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http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information: (202) 691-6378    USDL 01-20
                                         For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Media contact:               691-5902    Thursday, January 18, 2001

             USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY
                   WORKERS:  FOURTH QUARTER 2000
                            
   Median weekly earnings of the nation's 99.8 million full-
time wage and salary workers were $585 in the fourth quarter of
2000, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of
Labor reported today.  This was 3.0 percent higher than a year
earlier, compared with a gain of 3.4 percent in the Consumer
Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) over the same
period.

   Data on usual earnings are collected as part of the Current
Population Survey, a nationwide sample survey of households in
which respondents are asked, among other things, how much each
wage and salary worker usually earns.  (See the explanatory
note.)  Highlights from the fourth-quarter data are:

   --Women who usually worked full time had median earnings of
$502 a week, or 76.3 percent of the $658 median for men.  The
female-to-male earnings ratios were higher among Hispanics
(89.4 percent) and blacks (88.2 percent) than among whites
(75.4 percent).  (See table 1.)

   --Median earnings for black men working at full-time jobs
were $508 per week, 74.9 percent of the median for white men
($678).  The difference was much less among women, as black
women's median earnings ($448) were 87.7 percent of those for
their white counterparts ($511).  Overall, median earnings of
Hispanics who worked full time ($399) were lower than those of
blacks ($480) and whites ($601).  (See table 1.)

   --Among men, the $783 median weekly earnings level of 45-
to 54-year olds was the highest of any age group.  Among women,
earnings also were highest for those 45 to 54 years ($568).
(See table 2.)

   --Among the major occupational groups, persons employed full
time in managerial and professional specialty occupations had
the highest median weekly earnings--$1,009 for men and $726 for
women--while men and women in service and farm jobs earned the
least.  (See table 3.)

   --Full-time workers age 25 and over with less than a high
school diploma had median weekly earnings of $358, compared
with $508 for high school graduates (no college) and $903 for
college graduates.  Among college graduates with advanced
degrees (professional or master's degree and above), the
highest 10 percent of male workers earned $2,384 or more,
compared with $1,742 or more for their female counterparts.
(See table 4.)

                                  - 2 -

Annual Averages for 1999 and 2000

 In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this release
includes 1999 and 2000 annual average weekly earnings for major
demographic, occupation, and education groups (tables 6, 7, and 8).
Annual average data on median usual earnings for men and women by
detailed occupational categories will appear in the January 2001
issue of Employment and Earnings.

Explanatory Note
     
     
     The estimates in this release were obtained from the Current
Population Survey (CPS), which provides the basic information on the labor
force, employment, and unemployment.  The survey is conducted monthly for
the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the U.S. Census Bureau from a scienti-
fically selected national sample of about 50,000 households, with coverage
in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  The earnings data are 
collected from one-quarter of the CPS monthly sample and are limited to
wages and salaries.  The data, therefore, exclude self-employment income.
     
     Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired 
individuals upon request.  Voice phone:  202-691-5200; TDD message referral 
phone number:  1-800-877-8339.
     
Reliability
     
     Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and nonsam-
pling error.  When a sample, rather than the entire population, is surveyed,
there is a chance that the sample estimates may differ from the "true"
population values they represent.  The exact difference, or sampling error,
varies depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is
measured by the standard error of the estimate.  There is about a 90-percent
chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will
differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true" population value
because of sampling error.  BLS analyses are generally conducted at the
90-percent level of confidence.

     The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error.  Nonsampling error
can occur for many reasons, including the failure to sample a segment of the
population, inability to obtain information for all respondents in
the sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct
information, and errors made in the collection or processing of the data.

     For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS and
information on estimating standard errors, see the "Explanatory Notes and
Estimates of Error" section of the February 1994 and subsequent issues of
Employment and Earnings.
     
Definitions
     
     The principal definitions used in connection with the earnings series
are described briefly below.
     
     Usual weekly earnings. Data represent earnings before taxes and other
deductions and include any overtime pay, commissions, or tips usually
received (at the main job in the case of multiple jobholders.)  Prior to
1994, respondents were asked how much they usually earned per week.  Since
January 1994, respondents have been asked to identify the easiest way for
them to report earnings (hourly, weekly, biweekly, twice monthly, monthly,
annually, other) and how much they usually earn in the reported time
period.  Earnings reported on a basis other than weekly are converted to a
weekly equivalent.  The term "usual" is as perceived by the respondent.  If
the respondent asks for a definition of usual, interviewers are instructed
to define the term as more than half the weeks worked during the past 4 or
5 months.
     
