Highlights of Women’s 

Earnings in 2006

Introduction

I

n 2006, women who were full-time wage and salary 

workers had median weekly earnings of $600, or about 

81 percent of the $743 median for their male counterparts. (See chart 1.  This ratio has grown since 1979 (t

first year comparable earnings data were available), when 

women earned about 63 percent as much as men. 

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

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

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

sample each month. Readers should note that the comparisons of earnings in this report are on a broad level and do not 

control for many factors that can be significant in explaining 

earnings differences. For a detailed description of the source 

of the data and an explanation of the concepts and definitions 

used, see the Technical Note. 

Highlights

Following are some highlights of women’s and men’s earnings in 2006:

Full-time workers

•	 Median weekly earnings were highest for women 

and men aged 45 to 64. Among women, 45- to 

54-year-olds had median weekly earnings of $659, 

essentially the same as the $658 median for 55- to 

64-year-olds. Among men, median weekly earnings 

for those aged 45 to 54 ($897) also were similar to 

those of 55- to 64-year-olds ($902). Young women 

and men aged 16 to 24 had the lowest earnings. (See

table 1.)

•	 The difference between women’s and men’s earnings 

was largest among those aged 45 to 64, with women 

earning about 73 percent as much as men in this age 

range. By comparison, women earned 88 percent as 

much as men among workers 25 to 34 years old, and 

the earnings ratio rose to 95 percent among 16- to

24-year-olds. (See table 1.)

U.S. Department of Labor 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

September 2007

Report 1000

•	 Between 1979 and 2006, the earnings gap between

women and men narrowed for most major age 

groups. The women’s-to-men’s earnings ratio 

among 35- to 44-year-olds, for example, rose from 

58 percent in 1979 to 77 percent in 2006, and the

ratio for 45- to 54-year-olds rose from 57 percent to 

74 percent. The earnings ratios for teenagers and for 

workers aged 65 and older fluctuated from 1979 to 

2006, but their long-term trend has been essentially 

flat. (See table 12.) 

•	 Earnings differences between women and men in 

2006 were widest for Asians and for whites. Asian 

women and white women earned around 80 percent 

as much as their male counterparts. By comparison, 

black women and Hispanic women had earnings 

that were about 88 percent of those of their male 

counterparts. (See table  and chart 2.

• Asian workers of both sexes earned more than their 

white, black, and Hispanic counterparts in 2006. 

Among women, whites ($609) earned 87 percent 

as much as Asians ($699), while blacks ($519) and

Hispanics ($440) earned 74 and 63 percent as much, 

respectively. In comparison, white men ($761) 

earned 86 percent as much as Asian men ($882), 

black men ($591) earned 67 percent as much, and

Hispanic men ($505), 57 percent. (See tables  and

13, and chart 2.

•	 Across the major race and Hispanic ethnicity 

categories, women’s inflation-adjusted earnings 

grew from 1979 to 2006 while those for men were

mostly flat or down. Among women, growth in real 

earnings for white women has outpaced that of their 

black and Hispanic counterparts. Between 1979 and

2006, inflation-adjusted earnings for white women 

rose by 29 percent, while earnings growth among 

black and Hispanic women was 19 and 9 percent,

respectively. In contrast, real earnings for white and 

for black men in 2006 were about the same as they 

were in 1979, while Hispanic men’s earnings fell
by about 10 percent. Women’s long-term earnings

growth in part reflects gains in their education levels 

and their movement into higher-paying occupations 

over time. Although men’s educational attainment 

also has improved since 1979, the relative gains 

have not been as great, nor has men’s occupational 

distribution changed as significantly as it has for 

women. (See table 13.)

•	 Median weekly earnings varied significantly by 

educational level. Among women, those with less 

than a high school diploma earned $358 per week in 

2006, compared with $905 for those with a college 

degree. Among men, high school dropouts had 

earnings of $469 a week, compared with $1,205 for

college graduates. (See tables  and 6.

•	 At all levels of education, women have fared better 

than men with respect to earnings growth. Although 

both women and men with less than a high school 

diploma have experienced a decline in inflationadjusted earnings since 1979, the drop for women

was significantly less than that for men—8 percent 

versus 28 percent. Earnings for women with college 

degrees have increased by about 34 percent since 

1979 on an inflation-adjusted basis, while those of 

male college graduates have risen by 18 percent. 

(See table 14 and chart 3.

•	 Women working full time in management, business, 

and financial operations occupations had median 

weekly earnings of $881 in 2006. This was more

than women earned in any other major occupational 

category. The second highest paying job group 

was professional and related occupations, in which 

women earned $816 per week. In management,

business, and finance, the highest paying occupations 

for women were chief executives, computer and 

information systems managers, management 

analysts, medical and health services managers, and 

education administrators. Within professional and 

related occupations, women working as pharmacists, 

lawyers, physicians and surgeons, computer software 

engineers, physical therapists, computer scientists, 

and computer programmers had the highest median 

weekly earnings. (See table 2.)

•	 The occupational distributions of male and female 

full-time workers differ significantly. Relatively few 

women as compared to men work in construction, 

production, or transportation occupations, and they 

are far more concentrated in administrative support 

jobs. Although women are more likely than men to 

work in professional and related occupations, they 

are not well represented in the higher paying job 

groups within this broad category. In 2006, only 9 

percent of female professionals were employed in 

the high paying computer ($1,166 per week) an

engineering ($1,155 per week) fields, compared 

with 43 percent of their male counterparts. Instead, 

professional women were more likely to work in 

education ($819 per week) and healthcare ($905 per

week) where pay was generally lower; 67 percent 

worked in these fields in 2006, compared with 29 

percent of male professionals. (See table 2 and 

chart 4.)

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

of residence, ranging from 66.3 percent in Wyoming 

to 89.1 percent in California. The differences

among the States reflect, in part, variation in the 

occupations and industries found in each State and 

in the age composition of each State’s labor force. 

In addition, sampling error for the State estimates 

is considerably larger than it is for the national 

estimates; thus, comparisons of State estimates 

should be made with care. (See table 3.) 

•	 About 7 percent of women earned $1,500 or more

per week, compared with about 15 percent of men.

Not surprisingly, given their higher earnings overall, 

Asian women were more likely than white, black, or 

Hispanic women to earn at least $1,500 per week.

(See table 7.) 

•	 Median weekly earnings for married women and 

men were higher than those for their unmarried 

counterparts. As a group, married workers tend to 

be older and so are more likely to be in their prime 

earning years. Among married workers of both 

sexes, there was little difference in the earnings 

of those with children under age 18 and those

without children. Among unmarried workers, 

women without children earned 13 percent more

than those with children. The opposite was true 

among unmarried men: those with children earned 

12 percent more than those with no children. (See

table 8.)

Part-time workers

•	 Women are more likely than men to work part time, 

that is, fewer than 35 hours per week. Women 

who worked part time made up nearly one-fourth 

of all female wage and salary workers in 2006. In 

contrast, only about one-tenth of men in wage and 

salary jobs worked part time. These proportions 

have not changed much over time. (See tables 4 

and 5.) 

•	 Median weekly earnings of female part-time workers 

were $213, compared with $192 for their mal

counterparts. The lower earnings for men in part 

reflect that male part-time workers are more highly 
concentrated in the youngest age groups, which 

typically have low earnings. About half of the male 

part-timers were 16 to 24 years old, compared with

a little less than a third of the women. (See table 

4.) 

Workers paid by the hour

•	 About 62 percent of women and 57 percent of men 

employed in wage and salary jobs were paid by the 

hour in 2006. Women who were paid hourly rates 

had median hourly earnings of $10.65. This was

84 percent of the median for men paid by the hour 

($12.68). (See tables 5, 9, 10, 15, and 

•	 Among workers who were paid hourly rates in 2006, 

2.9 percent of women and 1.5 percent of men had

hourly earnings at or below the prevailing Federal 

minimum wage of $5.15 an hour. Hourly paid

workers aged 16 to 19 were the most likely to have 

earnings at or below the minimum wage. About 8 

percent of teenage workers earned the prevailing 

Federal minimum wage or less, compared with just 

1.4 percent of hourly paid workers aged 25 and

older. Among those aged 20 to 24, about 4 percent 

had earnings at or below the minimum wage. (See 

tables 1 and 1.  Also see the Technical Note f

information about workers with earnings below the 

Federal minimum wage.)
Women

Chart 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2006)

 dollars by sex, 1979–2006 annual averages

Earnings (dollars)

Men’s earnings

Women’s earnings as a percent of men’s

Women’s earnings

800

750

700

650

600

550

500

450

400

1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 2006

Percent

100

95

90

85

80

75

70

65

60

55

50

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

 and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2006 annual averages

Total White Black or

African

American

Asian Hispanic

or

Latino

800

600

400

200

 0

600

743

609

761

519

591

882

699

440

505

Earnings (dollars) Earnings (dollars)

Men

1,000

800

600

400

200

 0

1,000
Chart 3. Change in constant-dollar median usual weekly earnings from 1979 to 2006 by

 educational attainment and sex

Highest educational level

Bachelor’s

degree and

higher

Some college or

associate degree

High school,

no college

Less than a high

school diploma

Women

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

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

Management,

business, and

financial

operations

occupations

Professional

and related

occupations

Service

occupations

Sales and

related

occupations

Office and

administrative

support

occupations

Natural

resources,

construction, and

maintenance

occupations

Production,

transportation,

and materialmoving

occupations

40

Chart 4. Distribution of full-time wage and salary employment by sex and major

 occupation group, 2006 annual averages

Percent distribution of employment by sex

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

Men

Women

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

Men
Statistical Tables

Page

0

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

2006 annual averages..................................................................................................................................

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

and sex, 2006 annual averages....................................................................................................................

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

2006 annual averages.................................................................................................................................

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

2006 annual averages.................................................................................................................................

5. Median usual weekly earnings of wage and salary workers by hours usually worked and sex, 

2006 annual averages.................................................................................................................................

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

selected characteristics, 2006 annual averages..........................................................................................

7. Distribution of full-time wage and salary workers by usual weekly earnings and selected

characteristics, 2006 annual averages........................................................................................................

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

and presence and age of own children under 18 years old, 2006 annual averages......................................

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

2006 annual averages..................................................................................................................................

 10. Distribution of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, by hourly earnings and select

characteristics, 2006 annual averages..........................................................................................................

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

minimum wage by selected characteristics, 2006 annual averages.............................................................

 12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2006) dolla

by sex and age, 1979-2006 annual averages................................................................................................

 13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2006) dolla

by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2006 annual averages...............................................

 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and older 

constant (2006) dollars by sex and educational attainment, 1979-2006 annual averages...........................

 15. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2006) dolla

by sex and age, 1979-2006 annual averages................................................................................................

 16. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2006) dolla

by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2006 annual averages...............................................

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

minimum wage by sex, 1979-2006 annual averages...................................................................................
Table 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2006 annual averages 

Both sexes Women Men

AGE

Total, 16 years and older............... 106,106 $671 $2 46,358 $600 $2 59,747 $743 $2 80.8

16 to 24 years...................................... 11,362 409 2 4,802 395 3 6,559 418 2 94.6

16 to 19 years................................... 1,781 324 4 735 305 4 1,047 348 6 87.7

20 to 24 years................................... 9,580 423 2 4,068 413 3 5,513 435 5 95.0

25 years and older............................... 94,744 718 2 41,556 627 2 53,188 797 3 78.7

25 to 34 years................................... 25,414 621 2 10,703 583 3 14,712 661 4 88.2

35 to 44 years................................... 27,194 748 3 11,595 645 5 15,599 836 6 77.2

45 to 54 years................................... 26,382 773 4 12,035 659 4 14,347 897 6 73.5

55 to 64 years................................... 13,622 765 5 6,339 658 6 7,283 902 8 73.0

65 years and older............................ 2,132 583 11 884 510 11 1,248 658 28 77.5

RACE AND HISPANIC OR

LATINO ETHNICITY

White.................................................... 86,055 690 2 36,405 609 2 49,650 761 3 80.1

Black or African American.................... 12,745 554 5 6,720 519 3 6,025 591 5 87.9

Asian.................................................... 4,840 784 11 2,123 699 14 2,717 882 17 79.2

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.................. 15,693 486 2 5,686 440 5 10,007 505 3 87.1

MARITAL STATUS

Never married...................................... 27,898 528 3 11,881 513 3 16,017 547 5 93.8

Married, spouse present...................... 60,154 757 2 24,110 642 3 36,044 858 4 74.7

Other marital status.............................. 18,053 634 4 10,367 590 4 7,686 711 6 83.0

Divorced............................................ 12,082 678 5 6,998 618 5 5,083 766 7 80.7

Separated......................................... 4,343 538 10 2,112 504 6 2,231 587 8 86.0

Widowed........................................... 1,628 591 9 1,257 560 15 371 691 31 81.0

UNION AFFILIATION 

Members of unions ............................ 13,938 833 5 5,718 758 5 8,220 887 6 85.4

Represented by unions ...................... 15,244 827 5 6,373 753 5 8,871 885 5 85.1

Not represented by a union.................. 90,862 642 2 39,985 579 2 50,877 717 3 80.9

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and older..................... 94,744 718 2 41,556 627 2 53,188 797 3 78.7

Less than a high school diploma...... 9,029 419 2 2,945 358 4 6,084 469 4 76.4

High school, no college .................. 28,023 595 2 11,711 500 2 16,313 678 4 73.8

Some college or associate degree... 26,027 692 3 12,439 602 3 13,588 796 5 75.6

Bachelor's degree and higher ........ 31,665 1,039 5 14,461 905 5 17,204 1,205 11 75.1

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table.

2 Differences in earnings levels between workers with and without union

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

bargaining agreement, including the distribution of male and female employees

by occupation, industry, firm size, or geographic region.

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

to a union.

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

to a union, as well as to workers who report no union affiliation but whose jobs are

covered by a union or an employee association contract. 

 5

 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.

 6 Includes persons with a bachelor's, master's, professional, or doctoral degree.

NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American,

and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. In

addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any

race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race.

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

4

Characteristic

5

6

3

2

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

7
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2006 annual averages 

Both sexes Women Men

Total, 16 years and older............................ 106,106 $671 $2 46,358 $600 $2 59,747 $743 $2 80.8

Management, professional, and related 

 occupations....................................... 37,824 967 3 19,138 840 4 18,686 1,154 4 72.8

Management, business, and financial 

 operations occupations..................... 15,447 1,045 7 6,910 881 6 8,536 1,231 11 71.6

Management occupations.................. 10,661 1,127 8 4,178 926 9 6,483 1,264 13 73.2

Chief executives........................... 1,040 1,875 33 258 1,422 55 782 1,907 11 74.6

General and operations managers... 911 1,165 16 255 957 30 655 1,256 31 76.2

Advertising and promotions 

 managers................................. 63 889 75 34 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 29 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Marketing and sales managers......... 805 1,316 57 302 985 52 503 1,482 42 66.5

Administrative services managers... 79 1,009 117 21 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 58 1,001 123 ( 3 )

Computer and information systems 

 managers................................. 380 1,435 33 106 1,300 57 274 1,492 101 87.1

Financial managers..................... 971 1,087 48 529 894 21 442 1,421 39 62.9

Human resources managers............ 266 1,052 39 168 967 28 97 1,391 131 69.5

Industrial production managers...... 292 1,131 32 45 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 247 1,149 30 ( 3 )

Purchasing managers.................. 159 1,045 51 63 903 41 96 1,158 35 78.0

Transportation, storage, and 

 distribution managers.................. 232 843 38 34 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 198 841 41 ( 3 )

Farm, ranch, and other agricultural

 managers................................. 97 640 71 16 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 81 663 64 ( 3 )

Construction managers.................. 475 1,135 16 36 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 439 1,145 16 ( 3 )

Education administrators............... 673 1,125 27 409 1,017 36 265 1,275 65 79.7

Engineering managers.................. 90 1,830 127 8 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 83 1,877 60 ( 3 )

Food service managers.................. 535 622 15 237 534 32 298 715 66 74.7

Lodging managers........................ 108 654 34 54 603 56 54 675 54 89.4

Medical and health services 

 managers................................. 448 1,148 23 306 1,064 44 143 1,428 61 74.6

Property, real estate, and

 community association managers... 346 753 21 201 692 45 144 919 103 75.3

Social and community service 

 managers................................. 271 862 24 174 792 37 97 1,010 42 78.4

Business and financial operations 

 occupations................................. 4,786 930 8 2,732 828 10 2,053 1,134 13 73.1

Wholesale and retail buyers,

 except farm products.................. 170 769 22 96 770 26 74 768 36 100.2

Purchasing agents, except 

 wholesale, retail, and farm 

 products.................................... 276 915 41 138 772 28 138 1,088 58 70.9

Claims adjusters, appraisers, 

 examiners, and investigators......... 255 848 29 159 792 41 96 982 50 80.6

Compliance officers, except 

 agriculture, construction, health 

 and safety, and transportation...... 145 891 66 76 855 59 69 941 91 90.8

Cost estimators........................... 97 1,008 46 13 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 84 1,039 103 ( 3 )

