Technical information:    (202) 691-6378       USDL 05-110
                 http://www.bls.gov/cps/
                                               For release:  10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                  691-5902       Wednesday, January 26, 2005

                                     
                                     
             USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS:
                            FOURTH QUARTER 2004
                                     

   Median weekly earnings of the nation's 101.6 million full-time wage and
salary workers were $647 in the fourth quarter of 2004, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  This was 3.5
percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 3.3 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 $578 per
week, or 80.1 percent of the $722 median for men.  The female-to-male
earnings ratios were higher among blacks (96.8 percent) and Hispanics or
Latinos (84.7 percent) than among whites (78.8 percent) or Asians (74.5
percent).  (See table 1.)
   
   --Median earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $529 per
week, 70.8 percent of the median for white men ($747).  The difference was
less among women, as black women's median earnings ($512) were 86.9 percent
of those for their white counterparts ($589).  Overall, median earnings of
Hispanics or Latinos who worked full time ($467) were lower than those of
blacks ($519), whites ($671), and Asians ($698).  (See table 1.)
   
   --Among men, those age 45 to 54 and age 55 to 64 had the highest median
weekly earnings, $869 and $844, respectively.  Among women, earnings also
were highest for these two age groups--$626 for 45- to 54-year olds and
$622 for 55- to 64-year olds.  (See table 2.)
   
   --Among the major occupational groups, persons employed full time in
managerial, professional, and related occupations had the highest median
weekly earnings--$1,109 for men and $801 for women.  Men and women in
service jobs earned the least.  (See table 3.)
   
   --Full-time workers age 25 years and over without a high school diploma
had median weekly earnings of $404, compared with $581 for high school
graduates (no college) and $996 for college graduates holding at least a
bachelor's degree.  Among college graduates with advanced degrees (profes-
sional or master's degree and above), the highest-earning 10 percent of male
workers made $2,894 or more per week, compared with $1,849 or more for their
female counterparts.  (See table 4.)
   
Annual averages for 2003 and 2004
   
   In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this release includes 2003
and 2004 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 2005 issue of Employment and Earnings.





Explanatory Note
     
     
     The estimates in this release were obtained from the Current
Population Survey (CPS), which provides the basic information on the labor
force, employment, and unemployment.  The survey is conducted monthly for
the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the U.S. Census Bureau from a scienti-
fically selected national sample of about 60,000 households, with coverage
in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  The earnings data are 
collected from one-quarter of the CPS monthly sample and are limited to
wages and salaries.  The data, therefore, exclude self-employment income.
     
     Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired 
individuals upon request.  Voice phone:  202-691-5200; TDD message referral 
phone number:  1-800-877-8339.
     
Reliability
     
     Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and nonsam-
pling error.  When a sample, rather than the entire population, is surveyed,
there is a chance that the sample estimates may differ from the "true"
population values they represent.  The exact difference, or sampling error,
varies depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is
measured by the standard error of the estimate.  There is about a 90-percent
chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will
differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true" population value
because of sampling error.  BLS analyses are generally conducted at the
90-percent level of confidence.

     The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error.  Nonsampling error
can occur for many reasons, including the failure to sample a segment of the
population, inability to obtain information for all respondents in
the sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct
information, and errors made in the collection or processing of the data.

     For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS and
information on estimating standard errors, see the "Explanatory Notes and
Estimates of Error" section of Employment and Earnings.
     
Definitions
     
     The principal definitions used in connection with the earnings series
are described briefly below.
     
     Usual weekly earnings. Data represent earnings before taxes and other
deductions and include any overtime pay, commissions, or tips usually
received (at the main job in the case of multiple jobholders.)  Prior to
1994, respondents were asked how much they usually earned per week.  Since
January 1994, respondents have been asked to identify the easiest way for
them to report earnings (hourly, weekly, biweekly, twice monthly, monthly,
annually, other) and how much they usually earn in the reported time
period.  Earnings reported on a basis other than weekly are converted to a
weekly equivalent.  The term "usual" is as perceived by the respondent.  If
the respondent asks for a definition of usual, interviewers are instructed
to define the term as more than half the weeks worked during the past 4 or
5 months.
     
