1

Highlights of Women’s

Earnings in 2004

U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

September 2005

Report 987

I

n 2004, median weekly earnings for women who were fulltime wage and salary workers were $573, or 80 percent of

the $713 median for their male counterparts. This ratio

was about the same in 2003. In 1979, the first year of comparable earnings data, women earned 63 percent as much as

men did. (See chart 1.)

The women’s-to-men’s earnings ratio varies significantly

by demographic group. The ratio was about 89 percent for

blacks and 87 percent for Hispanics or Latinos in 2004. For

whites, it was 80 percent, and for Asians it was 76 percent.

Young women, those 16 to 24 years old, earned almost as

much (94 percent) as young men did, while women 35 years

and older earned about 75 percent as much as did their male

peers.

This report presents earnings data from the Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS is a national monthly survey

of approximately 60,000 households conducted by the U.S.

Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Information on earnings is collected from one-fourth of the CPS

sample each month. Users should note that the comparisons of earnings in this report are on a broad level and do

not control for many factors that can be significant in explaining earnings differences. For a detailed description of

the source of the data and an explanation of the concepts

and definitions used, please see the Technical Note in this

report.

Highlights

Following are some highlights of women’s and men’s earnings in 2004.

Full-time workers

• Among women, 45- to 54-year-olds had the highest

median weekly earnings ($625), followed closely by 55- to

64-year-olds ($615), and 35- to 44-year-olds ($608). Men’s

earnings also were highest among 45- to 54-year-olds ($857)

and 55- to 64-year-olds ($843). The difference between

women’s and men’s earnings was much larger among middleaged and older workers than among younger workers. For

instance, among workers aged 45 to 54, women earned 73

percent as much as men did. By comparison, among 16- to

24-year-olds, women earned 94 percent as much as their male

counterparts, and, among workers 25 to 34 years old, women

earned 88 percent as much as did men. (See table 1.)

• Between 1979 and 2004, the earnings gap between

women and men narrowed for most major age groups. The

women’s-to-men’s earnings ratio among 35- to 44-year-olds,

for example, rose from 58 percent in 1979 to 76 percent in

2004, and that for 45- to 54-year-olds rose from 57 percent in

1979 to 73 percent 25 years later. The earnings ratios for

teenagers and for workers 65 years old and older, however,

showed no consistent movement over the period. (See table

12.)

• Asian workers of both sexes earned more than their

white, black, or Hispanic or Latino counterparts did. Asian

women’s median weekly earnings ($613) were 5 percent higher

than white women’s earnings ($584), 21 percent more than

black women’s earnings ($505), and 46 percent higher than

the earnings of Hispanic or Latino women ($419). In comparison, Asian men’s earnings ($802) were 10 percent higher

than the earnings of white men ($732), 41 percent greater

than the earnings of black men ($569), and 67 percent higher

than those of Hispanic or Latino men ($480). (See tables 1

and 13 and chart 2.)

• Earnings differences between women and men in 2004

were widest for whites and Asians. White women earned 80

percent as much as white men did, and Asian women earned

76 percent as much as Asian men did. Both black women (89

percent) and Hispanic or Latino (87 percent) women had

earnings that were much closer to those of their male counterparts. (See table 1.)

• Growth in earnings for white women has outpaced that

for their black and Hispanic or Latino counterparts. Between

1979 and 2004, inflation-adjusted earnings for white women

grew fairly steadily, rising by 32 percent. Earnings over the

period grew by 24 percent for black women and by 11 percent for Hispanic or Latino women. In contrast, real earnings

for white and for black men rose only slightly, while those for

Hispanic or Latino men fell by 9 percent. (See table 13.)
2

• Median weekly earnings in 2004 varied significantly

by level of education. Among women, those with less than a

high school diploma earned $334 per week, compared with

$860 for those with a college degree. Among men, high school

dropouts earned $446 a week, compared with $1,143 for college graduates. (See table 6.)

• At all levels of education, women have fared better

than men with respect to earnings growth. Although both

women and men with less than a high school diploma have

experienced a decline in inflation-adjusted earnings since

1979, the drop for women—9 percent—was significantly less

than that for men—27 percent. Earnings for women with

college degrees have increased by 35 percent since 1979 on

an inflation-adjusted basis, while earnings for male college

graduates have risen by 20 percent. (See table 14 and chart 3.)

• Women working full time in management, business,

and financial operations occupations earned a median of

$812 per week in 2004. This was more than women earned in

any other major occupational category. The second highest

paying job group was professional and related occupations,

in which women earned $767 per week. Within management

fields, the highest paying occupations for women were chief

executives, computer and information systems managers,

human resources managers, purchasing managers, medical

and health services managers, and management analysts.

Within professional occupations, women working as pharmacists, lawyers, computer software engineers, computer

programmers, and physicians and surgeons had the highest

median weekly earnings. (See table 2.)

• Within occupational groups, women and men tend to

work in different occupations. In professional and related

occupations, for example, women were much less likely than

men to be employed in the highest paying occupations—

engineers and computer and mathematical scientists. Women

were more likely than men to work in lower paying education,

training, and library occupations. (See table 2.)

• The ratio of female-to-male earnings varied by place of

residence, from a high of 87 percent in California to a low of

66 percent in Wyoming. The differences among the States

reflect, in part, variations in the occupations and industries

found in each State and in the age composition of each State’s

labor force. In addition, sampling error for the State estimates is considerably larger than it is for the national estimates; thus, one should be especially careful when comparing State estimates. (See table 3.)

• Just 5 percent of women earned $1,500 or more per

week, compared with 13 percent of men. Not surprisingly,

given their higher earnings overall, Asian women were more

likely than other women to earn at least $1,500 per week. (See

table 7.)

• Median weekly earnings of married women with children under the age of 18 were 21 percent higher than the

earnings of unmarried mothers. The difference was even

greater for men: married fathers earned 33 percent more than

unmarried fathers did. (See table 8.)

Part-time workers

• Women who worked part time—that is, less than 35

hours per week—accounted for 25 percent of all female wage

and salary workers in 2004. In contrast, just 11 percent of

men in wage and salary jobs worked part time. (See tables 4

and 5.)

• Median weekly earnings of female part-time workers

were $201, compared with $183 for male part-time workers.

The men have lower earnings than the women because male

part-time workers are more highly concentrated in the youngest age groups, which typically have low earnings. Half of

male part-time workers were 16 to 24 years old, compared

with just under a third of female part-timers. (See table 4.)

Workers paid by the hour

• About 63 percent of women and 57 percent of men

employed in wage and salary jobs were paid by the hour in

2004. Women in this category had median hourly earnings

of $10.17, or 85 percent of the median for men paid by the

hour ($12.02). (See tables 5, 9, 10, 15, and 16.)

• Among women who were paid hourly rates in 2004,

about 4 percent reported hourly earnings at or below the

prevailing Federal minimum wage of $5.15 an hour. This

share compared with 2 percent of men who were paid by the

hour. (See tables 11 and 17 and chart 4. Also see the Technical Note for information about workers with earnings below

the Federal minimum wage.)

• As would be expected, 16- to 19-year-old women and

men paid by the hour were the most likely to have earnings at

or below the minimum wage. Workers 25 years of age and

older were very unlikely to earn the minimum wage or less,

although for women aged 65 and older the incidence of minimum wage work rose. (See table 11 and chart 4.)
3

Chart 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2004) 

 dollars by sex, 1979-2004 annual averages

Earnings Earnings

Men's earnings

Women's earnings

1979 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004

$400

$450

$500

$550

$600

$650

$700

$750

$400

$450

$500

$550

$600

$650

$700

$750

Chart 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex, race,

 and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2004 annual averages

$713

$573 $584

$732

$505

$569

$419

$480

Total White Black or Asian Hispanic

$0

$100

$200

$300

$400

$500

$600

$700

$800

$900

$0

$100

$200

$300

$400

$500

$600

$700

$800

$900

Earnings Earnings

Women

Men

$613

$802

African

American

or

Latino
4

0

5

10

15

20

0

5

10

15

20

3.6

11.5

6.6

3.2

2.0 1.5 1.8

5.5

16 to 19

 years

20 to 24

years

35 to 44

years

25 to 34

years

45 to 54

years

55 to 64

years

65 years

and older

Total,

16 years

and older

NOTE: Data relate to female wage and salary workers paid hourly rates.

Percent Percent

Chart 4. Women with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage 

 by age, 2004 annual averages

Chart 3. Change in constant-dollar median weekly earnings from 1979 to 2004 by educational 

 attainment and sex

-40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40

Less than a high school 

diploma

High school graduate,

 no college

Some college or

 associate degree

Bachelor's degree 

and higher

 NOTE: Data relate to earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and older. 

Percent change

Women

Men

Highest educational level
5

Statistical Tables

0

1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics,

2004 annual averages ........................................................................................................................................................ 7

2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex,

2004 annual averages ........................................................................................................................................................ 8

3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex and State, 2004 annual averages .. 15

4. Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics,

2004 annual averages ........................................................................................................................................................ 16

5. Median usual weekly earnings of employed (full- and part-time) wage and salary workers by hours usually

worked and sex, 2004 annual averages ........................................................................................................................... 17

6. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by

selected characteristics, 2004 annual averages ............................................................................................................. 18

7. Usual weekly earnings distribution of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics,

2004 annual averages ........................................................................................................................................................ 19

8. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex, marital status, and presence and

age of own children under 18 years old, 2004 annual averages .................................................................................. 20

9. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates by selected characteristics,

2004 annual averages ........................................................................................................................................................ 21

10. Hourly earnings distribution of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates by selected characteristics,

2004 annual averages ........................................................................................................................................................ 22

11. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage

by selected characteristics, 2004 annual averages ....................................................................................................... 23

12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2004) dollars by sex and

age, 1979-2004 annual averages ....................................................................................................................................... 25

13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2004) dollars by sex, race,

and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2004 annual averages .................................................................................... 27

14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and older in constant (2004)

dollars by educational attainment, 1979-2004 annual averages .................................................................................. 30

15. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2004) dollars by sex and

age, 1979-2004 annual averages ....................................................................................................................................... 32

16. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2004) dollars by sex,

race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2004 annual averages ........................................................................... 34

17. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage

 by sex, 1979-2004 annual averages ................................................................................................................................ 37

Page
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 6
Table 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2004 annual averages

Characteristic

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

AGE

 Total, 16 years and over ................. 101,224 $638 $2 44,223 $573 $2 57,001 $713 $2 80.3

16 to 24 years ....................................... 10,876 390 2 4,633 375 3 6,243 400 2 93.7

 16 to 19 years .................................... 1,650 309 3 630 293 4 1,020 318 3 92.2

 20 to 24 years .................................... 9,226 406 2 4,003 391 3 5,223 417 3 93.8

25 years and over ................................. 90,348 683 2 39,590 599 2 50,758 762 2 78.7

 25 to 34 years .................................... 24,757 604 2 10,356 561 4 14,401 639 4 87.9

 35 to 44 years .................................... 26,861 713 3 11,459 608 3 15,402 804 6 75.6

 45 to 54 years .................................... 24,986 743 3 11,519 625 4 13,467 857 6 73.0

 55 to 64 years .................................... 11,932 725 5 5,463 615 5 6,469 843 9 73.0

 65 years and over .............................. 1,812 560 21 793 478 12 1,019 641 19 74.6

RACE AND HISPANIC OR

LATINO ETHNICITY

White .................................................... 82,468 657 2 34,972 584 2 47,495 732 3 79.8

Black or African American .................... 12,032 525 4 6,326 505 3 5,706 569 7 88.9

Asian ..................................................... 4,457 708 10 1,953 613 9 2,504 802 17 76.4

Hispanic or Latino ................................. 14,061 456 4 5,065 419 4 8,996 480 3 87.1

MARITAL STATUS

Never married ....................................... 25,682 510 2 11,071 500 3 14,611 518 3 96.5

Married, spouse present ....................... 58,590 719 2 23,164 604 2 35,426 811 4 74.5

Other marital status .............................. 16,952 606 3 9,988 564 5 6,964 680 7 82.9

 Divorced ............................................ 11,603 639 5 6,869 593 4 4,734 729 7 81.3

 Separated .......................................... 3,836 513 5 1,951 482 8 1,884 570 16 84.5

 Widowed ............................................ 1,513 532 15 1,168 515 8 345 615 22 83.7

UNION AFFILIATION 2

Members of unions 3 ............................ 14,029 781 4 5,575 723 6 8,454 829 6 87.2

Represented by unions 4 ...................... 15,463 776 4 6,305 719 5 9,158 828 6 86.8

Not represented by a union ................. 85,761 612 1 37,918 541 3 47,843 685 3 79.0

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and over ....................... 90,348 683 2 39,590 599 2 50,758 762 2 78.7

 Less than a high school diploma ........ 8,533 401 2 2,785 334 3 5,748 446 5 74.9

 High school graduates, no college 5 ... 27,141 574 2 11,628 488 2 15,513 645 4 75.6

 Some college or associate degree ..... 24,846 661 3 11,848 577 3 12,998 761 4 75.8

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 6 .......... 29,828 986 4 13,329 860 4 16,499 1,143 5 75.2

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table. 2 Differences in earnings levels between workers with and without union

affiliation reflect a variety of factors in addition to coverage by a collective

bargaining agreement, including the distribution of male and female

employees by occupation, industry, firm size, or geographic region. 3 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association

similar to a union. 4 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association 

similar to a union as well as workers who report no union affiliation but whose

jobs are covered by a union or an employee association contract. 5 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent. 6 Includes persons with a bachelor’s, master’s, professional, and doctoral

degree.

 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.

7
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2004 annual averages

Occupation

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s 1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

 Total, 16 years and over ............................. 101,224 $638 $2 44,223 $573 $2 57,001 $713 $2 80.3

Management, professional, and related

occupations ........................................ 36,149 918 3 18,168 780 4 17,981 1,098 8 71.1

 Management, business, and financial

operations occupations ....................... 14,778 965 5 6,609 812 8 8,170 1,158 7 70.2

 Management occupations ........................ 10,221 1,052 10 3,995 871 10 6,226 1,215 17 71.7

 Chief executives ................................... 1,050 1,663 70 248 1,310 74 802 1,875 47 69.9

 General and operations managers ....... 727 1,129 30 175 872 49 552 1,166 18 74.8

 Advertising and promotions managers 57 924 71 34 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 23 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Marketing and sales managers ............ 770 1,213 57 298 898 68 472 1,441 32 62.3

 Administrative services managers ........ 80 937 52 27 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 53 958 50 3 ( )

 Computer and information systems

managers ............................................ 325 1,439 32 96 1,228 79 228 1,547 58 79.4

 Financial managers .............................. 961 986 22 535 839 20 427 1,397 52 60.1

 Human resources managers ................ 261 1,051 51 171 958 42 90 1,259 50 76.1

 Industrial production managers ............ 269 1,107 43 49 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 220 1,172 64 3 ( )

 Purchasing managers ........................... 163 1,092 49 59 946 53 104 1,153 46 82.0

 Transportation, storage, and

distribution managers ......................... 220 741 24 34 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 187 753 25 3 ( )

 Farm, ranch, and other agricultural

managers ............................................ 103 621 30 16 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 86 612 24 3 ( )

 Construction managers ........................ 425 1,027 27 23 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 402 1,036 25 3 ( )

 Education administrators ...................... 651 1,019 31 405 905 33 246 1,172 59 77.2

 Engineering managers ......................... 99 1,807 126 6 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 94 1,783 113 3 ( )

 Food service managers ........................ 568 657 17 232 598 17 336 713 34 83.8

 Lodging managers ................................ 102 733 31 50 659 34 52 778 41 84.7

 Medical and health services managers 451 973 28 328 943 21 123 1,135 34 83.1

 Property, real estate, and community

association managers ......................... 304 681 32 186 623 23 118 767 62 81.3

 Social and community service

managers ............................................ 241 819 32 156 768 20 85 1,014 170 75.8

 Business and financial operations

occupations ........................................ 4,558 847 7 2,613 746 6 1,944 1,007 17 74.1

 Wholesale and retail buyers, except

farm products ...................................... 146 808 45 71 609 42 75 935 39 65.1

 Purchasing agents, except wholesale,

retail, and farm products ..................... 267 782 38 141 694 34 125 883 69 78.6

 Claims adjusters, appraisers,

examiners, and investigators .............. 257 762 32 171 677 27 85 952 44 71.1

 Compliance officers, except agriculture,

construction, health and safety, and

transportation ...................................... 116 922 66 62 835 179 54 1,070 247 78.1

 Cost estimators ..................................... 88 888 41 14 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 73 915 54 3 ( )

 Human resources, training, and labor

relations specialists ............................ 612 803 24 415 755 15 198 952 45 79.3

 Management analysts .......................... 317 1,017 43 146 922 42 170 1,215 78 75.8

 Accountants and auditors ..................... 1,385 851 10 842 757 10 543 1,016 31 74.5

 Appraisers and assessors of real

estate .................................................. 78 863 96 29 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 50 1,021 142 3 ( )

 Personal financial advisors ................... 229 1,062 103 61 773 185 167 1,170 49 66.1

 Insurance underwriters ......................... 89 859 38 65 772 47 24 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Loan counselors and officers ................ 381 799 40 216 695 35 165 1,001 51 69.5

 Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue

agents ................................................. 77 818 71 49 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 28 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Professional and related occupations ........... 21,371 883 4 11,560 767 4 9,811 1,049 8 73.1

 Computer and mathematical occupations 2,793 1,114 15 757 972 19 2,037 1,155 11 84.1

 Computer scientists and systems

analysts .............................................. 604 1,027 29 186 902 44 418 1,092 38 82.6

 Computer programmers ....................... 516 1,118 28 145 1,006 33 371 1,151 20 87.4

 Computer software engineers .............. 757 1,350 27 184 1,149 24 572 1,429 29 80.4

 Computer support specialists ............... 297 840 31 88 813 69 209 850 36 95.6

 Database administrators ....................... 76 1,105 70 22 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 53 1,121 76 3 ( )

 Network and computer systems

administrators ..................................... 178 1,038 57 33 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 145 1,064 60 3 ( )

 Network systems and data

communications analysts ................... 233 1,027 57 44 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 189 1,097 56 3 ( )

 Operations research analysts ............... 84 1,083 62 41 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 43 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

See footnotes at end of table.