     Medians (and other quantiles) of weekly earnings. The median (or upper
limit of the second quartile) is the amount which divides a given earnings
distribution into two equal groups, one having earnings above the median
and the other having earnings below the median.  Ten percent of a given
distribution have earnings below the upper limit of the first decile (90
percent have higher earnings); 25 percent have earnings below the upper
limit of the first quartile (75 percent have higher earnings); 75 percent
have earnings below the upper limit of the third quartile (25 percent have
higher earnings); and 90 percent have earnings below the upper limit of the
ninth decile (10 percent have higher earnings).
     
     The estimating procedure places each reported or calculated weekly
earnings value into $50-wide intervals which are centered around multiples
of $50.  The actual value is estimated through the linear interpolation of
the interval in which the quantile boundary lies.
     
     Over-the-year changes in the medians (and other quantile boundaries)
for specific groups may not necessarily be consistent with the movements
estimated for the overall quantile boundary.  The most common reasons for
this possible anomaly are: (1) There could be a change in the relative
weights of the subgroups.  For example, the medians of both 16-to-24 year
olds and those 25 years and over may rise; but if the lower-earning 16-to-
24 group accounts for a greatly increased share of the total, the overall
median could actually fall. (2) There could be a large change in the shape
of the distribution of reported earnings, particularly near a quantile
boundary.  This could be caused by survey observations that are clustered
at rounded values, e.g., $250, $300, $400.  An estimate lying in a $50-wide
centered interval containing such a cluster or "spike" tends to change more
slowly than one in other intervals.
     
     Wage and salary workers. Workers who receive wages, salaries,
commissions, tips, payment in kind, or piece rates.  The group includes
employees in both the private and public sectors but, for the purposes of
the earnings series, excludes all self-employed persons, regardless of
whether or not their businesses are incorporated.

                                  - 2 -

     Full-time workers. Workers who usually work 35 hours or more per week
at their sole or principal job.
     
     Part-time workers. Workers who usually work fewer than 35 hours per
week at their sole or principal job.
     
     Constant dollars. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers
(CPI-U) is used to convert current dollars to constant (1982) dollars.
     
     Hispanic origin. Refers to persons who are of Mexican, Puerto Rican,
Cuban, Central or South  American, or other Hispanic origin or descent.
Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race; hence, they are included in
the numbers for the white and black populations.
 Table 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, quarterly averages,
 not seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                              Number of workers              Median weekly earnings          
                                                                (in thousands)                                               
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                       Characteristic                                                 In current dollars   In constant (1982) 
                                                                                                                dollars       
                                                                 IV         IV                                                
                                                                1999       2000                                               
                                                                                        IV         IV         IV         IV    
                                                                                       1999       2000       1999       2000   
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                        SEX AND AGE                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
 Total, 16 years and over..................................    98,217     99,765       $568       $585       $326       $325 
                                                                                                                             
    Men, 16 years and over.................................    55,286     56,101        633        658        363        365 
      16 to 24 years.......................................     6,262      6,465        377        385        216        214 
      25 years and over....................................    49,024     49,636        681        708        391        393 
                                                                                                                             
    Women, 16 years and over...............................    42,931     43,663        483        502        277        278 
      16 to 24 years.......................................     4,648      4,891        331        360        190        200 
      25 years and over....................................    38,284     38,773        506        522        290        290 
                                                                                                                             
               RACE, HISPANIC ORIGIN, AND SEX                                                                                
                                                                                                                             
    White..................................................    81,300     82,135        586        601        336        333 
      Men..................................................    46,859     47,287        654        678        375        376 
      Women................................................    34,441     34,847        494        511        283        283 
                                                                                                                             
    Black..................................................    12,213     12,517        450        480        258        266 
      Men..................................................     5,855      5,962        496        508        285        282 
      Women................................................     6,358      6,555        408        448        234        248 
                                                                                                                             
    Hispanic origin........................................    11,258     11,831        383        399        220        221 
      Men..................................................     6,876      7,251        406        414        233        230 
      Women................................................     4,382      4,580        345        370        198        205 

