1

Technical information: (202) 691-6378

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 05-110

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS:

FOURTH QUARTER 2004

Median weekly earnings of the nation’s 101.6 million full-time wage and salary workers were $647 in the

fourth quarter of 2004, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This

was 3.5 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 3.3 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 the Explanatory Note.) Highlights from the fourth-quarter data are:

—Women who usually worked full time had median earnings of $578 per week, or 80.1 percent of the

$722 median for men. The female-to-male earnings ratios were higher among blacks (96.8 percent) and

Hispanics or Latinos (84.7 percent) than among whites (78.8 percent) or Asians (74.5 percent). (See

table 1.)

—Median earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $529 per week, 70.8 percent of the

median for white men ($747). The difference was less among women, as black women’s median earnings

($512) were 86.9 percent of those for their white counterparts ($589). Overall, median earnings of Hispanics or Latinos who worked full time ($467) were lower than those of blacks ($519), whites ($671), and

Asians ($698). (See table 1.)

—Among men, those age 45 to 54 and age 55 to 64 had the highest median weekly earnings, $869 and

$844, respectively. Among women, earnings also were highest for these two age groups—$626 for 45- to

54-year olds and $622 for 55- to 64-year olds. (See table 2.)

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

related occupations had the highest median weekly earnings—$1,109 for men and $801 for women. Men

and women in service jobs earned the least. (See table 3.)

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

$404, compared with $581 for high school graduates (no college) and $996 for college graduates holding at

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

and above), the highest-earning 10 percent of male workers made $2,894 or more per week, compared with

$1,849 or more for their female counterparts. (See table 4.)
2

Annual averages for 2003 and 2004

In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this release includes 2003 and 2004 annual average weekly

earnings for major demographic, occupation, and education groups (tables 6, 7, and 8). Annual average data

on median usual earnings for men and women by detailed occupational categories will appear in the January

2005 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 U.S.Census Bureau

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

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

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

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

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired

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

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

Reliability

Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

population value because of sampling error. BLS analyses are generally

conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.

The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling

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

segment of the population, inability to obtain information for all

respondents in the sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents to

provide correct information, and errors made in the collection or

processing of the data.

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

information on estimating standard errors, see the “Explanatory Notes

and Estimates of Error” section 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.

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

week at their sole or principal job.

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

per week at their sole or principal job.

Constant dollars. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers

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

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. This refers to persons who identified

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

Latino. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino

may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well

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

not seasonally adjusted

Characteristic

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

IV

2003

IV

2004

In current dollars In constant (1982) dollars

IV

2003

IV

2004

IV

2003

IV

2004

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over ........................................................................... 100,407 101,551 $625 $647 $327 $327

 Men, 16 years and over ......................................................................... 56,459 57,183 704 722 368 365

 16 to 24 years ...................................................................................... 5,851 6,072 409 396 214 201

 25 years and over ................................................................................ 50,608 51,110 750 768 392 389

 Women, 16 years and over ................................................................... 43,948 44,369 561 578 293 293

 16 to 24 years ...................................................................................... 4,408 4,417 372 371 194 188

 25 years and over ................................................................................ 39,540 39,952 588 603 307 305

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

 White ..................................................................................................... 81,815 82,477 646 671 338 340

 Men ...................................................................................................... 46,976 47,559 728 747 380 378

 Women ................................................................................................ 34,839 34,918 576 589 301 298

 Black or African American ..................................................................... 11,977 12,183 522 519 273 263

 Men ...................................................................................................... 5,773 5,812 560 529 293 268

 Women ................................................................................................ 6,204 6,370 502 512 262 259

 Asian ...................................................................................................... 4,402 4,652 680 698 356 353

 Men ...................................................................................................... 2,489 2,542 784 807 410 409

 Women ................................................................................................ 1,913 2,110 579 601 303 304

 Hispanic or Latino .................................................................................. 13,454 14,011 441 467 230 237

 Men ...................................................................................................... 8,737 8,989 468 490 245 248

 Women ................................................................................................ 4,717 5,022 410 415 214 210

 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. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by

race. Beginning in January 2004, data reflect 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 or Latino ethnicity, and

sex, fourth quarter 2004 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 ..................................................................................... 101,551 $647 57,183 $722 44,369 $578

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 10,489 387 6,072 396 4,417 371

 16 to 19 years ....................................................................................... 1,520 314 964 322 556 297

 20 to 24 years ....................................................................................... 8,969 400 5,108 408 3,861 387

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 91,062 692 51,110 768 39,952 603

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 77,111 689 43,513 763 33,599 602

