Internet address:  http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information: (202) 606-6378         USDL 98-18


                                              For release:  10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:               606-5902         Thursday,January 22, 1998


             USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS:
                            FOURTH QUARTER 1997
   

   Median weekly earnings of the nation's 94.4 million full-time wage and
salary workers were $511 in the fourth quarter of 1997, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  This was 2.4
percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 1.9 percent in
the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) over the same
period.
   
   Data on usual earnings are collected as part of the Current Population
Survey, a nationwide sample survey of households in which respondents are
asked, among other things, how much each wage and salary worker usually
earns.  (See explanatory note.)  Highlights from the fourth-quarter data
are:
   
   ---Women who usually worked full time had median earnings of $440 a
week, or 75.0 percent of the $587 median for men.  The female-male earnings
ratios for blacks (81.2 percent) and for Hispanics (84.5 percent) were
higher than for whites (75.4 percent).  (See table 1.)
   
   ---Median earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $457 per
week, 75.9 percent of the median for white men ($602).  The difference was
much less among women, as black women's median earnings ($371) were 81.7
percent of those for their white counterparts ($454).  Overall, median
earnings of Hispanics who worked full time ($354) were lower than those of
blacks ($410) and whites ($528).  (See table 1.)
   
   ---Among men, those in the 45-to 54-year-old group had the highest
median weekly earnings ($721), followed by 55-to 64-year-old men, with
median earnings of $669.  Among women, earnings also were highest for those
45-to-54 years old, who had a median of $499, followed by 35-to 44-year-
olds, with a median of $492.  (See table 2.)
   
   ---Among the major occupational groups, persons employed full time in
managerial and professional specialty occupations had the highest median
weekly earnings--$908 for men and $644 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 $324, compared with $465 for high
school graduates (no college) and $789 for college graduates.  Among
college graduates with advanced degrees (professional or master's degree
and above), the highest 10 percent of male workers earned $2,113 or more
per week, compared with $1,506 or more for their female counterparts.  (See
table 4.)
   
Annual Averages for 1996 and 1997
   
     In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this release includes
1996 and 1997 annual average weekly earnings for major demographic,
occupation, and education groups (tables 6, 7, and 8).  Annual average
information on median usual earnings for men and women by detailed
occupational categories will appear in the January 1998 issue of Employment
and Earnings.
Explanatory Note
 
 
 
 The  estimates  in this release were obtained from the Current  Population
Survey  (CPS),  which provides the basic information on  the  labor  force,
employment,  and  unemployment.  The survey is conducted  monthly  for  the
Bureau   of  Labor  Statistics  by  the  Bureau  of  the  Census   from   a
scientifically  selected national sample of about 50,000  households,  with
coverage in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  The earnings  data
are collected from one-quarter of the CPS monthly sample and are limited to
wages and  salaries.  The data, therefore, exclude self-employment income.
 
 Information  in  this release will be made available to  sensory  impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone:  202-606-STAT; TDD phone:  
202-606-5897; TDD message referral phone number:  1-800-326-2577.

Reliability
 
 In  any  sample survey, variations in the data can occur by chance because
a  sample,  rather  than  the whole of the population,  is  surveyed.   The
standard error is a measure of such  potential variation.  The chances  are
about  68 out of 100 that an estimate from the survey differs from a figure
that  would  be obtained from a complete census by less than  one  standard
error.  The chances are about 90 out of 100 that such a difference would be
less  than 1.6 standard errors.  All statements of comparisons in the  text
of this release are significant at 1.6 or more standard errors.
 