      NOTE:  Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data for the "other races"
 group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups.  Beginning in January
 2000, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
 Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by age, race, Hispanic origin, and sex, 
 fourth quarter 2000 averages, not seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                                    Total                  Men                  Women        
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
               Age, race, and Hispanic origin                 Number                Number                Number             
                                                                of       Median       of       Median       of       Median  
                                                              workers    weekly     workers    weekly     workers    weekly  
                                                                (in     earnings      (in     earnings      (in     earnings 
                                                            thousands)            thousands)            thousands)           
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                           TOTAL                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    99,765       $585     56,101       $658     43,663       $502 
   16 to 24 years..........................................    11,356        374      6,465        385      4,891        360 
     16 to 19 years........................................     1,908        303      1,127        309        781        294 
     20 to 24 years........................................     9,448        392      5,338        402      4,110        377 
   25 years and over.......................................    88,409        617     49,636        708     38,773        522 
     25 to 54 years........................................    77,647        617     43,607        704     34,040        525 
       25 to 34 years......................................    25,341        560     14,461        605     10,880        503 
       35 to 44 years......................................    28,931        642     16,470        743     12,461        532 
       45 to 54 years......................................    23,375        673     12,676        783     10,698        568 
     55 years and over.....................................    10,762        615      6,028        740      4,733        503 
       55 to 64 years......................................     9,386        635      5,223        766      4,163        518 
       65 years and over...................................     1,376        433        805        502        571        370 
                                                                                                                             
                           White                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    82,135        601     47,287        678     34,847        511 
   16 to 24 years..........................................     9,401        378      5,470        388      3,931        366 
   25 years and over.......................................    72,733        636     41,817        727     30,916        539 
     25 to 54 years........................................    63,515        636     36,563        722     26,952        545 
     55 years and over.....................................     9,218        637      5,254        764      3,964        512 
                                                                                                                             
                           Black                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    12,517        480      5,962        508      6,555        448 
   16 to 24 years..........................................     1,473        334        725        351        748        321 
   25 years and over.......................................    11,043        500      5,237        538      5,806        470 
     25 to 54 years........................................     9,990        499      4,747        535      5,243        468 
     55 years and over.....................................     1,053        519        490        559        563        492 
                                                                                                                             
                      Hispanic origin                                                                                        
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    11,831        399      7,251        414      4,580        370 
   16 to 24 years..........................................     1,965        318      1,333        322        632        310 
   25 years and over.......................................     9,866        421      5,918        457      3,948        385 
     25 to 54 years........................................     8,973        421      5,404        456      3,569        386 
     55 years and over.....................................       893        417        514        458        380        358 

      NOTE:  Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data for the "other races"
 group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups.  Beginning in January
 2000, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
  Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, quarterly averages, 
  not seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                                                                    Number of workers               Median weekly earnings    
                                                                      (in thousands)                                        
                      Occupation and sex                                                                                    
                                                                                                                            
                                                                    IV              IV                IV              IV      
                                                                   1999            2000              1999            2000     
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                            TOTAL                                                                                           
                                                                                                                            
   Managerial and professional specialty....................      31,355          31,606             $814            $853   
     Executive, administrative, and managerial..............      15,269          15,283              814             861   
     Professional specialty.................................      16,086          16,323              814             849   
   Technical, sales, and administrative support.............      27,484          27,855              494             510   
     Technicians and related support........................       3,711           3,448              632             663   
     Sales occupations......................................       9,941          10,286              531             552   
     Administrative support, including clerical.............      13,833          14,121              453             474   
   Service occupations......................................      10,521          11,073              337             363   
     Private household......................................         307             356              296             284   
     Protective service.....................................       2,089           2,147              621             638   
     Service, except private household and protective.......       8,125           8,570              313             333   
   Precision production, craft, and repair..................      11,979          12,225              605             628   
     Mechanics and repairers................................       3,959           4,208              636             645   
     Construction trades....................................       4,415           4,524              586             616   
     Other precision production, craft, and repair..........       3,605           3,492              598             622   
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers.....................      15,283          15,538              444             453   
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors..........       6,646           6,431              442             445   
     Transportation and material moving occupations.........       4,520           4,769              527             562   
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers....       4,117           4,338              375             370   
   Farming, forestry, and fishing...........................       1,596           1,468              344             343   
                                                                                                                            