     Medians (and other quantiles) of weekly earnings. The median (or upper
limit of the second quartile) is the amount which divides a given earnings
distribution into two equal groups, one having earnings above the median
and the other having earnings below the median.  Ten percent of a given
distribution have earnings below the upper limit of the first decile (90
percent have higher earnings); 25 percent have earnings below the upper
limit of the first quartile (75 percent have higher earnings); 75 percent
have earnings below the upper limit of the third quartile (25 percent have
higher earnings); and 90 percent have earnings below the upper limit of the
ninth decile (10 percent have higher earnings).

                                  - 2 -

     The estimating procedure places each reported or calculated weekly
earnings value into $50-wide intervals which are centered around multiples
of $50.  The actual value is estimated through the linear interpolation of
the interval in which the quantile boundary lies.
     
     Over-the-year changes in the medians (and other quantile boundaries)
for specific groups may not necessarily be consistent with the movements
estimated for the overall quantile boundary.  The most common reasons for
this possible anomaly are: (1) There could be a change in the relative
weights of the subgroups.  For example, the medians of both 16-to-24 year
olds and those 25 years and over may rise; but if the lower-earning 16-to-
24 group accounts for a greatly increased share of the total, the overall
median could actually fall. (2) There could be a large change in the shape
of the distribution of reported earnings, particularly near a quantile
boundary.  This could be caused by survey observations that are clustered
at rounded values, e.g., $250, $300, $400.  An estimate lying in a $50-wide
centered interval containing such a cluster or "spike" tends to change more
slowly than one in other intervals.
     
     Wage and salary workers. Workers who receive wages, salaries,
commissions, tips, payment in kind, or piece rates.  The group includes
employees in both the private and public sectors but, for the purposes of
the earnings series, excludes all self-employed persons, regardless of
whether or not their businesses are incorporated.

     Full-time workers. Workers who usually work 35 hours or more per week
at their sole or principal job.
     
     Part-time workers. Workers who usually work fewer than 35 hours per
week at their sole or principal job.
     
     Constant dollars. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers
(CPI-U) is used to convert current dollars to constant (1982) dollars.
     
     Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. Refers to persons who identified them-
selves in the enumeration process as being Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino.  
Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any 
race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race.
 
 
 
 

 Table 1.  Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, quarterly averages,
 not seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                              Number of workers              Median weekly earnings          
                                                                (in thousands)                                               
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                       Characteristic                                               In current dollars    In constant (1982) 
                                                                                                               dollars       
                                                                IV         IV                                                
                                                               2003       2004                                               
                                                                                      IV         IV         IV         IV    
                                                                                     2003       2004       2003       2004   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
                        SEX AND AGE                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
 Total, 16 years and over..................................   100,407    101,551     $625       $647       $327       $327   
                                                                                                                             
    Men, 16 years and over.................................    56,459     57,183      704        722        368        365   
      16 to 24 years.......................................     5,851      6,072      409        396        214        201   
      25 years and over....................................    50,608     51,110      750        768        392        389   
                                                                                                                             
    Women, 16 years and over...............................    43,948     44,369      561        578        293        293   
      16 to 24 years.......................................     4,408      4,417      372        371        194        188   
      25 years and over....................................    39,540     39,952      588        603        307        305   
                                                                                                                             
        RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
    White..................................................    81,815     82,477      646        671        338        340   
      Men..................................................    46,976     47,559      728        747        380        378   
      Women................................................    34,839     34,918      576        589        301        298   
                                                                                                                             
    Black or African American..............................    11,977     12,183      522        519        273        263   
      Men..................................................     5,773      5,812      560        529        293        268   
      Women................................................     6,204      6,370      502        512        262        259   
                                                                                                                             
    Asian..................................................     4,402      4,652      680        698        356        353   
      Men..................................................     2,489      2,542      784        807        410        409   
      Women................................................     1,913      2,110      579        601        303        304   
                                                                                                                             
    Hispanic or Latino.....................................    13,454     14,011      441        467        230        237   
      Men..................................................     8,737      8,989      468        490        245        248   
      Women................................................     4,717      5,022      410        415        214        210   

    NOTE:  Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because
 data are not presented for all races.  In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of
 any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race.  Beginning in January 2004, data reflect revised
 population controls used in the household survey.