 25 to 34 years ..................................................................................... 24,752 607 14,406 637 10,346 566

 35 to 44 years ..................................................................................... 27,144 726 15,540 825 11,604 612

 45 to 54 years ..................................................................................... 25,216 750 13,566 869 11,649 626

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 13,951 713 7,598 819 6,353 607

 55 to 64 years ..................................................................................... 12,183 733 6,584 844 5,599 622

 65 years and over ............................................................................... 1,768 528 1,014 615 754 492

White

16 years and over ..................................................................................... 82,477 671 47,559 747 34,918 589

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 8,562 391 5,054 399 3,508 377

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 73,915 717 42,505 799 31,410 613

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 62,169 716 36,002 792 26,167 614

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 11,746 726 6,503 846 5,243 608

Black or African American

16 years and over ..................................................................................... 12,183 519 5,812 529 6,370 512

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 1,330 360 707 388 622 332

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 10,853 552 5,105 567 5,748 540

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 9,466 540 4,436 549 5,029 532

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 1,387 622 668 642 719 590

Asian

16 years and over ..................................................................................... 4,652 698 2,542 807 2,110 601

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 287 407 123 368 164 441

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 4,365 727 2,419 836 1,946 619

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 3,752 745 2,099 853 1,653 618

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 613 648 320 677 293 626

Hispanic or Latino

16 years and over ..................................................................................... 14,011 467 8,989 490 5,022 415

 16 to 24 years ......................................................................................... 2,123 340 1,425 349 698 327

 25 years and over ................................................................................... 11,888 494 7,564 515 4,323 440

 25 to 54 years ....................................................................................... 10,831 493 6,902 513 3,929 442

 55 years and over ................................................................................. 1,057 507 663 561 394 419

 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. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by

race. Beginning in January 2004, data reflect 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

Occupation and sex

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

IV

2003

IV

2004

IV

2003

IV

2004

TOTAL

 Managerial, professional, and related occupations ................................. 35,874 36,334 $894 $928

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations ............. 14,413 14,818 991 973

 Professional and related occupations .................................................... 21,461 21,516 848 900

 Service occupations ................................................................................ 12,826 14,031 409 413

 Sales and office occupations ................................................................... 25,213 24,851 549 555

 Sales and related occupations .............................................................. 9,854 10,004 605 599

 Office and administrative support occupations ...................................... 15,359 14,847 526 534

 Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ............. 11,510 11,667 610 628

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................ 915 691 355 356

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................................... 6,062 6,561 613 611

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................ 4,533 4,415 680 705

 Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ................. 14,985 14,668 523 537

 Production occupations ......................................................................... 8,514 8,269 522 554

 Transportation and material moving occupations .................................. 6,471 6,398 523 519

Men

 Managerial, professional, and related occupations ................................. 17,838 18,215 1,072 1,109

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations ............. 8,058 8,293 1,170 1,162

 Professional and related occupations .................................................... 9,781 9,922 994 1,062

 Service occupations ................................................................................ 6,531 7,248 475 482

 Sales and office occupations ................................................................... 9,429 9,134 675 690

 Sales and related occupations .............................................................. 5,483 5,327 749 769

 Office and administrative support occupations ...................................... 3,946 3,807 599 588

 Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ............. 11,031 11,183 618 636

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................ 765 549 370 365

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................................... 5,924 6,407 618 613

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................ 4,342 4,227 686 707

 Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ................. 11,630 11,402 576 587

 Production occupations ......................................................................... 6,011 5,848 584 614

 Transportation and material moving occupations .................................. 5,619 5,554 560 544

Women

 Managerial, professional, and related occupations ................................. 18,036 18,119 766 801

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations ............. 6,356 6,525 810 832

 Professional and related occupations .................................................... 11,680 11,594 752 786

 Service occupations ................................................................................ 6,295 6,784 372 368

 Sales and office occupations ................................................................... 15,783 15,716 504 509

 Sales and related occupations .............................................................. 4,371 4,677 468 459

 Office and administrative support occupations ...................................... 11,413 11,040 514 521

 Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ............. 479 484 402 472

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................ 150 142 306 314

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................................... 138 154 499 471

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................ 191 188 517 659

 Production, transportation, and material moving occupations ................. 3,355 3,265 410 415

 Production occupations ......................................................................... 2,503 2,421 417 415

 Transportation and material moving occupations .................................. 852 844 385 416

 NOTE: Beginning in January 2004, data reflect 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 2004 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 ........................................................................... 101,551 $308 $424 $647 $978 $1,477

