Technical information:  (202) 691-6378        USDL 04-46
               http://www.bls.gov/cps/
                                              For release:  10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                691-5902        Friday, January 16, 2004

                                     
             USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS:
                            FOURTH QUARTER 2003
   

   Median weekly earnings of the nation's 100.4 million full-time wage and
salary workers were $625 in the fourth quarter of 2003, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  This was 2.0
percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 1.9 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 $561 per
week, or 79.7 percent of the $704 median for men.  The female-to-male
earnings ratios were higher among blacks (89.6 percent) and Hispanics 
or Latinos (87.6 percent) than among whites (79.1 percent) or Asians 
(73.9 percent).  (See table 1.)
   
   --Median earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $560 per
week, 76.9 percent of the median for white men ($728).  The difference was
less among women, as black women's median earnings ($502) were 87.2 percent
of those for their white counterparts ($576).  Overall, median earnings of
Hispanics or Latinos who worked full time ($441) were lower than those of 
blacks ($522), whites ($646), and Asians ($680).
   
   --Among men, those age 55 to 64 ($841) had the highest median weekly
earnings.  Among women, earnings also were highest for those 55 to 64 years
old ($613).  (See table 2.)
   
   --Among the major occupational groups, persons employed full time in
managerial, professional, and related occupations had the highest median
weekly earnings--$1,072 for men and $766 for women.  Men and women in
service jobs earned the least.  (See table 3.)
   
   --Full-time workers age 25 and over without a high school diploma had
median weekly earnings of $397, compared with $556 for high school graduates 
(no college) and $967 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 $2,562 or more per week, compared with $1,749 or more for their female 
counterparts.  (See table 4.)
   
Annual Averages for 2002 and 2003
   
   In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this release includes
2002 and 2003 annual average weekly earnings for major demographic, occu-
pation, 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 2004 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 scienti-
fically 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 self-employment 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 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 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).

                                  - 2 -

     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
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                              Number of workers              Median weekly earnings          
                                                                (in thousands)                                               
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                       Characteristic                                                 In current dollars    In constant (1982) 
                                                                                                               dollars       
                                                                IV         IV                                               
                                                               2002       2003                                              
                                                                                        IV         IV         IV         IV   
                                                                                       2002       2003       2002       2003   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
                        SEX AND AGE                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
 Total, 16 years and over..................................    99,575    100,407       $613       $625       $326       $327 
                                                                                                                             
    Men, 16 years and over.................................    56,029     56,459        686        704        365        368 
      16 to 24 years.......................................     6,111      5,851        390        409        208        214 
      25 years and over....................................    49,918     50,608        737        750        393        392 
                                                                                                                             
    Women, 16 years and over...............................    43,545     43,948        542        561        289        293 
      16 to 24 years.......................................     4,483      4,408        384        372        204        194 
      25 years and over....................................    39,062     39,540        576        588        306        307 
                                                                                                                             
        RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
    White(1)...............................................    81,782     81,815        630        646        335        338 
      Men..................................................    47,043     46,976        710        728        378        380 
      Women................................................    34,740     34,839        564        576        300        301 
                                                                                                                             
    Black or African American(1)...........................    12,075     11,977        495        522        264        273 
      Men..................................................     5,769      5,773        520        560        277        293 
      Women................................................     6,307      6,204        469        502        250        262 
                                                                                                                             
    Asian(1)...............................................     4,718      4,402        667        680        355        356 
      Men..................................................     2,645      2,489        756        784        402        410 
      Women................................................     2,073      1,913        570        579        303        303 
                                                                                                                             
    Hispanic or Latino.....................................    13,227     13,454        435        441        232        230 
      Men..................................................     8,443      8,737        457        468        243        245 
      Women................................................     4,784      4,717        408        410        217        214 

   1 Beginning in 2003, persons who selected this race group only; persons who selected more than one race group only are not
   included.  Prior to 2003, persons who reported more than one race group were included in the group they indentified as the
   main race.
   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 2003, 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 2003 averages, not seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                                    Total                  Men                  Women        
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
        Age, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity           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.........................................   100,407       $625     56,459       $704     43,948       $561 
   16 to 24 years..........................................    10,259        395      5,851        409      4,408        372 
     16 to 19 years........................................     1,409        311        830        322        580        301 
     20 to 24 years........................................     8,849        409      5,021        422      3,828        390 
   25 years and over.......................................    90,148        667     50,608        750     39,540        588 
     25 to 54 years........................................    76,625        664     43,232        741     33,393        587 
       25 to 34 years......................................    24,700        596     14,379        629     10,321        547 
       35 to 44 years......................................    27,219        702     15,593        791     11,626        596 
       45 to 54 years......................................    24,706        718     13,260        822     11,446        606 
     55 years and over.....................................    13,524        690      7,376        813      6,147        593 
       55 to 64 years......................................    11,732        719      6,343        841      5,389        613 
       65 years and over...................................     1,792        515      1,034        609        758        460 
                                                                                                                             
