1

 Highlights of Women’s 

 Earnings in 2008

U.S. Department of Labor U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

July 2009 July 2009

Report 1017 Report 1017

Introduction

I

n 2008, women who were full-time wage and salary workers 

had median weekly earnings of $638, or about 80 percent of 

the $798 median for their male counterparts. In 1979, the fi rst 

year for which comparable earnings data are available, women 

earned about 62 percent as much as men. After a gradual rise in 

the 1980s and 1990s, the women’s-to-men’s earnings ratio peaked 

at 81 percent in 2005 and 2006. (See chart 1 and tables 1 and 

12.) 

This report presents earnings data from the Current Population Survey (CPS), 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 signifi -

cant in explaining earnings differences. For a detailed description 

of the source of the data and an explanation of the concepts and 

defi nitions used, see the accompanying technical note. 

Highlights

Full-time workers

• Median weekly earnings were highest for women and men 

aged 45 to 64. Within this broad age range, there was little 

difference in the earnings of 45- to 54-year-olds and 55- 

to 64-year-olds ($707 and $711, respectively, for women 

and $944 and $943, respectively, for men). Young women 

and men aged 16 to 24 had the lowest earnings at $420 and 

$461, respectively. (See table 1.) 

• Women aged 35 and older earned about 75 percent as much 

as their male counterparts. Among younger workers, the 

earnings differences between women and men were not 

as great. Women earned about 89 percent as much as men 

among workers 25 to 34 years old, and 91 percent as much 

among 16- to 24-year-olds. (See table 1.) 

• Between 1979 and 2008, the earnings gap between women 

and men narrowed for most age groups. The women’s-tomen’s earnings ratio among 25- to 34-year-olds, for example, rose from 68 percent in 1979 to 89 percent in 2008, and 

the ratio for 45- to 54-year-olds increased from 57 percent 

to 75 percent. The earnings ratios for teenagers (87 percent 

in 2008) and for workers aged 65 and older (75 percent in 

2008) fl uctuated from 1979 to 2008, but their long-term 

trends have been essentially fl at. (See table 12.) 

• Asian women and men earned more than their white, black, 

and Hispanic counterparts in 2008. Among women, whites 

($654) earned 87 percent as much as Asians ($753), while 

blacks ($554) and Hispanics ($501) earned 74 percent and 

67 percent as much, respectively. In comparison, white men 

($825) earned 85 percent as much as Asian men ($966), 

black men ($620) earned 64 percent as much, and Hispanic 

men ($559), 58 percent. (See chart 2 and tables 1 and 14.)

• Earnings differences between women and men were widest 

for Asians and for whites. Asian women and white women 

earned just under 80 percent as much as their male counterparts in 2008. By comparison, black women and Hispanic 

women had earnings that were around 90 percent of those 

of their male counterparts. (See table 1.)

• Across the major race and Hispanic ethnicity categories, 

women’s infl ation-adjusted earnings grew from 1979 to 

2008 while those for men were fl at or down. Among women, 

growth in real earnings for white women has outpaced that 

of their black and Hispanic counterparts. Between 1979 and 

2008, infl ation-adjusted earnings for white women rose by 

29 percent, while earnings growth among black and Hispanic 

women was 19 percent and 15 percent, respectively. In contrast, real earnings for white men and for black men in 2008 

were about the same as they were in 1979, while Hispanic 

men’s earnings fell by about 8 percent. (See table 15.)

The Consumer Price Index research series using current 

methods—CPI-U-RS—is used to convert current dollars to 

constant dollars for the infl ation-adjusted comparisons in 

this report. Asians could not be included in this analysis 

because of the limited comparable data series available. 

(See note in table 15.) 

125 YEARS

BLS
2

• Women’s long-term earnings growth refl ects, in part, 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 the occupational distribution of employed men changed as signifi cantly as that 

of women. In 1979, among women aged 25 to 64 in the

civilian labor force, 20 percent were high school dropouts, 

45 percent had only a high school diploma, and 35 percent 

had been to college. By 2008, just 7 percent lacked a high 

school diploma, 27 percent had a high school diploma, and 

66 percent had been to college after high school. Among 25- 

to 64-year-old men in the civilian labor force, the proportion of high school dropouts fell from 23 to 11 percent over 

the same period, the proportion of high school graduates 

with no college went from 36 to 30 percent, and the share 

with some college or a college degree increased from 41 to 

59 percent. 

Data for 1979 are based on the March CPS; data for 2008 

are annual averages. Prior to 1992, educational attainment 

data were based on the number of years of school completed. Since 1992, the data refl ect the highest diploma or degree received. These historical educational attainment data 

are published in the annual CPS report, Women in the Labor 

Force: A Databook, online at http://www.bls.gov/cps/wlftable9-2008.pdf.

• Median weekly earnings vary signifi cantly by educational 

level. Among both women and men aged 25 and older, the 

weekly earnings of those without a high school diploma 

($378 for women and $497 for men) were less than half of 

those with a college degree ($955 for women and $1,285 for 

men) in 2008. Women and men with a high school diploma 

but no college earned about 55 percent of what college 

graduates did. (See tables 1 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 

declines in infl ation-adjusted earnings since 1979, the drop 

for women was signifi cantly less than that for men—10 percent as opposed to 29 percent. Earnings for women with 

college degrees have increased by 31 percent since 1979 

on an infl ation-adjusted basis, while those of male college 

graduates have risen by 18 percent. (Data pertain to workers 

aged 25 and older.) (See chart 3 and table 17.)

• Women working in full-time management, business, and 

fi nancial operations jobs had median weekly earnings of 

$941 in 2008, 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 $867 per week. In management, business, 

and fi nance, the highest paying occupations for women 

were chief executives and computer and information systems managers. Within professional and related occupations, women working as pharmacists or lawyers had the 

highest median weekly earnings. (See table 2.)

• The occupational distributions of female and male full-time 

workers differ signifi cantly. Relatively few women work in 

construction, production, or transportation occupations, and 

women are far more concentrated in administrative support 

jobs. (See chart 4 and table 2.)

• Although women are more likely than men to work in professional and related occupations, they are not as well represented in the higher paying job groups within this broad 

category. In 2008, only 9 percent of female professionals 

compared with 45 percent of male professionals were employed in the high-paying computer and engineering fi elds. 

Professional women were more likely to work in the education and health care occupations, in which pay was generally lower. Sixty-eight percent of female professionals 

worked in these fi elds in 2008, compared with 29 percent of 

male professionals. (See table 2.)