                             Men                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
   Managerial and professional specialty....................      15,733          15,739              971           1,009   
     Executive, administrative, and managerial..............       8,079           7,970            1,015           1,048   
     Professional specialty.................................       7,654           7,769              947             971   
   Technical, sales, and administrative support.............      10,546          10,665              639             655   
     Technicians and related support........................       1,804           1,830              736             772   
     Sales occupations......................................       5,362           5,701              670             681   
     Administrative support, including clerical.............       3,379           3,134              556             564   
   Service occupations......................................       5,086           5,289              410             424   
     Private household......................................           4              27           (1)             (1)      
     Protective service.....................................       1,752           1,768              637             670   
     Service, except private household and protective.......       3,331           3,493              348             369   
   Precision production, craft, and repair..................      10,869          11,155              616             649   
     Mechanics and repairers................................       3,734           3,990              636             647   
     Construction trades....................................       4,336           4,437              589             620   
     Other precision production, craft, and repair..........       2,799           2,728              641             686   
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers.....................      11,661          11,963              480             491   
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors..........       4,130           4,057              502             508   
     Transportation and material moving occupations.........       4,150           4,393              536             577   
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers....       3,382           3,514              389             388   
   Farming, forestry, and fishing...........................       1,391           1,290              359             344   
                                                                                                                            
                            Women                                                                                           
                                                                                                                            
   Managerial and professional specialty....................      15,622          15,866              698             726   
     Executive, administrative, and managerial..............       7,190           7,313              656             707   
     Professional specialty.................................       8,432           8,553              733             740   
   Technical, sales, and administrative support.............      16,938          17,191              436             462   
     Technicians and related support........................       1,906           1,618              548             555   
     Sales occupations......................................       4,579           4,586              407             428   
     Administrative support, including clerical.............      10,453          10,987              429             457   
   Service occupations......................................       5,434           5,784              302             319   
     Private household......................................         303             329              298             278   
     Protective service.....................................         337             378              501             521   
     Service, except private household and protective.......       4,794           5,076              299             316   
   Precision production, craft, and repair..................       1,110           1,070              437             461   
     Mechanics and repairers................................         225             218              646             575   
     Construction trades....................................          79              88           (1)             (1)      
     Other precision production, craft, and repair..........         806             764              409             426   
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers.....................       3,621           3,575              351             350   
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors..........       2,517           2,374              352             354   
     Transportation and material moving occupations.........         370             377              465             443   
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers....         735             825              311             313   
   Farming, forestry, and fishing...........................         206             177              263             340   

    1 Data not shown where base is less than 100,000.
      NOTE:  Beginning in January 2000, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
 Table 4. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected
 characteristics, fourth quarter 2000 averages, not seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                               Number                        Upper limit of:                   
                                                                 of                                                           
                       Characteristic                          workers                                                        
                                                                 (in       First      First      Second     Third     Ninth  
                                                             thousands)    decile    quartile   quartile   quartile   decile  
                                                                                                (median)                       
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
               SEX, RACE, AND HISPANIC ORIGIN                                                                                
                                                                                                                             
 Total, 16 years and over..................................    99,765       $284       $387       $585       $876     $1,299 
   Men.....................................................    56,101        302        428        658        983      1,450 
   Women...................................................    43,663        264        346        502        734      1,048 
                                                                                                                             
   White...................................................    82,135        288        397        601        901      1,341 
     Men...................................................    47,287        306        445        678      1,006      1,476 
     Women.................................................    34,847        270        354        511        749      1,075 
                                                                                                                             
   Black...................................................    12,517        253        328        480        696        967 
     Men...................................................     5,962        278        368        508        759      1,047 
     Women.................................................     6,555        238        308        448        631        866 
                                                                                                                             
   Hispanic................................................    11,831        240        295        399        607        918 
     Men...................................................     7,251        250        305        414        642        963 
     Women.................................................     4,580        227        282        370        554        828 
                                                                                                                             
                   EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT                                                                                    
                                                                                                                             
   Total, 25 years and over................................    88,409        296        413        617        920      1,365 
     Less than a high school diploma.......................     8,660        226        283        358        510        707 
     High school graduates, no college.....................    27,613        280        368        508        721        978 
     Some college or associate degree......................    24,381        316        434        605        852      1,149 
     College graduates, total..............................    27,754        456        638        903      1,339      1,883 
       Bachelor's degree only..............................    18,216        428        604        841      1,220      1,740 
       Advanced degree.....................................     9,538        537        742      1,036      1,505      2,092 
                                                                                                                             
