32,624     33,316       444        468        267        277   
                                                                                                                             
    Black..................................................   11,356     11,776       400        426        241        252   
      Men..................................................    5,517      5,751       432        468        260        277   
      Women................................................    5,839      6,025       375        400        225        237   
                                                                                                                             
    Hispanic origin........................................    9,996     10,532       351        370        211        219   
      Men..................................................    6,456      6,716       371        390        223        231   
      Women................................................    3,540      3,816       318        337        191        199   

      NOTE:    Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data for the "other races"
 group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups. Beginning in January 1998,
 data reflect new composite estimation proceures and revised population controls used in the household survey.






 Table 7.  Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, annual averages
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                                        Number of workers           Median weekly earnings   
                                                                          (in thousands)                                     
                        Occupation and sex                                                                                   
                                                                                                                             
                                                                       1997           1998           1997           1998     
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                              TOTAL                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
   Managerial and professional specialty.........................     28,252         29,304          $738           $759     
     Executive, administrative, and managerial...................     13,965         14,451           725            755     
     Professional specialty......................................     14,287         14,853           750            763     
   Technical, sales, and administrative support..................     26,791         27,372           456            477     
     Technicians and related support.............................      3,494          3,507           582            599     
     Sales occupations...........................................      9,405          9,636           482            502     
     Administrative support, including clerical..................     13,892         14,229           419            438     
   Service occupations...........................................     10,172         10,592           313            327     
     Private household...........................................        348            381           215            223     
     Protective service..........................................      1,961          2,140           550            598     
     Service, except private household and protective............      7,863          8,070           296            307     
   Precision production, craft, and repair.......................     11,495         11,691           548            572     
     Mechanics and repairers.....................................      4,020          4,081           578            597     
     Construction trades.........................................      3,878          4,054           536            543     
     Other precision production, craft, and repair...............      3,597          3,555           529            561     
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers..........................     15,338         15,082           401            415     
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors...............      7,235          6,987           390            406     
     Transportation and material moving occupations..............      4,325          4,322           498            510     
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers.........      3,779          3,773           329            351     
   Farming, forestry, and fishing................................      1,530          1,555           295            302     
                                                                                                                             
                               Men                                                                                           
                                                                                                                             
   Managerial and professional specialty.........................     14,359         14,941           875            905     
     Executive, administrative, and managerial...................      7,466          7,746           868            915     
     Professional specialty......................................      6,894          7,195           883            895     
   Technical, sales, and administrative support..................     10,239         10,439           588            606     
     Technicians and related support.............................      1,803          1,773           667            701     
     Sales occupations...........................................      5,174          5,299           603            622     
     Administrative support, including clerical..................      3,262          3,368           514            518     
   Service occupations...........................................      5,071          5,291           372            389     
     Private household...........................................         24             19           (1)            (1)     
     Protective service..........................................      1,654          1,817          $575           $613     
     Service, except private household and protective............      3,393          3,455           317            325     
   Precision production, craft, and repair.......................     10,511         10,741           569            587     
     Mechanics and repairers.....................................      3,860          3,926           581            599     
     Construction trades.........................................      3,813          3,989           538            545     
     Other precision production, craft, and repair...............      2,838          2,826           588            611     
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers..........................     11,709         11,564           436            456     
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors...............      4,610          4,482           449            472     
     Transportation and material moving occupations..............      4,033          3,977           505            519     
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers.........      3,065          3,105           343            362     
   Farming, forestry, and fishing................................      1,331          1,337           302            307     
                                                                                                                             
                              Women                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
   Managerial and professional specialty.........................     13,893         14,363           632            655     
     Executive, administrative, and managerial...................      6,500          6,705           605            626     
     Professional specialty......................................      7,393          7,658           662            682     
   Technical, sales, and administrative support..................     16,552         16,933           403            419     
     Technicians and related support.............................      1,691          1,734           498            511     
     Sales occupations...........................................      4,231          4,338           352            372     
     Administrative support, including clerical..................     10,630         10,862           403            418     
   Service occupations...........................................      5,101          5,301           282            296     
     Private household...........................................        324            362           213            220     
     Protective service..........................................        308            323           451            481     
     Service, except private household and protective............      4,469          4,616           280            295     
   Precision production, craft, and repair.......................        984            949           382            408     
     Mechanics and repairers.....................................        160            155           489            519     
     Construction trades.........................................         65             64           445            408     
     Other precision production, craft, and repair...............        760            730           362            392     
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers..........................      3,630          3,518           313            327     
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors...............      2,625          2,505           313            328     
     Transportation and material moving occupations..............        292            345           373            373     
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers.........        713            669           299            311     
   Farming, forestry, and fishing................................        198            218           257            272     

   1 Data not shown where base is less than 50,000.
      NOTE:   Beginning in January 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls
 used in the household survey.