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

residence, ranging from 68 percent in Wyoming to 92 percent 

in the District of Columbia. The differences among the States 

refl ect, in part, variation in the occupations and industries 

found in each State and in the age composition of each 

State’s labor force. 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 

caution. (See table 3.) 

• 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 either sex, the earnings of those with children 

under age 18 differed only slightly from 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 11 percent more than those with no children. 

(See table 8.)

• Among full-time workers, that is, those working 35 hours 

or more per week in a job, men were more likely than 

women to have a longer workweek. In 2008, 26 percent of 

men working full-time jobs had workweeks of 41 hours or 

more, compared with 14 percent of female full-time workers. Women were 3 times as likely as men to work 35 to 

39 hours per week—12 percent as opposed to 4 percent. A 

majority of both male and female full-time workers had a 
3

40-hour workweek; among these workers, women earned 

87 percent as much as men. (See table 5.)

Part-time workers

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

fewer than 35 hours per week in her sole or principal job. 

Women who worked part time made up 24 percent of all 

female wage and salary workers in 2008. In contrast, only 

11 percent 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 

$223, compared with $209 for their male counterparts. The 

lower earnings for men in part refl ect the fact that male 

part-time workers are more concentrated in the youngest 

age groups, which typically have low earnings. About half 

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

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

Workers paid by the hour

• Sixty-one percent of women and 56 percent of men 

employed in wage and salary jobs were paid by the hour 

in 2008. Women who were paid hourly rates had median 

hourly earnings of $11.49, 85 percent of the median for men 

paid by the hour ($13.46). (See tables 9, 10, and 18-22.)

• Among workers who were paid hourly rates in 2008, 4 percent of women and 2 percent of men had hourly earnings at 

or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage. (See tables 

11 and 22.) 

On July 24, 2008, the Federal minimum wage level rose 

from $5.85 to $6.55 an hour. Minimum wage data in this 

report refl ect the average number of workers who earned 

$5.85 or less from January 2008 through July 2008 and 

those who earned $6.55 or less from August 2008 through 

the end of the year. For information about workers with 

earnings below the Federal minimum wage, see the accompanying technical note.

• Among both women and men, hourly paid workers aged 

16 to 19 were the most likely to have earnings at or below 

the minimum wage. Eleven percent of all teenage workers earned the prevailing Federal minimum wage or less, 

compared with just 2 percent of hourly paid workers aged

25 and older. Among those aged 20 to 24, about 6 percent had 

earnings at or below the minimum wage. (See table 11.)
4

Chart 1. Women’s earnings as a percent of men’s, full-time wage and salary workers, 1979–2008 annual

 averages

90

85

70

65

75

60

55

50

80

1979 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2008

Percent Percent

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

 ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

1,000

800

200

0

400

600

Hispanic or Latino

Earnings

(dollars)

1,000

800

200

0

400

600

Black or

African-American

Total White Asian

Women

Men

$638

$798

$654

$825

$554

$620

$753

$966

$501

$559

Earnings

(dollars)

90

85

70

65

75

60

55

50

80
5

Chart 3. Percent change in constant-dollar median usual weekly earnings, by educational attainment and sex, 

 1979–2008

Bachelor’s degree and higher

–40 –30 –20 10 30 20

Highest educational level

Percent 

of total

15.8 14.9

27.7

18.1

15.8

12.4

9.6 9.4

23.6

6.7

Women

Men

Some college or associate degree

High school, no college

Less than a high school diploma

–10 0 40

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

1.0

18.8

6.6

19.7

25

20

 5

 0

10

15

35

40

30

Production, 

transportation, and 

material-moving 

occupations

Management, 

business, and 

fi nancial operations 

occupations

Professional 

and related 

occupations

Sales 

and related 

occupations

Offi ce and 

administrative 

support 

occupations

Natural 

resources, 

construction, 

and maintenance 

occupations

Service 

occupations

Percent 

of total

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

 2008 annual averages

Women

Men

25

20

5

0

10

15

35

40

30

Percent change

31

18

8

–9

2

–17

–10

–29
6

Statistical Tables

Page

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

 2008 annual averages ................................................................................................................................................................ 8

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

 2008 annual averages ............................................................................................................................... ................................. 10

 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by State and sex, 2008 annual 

 averages ... .................................................................................................................................................................................. 36

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

 2008 annual averages ................................................................................................................................................................. 38

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

 2008 annual averages ................................................................................................................................................................. 40

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

 selected characteristics, 2008 annual averages ......................................................................................................................... 42

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

 2008 annual averages . ............................................................................................................................................................... 43

 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, 2008 annual averages ......................................................................................... 45

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

 2008 annual averages ................................................................................................................................................................ 46

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

 2008 annual averages ................................................................................................................................................................ 48

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

 by selected characteristics, 2008 annual averages .................................................................................................................... 50

12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, in current dollars, by sex and age,

 1979–2008 annual averages ...................................................................................................................................................... 52

13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, in constant (2008) dollars, by sex and

 age, 1979–2008 annual averages ............................................................................................................................................... 56

14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, in current dollars, by sex, race, and

 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979–2008 annual averages ........................................................................................................ 59

15. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, in constant (2008) dollars, by sex, race, 

 and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979–2008 annual averages ................................................................................................. 63

16. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and older, in current dollars, by

 sex and educational attainment, 1979–2008 annual averages .................................................................................................. 66

17. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and older, in constant (2008) 

 dollars, by sex and educational attainment, 1979–2008 annual averages ................................................................................. 70
7

Statistical Tables, continued

Page

 

18. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, in current dollars, by sex and age,

 1979–2008 annual averages ...................................................................................................................................................... 73

19. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, in constant (2008) dollars, by sex and

 age, 1979–2008 annual averages .............................................................................................................................................. 77

20. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, in current dollars, by sex, race, and

 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979–2008 annual averages ....................................................................................................... 80

21. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, in constant (2008) dollars, by sex,

 race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979–2008 annual averages ........................................................................................ 84

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

 by sex, 1979–2008 annual averages .......................................................................................................................................... 87
Table 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by selected 

characteristics, 2008 annual averages 

AGE

Total, 16 years and older................................ 106,648 $722 $2 47,209 $638 $2

16 to 24 years........................................................ 10,621 443 3 4,625 420 3

16 to 19 years..................................................... 1,552 349 4 633 322 4

20 to 24 years..................................................... 9,069 467 3 3,992 445 5