8
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2004 annual averages — Continued

Occupation

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s 1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

 Architecture and engineering occupations 2,500 $1,098 $14 331 $880 $28 2,170 $1,139 $9 77.2

 Architects, except naval ........................ 142 1,141 25 38 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 105 1,242 39 3 ( )

 Aerospace engineers ............................ 105 1,347 51 10 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 94 1,369 56 3 ( )

 Chemical engineers .............................. 65 1,221 54 10 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 55 1,242 85 3 ( )

 Civil engineers ...................................... 264 1,135 21 32 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 232 1,159 22 3 ( )

 Computer hardware engineers ............. 86 1,328 221 13 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 73 1,487 107 3 ( )

 Electrical and electronics engineers ..... 311 1,277 71 24 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 287 1,336 50 3 ( )

 Industrial engineers, including health

and safety ........................................... 178 1,152 31 32 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 146 1,195 70 3 ( )

 Mechanical engineers ........................... 292 1,187 65 16 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 276 1,201 76 3 ( )

 Drafters ................................................. 178 768 25 38 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 140 797 30 3 ( )

 Engineering technicians, except

drafters ............................................... 394 829 25 73 696 31 320 867 25 80.3

 Surveying and mapping technicians ..... 66 672 75 9 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 57 711 90 3 ( )

 Life, physical, and social science

occupations ........................................ 1,073 957 15 426 884 26 647 1,012 24 87.3

 Biological scientists .............................. 109 929 37 49 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 60 946 67 3 ( )

 Medical scientists ................................. 83 1,025 158 45 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 38 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Chemists and materials scientists ........ 133 1,048 46 42 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 91 1,146 37 3 ( )

 Environmental scientists and

geoscientists ....................................... 75 1,008 61 20 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 55 1,144 51 3 ( )

 Market and survey researchers ............ 90 937 74 43 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 47 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Psychologists ........................................ 75 1,012 40 47 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 28 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Chemical technicians ............................ 89 827 45 27 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 62 869 49 3 ( )

 Community and social services

occupations ........................................ 1,846 707 12 1,082 661 10 764 766 15 86.4

 Counselors ........................................... 513 735 16 338 689 28 175 832 32 82.9

 Social workers ...................................... 620 698 18 472 689 22 148 720 29 95.8

 Miscellaneous community and social

service specialists ............................... 261 639 25 166 596 20 95 747 29 79.8

 Clergy ................................................... 351 771 29 47 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 304 795 29 3 ( )

 Legal occupations ..................................... 1,111 1,070 37 603 845 18 508 1,561 54 54.1

 Lawyers ................................................ 621 1,561 42 208 1,255 33 412 1,710 87 73.4

 Judges, magistrates, and other judicial

workers ............................................... 58 1,333 43 33 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 25 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Paralegals and legal assistants ............ 280 731 28 244 713 19 36 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Miscellaneous legal support workers .... 152 707 28 117 695 37 34 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Education, training, and library

occupations ........................................ 5,941 781 7 4,273 729 6 1,668 956 13 76.2

 Postsecondary teachers ....................... 813 1,034 32 337 886 43 476 1,162 25 76.2

 Preschool and kindergarten teachers ... 484 521 21 473 515 19 11 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Elementary and middle school teachers 2,206 806 11 1,772 776 10 435 917 21 84.7

 Secondary school teachers .................. 1,013 885 16 555 824 19 458 955 22 86.3

 Special education teachers .................. 325 804 29 271 795 28 54 841 35 94.6

 Other teachers and instructors ............. 297 776 28 158 654 36 139 873 47 74.9

 Librarians .............................................. 159 834 28 136 823 32 23 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Teacher assistants ............................... 545 377 10 500 373 10 45 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and

media occupations .............................. 1,426 768 13 618 688 17 808 862 23 79.9

 Artists and related workers ................... 65 865 79 24 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 41 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Designers ............................................. 480 714 20 230 646 22 250 818 36 79.0

 Producers and directors ....................... 98 1,030 66 35 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 63 1,211 175 3 ( )

 Athletes, coaches, umpires, and

related workers ................................... 99 745 46 17 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 82 792 52 3 ( )

 News analysts, reporters and

correspondents ................................... 64 835 85 33 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 31 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Public relations specialists .................... 102 823 56 61 739 27 40 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Editors .................................................. 110 856 30 54 759 27 56 946 54 80.3

 Writers and authors .............................. 86 760 47 44 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 42 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Broadcast and sound engineering

technicians and radio operators ......... 75 857 104 8 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 67 871 75 3 ( )

 Photographers ...................................... 53 650 47 17 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 36 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Healthcare practitioner and technical

occupations ........................................ 4,680 852 7 3,470 808 8 1,210 1,062 21 76.1

 Dietitians and nutritionists ..................... 57 669 87 49 2 ( ) 2 () 8 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Pharmacists .......................................... 162 1,578 57 72 1,432 109 90 1,684 167 85.1

 Physicians and surgeons ...................... 555 1,660 100 173 978 65 382 1,874 115 52.2

 Physician assistants ............................. 57 901 77 38 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 19 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Registered nurses ................................ 1,800 904 9 1,651 895 9 148 1,031 52 86.8

See footnotes at end of table.

9
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2004 annual averages — Continued

Occupation

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s 1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

 Occupational therapists ........................ 56 $923 $82 51 $906 $67 5 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Physical therapists ................................ 121 925 53 70 900 89 50 $955 $90 94.2

 Respiratory therapists ........................... 79 782 26 38 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 41 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Speech-language pathologists ............. 65 879 46 62 869 27 3 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Clinical laboratory technologists and

technicians .......................................... 267 727 25 188 710 37 79 763 52 93.0

 Diagnostic related technologists and

technicians .......................................... 225 884 24 150 836 42 75 961 55 87.0

 Emergency medical technicians and

paramedics ......................................... 121 690 25 37 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 84 717 33 3 ( )

 Health diagnosing and treating

practitioner support technicians .......... 280 516 13 236 508 14 44 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Licensed practical and licensed

vocational nurses ................................ 385 637 19 362 629 18 23 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Medical records and health information

technicians .......................................... 81 501 21 71 513 23 10 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

Service occupations ......................................... 13,763 411 2 6,773 374 2 6,989 476 5 78.6

 Healthcare support occupations ................... 1,985 407 4 1,755 402 4 230 453 24 88.8

 Nursing, psychiatric, and home health

aides ................................................... 1,261 388 5 1,113 383 5 148 420 11 91.1

 Dental assistants .................................. 144 474 24 139 469 26 5 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Protective service occupations ..................... 2,509 700 11 471 557 23 2,038 733 12 76.1

 First-line supervisors/managers of

police and detectives .......................... 134 1,015 27 27 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 107 1,055 88 3 ( )

 Fire fighters ........................................... 263 933 26 13 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 250 942 25 3 ( )

 Bailiffs, correctional officers, and jailers 370 622 16 107 558 22 263 654 26 85.4

 Detectives and criminal investigators ... 114 995 104 26 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 88 1,048 198 3 ( )

 Police and sheriff’s patrol officers ......... 654 844 23 83 841 38 571 845 28 99.5

 Private detectives and investigators ..... 63 812 133 21 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 41 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Security guards and gaming

surveillance officers ............................ 641 457 17 138 418 15 502 471 18 88.9

 Food preparation and serving related

occupations ........................................ 3,863 360 4 1,908 339 5 1,955 384 5 88.2

 Chefs and head cooks .......................... 266 508 15 51 416 23 215 524 21 79.4

 First-line supervisors/managers of food

preparation and serving workers ........ 504 435 13 282 418 13 222 464 22 90.0

 Cooks ................................................... 1,167 341 6 443 319 5 723 356 8 89.6

 Food preparation workers ..................... 278 321 7 158 323 10 120 319 8 101.3

 Bartenders ............................................ 197 426 25 102 392 21 95 482 23 81.3

 Combined food preparation and

serving workers, including fast food ... 123 311 11 85 308 11 39 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Counter attendants, cafeteria, food

concession, and coffee shop .............. 91 292 10 56 282 13 35 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Waiters and waitresses ........................ 799 348 9 538 327 9 261 399 13 82.0

 Food servers, nonrestaurant ................ 94 363 22 60 333 27 34 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Dining room and cafeteria attendants

and bartender helpers ........................ 152 340 19 61 356 24 91 326 23 109.2

 Dishwashers ......................................... 141 306 8 30 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 111 311 10 3 ( )

 Building and grounds cleaning and

maintenance occupations ................... 3,436 385 3 1,208 335 5 2,228 412 4 81.2

 First-line supervisors/managers of

housekeeping and janitorial work ....... 139 479 23 50 410 32 89 531 36 77.2

 First-line supervisors/managers of

landscaping, lawn service, and

groundskeeping workers .................... 106 641 35 6 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 99 661 34 3 ( )

 Janitors and building cleaners .............. 1,460 405 5 379 343 11 1,081 425 9 80.6

 Maids and housekeeping cleaners ....... 818 331 7 723 324 5 95 402 24 80.4

 Pest control workers ............................. 65 478 36 4 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 61 489 31 3 ( )

 Grounds maintenance workers ............. 848 372 6 46 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 803 371 7 3 ( )

 Personal care and service occupations ........ 1,969 402 5 1,431 380 5 538 500 15 75.9

 First-line supervisors/managers of

gaming workers .................................. 88 600 40 33 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 55 673 61 3 ( )

 First-line supervisors/managers of

personal service workers .................... 64 597 49 36 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 28 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Gaming services workers ..................... 75 558 51 41 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 34 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Hairdressers, hairstylists, and

cosmetologists .................................... 291 398 10 267 394 10 24 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

See footnotes at end of table.

10
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2004 annual averages — Continued

Occupation

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s 1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

 Baggage porters, bellhops, and

concierges .......................................... 60 $498 $22 11 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 50 $491 $20 3 ( )

 Transportation attendants ..................... 76 575 81 54 $473 $59 22 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Child care workers ................................ 413 334 10 387 334 9 26 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Personal and home care aides ............. 360 358 12 308 350 12 52 434 58 80.6

 Recreation and fitness workers ............ 153 498 21 89 473 24 65 585 30 80.9

Sales and office occupations ............................ 24,950 558 3 15,540 512 2 9,410 669 6 76.5

 Sales and related occupations ..................... 9,984 604 4 4,422 464 7 5,562 747 6 62.1

 First-line supervisors/managers of retail

sales workers ...................................... 2,246 613 7 985 505 8 1,260 737 12 68.5

 First-line supervisors/managers of

non-retail sales workers ...................... 936 860 21 284 678 36 652 927 21 73.2

 Cashiers ............................................... 1,355 322 3 1,016 313 3 339 380 19 82.6

 Counter and rental clerks ..................... 97 429 43 46 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 51 514 43 3 ( )

 Parts salespersons ............................... 120 530 32 13 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 107 554 30 3 ( )

 Retail salespersons .............................. 1,865 496 8 766 386 9 1,100 597 10 64.7

 Advertising sales agents ....................... 180 772 66 84 643 45 97 942 50 68.3

 Insurance sales agents ......................... 360 726 28 190 615 19 170 970 49 63.4

 Securities, commodities, and financial

services sales agents ......................... 305 973 47 95 651 21 210 1,168 138 55.8

 Travel agents ........................................ 69 576 26 59 544 33 10 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Sales representatives, services, all

other ................................................... 412 800 43 157 740 45 255 875 77 84.6

 Sales representatives, wholesale and

manufacturing ..................................... 1,233 867 17 296 754 30 937 895 20 84.3

 Real estate brokers and sales agents .. 431 744 27 233 663 46 197 834 31 79.5

 Telemarketers ....................................... 93 380 22 61 355 40 32 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Door-to-door sales workers, news and

street vendors, and related workers ... 61 442 62 23 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 38 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Office and administrative support

occupations ........................................ 14,966 535 3 11,118 522 2 3,848 587 6 89.0

 First-line supervisors/managers of

office and administrative support ........ 1,441 670 10 1,001 636 10 440 792 42 80.4

 Switchboard operators, including

answering service ............................... 55 450 36 50 459 33 4 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Bill and account collectors .................... 200 536 24 139 539 29 61 529 39 102.0

 Billing and posting clerks and machine

operators ............................................ 363 518 10 330 510 9 32 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing

clerks .................................................. 1,004 543 9 916 542 8 88 563 51 96.3

 Payroll and timekeeping clerks ............. 136 554 31 123 541 36 13 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Tellers ................................................... 301 405 8 265 401 8 35 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Court, municipal, and license clerks ..... 82 526 37 76 518 39 6 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Credit authorizers, checkers, and

clerks .................................................. 51 600 45 38 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 13 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Customer service representatives ........ 1,379 516 6 967 504 6 412 571 22 88.2

 Eligibility interviewers, government

programs ............................................ 63 622 33 48 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 15 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 File clerks ............................................. 264 528 18 205 525 20 58 543 42 96.7

 Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks ..... 67 349 20 41 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 27 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Interviewers, except eligibility and loan 102 497 15 89 498 14 12 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Library assistants, clerical .................... 51 468 21 47 2 ( ) 2 () 4 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Loan interviewers and clerks ................ 170 536 26 143 522 19 28 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Order clerks .......................................... 90 529 23 67 512 15 23 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Human resources assistants, except

payroll and timekeeping ...................... 53 635 30 42 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 11 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Receptionists and information clerks .... 847 462 8 795 463 8 52 454 21 102.1

 Reservation and transportation ticket

agents and travel clerks ...................... 125 502 20 85 489 19 40 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Couriers and messengers .................... 200 648 41 24 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 176 663 41 3 ( )

 Dispatchers ........................................... 232 586 24 122 516 13 109 701 50 73.6

 Postal service clerks ............................. 162 768 20 73 778 23 89 761 23 102.2

 Postal service mail carriers ................... 314 791 20 112 743 16 203 834 17 89.0

 Postal service mail sorters, processors,

and processing machine operators .... 103 741 33 41 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 62 749 59 3 ( )

 Production, planning, and expediting

clerks .................................................. 266 686 24 143 613 29 123 767 41 79.9

 Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks ... 537 501 9 144 469 15 393 512 10 91.5

See footnotes at end of table.