                          White(1)                                                                                           
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    81,815        646     46,976        728     34,839        576 
   16 to 24 years..........................................     8,423        403      4,854        418      3,569        380 
   25 years and over.......................................    73,392        689     42,122        770     31,270        598 
     25 to 54 years........................................    61,886        686     35,787        760     26,099        599 
     55 years and over.....................................    11,506        708      6,335        843      5,171        593 
                                                                                                                             
                Black or African American(1)                                                                                 
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    11,977        522      5,773        560      6,204        502 
   16 to 24 years..........................................     1,250        352        645        365        605        344 
   25 years and over.......................................    10,727        560      5,128        595      5,599        517 
     25 to 54 years........................................     9,404        549      4,480        588      4,925        513 
     55 years and over.....................................     1,323        607        648        618        675        584 
                                                                                                                             
                          Asian(1)                                                                                           
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................     4,402        680      2,489        784      1,913        579 
   16 to 24 years..........................................       239        411        132        429        107        366 
   25 years and over.......................................     4,162        700      2,357        836      1,806        585 
     25 to 54 years........................................     3,659        699      2,056        853      1,602        582 
     55 years and over.....................................       504        702        301        737        203        642 
                                                                                                                             
                     Hispanic or Latino                                                                                      
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    13,454       $441      8,737        468      4,717       $410 
   16 to 24 years..........................................     1,953        351      1,297        373        655        321 
   25 years and over.......................................    11,501        466      7,440        489      4,061        426 
     25 to 54 years........................................    10,514        461      6,808        485      3,706        424 
     55 years and over.....................................       987        503        632        546        356        457 

   1 Beginning in 2003, persons who selected this race group only; persons who selected more than one race group only are not
   included.  Prior to 2003, persons who reported more than one race group were included in the group they indentified as the
   main race.
   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 2003, 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      
                                                                   2002            2003              2002            2003     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
                            TOTAL                                                                                           
                                                                                                                            
   Managerial, professional, and related occupations........      35,650          35,874             $865            $894   
     Management, business, and financial operations                                                                         
      occupations...........................................      14,468          14,413              921             991   
     Professional and related occupations...................      21,181          21,461              837             848   
   Service occupations......................................      12,828          12,826              405             409   
   Sales and office occupations.............................      24,527          25,213              533             549   
     Sales and related occupations..........................       9,638           9,854              597             605   
     Office and administrative support occupations..........      14,889          15,359              514             526   
   Natural resources, construction, and maintenance                                                                         
    occupations.............................................      11,082          11,510              594             610   
     Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.............         886             915              320             355   
     Construction and extraction occupations................       6,100           6,062              583             613   
     Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations......       4,096           4,533              670             680   
   Production, transportation, and material moving                                                                          
    occupations.............................................      15,488          14,985              509             523   
     Production occupations.................................       8,675           8,514              511             522   
     Transportation and material moving occupations.........       6,813           6,471              506             523   
                                                                                                                            
                             Men                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
   Managerial, professional, and related occupations........      17,713          17,838            1,040           1,072   
     Management, business, and financial operations                                                                         
      occupations...........................................       7,963           8,058            1,130           1,170   
     Professional and related occupations...................       9,750           9,781              994             994   
   Service occupations......................................       6,584           6,531              475             475   
   Sales and office occupations.............................       9,229           9,429              634             675   
     Sales and related occupations..........................       5,429           5,483              727             749   
     Office and administrative support occupations..........       3,800           3,946              528             599   
   Natural resources, construction, and maintenance                                                                         
    occupations.............................................      10,589          11,031              598             618   
     Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.............         723             765              342             370   
     Construction and extraction occupations................       5,944           5,924              584             618   
     Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations......       3,921           4,342              675             686   
   Production, transportation, and material moving                                                                          
    occupations.............................................      11,915          11,630              555             576   
     Production occupations.................................       6,051           6,011              577             584   
     Transportation and material moving occupations.........       5,864           5,619              525             560   
                                                                                                                            
