Internet address:  http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information:  (202) 691-6378  USDL 00-17

                                        For release:  10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                691-5902  Thursday, January 20, 2000


             USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS:
                            FOURTH QUARTER 1999


   Median weekly earnings of the nation's 98.2 million full-time wage and
salary workers were $568 in the fourth quarter of 1999, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  This was 5.0
percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 2.6 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 $483 a week,
or 76.3 percent of the $633 median for men.  The female-to-male earnings
ratios were higher among blacks (82.3 percent) and Hispanics (85.0 percent)
than among whites (75.5 percent).  (See table 1.)
   
   --Median earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $496 per
week, 75.8 percent of the median for white men ($654).  The difference was
much less among women, as black women's median earnings ($408) were 82.6
percent of those for their white counterparts ($494).  Overall, median
earnings of Hispanics who worked full time ($383) were lower than those of
blacks ($450) and whites ($586).  (See table 1.)
   
   --Among men, those in the 45- to 54-year age group had the highest
median weekly earnings ($780), followed by 55- to 64-year-old men, with
median earnings of $728.  Among women, earnings also were highest for those
45-to-54 years old, who had a median of $558.  (See table 2.)
   
   --Among the major occupational groups, persons employed full time in
managerial and professional specialty occupations had the highest median
weekly earnings--$971 for men and $698 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 $349, compared with $495 for high school
graduates (no college) and $876 for college graduates.  Among college
graduates with advanced degrees (professional or master's degree and
above), the highest 10 percent of male workers earned $2,311 or more,
compared with $1,678 or more for their female counterparts.
(See table 4.)
                                  - 2 -

Annual Averages for 1998 and 1999
   
   In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this release includes
1998 and 1999 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 2000 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:  202-606-5886; TDD message referral 
phone number:  1-800-877-8339.
     
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                                               
                                                                1998       1999                                               
                                                                                        IV         IV         IV         IV   
                                                                                       1998       1999       1998       1999   
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                        SEX AND AGE                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
 Total, 16 years and over..................................    96,213     98,217       $541       $568       $318       $326 
                                                                                                                             
    Men, 16 years and over.................................    54,459     55,286        614        633        361        363 
      16 to 24 years.......................................     6,245      6,262        342        377        201        216 
      25 years and over....................................    48,214     49,024        664        681        391        391 
                                                                                                                             
    Women, 16 years and over...............................    41,754     42,931        471        483        277        277 
      16 to 24 years.......................................     4,563      4,648        311        331        183        190 
      25 years and over....................................    37,191     38,284        495        506        292        290 
                                                                                                                             
               RACE, HISPANIC ORIGIN, AND SEX                                                                                
                                                                                                                             
    White..................................................    79,627     81,300        565        586        332        336 
      Men..................................................    46,128     46,859        635        654        374        375 
      Women................................................    33,499     34,441        481        494        283        283 
                                                                                                                             
    Black..................................................    12,015     12,213        439        450        258        258 
      Men..................................................     5,807      5,855        481        496        283        285 
      Women................................................     6,208      6,358        405        408        239        234 
                                                                                                                             
    Hispanic origin........................................    10,812     11,258        372        383        219        220 
      Men..................................................     6,875      6,876        397        406        234        233 
      Women................................................     3,937      4,382        337        345        198        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
 1999, 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 origin, and sex, 
 fourth quarter 1999 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.........................................    98,217       $568     55,286       $633     42,931       $483 
   16 to 24 years..........................................    10,910        356      6,262        377      4,648        331 
     16 to 19 years........................................     1,958        296      1,188        314        770        270 
     20 to 24 years........................................     8,952        376      5,074        394      3,878        352 
   25 years and over.......................................    87,307        602     49,024        681     38,284        506 
     25 to 54 years........................................    76,839        604     43,179        678     33,661        510 
       25 to 34 years......................................    25,464        535     14,529        593     10,935        478 
       35 to 44 years......................................    29,015        620     16,571        713     12,444        514 
       45 to 54 years......................................    22,360        669     12,079        780     10,281        558 
     55 years and over.....................................    10,468        590      5,845        708      4,623        481 
       55 to 64 years......................................     9,334        600      5,169        728      4,165        490 
       65 years and over...................................     1,134        415        676        472        458        391 
                                                                                                                             
                           White                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    81,300        586     46,859        654     34,441        494 
   16 to 24 years..........................................     9,238        362      5,447        381      3,790        333 
   25 years and over.......................................    72,063        619     41,412        706     30,651        517 
     25 to 54 years........................................    63,063        621     36,288        701     26,775        522 
     55 years and over.....................................     9,000        605      5,124        738      3,876        490 
                                                                                                                             