 Table 2.  Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by age, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and
 sex, fourth quarter 2004 averages, not seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                                    Total                  Men                  Women        
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
        Age, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity           Number                Number                Number             
                                                                of       Median       of       Median       of       Median  
                                                              workers    weekly     workers    weekly     workers    weekly  
                                                                (in     earnings      (in     earnings      (in     earnings 
                                                            thousands)            thousands)            thousands)           
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
                           TOTAL                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................   101,551       $647     57,183       $722     44,369       $578 
   16 to 24 years..........................................    10,489        387      6,072        396      4,417        371 
     16 to 19 years........................................     1,520        314        964        322        556        297 
     20 to 24 years........................................     8,969        400      5,108        408      3,861        387 
   25 years and over.......................................    91,062        692     51,110        768     39,952        603 
     25 to 54 years........................................    77,111        689     43,513        763     33,599        602 
       25 to 34 years......................................    24,752        607     14,406        637     10,346        566 
       35 to 44 years......................................    27,144        726     15,540        825     11,604        612 
       45 to 54 years......................................    25,216        750     13,566        869     11,649        626 
     55 years and over.....................................    13,951        713      7,598        819      6,353        607 
       55 to 64 years......................................    12,183        733      6,584        844      5,599        622 
       65 years and over...................................     1,768        528      1,014        615        754        492 
                                                                                                                             
                           White                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    82,477        671     47,559        747     34,918        589 
   16 to 24 years..........................................     8,562        391      5,054        399      3,508        377 
   25 years and over.......................................    73,915        717     42,505        799     31,410        613 
     25 to 54 years........................................    62,169        716     36,002        792     26,167        614 
     55 years and over.....................................    11,746        726      6,503        846      5,243        608 
                                                                                                                             
                 Black or African American                                                                                   
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    12,183        519      5,812        529      6,370        512 
   16 to 24 years..........................................     1,330        360        707        388        622        332 
   25 years and over.......................................    10,853        552      5,105        567      5,748        540 
     25 to 54 years........................................     9,466        540      4,436        549      5,029        532 
     55 years and over.....................................     1,387        622        668        642        719        590 
                                                                                                                             
                           Asian                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................     4,652        698      2,542        807      2,110        601 
   16 to 24 years..........................................       287        407        123        368        164        441 
   25 years and over.......................................     4,365        727      2,419        836      1,946        619 
     25 to 54 years........................................     3,752        745      2,099        853      1,653        618 
     55 years and over.....................................       613        648        320        677        293        626 
                                                                                                                             
                     Hispanic or Latino                                                                                      
                                                                                                                             
 16 years and over.........................................    14,011        467      8,989        490      5,022        415 
   16 to 24 years..........................................     2,123        340      1,425        349        698        327 
   25 years and over.......................................    11,888        494      7,564        515      4,323        440 
     25 to 54 years........................................    10,831        493      6,902        513      3,929        442 
     55 years and over.....................................     1,057        507        663        561        394        419 