 Men ......................................................................................................... 57,183 326 474 722 1,101 1,665

 Women ................................................................................................... 44,369 291 392 578 851 1,208

 White ...................................................................................................... 82,477 315 443 671 1,005 1,526

 Men ....................................................................................................... 47,559 337 492 747 1,139 1,735

 Women ................................................................................................. 34,918 296 400 589 866 1,219

 Black or African American ...................................................................... 12,183 279 373 519 778 1,102

 Men ....................................................................................................... 5,812 288 384 529 800 1,134

 Women ................................................................................................. 6,370 272 359 512 763 1,067

 Asian ....................................................................................................... 4,652 312 433 698 1,151 1,746

 Men ....................................................................................................... 2,542 343 489 807 1,337 1,894

 Women ................................................................................................. 2,110 285 391 601 962 1,497

 Hispanic or Latino ................................................................................... 14,011 272 324 467 705 1,017

 Men ....................................................................................................... 8,989 283 344 490 743 1,087

 Women ................................................................................................. 5,022 248 305 415 621 935

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

 Total, 25 years and over ......................................................................... 91,062 328 465 692 1,022 1,538

 Less than a high school diploma .......................................................... 8,554 251 308 404 554 766

 High school graduates, no college1 ...................................................... 27,012 308 408 581 797 1,048

 Some college or associate degree ....................................................... 25,250 344 477 667 932 1,288

 Bachelor’s degree and higher2 ............................................................. 30,246 488 700 996 1,493 2,073

 Bachelor’s degree only ....................................................................... 19,740 455 639 925 1,368 1,889

 Advanced degree ............................................................................... 10,507 601 822 1,161 1,747 2,408

 Men, 25 years and over ........................................................................ 51,110 364 512 768 1,157 1,747

 Less than a high school diploma ........................................................ 5,766 279 337 449 608 846

 High school graduates, no college1 .................................................... 15,594 344 466 648 897 1,169

 Some college or associate degree ..................................................... 13,162 394 571 774 1,062 1,447

 Bachelor’s degree and higher2 ........................................................... 16,588 527 786 1,163 1,742 2,394

 Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 10,773 492 720 1,062 1,556 2,092

 Advanced degree ............................................................................. 5,815 650 915 1,433 1,972 2,894

 Women, 25 years and over .................................................................. 39,952 303 413 603 883 1,249

 Less than a high school diploma ........................................................ 2,788 223 275 335 428 560

 High school graduates, no college1 .................................................... 11,418 285 368 491 671 876

 Some college or associate degree ..................................................... 12,087 314 422 575 775 1,045

 Bachelor’s degree and higher2 ........................................................... 13,658 450 626 873 1,203 1,625

 Bachelor’s degree only ..................................................................... 8,967 417 587 820 1,120 1,507

 Advanced degree ............................................................................. 4,691 570 746 982 1,385 1,849

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. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic

or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as

well as by race. Beginning in January 2004, data reflect 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

Characteristic

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

IV

2003

IV

2004

IV

2003

IV

2004

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over ........................................................................... 22,455 22,841 $189 $194

 Men, 16 years and over ......................................................................... 7,082 7,249 174 182

 16 to 24 years ...................................................................................... 3,689 3,697 139 144

 25 years and over ................................................................................ 3,393 3,552 230 242

 Women, 16 years and over ................................................................... 15,373 15,592 197 201

 16 to 24 years ...................................................................................... 4,697 4,882 135 144

 25 years and over ................................................................................ 10,675 10,709 233 236

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

 White ..................................................................................................... 19,014 19,302 190 195

 Men ...................................................................................................... 5,957 6,040 173 182

 Women ................................................................................................ 13,057 13,261 198 202

 Black or African American ..................................................................... 2,022 2,065 174 187

 Men ...................................................................................................... 634 671 169 175

 Women ................................................................................................ 1,387 1,394 177 192

 Asian ...................................................................................................... 789 796 217 240

 Men ...................................................................................................... 268 326 199 230

 Women ................................................................................................ 521 471 220 246

 Hispanic or Latino .................................................................................. 2,618 2,602 197 191

 Men ...................................................................................................... 918 883 206 194

 Women ................................................................................................ 1,700 1,718 193 189

 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. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by

race. Beginning in January 2004, data reflect 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

Characteristic

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

2003 2004

In current dollars In constant (1982) dollars

2003 2004 2003 2004

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over ........................................................................... 100,302 101,224 $620 $638 $325 $326

 Men, 16 years and over .......................................................................... 56,227 57,001 695 713 364 364