25 years and older................................................. 96,027 761 2 42,584 670 2

25 to 34 years..................................................... 25,643 666 3 10,974 623 3

35 to 44 years..................................................... 26,408 804 5 11,385 682 5

45 to 54 years..................................................... 26,640 822 5 12,258 707 5

55 to 64 years..................................................... 14,763 825 6 6,827 711 6

65 years and older.............................................. 2,573 644 11 1,140 563 13

RACE AND HISPANIC OR

LATINO ETHNICITY

White...................................................................... 86,022 742 2 36,940 654 2

Black or African American...................................... 12,821 589 3 6,790 554 6

Asian...................................................................... 5,266 861 12 2,347 753 10

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.................................... 15,807 529 4 5,846 501 4

MARITAL STATUS

Never married........................................................ 27,981 585 2 12,165 564 5

Married, spouse present........................................ 60,901 812 3 24,839 692 4

Other marital status................................................ 17,767 678 4 10,205 624 4

Divorced............................................................. 11,891 722 5 6,856 658 6

Separated........................................................... 4,210 589 6 2,094 538 12

Widowed............................................................. 1,667 639 14 1,255 606 9

UNION AFFILIATION1

Members of unions ............................................. 14,561 886 5 6,077 809 8

Represented by unions ........................................ 16,029 880 4 6,823 800 7

Not represented by a union.................................... 90,620 691 2 40,386 615 2

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and older....................................... 96,027 761 2 42,584 670 2

Less than a high school diploma........................ 8,120 453 4 2,566 378 3

High school, no college ................................... 27,392 618 2 11,451 520 2

Some college or associate degree..................... 26,526 722 3 12,756 628 3

Bachelor's degree and higher .......................... 33,990 1,115 6 15,812 955 4

See footnotes at end of table.

Both sexes Women

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

4

Characteristic

5

3

2

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

8
Table 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by

selected characteristics, 2008 annual averages—Continued 

Men

AGE

Total, 16 years and older................................ 59,439 $798 $3 79.9

16 to 24 years........................................................ 5,996 461 4 91.1

16 to 19 years..................................................... 919 369 6 87.3

20 to 24 years..................................................... 5,077 481 3 92.5

25 years and older................................................. 53,444 857 3 78.2

25 to 34 years..................................................... 14,669 704 4 88.5

35 to 44 years..................................................... 15,023 915 6 74.5

45 to 54 years..................................................... 14,382 944 6 74.9

55 to 64 years..................................................... 7,936 943 8 75.4

65 years and older.............................................. 1,434 753 17 74.8

RACE AND HISPANIC OR

LATINO ETHNICITY

White...................................................................... 49,082 825 3 79.3

Black or African American...................................... 6,031 620 5 89.4

Asian...................................................................... 2,919 966 15 78.0

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.................................... 9,961 559 6 89.6

MARITAL STATUS

Never married........................................................ 15,815 599 3 94.2

Married, spouse present........................................ 36,062 917 4 75.5

Other marital status................................................ 7,562 759 7 82.2

Divorced............................................................. 5,035 811 9 81.1

Separated........................................................... 2,115 630 12 85.4

Widowed............................................................. 412 794 28 76.3

UNION AFFILIATION1 

Members of unions ............................................. 8,483 939 6 86.2

Represented by unions ........................................ 9,205 937 6 85.4

Not represented by a union.................................... 50,234 766 3 80.3

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and older....................................... 53,444 857 3 78.2

Less than a high school diploma........................ 5,554 497 3 76.1

High school, no college ................................... 15,941 709 4 73.3

Some college or associate degree..................... 13,770 830 5 75.7

Bachelor's degree and higher .......................... 18,178 1,285 11 74.3

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 

4

Characteristic

5

3

2

1 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.

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

3 Data refer to workers who report no union affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union or an

employee association contract, as well as to members of a labor union or an employee association

similar to a union. 

 4

 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.

 5

 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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as

Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

Standard

error 

of

median 

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

2008 annual averages 

Total, 16 years and older.......................................... 106,648 $722 $2 47,209 $638 $2

Management, professional, and related occupations...... 40,154 1,025 4 20,535 892 4

Management, business, and financial 

 operations occupations.......................................... 16,310 1,128 7 7,463 941 6

Management occupations.................................... 11,223 1,204 14 4,535 979 10

Chief executives............................................. 1,044 1,903 11 251 1,603 120

General and operations managers..................... 919 1,229 29 274 993 40

Legislators...................................................... 16 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Advertising and promotions managers.................. 69 1,097 121 52 1,000 144

Marketing and sales managers........................... 867 1,345 27 357 1,024 71

Public relations managers................................. 57 1,232 55 31 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Administrative services managers........................ 92 1,003 56 26 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Computer and information systems managers...... 431 1,576 44 120 1,260 211

Financial managers.......................................... 1,063 1,134 19 583 945 17

Human resources managers.............................. 288 1,233 50 194 1,137 44

Industrial production managers........................... 222 1,253 61 30 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Purchasing managers....................................... 183 1,139 59 72 995 48

Transportation, storage, and 

 distribution managers.................................... 218 877 39 38 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Farm, ranch, and other agricultural managers......... 76 775 85 13 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Construction managers.................................... 586 1,189 35 49 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Education administrators.................................. 725 1,170 33 447 1,000 59

Engineering managers....................................... 99 1,752 26 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Food service managers.................................... 619 676 18 296 628 18

Funeral directors.............................................. 25 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Gaming managers............................................ 14 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Lodging managers.......................................... 119 788 93 56 720 76

Medical and health services managers.................. 500 1,170 66 351 1,066 42

Natural sciences managers.............................. 15 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Postmasters and mail superintendents.................. 36 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 19 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Property, real estate, and

 community association managers........... ......... 303 847 44 177 758 34

Social and community service managers............... 277 965 34 191 871 49

Managers, all other.......................................... 2,361 1,225 22 885 1,010 24

Business and financial operations occupations......... 5,087 974 9 2,928 885 10

Agents and business managers of

 artists, performers, and athletes........................ 28 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 11 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Purchasing agents and buyers, farm products...... 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Wholesale and retail buyers,

 except farm products....................................... 152 816 45 70 801 76

Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and 

 farm products................................................ 253 890 26 146 859 33

Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners,

 and investigators.......................................... 286 810 26 188 766 21

Compliance officers, except agriculture, 

 construction, health and safety, and 

 transportation................................................ 164 1,126 54 86 950 58

Cost estimators................................................ 82 1,055 53 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Human resources, training, and labor relations 

 specialists................................................... 717 918 25 504 850 29

Logisticians................................................... 39 ( 1 ) 59 19 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Management analysts....................................... 454 1,255 26 209 1,139 36

Meeting and convention planners........................ 47 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 37 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Other business operations specialists.................. 214 931 38 145 850 22

 See footnotes at end of table.