    NOTE:  Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because
 data are not presented for all races.  In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of
 any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race.  Beginning in January 2004, 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      
                                                                       2003           2004             2003           2004     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
                              TOTAL                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
  Managerial, professional, and related occupations..............      35,874         36,334           $894           $928   
    Management, business, and financial operations occupations...      14,413         14,818            991            973   
    Professional and related occupations.........................      21,461         21,516            848            900   
  Service occupations............................................      12,826         14,031            409            413   
  Sales and office occupations...................................      25,213         24,851            549            555   
    Sales and related occupations................................       9,854         10,004            605            599   
    Office and administrative support occupations................      15,359         14,847            526            534   
  Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations...      11,510         11,667            610            628   
    Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations...................         915            691            355            356   
    Construction and extraction occupations......................       6,062          6,561            613            611   
    Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations............       4,533          4,415            680            705   
  Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....      14,985         14,668            523            537   
    Production occupations.......................................       8,514          8,269            522            554   
    Transportation and material moving occupations...............       6,471          6,398            523            519   
                                                                                                                             
                               Men                                                                                           
                                                                                                                             
  Managerial, professional, and related occupations..............      17,838         18,215          1,072          1,109   
    Management, business, and financial operations occupations...       8,058          8,293          1,170          1,162   
    Professional and related occupations.........................       9,781          9,922            994          1,062   
  Service occupations............................................       6,531          7,248            475            482   
  Sales and office occupations...................................       9,429          9,134            675            690   
    Sales and related occupations................................       5,483          5,327            749            769   
    Office and administrative support occupations................       3,946          3,807            599            588   
  Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations...      11,031         11,183            618            636   
    Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations...................         765            549            370            365   
    Construction and extraction occupations......................       5,924          6,407            618            613   
    Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations............       4,342          4,227            686            707   
  Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....      11,630         11,402            576            587   
    Production occupations.......................................       6,011          5,848            584            614   
    Transportation and material moving occupations...............       5,619          5,554            560            544   
                                                                                                                             
                              Women                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
  Managerial, professional, and related occupations..............      18,036         18,119            766            801   
    Management, business, and financial operations occupations...       6,356          6,525            810            832   
    Professional and related occupations.........................      11,680         11,594            752            786   
  Service occupations............................................       6,295          6,784            372            368   
  Sales and office occupations...................................      15,783         15,716            504            509   
    Sales and related occupations................................       4,371          4,677            468            459   
    Office and administrative support occupations................      11,413         11,040            514            521   
  Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations...         479            484            402            472   
    Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations...................         150            142            306            314   
    Construction and extraction occupations......................         138            154            499            471   
    Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations............         191            188            517            659   
  Production, transportation, and material moving occupations....       3,355          3,265            410            415   
    Production occupations.......................................       2,503          2,421            417            415   
    Transportation and material moving occupations...............         852            844            385            416   

    NOTE:  Beginning in January 2004, 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 2004 averages, not seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                              Number                       Upper limit of:                   
                                                                of                                                           
                       Characteristic                         workers                                                        
                                                                (in        First      First     Second      Third      Ninth  
                                                            thousands)    decile    quartile   quartile   quartile    decile  
                                                                                              (median)                       
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
        SEX, RACE, AND HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
 Total, 16 years and over..................................   101,551       $308       $424       $647       $978     $1,477 
   Men.....................................................    57,183        326        474        722      1,101      1,665 
   Women...................................................    44,369        291        392        578        851      1,208 
                                                                                                                             
   White...................................................    82,477        315        443        671      1,005      1,526 
     Men...................................................    47,559        337        492        747      1,139      1,735 
     Women.................................................    34,918        296        400        589        866      1,219 
                                                                                                                             
   Black or African American...............................    12,183        279        373        519        778      1,102 
     Men...................................................     5,812        288        384        529        800      1,134 
     Women.................................................     6,370        272        359        512        763      1,067 
                                                                                                                             
   Asian...................................................     4,652        312        433        698      1,151      1,746 
     Men...................................................     2,542        343        489        807      1,337      1,894 
     Women.................................................     2,110        285        391        601        962      1,497 
                                                                                                                             
   Hispanic or Latino......................................    14,011        272        324        467        705      1,017 
     Men...................................................     8,989        283        344        490        743      1,087 
     Women.................................................     5,022        248        305        415        621        935 
                                                                                                                             