 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, taxes,  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 self-employed persons whose 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 of 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                                               
                                                               1996       1997                                               
                                                                                       IV         IV         IV         IV   
                                                                                     1996       1997       1996       1997   
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                        SEX AND AGE                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
 Total, 16 years and over..................................    91,313     94,355       $499       $511       $304       $305 
                                                                                                                             
    Men, 16 years and over.................................    52,053     53,455        565        587        344        350 
      16 to 24 years.......................................     5,684      5,956        313        323        190        193 
      25 years and over....................................    46,369     47,499        602        621        366        371 
                                                                                                                             
    Women, 16 years and over...............................    39,260     40,900        425        440        259        263 
      16 to 24 years.......................................     4,078      4,364        293        299        179        179 
      25 years and over....................................    35,182     36,535        451        470        275        281 
                                                                                                                             
               RACE, HISPANIC ORIGIN, AND SEX                                                                                
                                                                                                                             
    White..................................................    76,333     78,440        514        528        313        315 
      Men..................................................    44,488     45,462        586        602        357        360 
      Women................................................    31,845     32,978        438        454        267        271 
                                                                                                                             
    Black..................................................    11,026     11,516        390        410        237        245 
      Men..................................................     5,347      5,597        413        457        251        273 
      Women................................................     5,679      5,918        362        371        220        222 
                                                                                                                             
    Hispanic origin........................................     9,481     10,293        342        354        208        211 
      Men..................................................     5,995      6,649        364        375        222        224 
      Women................................................     3,485      3,644        316        317        193        190 

      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
 1997, 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 1997 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.........................................    94,355       $511     53,455       $587     40,900       $440 
   16 to 24 years..........................................    10,320        313      5,956        323      4,364        299 
     16 to 19 years........................................     1,839        259      1,078        271        761        245 
     20 to 24 years........................................     8,481        326      4,878        346      3,603        311 
   25 years and over.......................................    84,035        549     47,499        621     36,535        470 
     25 to 54 years........................................    74,574        551     42,064        619     32,510        474 
       25 to 34 years......................................    25,834        488     14,852        520     10,982        434 
       35 to 44 years......................................    28,069        587     15,999        666     12,069        492 
       45 to 54 years......................................    20,671        612     11,212        721      9,459        499 
     55 years and over.....................................     9,461        537      5,436        648      4,025        424 
       55 to 64 years......................................     8,357        566      4,745        669      3,612        439 
       65 years and over...................................     1,104        367        691        390        413        338 
                                                                                                                             
                           White                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    78,440        528     45,462        602     32,978        454 
   16 to 24 years..........................................     8,645        317      5,131        329      3,514        303 
   25 years and over.......................................    69,795        576     40,331        644     29,463        483 
     25 to 54 years........................................    61,666        576     35,611        640     26,056        486 
     55 years and over.....................................     8,128        576      4,721        683      3,408        448 
                                                                                                                             
                           Black                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    11,516        410      5,597        457      5,918        371 
   16 to 24 years..........................................     1,261        285        627        288        634        283 
   25 years and over.......................................    10,255        436      4,971        485      5,284        394 
     25 to 54 years........................................     9,313        443      4,502        488      4,810        403 
     55 years and over.....................................       942        365        469        443        474        321 
                                                                                                                             
                      Hispanic origin                                                                                        
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    10,293        354      6,649        375      3,644        317 
   16 to 24 years..........................................     1,702        288      1,137        298        564        261 
   25 years and over.......................................     8,591        378      5,512        400      3,079        336 
     25 to 54 years........................................     7,842        378      5,016        399      2,826        338 
     55 years and over.....................................       750        376        496        419        253        316 

      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
 1997, 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      
                                                                   1996            1997            1996            1997     
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                            TOTAL                                                                                           
                                                                                                                            
   Managerial and professional specialty....................      27,314          28,609             $729            $754   
     Executive, administrative, and managerial..............      13,220          14,162              714             741   
     Professional specialty.................................      14,094          14,447              739             764   
   Technical, sales, and administrative support.............      26,441          27,306              445             466   
     Technicians and related support........................       3,293           3,554              582             601   
     Sales occupations......................................       9,040           9,724              474             502   
     Administrative support, including clerical.............      14,108          14,028              409             419   
   Service occupations......................................      10,014          10,342              312             320   
     Private household......................................         393             389              217             244   
     Protective service.....................................       1,945           1,891              544             587   
     Service, except private household and protective.......       7,675           8,062              292             300   
   Precision production, craft, and repair..................      11,114          11,447              542             541   
     Mechanics and repairers................................       3,933           4,148              556             573   
     Construction trades....................................       3,671           3,734              525             541   
     Other precision production, craft, and repair..........       3,509           3,565              540             515   
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers.....................      15,042          15,337              402             405   
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors..........       6,986           7,118              396             397   
     Transportation and material moving occupations.........       4,242           4,412              488             499   
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers....       3,814           3,807              338             323   
   Farming, forestry, and fishing...........................       1,388           1,314              303             292   
                                                                                                                            