Both sexes Women

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

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

occupation and sex, 2008 annual averages—Continued 

Men

Total, 16 years and older.................................................. 59,439 $798 $3 79.9

Management, professional, and related occupations...... 19,619 1,238 6 72.1

Management, business, and financial 

 operations occupations.......................................... 8,847 1,343 8 70.1

Management occupations.................................... 6,687 1,384 11 70.7

Chief executives............................................. 793 1,999 128 80.2

General and operations managers..................... 646 1,315 65 75.5

Legislators...................................................... 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Advertising and promotions managers.................. 17 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Marketing and sales managers........................... 510 1,601 66 64.0

Public relations managers................................. 26 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Administrative services managers........................ 66 1,012 64 ( 2 )

Computer and information systems managers...... 311 1,641 35 76.8

Financial managers.......................................... 480 1,457 33 64.9

Human resources managers.............................. 93 1,433 81 79.3

Industrial production managers........................... 192 1,285 75 ( 2 )

Purchasing managers....................................... 111 1,251 75 79.5

Transportation, storage, and 

 distribution managers.................................... 179 885 46 ( 2 )

Farm, ranch, and other agricultural managers......... 63 802 91 ( 2 )

Construction managers.................................... 536 1,219 35 ( 2 )

Education administrators.................................. 278 1,398 32 71.5

Engineering managers....................................... 95 1,758 26 ( 2 )

Food service managers.................................... 323 739 18 85.0

Funeral directors.............................................. 18 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Gaming managers............................................ 11 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Lodging managers.......................................... 63 877 89 82.1

Medical and health services managers.................. 150 1,504 55 70.9

Natural sciences managers.............................. 12 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Postmasters and mail superintendents.................. 17 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Property, real estate, and

 community association managers........... ......... 126 1,054 68 71.9

Social and community service managers............... 86 1,254 159 69.5

Managers, all other.......................................... 1,477 1,359 17 74.3

Business and financial operations occupations......... 2,159 1,167 18 75.8

Agents and business managers of

 artists, performers, and athletes........................ 17 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Purchasing agents and buyers, farm products...... 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Wholesale and retail buyers,

 except farm products....................................... 82 826 63 97.0

Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and 

 farm products................................................ 107 923 87 93.1

Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners,

 and investigators.......................................... 99 891 61 86.0

Compliance officers, except agriculture, 

 construction, health and safety, and 

 transportation................................................ 78 1,245 32 76.3

Cost estimators................................................ 73 1,082 105 ( 2 )

Human resources, training, and labor relations 

 specialists................................................... 213 1,158 63 73.4

Logisticians................................................... 21 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Management analysts....................................... 245 1,391 72 81.9

Meeting and convention planners........................ 10 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Other business operations specialists.................. 69 1,157 42 73.5

 See footnotes at end of table.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 

Median 

weekly

earnings

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Occupation

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

2008 annual averages—Continued

Accountants and auditors................................. 1,494 $981 $15 904 $908 $19

Appraisers and assessors of real estate............... 61 1,089 323 22 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Budget analysts............................................. 62 1,197 92 37 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Credit analysts................................................ 20 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 11 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Financial analysts............................................. 84 1,378 91 39 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Personal financial advisors................................. 313 1,194 85 117 935 52

Insurance underwriters.................................... 77 957 281 62 917 36

Financial examiners.......................................... 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Loan counselors and officers.............................. 355 916 29 201 812 46

Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue agents...... 53 850 41 35 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Tax preparers................................................ 54 911 104 36 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Financial specialists, all other.............................. 66 964 83 35 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Professional and related occupations........................ 23,845 980 4 13,072 867 5

Computer and mathematical occupations............... 3,344 1,242 10 828 1,088 27

Computer scientists and systems analysts............ 752 1,184 24 213 1,082 46

Computer programmers.................................... 470 1,218 39 105 1,003 59

Computer software engineers........................... 955 1,529 19 196 1,351 47

Computer support specialists.............................. 379 893 22 105 878 32

Database administrators.................................... 93 1,274 180 25 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Network and computer systems administrators...... 212 1,189 62 46 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Network systems and data communications

 analysts...................................................... 353 1,130 33 82 961 62

Actuaries...................................................... 24 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Mathematicians................................................ 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Operations research analysts.............................. 69 1,259 29 36 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Statisticians................................................... 33 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 14 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Miscellaneous mathematical 

 science occupations....................................... 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Architecture and engineering occupations............... 2,652 1,244 14 334 1,001 22

Architects, except naval.................................... 150 1,128 56 35 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Surveyors, cartographers, and

 photogrammetrists....................................... 34 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Aerospace engineers....................................... 131 1,554 46 12 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Agricultural engineers....................................... 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Biomedical engineers....................................... 10 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Chemical engineers.......................................... 64 1,546 83 8 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Civil engineers................................................ 303 1,332 36 36 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Computer hardware engineers........................... 62 1,258 30 14 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Electrical and electronics engineers..................... 334 1,443 34 26 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Environmental engineers.................................... 29 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 8 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Industrial engineers, including health and safety... 163 1,311 64 23 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Marine engineers and naval architects.................. 15 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Materials engineers.......................................... 41 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Mechanical engineers....................................... 300 1,433 24 23 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Mining and geological engineers, including

 mining safety engineers................................. 12 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Nuclear engineers.......................................... 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Petroleum engineers....................................... 18 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Engineers, all other.......................................... 347 1,418 41 39 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Drafters......................................................... 150 881 31 31 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Engineering technicians, except drafters............... 392 905 25 59 781 29

Surveying and mapping technicians..................... 87 794 58 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Life, physical, and social science occupations......... 1,080 1,035 27 477 931 20

Agricultural and food scientists........................... 34 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 11 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

 See footnotes at end of table.