                   EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT                                                                                    
                                                                                                                             
   Total, 25 years and over................................    91,062        328        465        692      1,022      1,538 
     Less than a high school diploma.......................     8,554        251        308        404        554        766 
     High school graduates, no college(1)..................    27,012        308        408        581        797      1,048 
     Some college or associate degree......................    25,250        344        477        667        932      1,288 
     Bachelor's degree and higher(2).......................    30,246        488        700        996      1,493      2,073 
       Bachelor's degree only..............................    19,740        455        639        925      1,368      1,889 
       Advanced degree.....................................    10,507        601        822      1,161      1,747      2,408 
                                                                                                                             
     Men, 25 years and over................................    51,110        364        512        768      1,157      1,747 
       Less than a high school diploma.....................     5,766        279        337        449        608        846 
       High school graduates, no college(1)................    15,594        344        466        648        897      1,169 
       Some college or associate degree....................    13,162        394        571        774      1,062      1,447 
       Bachelor's degree and higher(2).....................    16,588        527        786      1,163      1,742      2,394 
         Bachelor's degree only............................    10,773        492        720      1,062      1,556      2,092 
         Advanced degree...................................     5,815        650        915      1,433      1,972      2,894 
                                                                                                                             
     Women, 25 years and over..............................    39,952        303        413        603        883      1,249 
       Less than a high school diploma.....................     2,788        223        275        335        428        560 
       High school graduates, no college(1)................    11,418        285        368        491        671        876 
       Some college or associate degree....................    12,087        314        422        575        775      1,045 
       Bachelor's degree and higher(2).....................    13,658        450        626        873      1,203      1,625 
         Bachelor's degree only............................     8,967        417        587        820      1,120      1,507 
         Advanced degree...................................     4,691        570        746        982      1,385      1,849 

   1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
   2 Includes persons with bachelor's, master's, professional, and doctoral degrees. 
   NOTE:  Ten percent of all full-time wage and salary workers earn less than the upper limit of the first decile; 25
 percent earn less than the upper limit of the first quartile; 50 percent earn less than the upper limit of the second
 quartile, or median; 75 percent earn less than the upper limit of the third quartile; and 90 percent earn less than the
 upper limit of the ninth decile.  Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not
 sum to totals because data are not presented for all races.  In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic
 or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race.  Beginning in January 2004,
 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      
                                                                   2003            2004             2003            2004     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
                         SEX AND AGE                                                                                        
                                                                                                                            
  Total, 16 years and over..................................      22,455          22,841             $189            $194   
                                                                                                                            
     Men, 16 years and over.................................       7,082           7,249              174             182   
       16 to 24 years.......................................       3,689           3,697              139             144   
       25 years and over....................................       3,393           3,552              230             242   
                                                                                                                            
     Women, 16 years and over...............................      15,373          15,592              197             201   
       16 to 24 years.......................................       4,697           4,882              135             144   
       25 years and over....................................      10,675          10,709              233             236   
                                                                                                                            
         RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX                                                                        
                                                                                                                            
     White..................................................      19,014          19,302              190             195   
       Men..................................................       5,957           6,040              173             182   
       Women................................................      13,057          13,261              198             202   
                                                                                                                            
     Black or African American..............................       2,022           2,065              174             187   
       Men..................................................         634             671              169             175   
       Women................................................       1,387           1,394              177             192   
                                                                                                                            
     Asian..................................................         789             796              217             240   
       Men..................................................         268             326              199             230   
       Women................................................         521             471              220             246   
                                                                                                                            
     Hispanic or Latino.....................................       2,618           2,602              197             191   
       Men..................................................         918             883              206             194   
       Women................................................       1,700           1,718              193             189   

     NOTE:  Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because
  data are not presented for all races.  In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of
  any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race.  Beginning in January 2004, 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       
                                                               2003       2004                                               
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                     2003       2004       2003       2004   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
                        SEX AND AGE                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
 Total, 16 years and over..................................  100,302    101,224      $620       $638       $325       $326   
                                                                                                                             