11
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2004 annual averages — Continued

Occupation

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s 1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

 Stock clerks and order fillers ................ 946 $429 $10 349 $420 $10 597 $438 $15 95.9

 Weighers, measurers, checkers, and

samplers, recordkeeping .................... 55 543 126 23 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 31 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Secretaries and administrative

assistants ............................................ 2,657 552 7 2,570 550 7 87 598 49 92.0

 Computer operators .............................. 170 579 26 91 580 24 79 575 54 100.9

 Data entry keyers ................................. 394 495 9 315 486 9 78 556 28 87.4

 Word processors and typists ................ 239 527 15 223 525 15 16 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Insurance claims and policy processing

clerks .................................................. 252 536 16 216 534 15 36 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Mail clerks and mail machine

operators, except postal service ......... 127 457 34 59 479 19 68 433 46 110.5

 Office clerks, general ............................ 667 503 8 559 499 9 109 523 23 95.3

 Office machine operators, except

computer ............................................. 51 433 21 31 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 20 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

Natural resources, construction, and

maintenance occupations ................... 11,280 621 4 445 453 18 10,835 626 4 72.3

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ... 718 356 8 133 322 9 585 367 9 87.8

 Graders and sorters, agricultural

products .............................................. 61 355 22 46 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 15 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Logging workers ................................... 61 465 31 2 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 59 470 42 3 ( )

 Construction and extraction occupations ...... 6,232 604 4 123 504 32 6,109 606 4 83.2

 First-line supervisors/managers of

construction trades and extraction

workers ............................................... 579 812 30 11 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 568 822 26 3 ( )

 Brickmasons, blockmasons, and

stonemasons ...................................... 164 577 32 - - - 164 577 33 –

 Carpenters ............................................ 1,170 576 10 21 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 1,149 576 10 3 ( )

 Carpet, floor, and tile installers and

finishers .............................................. 147 517 16 - - - 146 518 16 –

 Cement masons, concrete finishers,

and terrazzo workers .......................... 95 556 102 – – – 95 556 102 –

 Construction laborers ........................... 986 492 9 21 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 965 492 9 3 ( )

 Operating engineers and other

construction equipment operators ...... 335 689 16 4 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 331 689 16 3 ( )

 Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers,

and tapers ........................................... 156 529 21 – – – 156 529 21 –

 Electricians ........................................... 668 719 11 14 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 655 718 11 3 ( )

 Painters, construction and

maintenance ....................................... 410 494 10 15 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 395 495 10 3 ( )

 Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and

steamfitters ......................................... 483 690 14 2 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 480 690 14 3 ( )

 Roofers ................................................. 188 480 14 3 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 184 482 14 3 ( )

 Sheet metal workers ............................. 132 606 40 6 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 126 614 42 3 ( )

 Structural iron and steel workers .......... 53 694 35 - - - 53 695 35 –

 Helpers, construction trades ................. 99 386 16 4 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 94 386 17 3 ( )

 Construction and building inspectors .... 87 718 39 10 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 77 724 48 3 ( )

 Highway maintenance workers ............. 81 565 36 2 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 79 572 42 3 ( )

 Installation, maintenance, and repair

occupations ........................................ 4,330 704 5 190 611 28 4,140 707 6 86.4

 First-line supervisors/managers of

mechanics, installers, and repairers ... 326 876 25 22 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 304 877 25 3 ( )

 Computer, automated teller, and office

machine repairers ............................... 309 723 26 38 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 271 735 20 3 ( )

 Radio and telecommunications

equipment installers and repairers ..... 221 877 35 31 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 190 891 32 3 ( )

 Electronic home entertainment

equipment installers and repairers ..... 52 668 125 2 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 50 676 121 3 ( )

 Security and fire alarm systems

installers ............................................. 52 661 25 2 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 51 666 24 3 ( )

 Aircraft mechanics and service

technicians .......................................... 116 856 30 3 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 113 856 29 3 ( )

 Automotive body and related repairers 107 630 40 5 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 102 638 40 3 ( )

 Automotive service technicians and

mechanics .......................................... 735 637 26 12 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 723 639 27 3 ( )

 Bus and truck mechanics and diesel

engine specialists ............................... 298 706 21 1 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 297 707 21 3 ( )

See footnotes at end of table.

12
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2004 annual averages — Continued

Occupation

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s 1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

 Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment

service technicians and mechanics .... 189 $708 $20 2 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 188 $708 $20 3 ( )

 Heating, air conditioning, and

refrigeration mechanics and installers 298 682 17 5 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 293 683 16 3 ( )

 Industrial and refractory machinery

mechanics .......................................... 419 707 12 11 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 408 708 12 3 ( )

 Maintenance and repair workers,

general ................................................ 281 665 28 10 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 270 668 26 3 ( )

 Millwrights ............................................. 59 839 53 1 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 58 844 53 3 ( )

 Electrical power-line installers and

repairers ............................................. 112 804 60 2 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 111 813 59 3 ( )

 Telecommunications line installers and

repairers ............................................. 134 755 54 7 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 127 771 63 3 ( )

Production, transportation, and material

moving occupations ............................ 15,082 523 3 3,296 $406 $3 11,786 578 3 70.3

 Production occupations ................................ 8,478 526 4 2,454 405 4 6,024 597 4 67.8

 First-line supervisors/managers of

production and operating workers ...... 874 726 15 169 546 22 706 765 15 71.4

 Electrical, electronics, and

electromechanical assemblers ........... 213 443 22 117 397 12 96 515 18 77.1

 Bakers .................................................. 126 410 14 53 364 18 73 454 38 80.3

 Butchers and other meat, poultry, and

fish processing workers ...................... 260 454 12 51 369 19 209 488 19 75.5

 Food batchmakers ................................ 68 466 48 30 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 39 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Cutting, punching, and press machine

setters, operators, and tenders ........... 139 517 24 42 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 97 557 27 3 ( )

 Grinding, lapping, polishing, and

buffing machine tool setters,

operators ............................................ 78 516 27 8 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 70 527 38 3 ( )

 Machinists ............................................. 408 670 17 16 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 392 679 15 3 ( )

 Molders and molding machine setters,

operators, and tenders, metal ............. 69 459 28 19 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 50 489 25 3 ( )

 Tool and die makers ............................. 80 764 68 2 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 78 769 59 3 ( )

 Welding, soldering, and brazing

workers ............................................... 539 606 12 26 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 513 614 13 3 ( )

 Job printers ........................................... 54 563 35 12 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 42 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Printing machine operators ................... 174 592 23 32 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 142 622 25 3 ( )

 Laundry and dry-cleaning workers ....... 136 360 14 74 323 12 62 460 53 70.1

 Pressers, textile, garment, and related

materials ............................................. 67 293 10 42 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 24 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Sewing machine operators ................... 242 327 11 186 319 7 56 381 34 83.7

 Tailors, dressmakers, and sewers ........ 50 376 22 33 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 17 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters .. 61 498 21 3 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 58 503 22 3 ( )

 Stationary engineers and boiler

operators ............................................ 102 704 25 1 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 101 701 24 3 ( )

 Chemical processing machine setters,

operators, and tenders ....................... 65 790 45 7 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 58 809 50 3 ( )

 Crushing, grinding, polishing, mixing,

and blending workers ......................... 107 587 26 20 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 87 600 31 3 ( )

 Cutting workers ..................................... 73 519 31 17 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 56 563 38 3 ( )

 Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers,

and weighers ...................................... 638 585 12 240 474 15 398 663 24 71.5

 Medical, dental, and ophthalmic

laboratory technicians ......................... 76 524 28 41 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 35 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Packaging and filling machine

operators and tenders ........................ 299 368 9 168 341 12 131 410 18 83.2

 Painting workers ................................... 180 509 18 27 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 154 530 32 3 ( )

 Transportation and material moving

occupations ........................................ 6,604 520 4 842 410 6 5,762 549 7 74.8

 Supervisors, transportation and

material moving workers ..................... 180 655 28 33 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 147 688 32 3 ( )

 Aircraft pilots and flight engineers ........ 95 1,418 219 5 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 90 1,472 159 3 ( )

 Bus drivers ............................................ 366 500 15 152 440 13 215 588 30 74.8

 Driver/sales workers and truck drivers 2,587 610 6 93 476 53 2,494 613 6 77.6

 Taxi drivers and chauffeurs .................. 165 486 17 22 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 143 494 20 3 ( )

 Railroad conductors and yardmasters .. 57 881 265 5 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 52 903 87 3 ( )

 Parking lot attendants ........................... 52 378 18 8 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 44 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Service station attendants .................... 78 319 9 2 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 76 319 9 3 ( )

See footnotes at end of table.

13
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2004 annual averages — Continued

Occupation

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s 1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

 Crane and tower operators ................... 66 $732 $63 2 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 64 $721 $69 3 ( )

 Dredge, excavating, and loading

machine operators .............................. 57 607 39 - - - 57 607 39 –

 Industrial truck and tractor operators .... 525 486 9 40 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 485 487 9 3 ( )

 Cleaners of vehicles and equipment .... 258 384 11 28 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 230 387 12 3 ( )

 Laborers and freight, stock, and

material movers, hand ........................ 1,342 443 9 196 $402 $10 1,146 457 11 87.9

 Packers and packagers, hand .............. 349 349 9 206 333 11 143 373 15 89.2

 Refuse and recyclable material

collectors ............................................ 67 508 28 5 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 62 512 29 3 ( )

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table. 2 Data not shown where base is less than 50,000.

3 Data not shown where base for either the numerator or denominator is

less than 50,000. – Data not available.

14
Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex and State, 2004 annual averages

State

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s 1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

 UNITED STATES ..................... 101,224 $638 $2 44,223 $573 $2 57,001 $713 $2 80.3

Alabama ....................................... 1,566 585 9 687 502 11 879 650 15 77.2

Alaska ........................................... 217 741 13 94 633 16 123 843 26 75.0

Arizona ......................................... 1,950 604 8 804 555 14 1,147 661 16 84.0

Arkansas ....................................... 899 509 8 399 445 12 500 580 12 76.7

California ...................................... 11,818 701 6 4,943 650 8 6,875 747 11 87.1

Colorado ....................................... 1,689 691 13 717 622 12 972 767 22 81.1

Connecticut ................................... 1,199 797 21 518 676 28 681 912 25 74.1

Delaware ...................................... 318 666 15 147 609 10 171 741 17 82.1

District of Columbia ...................... 230 772 15 114 730 14 116 855 33 85.4

Florida ........................................... 5,902 593 5 2,709 523 6 3,193 648 10 80.7

Georgia ......................................... 3,300 616 8 1,471 571 11 1,828 668 14 85.4

Hawaii ........................................... 442 616 11 201 540 18 241 701 16 77.1

Idaho ............................................. 436 562 12 180 476 12 255 634 19 75.2

Illinois ............................................ 4,440 670 9 1,922 583 7 2,518 768 13 75.9

Indiana .......................................... 2,224 611 8 968 530 17 1,257 699 19 75.9

Iowa .............................................. 1,058 610 8 467 522 13 591 683 18 76.4

Kansas .......................................... 968 615 10 420 550 19 548 676 18 81.3

Kentucky ....................................... 1,368 584 10 607 503 10 761 665 23 75.8

Louisiana ...................................... 1,439 588 8 662 488 13 777 669 20 73.0

Maine ............................................ 425 602 11 189 514 10 236 674 18 76.3

Maryland ....................................... 2,141 740 11 982 653 18 1,159 802 32 81.4

Massachusetts .............................. 2,259 757 10 1,003 668 14 1,256 842 18 79.3

Michigan ....................................... 3,403 715 9 1,455 602 10 1,948 800 11 75.2

Minnesota ..................................... 1,880 737 12 822 636 12 1,059 836 19 76.1

Mississippi .................................... 942 555 12 438 463 13 505 617 11 75.0

Missouri ........................................ 2,069 632 12 940 543 15 1,129 727 17 74.7

Montana ........................................ 276 530 13 124 471 14 152 604 11 78.0

Nebraska ...................................... 641 594 9 281 516 9 360 658 17 78.5

Nevada ......................................... 868 595 8 362 518 10 505 660 17 78.5

New Hampshire ............................ 489 734 14 203 612 15 286 846 24 72.3

New Jersey ................................... 3,117 755 9 1,342 630 13 1,774 848 14 74.3

New Mexico .................................. 593 590 10 256 505 14 336 660 19 76.5

New York ...................................... 6,480 672 7 2,890 614 7 3,589 738 9 83.2

North Carolina .............................. 2,932 594 7 1,296 537 14 1,636 637 14 84.3

North Dakota ................................ 229 541 14 105 467 10 124 622 13 75.1

Ohio .............................................. 3,947 623 7 1,733 538 12 2,214 703 12 76.4

Oklahoma ..................................... 1,151 559 15 509 483 10 643 637 18 75.9

Oregon .......................................... 1,176 619 9 473 543 17 703 707 21 76.8

Pennsylvania ................................ 4,258 639 7 1,878 570 9 2,380 714 10 79.9

Rhode Island ................................ 377 648 14 171 581 16 205 717 21 81.1

South Carolina .............................. 1,449 595 9 651 531 15 798 679 23 78.2

South Dakota ................................ 269 541 13 125 480 10 145 608 12 78.9

Tennessee .................................... 2,100 584 10 964 517 11 1,135 635 16 81.5

Texas ............................................ 7,674 577 6 3,272 517 7 4,402 614 7 84.2

Utah .............................................. 743 616 9 297 497 12 446 716 15 69.4

Vermont ........................................ 225 627 13 100 585 12 125 689 22 85.0

Virginia .......................................... 2,791 676 14 1,256 603 15 1,535 742 16 81.3

Washington ................................... 2,091 702 14 867 607 16 1,224 780 25 77.9

West Virginia ................................ 581 585 10 256 488 15 325 656 17 74.3

Wisconsin ..................................... 2,011 637 13 880 545 17 1,131 725 17 75.2

Wyoming ....................................... 176 596 12 73 468 13 103 710 15 65.9

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table.

NOTE: Data refer to persons 16 years and over.

15
Table 4. Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2004 annual averages

Characteristic

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

 median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

 median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

 median

AGE

 Total, 16 years and over ................. 22,047 $195 $1 15,062 $201 $1 6,985 $183 $2 109.9

16 to 24 years ....................................... 8,194 146 1 4,623 145 2 3,572 148 2 97.5

 16 to 19 years .................................... 4,140 119 1 2,287 116 2 1,853 122 2 94.9

 20 to 24 years .................................... 4,054 179 2 2,336 177 3 1,719 181 3 97.7

25 years and over ................................. 13,852 235 2 10,439 235 2 3,413 235 4 100.3

 25 to 34 years .................................... 3,383 233 4 2,430 232 4 953 236 6 98.2

 35 to 44 years .................................... 3,547 253 4 2,949 251 4 598 262 9 95.7

 45 to 54 years .................................... 2,982 267 5 2,462 266 5 520 274 15 96.9

 55 to 64 years .................................... 2,268 227 4 1,640 224 4 628 238 10 94.0

 65 years and over .............................. 1,673 177 4 958 168 5 715 190 7 88.1

RACE AND HISPANIC OR

LATINO ETHNICITY

White .................................................... 18,623 196 1 12,827 203 2 5,796 182 2 112.0

Black or African American .................... 2,036 190 3 1,346 191 3 689 187 5 102.4

Asian ..................................................... 819 203 6 510 204 8 308 200 10 101.9

Hispanic or Latino ................................. 2,444 192 3 1,602 191 4 841 195 5 98.0

MARITAL STATUS

Never married ....................................... 9,895 157 1 5,448 155 2 4,447 160 2 96.8

Married, spouse present ....................... 9,391 246 2 7,438 247 3 1,953 245 5 100.8

Other marital status .............................. 2,761 210 3 2,176 208 3 585 220 7 94.8

 Divorced ............................................ 1,499 226 5 1,156 225 5 344 226 11 99.7

 Separated .......................................... 589 201 6 440 195 6 149 220 13 88.8

 Widowed ............................................ 673 190 6 580 189 6 93 197 17 96.0

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table.

 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.

16
Table 5. Median usual weekly earnings of employed (full- and part-time) wage and salary workers by hours usually worked and sex, 2004 annual

averages

Hours of work

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

 Total, 16 years and over ........ 123,554 $561 $2 59,408 $475 $2 64,145 $653 $3 72.8

1 to 34 hours ................................. 19,292 200 1 13,268 206 1 6,024 185 2 111.3

 1 to 4 hours ................................. 452 54 3 306 53 4 147 54 7 99.2

 5 to 9 hours ................................. 1,123 66 1 752 68 2 372 62 2 109.6

 10 to 14 hours ............................. 1,725 99 1 1,160 102 2 565 92 3 110.7

 15 to 19 hours ............................. 2,455 130 2 1,675 137 3 779 119 2 115.0

 20 to 24 hours ............................. 5,961 190 2 4,151 198 2 1,810 172 2 115.0

 25 to 29 hours ............................. 2,582 229 3 1,782 241 4 800 214 3 112.5

 30 to 34 hours ............................. 4,993 301 3 3,442 310 3 1,552 280 5 110.7

35 hours and over ......................... 95,247 640 2 41,984 578 2 53,264 713 2 80.9

 35 to 39 hours ............................. 7,313 442 5 4,991 450 5 2,322 423 8 106.4

 40 hours ...................................... 67,482 596 1 30,820 549 3 36,662 635 3 86.4

 41 hours and over ....................... 20,452 960 4 6,173 843 7 14,279 1,011 6 83.3

 41 to 44 hours ........................... 1,218 720 14 495 663 13 724 769 17 86.1

 45 to 48 hours ........................... 5,895 854 6 2,095 784 12 3,800 894 11 87.7

 49 to 59 hours ........................... 9,000 1,021 8 2,574 915 14 6,426 1,079 12 84.8

 60 hours and over ..................... 4,339 1,096 20 1,009 946 22 3,330 1,143 11 82.8

Hours vary .................................... 9,015 395 6 4,157 278 5 4,858 566 12 49.1

 Usually less than 35 hours ......... 2,755 162 3 1,794 160 4 961 166 5 96.5

 Usually 35 hours or more ........... 5,977 595 7 2,240 433 12 3,737 702 10 61.7

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table.