Both sexes Women

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

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

occupation and sex, 2008 annual averages—Continued 

Men

Accountants and auditors................................. 591 $1,178 $55 77.1

Appraisers and assessors of real estate............... 39 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Budget analysts............................................. 26 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Credit analysts................................................ 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Financial analysts............................................. 45 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Personal financial advisors................................. 197 1,370 49 68.2

Insurance underwriters.................................... 15 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Financial examiners.......................................... 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Loan counselors and officers.............................. 154 1,118 88 72.6

Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue agents...... 18 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Tax preparers................................................ 18 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Financial specialists, all other.............................. 30 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Professional and related occupations........................ 10,773 1,169 7 74.2

Computer and mathematical occupations............... 2,516 1,320 34 82.4

Computer scientists and systems analysts............ 538 1,240 36 87.3

Computer programmers.................................... 365 1,261 24 79.5

Computer software engineers........................... 759 1,555 17 86.9

Computer support specialists.............................. 274 903 30 97.2

Database administrators.................................... 68 1,289 163 ( 2 )

Network and computer systems administrators...... 166 1,209 62 ( 2 )

Network systems and data communications

 analysts...................................................... 271 1,184 45 81.2

Actuaries...................................................... 18 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Mathematicians................................................ 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Operations research analysts.............................. 34 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Statisticians................................................... 19 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Miscellaneous mathematical 

 science occupations....................................... 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Architecture and engineering occupations............... 2,319 1,286 21 77.8

Architects, except naval.................................... 115 1,273 174 ( 2 )

Surveyors, cartographers, and

 photogrammetrists....................................... 32 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Aerospace engineers....................................... 120 1,622 120 ( 2 )

Agricultural engineers....................................... 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Biomedical engineers....................................... 8 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Chemical engineers.......................................... 56 1,562 78 ( 2 )

Civil engineers................................................ 268 1,349 31 ( 2 )

Computer hardware engineers........................... 48 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Electrical and electronics engineers..................... 307 1,475 48 ( 2 )

Environmental engineers.................................... 21 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Industrial engineers, including health and safety... 140 1,364 40 ( 2 )

Marine engineers and naval architects.................. 15 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Materials engineers.......................................... 35 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Mechanical engineers....................................... 276 1,445 25 ( 2 )

Mining and geological engineers, including

 mining safety engineers................................. 10 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Nuclear engineers.......................................... 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Petroleum engineers....................................... 17 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Engineers, all other.......................................... 308 1,425 47 ( 2 )

Drafters......................................................... 119 924 39 ( 2 )

Engineering technicians, except drafters............... 332 933 45 83.7

Surveying and mapping technicians..................... 80 801 56 ( 2 )

Life, physical, and social science occupations......... 603 1,156 25 80.5

Agricultural and food scientists........................... 23 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

 See footnotes at end of table.

Occupation

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

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

2008 annual averages—Continued

Biological scientists.......................................... 91 $1,023 $74 46 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Conservation scientists and foresters.................. 21 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Medical scientists............................................. 120 989 68 60 $948 $46

Astronomers and physicists.............................. 20 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Atmospheric and space scientists........................ 8 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Chemists and materials scientists........................ 103 1,118 169 38 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Environmental scientists and geoscientists............ 70 1,253 108 22 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Physical scientists, all other.............................. 122 1,363 79 50 1,061 38

Economists................................................... 17 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Market and survey researchers........................... 109 1,071 128 60 990 138

Psychologists................................................ 84 1,220 98 57 1,004 53

Sociologists................................................... 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Urban and regional planners.............................. 31 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 17 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Miscellaneous social scientists and related

 workers......................................................... 36 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 13 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Agricultural and food science technicians............ 23 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Biological technicians....................................... 20 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 8 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Chemical technicians....................................... 56 872 176 20 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Geological and petroleum technicians.................. 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Nuclear technicians.......................................... 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Other life, physical, and social science

 technicians................................................... 103 752 47 50 752 83

Community and social services occupations............ 1,908 788 17 1,117 753 12

Counselors...................................................... 522 787 29 355 787 34

Social workers................................................ 639 784 24 503 779 23

Miscellaneous community and social service 

 specialists................................................... 261 736 25 159 680 25

Clergy............................................................ 388 882 26 43 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Directors, religious activities and education............ 38 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 21 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Religious workers, all other................................. 60 669 64 36 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Legal occupations............................................. 1,199 1,174 36 693 962 20

Lawyers......................................................... 645 1,751 25 247 1,509 99

Judges, magistrates, and other judicial workers...... 51 1,281 224 24 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Paralegals and legal assistants........................... 304 796 20 267 790 19

Miscellaneous legal support workers.................. 198 738 30 155 702 32

Education, training, and library occupations............ 6,677 866 6 4,883 818 8

Postsecondary teachers.................................... 862 1,149 18 379 1,056 31

Preschool and kindergarten teachers.................. 506 591 17 493 589 16

Elementary and middle school teachers............... 2,627 890 8 2,127 871 8

Secondary school teachers................................. 1,086 949 13 596 920 19

Special education teachers................................. 343 944 30 291 949 28

Other teachers and instructors........................... 351 858 26 209 812 22

Archivists, curators, and museum technicians......... 25 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 13 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Librarians...................................................... 136 878 77 111 811 35

Library technicians.......................................... 17 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 14 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Teacher assistants.......................................... 651 421 7 595 413 7

Other education, training, and library workers......... 74 1,071 77 55 886 121

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media 

 occupations...................................................... 1,570 882 18 689 777 20

Artists and related workers................................. 74 985 103 23 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Designers...................................................... 540 811 23 268 744 18

Actors............................................................ 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Producers and directors.................................... 108 938 55 42 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Athletes, coaches, umpires, and related workers... 117 825 148 25 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

 See footnotes at end of table.