                           Black                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    12,213        450      5,855        496      6,358        408 
   16 to 24 years..........................................     1,257        316        630        321        627        309 
   25 years and over.......................................    10,956        478      5,225        522      5,731        429 
     25 to 54 years........................................     9,906        481      4,740        524      5,166        435 
     55 years and over.....................................     1,049        444        484        499        565        393 
                                                                                                                             
                      Hispanic origin                                                                                        
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    11,258        383      6,876        406      4,382        345 
   16 to 24 years..........................................     1,927        298      1,254        306        673        280 
   25 years and over.......................................     9,331        408      5,622        441      3,709        368 
     25 to 54 years........................................     8,532        408      5,161        440      3,371        365 
     55 years and over.....................................       798        418        461        443        338        396 


      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
 1999, 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
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                                                                    Number of workers             Median weekly earnings    
                                                                      (in thousands)                                        
                      Occupation and sex                                                                                    
                                                                                                                            
                                                                    IV              IV                IV              IV      
                                                                   1998            1999              1998            1999     
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                            TOTAL                                                                                           
                                                                                                                            
   Managerial and professional specialty....................      30,396          31,355             $792            $814   
     Executive, administrative, and managerial..............      15,034          15,269              788             814   
     Professional specialty.................................      15,362          16,086              795             814   
   Technical, sales, and administrative support.............      27,225          27,484              482             494   
     Technicians and related support........................       3,349           3,711              611             632   
     Sales occupations......................................       9,734           9,941              510             531   
     Administrative support, including clerical.............      14,143          13,833              443             453   
   Service occupations......................................      10,469          10,521              325             337   
     Private household......................................         413             307              236             296   
     Protective service.....................................       2,071           2,089              615             621   
     Service, except private household and protective.......       7,985           8,125              306             313   
   Precision production, craft, and repair..................      11,245          11,979              585             605   
     Mechanics and repairers................................       3,807           3,959              606             636   
     Construction trades....................................       4,049           4,415              566             586   
     Other precision production, craft, and repair..........       3,389           3,605              580             598   
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers.....................      15,158          15,283              423             444   
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors..........       6,985           6,646              420             442   
     Transportation and material moving occupations.........       4,349           4,520              520             527   
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers....       3,824           4,117              359             375   
   Farming, forestry, and fishing...........................       1,721           1,596              303             344   
                                                                                                                            
                             Men                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
   Managerial and professional specialty....................      15,579          15,733              942             971   
     Executive, administrative, and managerial..............       8,111           8,079              947           1,015   
     Professional specialty.................................       7,468           7,654              937             947   
   Technical, sales, and administrative support.............      10,349          10,546              612             639   
     Technicians and related support........................       1,698           1,804              738             736   
     Sales occupations......................................       5,238           5,362              635             670   
     Administrative support, including clerical.............       3,414           3,379              526             556   
   Service occupations......................................       5,239           5,086              396             410   
     Private household......................................          30               4              (1)             (1)      
     Protective service.....................................       1,739           1,752              629             637   
     Service, except private household and protective.......       3,469           3,331              321             348   
   Precision production, craft, and repair..................      10,317          10,869              597             616   
     Mechanics and repairers................................       3,681           3,734              604             636   
     Construction trades....................................       3,985           4,336              567             589   
     Other precision production, craft, and repair..........       2,651           2,799              617             641   
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers.....................      11,501          11,661              467             480   
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors..........       4,490           4,130              487             502   
     Transportation and material moving occupations.........       3,979           4,150              537             536   
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers....       3,032           3,382              372             389   
   Farming, forestry, and fishing...........................       1,475           1,391              313             359   
                                                                                                                            
                            Women                                                                                           
                                                                                                                            
   Managerial and professional specialty....................      14,817          15,622              672             698   
     Executive, administrative, and managerial..............       6,923           7,190              642             656   
     Professional specialty.................................       7,894           8,432              698             733   
   Technical, sales, and administrative support.............      16,876          16,938              422             436   
     Technicians and related support........................       1,651           1,906              519             548   
     Sales occupations......................................       4,496           4,579              375             407   
     Administrative support, including clerical.............      10,729          10,453              421             429   
   Service occupations......................................       5,230           5,434              298             302   
     Private household......................................         382             303              227             298   
     Protective service.....................................         331             337              542             501   
     Service, except private household and protective.......       4,516           4,794              296             299   
   Precision production, craft, and repair..................         928           1,110              439             437   
     Mechanics and repairers................................         126             225              690             646   
     Construction trades....................................          64              79              (1)             (1)      
     Other precision production, craft, and repair..........         737             806              414             409   
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers.....................       3,657           3,621              342             351   
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors..........       2,495           2,517              345             352   
     Transportation and material moving occupations.........         370             370              406             465   
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers....         793             735              315             311   
   Farming, forestry, and fishing...........................         246             206              253             263   