 NOTE: Data refer to the sole or principal job of full- and part-time workers.

Detail for the above "hours vary" groups will not sum to totals because data

are not presented for a small number of multiple jobholders whose usual

number of hours on the principal job is not identifiable.

17
Table 6. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected

characteristics, 2004 annual averages

Characteristic

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Upper limit of:

First

decile

First

quartile

Second

quartile

(median)

Third

quartile

Ninth

decile

SEX, RACE, AND HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY

Total, 16 years and over ........................................................... 101,224 $305 $421 $638 $972 $1,460 

 Women ................................................................................... 44,223 289 388 573 836 1,190

 Men ......................................................................................... 57,001 323 469 713 1,095 1,646

White ........................................................................................ 82,468 311 434 657 996 1,495

 Women ................................................................................... 34,972 293 396 584 851 1,212

 Men ......................................................................................... 47,495 329 483 732 1,128 1,686

Black or African American ........................................................ 12,032 283 371 525 770 1,107

 Women ................................................................................... 6,326 274 351 505 728 1,034

 Men ......................................................................................... 5,706 295 391 569 827 1,165

Asian ......................................................................................... 4,457 318 444 708 1,149 1,744

 Women ................................................................................... 1,953 292 400 613 966 1,443

 Men ......................................................................................... 2,504 350 498 802 1,329 1,907

Hispanic or Latino ..................................................................... 14,061 267 322 456 684 1,004

 Women ................................................................................... 5,065 246 306 419 624 938

 Men ......................................................................................... 8,996 279 336 480 708 1,046

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 90,348 325 461 683 1,019 1,523

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

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

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

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 29,828 488 689 986 1,464 2,024

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

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

 High school graduates, no college 1 ....................................... 11,628 282 361 488 655 876

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

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 13,329 454 622 860 1,190 1,615

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

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

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

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

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 2 .............................................. 16,499 524 770 1,143 1,717 2,376

1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent. 2 Includes persons with a bachelor’s, master’s, professional,

and doctoral degree.

 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.

18
Table 7. Usual weekly earnings distribution of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2004 annual averages

(In thousands)

Characteristic Total

employed

Usual weekly earnings distribution

Under

$150.00

$150.00

to

$249.99

$250.00

to

$349.99

$350.00

to

$499.99

$500.00

to

$749.99

$750.00

to

$999.99

$1000.00

to

$1499.99

$1500.00

or

more

AGE AND SEX

Total, 16 years and over ........................................... 101,224 927 3,095 10,857 19,355 25,608 16,762 14,969 9,651

16 to 24 years ............................................................... 10,876 239 949 2,989 3,515 2,262 608 241 74

 16 to 19 years ............................................................ 1,650 92 315 630 434 140 19 11 8

 20 to 24 years ............................................................ 9,226 147 633 2,358 3,080 2,122 589 230 66

25 years and over ......................................................... 90,348 688 2,146 7,869 15,840 23,346 16,153 14,728 9,578

 25 to 34 years ............................................................ 24,757 162 689 2,753 5,223 7,285 4,170 3,062 1,414

 35 to 44 years ............................................................ 26,861 179 638 2,156 4,399 6,721 4,940 4,640 3,188

 45 to 54 years ............................................................ 24,986 171 462 1,769 3,972 6,020 4,748 4,619 3,226

 55 to 64 years ............................................................ 11,932 102 259 919 1,885 2,956 2,052 2,193 1,567

 65 years and over ...................................................... 1,812 74 100 272 361 364 244 214 183

Women, 16 years and over ...................................... 44,223 516 1,832 5,853 9,896 11,924 6,812 5,163 2,228

16 to 24 years ............................................................... 4,633 128 500 1,310 1,513 884 210 75 13

 16 to 19 years ............................................................ 630 48 154 237 145 41 4 – 1

 20 to 24 years ............................................................ 4,003 80 346 1,073 1,369 843 207 74 11

25 years and over ......................................................... 39,590 388 1,332 4,543 8,382 11,041 6,601 5,088 2,215

 25 to 34 years ............................................................ 10,356 72 399 1,384 2,387 3,171 1,608 965 371

 35 to 44 years ............................................................ 11,459 112 414 1,289 2,365 3,085 1,945 1,533 717

 45 to 54 years ............................................................ 11,519 99 305 1,144 2,352 3,092 2,049 1,714 765

 55 to 64 years ............................................................ 5,463 66 165 561 1,106 1,521 886 819 338

 65 years and over ...................................................... 793 39 48 164 173 172 113 58 24

Men, 16 years and over ............................................ 57,001 411 1,263 5,004 9,459 13,684 9,950 9,807 7,423

16 to 24 years ............................................................... 6,243 111 449 1,678 2,001 1,378 398 167 61

 16 to 19 years ............................................................ 1,020 44 161 393 290 99 16 11 7

 20 to 24 years ............................................................ 5,223 67 288 1,286 1,712 1,279 382 156 54

25 years and over ......................................................... 50,758 300 814 3,326 7,458 12,305 9,552 9,640 7,362

 25 to 34 years ............................................................ 14,401 91 289 1,369 2,836 4,114 2,561 2,097 1,043

 35 to 44 years ............................................................ 15,402 67 224 868 2,034 3,637 2,995 3,107 2,471

 45 to 54 years ............................................................ 13,467 72 157 624 1,620 2,929 2,699 2,906 2,461

 55 to 64 years ............................................................ 6,469 36 93 358 779 1,435 1,166 1,374 1,229

 65 years and over ...................................................... 1,019 34 51 108 189 191 131 156 159

RACE, SEX, AND HISPANIC OR

LATINO ETHNICITY

White, 16 years and over .......................................... 82,468 730 2,288 8,334 15,134 20,856 14,015 12,742 8,368

Women ......................................................................... 34,972 405 1,338 4,374 7,686 9,521 5,587 4,211 1,850

Men ............................................................................... 47,495 325 951 3,960 7,448 11,335 8,429 8,532 6,517

Black or African American, 16 years and over ......... 12,032 127 587 1,789 2,926 3,238 1,695 1,197 474

Women ......................................................................... 6,326 74 365 1,080 1,567 1,720 787 565 170

Men ............................................................................... 5,706 54 222 709 1,358 1,518 908 632 304

Asian, 16 years and over .......................................... 4,457 38 121 403 800 967 695 756 677

Women ......................................................................... 1,953 24 70 237 411 453 287 292 179

Men ............................................................................... 2,504 14 51 166 389 514 408 464 498

Hispanic or Latino, 16 years and over ...................... 14,061 152 799 3,087 3,891 3,146 1,497 1,039 451

Women ......................................................................... 5,065 72 433 1,248 1,365 1,018 502 318 109

Men ............................................................................... 8,996 80 365 1,839 2,526 2,128 995 721 342

 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.

19
Table 8. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex, marital status, and 

presence and age of own children under 18 years old, 2004 annual averages 

Characteristic

Number of

workers

(in thousands)

 Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

WOMEN

Total, all marital statuses ............................................ 44,223 $573 $2

With children under 18 years old ............................ 16,549 551 4

 With children 6 to 17, none younger .................... 10,550 568 5

 With children under 6 years old ........................... 5,999 524 5

With no children under 18 years old ....................... 27,674 582 2

Total, married, spouse present ................................... 23,164 604 2

With children under 18 years old ............................ 11,010 592 3

 With children 6 to 17, none younger .................... 6,884 591 4

 With children under 6 years old ........................... 4,125 592 6

With no children under 18 years old ....................... 12,154 615 3

Total, other marital statuses1 ..................................... 21,059 523 3

With children under 18 years old ............................ 5,539 489 4

 With children 6 to 17, none younger .................... 3,666 519 5

 With children under 6 years old ........................... 1,874 423 6

With no children under 18 years old ....................... 15,520 546 4

MEN

Total, all marital statuses ............................................ 57,001 713 2

With children under 18 years old ............................ 22,097 794 5

 With children 6 to 17, none younger .................... 11,964 827 6

 With children under 6 years old ........................... 10,133 756 6

With no children under 18 years old ....................... 34,904 661 3

Total, married, spouse present ................................... 35,426 811 4

With children under 18 years old ............................ 20,502 813 5

 With children 6 to 17, none younger .................... 11,001 842 6

 With children under 6 years old ........................... 9,501 775 7

With no children under 18 years old ....................... 14,924 807 6

Total, other marital statuses1 ..................................... 21,575 574 3

With children under 18 years old ............................ 1,595 610 10

 With children 6 to 17, none younger .................... 962 695 15

 With children under 6 years old ........................... 632 513 10

With no children under 18 years old ....................... 19,980 570 4

1 Includes never-married, divorced, separated,

and widowed persons.

 NOTE: Children refer to "own" children and

include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted

children. Excluded are other related children such as

grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins, and

unrelated children.

20
Table 9. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates by selected characteristics, 2004 annual averages

Characteristic

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s 1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

hourly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

hourly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

hourly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

AGE

Total, 16 years and over ................... 73,939 $11.00 $0.02 37,133 $10.17 $0.02 36,806 $12.02 $0.03 84.6

16 to 24 years ....................................... 16,174 7.98 .02 7,869 7.71 .03 8,305 8.21 .03 93.9

 16 to 19 years .................................... 5,433 7.00 .02 2,761 6.86 .03 2,672 7.15 .03 95.9

 20 to 24 years .................................... 10,741 8.78 .03 5,108 8.32 .06 5,633 9.07 .04 91.7

25 years and over ................................. 57,765 12.23 .03 29,265 11.23 .04 28,500 13.74 .07 81.7

 25 to 34 years .................................... 16,574 11.37 .09 7,645 10.62 .10 8,929 12.03 .05 88.3

 35 to 44 years .................................... 16,715 12.89 .05 8,439 11.45 .10 8,277 14.60 .15 78.4

 45 to 54 years .................................... 14,796 13.23 .08 7,868 11.95 .05 6,928 15.11 .05 79.1

 55 to 64 years .................................... 7,501 12.58 .12 4,099 11.57 .16 3,402 14.54 .24 79.6

 65 years and over .............................. 2,177 9.62 .18 1,213 9.16 .10 964 9.90 .09 92.5

RACE AND HISPANIC OR

LATINO ETHNICITY

White .................................................... 59,877 11.13 .03 29,621 10.21 .03 30,255 12.16 .04 84.0

Black or African American .................... 9,417 10.19 .03 5,174 9.93 .05 4,243 10.88 .09 91.3

Asian ..................................................... 2,672 11.10 .13 1,378 10.57 .32 1,295 11.90 .18 88.8

Hispanic or Latino ................................. 12,073 9.81 .03 4,890 9.04 .06 7,183 10.02 .03 90.2

MARITAL STATUS

Never married ....................................... 25,411 8.98 .03 11,774 8.49 .06 13,637 9.41 .08 90.2

Married, spouse present ....................... 36,130 12.81 .04 17,584 11.38 .07 18,546 14.29 .09 79.6

Other marital status .............................. 12,397 11.49 .11 7,774 10.81 .07 4,623 12.89 .10 83.9

 Divorced ............................................ 7,932 12.19 .06 4,922 11.48 .14 3,010 13.93 .14 82.4

 Separated .......................................... 2,992 10.10 .06 1,656 9.84 .07 1,336 10.99 .18 89.5

 Widowed ............................................ 1,473 10.00 .08 1,196 9.90 .08 277 10.83 .50 91.4

UNION AFFILIATION 2

Members of unions 3 ............................ 9,784 16.00 .09 3,502 13.86 .11 6,282 17.30 .17 80.1

Represented by unions 4 ...................... 10,664 15.88 .09 3,942 13.85 .11 6,721 17.18 .12 80.6

Not represented by a union ................. 63,275 10.24 .03 33,191 9.98 .02 30,084 11.05 .04 90.3

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and over ....................... 57,765 12.23 .03 29,265 11.23 .04 28,500 13.74 .07 81.7

 Less than a high school diploma ........ 7,946 9.23 .06 3,079 8.06 .04 4,868 10.11 .04 79.7

 High school graduates, no college 5 ... 22,423 11.93 .03 10,875 10.44 .07 11,548 13.79 .08 75.7

 Some college or associate degree ..... 18,058 13.18 .06 9,994 12.07 .04 8,064 14.98 .05 80.6

 Bachelor’s degree and higher 6 .......... 9,338 16.24 .19 5,317 16.12 .19 4,021 16.63 .30 96.9

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table. 2 Differences in earnings levels between workers with and without union

affiliation reflect a variety of factors in addition to coverage by a collective

bargaining agreement, including the distribution of male and female

employees by occupation, industry, firm size, or geographic region. 3 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association

similar to a union. 4 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association

similar to a union as well as workers who report no union affiliation but whose

jobs are covered by a union or an employee association contract. 5 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent. 6 Includes persons with a bachelor’s, master’s, professional, and doctoral

degree.

 NOTE: Hourly-paid workers account for approximately three-fifths of all

wage and salary workers. 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.

21
Table 10. Hourly earnings distribution of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates by selected characteristics, 2004 annual averages

(In thousands)

Characteristic Total

employed

Hourly earnings distribution

Under

$4.00

$4.00

to

$4.99

$5.00

to

$5.99

$6.00

to

$7.99

$8.00

to

$9.99

$10.00

to

$11.99

$12.00

to

$14.99

$15.00

to

$19.99

$20.00

or

more

AGE AND SEX

Total, 16 years and over ............................................................. 73,939 983 144 2,320 12,115 13,077 11,661 11,724 11,265 10,649

16 to 24 years ................................................................................. 16,174 489 64 1,374 5,517 4,073 2,388 1,428 617 225

16 to 19 years ............................................................................... 5,433 177 27 869 2,665 1,110 391 133 40 21

20 to 24 years ............................................................................... 10,741 311 38 505 2,852 2,963 1,996 1,295 577 203

25 years and over ........................................................................... 57,765 495 80 946 6,598 9,004 9,274 10,296 10,648 10,424

25 to 34 years ............................................................................... 16,574 237 32 292 2,223 2,980 2,896 3,134 2,781 1,999

35 to 44 years ............................................................................... 16,715 116 23 244 1,728 2,362 2,635 2,976 3,272 3,358

45 to 54 years ............................................................................... 14,796 82 14 174 1,328 2,033 2,232 2,608 2,975 3,349

55 to 64 years ............................................................................... 7,501 39 4 121 813 1,154 1,156 1,319 1,387 1,508

65 years and over ......................................................................... 2,177 20 8 115 505 474 354 259 232 210

Women, 16 years and over ........................................................ 37,133 698 97 1,405 7,115 7,239 6,119 5,767 4,490 4,203

16 to 24 years ................................................................................. 7,869 352 42 783 2,904 1,929 1,008 580 189 82

16 to 19 years ............................................................................... 2,761 133 19 497 1,400 500 144 54 11 3

20 to 24 years ............................................................................... 5,108 219 23 285 1,504 1,429 864 526 178 79

25 years and over ........................................................................... 29,265 346 55 622 4,210 5,310 5,111 5,188 4,301 4,121

25 to 34 years ............................................................................... 7,645 159 21 171 1,250 1,522 1,322 1,400 999 801

35 to 44 years ............................................................................... 8,439 81 18 172 1,177 1,456 1,510 1,454 1,273 1,299

45 to 54 years ............................................................................... 7,868 57 11 118 928 1,328 1,388 1,431 1,257 1,351

55 to 64 years ............................................................................... 4,099 31 3 79 566 734 695 754 652 585

65 years and over ......................................................................... 1,213 18 2 83 289 270 197 149 121 85

Men, 16 years and over .............................................................. 36,806 286 47 915 5,000 5,838 5,543 5,956 6,775 6,446

16 to 24 years ................................................................................. 8,305 137 22 591 2,613 2,144 1,380 848 428 143

16 to 19 years ............................................................................... 2,672 45 8 371 1,264 609 247 79 30 18

20 to 24 years ............................................................................... 5,633 92 15 220 1,348 1,535 1,132 769 398 124

25 years and over ........................................................................... 28,500 149 25 324 2,387 3,694 4,163 5,108 6,347 6,303

25 to 34 years ............................................................................... 8,929 79 10 121 972 1,458 1,574 1,734 1,782 1,198

35 to 44 years ............................................................................... 8,277 35 5 73 552 907 1,125 1,523 1,999 2,059

45 to 54 years ............................................................................... 6,928 25 3 57 400 705 844 1,178 1,718 1,998

55 to 64 years ............................................................................... 3,402 8 1 41 247 420 462 564 736 923

65 years and over ......................................................................... 964 2 6 33 216 204 157 110 112 125

RACE, SEX, AND HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY

White, 16 years and over ............................................................ 59,877 865 125 1,819 9,610 10,260 9,325 9,451 9,427 8,994

Women ........................................................................................... 29,621 631 85 1,093 5,553 5,656 4,915 4,565 3,667 3,455

Men ................................................................................................. 30,255 234 40 725 4,057 4,604 4,411 4,886 5,760 5,539

Black or African American, 16 years and over ........................... 9,417 77 10 372 1,686 1,940 1,617 1,594 1,187 934

Women ........................................................................................... 5,174 45 7 228 1,084 1,123 838 847 574 429

Men ................................................................................................. 4,243 32 3 144 601 817 779 747 613 505

Asian, 16 years and over ............................................................ 2,672 19 4 57 445 462 430 373 396 486

Women ........................................................................................... 1,378 13 2 33 256 251 229 208 158 229

Men ................................................................................................. 1,295 6 3 24 189 211 201 165 237 258

Hispanic or Latino, 16 years and over ........................................ 12,073 96 22 350 2,810 2,694 2,119 1,768 1,288 927

Women ........................................................................................... 4,890 63 12 215 1,395 1,095 786 648 402 274

Men ................................................................................................. 7,183 34 9 135 1,415 1,599 1,333 1,121 885 653

 NOTE: Hourly-paid workers account for approximately three-fifths of all

wage and salary workers. 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.