Human resources, training, and

 labor relations specialists............. 652 859 23 470 804 50 182 990 48 81.3

Management analysts.................. 337 1,253 36 151 1,069 44 186 1,417 95 75.4

Accountants and auditors............... 1,448 940 12 886 844 13 562 1,160 24 72.8

Appraisers and assessors of 

 real estate................................. 71 932 239 31 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 40 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Budget analysts........................... 52 1,055 40 29 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 23 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Financial analysts........................ 69 1,132 22 32 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 37 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Personal financial advisors............ 262 1,217 128 95 823 241 168 1,532 85 53.7

Insurance underwriters.................. 89 864 31 64 787 84 25 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Loan counselors and officers......... 418 919 27 224 776 42 194 1,155 39 67.2

Tax examiners, collectors, and 

 revenue agents........................... 60 784 51 35 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 26 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Professional and related occupations...... 22,378 928 4 12,228 816 5 10,149 1,109 10 73.6

Computer and mathematical 

 occupations................................. 2,935 1,166 10 756 1,043 25 2,178 1,231 17 84.7

Computer scientists and systems 

 analysts.................................... 631 1,156 21 190 1,039 39 441 1,223 57 85.0

Computer programmers.................. 540 1,147 24 139 1,034 61 401 1,229 50 84.1

Computer software engineers......... 799 1,371 27 176 1,272 61 623 1,410 36 90.2

Computer support specialists......... 291 834 37 85 755 52 206 878 44 86.0

 See footnotes at end of table.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

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

2006 annual averages—Continued

Both sexes Women Men

Database administrators............... 80 $1,152 $28 27 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 53 $1,238 $59 ( 3 )

Network and computer

 systems administrators............... 172 1,122 56 30 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 142 1,159 40 ( 3 )

Network systems and data

 communications analysts............ 284 1,099 40 62 $957 $70 222 1,129 32 84.8

Operations research analysts......... 84 1,258 51 30 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 54 1,413 99 ( 3 )

Architecture and engineering

 occupations................................. 2,568 1,155 10 364 972 31 2,204 1,181 17 82.3

Architects, except naval.................. 161 1,112 67 38 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 123 1,240 182 ( 3 )

Aerospace engineers..................... 97 1,508 155 12 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 85 1,582 155 ( 3 )

Chemical engineers..................... 65 1,342 36 10 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 55 1,359 33 ( 3 )

Civil engineers.............................. 276 1,251 34 28 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 248 1,266 47 ( 3 )

Computer hardware engineers......... 76 1,292 187 15 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 61 1,331 90 ( 3 )

Electrical and electronics engineers 362 1,386 33 28 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 333 1,409 31 ( 3 )

Industrial engineers, including 

 health and safety........................ 162 1,175 41 38 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 125 1,171 41 ( 3 )

Mechanical engineers.................. 316 1,253 33 16 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 300 1,254 34 ( 3 )

Drafters....................................... 154 823 36 35 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 119 876 48 ( 3 )

Engineering technicians, except 

 drafters.................................... 391 860 44 72 754 26 319 892 25 84.6

Surveying and mapping technicians 80 699 24 8 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 72 704 29 ( 3 )

Life, physical, and social science 

 occupations................................. 1,220 984 21 494 872 21 725 1,121 39 77.8

Biological scientists........................ 117 941 47 51 928 103 66 973 83 95.3

Medical scientists........................ 149 953 127 61 825 48 88 1,162 33 71.0

Chemists and materials scientists... 121 1,131 43 39 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 82 1,132 36 ( 3 )

Environmental scientists and 

 geoscientists.............................. 90 1,107 53 21 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 69 1,145 34 ( 3 )

Market and survey researchers...... 98 961 52 66 824 38 32 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Psychologists.............................. 100 1,021 63 67 961 31 33 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Chemical technicians..................... 71 861 106 23 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 48 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Community and social services 

 occupations................................. 1,816 740 9 1,068 703 14 748 792 23 88.7

Counselors................................. 486 733 18 320 716 29 167 761 31 94.2

Social workers.............................. 620 732 14 500 728 15 120 749 27 97.2

Miscellaneous community and 

 social service specialists............... 256 708 33 175 641 29 81 929 39 69.0

Clergy....................................... 367 782 27 31 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 336 801 30 ( 3 )

Legal occupations........................... 1,156 1,144 19 663 901 17 493 1,734 94 52.0

Lawyers.................................... 603 1,728 77 221 1,333 129 382 1,891 24 70.5

Judges, magistrates, and other

 judicial workers........................... 61 1,549 196 21 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 41 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Paralegals and legal assistants...... 301 740 29 267 726 24 34 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Miscellaneous legal support 

 workers.................................... 190 791 50 154 750 67 36 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Education, training, and library 

 occupations................................. 6,158 819 8 4,492 763 5 1,666 969 12 78.7

Postsecondary teachers............... 808 1,058 24 336 915 25 472 1,228 63 74.5

Preschool and kindergarten 

 teachers.................................... 497 567 35 483 554 38 14 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Elementary and middle school 

 teachers.................................... 2,334 838 8 1,916 824 10 417 920 23 89.6

Secondary school teachers............ 988 919 15 535 890 18 452 950 17 93.7

Special education teachers............ 356 842 23 297 823 22 60 930 63 88.5

Other teachers and instructors......... 334 805 49 197 703 33 136 956 37 73.6

Librarians.................................... 173 820 44 142 787 52 31 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Teacher assistants........................ 563 409 9 517 405 10 46 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, 

 and media occupations.................. 1,476 841 15 657 733 17 819 942 20 77.8

Artists and related workers............ 80 977 83 34 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 46 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Designers.................................... 529 778 26 258 714 31 270 868 29 82.3

Producers and directors.................. 80 1,149 45 25 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 55 1,192 186 ( 3 )

Athletes, coaches, umpires, and 

 related workers........................... 119 756 42 23 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 95 882 43 ( 3 )

News analysts, reporters and

 correspondents........................... 57 864 32 27 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 30 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

 See footnotes at end of table.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Occupation Standard

error 

of

median 

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

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

2006 annual averages—Continued

Both sexes Women Men

Public relations specialists............... 105 $947 $31 68 $871 $58 37 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Editors....................................... 122 938 40 63 837 56 59 $975 $39 85.9

Technical writers........................ 51 1,192 112 22 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 29 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Writers and authors..................... 73 886 183 44 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 29 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Broadcast and sound engineering 

 technicians and radio operators...... 63 778 70 9 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 54 813 41 ( 3 )

Healthcare practitioner and technical 

 occupations................................. 5,048 905 8 3,732 860 9 1,316 1,098 25 78.3

Dietitians and nutritionists............... 64 708 54 57 699 49 6 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Pharmacists................................. 189 1,640 118 80 1,564 69 110 1,725 48 90.6

Physicians and surgeons............... 558 1,602 123 188 1,329 202 370 1,847 138 72.0

Physician assistants..................... 65 1,098 61 46 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 19 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Registered nurses........................ 1,898 978 13 1,713 971 12 185 1,074 46 90.3

Physical therapists........................ 135 1,103 29 72 1,086 46 63 1,116 36 97.3

Respiratory therapists.................. 72 928 37 46 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 26 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Speech-language pathologists......... 84 952 28 78 950 26 6 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Clinical laboratory technologists 

 and technicians........................... 267 793 28 201 792 31 66 797 55 99.4

Dental hygienists........................... 62 925 56 60 920 61 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Diagnostic-related technologists

 and technicians........................... 233 843 23 157 829 25 75 892 67 92.8

Emergency medical technicians 

 and paramedics........................... 139 730 35 39 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 99 760 34 ( 3 )

Health-diagnosing and -treating

 practitioner support technicians...... 329 542 17 255 522 14 74 612 41 85.3

Licensed practical and licensed 

 vocational nurses........................ 424 664 19 392 659 19 33 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Medical records and health

 information technicians............... 98 524 47 87 510 25 11 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Service occupations.............................. 14,749 422 2 7,473 390 2 7,275 494 3 79.0

Healthcare support occupations............ 2,231 423 5 1,981 417 4 251 502 12 83.1

Nursing, psychiatric, and home 

 health aides.............................. 1,405 400 4 1,238 395 4 167 471 28 83.9

Dental assistants........................... 176 489 14 168 488 13 8 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Protective service occupations............... 2,633 693 13 547 557 15 2,086 737 11 75.6

First-line supervisors/managers of

 correctional officers..................... 51 891 171 15 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 36 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

First-line supervisors/managers of

 police and detectives.................. 100 1,131 63 16 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 84 1,162 63 ( 3 )

Fire fighters................................. 251 912 29 10 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 241 918 30 ( 3 )

Bailiffs, correctional officers, and 

 jailers....................................... 435 613 14 123 545 23 312 655 26 83.2

Detectives and criminal 

 investigators.............................. 147 1,013 87 38 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 110 1,109 109 ( 3 )

Police and sheriff's patrol officers...... 647 866 26 79 758 30 568 884 26 85.7

Private detectives and investigators 62 713 92 27 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 35 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Security guards and gaming 

 surveillance officers..................... 697 487 9 166 416 9 531 498 10 83.6

Lifeguards and other protective 

 service workers........................... 56 445 44 26 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 30 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Food preparation and serving related

 occupations.................................... 4,212 371 3 2,115 355 4 2,096 389 5 91.3

Chefs and head cooks.................. 280 504 12 58 443 34 222 517 13 85.6

First-line supervisors/managers

 of food preparation and serving 

 workers.................................... 501 447 15 286 412 12 215 507 21 81.2

Cooks....................................... 1,222 363 6 483 340 9 738 377 7 90.1

Food preparation workers............... 348 330 8 186 326 9 162 336 15 97.0

Bartenders................................. 219 445 41 113 407 15 106 510 26 79.8

Combined food preparation and 

 serving workers, including 

 fast food.................................... 179 340 15 128 343 16 51 330 33.0 103.9

Counter attendants, cafeteria, food 

 concession, and coffee shop......... 84 295 14 51 302 19 34 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Waiters and waitresses.................. 874 363 7 590 348 8 284 401 14 86.7

Food servers, nonrestaurant............ 100 395 14 66 390 15 33 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

 See footnotes at end of table.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Occupation Standard

error 

of

median 

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

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

2006 annual averages—Continued

Both sexes Women Men

Dining room and cafeteria

 attendants and bartender helpers... 169 $318 $9 62 $328 $24 107 $314 $10 104.3

Dishwashers.............................. 162 315 8 30 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 132 316 10 ( 3 )

Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, 

 lounge, and coffee shop............... 73 379 18 63 375 25 11 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Building and grounds cleaning and 

 maintenance occupations.................. 3,594 406 3 1,289 363 5 2,305 445 8 81.6

First-line supervisors/managers of 

 housekeeping and janitorial

 workers.................................... 177 609 28 54 498 27 123 657 24 75.8

First-line supervisors/managers of

 landscaping, lawn service, and 

 groundskeeping workers............... 106 612 32 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 102 620 37 ( 3 )

Janitors and building cleaners......... 1,492 415 5 415 375 7 1,076 447 11 83.9

Maids and housekeeping cleaners... 885 355 6 773 348 6 112 404 15 86.1

Pest control workers..................... 61 578 42 - -- 61 578 42 - Grounds maintenance workers......... 874 402 6 42 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 832 403 6 ( 3 )

Personal care and service occupations... 2,079 407 5 1,541 388 5 537 506 15 76.7

First-line supervisors/managers of

 gaming workers........................... 80 677 56 28 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 52 757 37 ( 3 )

First-line supervisors/managers of

 personal service workers............... 55 584 85 33 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 22 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Gaming services workers............... 76 531 56 35 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 41 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Hairdressers, hairstylists, and 

 cosmetologists........................... 307 397 11 281 391 10 26 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Baggage porters, bellhops, and

 concierges................................. 69 493 25 9 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 60 498 30 ( 3 )

Transportation attendants............... 84 521 33 60 488 26 24 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Childcare workers........................ 446 349 11 425 345 11 21 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Personal and home care aides......... 398 368 8 344 361 8 54 407 20 88.7

Recreation and fitness workers...... 179 458 26 113 448 25 66 490 60 91.3

Sales and office occupations.................. 25,688 589 2 15,935 538 3 9,753 696 6 77.3

Sales and related occupations............... 10,336 628 6 4,560 487 5 5,777 761 6 64.0

First-line supervisors/managers of

 retail salesworkers..................... 2,296 639 10 972 536 19 1,324 732 12 73.3

First-line supervisors/managers of

 non-retail salesworkers............... 962 899 23 299 742 20 663 972 31 76.3

Cashiers.................................... 1,419 344 5 1,044 327 6 375 387 13 84.7

Counter and rental clerks............... 84 476 33 37 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 46 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Parts salespersons...................... 135 525 31 18 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 117 553 53 ( 3 )

Retail salespersons..................... 2,022 494 7 867 405 6 1,154 597 13 67.8

Advertising sales agents............... 176 830 39 93 717 56 83 944 38 75.9

Insurance sales agents.................. 385 752 17 191 653 28 195 890 108 73.4

Securities, commodities, and

 financial services sales agents...... 308 966 33 91 757 23 216 1,139 35 66.5

Travel agents.............................. 50 534 138 39 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 11 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Sales representatives, services, 

 all other.................................... 471 843 27 151 654 27 319 966 59 67.7

Sales representatives, wholesale

 and manufacturing..................... 1,205 938 16 299 739 24 905 997 28 74.1

Real estate brokers and sales

 agents....................................... 497 766 26 291 646 51 205 965 35 66.9

Telemarketers.............................. 65 395 19 40 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 25 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Door-to-door salesworkers, news

 and street vendors, and related 

 workers.................................... 54 470 41 16 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 38 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Office and administrative support

 occupations.................................... 15,351 572 3 11,375 557 3 3,976 619 6 90.0

First-line supervisors/managers

 of office and administrative

 support workers........................... 1,391 698 12 980 658 11 411 812 24 81.1

Bill and account collectors............... 195 578 24 126 548 38 70 612 32 89.5

Billing and posting clerks and 

 machine operators..................... 363 548 17 325 541 16 38 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Bookkeeping, accounting, and 

 auditing clerks........................... 1,013 584 6 898 582 6 114 607 27 95.8

 See footnotes at end of table.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Occupation Standard

error 

of

median 

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

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

2006 annual averages—Continued

Both sexes Women Men

Payroll and timekeeping clerks......... 131 $654 $27 121 $641 $28 9 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Tellers....................................... 308 429 12 268 421 6 41 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Court, municipal, and license clerks 105 615 30 87 588 33 18 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Credit authorizers, checkers, and 

 clerks....................................... 51 532 67 35 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 16 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Customer service representatives... 1,585 554 9 1,110 533 10 475 $615 $20 86.7

Eligibility interviewers, government 

 programs................................. 66 643 59 57 645 61 9 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

File clerks.................................... 251 514 13 196 524 17 55 484 26 108.3

Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks... 83 374 15 52 368 22 31 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Interviewers, except eligibility 

 and loan.................................... 105 548 34 88 543 30 17 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Loan interviewers and clerks............ 184 638 18 137 636 23 47 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Order clerks................................. 98 516 13 72 507 12 25 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Human resources assistants, 

 except payroll and timekeeping...... 51 616 24 46 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 5( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Receptionists and information

 clerks....................................... 949 472 9 882 467 9 67 562 42 83.0

Reservation and transportation

 ticket agents and travel clerks...... 128 596 27 79 574 29 49 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Couriers and messengers............... 186 663 35 25 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 161 684 39 ( 3 )

Dispatchers................................ 262 596 22 142 546 31 120 661 35 82.5

Postal service clerks.................... 140 835 21 63 835 63 77 835 19 100.1

Postal service mail carriers............ 306 858 23 97 780 41 208 896 20 87.0

Postal service mail sorters, 

 processors, and processing 

 machine operators..................... 95 832 20 44 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 50 854 29 ( 3 )

Production, planning, and

 expediting clerks........................ 259 678 35 144 616 18 115 816 52 75.6

Shipping, receiving, and traffic

 clerks....................................... 502 513 10 143 480 15 359 531 18 90.5

Stock clerks and order fillers............ 1,055 443 9 414 425 11 642 457 13 92.9

Weighers, measurers, checkers, 

 and samplers, recordkeeping......... 67 517 22 34 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 34 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Secretaries and administrative

 assistants................................. 2,683 583 5 2,595 584 5 89 559 48 104.4

Computer operators..................... 169 622 24 74 573 28 96 654 26 87.7

Data entry keyers........................ 389 524 12 321 524 13 68 526 27 99.6

Word processors and typists............ 183 550 23 170 546 23 13 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Insurance claims and policy 

 processing clerks........................ 244 560 18 214 552 17 30 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Mail clerks and mail machine 

 operators, except postal service...... 100 523 29 52 529 28 48 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Office clerks, general..................... 711 537 15 583 534 14 127 564 56 94.8

Natural resources, construction, and 

 maintenance occupations..................... 12,512 653 5 524 518 11 11,989 660 5 78.5

Farming, fishing, and forestry

 occupations.................................... 716 387 8 147 342 14 569 401 9 85.3