    1 Data not shown where base is less than 100,000.
  Beginning in January 1999, 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 1999 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..................................    98,217       $276       $373       $568       $845     $1,246 
   Men.....................................................    55,286        296        416        633        953      1,402 
   Women...................................................    42,931        251        327        483        710      1,015 
                                                                                                                             
   White...................................................    81,300        280        385        586        872      1,278 
     Men...................................................    46,859        302        430        654        979      1,432 
     Women.................................................    34,441        254        336        494        724      1,034 
                                                                                                                             
   Black...................................................    12,213        247        314        450        664        925 
     Men...................................................     5,855        266        340        496        717        979 
     Women.................................................     6,358        235        300        408        606        875 
                                                                                                                             
   Hispanic................................................    11,258        226        281        383        584        837 
     Men...................................................     6,876        239        296        406        613        902 
     Women.................................................     4,382        206        258        345        508        743 
                                                                                                                             
                   EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT                                                                                    
                                                                                                                             
   Total, 25 years and over................................    87,307        287        397        602        889      1,308 
     Less than a high school diploma.......................     8,531        213        271        349        494        687 
     High school graduates, no college.....................    27,274        274        353        495        689        941 
     Some college or associate degree......................    24,127        300        407        590        816      1,103 
     College graduates, total..............................    27,375        445        624        876      1,292      1,770 
       Bachelor's degree only..............................    17,996        418        587        809      1,171      1,599 
       Advanced degree.....................................     9,378        533        740      1,020      1,471      2,078 
                                                                                                                             
     Men, 25 years and over................................    49,024        316        460        681        999      1,451 
       Less than a high school diploma.....................     5,577        240        299        398        562        761 
       High school graduates, no college...................    15,396        305        414        588        783      1,044 
       Some college or associate degree....................    12,583        343        484        675        925      1,230 
       College graduates, total............................    15,467        496        705      1,003      1,456      1,978 
         Bachelor's degree only............................    10,192        472        658        940      1,357      1,837 
         Advanced degree...................................     5,274        596        825      1,173      1,666      2,311 
                                                                                                                             
     Women, 25 years and over..............................    38,284        262        346        506        740      1,058 
       Less than a high school diploma.....................     2,954        188        233        289        373        495 
       High school graduates, no college...................    11,878        243        306        407        547        714 
       Some college or associate degree....................    11,544        280        360        500        688        913 
       College graduates, total............................    11,908        405        561        751      1,039      1,435 
         Bachelor's degree only............................     7,804        385        511        687        927      1,297 
         Advanced degree...................................     4,104        496        673        874      1,190      1,678 


      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 1999, 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
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                                                                    Number of workers              Median weekly earnings    
                                                                      (in thousands)                                        
                        Characteristic                                                                                      
                                                                                                                            
                                                                    IV              IV                IV              IV      
                                                                   1998            1999              1998            1999     
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                         SEX AND AGE                                                                                        
                                                                                                                            
  Total, 16 years and over..................................      21,324          21,630             $158            $165   
                                                                                                                            
     Men, 16 years and over.................................       6,739           6,759              143             156   
       16 to 24 years.......................................       3,622           3,797              115             125   
       25 years and over....................................       3,117           2,961              195             208   
                                                                                                                            
     Women, 16 years and over...............................      14,585          14,872              165             169   
       16 to 24 years.......................................       4,615           4,791              117             122   
       25 years and over....................................       9,970          10,080              199             201   
                                                                                                                            
                RACE, HISPANIC ORIGIN, AND SEX                                                                              
                                                                                                                            
     White..................................................      18,310          18,360              159             168   
       Men..................................................       5,639           5,608              143             156   
       Women................................................      12,671          12,751              167             173   
                                                                                                                            
     Black..................................................       2,172           2,274              148             146   
       Men..................................................         735             762              138             145   
       Women................................................       1,437           1,512              154             147   
                                                                                                                            
     Hispanic origin........................................       1,752           1,784              163             163   
       Men..................................................         587             573              171             154   
       Women................................................       1,166           1,211              158             168   