22
Table 11. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by selected characteristics, 

2004 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Characteristic

Workers paid hourly rates1

Total

Below

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

At 

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Total at or below prevailing

Federal minimum wage

Number

Percent of

hourly-paid

workers

AGE AND SEX

Total, 16 years and over ................................................................................................. 73,939 1,483 520 2,003 2.7

16 to 24 years ....................................................................................................................... 16,174 750 272 1,021 6.3

 16 to 19 years .................................................................................................................... 5,433 329 168 498 9.2

 20 to 24 years .................................................................................................................... 10,741 420 103 523 4.9

25 years and over ................................................................................................................. 57,765 733 249 982 1.7

 25 to 34 years .................................................................................................................... 16,574 320 64 384 2.3

 35 to 44 years .................................................................................................................... 16,715 175 63 238 1.4

 45 to 54 years .................................................................................................................... 14,796 125 48 173 1.2

 55 to 64 years .................................................................................................................... 7,501 61 40 101 1.3

 65 years and over .............................................................................................................. 2,177 53 33 87 4.0

Women, 16 years and over ............................................................................................ 37,133 1,013 310 1,323 3.6

16 to 24 years ....................................................................................................................... 7,869 510 145 655 8.3

 16 to 19 years .................................................................................................................... 2,761 229 90 319 11.5

 20 to 24 years .................................................................................................................... 5,108 282 55 336 6.6

25 years and over ................................................................................................................. 29,265 502 166 668 2.3

 25 to 34 years .................................................................................................................... 7,645 209 35 244 3.2

 35 to 44 years .................................................................................................................... 8,439 122 46 168 2.0

 45 to 54 years .................................................................................................................... 7,868 84 31 116 1.5

 55 to 64 years .................................................................................................................... 4,099 47 27 74 1.8

 65 years and over .............................................................................................................. 1,213 40 27 67 5.5

Men, 16 years and over .................................................................................................. 36,806 470 210 680 1.8

16 to 24 years ....................................................................................................................... 8,305 239 127 366 4.4

 16 to 19 years .................................................................................................................... 2,672 101 78 179 6.7

 20 to 24 years .................................................................................................................... 5,633 138 49 187 3.3

25 years and over ................................................................................................................. 28,500 231 83 314 1.1

 25 to 34 years .................................................................................................................... 8,929 111 30 140 1.6

 35 to 44 years .................................................................................................................... 8,277 54 17 70 .9

 45 to 54 years .................................................................................................................... 6,928 40 17 57 .8

 55 to 64 years .................................................................................................................... 3,402 14 13 27 .8

 65 years and over .............................................................................................................. 964 13 7 19 2.0

RACE, SEX, AND HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY

White, 16 years and over ................................................................................................ 59,877 1,286 395 1,681 2.8

Women ................................................................................................................................. 29,621 892 234 1,126 3.8

Men ....................................................................................................................................... 30,255 393 161 555 1.8

Black or African American, 16 years and over ............................................................... 9,417 128 99 228 2.4

Women ................................................................................................................................. 5,174 79 59 138 2.7

Men ....................................................................................................................................... 4,243 49 40 89 2.1

Asian, 16 years and over ................................................................................................ 2,672 30 8 38 1.4

Women ................................................................................................................................. 1,378 18 5 23 1.7

Men ....................................................................................................................................... 1,295 12 3 15 1.2

Hispanic or Latino, 16 years and over ............................................................................ 12,073 168 82 250 2.1

Women ................................................................................................................................. 4,890 102 49 151 3.1

Men ....................................................................................................................................... 7,183 66 32 99 1.4

FULL- AND PART-TIME STATUS AND SEX 2

 Full-time workers ............................................................................................................. 55,739 583 177 760 1.4

Women ................................................................................................................................. 24,788 360 100 460 1.9

Men ....................................................................................................................................... 30,951 223 77 300 1.0

 Part-time workers ............................................................................................................ 18,046 897 343 1,240 6.9

Women ................................................................................................................................. 12,276 651 210 861 7.0

Men ....................................................................................................................................... 5,770 246 132 378 6.6

See footnotes on page 24.

23
1 Detail may not sum to totals due to rounding. Percents are based on

unrounded data. 2 The distinction between full- and part-time workers is based on hours

usually worked. These data will not sum to totals because full- or part-time

status on the principal job is not identifiable for a small number of multiple

jobholders.

 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.

24
Table 12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2004) dollars by sex and age, 

1979-2004 annual averages

Year and sex

Total, 16

years and

over

16 to 24 years 25 years and over

Total 16 to 19

years

20 to 24

years

Total 25 to 34

years

35 to 44

years

45 to 54

years

55 to 64

years

65 years

and over

BOTH SEXES

1979 .............................................................. $581 $415 $347 $448 $639 $616 $675 $666 $630 $477

1980 .............................................................. 568 407 334 435 621 598 655 645 618 441

1981 .............................................................. 563 398 320 423 612 588 646 636 613 441

1982 .............................................................. 566 390 308 413 612 583 663 647 609 474

1983 .............................................................. 563 379 294 400 618 578 665 660 623 469

1984 .............................................................. 564 376 292 399 626 580 673 666 632 470

1985 .............................................................. 576 375 291 402 634 585 679 671 638 497

19861 ............................................................ 590 381 293 408 643 592 689 683 652 491

1987 .............................................................. 595 386 295 411 641 594 692 682 645 493

1988 .............................................................. 591 382 300 407 635 588 690 695 643 496

1989 .............................................................. 587 381 300 406 629 579 694 694 634 491

19901 ............................................................ 578 377 294 400 629 571 682 685 641 482

1991 .............................................................. 576 375 288 394 632 562 673 686 635 515

1992 .............................................................. 581 364 280 382 632 556 663 689 637 499

1993 .............................................................. 590 363 275 382 632 562 666 697 633 506

19941 ............................................................ 589 361 278 378 630 554 677 714 631 485

1995 .............................................................. 590 360 284 376 628 555 677 717 633 479

1996 .............................................................. 588 357 287 374 624 555 670 712 641 460

19971 ............................................................ 591 360 296 377 634 565 679 712 655 462

19981 ............................................................ 605 370 310 392 662 581 691 718 686 469

19991 ............................................................ 622 387 319 411 671 587 692 739 685 458

20001 ............................................................ 631 396 326 420 667 602 685 733 679 508

2001 .............................................................. 636 401 325 421 672 615 701 740 680 521

2002 .............................................................. 639 400 320 419 679 620 702 741 708 527

20031 ............................................................ 636 397 320 412 679 610 706 742 727 529

20041 ............................................................ 638 390 309 406 683 604 713 743 725 560

WOMEN

1979 .............................................................. 439 371 318 389 470 480 471 463 455 410

1980 .............................................................. 436 362 315 379 462 473 465 453 444 379

1981 .............................................................. 435 358 306 380 462 474 472 447 441 375

1982 .............................................................. 447 359 296 377 477 483 484 471 458 396

1983 .............................................................. 453 356 284 373 481 488 489 475 463 381

1984 .............................................................. 458 352 280 369 490 492 505 483 467 378

1985 .............................................................. 465 353 278 370 496 495 514 489 477 406

19861 ............................................................ 478 360 279 381 507 503 525 507 486 421

1987 .............................................................. 482 360 273 385 511 503 536 515 490 415

1988 .............................................................. 483 361 282 386 514 501 543 520 487 429

1989 .............................................................. 482 362 289 383 516 500 543 525 489 429

19901 ............................................................ 486 356 278 377 518 499 547 529 488 421

1991 .............................................................. 496 360 277 380 524 501 551 538 491 432

1992 .............................................................. 501 352 270 369 527 504 552 550 496 433

1993 .............................................................. 506 352 264 372 534 508 560 566 508 431

19941 ............................................................ 503 347 267 365 531 501 565 568 502 424

1995 .............................................................. 500 339 264 358 527 497 558 572 496 434

1996 .............................................................. 501 340 267 358 532 498 555 576 504 401

19971 ............................................................ 506 343 282 359 542 501 565 581 508 408

19981 ............................................................ 528 353 288 369 561 523 576 597 551 405

19991 ............................................................ 537 367 302 389 563 533 571 606 558 419

20001 ............................................................ 541 378 310 402 566 541 571 619 557 430

2001 .............................................................. 547 377 308 400 579 547 584 627 572 417

2002 .............................................................. 556 385 310 404 597 556 600 632 602 452

20031 ............................................................ 567 381 307 398 600 561 606 625 617 447

20041 ............................................................ 573 375 293 391 599 561 608 625 615 478

See footnotes at end of table.

25
Table 12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2004) dollars by sex and age, 

1979-2004 annual averages — Continued

Year and sex

Total, 16

years and

over

16 to 24 years 25 years and over

Total 16 to 19

years

20 to 24

years

Total 25 to 34

years

35 to 44

years

45 to 54

years

55 to 64

years

65 years

and over

MEN

1979 .............................................................. $703 $473 $373 $508 $757 $712 $809 $814 $753 $528 

1980 .............................................................. 679 452 351 486 736 682 797 795 747 496

1981 .............................................................. 674 433 333 471 737 674 788 786 749 528

1982 .............................................................. 682 421 318 457 736 670 790 784 747 562

1983 .............................................................. 681 401 302 434 731 667 795 798 749 554

1984 .............................................................. 678 400 302 433 731 661 815 813 760 567

1985 .............................................................. 681 403 306 433 742 659 815 819 783 615

19861 ............................................................ 690 405 305 434 761 661 820 832 797 589

1987 .............................................................. 690 409 311 437 759 655 811 826 788 604

1988 .............................................................. 689 401 314 428 748 645 793 842 780 606

1989 .............................................................. 688 399 308 427 735 638 798 836 766 579

19901 ............................................................ 675 395 305 418 718 630 786 829 765 565

1991 .............................................................. 667 386 296 406 708 620 779 829 762 632

1992 .............................................................. 661 374 288 392 707 615 767 836 763 555

1993 .............................................................. 657 371 284 390 715 612 767 841 754 581

19941 ............................................................ 658 371 288 387 727 604 779 846 760 556

1995 .............................................................. 663 373 301 389 724 603 768 843 767 543

1996 .............................................................. 668 368 301 385 719 598 758 837 770 572

19971 ............................................................ 679 372 308 397 722 605 764 836 785 530

19981 ............................................................ 692 386 326 413 740 630 784 847 809 558

19991 ............................................................ 701 404 330 430 757 654 796 865 823 533

20001 ............................................................ 702 411 336 433 760 656 798 846 806 573

2001 .............................................................. 715 418 340 436 769 659 804 853 812 603

2002 .............................................................. 713 411 328 430 769 659 798 848 842 612

20031 ............................................................ 713 409 329 423 764 645 796 856 849 628

20041 ............................................................ 713 400 318 417 762 639 804 857 843 641

WOMEN’S EARNINGS

AS PERCENT OF MEN’S 2

1979 .............................................................. 62.5 78.5 85.2 76.5 62.1 67.4 58.3 56.9 60.5 77.8 

1980 .............................................................. 64.3 80.1 89.5 78.0 62.7 69.4 58.4 56.9 59.4 76.5 

1981 .............................................................. 64.5 82.6 91.8 80.7 62.7 70.4 59.9 56.8 58.9 70.9 

1982 .............................................................. 65.5 85.3 92.8 82.5 64.7 72.1 61.2 60.1 61.3 70.4 

1983 .............................................................. 66.6 88.6 94.1 85.9 65.8 73.3 61.5 59.5 61.8 68.7 

1984 .............................................................. 67.6 87.9 92.7 85.3 67.0 74.5 61.9 59.4 61.4 66.8 

1985 .............................................................. 68.2 87.5 90.8 85.5 66.9 75.1 63.1 59.7 60.9 66.0 

19861 ............................................................ 69.3 88.9 91.5 87.7 66.7 76.2 64.0 61.0 61.0 71.4 

1987 .............................................................. 69.9 88.1 87.8 88.0 67.3 76.8 66.1 62.3 62.2 68.7 

1988 .............................................................. 70.1 90.0 89.8 90.1 68.7 77.7 68.4 61.8 62.4 70.8 

1989 .............................................................. 70.1 90.7 94.0 89.8 70.2 78.4 68.1 62.7 63.9 74.2 

19901 ............................................................ 71.9 90.1 91.0 90.2 72.1 79.2 69.7 63.8 63.7 74.5 

1991 .............................................................. 74.3 93.3 93.5 93.5 74.0 80.9 70.8 64.9 64.4 68.4 

1992 .............................................................. 75.8 94.0 93.8 94.2 74.6 82.0 71.9 65.8 64.9 78.1 

1993 .............................................................. 77.1 94.8 93.0 95.6 74.7 82.9 73.0 67.3 67.4 74.1 

19941 ............................................................ 76.4 93.7 92.7 94.5 73.1 82.9 72.5 67.1 66.1 76.3 

1995 .............................................................. 75.4 90.8 87.9 92.2 72.7 82.4 72.7 67.8 64.8 79.9 

1996 .............................................................. 75.0 92.4 88.9 92.8 74.1 83.2 73.2 68.9 65.4 70.0 

19971 ............................................................ 74.5 92.1 91.4 90.6 75.1 82.9 74.0 69.4 64.7 77.1 

19981 ............................................................ 76.3 91.3 88.5 89.4 75.9 83.0 73.5 70.5 68.2 72.6 

19991 ............................................................ 76.5 91.0 91.3 90.5 74.4 81.5 71.7 70.1 67.8 78.7 

20001 ............................................................ 77.0 92.0 92.3 92.8 74.5 82.5 71.5 73.2 69.2 75.1 

2001 .............................................................. 76.4 90.2 90.3 91.9 75.3 83.0 72.6 73.5 70.5 69.1 

2002 .............................................................. 77.9 93.7 94.5 93.9 77.6 84.4 75.2 74.5 71.5 73.8 

20031 ............................................................ 79.5 93.3 93.2 94.0 78.5 87.0 76.2 73.0 72.6 71.2 

20041 ............................................................ 80.3 93.7 92.2 93.8 78.7 87.9 75.6 73.0 73.0 74.6 

1 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at

various times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current

Population Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory

Notes and Estimates of Error section of the February 2005 and

subsequent issues of Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS

periodical.

2 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may

differ slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians

displayed in this table.

 NOTE: The Consumer Price Index research series using current

methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert current dollars to constant

dollars. See Technical Note. 