     Men, 25 years and over................................    49,636        324        477        708      1,033      1,510 
       Less than a high school diploma.....................     5,619        249        302        405        586        790 
       High school graduates, no college...................    15,564        312        424        595        824      1,103 
       Some college or associate degree....................    12,806        375        503        709        968      1,328 
       College graduates, total............................    15,646        507        726      1,023      1,480      2,000 
         Bachelor's degree only............................    10,201        488        677        948      1,378      1,893 
         Advanced degree...................................     5,445        592        822      1,169      1,661      2,384 
                                                                                                                             
     Women, 25 years and over..............................    38,773        275        364        522        762      1,098 
       Less than a high school diploma.....................     3,040        189        248        306        386        514 
       High school graduates, no college...................    12,049        252        316        427        581        753 
       Some college or associate degree....................    11,575        291        386        514        702        931 
       College graduates, total............................    12,108        411        580        772      1,093      1,544 
         Bachelor's degree only............................     8,015        390        533        720        995      1,448 
         Advanced degree...................................     4,093        496        666        907      1,219      1,742 

      NOTE:  Ten percent of all full-time wage and salary workers earn less than the upper limit of the first decile; 25
 percent earn less than the upper limit of the first quartile; 50 percent earn less than the upper limit of the second
 quartile, or median; 75 percent earn less than the upper limit of the third quartile; and 90 percent earn less than the
 upper limit of the ninth decile.  Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data
 for the "other races" group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups. 
 Beginning in January 2000, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
  Table 5. Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, quarterly
  averages, not seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                                                                    Number of workers               Median weekly earnings    
                                                                      (in thousands)                                        
                        Characteristic                                                                                      
                                                                                                                            
                                                                    IV              IV                IV              IV      
                                                                   1999            2000              1999            2000     
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                         SEX AND AGE                                                                                        
                                                                                                                            
  Total, 16 years and over..................................      21,630          21,613             $165            $170   
                                                                                                                            
     Men, 16 years and over.................................       6,759           6,828              156             156   
       16 to 24 years.......................................       3,797           3,808              125             131   
       25 years and over....................................       2,961           3,020              208             194   
                                                                                                                            
     Women, 16 years and over...............................      14,872          14,785              169             178   
       16 to 24 years.......................................       4,791           4,901              122             130   
       25 years and over....................................      10,080           9,884              201             211   
                                                                                                                            
                RACE, HISPANIC ORIGIN, AND SEX                                                                              
                                                                                                                            
     White..................................................      18,360          18,459              168             171   
       Men..................................................       5,608           5,667              156             155   
       Women................................................      12,751          12,792              173             179   
                                                                                                                            
     Black..................................................       2,274           2,210              146             164   
       Men..................................................         762             818              145             160   
       Women................................................       1,512           1,393              147             167   
                                                                                                                            
     Hispanic origin........................................       1,784           2,055              163             172   
       Men..................................................         573             712              154             177   
       Women................................................       1,211           1,343              168             170   

       NOTE:  Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data for the "other
  races" group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups.  Beginning in
  January 2000, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
 Table 6.  Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, annual averages
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                               Number of workers             Median weekly earnings          
                                                                (in thousands)                                               
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                       Characteristic                                               In current dollars    In constant (1982) 
                                                                                                               dollars       
                                                               1999       2000                                               
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                     1999       2000       1999       2000   
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                        SEX AND AGE                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
 Total, 16 years and over..................................   97,626     99,917      $549       $576       $318       $334   
                                                                                                                             
    Men, 16 years and over.................................   55,181     56,273       618        646        358        375   
      16 to 24 years.......................................    6,444      6,786       356        376        206        218   
      25 years and over....................................   48,738     49,487       668        700        387        405   
                                                                                                                             
    Women, 16 years and over...............................   42,444     43,644       473        491        274        285   
      16 to 24 years.......................................    4,830      5,147       324        342        188        198   
      25 years and over....................................   37,615     38,497       497        515        288        298   
                                                                                                                             
               RACE, HISPANIC ORIGIN, AND SEX                                                                                
                                                                                                                             
    White..................................................   80,849     82,475       573        591        332        343   
      Men..................................................   46,825     47,578       638        669        370        387   
      Women................................................   34,024     34,897       483        500        280        290   
                                                                                                                             