Graders and sorters, agricultural 

 products.................................... 69 407 29 45 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 24 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Logging workers........................... 56 541 72 - -- 56 541 72 - Construction and extraction

 occupations.................................... 7,166 619 4 172 533 30 6,995 621 4 85.8

First-line supervisors/managers of

 construction trades and extraction 

 workers .................................... 644 860 24 9 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 634 866 24 ( 3 )

Brickmasons, blockmasons, and 

 stonemasons.............................. 180 583 21 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 178 583 21 ( 3 )

Carpenters................................. 1,193 595 8 24 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,169 598 8 ( 3 )

Carpet, floor, and tile installers and 

 finishers.................................... 159 557 41 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 156 559 41 ( 3 )

Cement masons, concrete finishers 

 and terrazzo workers.................. 94 540 79 1 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 93 549 78 ( 3 )

Construction laborers..................... 1,339 511 6 47 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,292 513 6 ( 3 )

Operating engineers and other

 construction equipment operators... 403 743 24 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 398 739 25 ( 3 )

 See footnotes at end of table.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Occupation Standard

error 

of

median 

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

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

2006 annual averages—Continued

Both sexes Women Men

Drywall installers, ceiling tile 

 installers, and tapers.................. 228 $522 $13 9 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 219 $524 $21 ( 3 )

Electricians................................. 778 751 25 9 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 769 754 24 ( 3 )

Insulation workers........................ 57 530 64 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 55 546 78 ( 3 )

Painters, construction and

 maintenance.............................. 430 494 13 19 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 411 495 13 ( 3 )

Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters,

 and steamfitters......................... 564 704 18 9 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 554 702 18 ( 3 )

Plasterers and stucco masons......... 64 499 21 1 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 62 502 21 ( 3 )

Roofers....................................... 177 500 16 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 175 501 16 ( 3 )

Sheet metal workers..................... 121 707 44 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 118 703 53 ( 3 )

Structural iron and steel workers...... 51 773 128 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 49 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Helpers, construction trades............ 107 425 23 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 102 425 23 ( 3 )

Construction and building

 inspectors................................. 78 849 51 8 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 69 834 72 ( 3 )

Highway maintenance workers......... 108 565 46 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 104 566 46 ( 3 )

Installation, maintenance, and repair 

 occupations.................................... 4,630 742 6 205 $697 $42 4,425 744 6 93.7

First-line supervisors/managers of

 mechanics, installers, and 

 repairers.................................. 343 866 24 26 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 318 877 28 ( 3 )

Computer, automated teller, and

 office machine repairers............... 295 754 13 27 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 268 760 13 ( 3 )

Radio and telecommunications 

 equipment installers and repairers... 186 860 33 27 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 158 869 36 ( 3 )

Security and fire alarm systems 

 installers.................................... 62 836 34 1 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 61 833 34 ( 3 )

Aircraft mechanics and service

 technicians................................. 136 907 38 7 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 129 900 37 ( 3 )

Automotive body and related

 repairers.................................. 127 667 29 1 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 126 670 29 ( 3 )

Automotive service technicians and 

 mechanics................................. 696 634 23 9 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 687 635 24 ( 3 )

Bus and truck mechanics and 

 diesel engine specialists............... 331 737 20 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 328 737 20 ( 3 )

Heavy vehicle and mobile

 equipment service technicians

 and mechanics........................... 217 763 29 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 213 770 27 ( 3 )

Heating, air conditioning, and

 refrigeration mechanics and

 installers.................................... 335 760 20 9 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 326 765 20 ( 3 )

Industrial and refractory machinery 

 mechanics................................ 417 756 19 14 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 403 757 22 ( 3 )

Maintenance and repair workers, 

 general.................................... 394 655 18 21 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 372 661 19 ( 3 )

Maintenance workers, machinery...... 66 750 33 1 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 65 752 33 ( 3 )

Millwrights.................................. 62 903 25 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 59 900 24 ( 3 )

Electrical power-line installers and

 repairers.................................... 114 926 50 - -- 114 926 50 - Telecommunications line installers 

 and repairers.............................. 189 874 43 17 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 172 883 31 ( 3 )

Precision instrument and 

 equipment repairers..................... 55 882 257 7 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 48 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Production, transportation, and material- 

 moving occupations.............................. 15,332 557 4 3,288 426 4 12,045 601 3 70.9

Production occupations........................ 8,391 559 5 2,412 432 6 5,979 621 5 69.7

First-line supervisors/managers of

 production and operating workers... 819 774 18 169 587 16 650 832 22 70.5

Electrical, electronics, and 

 electromechanical assemblers...... 207 487 17 106 417 14 101 553 23 75.5

Bakers....................................... 118 433 21 62 370 21 56 489 22 75.8

Butchers and other meat-, poultry-, 

 and fish-processing workers......... 255 461 13 73 398 16 182 502 17 79.2

Food batchmakers........................ 65 481 22 34 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 31 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

See footnotes at end of table.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Occupation Standard

error 

of

median 

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

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

2006 annual averages—Continued

Both sexes Women Men

Cutting, punching, and press

 machine setters, operators, and 

 tenders, metal and plastic............ 110 $514 $19 20 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 90 $524 $29 ( 3 )

Grinding, lapping, polishing, and 

 buffing machine tool setters, 

 operators, and tenders, metal 

 and plastic................................. 60 570 31 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 57 575 30 ( 3 )

Machinists................................. 403 714 16 24 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 378 727 19 ( 3 )

Molders and molding machine 

 setters, operators, and tenders, 

 metal and plastic........................ 63 636 34 10 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 53 645 31 ( 3 )

Tool and die makers..................... 93 805 35 1 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 92 802 35 ( 3 )

Welding, soldering, and brazing 

 workers.................................... 491 649 26 34 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 457 674 21 ( 3 )

Printing machine operators............ 191 600 19 36 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 156 640 29 ( 3 )

Laundry and dry-cleaning workers... 117 348 16 74 $324 $13 43 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Pressers, textile, garment, and

 related materials.................. 55 399 25 37 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 17 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Sewing machine operators............ 237 352 15 175 346 15 63 374 31 92.6

Tailors, dressmakers, and sewers... 50 432 35 37 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 13 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Cabinetmakers and bench

 carpenters................................. 83 547 34 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 80 547 42 ( 3 )

Stationary engineers and boiler 

 operators................................. 92 793 73 1 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 91 798 73 ( 3 )

Water and liquid waste treatment

 plant and system operators............ 97 706 57 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 92 719 50 ( 3 )

Chemical-processing machine 

 setters, operators, and tenders...... 57 885 31 8 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 48 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Crushing, grinding, polishing,

 mixing, and blending workers......... 94 580 38 11 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 83 600 38 ( 3 )

Cutting workers........................... 70 522 36 16 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 54 587 35 ( 3 )

Inspectors, testers, sorters, 

 samplers, and weighers............... 671 581 15 260 479 15 411 696 27 68.9

Medical, dental, and ophthalmic 

 laboratory technicians.................. 71 566 77 36 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 35 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Packaging and filling machine 

 operators and tenders.................. 256 415 11 139 389 13 117 456 19 85.4

Painting workers.......................... 163 520 26 22 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 140 561 34 ( 3 )

Photographic process workers and 

 processing machine operators...... 51 408 19 22 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 28 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Transportation and material-moving 

 occupations.................................... 6,942 556 6 876 414 7 6,066 581 5 71.1

Supervisors, transportation and 

 material-moving workers............... 193 767 45 32 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 161 806 32 ( 3 )

Aircraft pilots and flight engineers... 90 1,407 87 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 87 1,419 190 ( 3 )

Busdrivers.................................. 353 519 11 153 466 37 201 579 17 80.4

Driver/salesworkers and truck 

 drivers....................................... 2,821 642 9 113 436 21 2,708 651 9 66.9

Taxi drivers and chauffeurs............ 152 538 47 23 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 129 574 38 ( 3 )

Railroad conductors and

 yardmasters.............................. 53 904 46 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 51 905 45 ( 3 )

Service station attendants............... 73 364 23 7 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 66 371 24 ( 3 )

Industrial truck and tractor

 operators................................. 549 513 9 32 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 517 514 10 ( 3 )

Cleaners of vehicles and 

 equipment................................. 301 379 8 43 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 257 379 9 ( 3 )

Laborers and freight, stock, and 

 material movers, hand.................. 1,407 474 8 198 412 15 1,210 484 7 85.1

Packers and packagers, hand......... 371 391 9 209 367 12 163 416 12 88.2

Refuse and recyclable material 

 collectors................................. 64 393 20 6 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 59 403 22 ( 3 )

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Occupation Standard

error 

of

median 

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table.

 2

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

 3

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

 

is less than 50,000.

 NOTE: Dash indicates data not available or does not meet publication 

standards.

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

14
Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by State and sex, 2006 annual averages 

Both sexes Women Men

UNITED STATES..................... 106,106 $671 $2 46,358 $600 $2 59,747 $743 $2 80.8

Alabama....................................... 1,657 614 10 736 535 18 922 710 24 75.4

Alaska.......................................... 226 816 21 99 690 17 127 947 23 72.8

Arizona......................................... 2,225 641 12 938 604 10 1,288 681 14 88.7

Arkansas...................................... 952 591 9 433 522 16 519 624 16 83.7

California...................................... 11,978 713 6 4,962 670 8 7,016 751 9 89.1

Colorado...................................... 1,801 719 12 759 638 14 1,042 788 21 81.0

Connecticut.................................. 1,252 822 20 550 705 25 702 914 25 77.1

Delaware...................................... 339 683 15 155 614 15 184 762 17 80.6

District of Columbia...................... 216 864 26 112 823 30 105 927 40 88.8

Florida.......................................... 6,605 629 6 3,051 579 7 3,555 688 10 84.2

Georgia........................................ 3,508 626 10 1,586 586 10 1,922 694 25 84.4

Hawaii.......................................... 465 661 16 216 597 12 249 737 28 81.0

Idaho............................................ 488 616 10 197 533 14 291 691 17 77.2

Illinois........................................... 4,666 701 10 1,992 620 7 2,673 793 19 78.2

Indiana......................................... 2,309 645 13 982 559 21 1,326 736 15 76.0

Iowa............................................. 1,114 646 13 502 575 14 612 727 16 79.1

Kansas......................................... 997 636 16 426 548 15 572 728 17 75.2

Kentucky...................................... 1,440 616 11 644 539 18 796 689 16 78.2

Louisiana..................................... 1,415 621 12 632 499 13 783 722 15 69.1

Maine........................................... 444 655 14 198 573 17 246 747 17 76.7

Maryland...................................... 2,241 764 12 1,035 700 21 1,206 850 20 82.4

Massachusetts............................. 2,224 799 13 974 680 17 1,250 882 18 77.2

Michigan...................................... 3,343 731 10 1,431 624 12 1,912 827 15 75.5

Minnesota.................................... 1,872 747 14 827 659 13 1,046 834 20 79.1

Mississippi.................................... 908 564 12 415 497 13 493 615 16 80.8

Missouri........................................ 2,168 632 12 969 557 15 1,199 726 17 76.7

Montana....................................... 313 581 10 145 480 9 168 660 15 72.8

Nebraska..................................... 674 612 9 295 539 16 379 682 16 79.0

Nevada........................................ 988 619 7 423 572 14 565 680 17 84.2

New Hampshire........................... 491 778 17 212 657 17 280 896 20 73.3

New Jersey.................................. 3,211 829 12 1,393 743 8 1,818 921 17 80.7

New Mexico................................. 655 615 11 284 506 14 372 698 21 72.5

New York..................................... 6,716 708 8 3,003 639 8 3,713 767 9 83.3

North Carolina.............................. 3,242 599 6 1,455 544 14 1,787 637 13 85.3

North Dakota................................ 236 597 9 108 514 9 127 662 18 77.7

Ohio............................................. 4,159 672 8 1,864 594 8 2,294 757 11 78.5

Oklahoma.................................... 1,234 599 9 562 509 10 673 703 19 72.3

Oregon......................................... 1,202 669 15 486 602 11 716 731 16 82.3

Pennsylvania............................... 4,422 674 9 1,936 590 8 2,486 755 11 78.1

Rhode Island................................ 385 702 15 171 627 18 214 769 21 81.5

South Carolina............................. 1,485 602 9 670 525 14 815 673 20 78.0

South Dakota............................... 271 590 9 121 519 9 151 650 15 80.0

Tennessee................................... 2,165 582 9 965 512 9 1,200 643 18 79.6

Texas........................................... 8,331 610 6 3,515 546 13 4,815 667 10 82.0

Utah............................................. 863 627 13 326 509 11 537 717 12 71.1

Vermont....................................... 232 680 14 105 606 11 127 745 18 81.3

Virginia......................................... 2,914 714 16 1,311 608 11 1,603 824 27 73.8

Washington.................................. 2,247 759 14 944 647 24 1,303 873 26 74.1

West Virginia................................ 598 617 10 263 521 13 334 710 22 73.4

Wisconsin..................................... 2,023 691 12 902 598 12 1,121 773 16 77.4

Wyoming...................................... 195 680 13 80 524 15 115 791 24 66.3

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

State

 1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this table. 

 NOTE: Data refer to persons 16 years and older. 

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

 15
Table 4. Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2006 annual averages

Both sexes Women Men

AGE

Total, 16 years and older............... 21,863 $206 $1 14,949 $213 $1 6,914 $192 $2 110.7

16 to 24 years...................................... 8,137 150 1 4,583 148 2 3,553 153 2 96.7

16 to 19 years................................... 4,271 122 1 2,324 119 2 1,948 124 2 95.9

20 to 24 years................................... 3,865 189 2 2,259 184 3 1,606 196 3 93.6

25 years and older............................... 13,726 254 2 10,365 253 2 3,361 255 4 99.3

25 to 34 years................................... 3,329 252 3 2,401 248 4 928 264 7 93.9

35 to 44 years................................... 3,276 273 4 2,752 272 5 524 283 12 96.2

45 to 54 years................................... 2,949 274 4 2,466 272 4 484 287 12 94.7

55 to 64 years................................... 2,440 251 4 1,750 251 5 690 252 8 99.5

65 years and older............................ 1,732 196 4 996 184 6 736 211 6 87.4

RACE AND HISPANIC OR

LATINO ETHNICITY

White.................................................... 18,390 208 1 12,700 216 2 5,690 193 2 111.8

Black or African American................... 2,107 191 3 1,363 191 4 744 190 5 100.5

Asian.................................................... 852 216 6 561 224 8 292 199 11 113.0

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.................. 2,413 202 3 1,587 200 3 826 206 6 96.9

MARITAL STATUS

Never married...................................... 9,917 162 1 5,529 161 2 4,388 163 2 98.6

Married, spouse present...................... 9,126 264 2 7,190 263 3 1,936 267 5 98.5

Other marital status............................. 2,820 225 4 2,230 221 3 590 244 8 90.5

Divorced............................................ 1,545 244 5 1,198 239 6 347 264 11 90.3

Separated......................................... 611 221 6 465 218 7 146 232 14 94.1

Widowed........................................... 663 194 6 566 193 6 97 199 19 97.4

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in

this table.

NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African

American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented

for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or

Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well

as by race.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Characteristic Standard

error 

of

median 

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

 16
Table 5. Median usual weekly earnings of wage and salary workers by hours usually worked and sex, 2006 annual averages 

Both sexes Women Men

Total, 16 years and older............... 128,237 $593 $1 61,426 $501 $1 66,811 $685 $3 73.1

1 to 34 hours........................................ 19,288 210 1 13,260 217 2 6,028 196 2 111.0

1 to 4 hours....................................... 458 53 3 319 50 4 139 61 6 81.5

5 to 9 hours....................................... 1,077 68 1 735 70 2 342 63 2 110.6

10 to 14 hours................................... 1,689 102 2 1,147 105 2 542 98 3 107.1

15 to 19 hours................................... 2,553 140 2 1,718 145 2 835 129 4 112.7

20 to 24 hours................................... 5,900 198 2 4,022 207 2 1,878 181 3 114.3

25 to 29 hours................................... 2,538 246 3 1,752 253 3 786 231 5 109.7

30 to 34 hours................................... 5,073 312 3 3,568 319 3 1,505 295 5 108.0

35 hours or more................................. 100,126 674 2 44,054 604 2 56,072 746 2 81.1

35 to 39 hours................................... 7,742 454 5 5,323 455 5 2,419 453 11 100.4

40 hours............................................ 70,434 619 1 32,167 585 2 38,266 663 3 88.3

41 hours or more.............................. 21,950 995 5 6,563 902 7 15,387 1,044 8 86.4

41 to 44 hours................................ 1,319 736 12 525 697 17 794 759 14 91.8

45 to 48 hours................................ 6,221 892 7 2,151 833 10 4,070 929 9 89.6

49 to 59 hours................................ 9,699 1,066 9 2,818 985 13 6,881 1,115 12 88.3

60 hours or more........................... 4,711 1,153 10 1,069 982 27 3,642 1,196 17 82.1

Hours vary.................................... 8,823 416 6 4,112 295 6 4,711 575 13 51.4

Usually less than 35 hours............... 2,574 174 3 1,688 178 4 886 167 5 106.4

Usually 35 hours or more............... 5,980 603 8 2,305 459 11 3,675 697 11 65.8

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in

this table.