26
Table 13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2004) dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino

ethnicity, 1979-2004 annual averages

Year and sex Total, 16 years

and over White Black or AfricanAmerican Asian Hispanic orLatino

BOTH SEXES

1979 ............................................................................ $581 $596 $479 – $466

1980 ............................................................................ 568 583 461 – 454

1981 ............................................................................ 563 576 466 – 442

1982 ............................................................................ 566 580 459 – 450

1983 ............................................................................ 563 575 470 – 449

1984 ............................................................................ 564 582 466 – 449

1985 ............................................................................ 576 595 465 – 452

19861 .......................................................................... 590 610 479 – 456

1987 ............................................................................ 595 610 479 – 453

1988 ............................................................................ 591 605 482 – 445

1989 ............................................................................ 587 602 470 – 438

19901 .......................................................................... 578 594 462 – 426

1991 ............................................................................ 576 599 471 – 423

1992 ............................................................................ 581 604 470 – 424

1993 ............................................................................ 590 611 475 – 426

19941 .......................................................................... 589 610 468 – 409

1995 ............................................................................ 590 609 471 – 405

1996 ............................................................................ 588 606 464 – 406

19971 .......................................................................... 591 609 469 – 412

19981 .......................................................................... 605 631 493 – 429

19991 .......................................................................... 622 649 504 – 436

20001 .......................................................................... 631 647 520 $674 438

2001 ............................................................................ 636 651 524 682 445

2002 ............................................................................ 639 655 523 691 445

20031 .......................................................................... 636 653 528 712 452

20041 .......................................................................... 638 657 525 708 456

WOMEN

1979 ............................................................................ 439 444 408 – 379

1980 ............................................................................ 436 440 402 – 374

1981 ............................................................................ 435 438 409 – 377

1982 ............................................................................ 447 453 407 – 381

1983 ............................................................................ 453 458 417 – 386

1984 ............................................................................ 458 464 417 – 386

1985 ............................................................................ 465 471 423 – 384

19861 .......................................................................... 478 484 434 – 397

1987 ............................................................................ 482 489 438 – 399

1988 ............................................................................ 483 488 442 – 399

1989 ............................................................................ 482 491 443 – 396

19901 .......................................................................... 486 496 432 – 390

1991 ............................................................................ 496 505 437 – 395

1992 ............................................................................ 501 510 442 – 398

1993 ............................................................................ 506 516 448 – 402

19941 .......................................................................... 503 514 437 – 384

1995 ............................................................................ 500 510 437 – 376

1996 ............................................................................ 501 513 435 – 379

19971 .......................................................................... 506 521 440 – 373

19981 .......................................................................... 528 541 462 – 390

19991 .......................................................................... 537 548 463 – 394

20001 .......................................................................... 541 550 471 599 402

2001 ............................................................................ 547 557 485 601 415

2002 ............................................................................ 556 575 497 595 417

20031 .......................................................................... 567 583 504 614 421

20041 .......................................................................... 573 584 505 613 419

See footnotes on page 29.

27
Table 13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2004) dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino

ethnicity, 1979-2004 annual averages — Continued

Year and sex Total, 16 years

and over White Black or AfricanAmerican Asian Hispanic orLatino

MEN

1979 ............................................................................ $703 $719 $548 – $529 

1980 ............................................................................ 679 694 530 – 508

1981 ............................................................................ 674 694 533 – 499

1982 ............................................................................ 682 703 521 – 503

1983 ............................................................................ 681 697 528 – 493

1984 ............................................................................ 678 693 524 – 496

1985 ............................................................................ 681 699 510 – 495

19861 .......................................................................... 690 713 524 – 492

1987 ............................................................................ 690 716 519 – 487

1988 ............................................................................ 689 713 533 – 472

1989 ............................................................................ 688 709 512 – 463

19901 .......................................................................... 675 693 506 – 446

1991 ............................................................................ 667 684 507 – 437

1992 ............................................................................ 661 678 502 – 447

1993 ............................................................................ 657 674 504 – 445

19941 .......................................................................... 658 690 505 – 433

1995 ............................................................................ 663 698 506 – 430

1996 ............................................................................ 668 696 493 – 426

19971 .......................................................................... 679 699 507 – 436

19981 .......................................................................... 692 711 541 – 451

19991 .......................................................................... 701 724 554 – 460

20001 .......................................................................... 702 726 559 $751 457

2001 ............................................................................ 715 736 565 782 470

2002 ............................................................................ 713 737 550 794 474

20031 .......................................................................... 713 734 569 793 476

20041 .......................................................................... 713 732 569 802 480

WOMEN’S EARNINGS

AS PERCENT OF MEN’S 2

1979 ............................................................................ 62.5 61.7 74.3 – 71.7 

1980 ............................................................................ 64.3 63.5 75.8 – 73.6 

1981 ............................................................................ 64.5 63.1 76.7 – 75.6 

1982 ............................................................................ 65.5 64.4 78.0 – 75.7 

1983 ............................................................................ 66.6 65.7 78.9 – 78.3 

1984 ............................................................................ 67.6 67.0 79.6 – 77.8 

1985 ............................................................................ 68.2 67.4 82.8 – 77.7 

19861 .......................................................................... 69.3 67.9 82.7 – 80.7 

1987 ............................................................................ 69.9 68.2 84.4 – 82.1 

1988 ............................................................................ 70.1 68.5 83.0 – 84.6 

1989 ............................................................................ 70.1 69.2 86.5 – 85.6 

19901 .......................................................................... 71.9 71.5 85.5 – 87.6 

1991 ............................................................................ 74.3 73.7 86.1 – 90.5 

1992 ............................................................................ 75.8 75.2 88.1 – 89.1 

1993 ............................................................................ 77.1 76.5 88.8 – 90.4 

19941 .......................................................................... 76.4 74.5 86.5 – 88.8 

1995 ............................................................................ 75.4 73.2 86.3 – 87.3 

1996 ............................................................................ 75.0 73.8 88.1 – 89.0 

19971 .......................................................................... 74.5 74.6 86.8 – 85.6 

19981 .......................................................................... 76.3 76.1 85.4 – 86.5 

19991 .......................................................................... 76.5 75.7 83.7 – 85.7 

20001 .......................................................................... 77.0 75.8 84.2 79.9 88.0 

2001 ............................................................................ 76.4 75.6 85.8 76.9 88.2 

2002 ............................................................................ 77.9 78.0 90.4 74.9 88.1 

20031 .......................................................................... 79.5 79.4 88.4 77.5 88.3 

20041 .......................................................................... 80.3 79.8 88.9 76.4 87.1 

See footnotes on page 29.

28
1 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at

various times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current

Population Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory

Notes and Estimates of Error section of the February 2005 and

subsequent issues of Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS

periodical. 2 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may

differ slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians

displayed in this table.

- Data not available

 NOTE: Beginning in 2003, estimates for the above race groups

(white, black or African American, and Asian) include 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 were included in the group they identified as the main race. 

Estimates for the race groups will not sum to totals because data are not

presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as

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

ethnicity as well as by race. Data for 2000-02 are for the category

Asians and Pacific Islanders. Starting in 2003, Asians constitute a

separate category. For more information, see the Explanatory Notes

and Estimates of Error section of Employment and Earnings. Data for

Asians were not tabulated prior to 2000. The Consumer Price Index

research series using current methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert

current dollars to constant dollars. See Technical Note.

29
Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and over in constant (2004) dollars by sex

and educational attainment, 1979-2004 annual averages

Year and sex

Total,

25 years and

over

 Less than a

high school

diploma

 High school

graduates, no

college 1

 Some college or

associate degree

 Bachelor’s

degree and

higher 2

BOTH SEXES

1979 ........................................................ $639 $506 $599 $679 $829

1980 ........................................................ 621 482 578 659 816

1981 ........................................................ 612 475 568 643 807

1982 ........................................................ 612 464 565 657 819

1983 ........................................................ 618 460 560 653 830

1984 ........................................................ 626 456 558 661 840

1985 ........................................................ 634 452 558 668 847

19863 ...................................................... 643 457 565 673 863

1987 ........................................................ 641 451 567 669 896

1988 ........................................................ 635 442 564 660 898

1989 ........................................................ 629 437 552 665 896

19903 ...................................................... 629 425 541 667 895

1991 ........................................................ 632 416 537 662 901

1992 ........................................................ 632 410 532 639 918

1993 ........................................................ 632 404 534 636 920

19943 ...................................................... 630 387 531 629 925

1995 ........................................................ 628 381 532 625 920

1996 ........................................................ 624 380 532 621 909

19973 ...................................................... 634 376 541 628 914

19983 ...................................................... 662 390 555 646 950

19993 ...................................................... 671 393 556 658 975

20003 ...................................................... 667 396 554 653 977

2001 ........................................................ 672 408 555 659 983

2002 ........................................................ 679 408 562 660 988

20033 ...................................................... 679 407 568 656 989

20043 ...................................................... 683 401 574 661 986

WOMEN

1979 ........................................................ 470 366 446 508 635

1980 ........................................................ 462 355 435 501 629

1981 ........................................................ 462 347 431 506 631

1982 ........................................................ 477 345 442 514 649

1983 ........................................................ 481 350 443 517 663

1984 ........................................................ 490 345 448 527 675

1985 ........................................................ 496 338 448 531 694

19863 ...................................................... 507 341 455 542 717

1987 ........................................................ 511 341 457 552 740

1988 ........................................................ 514 338 457 552 744

1989 ........................................................ 516 340 448 557 746

19903 ...................................................... 518 337 441 554 751

1991 ........................................................ 524 338 444 553 760

1992 ........................................................ 527 337 444 537 783

1993 ........................................................ 534 339 446 543 786

19943 ...................................................... 531 324 443 533 799

1995 ........................................................ 527 322 439 525 793

1996 ........................................................ 532 322 438 529 788

19973 ...................................................... 542 323 444 538 789

19983 ...................................................... 561 327 458 551 819

19993 ...................................................... 563 329 459 554 839

20003 ...................................................... 566 334 461 554 829

2001 ........................................................ 579 337 472 555 839

2002 ........................................................ 597 341 481 571 850

20033 ...................................................... 600 338 487 575 854

20043 ...................................................... 599 334 488 577 860

See footnotes at end of table.

30
Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and over in constant (2004) dollars by sex

and educational attainment, 1979-2004 annual averages — Continued

Year and sex

Total,

25 years and

over

 Less than a

high school

diploma

 High school

graduates, no

college 1

 Some college or

associate degree

 Bachelor’s

degree and

higher 2

MEN

1979 ........................................................ $757 $608 $743 $794 $954 

1980 ........................................................ 736 580 710 777 927

1981 ........................................................ 737 567 707 771 943

1982 ........................................................ 736 549 700 770 942

1983 ........................................................ 731 542 697 760 932

1984 ........................................................ 731 533 690 771 972

1985 ........................................................ 742 526 682 790 988

19863 ...................................................... 761 528 684 798 1,016

1987 ........................................................ 759 515 672 790 1,038

1988 ........................................................ 748 510 670 772 1,042

1989 ........................................................ 735 509 662 760 1,037

19903 ...................................................... 718 490 643 761 1,039

1991 ........................................................ 708 473 636 762 1,034

1992 ........................................................ 707 463 631 732 1,044

1993 ........................................................ 715 458 626 736 1,037

19943 ...................................................... 727 432 626 740 1,042

1995 ........................................................ 724 427 625 734 1,040

1996 ........................................................ 719 428 619 724 1,048

19973 ...................................................... 722 429 628 729 1,052

19983 ...................................................... 740 444 647 745 1,087

19993 ...................................................... 757 447 658 753 1,108

20003 ...................................................... 760 446 648 758 1,119

2001 ........................................................ 769 447 650 772 1,139

2002 ........................................................ 769 443 648 768 1,145

20033 ...................................................... 764 441 645 759 1,161

20043 ...................................................... 762 446 645 761 1,143

WOMEN’S EARNINGS

AS PERCENT OF MEN’S 4

1979 ........................................................ 62.1 60.2 60.0 64.0 66.6 

1980 ........................................................ 62.7 61.3 61.3 64.5 67.8 

1981 ........................................................ 62.7 61.1 61.0 65.6 66.9 

1982 ........................................................ 64.7 62.8 63.1 66.7 68.9 

1983 ........................................................ 65.8 64.6 63.5 68.1 71.1 

1984 ........................................................ 67.0 64.8 64.9 68.4 69.5 

1985 ........................................................ 66.9 64.4 65.7 67.2 70.2 

19863 ...................................................... 66.7 64.7 66.6 67.9 70.6 

1987 ........................................................ 67.3 66.1 68.0 69.9 71.3 

1988 ........................................................ 68.7 66.4 68.3 71.5 71.4 

1989 ........................................................ 70.2 66.8 67.6 73.3 71.9 

19903 ...................................................... 72.1 68.8 68.6 72.8 72.2 

1991 ........................................................ 74.0 71.5 69.9 72.6 73.5 

1992 ........................................................ 74.6 72.8 70.3 73.4 75.0 

1993 ........................................................ 74.7 73.8 71.3 73.7 75.8 

19943 ...................................................... 73.1 74.9 70.8 72.0 76.7 

1995 ........................................................ 72.7 75.4 70.2 71.6 76.2 

1996 ........................................................ 74.1 75.2 70.7 73.1 75.2 

19973 ...................................................... 75.1 75.2 70.8 73.8 75.0 

19983 ...................................................... 75.9 73.7 70.9 74.0 75.3 

19993 ...................................................... 74.4 73.5 69.8 73.5 75.7 

20003 ...................................................... 74.5 74.9 71.2 73.1 74.1 

2001 ........................................................ 75.3 75.4 72.7 71.9 73.7 

2002 ........................................................ 77.6 77.1 74.3 74.3 74.2 

20033 ...................................................... 78.5 76.7 75.6 75.7 73.6 

20043 ...................................................... 78.7 74.9 75.6 75.8 75.2 

1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent. 2 Includes persons with a bachelor’s, master’s, professional,

and doctoral degree. 3 The comparability of historical labor force data has been

affected at various times by methodological and conceptual

changes in the Current Population Survey (CPS). For an

explanation, see the Explanatory Notes and Estimates of Error

section of the February 2005 and subsequent issues of

Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS periodical. 4 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and

may differ slightly from percents computed using the rounded

medians displayed in this table.

 NOTE: The Consumer Price Index research series using

current methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert current dollars to

constant dollars. See Technical Note.

31
Table 15. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2004) dollars by sex and age, 1979-2004 annual 

averages

Year and sex

Total, 16

years and

over

16 to 24 years 25 years and over

Total 16 to 19

years

20 to 24

years

Total 25 to 34

years

35 to 44

years

45 to 54

years

55 to 64

years

65 years

and over

BOTH SEXES

1979 .................................................... $10.72 $8.43 $7.50 $9.72 $12.34 $12.56 $12.78 $12.46 $12.00 $7.80

1980 .................................................... 10.49 8.08 7.01 9.32 12.06 12.29 12.51 12.28 11.72 7.75

1981 .................................................... 10.24 7.90 7.12 9.16 11.91 12.11 12.33 11.95 11.55 7.79

1982 .................................................... 10.13 7.60 6.77 8.75 11.78 11.90 12.40 12.04 11.46 7.74

1983 .................................................... 10.08 7.35 6.51 8.45 11.79 11.70 12.45 12.12 11.54 7.92

1984 .................................................... 10.10 7.25 6.33 8.35 11.85 11.72 12.43 12.27 11.47 8.03

1985 .................................................... 10.12 7.15 6.17 8.30 11.82 11.61 12.57 12.37 11.59 7.95

19861 .................................................. 10.22 7.27 6.12 8.34 11.91 11.55 12.83 12.74 11.80 8.18

1987 .................................................... 10.30 7.31 6.07 8.30 11.87 11.45 12.63 12.52 11.80 8.09

1988 .................................................... 10.33 7.36 6.19 8.27 11.89 11.42 12.55 12.53 11.49 8.04

1989 .................................................... 10.30 7.29 6.22 8.33 11.70 11.25 12.60 12.40 11.52 7.98

19901 .................................................. 10.16 7.25 6.31 8.31 11.46 11.10 12.38 12.35 11.26 8.08

1991 .................................................... 10.17 7.14 6.36 8.14 11.49 10.89 12.42 12.34 11.09 8.05

1992 .................................................... 10.20 7.10 6.25 7.97 11.53 10.79 12.39 12.57 11.21 8.12

1993 .................................................... 10.14 7.10 6.18 7.93 11.53 10.66 12.38 12.71 11.47 8.24

19941 .................................................. 10.12 7.10 6.20 7.86 11.52 10.58 12.52 12.65 11.39 8.06

1995 .................................................... 10.07 7.16 6.21 7.92 11.54 10.74 12.36 12.49 11.34 8.20

1996 .................................................... 10.08 7.13 6.21 8.04 11.54 10.58 12.18 12.29 11.27 8.13

19971 .................................................. 10.28 7.23 6.47 8.12 11.59 10.63 12.17 12.45 11.44 8.10

19981 .................................................. 10.55 7.63 6.81 8.39 11.73 11.18 12.58 12.70 11.68 8.58

19991 .................................................. 10.82 7.81 6.91 8.79 11.89 11.32 12.51 12.86 11.78 8.74

20001 .................................................. 10.86 7.94 7.03 8.85 11.93 11.16 12.44 12.96 11.86 8.82

2001 .................................................... 10.87 8.21 7.21 8.94 12.17 11.38 12.78 12.99 12.14 9.11

2002 .................................................... 11.00 8.20 7.26 8.90 12.43 11.53 12.80 13.09 12.45 9.52

20031 .................................................. 11.14 8.11 7.11 8.89 12.38 11.55 12.79 13.32 12.51 9.44