                            Women                                                                                           
                                                                                                                            
   Managerial, professional, and related occupations........      17,936          18,036              735             766   
     Management, business, and financial operations                                                                         
      occupations...........................................       6,505           6,356              745             810   
     Professional and related occupations...................      11,431          11,680              730             752   
   Service occupations......................................       6,244           6,295              359             372   
   Sales and office occupations.............................      15,298          15,783              501             504   
     Sales and related occupations..........................       4,209           4,371              444             468   
     Office and administrative support occupations..........      11,089          11,413              510             514   
   Natural resources, construction, and maintenance                                                                         
    occupations.............................................         494             479              455             402   
     Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.............         163             150              291             306   
     Construction and extraction occupations................         156             138              524             499   
     Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations......         175             191              605             517   
   Production, transportation, and material moving                                                                          
    occupations.............................................       3,573           3,355              400             410   
     Production occupations.................................       2,624           2,503              401             417   
     Transportation and material moving occupations.........         949             852              398             385   

     NOTE:  Occupations reflect the introduction of the 2002 Census occupational classification system derived from the
  2000 Standard Occupational Classification system into the Current Population Survey.  Beginning in January 2003, 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 2003 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 OR LATINO ETHNICITY                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
 Total, 16 years and over..................................   100,407       $303       $416       $625       $956     $1,440 
   Men.....................................................    56,459        320        461        704      1,073      1,592 
   Women...................................................    43,948        288        386        561        818      1,169 
                                                                                                                             
   White(1)................................................    81,815        308        427        646        982      1,473 
     Men...................................................    46,976        328        479        728      1,111      1,653 
     Women.................................................    34,839        291        392        576        831      1,194 
                                                                                                                             
   Black or African American(1)............................    11,977        283        375        522        774      1,086 
     Men...................................................     5,773        292        388        560        817      1,153 
     Women.................................................     6,204        274        359        502        735      1,009 
                                                                                                                             
   Asian(1)................................................     4,402        307        421        680      1,132      1,669 
     Men...................................................     2,489        324        479        784      1,235      1,772 
     Women.................................................     1,913        291        390        579        911      1,401 
                                                                                                                             
   Hispanic or Latino......................................    13,454        263        315        441        653        944 
     Men...................................................     8,737        276        327        468        684        986 
     Women.................................................     4,717        247        300        410        601        857 
                                                                                                                             
                   EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT                                                                                    
                                                                                                                             
   Total, 25 years and over................................    90,148        318        449        667        999      1,487 
     Less than a high school diploma.......................     8,530        248        302        397        551        758 
     High school graduates, no college.....................    27,182        302        398        556        776      1,043 
     Some college or associate degree......................    24,806        340        469        648        913      1,247 
     Bachelor's degree and higher..........................    29,630        471        669        967      1,451      1,970 
       Bachelor's degree only..............................    19,403        443        620        901      1,351      1,879 
       Advanced degree.....................................    10,227        535        763      1,124      1,639      2,288 
                                                                                                                             
     Men, 25 years and over................................    50,608        345        499        750      1,135      1,666 
       Less than a high school diploma.....................     5,765        274        320        423        611        841 
       High school graduates, no college...................    15,418        333        457        632        869      1,152 
       Some college or associate degree....................    13,155        381        535        750      1,031      1,427 
       Bachelor's degree and higher........................    16,271        503        758      1,138      1,657      2,303 
         Bachelor's degree only............................    10,634        482        715      1,061      1,538      2,113 
         Advanced degree...................................     5,637        593        855      1,317      1,893      2,562 
                                                                                                                             
     Women, 25 years and over..............................    39,540        298        405        588        849      1,213 
       Less than a high school diploma.....................     2,765        227        278        331        446        593 
       High school graduates, no college...................    11,764        281        355        477        630        860 
       Some college or associate degree....................    11,652        313        413        566        760      1,010 
       Bachelor's degree and higher........................    13,359        442        606        834      1,163      1,582 
         Bachelor's degree only............................     8,770        422        582        772      1,067      1,494 
         Advanced degree...................................     4,589        502        722        953      1,335      1,749 

   1 Beginning in 2003, persons who selected this race group only; persons who selected more than one race group only are not
   included.  Prior to 2003, persons who reported more than one race group were included in the group they indentified as the
   main race.
   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 2003, 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      
                                                                   2002            2003              2002            2003     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
                         SEX AND AGE                                                                                        
                                                                                                                            