 16 to 24 years ........................................................................................ 6,158 6,243 398 400 209 204

 25 years and over .................................................................................. 50,069 50,758 744 762 390 389

 Women, 16 years and over .................................................................... 44,076 44,223 552 573 290 292

 16 to 24 years ........................................................................................ 4,632 4,633 371 375 195 191

 25 years and over .................................................................................. 39,444 39,590 584 599 306 306

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

 White ..................................................................................................... 81,916 82,468 636 657 334 336

 Men ....................................................................................................... 47,001 47,495 715 732 375 374

 Women ................................................................................................. 34,916 34,972 567 584 298 298

 Black ...................................................................................................... 11,887 12,032 514 525 269 268

 Men ....................................................................................................... 5,585 5,706 555 569 291 290

 Women ................................................................................................. 6,301 6,326 491 505 257 258

 Asian ...................................................................................................... 4,314 4,457 693 708 363 362

 Men ....................................................................................................... 2,442 2,504 772 802 405 409

 Women ................................................................................................. 1,872 1,953 598 613 314 313

 Hispanic or Latino ................................................................................... 13,634 14,061 440 456 231 233

 Men ....................................................................................................... 8,677 8,996 464 480 243 245

 Women ................................................................................................. 4,957 5,065 410 419 215 214

 NOTE: Estimates for the race groups (white, black or African

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

for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic

or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as

well as race. Beginning in January 2004, data reflect 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

Occupation and sex

Number of workers

(in thousands) Median weekly earnings

2003 2004 2003 2004

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations ....................................... 35,680 36,149 $887 $918

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations ....................... 14,493 14,778 961 965

 Professional and related occupations .............................................................. 21,186 21,371 845 883

Service occupations ......................................................................................... 13,333 13,763 403 411

Sales and office occupations ............................................................................ 25,108 24,950 545 558

 Sales and related occupations ........................................................................ 9,924 9,984 598 604

 Office and administrative support occupations ................................................ 15,184 14,966 523 535

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ...................... 11,082 11,280 608 621

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ...................................................... 778 718 369 356

 Construction and extraction occupations ......................................................... 5,973 6,232 599 604

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations .......................................... 4,331 4,330 673 704

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations .......................... 15,100 15,082 519 523

 Production occupations ................................................................................... 8,599 8,478 519 526

 Transportation and material moving occupations ............................................ 6,501 6,604 520 520

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations ....................................... 17,718 17,981 1,059 1,098

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations ....................... 8,047 8,170 1,143 1,158

 Professional and related occupations .............................................................. 9,671 9,811 1,005 1,049

Service occupations ......................................................................................... 6,708 6,989 463 476

Sales and office occupations ............................................................................ 9,456 9,410 658 669

 Sales and related occupations ........................................................................ 5,557 5,562 731 747

 Office and administrative support occupations ................................................ 3,899 3,848 584 587

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ...................... 10,612 10,835 613 626

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ...................................................... 626 585 384 367

 Construction and extraction occupations ......................................................... 5,831 6,109 602 606

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations .......................................... 4,155 4,140 675 707

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations .......................... 11,733 11,786 570 578

 Production occupations ................................................................................... 6,069 6,024 583 597

 Transportation and material moving occupations ............................................ 5,664 5,762 547 549

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations ....................................... 17,962 18,168 758 780

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations ....................... 6,446 6,609 799 812

 Professional and related occupations .............................................................. 11,516 11,560 739 767

Service occupations ......................................................................................... 6,625 6,773 366 374

Sales and office occupations ............................................................................ 15,652 15,540 502 512

 Sales and related occupations ........................................................................ 4,367 4,422 452 464

 Office and administrative support occupations ................................................ 11,286 11,118 513 522

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ...................... 469 445 449 453

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ...................................................... 152 133 318 322

 Construction and extraction occupations ......................................................... 141 123 497 504

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations .......................................... 176 190 629 611

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations .......................... 3,367 3,296 407 406

 Production occupations ................................................................................... 2,530 2,454 406 405

 Transportation and material moving occupations ............................................ 837 842 410 410

 NOTE: Beginning in January 2004, data reflect 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, 2004 annual averages 

Educational attainment, sex, race,

and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

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 ........................................................... 90,348 $325 $461 $683 $1,019 $1,523

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 8,533 249 305 401 552 772

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 27,141 306 406 574 791 1,074

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 24,846 343 476 661 931 1,269

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 29,828 488 689 986 1,464 2,024

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 19,474 454 635 916 1,349 1,888

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 10,354 597 810 1,153 1,726 2,400