20041 .................................................. 11.00 7.98 7.00 8.78 12.23 11.37 12.89 13.23 12.58 9.62

WOMEN

1979 .................................................... 8.74 7.70 7.32 8.49 9.41 9.76 9.59 9.28 9.07 7.55

1980 .................................................... 8.60 7.50 6.83 8.25 9.22 9.66 9.32 9.19 8.87 7.36

1981 .................................................... 8.50 7.37 7.00 8.14 9.33 9.72 9.49 9.13 8.80 7.39

1982 .................................................... 8.64 7.10 6.67 7.87 9.43 9.74 9.53 9.29 9.01 7.38

1983 .................................................... 8.66 6.88 6.41 7.67 9.42 9.80 9.56 9.35 9.14 7.50

1984 .................................................... 8.61 6.81 6.23 7.56 9.50 9.71 9.72 9.55 9.14 7.58

1985 .................................................... 8.62 6.73 6.06 7.66 9.62 9.71 9.91 9.66 9.16 7.44

19861 .................................................. 8.79 6.77 6.02 7.77 9.80 9.80 10.10 9.87 9.47 7.80

1987 .................................................... 8.91 6.72 5.91 7.79 9.81 9.78 10.11 9.99 9.60 7.73

1988 .................................................... 8.97 6.89 6.01 7.77 9.89 9.77 10.38 10.12 9.34 7.86

1989 .................................................... 9.00 6.91 6.04 7.70 9.99 9.84 10.45 10.17 9.39 7.57

19901 .................................................. 9.04 6.95 6.12 7.83 9.93 9.84 10.35 10.05 9.45 7.65

1991 .................................................... 9.15 6.89 6.29 7.73 9.95 9.74 10.48 10.31 9.42 7.80

1992 .................................................... 9.19 6.83 6.20 7.63 10.11 9.84 10.55 10.48 9.51 7.89

1993 .................................................... 9.18 6.79 6.10 7.69 10.14 9.81 10.51 10.54 9.74 7.97

19941 .................................................. 9.15 6.73 6.11 7.55 10.16 9.83 10.65 10.68 9.87 7.88

1995 .................................................... 9.19 6.77 6.09 7.52 10.08 9.76 10.64 10.76 9.78 7.95

1996 .................................................... 9.28 6.82 6.12 7.52 10.13 9.68 10.67 10.73 9.69 7.75

19971 .................................................. 9.33 7.00 6.37 7.70 10.29 9.64 10.75 10.88 9.76 8.02

19981 .................................................. 9.54 7.23 6.70 8.03 10.58 10.19 11.19 11.33 10.25 8.35

19991 .................................................. 9.81 7.50 6.79 8.19 10.82 10.33 11.15 11.30 10.59 8.52

20001 .................................................. 9.94 7.68 6.83 8.55 10.85 10.62 10.99 11.16 10.79 8.62

2001 .................................................... 10.28 7.73 7.06 8.53 10.89 10.61 11.14 11.58 11.08 8.69

2002 .................................................... 10.39 7.82 7.14 8.52 11.25 10.63 11.53 11.74 11.36 9.17

20031 .................................................. 10.35 7.79 7.03 8.41 11.31 10.79 11.47 12.10 11.34 9.08

20041 .................................................. 10.17 7.71 6.86 8.32 11.23 10.62 11.45 11.95 11.57 9.16

See footnotes at end of table.

32
Table 15. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2004) dollars by sex and age, 1979-2004 annual 

averages — Continued

Year and sex

Total, 16

years and

over

16 to 24 years 25 years and over

Total 16 to 19

years

20 to 24

years

Total 25 to 34

years

35 to 44

years

45 to 54

years

55 to 64

years

65 years

and over

MEN

1979 .................................................... $13.64 $9.43 $7.71 $11.21 $16.15 $15.39 $17.18 $17.13 $15.89 $8.61

1980 .................................................... 13.24 8.92 7.34 10.69 15.68 15.04 16.96 16.91 15.72 8.24

1981 .................................................... 13.05 8.58 7.25 10.16 15.46 14.57 16.48 16.87 15.66 8.38

1982 .................................................... 12.85 8.21 6.87 9.61 15.15 14.37 16.66 16.65 15.27 8.38

1983 .................................................... 12.46 7.90 6.61 9.09 14.97 13.94 16.59 16.49 15.74 8.56

1984 .................................................... 12.34 7.92 6.45 8.95 14.90 13.66 16.47 16.78 15.35 8.51

1985 .................................................... 12.30 7.86 6.31 8.79 14.84 13.41 16.44 16.72 15.16 8.37

19861 .................................................. 12.50 7.90 6.30 8.94 14.85 13.23 16.45 16.70 15.70 8.54

1987 .................................................... 12.37 7.82 6.30 9.04 14.59 13.15 16.07 16.29 15.46 8.47

1988 .................................................... 12.15 7.73 6.36 8.90 14.40 12.91 15.69 16.42 14.96 8.49

1989 .................................................... 11.92 7.62 6.47 8.87 14.29 12.61 15.59 16.02 14.72 8.69

19901 .................................................. 11.61 7.64 6.52 8.68 13.82 12.40 15.07 15.63 14.28 8.54

1991 .................................................... 11.64 7.56 6.43 8.45 13.51 12.12 14.88 15.85 13.65 8.42

1992 .................................................... 11.45 7.46 6.34 8.25 13.28 11.91 14.44 15.87 13.71 8.53

1993 .................................................... 11.42 7.41 6.28 8.17 13.11 11.72 14.38 15.65 14.12 8.65

19941 .................................................. 11.36 7.42 6.30 8.29 12.99 11.49 14.52 15.27 13.96 8.38

1995 .................................................... 11.38 7.45 6.35 8.41 13.22 11.67 14.65 15.18 13.70 8.45

1996 .................................................... 11.43 7.41 6.31 8.40 12.94 11.64 14.29 14.88 13.38 8.45

19971 .................................................. 11.55 7.58 6.60 8.44 13.04 11.66 14.18 15.03 13.86 8.18

19981 .................................................. 11.65 8.01 6.93 9.01 13.58 11.84 14.45 15.10 14.16 8.97

19991 .................................................. 11.70 8.08 7.02 9.12 13.62 12.30 14.50 15.52 13.86 8.93

20001 .................................................. 11.85 8.37 7.29 9.20 13.42 12.03 14.41 15.24 14.05 9.11

2001 .................................................... 12.08 8.55 7.37 9.52 13.75 12.35 14.86 15.21 13.82 9.61

2002 .................................................... 12.23 8.46 7.38 9.32 13.71 12.49 14.66 15.13 14.05 10.27

20031 .................................................. 12.21 8.36 7.21 9.24 13.60 12.33 14.51 15.33 14.46 10.05

20041 .................................................. 12.02 8.21 7.15 9.07 13.74 12.03 14.60 15.11 14.54 9.90

WOMEN’S EARNINGS

AS PERCENT OF MEN’S 2

1979 .................................................... 64.0 81.7 94.9 75.8 58.3 63.4 55.8 54.1 57.0 87.7

1980 .................................................... 64.9 84.1 93.1 77.2 58.8 64.2 54.9 54.4 56.4 89.3

1981 .................................................... 65.2 86.0 96.6 80.2 60.3 66.7 57.6 54.1 56.2 88.1

1982 .................................................... 67.3 86.5 97.1 81.8 62.2 67.8 57.2 55.8 59.0 88.1

1983 .................................................... 69.5 87.1 96.9 84.4 63.0 70.3 57.6 56.7 58.0 87.6

1984 .................................................... 69.8 86.0 96.6 84.5 63.8 71.1 59.0 56.9 59.5 89.1

1985 .................................................... 70.1 85.7 96.1 87.2 64.8 72.4 60.3 57.8 60.4 88.9

19861 .................................................. 70.3 85.8 95.5 86.9 66.0 74.1 61.4 59.1 60.3 91.3

1987 .................................................... 72.0 86.0 93.7 86.2 67.3 74.4 62.9 61.4 62.1 91.2

1988 .................................................... 73.9 89.1 94.4 87.3 68.7 75.7 66.2 61.6 62.5 92.6

1989 .................................................... 75.5 90.8 93.4 86.9 69.9 78.1 67.0 63.5 63.8 87.2

19901 .................................................. 77.9 91.0 93.8 90.2 71.9 79.4 68.7 64.3 66.2 89.6

1991 .................................................... 78.6 91.2 97.8 91.6 73.6 80.4 70.4 65.0 69.0 92.6

1992 .................................................... 80.2 91.4 97.7 92.5 76.1 82.6 73.1 66.0 69.4 92.5

1993 .................................................... 80.4 91.6 97.2 94.1 77.3 83.7 73.1 67.3 69.0 92.2

19941 .................................................. 80.6 90.6 97.0 91.1 78.2 85.5 73.4 69.9 70.7 94.0

1995 .................................................... 80.8 90.9 96.0 89.4 76.2 83.7 72.6 70.9 71.4 94.1

1996 .................................................... 81.2 92.0 96.9 89.5 78.3 83.1 74.7 72.1 72.4 91.7

19971 .................................................. 80.8 92.3 96.6 91.3 78.9 82.7 75.8 72.4 70.5 98.1

19981 .................................................. 81.8 90.3 96.7 89.1 77.9 86.1 77.4 75.0 72.4 93.1

19991 .................................................. 83.8 92.7 96.7 89.8 79.4 84.0 76.9 72.8 76.4 95.4

20001 .................................................. 83.9 91.8 93.8 92.9 80.8 88.3 76.3 73.2 76.8 94.6

2001 .................................................... 85.1 90.5 95.8 89.6 79.2 85.9 75.0 76.2 80.2 90.4

2002 .................................................... 85.0 92.5 96.8 91.4 82.1 85.1 78.6 77.6 80.8 89.2

20031 .................................................. 84.8 93.2 97.6 91.1 83.1 87.6 79.0 79.0 78.4 90.4

20041 .................................................. 84.6 93.9 95.9 91.7 81.7 88.3 78.4 79.1 79.6 92.5

1 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at

various times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current

Population Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory Notes and

Estimates of Error section of the February 2005 and subsequent issues of

Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS periodical. 2 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table.

 NOTE: The Consumer Price Index research series using current methods

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

Technical Note.

33
Table 16. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2004) dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or

Latino ethnicity, 1979-2004 annual averages

Year and sex Total, 16 years

and over White Black or AfricanAmerican Asian Hispanic orLatino

BOTH SEXES

1979 ................................................................................ $10.72 $10.88 $9.92 – $9.85

1980 ................................................................................ 10.49 10.60 9.66 – 9.65

1981 ................................................................................ 10.24 10.31 9.75 – 9.56

1982 ................................................................................ 10.13 10.26 9.50 – 9.40

1983 ................................................................................ 10.08 10.21 9.27 – 9.17

1984 ................................................................................ 10.10 10.22 9.30 – 9.14

1985 ................................................................................ 10.12 10.24 9.23 – 9.18

19861 .............................................................................. 10.22 10.34 9.56 – 9.31

1987 ................................................................................ 10.30 10.45 9.54 – 9.27

1988 ................................................................................ 10.33 10.46 9.45 – 9.14

1989 ................................................................................ 10.30 10.43 9.46 – 8.95

19901 .............................................................................. 10.16 10.30 9.56 – 8.82

1991 ................................................................................ 10.17 10.31 9.48 – 8.76

1992 ................................................................................ 10.20 10.33 9.33 – 8.78

1993 ................................................................................ 10.14 10.27 9.25 – 8.80

19941 .............................................................................. 10.12 10.24 9.21 – 8.75

1995 ................................................................................ 10.07 10.25 9.45 – 8.64

1996 ................................................................................ 10.08 10.29 9.31 – 8.61

19971 .............................................................................. 10.28 10.44 9.41 – 8.69

19981 .............................................................................. 10.55 10.68 9.72 – 9.18

19991 .............................................................................. 10.82 11.05 10.04 – 9.17

20001 .............................................................................. 10.86 10.92 10.24 $11.04 9.36

2001 ................................................................................ 10.87 10.94 10.44 11.47 9.67

2002 ................................................................................ 11.00 11.25 10.43 10.88 9.69

20031 .............................................................................. 11.14 11.26 10.42 11.41 10.02

20041 .............................................................................. 11.00 11.13 10.19 11.10 9.81

WOMEN

1979 ................................................................................ 8.74 8.75 8.57 – 8.31

1980 ................................................................................ 8.60 8.61 8.44 – 8.22

1981 ................................................................................ 8.50 8.52 8.34 – 8.16

1982 ................................................................................ 8.64 8.66 8.43 – 8.14

1983 ................................................................................ 8.66 8.66 8.50 – 7.97

1984 ................................................................................ 8.61 8.63 8.45 – 8.07

1985 ................................................................................ 8.62 8.63 8.46 – 8.10

19861 .............................................................................. 8.79 8.82 8.52 – 8.24

1987 ................................................................................ 8.91 8.94 8.61 – 8.14

1988 ................................................................................ 8.97 9.01 8.63 – 8.11

1989 ................................................................................ 9.00 9.03 8.66 – 8.15

19901 .............................................................................. 9.04 9.08 8.75 – 8.15

1991 ................................................................................ 9.15 9.17 8.88 – 8.11

1992 ................................................................................ 9.19 9.24 8.77 – 8.16

1993 ................................................................................ 9.18 9.22 8.86 – 8.14

19941 .............................................................................. 9.15 9.27 8.75 – 8.09

1995 ................................................................................ 9.19 9.30 8.78 – 8.14

1996 ................................................................................ 9.28 9.35 8.64 – 8.13

19971 .............................................................................. 9.33 9.40 8.91 – 8.01

19981 .............................................................................. 9.54 9.66 9.15 – 8.36

19991 .............................................................................. 9.81 9.91 9.23 – 8.47

20001 .............................................................................. 9.94 9.97 9.71 10.72 8.66

2001 ................................................................................ 10.28 10.39 9.77 10.74 8.84

2002 ................................................................................ 10.39 10.44 9.93 10.61 8.97

20031 .............................................................................. 10.35 10.38 10.17 10.97 9.12

20041 .............................................................................. 10.17 10.21 9.93 10.57 9.04

See footnotes on page 36.

34
Table 16. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2004) dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or

Latino ethnicity, 1979-2004 annual averages— Continued

Year and sex Total, 16 years

and over White Black or AfricanAmerican Asian Hispanic orLatino

MEN

1979 ................................................................................ $13.64 $13.98 $11.80 – $11.57 

1980 ................................................................................ 13.24 13.53 11.26 – 10.93

1981 ................................................................................ 13.05 13.34 11.54 – 10.67

1982 ................................................................................ 12.85 13.09 11.21 – 10.75

1983 ................................................................................ 12.46 12.73 10.73 – 10.47

1984 ................................................................................ 12.34 12.58 10.67 – 10.46

1985 ................................................................................ 12.30 12.72 10.31 – 10.18

19861 .............................................................................. 12.50 12.82 10.82 – 10.20

1987 ................................................................................ 12.37 12.63 10.73 – 10.14

1988 ................................................................................ 12.15 12.37 10.66 – 9.99

1989 ................................................................................ 11.92 12.20 10.42 – 9.81

19901 .............................................................................. 11.61 12.01 10.35 – 9.47

1991 ................................................................................ 11.64 11.95 10.26 – 9.33

1992 ................................................................................ 11.45 11.74 10.07 – 9.23

1993 ................................................................................ 11.42 11.69 9.88 – 9.18

19941 .............................................................................. 11.36 11.62 10.00 – 9.05

1995 ................................................................................ 11.38 11.86 10.06 – 8.95

1996 ................................................................................ 11.43 11.75 9.82 – 9.15

19971 .............................................................................. 11.55 11.70 10.19 – 9.28

19981 .............................................................................. 11.65 11.79 10.53 – 9.55

19991 .............................................................................. 11.70 12.05 11.09 – 9.78

20001 .............................................................................. 11.85 12.01 10.94 $11.83 9.91

2001 ................................................................................ 12.08 12.39 10.86 12.64 10.32

2002 ................................................................................ 12.23 12.46 10.75 11.58 10.42

20031 .............................................................................. 12.21 12.35 11.10 12.21 10.30

20041 .............................................................................. 12.02 12.16 10.88 11.90 10.02

WOMEN’S EARNINGS

AS PERCENT OF MEN’S 2

1979 ................................................................................ 64.0 62.6 72.6 – 71.8

1980 ................................................................................ 64.9 63.6 75.0 – 75.2

1981 ................................................................................ 65.2 63.9 72.2 – 76.4

1982 ................................................................................ 67.3 66.1 75.3 – 75.7

1983 ................................................................................ 69.5 68.1 79.3 – 76.1

1984 ................................................................................ 69.8 68.6 79.2 – 77.1

1985 ................................................................................ 70.1 67.8 82.0 – 79.5

19861 .............................................................................. 70.3 68.8 78.8 – 80.8

1987 ................................................................................ 72.0 70.8 80.2 – 80.3

1988 ................................................................................ 73.9 72.8 80.9 – 81.2

1989 ................................................................................ 75.5 74.1 83.2 – 83.1

19901 .............................................................................. 77.9 75.6 84.5 – 86.1

1991 ................................................................................ 78.6 76.7 86.6 – 86.9

1992 ................................................................................ 80.2 78.7 87.2 – 88.4

1993 ................................................................................ 80.4 78.9 89.6 – 88.7

19941 .............................................................................. 80.6 79.7 87.5 – 89.3

1995 ................................................................................ 80.8 78.4 87.3 – 90.9

1996 ................................................................................ 81.2 79.6 88.0 – 88.9

19971 .............................................................................. 80.8 80.3 87.5 – 86.3

19981 .............................................................................. 81.8 81.9 86.9 – 87.5

19991 .............................................................................. 83.8 82.3 83.2 – 86.7

20001 .............................................................................. 83.9 83.0 88.7 90.6 87.4

2001 ................................................................................ 85.1 83.9 89.9 85.0 85.7

2002 ................................................................................ 85.0 83.8 92.3 91.7 86.1

20031 .............................................................................. 84.8 84.1 91.6 89.8 88.5

20041 .............................................................................. 84.6 84.0 91.3 88.8 90.2

See footnotes on page 36.