                             Men                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
   Managerial and professional specialty....................      13,991          14,483              859             908   
     Executive, administrative, and managerial..............       7,103           7,446              859             901   
     Professional specialty.................................       6,888           7,036              859             915   
   Technical, sales, and administrative support.............      10,059          10,427              564             595   
     Technicians and related support........................       1,691           1,857              659             691   
     Sales occupations......................................       5,031           5,291              584             630   
     Administrative support, including clerical.............       3,337           3,279              499             493   
   Service occupations......................................       4,855           5,254              372             381   
     Private household......................................          30              48           (1)             (1)      
     Protective service.....................................       1,630           1,576             $556            $614   
     Service, except private household and protective.......       3,196           3,630              307             321   
   Precision production, craft, and repair..................      10,181          10,528              559             562   
     Mechanics and repairers................................       3,754           4,034              558             576   
     Construction trades....................................       3,612           3,684              528             545   
     Other precision production, craft, and repair..........       2,815           2,810              592             564   
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers.....................      11,762          11,621              432             447   
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors..........       4,590           4,445             $455            $477   
     Transportation and material moving occupations.........       3,960           4,079              497             505   
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers....       3,213           3,097              346             339   
   Farming, forestry, and fishing...........................       1,205           1,143              308             296   
                                                                                                                            
                            Women                                                                                           
                                                                                                                            
   Managerial and professional specialty....................      13,323          14,126              631             644   
     Executive, administrative, and managerial..............       6,117           6,715              599             614   
     Professional specialty.................................       7,206           7,411              660             676   
   Technical, sales, and administrative support.............      16,383          16,879              396             408   
     Technicians and related support........................       1,602           1,697              508             524   
     Sales occupations......................................       4,009           4,433              360             360   
     Administrative support, including clerical.............      10,771          10,749              391             406   
   Service occupations......................................       5,158           5,088              283             286   
     Private household......................................         364             341              220             238   
     Protective service.....................................         315             315              488             449   
     Service, except private household and protective.......       4,479           4,432              281             283   
   Precision production, craft, and repair..................         933             919              374             389   
     Mechanics and repairers................................         179             114              532             456   
     Construction trades....................................          60              50           (1)             (1)      
     Other precision production, craft, and repair..........         694             755             $354            $384   
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers.....................       3,280           3,716              314             313   
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors..........       2,397           2,673              311             316   
     Transportation and material moving occupations.........         283             333              365             400   
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers....         601             711              299             285   
   Farming, forestry, and fishing...........................         183             171              285             271   

    1 Data not shown where base is less than 100,000.
  Beginning in January 1997, 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 1997 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..................................    94,355       $248       $336       $511       $772     $1,144 
   Men.....................................................    53,455        273        379        587        879      1,263 
   Women...................................................    40,900        229        303        440        650        930 
                                                                                                                             
   White...................................................    78,440        255        349        528        800      1,165 
     Men...................................................    45,462        279        393        602        901      1,302 
     Women.................................................    32,978        234        310        454        667        951 
                                                                                                                             
   Black...................................................    11,516        218        288        410        604        856 
     Men...................................................     5,597        236        308        457        657        988 
     Women.................................................     5,918        207        272        371        539        766 
                                                                                                                             
   Hispanic................................................    10,293        206        262        354        530        812 
     Men...................................................     6,649        221        278        375        575        863 
     Women.................................................     3,644        192        238        317        481        701 
                                                                                                                             