       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 1999, 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
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                              Number of workers              Median weekly earnings          
                                                                (in thousands)                                               
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                       Characteristic                                               In current dollars    In constant (1982) 
                                                                                                               dollars       
                                                               1998       1999                                               
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                     1998       1999       1998       1999   
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                        SEX AND AGE                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
 Total, 16 years and over..................................   95,595     97,626      $523       $549       $309       $318   
                                                                                                                             
    Men, 16 years and over.................................   54,313     55,181       598        618        354        358   
      16 to 24 years.......................................    6,325      6,444       334        356        198        206   
      25 years and over....................................   47,988     48,738       639        668        378        387   
                                                                                                                             
    Women, 16 years and over...............................   41,282     42,444       456        473        270        274   
      16 to 24 years.......................................    4,721      4,830       305        324        180        188   
      25 years and over....................................   36,561     37,615       485        497        287        288   
                                                                                                                             
               RACE, HISPANIC ORIGIN, AND SEX                                                                                
                                                                                                                             
    White..................................................   79,403     80,849       545        573        323        332   
      Men..................................................   46,087     46,825       615        638        364        370   
      Women................................................   33,316     34,024       468        483        277        280   
                                                                                                                             
    Black..................................................   11,776     12,190       426        445        252        258   
      Men..................................................    5,751      5,846       468        488        277        283   
      Women................................................    6,025      6,344       400        409        237        237   
                                                                                                                             
    Hispanic origin........................................   10,532     10,950       370        385        219        223   
      Men..................................................    6,716      6,788       390        406        231        235   
      Women................................................    3,816      4,162       337        348        199        202   

      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 1999,
 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
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                                        Number of workers           Median weekly earnings   
                                                                          (in thousands)                                     
                        Occupation and sex                                                                                   
                                                                                                                             
                                                                       1998           1999           1998           1999     
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                              TOTAL                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
   Managerial and professional specialty.........................     29,304         30,704          $759           $797     
     Executive, administrative, and managerial...................     14,451         14,973           755            792     
     Professional specialty......................................     14,853         15,731           763            800     
   Technical, sales, and administrative support..................     27,372         27,388           477            488     
     Technicians and related support.............................      3,507          3,550           599            618     
     Sales occupations...........................................      9,636          9,728           502            523     
     Administrative support, including clerical..................     14,229         14,109           438            447     
   Service occupations...........................................     10,592         10,841           327            336     
     Private household...........................................        381            384           223            243     
     Protective service..........................................      2,140          2,138           598            592     
     Service, except private household and protective............      8,070          8,318           307            313     
   Precision production, craft, and repair.......................     11,691         11,927           572            594     
     Mechanics and repairers.....................................      4,081          4,263           597            621     
     Construction trades.........................................      4,054          4,143           543            566     
     Other precision production, craft, and repair...............      3,555          3,521           561            588     
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers..........................     15,082         15,182           415            429     
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors...............      6,987          6,814           406            423     
     Transportation and material moving occupations..............      4,322          4,401           510            513     
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers.........      3,773          3,967           351            363     
   Farming, forestry, and fishing................................      1,555          1,583           302            331     
                                                                                                                             
                               Men                                                                                           
                                                                                                                             
   Managerial and professional specialty.........................     14,941         15,537           905            952     
     Executive, administrative, and managerial...................      7,746          7,981           915            967     
     Professional specialty......................................      7,195          7,556           895            939     
   Technical, sales, and administrative support..................     10,439         10,525           606            626     
     Technicians and related support.............................      1,773          1,802           701            728     
     Sales occupations...........................................      5,299          5,402           622            666     
     Administrative support, including clerical..................      3,368          3,322           518            539     
   Service occupations...........................................      5,291          5,209           389            402     
     Private household...........................................         19             17           (1)            (1)     
     Protective service..........................................      1,817          1,791           613            613     
     Service, except private household and protective............      3,455          3,400           325            336     
   Precision production, craft, and repair.......................     10,741         10,861           587            606     
     Mechanics and repairers.....................................      3,926          4,057           599            622     
     Construction trades.........................................      3,989          4,059           545            571     
     Other precision production, craft, and repair...............      2,826          2,745           611            634     
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers..........................     11,564         11,685           456            472     
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors...............      4,482          4,371           472            487     
     Transportation and material moving occupations..............      3,977          4,083           519            522     
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers.........      3,105          3,230           362            377     
   Farming, forestry, and fishing................................      1,337          1,364           307            341     
                                                                                                                             