35
1 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at

various times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current

Population Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory

Notes and Estimates of Error section of the February 2005 and

subsequent issues of Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS

periodical. 2 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may

differ slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians

displayed in this table. – Data not available.

 NOTE: Beginning in 2003, estimates for the above race groups

(white, black or African American, and Asian) include 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 were included in the group they identified as the main race. 

Estimates for the race groups will not sum to totals because data are not

presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as

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

ethnicity as well as by race. Data for 2000-02 are for the category

Asians and Pacific Islanders. Starting in 2003, Asians constitute a

separate category. For more information, see the Explanatory Notes

and Estimates of Error section of Employment and Earnings. Data for

Asians were not tabulated prior to 2000. The Consumer Price Index

research series using current methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert

current dollars to constant dollars. See Technical Note.

36
Table 17. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by sex, 

1979-2004 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Year and sex

Total

wage and

salary

 workers

Workers paid hourly rates

Total

Percent of

total wage

and salary

workers

Below

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

At

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Total at or below

prevailing Federal

minimum wage

Number

Percent

of hourly

paid 

workers

BOTH SEXES

1979 ................................................................................ 87,529 51,721 59.1 2,916 3,997 6,912 13.4 

1980 ................................................................................ 87,644 51,335 58.6 3,087 4,686 7,773 15.1 

1981 ................................................................................ 88,516 51,869 58.6 3,513 4,311 7,824 15.1 

1982 ................................................................................ 87,368 50,846 58.2 2,348 4,148 6,496 12.8 

1983 ................................................................................ 88,290 51,820 58.7 2,077 4,261 6,338 12.2 

1984 ................................................................................ 92,194 54,143 58.7 1,838 4,125 5,963 11.0 

1985 ................................................................................ 94,521 55,762 59.0 1,639 3,899 5,538 9.9 

19861 .............................................................................. 96,903 57,529 59.4 1,599 3,461 5,060 8.8 

1987 ................................................................................ 99,303 59,552 60.0 1,468 3,229 4,698 7.9 

1988 ................................................................................ 101,407 60,878 60.0 1,319 2,608 3,927 6.5 

1989 ................................................................................ 103,480 62,389 60.3 1,372 1,790 3,162 5.1 

19901 .............................................................................. 104,876 63,172 60.2 2 2,132 2 1,096 2 3,228 2 5.1 

1991 ................................................................................ 103,723 62,627 60.4 2 2,377 2 2,906 2 5,283 2 8.4 

1992 ................................................................................ 104,668 63,610 60.8 1,939 2,982 4,921 7.7 

1993 ................................................................................ 106,101 64,274 60.6 1,707 2,625 4,332 6.7 

19941 .............................................................................. 107,989 66,549 61.6 1,995 2,132 4,128 6.2 

1995 ................................................................................ 110,038 68,354 62.1 1,699 1,956 3,656 5.3 

1996 ................................................................................ 111,960 69,255 61.9 2 1,863 2 1,861 2 3,724 2 5.4 

19971 .............................................................................. 114,533 70,735 61.8 2 2,990 2 1,764 2 4,754 2 6.7 

19981 .............................................................................. 116,730 71,440 61.2 2,834 1,593 4,427 6.2 

19991 .............................................................................. 118,963 72,306 60.8 2,194 1,146 3,340 4.6 

20001 .............................................................................. 122,089 73,496 60.2 1,752 898 2,650 3.6 

2001 ................................................................................ 122,229 73,392 60.0 1,518 656 2,174 3.0 

2002 ................................................................................ 121,826 72,508 59.5 1,579 567 2,146 3.0 

20031 .............................................................................. 122,358 72,946 59.6 1,555 545 2,100 2.9 

20041 .............................................................................. 123,554 73,939 59.8 1,483 520 2,003 2.7 

WOMEN

1979 ................................................................................ 38,129 23,329 61.2 2,070 2,644 4,714 20.2 

1980 ................................................................................ 38,944 23,626 60.7 2,104 2,990 5,095 21.6 

1981 ................................................................................ 39,672 24,294 61.2 2,394 2,778 5,172 21.3 

1982 ................................................................................ 39,777 24,365 61.3 1,651 2,561 4,212 17.3 

1983 ................................................................................ 40,433 24,989 61.8 1,492 2,603 4,095 16.4 

1984 ................................................................................ 42,172 26,003 61.7 1,348 2,499 3,847 14.8 

1985 ................................................................................ 43,506 26,869 61.8 1,198 2,356 3,554 13.2 

19861 .............................................................................. 44,961 27,863 62.0 1,192 2,125 3,317 11.9 

1987 ................................................................................ 46,365 29,078 62.7 1,105 1,946 3,051 10.5 

1988 ................................................................................ 47,495 29,820 62.8 1,008 1,542 2,550 8.6 

1989 ................................................................................ 48,691 30,702 63.1 994 1,056 2,050 6.7 

19901 .............................................................................. 49,323 31,069 63.0 2 1,420 2 711 2 2,131 2 6.9 

1991 ................................................................................ 49,105 30,988 63.1 2 1,582 2 1,792 2 3,374 2 10.9 

1992 ................................................................................ 49,842 31,454 63.1 1,286 1,751 3,036 9.7 

1993 ................................................................................ 50,626 31,937 63.1 1,133 1,534 2,667 8.4 

19941 .............................................................................. 51,419 33,021 64.2 1,322 1,241 2,563 7.8 

1995 ................................................................................ 52,369 33,934 64.8 1,157 1,161 2,318 6.8 

1996 ................................................................................ 53,488 34,418 64.3 2 1,244 2 1,106 2 2,350 2 6.8 

19971 .............................................................................. 54,708 35,214 64.4 2 1,843 2 1,092 2 2,935 2 8.3 

19981 .............................................................................. 55,757 35,680 64.0 1,794 965 2,760 7.7 

19991 .............................................................................. 57,050 36,233 63.5 1,426 700 2,126 5.9 

20001 .............................................................................. 58,427 36,777 62.9 1,170 579 1,748 4.8 

2001 ................................................................................ 58,582 36,848 62.9 1,021 409 1,430 3.9 

2002 ................................................................................ 58,555 36,508 62.3 997 350 1,347 3.7 

20031 .............................................................................. 59,122 37,093 62.7 1,062 332 1,394 3.8 

20041 .............................................................................. 59,408 37,133 62.5 1,013 310 1,323 3.6 

See footnotes at end of table.

37
Table 17. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by sex, 

1979-2004 annual averages— Continued

(Numbers in thousands)

Year and sex

Total

wage and

salary

 workers

Workers paid hourly rates

Total

Percent of

total wage

and salary

workers

Below

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

At

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Total at or below

prevailing Federal

minimum wage

Number

Percent

of hourly

paid 

workers

MEN

1979 ................................................................................ 49,400 28,392 57.5 846 1,353 2,199 7.7 

1980 ................................................................................ 48,700 27,709 56.9 983 1,696 2,678 9.7 

1981 ................................................................................ 48,844 27,576 56.5 1,119 1,533 2,652 9.6 

1982 ................................................................................ 47,591 26,481 55.6 697 1,587 2,284 8.6 

1983 ................................................................................ 47,856 26,831 56.1 585 1,658 2,243 8.4 

1984 ................................................................................ 50,022 28,140 56.3 490 1,626 2,116 7.5 

1985 ................................................................................ 51,015 28,893 56.6 440 1,544 1,984 6.9 

19861 .............................................................................. 51,942 29,666 57.1 408 1,336 1,743 5.9 

1987 ................................................................................ 52,938 30,474 57.6 364 1,283 1,647 5.4 

1988 ................................................................................ 53,912 31,058 57.6 311 1,066 1,377 4.4 

1989 ................................................................................ 54,789 31,687 57.8 379 733 1,112 3.5 

19901 .............................................................................. 55,553 32,104 57.8 2 712 2 385 2 1,097 2 3.4 

1991 ................................................................................ 54,618 31,639 57.9 2 795 2 1,114 2 1,909 2 6.0 

1992 ................................................................................ 54,826 32,155 58.6 653 1,231 1,885 5.9 

1993 ................................................................................ 55,475 32,337 58.3 573 1,091 1,664 5.1 

19941 .............................................................................. 56,570 33,528 59.3 674 891 1,565 4.7 

1995 ................................................................................ 57,669 34,420 59.7 542 796 1,338 3.9 

1996 ................................................................................ 58,473 34,838 59.6 2 619 2 755 2 1,374 2 3.9 

19971 .............................................................................. 59,825 35,521 59.4 2 1,147 2 673 2 1,820 2 5.1 

19981 .............................................................................. 60,973 35,761 58.7 1,039 628 1,667 4.7 

19991 .............................................................................. 61,914 36,073 58.3 768 446 1,214 3.4 

20001 .............................................................................. 63,662 36,720 57.7 582 319 901 2.5 

2001 ................................................................................ 63,647 36,544 57.4 497 247 745 2.0 

2002 ................................................................................ 63,272 36,000 56.9 582 217 799 2.2 

20031 .............................................................................. 63,236 35,853 56.7 493 213 706 2.0 

20041 .............................................................................. 64,145 36,806 57.4 470 210 680 1.8 

1 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at

various times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current

Population Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory Notes and

Estimates of Error section of the February 2005 and subsequent issues of

Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS periodical. 2 Data for 1990-91 and 1996-97 reflect changes in the minimum wage that

took place in those years.

 NOTE: The prevailing Federal minimum wage was $2.90 in 1979, $3.10 in

1980, and $3.35 in 1981-89. The minimum wage rose to $3.80 in April 1990,

to $4.25 in April 1991, to $4.75 in October 1996, and to $5.15 in September

1997. See Technical Note for more information about minimum wage

workers.

38
39

Technical Note

T

he estimates in this report were obtained from the Current Population Survey (CPS), which provides a wide

range of information on the labor force, employment, and

unemployment. The survey is conducted monthly for the

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) by the U.S. Census Bureau

using a 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-fourth of the CPS

monthly sample.

Material in this report is in the public domain and, with

appropriate credit, may be used without permission. This

information is available to sensory-impaired individuals on

request. Voice telephone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay

Service: 1-800-877-8339.

Concepts and definitions

The principal concepts and definitions used in connection

with the earnings data in this report are described below.

Usual weekly earnings. Data are collected on wages and

salaries before taxes and other deductions and include any

overtime pay, commissions, or tips usually received (at the

principal job in the case of multiple jobholders). Self-employed workers are excluded, regardless of whether their

businesses are incorporated. 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 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 of the

weeks worked during the past 4 or 5 months.

Medians (and quantiles) of weekly earnings. Most of the

earnings estimates shown in this report are medians. The

median (or upper limit of the second quartile) is the amount

that 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 workers

in a given distribution have earnings below the upper limit of

the first decile (90 percent have higher earnings); 25 percent

have earnings below the upper limit of the first quartile (75

percent have higher earnings); 75 percent have earnings below

the upper limit of the third quartile (25 percent have higher

earnings); and 90 percent have earnings below the upper

limit of the ninth decile (10 percent have higher earnings).

The BLS estimating procedure for determining the median of an earnings distribution places each reported or calculated weekly earnings value into a $50-wide interval that is

centered on a multiple of $50. The actual value of the median

is estimated through the linear interpolation of the interval in

which the median lies.

Over-the-year changes in the medians (and 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:

• There could be a change in the relative weights of the

subgroups. For example, the medians of both 16- to 24-yearolds and those 25 years and older may rise, but if the lower

earning 16-to-24 age group accounts for a greatly increased

share of the total, the overall median could actually fall.

• 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, for example, $250, $300,

or $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. For example, medians

measure the central tendency of a multipeaked distribution

that shifts over time. As the distribution shifts, the median

does not necessarily move at the same rate. Specifically, the

median takes relatively more time to move through a frequently reported interval but, once above the upper limit of

such an interval, it can move relatively quickly to the next

frequently reported earnings interval. BLS procedures for

estimating medians (and other quantile boundaries) mitigate

such irregular movements of the measures; however, users

should be cautious of these effects when evaluating shortterm changes in the medians and in ratios of the medians.

Constant dollars. The Consumer Price Index research series

using current methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert current

dollars to constant dollars. BLS has made numerous improvements to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) over the past

quarter-century. Although these improvements make the

CPI more accurate, historical price index series are not adjusted to reflect the improvements. For a historical series

that measures price change consistently over the entire period, the CPI-U-RS provides an estimate of the CPI incorporating most of the methodological improvements made since

1978 into the entire series. For more information, see “CPI

research series using current methods, 1978-98” by Kenneth

J. Stewart and Stephen B. Reed, Monthly Labor Review, June

1999, pp. 29-38; and “Questions and Answers: Consumer

Price Index Research Series Using Current Methods” on the

Web at www.bls.gov/cpi/cpirsdc.htm.
40

This report uses the most recent version of the CPI-U-RS

available at the time of production. Users should note, however, that the CPI-U-RS is subject to periodic revision. As a

result, the rate of inflation incorporated into the constantdollar earnings estimates in this report may differ from that in

previous reports in this series or in other publications.

Wage and salary workers. These are workers who receive

wages, salaries, commissions, tips, payment in kind, or piece

rates. The group includes employees in both private and

public sectors but, for purposes of the earnings series, excludes all self-employed persons, 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 are defined as

working full time for estimates of earnings.

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

hours per week at their sole or principal job are defined as

working part time for estimates of earnings.

Workers paid by the hour. Workers who are paid an hourly

wage make up approximately three-fifths of all wage and salary workers. Workers paid by the hour are, therefore, included in the full- and part-time worker tables in this report,

along with salaried workers and other workers not paid by

the hour. (Data for workers paid at hourly rates are presented separately in tables 9 to 11 and 15 to 17.)

Workers paid at or below the Federal minimum wage. The

estimates of the number of workers with reported earnings at

or below the Federal minimum wage in tables 11 and 17 pertain only to workers who are paid hourly rates. Salaried

workers and other workers who are not paid by the hour are

not included, even though some have earnings that, when

converted to hourly rates, are at or below the minimum wage.

Consequently, the estimates presented in this report likely

understate the actual number of workers with hourly earnings at or below the minimum wage. Research has shown,

however, that the degree of understatement is small. BLS

does not routinely estimate hourly earnings for workers not

paid by the hour because of data quality concerns associated with such an estimation process.

The prevailing Federal minimum wage was $2.90 effective

January 1979, $3.10 effective January 1980, $3.35 effective

January 1981, $3.80 effective April 1990, $4.25 effective April

1991, $4.75 effective October 1996, and $5.15 effective September 1997. Data for 1990-91 and 1996-97 in table 17 reflect

changes in the minimum wage during those years.

The presence of workers with hourly earnings below the

minimum wage does not necessarily indicate violations of

the Fair Labor Standards Act, as there are exemptions to the

minimum wage provisions of the law. In addition, some workers might have rounded their hourly earnings to the nearest

dollar in response to survey questions. As a result, some

might have been reported with hourly earnings below the

minimum wage when, in fact, they earned the minimum wage

or higher. This may be more likely to occur in years during

which the minimum wage level is just above a whole dollar

value, as has been the case since September 1997 ($5.15).

Reliability

Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and

nonsampling error. When a sample, rather than an entire

population, is surveyed, 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

generally are conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.

Estimates of earnings and their standard errors can be used

to construct approximate confidence intervals, or ranges of

values that include the true population value with known

probabilities.

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 data collection or processing.

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, on the BLS Web site at www.bls.gov/cps/

eetech_methods.pdf.