Both sexes Women

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

14
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed 

occupation and sex, 2008 annual averages—Continued 

Men

Biological scientists.......................................... 45 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Conservation scientists and foresters.................. 18 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Medical scientists............................................. 60 $1,133 $267 83.7

Astronomers and physicists.............................. 16 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Atmospheric and space scientists........................ 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Chemists and materials scientists........................ 65 1,430 60 ( 2 )

Environmental scientists and geoscientists............ 48 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Physical scientists, all other.............................. 72 1,535 175 69.1

Economists................................................... 13 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Market and survey researchers........................... 49 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Psychologists................................................ 27 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Sociologists................................................... - - -( 2 )

Urban and regional planners.............................. 13 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Miscellaneous social scientists and related

 workers......................................................... 23 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Agricultural and food science technicians............ 14 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Biological technicians....................................... 13 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Chemical technicians....................................... 36 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Geological and petroleum technicians.................. 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Nuclear technicians.......................................... 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Other life, physical, and social science

 technicians................................................... 54 751 53 100.1

Community and social services occupations............ 791 860 23 87.6

Counselors...................................................... 167 787 50 100.0

Social workers................................................ 135 812 80 95.9

Miscellaneous community and social service 

 specialists................................................... 102 874 59 77.8

Clergy............................................................ 346 899 27 ( 2 )

Directors, religious activities and education............ 18 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Religious workers, all other................................. 24 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Legal occupations............................................. 506 1,696 100 56.7

Lawyers......................................................... 398 1,875 36 80.5

Judges, magistrates, and other judicial workers...... 27 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Paralegals and legal assistants........................... 37 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Miscellaneous legal support workers.................. 43 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Education, training, and library occupations............ 1,794 1,020 17 80.2

Postsecondary teachers.................................... 483 1,245 31 84.8

Preschool and kindergarten teachers.................. 14 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Elementary and middle school teachers............... 500 994 23 87.6

Secondary school teachers................................. 490 995 26 92.5

Special education teachers................................. 52 914 36 103.8

Other teachers and instructors........................... 142 953 41 85.2

Archivists, curators, and museum technicians......... 11 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Librarians...................................................... 25 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Library technicians.......................................... 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Teacher assistants.......................................... 56 517 20 79.9

Other education, training, and library workers......... 19 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media 

 occupations...................................................... 882 951 22 81.7

Artists and related workers................................. 51 1,103 40 ( 2 )

Designers...................................................... 271 899 48 82.8

Actors............................................................ 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Producers and directors.................................... 65 983 56 ( 2 )

Athletes, coaches, umpires, and related workers... 91 837 28 ( 2 )

 See footnotes at end of table.

Occupation

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

15
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed occupation and sex, 

2008 annual averages—Continued

Dancers and choreographers.............................. 13 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 11 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Musicians, singers, and related workers............... 32 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Entertainers and performers, sports and related

 workers, all other.......................................... 12 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Announcers................................................... 22 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

News analysts, reporters and correspondents...... 68 $947 $58 25 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Public relations specialists................................. 107 1,000 32 70 $935 $132

Editors......................................................... 132 971 44 69 941 28

Technical writers............................................. 48 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 22 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Writers and authors.......................................... 79 945 22 41 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Miscellaneous media and communication workers... 46 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 33 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Broadcast and sound engineering technicians 

 and radio operators........................................ 75 972 42 13 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Photographers................................................ 69 690 47 30 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Television, video, and motion picture camera

 operators and editors....................................... 26 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Media and communication equipment workers, 

 all other...................................................... 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations...... 5,415 962 8 4,052 909 9

Chiropractors................................................... 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Dentists......................................................... 34 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 15 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Dietitians and nutritionists................................. 86 672 50 75 674 75

Optometrists................................................... 11 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Pharmacists................................................... 196 1,883 16 94 1,647 170

Physicians and surgeons................................. 594 1,731 100 189 1,230 101

Physician assistants.......................................... 86 1,251 45 51 1,077 143

Podiatrists...................................................... 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Registered nurses.......................................... 2,114 1,022 13 1,904 1,011 11

Audiologists................................................... 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Occupational therapists.................................... 55 1,019 28 54 1,016 27

Physical therapists.......................................... 129 1,176 32 78 1,019 88

Radiation therapists.......................................... 15 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 10 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Recreational therapists.................................... 16 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 12 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Respiratory therapists....................................... 90 881 49 64 819 84

Speech-language pathologists........................... 88 1,121 54 87 1,124 46

Therapists, all other.......................................... 74 791 48 56 796 54

Veterinarians................................................... 26 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 16 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Health diagnosing and treating practitioners,

 all other...................................................... 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians... 301 783 26 223 750 32

Dental hygienists............................................. 75 976 40 73 988 42

Diagnostic related technologists and technicians... 238 957 26 159 923 39

Emergency medical technicians and paramedics... 121 755 45 39 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Health diagnosing and treating practitioner 

 support technicians.......................................... 340 585 15 258 564 17

Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses... 439 692 16 408 679 16

Medical records and health information

 technicians................................................... 77 537 43 71 551 41

Opticians, dispensing....................................... 33 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 23 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Miscellaneous health technologists and

 technicians................................................... 105 671 59 61 615 52

Other healthcare practitioners and technical

 occupations................................................... 49 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 17 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

 See footnotes at end of table.

Both sexes Women

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

16
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed 

occupation and sex, 2008 annual averages—Continued 

Men

Dancers and choreographers.............................. 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Musicians, singers, and related workers............... 27 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Entertainers and performers, sports and related

 workers, all other.......................................... 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Announcers................................................... 19 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

News analysts, reporters and correspondents...... 43 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Public relations specialists................................. 37 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Editors......................................................... 63 $1,062 $187 88.6

Technical writers............................................. 26 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Writers and authors.......................................... 38 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Miscellaneous media and communication workers... 14 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Broadcast and sound engineering technicians 

 and radio operators........................................ 62 996 37 ( 2 )

Photographers................................................ 39 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Television, video, and motion picture camera

 operators and editors....................................... 21 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Media and communication equipment workers, 

 all other...................................................... 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations...... 1,362 1,210 30 75.1

Chiropractors................................................... 8 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Dentists......................................................... 19 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Dietitians and nutritionists................................. 11 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Optometrists................................................... 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Pharmacists................................................... 102 1,914 20 86.1

Physicians and surgeons................................. 405 1,911 45 64.4

Physician assistants.......................................... 34 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Podiatrists...................................................... 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Registered nurses.......................................... 210 1,168 39 86.6

Audiologists................................................... 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Occupational therapists.................................... 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Physical therapists.......................................... 51 1,329 65 76.7

Radiation therapists.......................................... 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Recreational therapists.................................... 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Respiratory therapists....................................... 26 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Speech-language pathologists........................... - - -( 2 )

Therapists, all other.......................................... 18 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Veterinarians................................................... 10 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Health diagnosing and treating practitioners,

 all other...................................................... - - - ( 2 )

Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians... 78 942 177 79.6

Dental hygienists............................................. 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Diagnostic related technologists and technicians... 79 1,035 129 89.2

Emergency medical technicians and paramedics... 82 823 56 ( 2 )

Health diagnosing and treating practitioner 

 support technicians........................................ 82 677 29 83.3

Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses... 31 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Medical records and health information

 technicians................................................... 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Opticians, dispensing....................................... 10 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Miscellaneous health technologists and

 technicians................................................... 44 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Other healthcare practitioners and technical

 occupations................................................... 32 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

 See footnotes at end of table.