    Black..................................................   12,190     12,556       445        468        258        271   
      Men..................................................    5,846      5,989       488        503        283        292   
      Women................................................    6,344      6,568       409        429        237        248   
                                                                                                                             
    Hispanic origin........................................   10,950     11,738       385        396        223        229   
      Men..................................................    6,788      7,261       406        414        235        240   
      Women................................................    4,162      4,477       348        364        202        211   

      NOTE:  Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data for the "other races"
 group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups.  Beginning in January 2000,
 data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
 Table 7.  Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, annual averages
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                                        Number of workers           Median weekly earnings   
                                                                          (in thousands)                                     
                        Occupation and sex                                                                                   
                                                                                                                             
                                                                       1999           2000            1999           2000     
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                              TOTAL                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
   Managerial and professional specialty.........................     30,704         31,455           $797           $836    
     Executive, administrative, and managerial...................     14,973         15,368            792            840    
     Professional specialty......................................     15,731         16,087            800            832    
   Technical, sales, and administrative support..................     27,388         28,252            488            506    
     Technicians and related support.............................      3,550          3,652            618            648    
     Sales occupations...........................................      9,728         10,133            523            550    
     Administrative support, including clerical..................     14,109         14,468            447            469    
   Service occupations...........................................     10,841         11,020            336            355    
     Private household...........................................        384            368            243            264    
     Protective service..........................................      2,138          2,112            592            623    
     Service, except private household and protective............      8,318          8,540            313            327    
   Precision production, craft, and repair.......................     11,927         12,163            594            613    
     Mechanics and repairers.....................................      4,263          4,227            621            648    
     Construction trades.........................................      4,143          4,430            566            596    
     Other precision production, craft, and repair...............      3,521          3,506            588            595    
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers..........................     15,182         15,411            429            446    
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors...............      6,814          6,636            423            436    
     Transportation and material moving occupations..............      4,401          4,587            513            540    
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers.........      3,967          4,189            363            378    
   Farming, forestry, and fishing................................      1,583          1,616            331            334    
                                                                                                                             
                               Men                                                                                           
                                                                                                                             
   Managerial and professional specialty.........................     15,537         15,875            952            994    
     Executive, administrative, and managerial...................      7,981          8,142            967          1,014    
     Professional specialty......................................      7,556          7,733            939            977    
   Technical, sales, and administrative support..................     10,525         10,828            626            655    
     Technicians and related support.............................      1,802          1,882            728            761    
     Sales occupations...........................................      5,402          5,583            666            684    
     Administrative support, including clerical..................      3,322          3,363            539            563    
   Service occupations...........................................      5,209          5,284            402            414    
     Private household...........................................         17             20           (1)            (1)     
     Protective service..........................................      1,791          1,771            613            659    
     Service, except private household and protective............      3,400          3,493            336            357    
   Precision production, craft, and repair.......................     10,861         11,075            606            628    
     Mechanics and repairers.....................................      4,057          4,024            622            649    
     Construction trades.........................................      4,059          4,341            571            599    
     Other precision production, craft, and repair...............      2,745          2,709            634            651    
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers..........................     11,685         11,837            472            487    
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors...............      4,371          4,240            487            495    
     Transportation and material moving occupations..............      4,083          4,221            522            558    
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers.........      3,230          3,376            377            394    
   Farming, forestry, and fishing................................      1,364          1,374            341            347    
                                                                                                                             
                              Women                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
   Managerial and professional specialty.........................     15,167         15,580            681            709    
     Executive, administrative, and managerial...................      6,992          7,226            652            686    
     Professional specialty......................................      8,175          8,354            707            725    
   Technical, sales, and administrative support..................     16,863         17,424            431            452    
     Technicians and related support.............................      1,749          1,769            528            541    
     Sales occupations...........................................      4,326          4,550            399            407    
     Administrative support, including clerical..................     10,788         11,105            427            449    
   Service occupations...........................................      5,632          5,736            304            316    
     Private household...........................................        367            348            240            261    
     Protective service..........................................        347            341            492            500    
     Service, except private household and protective............      4,918          5,047            302            314    
   Precision production, craft, and repair.......................      1,066          1,088            428            445    
     Mechanics and repairers.....................................        206            203            592            627    
     Construction trades.........................................         85             88            423            475    
     Other precision production, craft, and repair...............        776            796            403            414    
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers..........................      3,498          3,574            337            351    
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors...............      2,444          2,396            340            355    
     Transportation and material moving occupations..............        317            366            394            407    
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers.........        737            812            314            320    
   Farming, forestry, and fishing................................        218            242            283            294    