  Total, 16 years and over..................................      22,028          22,455             $186            $189   
                                                                                                                            
     Men, 16 years and over.................................       6,824           7,082              172             174   
       16 to 24 years.......................................       3,609           3,689              134             139   
       25 years and over....................................       3,215           3,393              239             230   
                                                                                                                            
     Women, 16 years and over...............................      15,204          15,373              193             197   
       16 to 24 years.......................................       4,700           4,697              136             135   
       25 years and over....................................      10,504          10,675              229             233   
                                                                                                                            
         RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX                                                                        
                                                                                                                            
     White(1)...............................................      18,833          19,014              187             190   
       Men..................................................       5,765           5,957              171             173   
       Women................................................      13,068          13,057              194             198   
                                                                                                                            
     Black or African American(1)...........................       2,048           2,022              180             174   
       Men..................................................         656             634              183             169   
       Women................................................       1,392           1,387              178             177   
                                                                                                                            
     Asian(1)...............................................         934             789              196             217   
       Men..................................................         343             268              167             199   
       Women................................................         591             521              216             220   
                                                                                                                            
     Hispanic or Latino.....................................       2,347           2,618              189             197   
       Men..................................................         800             918              199             206   
       Women................................................       1,547           1,700              185             193   

    1 Beginning in 2003, persons who selected this race group only; persons who selected more than one race group only are
    not included.  Prior to 2003, persons who reported more than one race group were included in the group they indentified 
    as the main race.
    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 2003, 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       
                                                               2002       2003                                               
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                     2002       2003       2002       2003   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
                        SEX AND AGE                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
 Total, 16 years and over..................................  100,081    100,302      $608       $620       $326       $325   
                                                                                                                             
   Men, 16 years and over..................................   56,345     56,227       679        695        364        364   
    16 to 24 years.........................................    6,317      6,158       391        398        210        209   
    25 years and over......................................   50,027     50,069       732        744        393        390   
                                                                                                                             
   Women, 16 years and over................................   43,737     44,076       529        552        284        290   
    16 to 24 years.........................................    4,804      4,632       367        371        197        195   
    25 years and over......................................   38,933     39,444       568        584        305        306   
                                                                                                                             
        RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
   White (1)...............................................   82,324     81,916       623        636        334        334   
     Men...................................................   47,417     47,001       702        715        377        375   
     Women.................................................   34,908     34,916       547        567        294        298   
                                                                                                                             
   Black (1)...............................................   12,109     11,887       498        514        267        269   
     Men...................................................    5,789      5,585       524        555        281        291   
     Women.................................................    6,319      6,301       473        491        254        257   
                                                                                                                             
   Asian (1)...............................................    4,613      4,314       658        693        353        363   
     Men...................................................    2,556      2,442       756        772        405        405   
     Women.................................................    2,058      1,872       566        598        304        314   
                                                                                                                             
   Hispanic or Latino......................................   13,137     13,634       424        440        227        231   
     Men...................................................    8,272      8,677       451        464        242        243   
     Women.................................................    4,865      4,957       397        410        213        215   

   1 Beginning in 2003, persons who selected this race group only; persons who selected more than one race group are not
   included.  Prior to 2003, persons who reported more than one race group were included in the group they identified as their
   main race.
   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.  Data for 2002 have been revised to incorporate changes to the
 class of worker status associated with the introduction of the 2002 Census industry and occupational classification systems
 into the Current Population Survey.  Beginning in January 2003, 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                                                                                   
                                                                                                                             
                                                                       2002           2003            2002           2003     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
                              TOTAL                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
   Management, professional, and related occupations.............     35,441         35,680           $859           $887    
    Management, business, and financial operations occupations...     14,537         14,493            922            961    
    Professional and related occupations.........................     20,904         21,186            823            845    
   Service occupations...........................................     13,136         13,333            396            403    
   Sales and office occupations..................................     24,983         25,108            527            545    
    Sales and related occupations................................      9,772          9,924            592            598    
    Office and administrative support occupations................     15,211         15,184            511            523    
   Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations..     10,780         11,082            597            608    
    Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations...................        819            778            340            369    
    Construction and extraction occupations......................      5,974          5,973            589            599    
    Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations............      3,987          4,331            663            673    
   Production, transportation, and material moving occupations...     15,741         15,100            511            519    
    Production occupations.......................................      9,055          8,599            508            519    
    Transportation and material moving occupations...............      6,685          6,501            514            520    
                                                                                                                             