Occupation

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

17
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed occupation and sex, 

2008 annual averages—Continued

Service occupations................................................ 14,814 $475 $3 7,458 $418 $2

Healthcare support occupations.............................. 2,222 465 6 1,951 459 6

Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides......... 1,370 429 7 1,201 424 5

Occupational therapist assistants and aides......... 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Physical therapist assistants and aides............... 51 700 83 39 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Massage therapists.......................................... 32 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 22 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Dental assistants............................................. 168 531 27 160 524 21

Medical assistants and other healthcare support

 occupations................................................... 595 505 7 524 502 7

Protective service occupations................................. 2,683 748 9 564 594 12

First-line supervisors/managers of correctional 

 officers......................................................... 43 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 16 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

First-line supervisors/managers of police and 

 detectives...................................................... 120 1,200 101 20 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

First-line supervisors/managers of fire fighting 

 and prevention workers.................................... 53 1,327 216 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Supervisors, protective service workers, all other... 94 763 37 22 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Fire fighters................................................... 283 970 29 13 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Fire inspectors................................................ 24 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Bailiffs, correctional officers, and jailers............... 387 695 20 112 605 19

Detectives and criminal investigators.................. 139 1,053 43 28 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Fish and game wardens.................................... 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Parking enforcement workers.............................. 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Police and sheriff's patrol officers........................ 674 893 23 101 731 38

Transit and railroad police................................. 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Animal control workers.................................... 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Private detectives and investigators..................... 76 780 65 28 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Security guards and gaming surveillance officers... 695 516 10 173 478 14

Crossing guards............................................. 20 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 17 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Lifeguards and other protective service workers...... 54 401 22 23 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Food preparation and serving related occupations...... 4,153 402 3 2,035 376 4

Chefs and head cooks....................................... 295 548 15 40 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

First-line supervisors/managers of food 

 preparation and serving workers........................ 483 498 10 280 439 24

Cooks............................................................ 1,312 390 4 480 363 10

Food preparation workers................................. 325 352 9 197 338 13

Bartenders...................................................... 204 502 21 108 457 28

Combined food preparation and serving workers, 

 including fast food....................................... 141 349 13 99 341 15

Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, 

 and coffee shop............................................. 84 307 8 54 299 10

Waiters and waitresses.................................... 852 391 6 560 367 9

Food servers, nonrestaurant.............................. 91 451 48 62 424 37

Dining room and cafeteria attendants and 

 bartender helpers............................................ 159 390 12 69 386 17

Dishwashers................................................... 152 361 19 44 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and 

 coffee shop................................................... 49 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 39 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Food preparation and serving related workers,

 all other...................................................... 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance 

 occupations......................................................... 3,506 431 7 1,274 383 5

First-line supervisors/managers of 

 housekeeping and janitorial workers.................. 200 623 36 74 448 27

 See footnotes at end of table.

Both sexes Women

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

18
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed 

occupation and sex, 2008 annual averages—Continued 

Men

Service occupations.......................................... 7,355 $537 $6 77.8

Healthcare support occupations........................... 271 512 14 89.6

Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides......... 169 485 17 87.4

Occupational therapist assistants and aides......... 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Physical therapist assistants and aides............... 12 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Massage therapists.......................................... 10 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Dental assistants............................................. 8 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Medical assistants and other healthcare support

 occupations................................................... 71 529 42 94.9

Protective service occupations................................. 2,119 794 17 74.8

First-line supervisors/managers of correctional 

 officers......................................................... 27 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

First-line supervisors/managers of police and 

 detectives...................................................... 99 1,239 41 ( 2 )

First-line supervisors/managers of fire fighting 

 and prevention workers.................................... 49 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Supervisors, protective service workers, all other... 72 768 40 ( 2 )

Fire fighters................................................... 270 975 30 ( 2 )

Fire inspectors................................................ 24 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Bailiffs, correctional officers, and jailers............... 275 725 28 83.4

Detectives and criminal investigators.................. 112 1,112 51 ( 2 )

Fish and game wardens.................................... 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Parking enforcement workers.............................. 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Police and sheriff's patrol officers........................ 573 929 23 78.7

Transit and railroad police................................. 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Animal control workers.................................... 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Private detectives and investigators..................... 47 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Security guards and gaming surveillance officers... 523 540 17 88.5

Crossing guards............................................. 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Lifeguards and other protective service workers...... 31 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Food preparation and serving related occupations...... 2,118 432 9 87.0

Chefs and head cooks....................................... 255 551 17 ( 2 )

First-line supervisors/managers of food 

 preparation and serving workers........................ 203 599 26 73.3

Cooks............................................................ 832 404 6 89.9

Food preparation workers................................. 128 368 13 91.8

Bartenders...................................................... 96 596 19 76.7

Combined food preparation and serving workers, 

 including fast food....................................... 42 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, 

 and coffee shop............................................. 30 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Waiters and waitresses.................................... 292 436 18 84.2

Food servers, nonrestaurant.............................. 29 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Dining room and cafeteria attendants and 

 bartender helpers.......................................... 90 394 15 98.0

Dishwashers................................................... 108 367 23 ( 2 )

Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and 

 coffee shop................................................... 10 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Food preparation and serving related workers,

 all other...................................................... 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance 

 occupations......................................................... 2,232 488 5 78.5

First-line supervisors/managers of 

 housekeeping and janitorial workers.................. 127 748 33 59.9

 See footnotes at end of table.