   1 Data not shown where base is less than 50,000.
      NOTE:  Beginning in January 2000, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
     Table 8. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected
     characteristics, 2000 annual averages 
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                                                          Number                       Upper limit of:                   
                                                            of                                                           
                  Educational attainment,                 workers                                                        
                       sex, and race                        (in       First      First     Second      Third      Ninth  
                                                        thousands)   decile    quartile   quartile   quartile    decile  
                                                                                          (median)                       
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                           TOTAL                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   87,984       $294       $407       $611       $909     $1,344  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    8,523        225        280        360        508        706  
       High school graduates, no college...............   27,637        279        364        506        716        966  
       Some college or associate degree................   24,452        312        422        598        834      1,136  
       College graduates, total........................   27,372        448        625        896      1,325      1,870  
         Bachelor's degree only........................   18,133        421        593        833      1,203      1,725  
         Advanced degree...............................    9,239        530        733      1,032      1,484      2,079  
                                                                                                                         
                            Men                                                                                          
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   49,487        324        473        700      1,021      1,503  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    5,490        246        303        409        583        774  
       High school graduates, no college...............   15,549        311        419        594        816      1,073  
       Some college or associate degree................   13,010        360        497        699        953      1,277  
       College graduates, total........................   15,438        498        712      1,022      1,481      2,021  
         Bachelor's degree only........................   10,167        477        671        952      1,387      1,894  
         Advanced degree...............................    5,270        585        819      1,186      1,685      2,397  
                                                                                                                         
                           Women                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   38,497        270        358        515        751      1,069  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    3,034        193        245        303        387        506  
       High school graduates, no college...............   12,088        251        315        421        579        753  
       Some college or associate degree................   11,442        286        377        504        688        908  
       College graduates, total........................   11,934        402        567        760      1,066      1,460  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    7,965        380        518        710        978      1,367  
         Advanced degree...............................    3,969        493        656        890      1,194      1,618  
                                                                                                                         
                         White men                                                                                       
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   41,752        334        489        722      1,055      1,536  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    4,637        249        306        412        593        788  
       High school graduates, no college...............   12,967        323        439        612        842      1,110  
       Some college or associate degree................   10,878        375        513        722        980      1,327  
       College graduates, total........................   13,269        514        731      1,048      1,513      2,089  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    8,787        494        692        974      1,420      1,908  
         Advanced degree...............................    4,482        594        834      1,205      1,737      2,424  
                                                                                                                         
                        White women                                                                                      
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   30,752       $275       $367       $524       $763     $1,094  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    2,331        193        244        303        389        509  
       High school graduates, no college...............    9,672        256        322        431        590        763  
       Some college or associate degree................    8,999        290        383        513        703        925  
       College graduates, total........................    9,750        411        575        767      1,080      1,475  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    6,440        388        522        714        990      1,384  
         Advanced degree...............................    3,310        499        663        907      1,203      1,633  
                                                                                                                         
                         Black men                                                                                       
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................    5,275        285        382        534        768      1,050  
       Less than a high school diploma.................      608        221        290        394        519        715  
       High school graduates, no college...............    2,021        275        352        480        670        883  
       Some college or associate degree................    1,593        312        408        575        778      1,017  
       College graduates, total........................    1,052        399        575        771      1,100      1,613  
         Bachelor's degree only........................      739        386        525        723      1,000      1,423  
         Advanced degree...............................      313        447        647        953      1,439      1,907  
                                                                                                                         
                        Black women                                                                                      
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................    5,778        250        318        455        658        901  
       Less than a high school diploma.................      520        188        244        302        378        497  
       High school graduates, no college...............    1,949        237        293        387        518        696  
       Some college or associate degree................    1,997        269        347        468        621        801  
       College graduates, total........................    1,313        361        524        720        948      1,288  
         Bachelor's degree only........................      919        337        486        667        923      1,194  
         Advanced degree...............................      393        465        626        777      1,068      1,392  

           NOTE:  See note table 4.