                               Men                                                                                           
                                                                                                                             
   Management, professional, and related occupations.............     17,779         17,718          1,019          1,059    
    Management, business, and financial operations occupations...      8,122          8,047          1,098          1,143    
    Professional and related occupations.........................      9,657          9,671            974          1,005    
   Service occupations...........................................      6,738          6,708            448            463    
   Sales and office occupations..................................      9,398          9,456            647            658    
    Sales and related occupations................................      5,514          5,557            730            731    
    Office and administrative support occupations................      3,884          3,899            570            584    
   Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations..     10,269         10,612            603            613    
    Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations...................        631            626            362            384    
    Construction and extraction occupations......................      5,829          5,831            590            602    
    Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations............      3,809          4,155            665            675    
   Production, transportation, and material moving occupations...     12,160         11,733            558            570    
    Production occupations.......................................      6,355          6,069            574            583    
    Transportation and material moving occupations...............      5,805          5,664            539            547    
                                                                                                                             
                              Women                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
   Management, professional, and related occupations.............     17,662         17,962            735            758    
    Management, business, and financial operations occupations...      6,415          6,446            756            799    
    Professional and related occupations.........................     11,247         11,516            723            739    
   Service occupations...........................................      6,398          6,625            355            366    
   Sales and office occupations..................................     15,584         15,652            488            502    
    Sales and related occupations................................      4,257          4,367            430            452    
    Office and administrative support occupations................     11,327         11,286            500            513    
   Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations..        512            469            431            449    
    Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations...................        187            152            297            318    
    Construction and extraction occupations......................        146            141            523            497    
    Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations............        179            176            593            629    
   Production, transportation, and material moving occupations...      3,581          3,367            399            407    
    Production occupations.......................................      2,700          2,530            400            406    
    Transportation and material moving occupations...............        880            837            396            410    

      NOTE:  Occupations reflect the introduction of the 2002 Census occupational classification system derived from the
 2000 Standard Occupational Classification system into the Current Population Survey.  Beginning in January 2003, 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, 2003 annual averages 
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                                                          Number                       Upper limit of:                   
                  Educational attainment,                   of                                                           
                  sex, race, and Hispanic                 workers                                                        
                  or Latino ethnicity                      (in       First      First     Second      Third      Ninth  
                                                        thousands)   decile    quartile   quartile   quartile    decile  
                                                                                          (median)                       
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                         
                           TOTAL                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   89,513       $318       $447       $662       $994     $1,470  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    8,594        243        302        396        535        753  
       High school graduates, no college...............   27,082        301        399        554        772      1,049  
       Some college or associate degree................   24,610        339        462        639        907      1,235  
       College graduates, total........................   29,226        477        671        964      1,430      1,976  
         Bachelor's degree only........................   19,217        447        624        900      1,330      1,879  
         Advanced degree...............................   10,009        578        772      1,126      1,621      2,278  
                                                                                                                         
                            Men                                                                                          
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   50,069        352        498        744      1,131      1,655  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    5,755        269        324        429        599        827  
       High school graduates, no college...............   15,272        339        458        628        875      1,163  
       Some college or associate degree................   12,891        385        524        740      1,023      1,406  
       College graduates, total........................   16,151        516        755      1,131      1,636      2,293  
         Bachelor's degree only........................   10,596        492        709      1,044      1,525      2,090  
         Advanced degree...............................    5,555        609        875      1,315      1,881      2,548  
                                                                                                                         
                           Women                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   39,444        295        400        584        843      1,195  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    2,839        217        273        329        430        575  
       High school graduates, no college...............   11,810        277        351        474        631        847  
       Some college or associate degree................   11,719        310        409        560        759      1,012  
       College graduates, total........................   13,075        439        608        832      1,157      1,580  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    8,621        412        578        767      1,061      1,472  
         Advanced degree...............................    4,454        526        719        953      1,324      1,800  
                                                                                                                         
                       White, total                                                                                      
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   72,994        325        463        683      1,020      1,515  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    6,972        247        304        401        547        767  
       High school graduates, no college...............   22,054        307        409        576        794      1,079  
       Some college or associate degree................   19,898        349        478        659        934      1,267  
       College graduates, total........................   24,069        490        689        988      1,463      2,030  
         Bachelor's degree only........................   15,794        463        641        925      1,365      1,904  
         Advanced degree...............................    8,275        588        792      1,139      1,647      2,299  
                                                                                                                         