     Table 8. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected
     characteristics, 1998 annual averages 
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                                                          Number                       Upper limit of:                   
                                                            of                                                           
                  Educational attainment,                 workers                                                        
                       sex, and race                        (in       First      First     Second      Third      Ninth  
                                                        thousands)   decile    quartile   quartile   quartile    decile  
                                                                                          (median)                       
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                           TOTAL                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   84,549       $275       $379       $572       $836     $1,198  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    8,576        204        257        337        486        679  
       High school graduates, no college...............   27,131        259        338        479        667        899  
       Some college or associate degree................   23,210        291        391        558        774      1,040  
       College graduates, total........................   25,632        410        586        821      1,173      1,657  
         Bachelor's degree only........................   17,086        388        541        753      1,097      1,521  
         Advanced degree...............................    8,546        493        675        956      1,368      1,906  
                                                                                                                         
                            Men                                                                                          
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   47,988        299        425        639        940      1,353  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    5,702        225        283        383        535        740  
       High school graduates, no college...............   15,344        293        394        559        761      1,000  
       Some college or associate degree................   12,466        324        457        643        888      1,162  
       College graduates, total........................   14,476        452        643        939      1,353      1,895  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    9,617        425        604        871      1,244      1,750  
         Advanced degree...............................    4,859        526        752      1,107      1,539      2,155  
                                                                                                                         
                           Women                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   36,561        249        331        485        695        974  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    2,874        184        228        283        370        493  
       High school graduates, no college...............   11,787        232        297        396        532        698  
       Some college or associate degree................   10,744        271        345        476        642        857  
       College graduates, total........................   11,156        383        522        707        967      1,322  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    7,469        360        488        653        891      1,198  
         Advanced degree...............................    3,687        464        618        837      1,133      1,521  
                                                                                                                         
                         White men                                                                                       
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   40,630        309        448        663        966      1,390  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    4,778        227        285        391        550        753  
       High school graduates, no college...............   12,875        304        411        582        781      1,020  
       Some college or associate degree................   10,479        342        480        667        911      1,186  
       College graduates, total........................   12,498        473        665        962      1,378      1,908  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    8,306        446        622        902      1,269      1,809  
         Advanced degree...............................    4,191        553        772      1,130      1,559      2,253  
                                                                                                                         
                        White women                                                                                      
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   29,458        254        341        495        711        994  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    2,149        185        229        284        371        496  
       High school graduates, no college...............    9,516        236        303        404        543        708  
       Some college or associate degree................    8,568        275        353        484        656        872  
       College graduates, total........................    9,224        387        530        718        977      1,338  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    6,123        366        494        662        900      1,222  
         Advanced degree...............................    3,101        470        621        841      1,134      1,523  
                                                                                                                         
                         Black men                                                                                       
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................    5,112        262        337        493        708        982  
       Less than a high school diploma.................      672        213        270        343        480        637  
       High school graduates, no college...............    1,978        255        320        440        627        824  
       Some college or associate degree................    1,500        281        365        515        730        949  
       College graduates, total........................      962        360        509        697      1,040      1,428  
         Bachelor's degree only........................      728        342        488        660        958      1,252  
         Advanced degree...............................      234        444        616        857      1,342      1,915  
                                                                                                                         
                        Black women                                                                                      
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................    5,345        232        300        420        607        840  
       Less than a high school diploma.................      520        179        223        276        372        494  
       High school graduates, no college...............    1,860        218        277        356        497        646  
       Some college or associate degree................    1,780        254        318        431        589        760  
       College graduates, total........................    1,185        362        486        641        899      1,185  
         Bachelor's degree only........................      822        343        449        605        799      1,072  
         Advanced degree...............................      363        442        596        788      1,095      1,368  

           NOTE:See note table 4.