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

workers. Estimates for the above "hours vary" groups do not sum to totals

because data are not presented for a small number of multiple jobholders

whose usual number of hours on the principal job is not identifiable.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Hours of work

Standard

error 

of

median 

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

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

characteristics, 2006 annual averages

Upper limit of:

SEX, RACE, AND HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY

Total, 16 years and older.......................................................... 106,106 $319 $445 $671 $1,027 $1,545

Women.................................................................................. 46,358 299 406 600 888 1,285

Men........................................................................................ 59,747 343 488 743 1,154 1,751

White.......................................................................................... 86,055 324 459 690 1,054 1,570

Women.................................................................................. 36,405 301 411 609 901 1,304

Men....................................................................................... 49,650 351 498 761 1,172 1,773

Black or African American........................................................ 12,745 292 388 554 823 1,186

Women.................................................................................. 6,720 287 375 519 763 1,128

Men....................................................................................... 6,025 300 405 591 892 1,260

Asian......................................................................................... 4,840 350 507 784 1,301 1,892

Women.................................................................................. 2,123 329 481 699 1,109 1,562

Men....................................................................................... 2,717 375 547 882 1,444 2,003

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity....................................................... 15,693 279 348 486 711 1,069

Women.................................................................................. 5,686 254 317 440 655 972

Men....................................................................................... 10,007 291 369 505 740 1,136

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and older.......................................................... 94,744 342 483 718 1,089 1,607

Less than a high school diploma........................................... 9,029 262 319 419 585 793

High school, no college ........................................................ 28,023 317 419 595 843 1,162

Some college or associate degree........................................ 26,027 363 491 692 977 1,347

Bachelor's degree and higher ............................................. 31,665 513 725 1,039 1,552 2,223

Women, 25 years and older...................................................... 41,556 313 428 627 927 1,347

Less than a high school diploma........................................... 2,945 232 285 358 471 620

High school, no college ........................................................ 11,711 290 374 500 678 919

Some college or associate degree........................................ 12,439 329 434 602 829 1,115

Bachelor's degree and higher ............................................. 14,461 482 652 905 1,269 1,764

Men, 25 years and older........................................................... 53,188 378 523 797 1,216 1,843

Less than a high school diploma........................................... 6,084 285 352 469 633 862

High school, no college ........................................................ 16,313 357 486 678 952 1,272

Some college or associate degree........................................ 13,588 406 564 796 1,123 1,492

Bachelor's degree and higher ............................................. 17,204 575 801 1,205 1,828 2,496

 1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent. 

2 Includes persons with a bachelor's, master's, professional, or doctoral

degree.

NOTE: Ten percent of all full-time wage and salary workers earn less

than the upper limit of the first decile; 25 percent earn less than the upper

limit of the first quartile; 50 percent earn less than the upper limit of the

second quartile, or median; 75 percent earn less than the upper limit of the

third quartile; and 90 percent earn less than the upper limit of the ninth

decile. Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African

American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not

presented for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified

as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by

ethnicity as well as by race.

First 

decile

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Second

quartile 

(median) 

Characteristic

First 

quartile

Third 

quartile

Ninth 

decile

2

2

1

1

1

2

 18
Table 7. Distribution of full-time wage and salary workers by usual weekly earnings and selected characteristics, 

2006 annual averages 

(In thousands)

Number of workers by usual weekly earnings

AGE AND SEX

Total, 16 years and older.................................. 106,106 931 2,673 9,710 19,723 26,362 17,787 17,093 11,827

16 to 24 years.......................................................... 11,362 223 847 2,682 3,819 2,586 775 351 79

16 to 19 years....................................................... 1,781 92 270 620 542 199 42 14 2

20 to 24 years....................................................... 9,580 131 576 2,062 3,277 2,388 734 337 77

25 years and older................................................... 94,744 708 1,826 7,028 15,904 23,776 17,012 16,742 11,748

25 to 34 years....................................................... 25,414 143 612 2,396 5,329 7,332 4,401 3,583 1,618

35 to 44 years....................................................... 27,194 197 458 1,864 4,239 6,614 4,984 5,021 3,818

45 to 54 years....................................................... 26,382 199 418 1,669 3,909 6,076 4,900 5,223 3,988

55 to 64 years....................................................... 13,622 114 249 821 1,985 3,281 2,457 2,650 2,065

65 years and older................................................ 2,132 55 90 278 442 472 269 265 260

Women, 16 years and older.............................. 46,358 517 1,620 5,270 10,006 12,444 7,382 6,041 3,080

16 to 24 years.......................................................... 4,802 120 448 1,210 1,580 1,052 283 94 15

16 to 19 years....................................................... 735 50 147 282 197 45 11 3 - 20 to 24 years....................................................... 4,068 70 301 929 1,384 1,006 271 91 15

25 years and older................................................... 41,556 397 1,171 4,060 8,425 11,392 7,100 5,946 3,065

25 to 34 years....................................................... 10,703 79 356 1,222 2,447 3,227 1,748 1,209 415

35 to 44 years....................................................... 11,595 105 300 1,128 2,258 3,071 1,986 1,757 991

45 to 54 years....................................................... 12,035 114 307 1,084 2,290 3,111 2,143 1,912 1,074

55 to 64 years....................................................... 6,339 67 159 489 1,220 1,773 1,112 981 540

65 years and older................................................ 884 31 51 136 211 210 112 88 45

Men, 16 years and older................................... 59,747 414 1,053 4,440 9,717 13,919 10,405 11,052 8,747

16 to 24 years.......................................................... 6,559 102 398 1,472 2,239 1,535 493 256 64

16 to 19 years....................................................... 1,047 42 123 339 346 153 31 11 2

20 to 24 years....................................................... 5,513 60 275 1,133 1,893 1,381 462 246 62

25 years and older................................................... 53,188 311 655 2,968 7,479 12,384 9,912 10,796 8,683

25 to 34 years....................................................... 14,712 64 256 1,173 2,882 4,106 2,654 2,373 1,203

35 to 44 years....................................................... 15,599 92 158 736 1,981 3,543 2,999 3,264 2,826

45 to 54 years....................................................... 14,347 85 111 584 1,619 2,965 2,757 3,312 2,914

55 to 64 years....................................................... 7,283 47 90 332 765 1,508 1,345 1,670 1,525

65 years and older................................................ 1,248 24 39 142 231 262 158 177 215

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO

ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White, 16 years and older.................................... 86,055 735 1,963 7,458 15,319 21,293 14,797 14,410 10,081

Women.................................................................... 36,405 416 1,217 3,981 7,602 9,838 5,963 4,900 2,488

Men.......................................................................... 49,650 320 745 3,477 7,716 11,455 8,834 9,510 7,593

Black or African American, 16 years and older.... 12,745 140 506 1,622 3,149 3,380 1,839 1,446 664

Women.................................................................... 6,720 69 297 958 1,779 1,775 911 642 290

Men.......................................................................... 6,025 71 209 665 1,370 1,605 928 803 374

Asian, 16 years and older..................................... 4,840 37 100 328 689 1,056 799 926 904

Women.................................................................... 2,123 23 50 168 348 538 361 376 258

Men.......................................................................... 2,717 15 49 159 341 518 438 550 646

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 16 years and older.. 15,693 158 663 2,896 4,456 3,899 1,667 1,285 668

Women.................................................................... 5,686 78 388 1,287 1,577 1,258 543 393 161

Men.......................................................................... 10,007 80 274 1,609 2,879 2,641 1,124 892 507

$250.00

to

$349.99

Total 

employed Under 

$150.00

$350.00 

to 

$499.99

$150.00

to

$249.99

Characteristic $500.00 

to 

$749.99

$750.00 

to 

$999.99

$1,000.00 

to 

$1,499.99

$1,500.00 

or 

more

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. Dash indicates data not available or does not meet publication standards. 

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

status, and presence and age of own children under 18 years old, 2006 annual averages

WOMEN

Total, all marital statuses................................................... 46,358 $600 $2

With children under 18 years old....................................... 17,202 593 3

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger........................ 10,645 605 4

With children under 6 years old....................................... 6,558 571 6

With no children under 18 years old.................................... 29,156 604 2

Total, married, spouse present............................................. 24,110 642 3

With children under 18 years old....................................... 11,480 634 4

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger........................ 6,914 632 6

With children under 6 years old....................................... 4,566 637 7

With no children under 18 years old.................................... 12,630 648 4

Total, other marital statuses ............................................. 22,248 547 4

With children under 18 years old....................................... 5,723 506 3

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger........................ 3,731 549 8

With children under 6 years old....................................... 1,991 434 8

With no children under 18 years old.................................... 16,526 570 4

MEN

Total, all marital statuses................................................... 59,747 743 2

With children under 18 years old....................................... 22,316 839 5

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger........................ 11,907 889 7

With children under 6 years old....................................... 10,409 781 7

With no children under 18 years old.................................... 37,431 691 3

Total, married, spouse present............................................. 36,044 858 4

With children under 18 years old....................................... 20,615 857 5

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger........................ 10,896 905 7

With children under 6 years old....................................... 9,719 804 7

With no children under 18 years old.................................... 15,429 860 6

Total, other marital statuses ............................................. 23,703 598 3

With children under 18 years old....................................... 1,701 664 12

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger........................ 1,011 761 15

With children under 6 years old....................................... 690 551 18

With no children under 18 years old.................................... 22,002 594 3

1 Includes never-married, divorced, separated, and

widowed persons.

NOTE: Children refer to "own" children and include

sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children.

Number of 

workers

(in thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Characteristic

Excluded are other related children such as

grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins, as well as

unrelated children.

 

1

1

 20
Table 9. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, by selected characteristics, 2006 annual averages 

Both sexes Women Men

AGE

Total, 16 years and older............... 76,514 $11.76 $0.03 38,321 $10.65 $0.04 38,193 $12.68 $0.06 84.0

16 to 24 years...................................... 16,649 8.24 .03 8,065 7.99 .02 8,583 8.79 .04 90.9

16 to 19 years................................... 5,687 7.23 .02 2,890 7.11 .03 2,796 7.43 .05 95.8

20 to 24 years................................... 10,962 9.16 .03 5,175 8.82 .04 5,787 9.75 .07 90.5

25 years and older............................... 59,865 12.94 .03 30,256 11.87 .03 29,609 14.27 .08 83.1

25 to 34 years................................... 17,019 11.95 .03 7,928 11.07 .06 9,091 12.63 .11 87.6

35 to 44 years................................... 16,396 13.49 .11 8,233 12.05 .05 8,164 15.06 .05 80.0

45 to 54 years................................... 15,672 14.03 .06 8,248 12.26 .08 7,423 16.04 .08 76.4

55 to 64 years................................... 8,402 13.33 .13 4,569 12.12 .08 3,833 15.04 .08 80.6

65 years and older............................ 2,376 10.15 .05 1,278 9.97 .07 1,098 10.72 .27 92.9

RACE AND HISPANIC OR

LATINO ETHNICITY

White.................................................... 61,907 11.86 .02 30,504 10.77 .04 31,403 12.88 .04 83.6

Black or African American.................... 9,903 10.66 .09 5,419 10.11 .04 4,485 11.42 .18 88.5

Asian.................................................... 2,654 12.53 .27 1,395 11.95 .13 1,259 13.18 .26 90.7

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.................. 13,121 10.12 .03 5,341 9.50 .13 7,780 10.84 .09 87.6

MARITAL STATUS

Never married...................................... 27,081 9.63 .05 12,499 8.95 .03 14,582 9.98 .02 89.7

Married, spouse present...................... 36,300 13.42 .07 17,818 12.04 .03 18,482 14.98 .04 80.4

Other marital status.............................. 13,132 12.01 .05 8,004 11.04 .07 5,128 13.74 .17 80.4

Divorced............................................ 8,342 12.85 .08 5,083 11.84 .08 3,260 14.89 .08 79.5

Separated......................................... 3,297 10.69 .15 1,730 10.01 .07 1,567 11.88 .12 84.3

Widowed........................................... 1,492 10.57 .23 1,191 10.22 .09 301 12.64 1.00 80.8

UNION AFFILIATION 

Members of unions ............................. 9,485 16.99 .08 3,491 14.72 .19 5,994 18.36 .20 80.2

Represented by a union ..................... 10,293 16.86 .09 3,894 14.52 .22 6,399 18.18 .14 79.8

Not represented by a union.................. 66,220 10.98 .03 34,427 10.22 .02 31,793 11.90 .03 85.9

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and older..................... 59,865 12.94 .03 30,256 11.87 .03 29,609 14.27 .08 83.1

Less than a high school diploma...... 8,303 9.91 .03 3,221 8.59 .08 5,082 10.78 .11 79.7

High school, no college ................... 22,791 12.31 .06 10,861 10.79 .05 11,930 14.32 .11 75.4

Some college or associate degree... 18,755 13.88 .04 10,337 12.50 .09 8,418 15.39 .17 81.2

Bachelor's degree and higher ......... 10,016 17.25 .18 5,837 16.91 .14 4,180 18.07 .17 93.6

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ slightly

from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this table.

2 Differences in earnings levels between workers with and without union

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

bargaining agreement, including the distribution of male and female employees

by occupation, industry, firm size, or geographic region.

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

a union.

 4

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

a union, as well as to workers who report no union affiliation but whose jobs are

covered by a union or an employee association contract. 

 5

 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.

 6

 Includes persons with a bachelor's, master's, professional, or doctoral degree.

NOTE: Workers paid by the hour account for approximately three-fifths of all

wage and salary workers. Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or

African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented

for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino

may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

hourly

earnings

Median 

hourly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Characteristic Median 

hourly

earnings

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

2

3

4

5

6

 21
Table 10. Distribution of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, by hourly earnings and selected characteristics, 

2006 annual averages

(In thousands)

Number of workers by hourly earnings

AGE AND SEX

Total, 16 years and older.................................. 76,514 903 139 1,603 10,718 13,109 12,139 12,687 12,392 12,822

16 to 24 years.......................................................... 16,649 426 58 981 5,281 4,221 2,757 1,697 898 330

16 to 19 years....................................................... 5,687 158 25 664 2,761 1,259 545 180 65 30

20 to 24 years....................................................... 10,962 268 33 318 2,520 2,962 2,212 1,517 833 300

25 years and older................................................... 59,865 478 80 622 5,437 8,888 9,382 10,991 11,494 12,492

25 to 34 years....................................................... 17,019 225 39 218 1,904 2,816 2,985 3,432 3,036 2,365

35 to 44 years....................................................... 16,396 122 14 146 1,325 2,251 2,449 2,978 3,317 3,796

45 to 54 years....................................................... 15,672 79 16 110 1,137 2,039 2,234 2,754 3,215 4,087

55 to 64 years....................................................... 8,402 32 9 76 668 1,269 1,276 1,489 1,609 1,974

65 years and older................................................ 2,376 19 2 72 405 512 439 339 317 270

Women, 16 years and older.............................. 38,321 639 102 929 6,422 7,408 6,436 6,216 5,202 4,968

16 to 24 years.......................................................... 8,065 305 46 541 2,828 2,034 1,201 677 309 124

16 to 19 years....................................................... 2,890 124 19 347 1,497 609 213 50 19 13

20 to 24 years....................................................... 5,175 182 26 194 1,331 1,426 988 627 290 112

25 years and older................................................... 30,256 334 56 388 3,595 5,374 5,234 5,539 4,893 4,843

25 to 34 years....................................................... 7,928 156 24 123 1,141 1,499 1,416 1,502 1,132 936

35 to 44 years....................................................... 8,233 84 9 94 940 1,419 1,364 1,515 1,364 1,444

45 to 54 years....................................................... 8,248 61 15 77 821 1,364 1,385 1,512 1,468 1,546

55 to 64 years....................................................... 4,569 18 6 45 464 794 827 839 777 801

65 years and older................................................ 1,278 15 2 50 230 298 243 171 153 117

Men, 16 years and older................................... 38,193 264 37 674 4,296 5,701 5,703 6,472 7,191 7,854

16 to 24 years.......................................................... 8,583 120 13 440 2,453 2,187 1,555 1,020 590 205

16 to 19 years....................................................... 2,796 34 6 316 1,264 651 332 130 46 17

20 to 24 years....................................................... 5,787 86 7 123 1,189 1,536 1,224 890 544 189

25 years and older................................................... 29,609 144 24 234 1,843 3,514 4,148 5,452 6,601 7,649

25 to 34 years....................................................... 9,091 69 14 95 763 1,317 1,569 1,930 1,904 1,429

35 to 44 years....................................................... 8,164 38 5 52 385 831 1,085 1,463 1,953 2,352

45 to 54 years....................................................... 7,423 18 1 33 316 676 849 1,241 1,747 2,541

55 to 64 years....................................................... 3,833 15 3 32 204 476 449 650 832 1,173

65 years and older................................................ 1,098 4 1 22 175 215 196 168 164 153

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO

ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White, 16 years and older.................................... 61,907 789 129 1,266 8,468 10,324 9,628 10,225 10,322 10,755

Women.................................................................... 30,504 556 100 743 5,046 5,728 5,110 4,917 4,221 4,084

Men.......................................................................... 31,403 233 29 523 3,422 4,597 4,518 5,308 6,101 6,671

Black or African American, 16 years and older.... 9,903 68 6 245 1,559 1,983 1,814 1,697 1,360 1,170

Women.................................................................... 5,419 56 1 138 984 1,225 950 911 654 500

Men.......................................................................... 4,485 13 5 108 574 759 864 786 706 670

Asian, 16 years and older..................................... 2,654 23 3 28 355 395 383 443 421 603

Women.................................................................... 1,395 12 1 17 201 237 206 239 202 280

Men.......................................................................... 1,259 10 2 11 154 158 178 204 219 323

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 16 years and older.. 13,121 101 14 274 2,424 2,876 2,352 2,166 1,723 1,191

Women.................................................................... 5,341 64 7 165 1,322 1,240 921 777 518 327

Men.......................................................................... 7,780 36 7 110 1,102 1,636 1,431 1,389 1,205 864

$5.00

to

$5.99

Total 

employed Under 

$4.00

$6.00

 to 

$7.99

$4.00

to

$4.99

Characteristic $8.00

 to 

$9.99

$10.00 

to 

$11.99

$12.00

to 

$14.99

$20.00

or 

more

$15.00

to 

$19.99

NOTE: Workers paid hourly rates represent approximately three-fifths of all wage and salary workers. Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or

African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or

Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race. 