   Men, 16 years and over..................................   56,227     57,001       695        713        364        364   
    16 to 24 years.........................................    6,158      6,243       398        400        209        204   
    25 years and over......................................   50,069     50,758       744        762        390        389   
                                                                                                                             
   Women, 16 years and over................................   44,076     44,223       552        573        290        292   
    16 to 24 years.........................................    4,632      4,633       371        375        195        191   
    25 years and over......................................   39,444     39,590       584        599        306        306   
                                                                                                                             
        RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
   White ..................................................   81,916     82,468       636        657        334        336   
     Men...................................................   47,001     47,495       715        732        375        374   
     Women.................................................   34,916     34,972       567        584        298        298   
                                                                                                                             
   Black ..................................................   11,887     12,032       514        525        269        268   
     Men...................................................    5,585      5,706       555        569        291        290   
     Women.................................................    6,301      6,326       491        505        257        258   
                                                                                                                             
   Asian ..................................................    4,314      4,457       693        708        363        362   
     Men...................................................    2,442      2,504       772        802        405        409   
     Women.................................................    1,872      1,953       598        613        314        313   
                                                                                                                             
   Hispanic or Latino......................................   13,634     14,061       440        456        231        233   
     Men...................................................    8,677      8,996       464        480        243        245   
     Women.................................................    4,957      5,065       410        419        215        214   

      NOTE:  Estimates for the race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data
 are not presented for all races.  In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race
 and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as race.  Beginning in January 2004, 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                                                                                   
                                                                                                                             
                                                                       2003           2004            2003           2004     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
                              TOTAL                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
   Management, professional, and related occupations.............     35,680         36,149           $887           $918    
    Management, business, and financial operations occupations...     14,493         14,778            961            965    
    Professional and related occupations.........................     21,186         21,371            845            883    
   Service occupations...........................................     13,333         13,763            403            411    
   Sales and office occupations..................................     25,108         24,950            545            558    
    Sales and related occupations................................      9,924          9,984            598            604    
    Office and administrative support occupations................     15,184         14,966            523            535    
   Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations..     11,082         11,280            608            621    
    Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations...................        778            718            369            356    
    Construction and extraction occupations......................      5,973          6,232            599            604    
    Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations............      4,331          4,330            673            704    
   Production, transportation, and material moving occupations...     15,100         15,082            519            523    
    Production occupations.......................................      8,599          8,478            519            526    
    Transportation and material moving occupations...............      6,501          6,604            520            520    
                                                                                                                             
                               Men                                                                                           
                                                                                                                             
   Management, professional, and related occupations.............     17,718         17,981          1,059          1,098    
    Management, business, and financial operations occupations...      8,047          8,170          1,143          1,158    
    Professional and related occupations.........................      9,671          9,811          1,005          1,049    
   Service occupations...........................................      6,708          6,989            463            476    
   Sales and office occupations..................................      9,456          9,410            658            669    
    Sales and related occupations................................      5,557          5,562            731            747    
    Office and administrative support occupations................      3,899          3,848            584            587    
   Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations..     10,612         10,835            613            626    
    Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations...................        626            585            384            367    
    Construction and extraction occupations......................      5,831          6,109            602            606    
    Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations............      4,155          4,140            675            707    
   Production, transportation, and material moving occupations...     11,733         11,786            570            578    
    Production occupations.......................................      6,069          6,024            583            597    
    Transportation and material moving occupations...............      5,664          5,762            547            549    
                                                                                                                             
                              Women                                                                                          
                                                                                                                             
   Management, professional, and related occupations.............     17,962         18,168            758            780    
    Management, business, and financial operations occupations...      6,446          6,609            799            812    
    Professional and related occupations.........................     11,516         11,560            739            767    
   Service occupations...........................................      6,625          6,773            366            374    
   Sales and office occupations..................................     15,652         15,540            502            512    
    Sales and related occupations................................      4,367          4,422            452            464    
    Office and administrative support occupations................     11,286         11,118            513            522    
   Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations..        469            445            449            453    
    Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations...................        152            133            318            322    
    Construction and extraction occupations......................        141            123            497            504    
    Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations............        176            190            629            611    
   Production, transportation, and material moving occupations...      3,367          3,296            407            406    
    Production occupations.......................................      2,530          2,454            406            405    
    Transportation and material moving occupations...............        837            842            410            410    