                   EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT                                                                                    
                                                                                                                             
   Total, 25 years and over................................    84,035        265        365        549        815      1,173 
     Less than a high school diploma.......................     8,354        202        253        324        467        650 
     High school graduates, no college.....................    26,979        245        321        465        647        886 
     Some college or associate degree......................    23,134        285        382        547        763      1,036 
     College graduates, total..............................    25,568        396        558        789      1,154      1,613 
       Bachelor's degree only..............................    17,112        376        513        731      1,063      1,462 
       Advanced degree.....................................     8,456        467        652        940      1,347      1,894 
                                                                                                                             
     Men, 25 years and over................................    47,499        293        414        621        921      1,335 
       Less than a high school diploma.....................     5,575        222        278        372        518        720 
       High school graduates, no college...................    15,040        283        382        532        739        983 
       Some college or associate degree....................    12,524        317        443        631        877      1,172 
       College graduates, total............................    14,359        444        623        916      1,320      1,881 
         Bachelor's degree only............................     9,509        419        590        845      1,205      1,644 
         Advanced degree...................................     4,850        506        730      1,058      1,522      2,113 
                                                                                                                             
     Women, 25 years and over..............................    36,535        239        318        470        679        960 
       Less than a high school diploma.....................     2,779        186        223        276        355        460 
       High school graduates, no college...................    11,939        219        285        379        519        698 
       Some college or associate degree....................    10,609        259        338        466        636        828 
       College graduates, total............................    11,208        359        492        675        944      1,261 
         Bachelor's degree only............................     7,603       $336       $463       $625       $866     $1,169 
         Advanced degree...................................     3,606        432        593        804      1,103      1,506 

      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 1997, 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)                                        
                Age, race, and Hispanic origin                                                                              
                                                                                                                            
                                                                    IV              IV              IV              IV      
                                                                   1996            1997            1996            1997     
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                         SEX AND AGE                                                                                        
                                                                                                                            
  Total, 16 years and over..................................      21,378          21,205             $144            $150   
                                                                                                                            
     Men, 16 years and over.................................       6,495           6,635              133             137   
       16 to 24 years.......................................       3,534           3,629              108             111   
       25 years and over....................................       2,961           3,006              185             187   
                                                                                                                            
     Women, 16 years and over...............................      14,883          14,570              148             155   
       16 to 24 years.......................................       4,660           4,586              104             111   
       25 years and over....................................      10,223           9,984              176             185   
                                                                                                                            
                RACE, HISPANIC ORIGIN, AND SEX                                                                              
                                                                                                                            
     White..................................................      18,474          18,298              146             151   
       Men..................................................       5,444           5,632              132             136   
       Women................................................      13,029          12,666              151             157   
                                                                                                                            
     Black..................................................       2,035           2,041              132             140   
       Men..................................................         717             686              139             141   
       Women................................................       1,317           1,355              129             139   
                                                                                                                            
     Hispanic origin........................................       1,751           1,809              136             151   
       Men..................................................         622             657              139             148   
       Women................................................       1,128           1,152              134             152   

       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 1997, 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       
                                                               1996       1997                                               
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                     1996       1997       1996       1997   
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                        SEX AND AGE                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
 Total, 16 years and over..................................   90,918     93,578      $490       $503       $302       $303   
                                                                                                                             
    Men, 16 years and over.................................   51,895     53,220       557        579        343        348   
      16 to 24 years.......................................    5,976      6,174       307        317        189        191   
      25 years and over....................................   45,919     47,046       599        615        369        370   
                                                                                                                             
    Women, 16 years and over...............................   39,023     40,358       418        431        257        259   
      16 to 24 years.......................................    4,307      4,522       284        292        175        176   
      25 years and over....................................   34,715     35,836       444        462        273        278   
                                                                                                                             
               RACE, HISPANIC ORIGIN, AND SEX                                                                                
                                                                                                                             
    White..................................................   76,151     77,973       506        519        311        312   
      Men..................................................   44,428     45,349       580        595        357        358   
      Women................................................   31,724     32,624       428        444        263        267   
                                                                                                                             