                         White men                                                                                       
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   41,811        363        511        766      1,153      1,727  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    4,853        272        325        432        601        833  
       High school graduates, no college...............   12,648        351        478        652        898      1,185  
       Some college or associate degree................   10,699        397        547        761      1,054      1,434  
       College graduates, total........................   13,612        544        781      1,151      1,676      2,320  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    9,004        511        737      1,081      1,558      2,181  
         Advanced degree...............................    4,608        626        905      1,339      1,892      2,680  
                                                                                                                         
                        White women                                                                                      
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   31,183        299        408        595        855      1,221  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    2,120        224        275        331        435        578  
       High school graduates, no college...............    9,407        281        359        484        646        856  
       Some college or associate degree................    9,200        316        415        573        771      1,032  
       College graduates, total........................   10,457        450        616        839      1,167      1,622  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    6,790        417        584        771      1,072      1,495  
         Advanced degree...............................    3,667        550        728        964      1,338      1,827  
                                                                                                                         
              Black or African American, total                                                                           
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   10,664        290        386        542        786      1,112  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    1,061        219        287        376        509        714  
       High school graduates, no college...............    3,719        280        357        476        652        901  
       Some college or associate degree................    3,383        304        402        551        759      1,010  
       College graduates, total........................    2,502        407        584        793      1,133      1,490  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    1,808        393        553        762      1,054      1,413  
         Advanced degree...............................      693        471        665        887      1,271      1,722  
                                                                                                                         
               Black or African American men                                                                             
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................    4,979        310        410        588        830      1,171  
       Less than a high school diploma.................      565        250        316        421        606        809  
       High school graduates, no college...............    1,868        305        393        519        723        988  
       Some college or associate degree................    1,497        322        434        609        852      1,133  
       College graduates, total........................    1,049        402        587        790      1,171      1,549  
         Bachelor's degree only........................      771        396        568        774      1,114      1,444  
         Advanced degree...............................      278        442        643        863      1,381      1,889  
                                                                                                                         
              Black or African American women                                                                            
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................    5,685        277        364        508        749      1,037  
       Less than a high school diploma.................      496        198        260        324        423        597  
       High school graduates, no college...............    1,851        259        326        434        582        797  
       Some college or associate degree................    1,886        293        384        510        685        907  
       College graduates, total........................    1,453        412        582        797      1,091      1,451  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    1,037        390        545        756      1,022      1,384  
         Advanced degree...............................      416        482        686        893      1,230      1,604  
                                                                                                                         
                        Asian, total                                                                                     
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................    3,984        314        460        723      1,142      1,729  
       Less than a high school diploma.................      325        226        289        369        490        611  
       High school graduates, no college...............      741        283        362        491        696        993  
       Some college or associate degree................      671        324        442        624        891      1,204  
       College graduates, total........................    2,247        425        635        954      1,429      1,912  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    1,325        395        585        847      1,221      1,732  
         Advanced degree...............................      922        524        757      1,153      1,726      2,280  
                                                                                                                         
                 Hispanic or Latino, total                                                                               
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   11,532        270        333        473        700      1,018  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    4,127        238        293        371        487        649  
       High school graduates, no college...............    3,410        280        352        485        676        907  
       Some college or associate degree................    2,351        303        404        576        800      1,084  
       College graduates, total........................    1,644        354        535        799      1,162      1,739  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    1,190        335        502        747      1,078      1,575  
         Advanced degree...............................      454        437        652        949      1,426      1,905  
                                                                                                                         
                   Hispanic or Latino men                                                                                
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................    7,292        283        355        493        730      1,083  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    2,975        254        306        393        510        693  
       High school graduates, no college...............    2,106        298        386        522        735        987  
       Some college or associate degree................    1,302        324        447        623        875      1,173  
       College graduates, total........................      909        364        571        879      1,351      1,906  
         Bachelor's degree only........................      643        342        515        810      1,230      1,863  
         Advanced degree...............................      265        459        694      1,090      1,544      2,260  
                                                                                                                         
                  Hispanic or Latino women                                                                               
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................    4,240        247        309        425        638        918  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    1,152        216        265        314        399        514  
       High school graduates, no college...............    1,304        248        311        415        584        781  
       Some college or associate degree................    1,049        287        374        509        706        957  
       College graduates, total........................      735        341        513        737      1,018      1,419  
         Bachelor's degree only........................      546        326        492        694        959      1,381  
         Advanced degree...............................      189        398        616        833      1,145      1,663  

          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 2003, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.