      NOTE:  Beginning in January 2004, 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, 2004 annual averages 
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                                                          Number                       Upper limit of:                   
                                                            of                                                           
             Educational attainment, sex, race            workers                                                        
              and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity              (in       First      First     Second      Third      Ninth  
                                                        thousands)   decile    quartile   quartile   quartile    decile  
                                                                                          (median)                       
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                         
                           TOTAL                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   90,348       $325       $461       $683     $1,019     $1,523  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    8,533        249        305        401        552        772  
       High school graduates, no college...............   27,141        306        406        574        791      1,074  
       Some college or associate degree................   24,846        343        476        661        931      1,269  
       College graduates, total........................   29,828        488        689        986      1,464      2,024  
         Bachelor's degree only........................   19,474        454        635        916      1,349      1,888  
         Advanced degree...............................   10,354        597        810      1,153      1,726      2,400  
                                                                                                                         
                            Men                                                                                          
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   50,758        358        508        762      1,152      1,735  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    5,748        276        330        446        609        857  
       High school graduates, no college...............   15,513        341        466        645        897      1,198  
       Some college or associate degree................   12,998        388        547        761      1,056      1,440  
       College graduates, total........................   16,499        524        770      1,143      1,717      2,376  
         Bachelor's degree only........................   10,767        491        719      1,044      1,542      2,099  
         Advanced degree...............................    5,732        639        917      1,370      1,912      2,881  
                                                                                                                         
                           Women                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   39,590        301        410        599        873      1,238  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    2,785        227        275        334        429        560  
       High school graduates, no college...............   11,628        282        361        488        655        876  
       Some college or associate degree................   11,848        315        418        577        776      1,046  
       College graduates, total........................   13,329        454        622        860      1,190      1,615  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    8,707        420        588        792      1,108      1,487  
         Advanced degree...............................    4,622        566        734        982      1,362      1,869  
                                                                                                                         
                       White, total                                                                                      
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   73,521        334        477        705      1,049      1,553  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    6,993        253        308        406        565        791  
       High school graduates, no college...............   21,867        315        419        591        818      1,112  
       Some college or associate degree................   20,176        354        488        682        960      1,331  
       College graduates, total........................   24,485        499        707      1,005      1,497      2,100  
         Bachelor's degree only........................   15,988        470        653        937      1,384      1,907  
         Advanced degree...............................    8,496        606        824      1,160      1,741      2,461  
                                                                                                                         
                         White men                                                                                       
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   42,244        370        523        785      1,175      1,760  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    4,913        277        332        451        614        866  
       High school graduates, no college...............   12,722        357        487        670        923      1,228  
       Some college or associate degree................   10,833        403        577        787      1,096      1,470  
       College graduates, total........................   13,776        553        796      1,162      1,746      2,415  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    9,066        510        741      1,082      1,573      2,179  
         Advanced degree...............................    4,710        651        936      1,397      1,934      2,896  
                                                                                                                         
                        White women                                                                                      
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   31,277        307        419        610        889      1,254  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    2,081        228        276        335        431        568  
       High school graduates, no college...............    9,145        288        371        496        666        892  
       Some college or associate degree................    9,343        320        427        586        797      1,067  
       College graduates, total........................   10,709        463        632        866      1,198      1,633  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    6,922        429        594        800      1,117      1,506  
         Advanced degree...............................    3,786        579        739        981      1,359      1,868  
                                                                                                                         