    Black..................................................   10,871     11,356       387        400        238        241   
      Men..................................................    5,316      5,517       412        432        253        260   
      Women................................................    5,555      5,839       362        375        223        225   
                                                                                                                             
    Hispanic origin........................................    9,082      9,996       339        351        208        211   
      Men..................................................    5,831      6,456       356        371        219        223   
      Women................................................    3,251      3,540       316        318        195        191   

      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 1997,
 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                                                                                   
                                                                                                                             
                                                                       1996           1997           1996           1997     
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                              TOTAL                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
   Managerial and professional specialty.........................     27,222         28,252          $718           $738     
     Executive, administrative, and managerial...................     13,300         13,965           699            725     
     Professional specialty......................................     13,922         14,287           730            750     
   Technical, sales, and administrative support..................     26,116         26,791           441            456     
     Technicians and related support.............................      3,215          3,494           573            582     
     Sales occupations...........................................      9,041          9,405           474            482     
     Administrative support, including clerical..................     13,860         13,892           405            419     
   Service occupations...........................................      9,957         10,172           305            313     
     Private household...........................................        365            348           212            215     
     Protective service..........................................      1,902          1,961           538            550     
     Service, except private household and protective............      7,690          7,863           285            296     
   Precision production, craft, and repair.......................     11,020         11,495           540            548     
     Mechanics and repairers.....................................      3,834          4,020           568            578     
     Construction trades.........................................      3,653          3,878           516            536     
     Other precision production, craft, and repair...............      3,533          3,597           533            529     
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers..........................     15,100         15,338           391            401     
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors...............      7,100          7,235           380            390     
     Transportation and material moving occupations..............      4,254          4,325           476            498     
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers.........      3,747          3,779           330            329     
   Farming, forestry, and fishing................................      1,502          1,530           294            295     
                                                                                                                             
                               Men                                                                                           
                                                                                                                             
   Managerial and professional specialty.........................     13,934         14,359           852            875     
     Executive, administrative, and managerial...................      7,187          7,466           846            868     
     Professional specialty......................................      6,747          6,894           857            883     
   Technical, sales, and administrative support..................      9,988         10,239           567            588     
     Technicians and related support.............................      1,662          1,803           650            667     
     Sales occupations...........................................      5,114          5,174           589            603     
     Administrative support, including clerical..................      3,212          3,262           489            514     
   Service occupations...........................................      4,958          5,071           357            372     
     Private household...........................................         19             24           (1)            (1)     
     Protective service..........................................      1,627          1,654          $562           $575     
     Service, except private household and protective............      3,312          3,393           304            317     
   Precision production, craft, and repair.......................     10,076         10,511           560            569     
     Mechanics and repairers.....................................      3,672          3,860           571            581     
     Construction trades.........................................      3,585          3,813           518            538     
     Other precision production, craft, and repair...............      2,819          2,838           588            588     
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers..........................     11,613         11,709           422            436     
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors...............      4,527          4,610           437            449     
     Transportation and material moving occupations..............      3,982          4,033          $486           $505     
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers.........      3,105          3,065           343            343     
   Farming, forestry, and fishing................................      1,326          1,331           300            302     
                                                                                                                             
                              Women                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
   Managerial and professional specialty.........................     13,288         13,893           616            632     
     Executive, administrative, and managerial...................      6,113          6,500           585            605     
     Professional specialty......................................      7,175          7,393           647            662     
   Technical, sales, and administrative support..................     16,128         16,552           394            403     
     Technicians and related support.............................      1,553          1,691           498            498     
     Sales occupations...........................................      3,927          4,231           353            352     
     Administrative support, including clerical..................     10,648         10,630           391            403     
   Service occupations...........................................      5,000          5,101           273            282     
     Private household...........................................        346            324           213            213     
     Protective service..........................................        275            308           439            451     
     Service, except private household and protective............      4,379          4,469           272            280     
   Precision production, craft, and repair.......................        944            984           373            382     
     Mechanics and repairers.....................................        162            160           510            489     
     Construction trades.........................................         68             65           389            445     
     Other precision production, craft, and repair...............        714            760           357            362     
   Operators, fabricators, and laborers..........................      3,487          3,630           307            313     
     Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors...............      2,573          2,625           307            313     
     Transportation and material moving occupations..............        272            292           350            373     
     Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers.........        642            713           295            299     
   Farming, forestry, and fishing................................        176            198           255            257     