Men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 50,758 358 508 762 1,152 1,735

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 5,748 276 330 446 609 857

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 15,513 341 466 645 897 1,198

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 12,998 388 547 761 1,056 1,440

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 16,499 524 770 1,143 1,717 2,376

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 10,767 491 719 1,044 1,542 2,099

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 5,732 639 917 1,370 1,912 2,881

Women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 39,590 301 410 599 873 1,238

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 2,785 227 275 334 429 560

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 11,628 282 361 488 655 876

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 11,848 315 418 577 776 1,046

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 13,329 454 622 860 1,190 1,615

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 8,707 420 588 792 1,108 1,487

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 4,622 566 734 982 1,362 1,869

White, total 

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 73,521 334 477 705 1,049 1,553

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 6,993 253 308 406 565 791

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 21,867 315 419 591 818 1,112

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 20,176 354 488 682 960 1,331

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 24,485 499 707 1,005 1,497 2,100

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 15,988 470 653 937 1,384 1,907

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 8,496 606 824 1,160 1,741 2,461

White men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 42,244 370 523 785 1,175 1,760

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 4,913 277 332 451 614 866

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 12,722 357 487 670 923 1,228

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 10,833 403 577 787 1,096 1,470

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 13,776 553 796 1,162 1,746 2,415

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 9,066 510 741 1,082 1,573 2,179

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 4,710 651 936 1,397 1,934 2,896

White women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 31,277 307 419 610 889 1,254

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 2,081 228 276 335 431 568

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 9,145 288 371 496 666 892

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 9,343 320 427 586 797 1,067

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 10,709 463 632 866 1,198 1,633

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 6,922 429 594 800 1,117 1,506

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 3,786 579 739 981 1,359 1,868

Black or African American, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 10,764 293 390 561 806 1,140

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 973 232 287 368 496 660

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 3,919 281 358 492 681 912

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 3,267 308 405 563 762 1,002

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 2,605 420 595 834 1,169 1,603

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 1,856 403 569 782 1,110 1,482

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 749 519 696 985 1,350 1,863

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

characteristics, 2004 annual averages — Continued

Educational attainment, sex, race,

and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Upper limit of:

First

decile

First

quartile

Second

quartile

(median)

Third

quartile

Ninth

decile

Black or African American men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 5,070 $309 $411 $598 $863 $1,217

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 510 247 315 416 569 755

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 2,019 300 386 520 737 992

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 1,421 326 438 620 851 1,108

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 1,120 435 620 874 1,265 1,743

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 810 413 594 837 1,196 1,646

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 310 556 724 1,013 1,510 1,904

Black or African American women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 5,694 281 370 522 754 1,069

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 462 224 268 326 412 519

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 1,900 262 331 457 616 815

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 1,846 298 387 521 702 910

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 1,485 413 581 794 1,125 1,459

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 1,046 395 544 742 1,030 1,376

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 439 503 675 959 1,269 1,745

Asian, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 4,125 329 474 742 1,173 1,773

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 324 243 306 402 575 740

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 762 282 364 493 710 991

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 737 327 425 620 886 1,168

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 2,301 449 672 1,009 1,531 2,085

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 1,324 399 589 882 1,274 1,820

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 978 593 833 1,251 1,773 2,378

Hispanic or Latino, total

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 11,886 277 341 486 727 1,060

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 4,250 246 296 374 502 692

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 3,532 285 363 491 685 945

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 2,412 313 415 593 840 1,152

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 1,692 382 573 859 1,231 1,759

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 1,222 376 536 808 1,139 1,619

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 470 406 683 995 1,466 2,280

Hispanic or Latino men

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 7,556 288 362 505 756 1,120

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 3,066 270 312 402 532 752

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 2,226 298 387 521 722 1,001

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 1,344 329 452 650 933 1,226

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 920 392 599 913 1,374 1,921

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 668 394 586 856 1,249 1,760

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 252 383 738 1,149 1,673 2,533

Hispanic or Latino women

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 4,331 252 315 443 669 972

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 1,185 220 263 312 391 498

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 1,307 268 325 434 602 807

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 1,068 295 389 518 730 989

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 771 365 536 805 1,097 1,458

 Bachelor’s degree only ......................................................... 554 343 504 755 1,024 1,417

 Advanced degree ................................................................. 217 421 653 924 1,180 1,638

 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 race groups (white,

black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because

data are not presented for all races. In addition, persons whose

ethnicity is identified as "Hispanic or Latino" may be of any race and,

therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as race. Beginning in

January 2004, data reflect revised population controls used in the

household survey.