              Black or African American, total                                                                           
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   10,764        293        390        561        806      1,140  
       Less than a high school diploma.................      973        232        287        368        496        660  
       High school graduates, no college...............    3,919        281        358        492        681        912  
       Some college or associate degree................    3,267        308        405        563        762      1,002  
       College graduates, total........................    2,605        420        595        834      1,169      1,603  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    1,856        403        569        782      1,110      1,482  
         Advanced degree...............................      749        519        696        985      1,350      1,863  
                                                                                                                         
               Black or African American men                                                                             
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................    5,070        309        411        598        863      1,217  
       Less than a high school diploma.................      510        247        315        416        569        755  
       High school graduates, no college...............    2,019        300        386        520        737        992  
       Some college or associate degree................    1,421        326        438        620        851      1,108  
       College graduates, total........................    1,120        435        620        874      1,265      1,743  
         Bachelor's degree only........................      810        413        594        837      1,196      1,646  
         Advanced degree...............................      310        556        724      1,013      1,510      1,904  
                                                                                                                         
              Black or African American women                                                                            
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................    5,694        281        370        522        754      1,069  
       Less than a high school diploma.................      462        224        268        326        412        519  
       High school graduates, no college...............    1,900        262        331        457        616        815  
       Some college or associate degree................    1,846        298        387        521        702        910  
       College graduates, total........................    1,485        413        581        794      1,125      1,459  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    1,046        395        544        742      1,030      1,376  
         Advanced degree...............................      439        503        675        959      1,269      1,745  
                                                                                                                         
                        Asian, total                                                                                     
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................    4,125        329        474        742      1,173      1,773  
       Less than a high school diploma.................      324        243        306        402        575        740  
       High school graduates, no college...............      762        282        364        493        710        991  
       Some college or associate degree................      737        327        425        620        886      1,168  
       College graduates, total........................    2,301        449        672      1,009      1,531      2,085  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    1,324        399        589        882      1,274      1,820  
         Advanced degree...............................      978        593        833      1,251      1,773      2,378  
                                                                                                                         
                 Hispanic or Latino, total                                                                               
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................   11,886        277        341        486        727      1,060  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    4,250        246        296        374        502        692  
       High school graduates, no college...............    3,532        285        363        491        685        945  
       Some college or associate degree................    2,412        313        415        593        840      1,152  
       College graduates, total........................    1,692        382        573        859      1,231      1,759  
         Bachelor's degree only........................    1,222        376        536        808      1,139      1,619  
         Advanced degree...............................      470        406        683        995      1,466      2,280  
                                                                                                                         
                   Hispanic or Latino men                                                                                
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................    7,556        288        362        505        756      1,120  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    3,066        270        312        402        532        752  
       High school graduates, no college...............    2,226        298        387        521        722      1,001  
       Some college or associate degree................    1,344        329        452        650        933      1,226  
       College graduates, total........................      920        392        599        913      1,374      1,921  
         Bachelor's degree only........................      668        394        586        856      1,249      1,760  
         Advanced degree...............................      252        383        738      1,149      1,673      2,533  
                                                                                                                         
                  Hispanic or Latino women                                                                               
                                                                                                                         
     Total, 25 years and over..........................    4,331        252        315        443        669        972  
       Less than a high school diploma.................    1,185        220        263        312        391        498  
       High school graduates, no college...............    1,307        268        325        434        602        807  
       Some college or associate degree................    1,068        295        389        518        730        989  
       College graduates, total........................      771        365        536        805      1,097      1,458  
         Bachelor's degree only........................      554        343        504        755      1,024      1,417  
         Advanced degree...............................      217        421        653        924      1,180      1,638  

          NOTE:  Ten percent of all full-time wage and salary workers earn less than the upper limit of the first
     decile; 25 percent earn less than the upper limit of the first quartile; 50 percent earn less than the upper limit
     of the second quartile, or median; 75 percent earn less than the upper limit of the third quartile; and 90 percent
     earn less than the upper limit of the ninth decile.  Estimates for the race groups (white, black or African American,
     and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races.  In addition, persons whose ethnicity
     is identified as "Hispanic or Latino" may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as
     race.  Beginning in January 2004, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.