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

wage by selected characteristics, 2006 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Workers paid hourly rates 

Total at or below prevailing 

Federal minimum wage

AGE AND SEX

Total, 16 years and older...................................................... 76,514 1,283 409 1,692 2.2

16 to 24 years.............................................................................. 16,649 619 247 866 5.2

16 to 19 years.......................................................................... 5,687 271 165 436 7.7

20 to 24 years.......................................................................... 10,962 348 82 430 3.9

25 years and older....................................................................... 59,865 664 162 826 1.4

25 to 34 years.......................................................................... 17,019 307 51 358 2.1

35 to 44 years.......................................................................... 16,396 159 32 191 1.2

45 to 54 years.......................................................................... 15,672 119 31 150 1.0

55 to 64 years.......................................................................... 8,402 48 24 72 0.9

65 years and older................................................................... 2,376 31 24 55 2.3

Women, 16 years and older.................................................. 38,321 861 263 1,124 2.9

16 to 24 years.............................................................................. 8,065 421 149 570 7.1

16 to 19 years.......................................................................... 2,890 185 94 279 9.7

20 to 24 years.......................................................................... 5,175 236 55 291 5.6

25 years and older....................................................................... 30,256 440 114 554 1.8

25 to 34 years.......................................................................... 7,928 199 37 236 3.0

35 to 44 years.......................................................................... 8,233 104 21 125 1.5

45 to 54 years.......................................................................... 8,248 88 23 111 1.3

55 to 64 years.......................................................................... 4,569 26 15 41 0.9

65 years and older................................................................... 1,278 24 18 42 3.3

Men, 16 years and older....................................................... 38,193 422 146 568 1.5

16 to 24 years.............................................................................. 8,583 198 98 296 3.4

16 to 19 years.......................................................................... 2,796 86 71 157 5.6

20 to 24 years.......................................................................... 5,787 112 27 139 2.4

25 years and older....................................................................... 29,609 224 49 273 0.9

25 to 34 years.......................................................................... 9,091 108 15 123 1.4

35 to 44 years.......................................................................... 8,164 55 11 66 0.8

45 to 54 years.......................................................................... 7,423 31 9 40 0.5

55 to 64 years.......................................................................... 3,833 22 9 31 0.8

65 years and older................................................................... 1,098 8 6 14 1.3

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO

ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White, 16 years and older........................................................ 61,907 1,105 329 1,434 2.3

Women.......................................................................................... 30,504 751 215 966 3.2

Men............................................................................................. 31,403 354 115 469 1.5

Black or African American, 16 years and older........................ 9,903 111 62 173 1.7

Women.......................................................................................... 5,419 72 34 106 2.0

Men............................................................................................. 4,485 40 28 68 1.5

Asian, 16 years and older........................................................ 2,654 30 8 38 1.4

Women.......................................................................................... 1,395 17 7 24 1.7

Men............................................................................................. 1,259 13 1 14 1.1

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 16 years and older...................... 13,121 155 68 223 1.7

Women.......................................................................................... 5,341 88 40 128 2.4

Men............................................................................................. 7,780 67 29 96 1.2

FULL- AND PART-TIME STATUS AND SEX 

Full-time workers...................................................................... 58,452 554 99 653 1.1

Women.......................................................................................... 25,975 341 64 405 1.6

Men............................................................................................. 32,477 213 35 248 0.8

Part-time workers..................................................................... 17,930 724 310 1,034 5.8

Women.......................................................................................... 12,278 519 198 717 5.8

Men............................................................................................. 5,652 205 112 317 5.6

See footnotes at end of table.

At

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Total

Number

Below

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Characteristic

Percent of 

workers 

paid hourly 

rates

2

1

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

based on unrounded data. 

2 The distinction between full- and part-time workers is based on

hours usually worked. These data do not sum to totals because full

or part-time status on the principal job is not identifiable for a small

number of multiple jobholders.

NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or

African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data

are not presented for all races. In addition, persons whose

ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race

and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race. 

24
Table 12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2006) dollars by sex and age, 

1979-2006 annual averages

16 to 24 years 25 years and older

BOTH SEXES

1979.................................... $620 $443 $370 $478 $682 $657 $720 $710 $673 $509

1980.................................... 606 434 357 464 663 638 699 689 659 471

1981.................................... 601 424 342 452 654 628 690 679 654 471

1982.................................... 604 417 329 441 654 623 708 691 651 506

1983.................................... 601 405 314 427 659 616 709 704 664 500

1984.................................... 602 400 311 426 668 619 718 710 674 502

1985.................................... 614 400 311 429 676 624 724 715 680 530

1986 ................................. 630 407 313 435 686 632 735 729 696 523

1987.................................... 634 411 315 438 683 633 738 727 687 526

1988.................................... 631 408 320 435 678 627 736 741 686 529

1989.................................... 626 407 320 433 671 618 741 741 676 524

1990 ................................. 616 402 313 426 671 608 727 730 683 513

1991.................................... 614 400 307 420 674 599 718 731 677 550

1992.................................... 619 388 299 408 673 593 707 735 679 531

1993.................................. 630 387 294 408 675 599 711 744 676 540

1994 ................................. 628 385 296 403 672 590 722 761 673 516

1995.................................... 629 383 303 401 669 592 722 764 674 510

1996.................................... 627 381 307 399 665 592 714 760 684 491

1997 ................................. 630 383 315 402 676 602 724 760 699 492

1998 ................................. 645 394 330 418 706 619 737 766 731 500

1999 ................................. 664 413 340 439 716 626 738 788 731 488

2000 ................................. 674 422 347 448 712 642 731 782 725 542

2001.................................... 678 427 347 449 717 656 748 789 725 555

2002.................................... 681 426 342 447 724 661 748 790 755 562

2003 ................................. 679 424 341 440 725 650 753 792 775 565

2004 ................................. 680 416 329 432 728 644 760 792 772 597

2005 ................................. 672 409 328 424 718 629 754 772 766 587

2006 ................................. 671 409 324 423 718 621 748 773 765 583

WOMEN

1979.................................... 468 396 339 415 501 512 503 494 486 438

1980.................................... 465 387 336 404 493 505 496 483 474 405

1981.................................... 464 382 326 406 494 507 504 477 471 400

1982.................................. 478 384 316 403 509 516 517 503 489 422

1983.................................... 484 379 303 398 514 521 522 507 494 406

1984.................................... 489 375 299 394 522 525 538 515 498 404

1985.................................... 496 376 296 395 529 528 548 521 508 433

1986 ................................. 510 384 298 406 541 537 560 541 519 449

1987.................................. 514 384 291 410 544 536 571 549 522 442

1988.................................... 516 385 301 412 548 535 579 555 519 458

1989................................. 515 386 309 409 550 534 580 560 522 458

1990 ................................. 517 379 296 402 552 532 583 564 520 448

1991.................................... 529 384 295 405 559 535 588 574 523 460

1992.................................... 534 375 288 394 562 537 588 586 529 462

1993.................................. 540 375 282 397 570 542 598 604 542 460

1994 ................................. 536 370 284 389 566 534 602 605 535 452

1995.................................... 532 361 282 382 561 529 595 609 529 463

1996.................................... 535 363 285 382 568 531 592 615 538 427

1997 ................................. 540 366 300 383 578 535 603 619 542 436

1998 ................................. 563 376 307 394 599 557 614 636 588 432

1999 ................................. 572 391 322 415 601 569 609 646 595 447

2000 ................................. 577 403 331 428 603 577 609 660 594 459

2001.................................... 583 402 328 427 617 583 623 668 610 444

2002.................................... 593 411 330 431 637 593 639 674 642 482

2003 ................................. 605 407 328 424 640 598 647 667 658 477

2004 ................................. 610 400 312 417 639 598 648 667 655 509

2005 ................................. 604 393 314 409 631 592 641 664 659 508

2006 ................................. 600 395 305 413 627 583 645 659 658 510

See footnotes at end of table.

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years

and 

older

Total 16 to 19 

years

20 to 24 

years

Total 25 to 34 

years

35 to 44 

years

55 to 64 

years

65 years

and 

older

45 to 54 

years

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

25
Table 12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2006) dollars by sex and age, 

1979-2006 annual averages—Continued

16 to 24 years 25 years and older

MEN

1979.................................... $750 $504 $398 $542 $807 $759 $863 $868 $803 $563

1980.................................... 724 483 375 518 786 728 850 849 798 529

1981.................................... 720 463 356 503 787 720 841 840 799 564

1982.................................. 729 450 340 488 786 716 844 837 798 600

1983.................................... 727 428 322 464 781 712 849 852 799 591

1984.................................... 723 427 322 462 779 705 869 866 811 605

1985.................................... 726 430 326 461 791 703 869 873 835 656

1986 ................................. 736 432 326 463 812 705 875 887 850 629

1987.................................. 735 436 332 466 809 698 865 881 840 644

1988.................................... 736 428 336 457 798 689 847 899 832 646

1989................................. 734 426 329 455 785 681 851 893 818 618

1990 ................................. 719 421 325 445 766 672 837 883 815 602

1991.................................... 711 412 316 433 755 661 831 884 813 673

1992.................................... 705 399 307 418 753 656 818 891 814 592

1993.................................. 701 396 303 416 763 654 818 898 805 620

1994 ................................. 702 395 307 412 775 644 830 901 810 593

1995.................................... 706 398 321 414 772 643 819 898 817 579

1996.................................... 712 393 321 411 767 638 809 892 822 611

1997 ................................. 724 397 328 423 769 645 815 892 837 565

1998 ................................. 739 412 347 440 789 672 836 903 863 595

1999 ................................. 748 430 352 459 807 698 849 922 877 569

2000 ................................. 749 438 358 462 810 699 851 902 860 611

2001.................................... 763 445 363 465 819 702 858 909 865 643

2002.................................... 760 438 349 459 820 703 850 904 898 653

2003 ................................. 761 436 351 452 815 688 849 913 906 670

2004 ................................. 760 427 339 444 812 681 857 914 898 683

2005 ................................. 745 422 341 435 795 664 848 881 883 665

2006 ................................. 743 418 348 435 797 661 836 897 902 658

WOMEN'S EARNINGS

AS PERCENT OF MEN'S 

1979.................................... 62.5 78.5 85.2 76.5 62.1 67.4 58.3 56.9 60.5 77.8

1980.................................... 64.3 80.1 89.5 78.0 62.7 69.4 58.4 56.9 59.4 76.5

1981.................................... 64.5 82.6 91.8 80.7 62.7 70.4 59.9 56.8 58.9 70.9

1982.................................. 65.5 85.3 92.8 82.5 64.7 72.1 61.2 60.1 61.3 70.4

1983.................................... 66.6 88.6 94.1 85.9 65.8 73.3 61.5 59.5 61.8 68.7

1984.................................... 67.6 87.9 92.7 85.3 67.0 74.5 61.9 59.4 61.4 66.8

1985.................................... 68.2 87.5 90.8 85.5 66.9 75.1 63.1 59.7 60.9 66.0

1986 ................................. 69.3 88.9 91.5 87.7 66.7 76.2 64.0 61.0 61.0 71.4

1987.................................. 69.9 88.1 87.8 88.0 67.3 76.8 66.1 62.3 62.2 68.7

1988.................................... 70.1 90.0 89.8 90.1 68.7 77.7 68.4 61.8 62.4 70.8

1989................................. 70.1 90.7 94.0 89.8 70.2 78.4 68.1 62.7 63.9 74.2

1990 ................................. 71.9 90.1 91.0 90.2 72.1 79.2 69.7 63.8 63.7 74.5

1991.................................... 74.3 93.3 93.5 93.5 74.0 80.9 70.8 64.9 64.4 68.4

1992.................................... 75.8 94.0 93.8 94.2 74.6 82.0 71.9 65.8 64.9 78.1

1993.................................. 77.1 94.8 93.0 95.6 74.7 82.9 73.0 67.3 67.4 74.1

1994 ................................. 76.4 93.7 92.7 94.5 73.1 82.9 72.5 67.1 66.1 76.3

1995.................................... 75.4 90.8 87.9 92.2 72.7 82.4 72.7 67.8 64.8 79.9

1996.................................... 75.0 92.4 88.9 92.8 74.1 83.2 73.2 68.9 65.4 70.0

1997 ................................. 74.5 92.1 91.4 90.6 75.1 82.9 74.0 69.4 64.7 77.1

1998 ................................. 76.3 91.3 88.5 89.4 75.9 83.0 73.5 70.5 68.2 72.6

1999 ................................. 76.5 91.0 91.3 90.5 74.4 81.5 71.7 70.1 67.8 78.7

2000 ................................. 77.0 92.0 92.3 92.8 74.5 82.5 71.5 73.2 69.2 75.1

2001.................................... 76.4 90.2 90.3 91.9 75.3 83.0 72.6 73.5 70.5 69.1

2002.................................... 77.9 93.7 94.5 93.9 77.6 84.4 75.2 74.5 71.5 73.8

2003 ................................. 79.5 93.3 93.2 94.0 78.5 87.0 76.2 73.0 72.6 71.2

2004 ................................. 80.3 93.7 92.2 93.8 78.7 87.9 75.6 73.0 73.0 74.6

2005 ................................. 81.0 93.2 92.1 94.0 79.4 89.1 75.6 75.4 74.7 76.4

2006 ................................. 80.8 94.6 87.7 95.0 78.7 88.2 77.2 73.5 73.0 77.5

1 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at various

times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current Population

Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory Notes and Estimates of

Error section of the February 2007 and subsequent issues of Employment and

Earnings , a monthly BLS periodical.

 2

 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in

this table.

NOTE: The Consumer Price Index research series using current

methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert current dollars to constant dollars.

See Technical Note.

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years

and 

older

Total 16 to 19 

years

20 to 24 

years

Total 25 to 34 

years

35 to 44 

years

55 to 64 

years

45 to 54 

years

65 years

and 

older

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

26
Table 13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2006)

dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2006 annual averages 

# #

BOTH SEXES

1979............................................. $620 $636 $511 - $498

1980............................................. 606 622 492 - 484

1981............................................. 601 616 498 - 472

1982............................................. 604 619 491 - 480

1983............................................. 601 614 501 - 479

1984............................................. 602 621 497 - 478

1985............................................. 614 635 495 - 482

1986 ............................................. 630 650 511 - 486

1987............................................. 634 651 510 - 483

1988............................................. 631 646 514 - 475

1989............................................. 626 642 501 - 468

1990 ............................................. 616 633 492 - 454

1991............................................. 614 638 502 - 451

1992............................................. 619 644 502 - 452

1993............................................. 630 653 507 - 454

1994 ............................................. 628 650 499 - 436

1995............................................. 629 649 502 - 431

1996............................................. 627 646 495 - 433

1997 ............................................. 630 649 501 - 440

1998 ............................................. 645 673 525 - 457

1999 ............................................. 664 693 538 - 465

2000 ............................................. 674 690 555 $719 467

2001............................................. 678 694 558 727 474

2002............................................. 681 698 557 737 475

2003 ............................................. 679 697 563 759 482

2004 ............................................. 680 701 560 755 487

2005 ............................................. 672 693 537 777 486

2006 ............................................. 671 690 554 784 486

WOMEN

1979............................................. 468 473 435 - 404

1980............................................. 465 470 429 - 399

1981............................................. 464 468 436 - 403

1982............................................. 478 484 434 - 407

1983............................................. 484 488 445 - 412

1984............................................. 489 495 445 - 412

1985............................................. 496 502 451 - 410

1986 ............................................. 510 516 463 - 423

1987............................................. 514 521 467 - 426

1988............................................. 516 521 472 - 426

1989............................................. 515 524 473 - 423

1990 ............................................. 517 528 461 - 416

1991............................................. 529 538 466 - 422

1992............................................. 534 544 471 - 425

1993............................................. 540 551 478 - 429

1994 ............................................. 536 548 465 - 409

1995............................................. 532 544 465 - 400

1996............................................. 535 547 463 - 405

1997 ............................................. 540 556 469 - 398

1998 ............................................. 563 578 493 - 416

1999 ............................................. 572 585 494 - 421

2000 ............................................. 577 587 502 639 429

2001............................................. 583 593 517 640 442

2002............................................. 593 613 530 634 445

2003 ............................................. 605 621 537 655 449

2004 ............................................. 610 622 539 653 446

2005 ............................................. 604 615 514 686 442

2006 ............................................. 600 609 519 699 440

See footnotes at end of table.