   1 Data not shown where base is less than 50,000.
      NOTE:   Beginning in January 1997, 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, 1997 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..........................   82,883       $260       $360       $540       $801     $1,149  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    8,470        195        246        321        463        640  
       High school graduates, no college...............   27,094        245        322        461        646        876  
       Some college or associate degree................   22,769        280        378        535        754      1,008  
       College graduates, total........................   24,549        388        556        779      1,136      1,565  
         Bachelor"s degree only........................   16,471        364        508        725      1,026      1,430  
         Advanced degree...............................    8,078        470        655        927      1,321      1,880  
                                                                                                                         
                            Men                                                                                          
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   47,046        288        408        615        904      1,273  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    5,622        210        272        365        511        705  
       High school graduates, no college...............   15,275        284        383        535        739        974  
       Some college or associate degree................   12,333        309        435        621        861      1,140  
       College graduates, total........................   13,816        427        618        896      1,274      1,800  
         Bachelor"s degree only........................    9,158        403        586        827      1,167      1,589  
         Advanced degree...............................    4,658        502        733      1,047      1,464      2,029  
                                                                                                                         
                           Women                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   35,836        235        315        462        666        938  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    2,848        180        215        275        352        466  
       High school graduates, no college...............   11,820        218        284        378        512        681  
       Some college or associate degree................   10,436        255        333        459        622        820  
       College graduates, total........................   10,732        355        493        672        934      1,246  
         Bachelor"s degree only........................    7,313        330        459        620        857      1,153  
         Advanced degree...............................    3,420        438        600        800      1,073      1,469  
                                                                                                                         
                         White men                                                                                       
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   40,029        297        425        635        929      1,324  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    4,693        213        275        374        517        715  
       High school graduates, no college...............   12,894        296        400        563        761        993  
       Some college or associate degree................   10,418        323        460        644        886      1,161  
       College graduates, total........................   12,024        441        634        918      1,311      1,854  
         Bachelor"s degree only........................    7,996        417        599        851      1,193      1,624  
         Advanced degree...............................    4,028        524        747      1,069      1,502      2,107  
                                                                                                                         
                        White women                                                                                      
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   28,969       $241       $323       $475       $683       $955  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    2,151        181        216        276        352        473  
       High school graduates, no college...............    9,596        224        291        388        521        694  
       Some college or associate degree................    8,326        261        340        469        636        837  
       College graduates, total........................    8,896        367        502        684        946      1,263  
         Bachelor"s degree only........................    5,991        341        469        629        868      1,170  
         Advanced degree...............................    2,905        451        605        810      1,085      1,492  
                                                                                                                         
                         Black men                                                                                       
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................    4,904        243        316        470        664        922  
       Less than a high school diploma.................      711        198        255        329        484        637  
       High school graduates, no college...............    1,909        239        307        423        599        791  
       Some college or associate degree................    1,442        260        338        496        692        926  
       College graduates, total........................      842        326        479        660        934      1,380  
         Bachelor"s degree only........................      620        315        458        628        883      1,224  
         Advanced degree...............................      223        396        586        795      1,178      1,552  
                                                                                                                         
                        Black women                                                                                      
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................    5,171        212        281        395        574        787  
       Less than a high school diploma.................      505        172        208        271        351        440  
       High school graduates, no college...............    1,814        200        254        329        458        612  
       Some college or associate degree................    1,736        232        305        416        565        740  
       College graduates, total........................    1,116        308        438        606        830      1,081  
         Bachelor"s degree only........................      796        292        412        565        759      1,007  
         Advanced degree...............................      320        385        523        721        951      1,233  

           NOTE:See note table 4.