                              Women                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
   Managerial and professional specialty.........................     14,363         15,167           655            681     
     Executive, administrative, and managerial...................      6,705          6,992           626            652     
     Professional specialty......................................      7,658          8,175           682            707     
   Technical, sales, and administrative support..................     16,933         16,863           419            431     
     Technicians and related support.............................      1,734          1,749           511            528     
     Sales occupations...........................................      4,338          4,326           372            399     
     Administrative support, including clerical..................     10,862         10,788           418            427     
   Service occupations...........................................      5,301          5,632           296            304     
     Private household...........................................        362            367           220            240     
     Protective service..........................................        323            347           481            492     
     Service, except private household and protective............      4,616          4,918           295            302     
   Precision production, craft, and repair.......................        949          1,066           408            428     
     Mechanics and repairers.....................................        155            206           519            592     
     Construction trades.........................................         64             85           408            423     
     Other precision production, craft, and repair...............        730            776           392            403     
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers..........................      3,518          3,498           327            337     
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors...............      2,505          2,444           328            340     
     Transportation and material moving occupations..............        345            317           373            394     
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers.........        669            737           311            314     
   Farming, forestry, and fishing................................        218            218           272            283     

      1 Data not shown where base is less than 50,000.
      NOTE:  Beginning in January 1999, 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, 1999 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..........................   86,352       $284       $393       $592       $872     $1,260  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    8,459        215        267        346        494        680  
       High school graduates, no college...............   27,314        270        349        490        688        932  
       Some college or associate degree................   23,949        300        404        580        798      1,079  
       College graduates, total........................   26,630        430        607        860      1,243      1,749  
         Bachelor's degree only........................   17,660        406        575        787      1,146      1,566  
         Advanced degree...............................    8,971        515        721        997      1,433      1,957  
                                                                                                                         
                            Men                                                                                          
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   48,738        312        450        668        979      1,425  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    5,471        237        294        395        550        746  
       High school graduates, no college...............   15,467        302        407        580        781      1,027  
       Some college or associate degree................   12,752        340        476        665        915      1,208  
       College graduates, total........................   15,047        484        681        977      1,425      1,921  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    9,932        455        634        912      1,319      1,832  
         Advanced degree...............................    5,114        583        804      1,150      1,625      2,304  
                                                                                                                         
                           Women                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   37,615        258        342        497        727      1,020  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    2,988        189        236        290        375        501  
       High school graduates, no college...............   11,847        240        304        405        546        723  
       Some college or associate degree................   11,196        279        359        488        665        886  
       College graduates, total........................   11,583        393        541        740      1,013      1,372  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    7,727        374        502        680        931      1,250  
         Advanced degree...............................    3,856        477        641        863      1,160      1,547  
                                                                                                                         
                         White men                                                                                       
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   41,242        322        472        692      1,007      1,456  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    4,654        238        296        399        567        769  
       High school graduates, no college...............   12,902        315        425        598        806      1,055  
       Some college or associate degree................   10,671        358        494        690        940      1,239  
       College graduates, total........................   13,016        492        700      1,005      1,448      1,992  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    8,610        469        650        936      1,349      1,878  
         Advanced degree...............................    4,405        591        828      1,165      1,657      2,365  
                                                                                                                         
                        White women                                                                                      
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   30,125        264        353        507        739      1,039  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    2,250        190        236        290        377        505  
       High school graduates, no college...............    9,572        244        310        413        559        732  
       Some college or associate degree................    8,800        282        367        498        678        897  
       College graduates, total........................    9,503        401        549        746      1,024      1,396  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    6,278        381        506        686        936      1,264  
         Advanced degree...............................    3,224        484        650        873      1,169      1,566  
                                                                                                                         
                         Black men                                                                                       
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................    5,215        277        362        511        738      1,012  
       Less than a high school diploma.................      577        225        284        370        488        613  
       High school graduates, no college...............    2,085        264        335        458        641        860  
       Some college or associate degree................    1,572        290        386        522        738        990  
       College graduates, total........................      981        414        578        766      1,023      1,454  
         Bachelor's degree only........................      716        400        546        732        980      1,348  
         Advanced degree...............................      264        536        674        934      1,326      1,860  
                                                                                                                         
                        Black women                                                                                      
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................    5,620        240        306        428        632        902  
       Less than a high school diploma.................      526        185        232        287        368        492  
       High school graduates, no college...............    1,863        228        283        361        492        666  
       Some college or associate degree................    1,958        263        328        441        607        802  
       College graduates, total........................    1,273        357        511        684        941      1,216  
         Bachelor's degree only........................      888        327        486        642        887      1,140  
         Advanced degree...............................      385        442        594        806      1,057      1,366  

           NOTE:  See note table 4.