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years 

and older

White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or

Latino

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

27
Table 13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2006)

dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2006 annual averages—Continued 

# #

MEN

1979............................................. $750 $767 $585 - $564

1980............................................. 724 740 566 - 542

1981............................................. 720 741 569 - 533

1982............................................. 729 751 557 - 537

1983............................................. 727 743 564 - 526

1984............................................. 723 739 559 - 529

1985............................................. 726 746 544 - 528

1986 ............................................. 736 760 559 - 525

1987............................................. 735 763 554 - 519

1988............................................. 736 761 569 - 504

1989............................................. 734 756 546 - 494

1990 ............................................. 719 738 539 - 475

1991............................................. 711 730 541 - 466

1992............................................. 705 723 535 - 477

1993............................................. 701 720 538 - 475

1994 ............................................. 702 735 538 - 461

1995............................................. 706 743 539 - 459

1996............................................. 712 742 526 - 455

1997 ............................................. 724 745 541 - 465

1998 ............................................. 739 759 577 - 481

1999 ............................................. 748 772 590 - 491

2000 ............................................. 749 774 596 $801 487

2001............................................. 763 784 602 833 501

2002............................................. 760 786 586 846 505

2003 ............................................. 761 783 607 846 508

2004 ............................................. 760 780 606 855 512

2005 ............................................. 745 767 577 852 504

2006 ............................................. 743 761 591 882 505

WOMEN'S EARNINGS

AS PERCENT OF MEN'S 

1979............................................. 62.5 61.7 74.3 - 71.7

1980............................................. 64.3 63.5 75.8 - 73.6

1981............................................. 64.5 63.1 76.7 - 75.6

1982............................................. 65.5 64.4 78.0 - 75.7

1983............................................. 66.6 65.7 78.9 - 78.3

1984............................................. 67.6 67.0 79.6 - 77.8

1985............................................. 68.2 67.4 82.8 - 77.7

1986 ............................................. 69.3 67.9 82.7 - 80.7

1987............................................. 69.9 68.2 84.4 - 82.1

1988............................................. 70.1 68.5 83.0 - 84.6

1989............................................. 70.1 69.2 86.5 - 85.6

1990 ............................................. 71.9 71.5 85.5 - 87.6

1991............................................. 74.3 73.7 86.1 - 90.5

1992............................................. 75.8 75.2 88.1 - 89.1

1993............................................. 77.1 76.5 88.8 - 90.4

1994 ............................................. 76.4 74.5 86.5 - 88.8

1995............................................. 75.4 73.2 86.3 - 87.3

1996............................................. 75.0 73.8 88.1 - 89.0

1997 ............................................. 74.5 74.6 86.8 - 85.6

1998 ............................................. 76.3 76.1 85.4 - 86.5

1999 ............................................. 76.5 75.7 83.7 - 85.7

2000 ............................................. 77.0 75.8 84.2 79.9 88.0

2001............................................. 76.4 75.6 85.8 76.9 88.2

2002............................................. 77.9 78.0 90.4 74.9 88.1

2003 ............................................. 79.5 79.4 88.4 77.5 88.3

2004 ............................................. 80.3 79.8 88.9 76.4 87.1

2005 ............................................. 81.0 80.2 89.2 80.6 87.7

2006 ............................................. 80.8 80.1 87.9 79.2 87.1

See footnotes at end of table.

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years 

and older

White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or

Latino

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

1

1

28
1 The comparability of historical labor force data

has been affected at various times by methodological

and conceptual changes in the Current Population

Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the

Explanatory Notes and Estimates of Error section of

the February 2007 and subsequent issues of

Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS periodical.

2 These figures are computed using unrounded

medians and may differ slightly from percents

computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table.

NOTE: As of 2003, estimates for the above race

groups (white, black or African American, and Asian)

include persons who selected this race group only;

persons who selected more than one race group are

not included. Prior to 2003, persons who reported 

more than one race were included in the group they

identified as the main race. Estimates for race groups

do not sum to totals because data are not presented

for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as

Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore,

are classified by ethnicity as well as by race. Data for

2000-2002 are for the category Asians and Pacific

Islanders. As of 2003, Asians constitute a separate

category. For more information, see the Explanatory

Notes and Estimates of Error section of Employment 

and Earnings . Data for Asians were not tabulated

prior to 2000. Dash indicates data not available. The

Consumer Price Index research series using current

methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert current dollars

to constant dollars. See Technical Note. 

29
Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and older in constant (2006) 

dollars by sex and educational attainment, 1979-2006 annual averages 

# #

BOTH SEXES

1979................................................................................. $682 $540 $639 $725 $885

1980................................................................................. 663 514 617 703 871

1981................................................................................. 654 508 606 687 862

1982................................................................................. 654 496 604 702 875

1983................................................................................. 659 491 598 696 885

1984................................................................................. 668 486 595 705 896

1985................................................................................. 676 482 595 712 903

1986 ..................................................................................... 686 488 603 718 920

1987................................................................................. 683 481 604 713 955

1988................................................................................. 678 472 602 704 958

1989................................................................................. 671 467 589 710 957

1990 .............................................................................. 671 453 577 711 953

1991................................................................................. 674 443 573 706 960

1992................................................................................. 673 437 567 681 979

1993................................................................................. 675 432 570 679 982

1994 .............................................................................. 672 413 566 670 986

1995................................................................................. 669 406 566 666 980

1996................................................................................. 665 405 567 662 970

1997 .............................................................................. 676 401 576 670 975

1998 .............................................................................. 706 416 591 689 1,013

1999 .............................................................................. 716 419 593 701 1,039

2000 .............................................................................. 712 423 591 697 1,042

2001................................................................................. 717 435 592 702 1,048

2002................................................................................. 724 435 599 704 1,053

2003 .............................................................................. 725 434 606 700 1,055

2004 .............................................................................. 728 427 612 704 1,052

2005 .............................................................................. 718 422 601 691 1,046

2006 .............................................................................. 718 419 595 692 1,039

WOMEN

1979................................................................................. 501 390 475 542 678

1980................................................................................. 493 379 464 535 671

1981................................................................................. 494 370 461 540 674

1982................................................................................. 509 368 472 549 693

1983................................................................................. 514 374 473 552 708

1984................................................................................. 522 368 477 562 720

1985................................................................................. 529 361 478 566 740

1986 ..................................................................................... 541 364 486 578 765

1987................................................................................. 544 363 488 589 789

1988................................................................................. 548 361 488 589 794

1989................................................................................. 550 363 478 595 796

1990 .............................................................................. 552 359 470 590 800

1991................................................................................. 559 360 474 590 811

1992................................................................................. 562 360 473 573 835

1993................................................................................. 570 361 476 580 839

1994 .............................................................................. 566 345 472 568 852

1995................................................................................. 561 344 467 560 845

1996................................................................................. 568 343 467 565 840

1997 .............................................................................. 578 344 474 574 841

1998 .............................................................................. 599 349 489 588 873

1999 .............................................................................. 601 350 489 590 895

2000 .............................................................................. 603 356 492 591 884

2001................................................................................. 617 359 504 592 894

2002................................................................................. 637 364 513 609 906

2003 .............................................................................. 640 360 520 614 912

2004 .............................................................................. 639 356 520 615 916

2005 .............................................................................. 631 352 508 606 911

2006 .............................................................................. 627 358 500 602 905

See footnotes at end of table.

Year and sex

Total, 

25 years 

and older

Less than a 

high school 

diploma

High

school, 

no college

Some college

or associate 

degree

Bachelor's 

degree and 

higher 1 2

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

30
Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and older in constant (2006) 

dollars by sex and educational attainment, 1979-2006 annual averages—Continued

# #

MEN

1979................................................................................. $807 $648 $793 $847 $1,018

1980................................................................................. 786 619 758 829 990

1981................................................................................. 787 606 754 824 1,007

1982................................................................................. 786 587 748 823 1,006

1983................................................................................. 781 578 744 811 995

1984................................................................................. 779 568 735 822 1,036

1985................................................................................. 791 561 728 842 1,054

1986 ..................................................................................... 812 563 729 852 1,084

1987................................................................................. 809 549 717 842 1,107

1988................................................................................. 798 544 715 823 1,112

1989................................................................................. 785 544 707 811 1,107

1990 .............................................................................. 766 522 686 811 1,108

1991................................................................................. 755 504 678 812 1,103

1992................................................................................. 753 494 673 780 1,113

1993................................................................................. 763 489 669 786 1,107

1994 .............................................................................. 775 460 667 789 1,111

1995................................................................................. 772 455 666 782 1,109

1996................................................................................. 767 456 660 773 1,117

1997 .............................................................................. 769 457 669 778 1,121

1998 .............................................................................. 789 473 690 794 1,159

1999 .............................................................................. 807 477 701 804 1,181

2000 .............................................................................. 810 475 691 808 1,193

2001................................................................................. 819 476 693 823 1,214

2002................................................................................. 820 472 691 819 1,221

2003 .............................................................................. 815 470 688 810 1,239

2004 .............................................................................. 812 475 688 812 1,218

2005 .............................................................................. 795 469 673 790 1,204

2006 .............................................................................. 797 469 678 796 1,205

WOMEN'S EARNINGS

AS PERCENT OF MEN'S 

1979................................................................................. 62.1 60.2 60.0 64.0 66.6

1980................................................................................. 62.7 61.3 61.3 64.5 67.8

1981................................................................................. 62.7 61.1 61.0 65.6 66.9

1982................................................................................. 64.7 62.8 63.1 66.7 68.9

1983................................................................................. 65.8 64.6 63.5 68.1 71.1

1984................................................................................. 67.0 64.8 64.9 68.4 69.5

1985................................................................................. 66.9 64.4 65.7 67.2 70.2

1986 ..................................................................................... 66.7 64.7 66.6 67.9 70.6

1987................................................................................. 67.3 66.1 68.0 69.9 71.3

1988................................................................................. 68.7 66.4 68.3 71.5 71.4

1989................................................................................. 70.2 66.8 67.6 73.3 71.9

1990 .............................................................................. 72.1 68.8 68.6 72.8 72.2

1991................................................................................. 74.0 71.5 69.9 72.6 73.5

1992................................................................................. 74.6 72.8 70.3 73.4 75.0

1993................................................................................. 74.7 73.8 71.3 73.7 75.8

1994 .............................................................................. 73.1 74.9 70.8 72.0 76.7

1995................................................................................. 72.7 75.4 70.2 71.6 76.2

1996................................................................................. 74.1 75.2 70.7 73.1 75.2

1997 .............................................................................. 75.1 75.2 70.8 73.8 75.0

1998 .............................................................................. 75.9 73.7 70.9 74.0 75.3

1999 .............................................................................. 74.4 73.5 69.8 73.5 75.7

2000 .............................................................................. 74.5 74.9 71.2 73.1 74.1

2001................................................................................. 75.3 75.4 72.7 71.9 73.7

2002................................................................................. 77.6 77.1 74.3 74.3 74.2

2003 .............................................................................. 78.5 76.7 75.6 75.7 73.6

2004 .............................................................................. 78.7 74.9 75.6 75.8 75.2

2005 .............................................................................. 79.4 75.1 75.6 76.6 75.7

2006 .............................................................................. 78.7 76.4 73.8 75.6 75.1

 1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent. 

2 Includes persons with a bachelor's, master's, professional, or doctoral

degree.

3 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at

various times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current

Population Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory Notes

and Estimates of Error section of the February 2007 and subsequent

 

issues of Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS periodical. 

4 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may

differ slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians

displayed in this table.

NOTE: The Consumer Price Index research series using current

methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert current dollars to constant

dollars. See Technical Note.

Year and sex

Total, 

25 years 

and older

Less than a 

high school 

diploma

High

 school, 

no college 

Some college

or associate 

degree

Bachelor's 

degree and 

higher

4

1 2

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

31
Table 15. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2006) dollars by sex and age, 

1979-2006 annual averages

16 to 24 years 25 years and older

BOTH SEXES

1979.................................... $11.44 $8.99 $8.01 $10.37 $13.17 $13.40 $13.64 $13.29 $12.80 $8.33

1980.................................... 11.19 8.62 7.49 9.95 12.87 13.12 13.35 13.11 12.50 8.27

1981.................................... 10.93 8.43 7.60 9.78 12.71 12.93 13.16 12.76 12.33 8.32

1982.................................. 10.82 8.12 7.23 9.35 12.58 12.71 13.25 12.86 12.24 8.26

1983.................................... 10.76 7.85 6.95 9.02 12.58 12.49 13.28 12.93 12.32 8.46

1984.................................... 10.78 7.73 6.75 8.91 12.64 12.50 13.25 13.08 12.23 8.56

1985.................................... 10.78 7.62 6.58 8.84 12.61 12.37 13.40 13.19 12.35 8.47

1986 ................................. 10.90 7.75 6.52 8.90 12.70 12.32 13.68 13.59 12.59 8.73

1987.................................. 10.98 7.79 6.47 8.85 12.66 12.21 13.47 13.35 12.59 8.63

1988.................................... 11.02 7.85 6.60 8.82 12.69 12.18 13.39 13.37 12.26 8.58

1989................................. 11.00 7.78 6.64 8.89 12.49 12.00 13.46 13.24 12.29 8.52

1990 ................................. 10.83 7.73 6.73 8.85 12.22 11.83 13.20 13.16 12.00 8.62

1991.................................... 10.84 7.61 6.78 8.68 12.26 11.62 13.24 13.16 11.83 8.58

1992.................................... 10.87 7.57 6.66 8.50 12.30 11.51 13.21 13.40 11.95 8.65

1993.................................. 10.82 7.58 6.60 8.46 12.30 11.38 13.22 13.56 12.24 8.79

1994 ................................. 10.78 7.57 6.61 8.38 12.27 11.28 13.35 13.48 12.14 8.60

1995.................................... 10.74 7.63 6.62 8.44 12.29 11.44 13.17 13.31 12.08 8.74

1996.................................... 10.75 7.60 6.62 8.57 12.31 11.29 12.99 13.10 12.01 8.67

1997 ................................. 10.97 7.71 6.90 8.66 12.36 11.33 12.98 13.28 12.19 8.64

1998 ................................. 11.25 8.14 7.27 8.95 12.52 11.92 13.42 13.54 12.45 9.15

1999 ................................. 11.53 8.32 7.36 9.37 12.68 12.07 13.34 13.71 12.56 9.32

2000 ................................. 11.59 8.46 7.50 9.44 12.72 11.90 13.27 13.82 12.65 9.41

2001.................................... 11.59 8.75 7.69 9.53 12.97 12.13 13.62 13.85 12.94 9.71

2002.................................... 11.72 8.74 7.74 9.49 13.25 12.30 13.64 13.95 13.27 10.15

2003 ................................. 11.88 8.66 7.59 9.49 13.20 12.32 13.64 14.21 13.35 10.07

2004 ................................. 11.73 8.51 7.46 9.36 13.03 12.12 13.74 14.10 13.41 10.26

2005 ................................. 11.55 8.33 7.27 9.20 12.88 12.13 13.53 13.92 13.36 10.25

2006 ................................. 11.76 8.24 7.23 9.16 12.94 11.95 13.49 14.03 13.33 10.15

WOMEN

1979.................................... 9.32 8.21 7.80 9.06 10.04 10.41 10.23 9.90 9.67 8.05

1980.................................... 9.18 8.01 7.29 8.80 9.84 10.31 9.94 9.81 9.46 7.85

1981.................................... 9.08 7.87 7.48 8.69 9.96 10.38 10.13 9.75 9.40 7.89

1982.................................. 9.23 7.58 7.12 8.40 10.07 10.41 10.18 9.93 9.62 7.88

1983.................................... 9.24 7.35 6.84 8.19 10.06 10.46 10.21 9.98 9.75 8.01

1984.................................... 9.18 7.26 6.64 8.06 10.14 10.36 10.36 10.19 9.75 8.08

1985.................................... 9.19 7.18 6.46 8.16 10.26 10.35 10.57 10.30 9.76 7.93

1986 ................................. 9.37 7.22 6.42 8.29 10.45 10.45 10.77 10.53 10.11 8.32

1987.................................. 9.50 7.17 6.30 8.31 10.46 10.43 10.78 10.65 10.23 8.24

1988.................................... 9.58 7.35 6.41 8.29 10.55 10.43 11.08 10.79 9.97 8.39

1989................................. 9.60 7.38 6.45 8.22 10.66 10.51 11.16 10.86 10.02 8.08

1990 ................................. 9.64 7.41 6.52 8.34 10.58 10.49 11.03 10.71 10.07 8.16

1991.................................... 9.75 7.35 6.71 8.25 10.61 10.39 11.17 10.99 10.05 8.32

1992.................................... 9.80 7.28 6.60 8.13 10.78 10.49 11.25 11.18 10.14 8.41

1993.................................. 9.79 7.25 6.51 8.20 10.82 10.47 11.22 11.25 10.40 8.51

1994 ................................. 9.76 7.17 6.51 8.05 10.83 10.48 11.36 11.38 10.52 8.40

1995.................................... 9.80 7.21 6.49 8.01 10.74 10.41 11.34 11.46 10.43 8.47

1996.................................... 9.90 7.28 6.53 8.02 10.80 10.32 11.38 11.44 10.33 8.26

1997 ................................. 9.95 7.46 6.79 8.21 10.97 10.28 11.46 11.61 10.41 8.56

1998 ................................. 10.17 7.71 7.14 8.57 11.29 10.87 11.94 12.08 10.93 8.91

1999 ................................. 10.46 7.99 7.24 8.74 11.53 11.02 11.90 12.05 11.29 9.08

2000 ................................. 10.60 8.19 7.29 9.12 11.57 11.33 11.73 11.90 11.51 9.20

2001.................................... 10.96 8.24 7.52 9.10 11.61 11.31 11.87 12.35 11.81 9.26

2002.................................... 11.08 8.34 7.61 9.09 11.99 11.33 12.29 12.52 12.11 9.77

2003 ................................. 11.04 8.31 7.50 8.97 12.06 11.52 12.23 12.91 12.10 9.69

2004 ................................. 10.84 8.22 7.31 8.87 11.97 11.33 12.21 12.74 12.34 9.76

2005 ................................. 10.64 8.05 7.14 8.77 11.96 11.21 12.22 12.52 12.24 10.13

2006 ................................. 10.65 7.99 7.11 8.82 11.87 11.07 12.05 12.26 12.12 9.97

See footnotes at end of table.

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years

and 

older

Total 16 to 19 

years

20 to 24 

years

Total 25 to 34 

years

35 to 44 

years

55 to 64 

years

45 to 54 

years

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

65 years

and 

older

1

1

32
Table 15. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2006) dollars by sex and age, 

1979-2006 annual averages—Continued

16 to 24 years 25 years and older

MEN

1979.................................... $14.55 $10.06 $8.22 $11.96 $17.23 $16.42 $18.33 $18.28 $16.96 $9.19

1980.................................... 14.13 9.52 7.83 11.41 16.73 16.05 18.10 18.04 16.78 8.80

1981.................................... 13.93 9.16 7.74 10.85 16.51 15.56 17.60 18.02 16.72 8.95

1982.................................. 13.73 8.77 7.34 10.27 16.18 15.35 17.79 17.79 16.30 8.95

1983.................................... 13.30 8.43 7.06 9.70 15.97 14.88 17.71 17.60 16.80 9.14

1984.................................... 13.16 8.45 6.88 9.55 15.89 14.56 17.56 17.90 16.37 9.07

1985.................................... 13.11 8.38 6.72 9.37 15.82 14.29 17.52 17.83 16.17 8.92

1986 ................................. 13.33 8.42 6.72 9.54 15.84 14.11 17.55 17.82 16.75 9.11

1987.................................. 13.19 8.33 6.72 9.64 15.55 14.02 17.13 17.37 16.48 9.03

1988.................................... 12.97 8.25 6.79 9.50 15.36 13.78 16.75 17.52 15.96 9.06

1989................................. 12.73 8.13 6.90 9.47 15.26 13.46 16.65 17.10 15.72 9.27

1990 ................................. 12.37 8.14 6.95 9.25 14.73 13.22 16.06 16.65 15.22 9.11

1991.................................... 12.41 8.06 6.86 9.01 14.41 12.92 15.86 16.91 14.56 8.98

1992.................................... 12.21 7.96 6.76 8.79 14.16 12.70 15.39 16.92 14.62 9.09

1993.................................. 12.19 7.91 6.70 8.72 14.00 12.51 15.35 16.70 15.08 9.23

1994 ................................. 12.11 7.91 6.71 8.84 13.84 12.25 15.47 16.28 14.87 8.93

1995.................................... 12.12 7.94 6.76 8.96 14.09 12.43 15.61 16.18 14.59 9.00

1996.................................... 12.19 7.91 6.73 8.95 13.80 12.42 15.24 15.87 14.27 9.01

1997 ................................. 12.32 8.08 7.04 8.99 13.91 12.43 15.12 16.03 14.77 8.72

1998 ................................. 12.43 8.54 7.39 9.61 14.48 12.63 15.42 16.11 15.10 9.57

1999 ................................. 12.48 8.62 7.49 9.73 14.53 13.12 15.47 16.56 14.78 9.52

2000 ................................. 12.64 8.92 7.77 9.82 14.32 12.83 15.37 16.26 14.98 9.72

2001.................................... 12.88 9.11 7.85 10.15 14.65 13.17 15.84 16.21 14.74 10.24

2002.................................... 13.04 9.02 7.86 9.94 14.61 13.31 15.63 16.13 14.98 10.95

2003 ................................. 13.02 8.92 7.69 9.85 14.51 13.15 15.48 16.35 15.43 10.72

2004 ................................. 12.81 8.75 7.63 9.66 14.65 12.82 15.57 16.11 15.50 10.56

2005 ................................. 12.55 8.69 7.44 9.49 14.36 12.56 15.35 15.62 15.26 10.36

2006 ................................. 12.68 8.79 7.43 9.75 14.27 12.63 15.06 16.04 15.04 10.72

WOMEN'S EARNINGS

AS PERCENT OF MEN'S 

1979.................................... 64.0 81.7 94.9 75.8 58.3 63.4 55.8 54.1 57.0 87.7

1980.................................... 64.9 84.1 93.1 77.2 58.8 64.2 54.9 54.4 56.4 89.3

1981.................................... 65.2 86.0 96.6 80.2 60.3 66.7 57.6 54.1 56.2 88.1

1982.................................. 67.3 86.5 97.1 81.8 62.2 67.8 57.2 55.8 59.0 88.1

1983.................................... 69.5 87.1 96.9 84.4 63.0 70.3 57.6 56.7 58.0 87.6

1984.................................... 69.8 86.0 96.6 84.5 63.8 71.1 59.0 56.9 59.5 89.1

1985.................................... 70.1 85.7 96.1 87.2 64.8 72.4 60.3 57.8 60.4 88.9

1986 ................................. 70.3 85.8 95.5 86.9 66.0 74.1 61.4 59.1 60.3 91.3

1987.................................. 72.0 86.0 93.7 86.2 67.3 74.4 62.9 61.4 62.1 91.2

1988.................................... 73.9 89.1 94.4 87.3 68.7 75.7 66.2 61.6 62.5 92.6

1989................................. 75.5 90.8 93.4 86.9 69.9 78.1 67.0 63.5 63.8 87.2

1990 ................................. 77.9 91.0 93.8 90.2 71.9 79.4 68.7 64.3 66.2 89.6

1991.................................... 78.6 91.2 97.8 91.6 73.6 80.4 70.4 65.0 69.0 92.6

1992.................................... 80.2 91.4 97.7 92.5 76.1 82.6 73.1 66.0 69.4 92.5

1993.................................. 80.4 91.6 97.2 94.1 77.3 83.7 73.1 67.3 69.0 92.2

1994 ................................. 80.6 90.6 97.0 91.1 78.2 85.5 73.4 69.9 70.7 94.0

1995.................................... 80.8 90.9 96.0 89.4 76.2 83.7 72.6 70.9 71.4 94.1

1996.................................... 81.2 92.0 96.9 89.5 78.3 83.1 74.7 72.1 72.4 91.7

1997 ................................. 80.8 92.3 96.6 91.3 78.9 82.7 75.8 72.4 70.5 98.1

1998 ................................. 81.8 90.3 96.7 89.1 77.9 86.1 77.4 75.0 72.4 93.1

1999 ................................. 83.8 92.7 96.7 89.8 79.4 84.0 76.9 72.8 76.4 95.4

2000 ................................. 83.9 91.8 93.8 92.9 80.8 88.3 76.3 73.2 76.8 94.6

2001.................................... 85.1 90.5 95.8 89.6 79.2 85.9 75.0 76.2 80.2 90.4

2002.................................... 85.0 92.5 96.8 91.4 82.1 85.1 78.6 77.6 80.8 89.2

2003 ................................. 84.8 93.2 97.6 91.1 83.1 87.6 79.0 79.0 78.4 90.4

2004 ................................. 84.6 93.9 95.9 91.7 81.7 88.3 78.4 79.1 79.6 92.5

2005 ................................. 84.8 92.6 96.0 92.3 83.3 89.2 79.6 80.1 80.2 97.7

2006 ................................. 84.0 90.9 95.8 90.5 83.1 87.6 80.0 76.4 80.6 92.9

1 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at various

times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current Population

Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory Notes and Estimates of

Error section of the February 2007 and subsequent issues of Employment and

Earnings , a monthly BLS periodical.

 2

 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in

this table.

NOTE: The Consumer Price Index research series using current

methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert current dollars to constant dollars.

See Technical Note.

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years

and 

older

Total 16 to 19 

years

20 to 24 

years

Total 25 to 34 

years

35 to 44 

years

55 to 64 

years

45 to 54 

years

2

65 years

and 

older

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

33
Table 16. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant 

(2006) dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2006 annual averages 

# #

BOTH SEXES

1979............................................. $11.44 $11.61 $10.58 - $10.50

1980............................................. 11.19 11.31 10.31 - 10.30

1981............................................. 10.93 11.00 10.41 - 10.21

1982............................................. 10.82 10.96 10.14 - 10.04

1983............................................. 10.76 10.89 9.89 - 9.79

1984............................................. 10.78 10.90 9.91 - 9.75

1985............................................. 10.78 10.91 9.84 - 9.78

1986 ............................................. 10.90 11.03 10.20 - 9.93

1987............................................. 10.98 11.14 10.17 - 9.89

1988............................................. 11.02 11.16 10.08 - 9.76

1989............................................. 11.00 11.13 10.10 - 9.55

1990 ............................................. 10.83 10.98 10.19 - 9.40

1991............................................. 10.84 10.99 10.11 - 9.34

1992............................................. 10.87 11.01 9.94 - 9.36

1993............................................. 10.82 10.96 9.87 - 9.39

1994 ............................................. 10.78 10.91 9.82 - 9.32

1995............................................. 10.74 10.93 10.07 - 9.21

1996............................................. 10.75 10.97 9.93 - 9.18

1997 ............................................. 10.97 11.13 10.04 - 9.27

1998 ............................................. 11.25 11.39 10.37 - 9.79

1999 ............................................. 11.53 11.78 10.71 - 9.78

2000 ............................................. 11.59 11.65 10.93 $11.78 9.99

2001............................................. 11.59 11.67 11.13 12.23 10.31

2002............................................. 11.72 12.00 11.12 11.60 10.33

2003 ............................................. 11.88 12.01 11.12 12.18 10.69

2004 ............................................. 11.73 11.86 10.86 11.84 10.46

2005 ............................................. 11.55 11.85 10.50 12.39 10.27

2006 ............................................. 11.76 11.86 10.66 12.53 10.12

WOMEN

1979............................................. 9.32 9.33 9.14 - 8.86

1980............................................. 9.18 9.19 9.01 - 8.77

1981............................................. 9.08 9.10 8.90 - 8.71

1982............................................. 9.23 9.25 9.01 - 8.69

1983............................................. 9.24 9.25 9.08 - 8.51

1984............................................. 9.18 9.20 9.01 - 8.60

1985............................................. 9.19 9.20 9.02 - 8.63

1986 ............................................. 9.37 9.40 9.09 - 8.79

1987............................................. 9.50 9.54 9.17 - 8.67

1988............................................. 9.58 9.61 9.20 - 8.66

1989............................................. 9.60 9.64 9.25 - 8.70

1990 ............................................. 9.64 9.67 9.32 - 8.69

1991............................................. 9.75 9.78 9.47 - 8.65

1992............................................. 9.80 9.85 9.35 - 8.70

1993............................................. 9.79 9.84 9.45 - 8.69

1994 ............................................. 9.76 9.88 9.33 - 8.62

1995............................................. 9.80 9.91 9.35 - 8.68

1996............................................. 9.90 9.98 9.21 - 8.67

1997 ............................................. 9.95 10.02 9.51 - 8.54

1998 ............................................. 10.17 10.30 9.76 - 8.92

1999 ............................................. 10.46 10.57 9.85 - 9.04

2000 ............................................. 10.60 10.63 10.36 11.43 9.23

2001............................................. 10.96 11.07 10.42 11.45 9.42

2002............................................. 11.08 11.13 10.58 11.31 9.56

2003 ............................................. 11.04 11.08 10.85 11.70 9.72

2004 ............................................. 10.84 10.89 10.59 11.27 9.63

2005 ............................................. 10.64 10.84 10.24 12.02 9.47

2006 ............................................. 10.65 10.77 10.11 11.95 9.50

See footnotes at end of table.

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years 

and older

White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or

Latino

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

34
Table 16. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in 

constant (2006) dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2006 

annual averages—Continued

# #

MEN

1979............................................. $14.55 $14.92 $12.59 - $12.34

1980............................................. 14.13 14.43 12.01 - 11.66

1981............................................. 13.93 14.24 12.32 - 11.39

1982............................................. 13.73 13.99 11.97 - 11.48

1983............................................. 13.30 13.59 11.45 - 11.17

1984............................................. 13.16 13.41 11.38 - 11.15

1985............................................. 13.11 13.56 10.99 - 10.86

1986 ............................................. 13.33 13.67 11.54 - 10.88

1987............................................. 13.19 13.46 11.44 - 10.81

1988............................................. 12.97 13.20 11.37 - 10.66

1989............................................. 12.73 13.02 11.12 - 10.47

1990 ............................................. 12.37 12.79 11.03 - 10.10

1991............................................. 12.41 12.74 10.94 - 9.95

1992............................................. 12.21 12.52 10.73 - 9.84

1993............................................. 12.19 12.47 10.55 - 9.80

1994 ............................................. 12.11 12.39 10.66 - 9.65

1995............................................. 12.12 12.64 10.72 - 9.54

1996............................................. 12.19 12.53 10.47 - 9.75

1997 ............................................. 12.32 12.48 10.87 - 9.90

1998 ............................................. 12.43 12.57 11.23 - 10.19

1999 ............................................. 12.48 12.85 11.83 - 10.43

2000 ............................................. 12.64 12.81 11.67 $12.62 10.57

2001............................................. 12.88 13.20 11.58 13.47 11.00

2002............................................. 13.04 13.29 11.47 12.34 11.11

2003 ............................................. 13.02 13.18 11.84 13.03 10.99

2004 ............................................. 12.81 12.96 11.60 12.69 10.69

2005 ............................................. 12.55 12.87 11.25 13.15 10.52

2006 ............................................. 12.68 12.88 11.42 13.18 10.84

WOMEN'S EARNINGS

AS PERCENT OF MEN'S 

1979............................................. 64.0 62.6 72.6 - 71.8

1980............................................. 64.9 63.6 75.0 - 75.2

1981............................................. 65.2 63.9 72.2 - 76.4

1982............................................. 67.3 66.1 75.3 - 75.7

1983............................................. 69.5 68.1 79.3 - 76.1

1984............................................. 69.8 68.6 79.2 - 77.1

1985............................................. 70.1 67.8 82.0 - 79.5

1986 ............................................. 70.3 68.8 78.8 - 80.8

1987............................................. 72.0 70.8 80.2 - 80.3

1988............................................. 73.9 72.8 80.9 - 81.2

1989............................................. 75.5 74.1 83.2 - 83.1

1990 ............................................. 77.9 75.6 84.5 - 86.1

1991............................................. 78.6 76.7 86.6 - 86.9

1992............................................. 80.2 78.7 87.2 - 88.4

1993............................................. 80.4 78.9 89.6 - 88.7

1994 ............................................. 80.6 79.7 87.5 - 89.3

1995............................................. 80.8 78.4 87.3 - 90.9

1996............................................. 81.2 79.6 88.0 - 88.9

1997 ............................................. 80.8 80.3 87.5 - 86.3

1998 ............................................. 81.8 81.9 86.9 - 87.5

1999 ............................................. 83.8 82.3 83.2 - 86.7

2000 ............................................. 83.9 83.0 88.7 90.6 87.4

2001............................................. 85.1 83.9 89.9 85.0 85.7

2002............................................. 85.0 83.8 92.3 91.7 86.1

2003 ............................................. 84.8 84.1 91.6 89.8 88.5

2004 ............................................. 84.6 84.0 91.3 88.8 90.2

2005 ............................................. 84.8 84.2 91.1 91.3 90.0

2006 ............................................. 84.0 83.6 88.5 90.7 87.6

See footnotes at end of table.

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years 

and older

White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or

Latino

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

35
1 The comparability of historical labor force data has

been affected at various times by methodological and

conceptual changes in the Current Population Survey

(CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory Notes

and Estimates of Error section of the February 2007 and

subsequent issues of Employment and Earnings , a

monthly BLS periodical.

2 These figures are computed using unrounded

medians and may differ slightly from percents computed

using the rounded medians displayed in this table.

NOTE: As of 2003, estimates for the above race

groups (white, black or African American, and Asian)

include persons who selected this race group only;

persons who selected more than one race group are not

included. Prior to 2003, persons who reported more than 

one race were included in the group they identified as the

main race. Estimates for race groups do not sum to

totals because data are not presented for all races.

Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or

Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified

by ethnicity as well as by race. Data for 2000-2002 are

for the category Asians and Pacific Islanders. As of

2003, Asians constitute a separate category. For more

information, see the Explanatory Notes and Estimates of

Error section of Employment and Earnings . Data for

Asians were not tabulated prior to 2000. Dash indicates

data not available. The Consumer Price Index research

series using current methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to

convert current dollars to constant dollars. See

Technical Note. 

36
Table 17. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by 

sex, 1979-2006 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Workers paid hourly rates

Total at or below prevailing 

Federal minimum wage

BOTH SEXES

1979...................................................... 87,529 51,721 59.1 2,916 3,997 6,912 13.4

1980...................................................... 87,644 51,335 58.6 3,087 4,686 7,773 15.1

1981...................................................... 88,516 51,869 58.6 3,513 4,311 7,824 15.1

1982...................................................... 87,368 50,846 58.2 2,348 4,148 6,496 12.8

1983...................................................... 88,290 51,820 58.7 2,077 4,261 6,338 12.2

1984...................................................... 92,194 54,143 58.7 1,838 4,125 5,963 11.0

1985...................................................... 94,521 55,762 59.0 1,639 3,899 5,538 9.9

1986 ...................................................... 96,903 57,529 59.4 1,599 3,461 5,060 8.8

1987...................................................... 99,303 59,552 60.0 1,468 3,229 4,698 7.9

1988...................................................... 101,407 60,878 60.0 1,319 2,608 3,927 6.5

1989...................................................... 103,480 62,389 60.3 1,372 1,790 3,162 5.1

1990 ...................................................... 104,876 63,172 60.2 2,132 1,096 3,228 5.1

1991...................................................... 103,723 62,627 60.4 2,377 2,906 5,283 8.4

1992...................................................... 104,668 63,610 60.8 1,939 2,982 4,921 7.7

1993...................................................... 106,101 64,274 60.6 1,707 2,625 4,332 6.7

1994 ...................................................... 107,989 66,549 61.6 1,995 2,132 4,128 6.2

1995...................................................... 110,038 68,354 62.1 1,699 1,956 3,656 5.3

1996...................................................... 111,960 69,255 61.9 1,863 1,861 3,724 5.4

1997 ...................................................... 114,533 70,735 61.8 2,990 1,764 4,754 6.7

1998 .................................................... 116,730 71,440 61.2 2,834 1,593 4,427 6.2

1999 ...................................................... 118,963 72,306 60.8 2,194 1,146 3,340 4.6

2000 .................................................... 122,089 73,496 60.2 1,752 898 2,650 3.6

2001...................................................... 122,229 73,392 60.0 1,518 656 2,174 3.0

2002...................................................... 121,826 72,508 59.5 1,579 567 2,146 3.0

2003 ...................................................... 122,358 72,946 59.6 1,555 545 2,100 2.9

2004 ...................................................... 123,554 73,939 59.8 1,483 520 2,003 2.7

2005 ...................................................... 125,889 75,609 60.1 1,403 479 1,882 2.5

2006 ...................................................... 128,237 76,514 59.7 1,283 409 1,692 2.2

WOMEN

1979...................................................... 38,129 23,329 61.2 2,070 2,644 4,714 20.2

1980...................................................... 38,944 23,626 60.7 2,104 2,990 5,095 21.6

1981...................................................... 39,672 24,294 61.2 2,394 2,778 5,172 21.3

1982...................................................... 39,777 24,365 61.3 1,651 2,561 4,212 17.3

1983...................................................... 40,433 24,989 61.8 1,492 2,603 4,095 16.4

1984...................................................... 42,172 26,003 61.7 1,348 2,499 3,847 14.8

1985...................................................... 43,506 26,869 61.8 1,198 2,356 3,554 13.2

1986 ...................................................... 44,961 27,863 62.0 1,192 2,125 3,317 11.9

1987...................................................... 46,365 29,078 62.7 1,105 1,946 3,051 10.5

1988...................................................... 47,495 29,820 62.8 1,008 1,542 2,550 8.6

1989...................................................... 48,691 30,702 63.1 994 1,056 2,050 6.7

1990 ...................................................... 49,323 31,069 63.0 1,420 711 2,131 6.9

1991...................................................... 49,105 30,988 63.1 1,582 1,792 3,374 10.9

1992...................................................... 49,842 31,454 63.1 1,286 1,751 3,036 9.7

1993...................................................... 50,626 31,937 63.1 1,133 1,534 2,667 8.4

1994 ...................................................... 51,419 33,021 64.2 1,322 1,241 2,563 7.8

1995...................................................... 52,369 33,934 64.8 1,157 1,161 2,318 6.8

1996...................................................... 53,488 34,418 64.3 1,244 1,106 2,350 6.8

1997 ...................................................... 54,708 35,214 64.4 1,843 1,092 2,935 8.3

1998 .................................................... 55,757 35,680 64.0 1,794 965 2,760 7.7

1999 ...................................................... 57,050 36,233 63.5 1,426 700 2,126 5.9

2000 .................................................... 58,427 36,777 62.9 1,170 579 1,749 4.8

2001...................................................... 58,582 36,848 62.9 1,021 409 1,430 3.9

2002...................................................... 58,555 36,508 62.3 997 350 1,347 3.7

2003 ...................................................... 59,122 37,093 62.7 1,062 332 1,394 3.8

2004 ...................................................... 59,408 37,133 62.5 1,013 310 1,323 3.6

2005 ...................................................... 60,423 37,957 62.8 944 290 1,234 3.3

2006 ...................................................... 61,426 38,321 62.4 861 263 1,124 2.9

See footnotes at end of table.

At

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Total

Number

Below

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Year and sex

Percent of 

workers 

paid hourly 

rates

Percent 

of total 

wage and

salary 

workers

Total

 wage and

 salary 

workers

1

1

1

2 22 2

222 2

2 2 2 2

1 2 2 2 2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

2 2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

1

1

37
Table 17. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by

sex, 1979-2006 annual averages—Continued

(Numbers in thousands)

Workers paid hourly rates

Total at or below prevailing 

Federal minimum wage

MEN

1979...................................................... 49,400 28,392 57.5 846 1,353 2,199 7.7

1980...................................................... 48,700 27,709 56.9 983 1,696 2,678 9.7

1981...................................................... 48,844 27,576 56.5 1,119 1,533 2,652 9.6

1982...................................................... 47,591 26,481 55.6 697 1,587 2,284 8.6

1983...................................................... 47,856 26,831 56.1 585 1,658 2,243 8.4

1984...................................................... 50,022 28,140 56.3 490 1,626 2,116 7.5

1985...................................................... 51,015 28,893 56.6 440 1,544 1,984 6.9

1986 ...................................................... 51,942 29,666 57.1 408 1,336 1,743 5.9

1987...................................................... 52,938 30,474 57.6 364 1,283 1,647 5.4

1988...................................................... 53,912 31,058 57.6 311 1,066 1,377 4.4

1989...................................................... 54,789 31,687 57.8 379 733 1,112 3.5

1990 ...................................................... 55,553 32,104 57.8 712 385 1,097 3.4

1991...................................................... 54,618 31,639 57.9 795 1,114 1,909 6.0

1992...................................................... 54,826 32,155 58.6 653 1,231 1,885 5.9

1993...................................................... 55,475 32,337 58.3 573 1,091 1,664 5.1

1994 ...................................................... 56,570 33,528 59.3 674 891 1,565 4.7

1995...................................................... 57,669 34,420 59.7 542 796 1,338 3.9

1996...................................................... 58,473 34,838 59.6 619 755 1,374 3.9

1997 ...................................................... 59,825 35,521 59.4 1,147 673 1,820 5.1

1998 .................................................... 60,973 35,761 58.7 1,039 628 1,667 4.7

1999 ...................................................... 61,914 36,073 58.3 768 446 1,214 3.4

2000 .................................................... 63,662 36,720 57.7 582 319 901 2.5

2001...................................................... 63,647 36,544 57.4 497 247 744 2.0

2002...................................................... 63,272 36,000 56.9 582 217 799 2.2

2003 ...................................................... 63,236 35,853 56.7 493 213 706 2.0

2004 ...................................................... 64,145 36,806 57.4 470 210 680 1.8

2005 ...................................................... 65,466 37,652 57.5 459 189 648 1.7

2006 ...................................................... 66,811 38,193 57.2 422 146 568 1.5

At

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Total

Number

Below

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Year and sex

Percent 

of total 

wage and

salary 

workers

Total

 wage and

 salary

 workers

1 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at

various times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current

Population Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory Notes

and Estimates of Error section of the February 2007 and subsequent

issues of Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS periodical.

 2

 Data for 1990-91 and 1996-97 reflect changes in the minimum wage 

that took place in those years.

NOTE: The prevailing Federal minimum wage was $2.90 in 1979, $3.10

in 1980, and $3.35 in 1981-89. The minimum wage rose to $3.80 in April

1990, to $4.25 in April 1991, to $4.75 in October 1996, and to $5.15 in

September 1997. See Technical Note for more information about minimum

wage workers. 

Percent of 

workers 

paid hourly 

rates

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

2

2

2

22 2

2

2

2

2 2

2

2

2

2

1

38
39

The estimates in this report were obtained from the Current Population Survey (CPS), which provides a wide range of information on the labor force, employment, 

and unemployment. The survey is conducted monthly for 

the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) by the U.S. Census 

Bureau using a national sample of about 60,000 households, 

with coverage in all 50 States and the District of Columbia. 

The earnings data are collected from one-fourth of the CPS 

monthly sample. 

Material in this report is in the public domain and, with 

appropriate credit, may be used without permission. This 

information is available to sensory-impaired individuals on 

upon request. Voice telephone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: 1-800-877-8339.

Concepts and definitions

The principal concepts and definitions used in connection 

with the earnings data in this report are described below.

Usual weekly earnings. Data are collected on wages and 

salaries before taxes and other deductions, and include any 

overtime pay, commissions, or tips usually received (at the 

principal job in the case of multiple jobholders). Self-employed workers are excluded, regardless of whether their 

businesses are incorporated. Prior to 1994, respondents were

asked how much they usually earned per week. Since January 1994, respondents have been asked to identify the easiest 

way for them to report earnings (hourly, weekly, biweekly, 

twice monthly, monthly, annually, other) and how much they 

usually earn in the reported period. Earnings reported on a 

basis other than weekly are converted to a weekly equivalent. The term “usual” is as perceived by the respondent. 

If the respondent asks for a definition of usual, interviewers 

are instructed to define the term as more than half the weeks 

worked during the past 4 or 5 months.

Medians (and quantiles) of weekly earnings. Most of the 

earnings estimates shown in this report are medians. The median (or upper limit of the second quartile) is the amount that 

divides a given earnings distribution into two equal groups, 

one having earnings above the median, and the other having earnings below the median. Ten percent of workers in a 

given distribution have earnings below the upper limit of the 

first decile (90 percent have higher earnings); 25 percent have 

earnings below the upper limit of the first quartile (75 percent 

have higher earnings); 75 percent have earnings below the 

upper limit of the third quartile (25 percent have higher earnings); and 90 percent have earnings below the upper limit of 

the ninth decile (10 percent have higher earnings).

The BLS estimating procedure for determining the median of an earnings distribution places each reported or calculated weekly earnings value into a $50-wide interval that is 

centered on a multiple of $50. The actual value of the median 

is estimated through the linear interpolation of the interval 

in which the median lies.

Over-the-year changes in the medians (and quantile 

boundaries) for specific groups may not necessarily be 

consistent with the movements estimated for the overall 

quantile boundary. The most common reasons for this 

possible anomaly are: 

• There could be a change in the relative weights of 

the subgroups. For example, the medians of both 16- to

24-year-olds and those 25 years and older may rise, but if 

the lower earning 16-to-24 age group accounts for a greatly increased share of the total, the overall median could

actually fall. 

• There could be a large change in the shape of 

the distribution of reported earnings, particularly near 

a quantile boundary. This could be caused by survey 

observations that are clustered at rounded values, for 

example, $250, $300, or $400. An estimate lying in a

$50-wide centered interval containing such a cluster, or 

“spike,” tends to change more slowly than one in other 

intervals. For example, medians measure the central 

tendency of a multipeaked distribution that shifts over 

time. As the distribution shifts, the median does not 

necessarily move at the same rate. Specifically, the median 

takes relatively more time to move through a frequently 

reported interval but, once above the upper limit of such 

an interval, it can move relatively quickly to the next 

frequently reported earnings interval. BLS procedures 

for estimating medians (and other quantile boundaries) 

mitigate such irregular movements of the measures; 

however, users should be cautious of these effects when 

evaluating short-term changes in the medians and in ratios 

of the medians. 

Constant dollars. The Consumer Price Index research 

series using current methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert current dollars to constant dollars. BLS has made 

numerous improvements to the Consumer Price Index 

(CPI) over the past quarter-century. While these improvements make the present and future CPI more accurate, 

historical price index series are not adjusted to reflect the 

improvements. Because many researchers need a historical series that measures price change consistently over 

the entire period, the CPI-U-RS provides an estimate of 

the CPI that incorporates most of the methodological improvements made since 1978 into the entire series. For 

further information, see “CPI research series using current 

methods, 1978-98” by Kenneth J. Stewart and Stephen B.

Reed, Monthly Labor Review, June 1999, pp. 29-38; and 

“Questions and Answers: Consumer Price Index Research 

Series Using Current Methods” on the Internet at www.

bls.gov/cpi/cpirsdc.htm.

Technical Note
40

This report uses the most recent version of the CPI-URS available at the time of production. Users should note,

however, that the CPI-U-RS is subject to periodic revision. As a result, the rate of inflation incorporated into

the constant-dollar earnings estimates in this report may 

differ from that in previous reports in this series or in other

publications. 

Wage and salary workers. These are workers who receive 

wages, salaries, commissions, tips, payment in kind, or piece 

rates. The group includes employees in both the private and 

public sectors but, for purposes of the earnings series, excludes all self-employed persons, whether or not their businesses are incorporated.

Full-time workers. Workers who usually work 35 hours or 

more per week at their sole or principal job are defined as 

working full time for estimates of earnings. 

Part-time workers. Workers who usually work fewer than 

35 hours per week at their sole or principal job are defined as 

working part time for estimates of earnings.

Workers paid by the hour. Workers who are paid an hourly 

wage make up approximately three-fifths of all wage and 

salary workers. Workers paid by the hour are, therefore, included in the full- and part-time worker tables in this report, 

along with salaried workers and other workers not paid by 

the hour. (Data for workers paid at hourly rates are presented 

separately in tables 9 to 1 and 15 to 

Workers paid at or below the Federal minimum wage. The 

estimates of the numbers of workers with reported earnings 

at or below the Federal minimum wage in tables 1 and 

pertain only to workers who are paid hourly rates. Salaried 

workers and other workers who are not paid by the hour are 

not included, even though some have earnings that, when 

converted to hourly rates, are at or below the minimum wage. 

Consequently, the estimates presented in this report likely understate the actual number of workers with hourly earnings at 

or below the minimum wage. Research has shown, however, 

that the degree of understatement is small. BLS does not routinely estimate hourly earnings for workers not paid by the 

hour because of data quality concerns associated with such an 

estimation process. 

The prevailing Federal minimum wage was: $2.90 effective January 1979; $3.10 effective January 1980; $3.35

effective January 1981; $3.80 effective April 1990; $4.25

effective April 1991; $4.75 effective October 1996; and $5.15 

effective September 1997. Data for 1990-91 and 1996-97 in 

table 17 reflect changes in the minimum wage that took place 

during those years. It should be noted that some States have 

established minimum wage standards that exceed the Federal 

level.

The presence of workers with hourly earnings below the 

minimum wage does not necessarily indicate violations of

the Fair Labor Standards Act, as there are exemptions to the 

minimum wage provisions of the law. In addition, some 

workers might have rounded their hourly earnings to the 

nearest dollar in response to survey questions. As a result, 

some might have been reported with hourly earnings below 

the minimum wage when, in fact, they earned the minimum 

wage or higher. 

Reliability

Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and 

nonsampling error. When a sample, rather than an 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 generally are conducted at the 

90-percent level of confidence. Estimates of earnings and 

their standard errors can be used to construct approximate 

confidence intervals, or ranges of values that include the true 

population value with known probabilities.

The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. 

Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including the 

failure to sample a segment of the population, inability to obtain information for all respondents in the sample, inability or 

unwillingness of respondents to provide correct information, 

and errors made in data collection or processing. 

For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the 

CPS and information on estimating standard errors, see the 

“Explanatory Notes and Estimates of Error” section of Employment and Earnings, on the BLS Web site at www.bls.

gov/cps/eetech_methods.pdf.