Occupation

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

19
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed occupation and sex, 

2008 annual averages—Continued

First-line supervisors/managers of landscaping, 

 lawn service, and groundskeeping workers......... 86 $687 $55 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Janitors and building cleaners........................... 1,510 460 10 414 $397 $8

Maids and housekeeping cleaners..................... 847 378 6 742 371 5

Pest control workers.......................................... 61 611 32 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Grounds maintenance workers........................... 802 420 5 37 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Personal care and service occupations..................... 2,250 475 7 1,634 441 8

First-line supervisors/managers of gaming

 workers......................................................... 97 760 65 36 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

First-line supervisors/managers of personal 

 service workers............................................... 61 618 32 38 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Animal trainers................................................ 12 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Nonfarm animal caretakers................................. 62 457 30 45 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Gaming services workers................................. 84 650 33 43 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Motion picture projectionists.............................. 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers............ 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Miscellaneous entertainment attendants and

 related workers............................................. 70 415 21 34 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Funeral service workers.................................... 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Barbers......................................................... 38 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists......... 306 496 13 269 489 13

Miscellaneous personal appearance workers......... 130 462 38 102 444 39

Baggage porters, bellhops, and concierges............ 55 581 27 11 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Tour and travel guides....................................... 20 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 11 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Transportation attendants................................. 102 717 46 68 637 83

Child care workers.......................................... 435 396 11 410 393 11

Personal and home care aides........................... 485 414 9 394 404 10

Recreation and fitness workers........................... 176 514 20 105 487 19

Residential advisors.......................................... 52 584 32 32 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Personal care and service workers, all other......... 46 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 18 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Sales and office occupations....................................... 25,232 614 2 15,635 578 2

Sales and related occupations................................. 10,113 656 7 4,518 516 5

First-line supervisors/managers of retail 

 sales workers................................................ 2,432 669 11 1,050 556 11

First-line supervisors/managers of non-retail 

 sales workers................... ........................... 788 882 35 233 765 31

Cashiers......................................................... 1,376 360 5 1,018 349 5

Counter and rental clerks................................. 93 586 35 35 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Parts salespersons.......................................... 111 519 22 12 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Retail salespersons.......................................... 1,996 521 9 848 440 12

Advertising sales agents.................................... 181 838 57 99 804 57

Insurance sales agents.................................... 379 767 17 198 652 29

Securities, commodities, and financial services 

 sales agents................................................ 290 1,127 109 84 760 31

Travel agents................................................... 64 685 35 45 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Sales representatives, services, all other............... 431 926 37 148 841 44

Sales representatives, wholesale and 

 manufacturing................................................ 1,143 986 22 299 846 44

Models, demonstrators, and product promoters...... 25 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 18 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Real estate brokers and sales agents.................. 462 794 24 251 682 67

Sales engineers............................................. 41 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Telemarketers................................................ 95 457 26 61 473 29

Door-to-door sales workers, news and street 

 vendors, and related workers........................... 55 507 44 26 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

 See footnotes at end of table.

Both sexes Women

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

20
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed 

occupation and sex, 2008 annual averages—Continued 

Men

First-line supervisors/managers of landscaping, 

 lawn service, and groundskeeping workers......... 82 $712 $54 ( 2 )

Janitors and building cleaners........................... 1,096 493 8 80.5

Maids and housekeeping cleaners..................... 105 436 37 85.1

Pest control workers.......................................... 57 596 31 ( 2 )

Grounds maintenance workers........................... 766 422 6 ( 2 )

Personal care and service occupations..................... 615 591 14 74.6

First-line supervisors/managers of gaming

 workers......................................................... 62 837 55 ( 2 )

First-line supervisors/managers of personal 

 service workers............................................... 23 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Animal trainers................................................ 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Nonfarm animal caretakers................................. 18 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Gaming services workers................................. 41 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Motion picture projectionists.............................. 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers............ 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Miscellaneous entertainment attendants and

 related workers............................................. 36 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Funeral service workers.................................... 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Barbers......................................................... 31 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists......... 37 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Miscellaneous personal appearance workers......... 28 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Baggage porters, bellhops, and concierges............ 44 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Tour and travel guides....................................... 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Transportation attendants................................. 34 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Child care workers.......................................... 25 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Personal and home care aides........................... 91 475 49 85.1

Recreation and fitness workers........................... 70 639 48 76.2

Residential advisors.......................................... 20 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Personal care and service workers, all other......... 28 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Sales and office occupations....................................... 9,597 733 5 78.9

Sales and related occupations................................. 5,594 796 11 64.8

First-line supervisors/managers of retail 

 sales workers................................................ 1,382 781 16 71.2

First-line supervisors/managers of non-retail 

 sales workers................... ........................... 555 947 18 80.8

Cashiers......................................................... 359 399 11 87.5

Counter and rental clerks................................. 58 671 35 ( 2 )

Parts salespersons.......................................... 99 555 48 ( 2 )

Retail salespersons.......................................... 1,148 623 17 70.6

Advertising sales agents.................................... 82 879 106 91.5

Insurance sales agents.................................... 182 994 53 65.6

Securities, commodities, and financial services 

 sales agents................................................ 206 1,272 115 59.7

Travel agents................................................... 19 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Sales representatives, services, all other............... 283 957 38 87.9

Sales representatives, wholesale and 

 manufacturing................................................ 844 1,064 52 79.5

Models, demonstrators, and product promoters...... 8 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Real estate brokers and sales agents.................. 211 952 27 71.6

Sales engineers............................................. 39 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Telemarketers................................................ 34 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Door-to-door sales workers, news and street 

 vendors, and related workers........................... 29 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

 See footnotes at end of table.

Occupation

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

21
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed occupation and sex, 

2008 annual averages—Continued

Sales and related workers, all other..................... 149 $746 $27 90 $695 $42

Office and administrative support occupations............ 15,119 601 2 11,117 590 2

First-line supervisors/managers of office and 

 administrative support workers........................ 1,500 731 11 1,029 688 13

Switchboard operators, including answering

 service......................................................... 40 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 34 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Telephone operators....................................... 37 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 27 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Communications equipment operators, all other...... 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Bill and account collectors................................. 206 605 21 139 597 27

Billing and posting clerks and machine operators... 428 584 9 386 575 12

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks......... 950 606 8 865 603 8

Gaming cage workers....................................... 15 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 13 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Payroll and timekeeping clerks........................... 127 690 24 110 700 23

Procurement clerks.......................................... 23 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 15 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Tellers............................................................ 338 469 9 284 468 10

Brokerage clerks............................................. 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Correspondence clerks.................................... 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Court, municipal, and license clerks..................... 92 673 32 70 643 28

Credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks............... 58 556 25 39 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Customer service representatives........................ 1,511 577 8 1,015 568 11

Eligibility interviewers, government programs......... 60 665 20 50 668 31

File clerks...................................................... 259 549 21 217 536 21

Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks..................... 81 410 19 58 406 23

Interviewers, except eligibility and loan.................. 110 581 22 88 573 24

Library assistants, clerical................................. 41 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 35 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Loan interviewers and clerks.............................. 114 681 38 97 643 55

New accounts clerks....................................... 24 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 20 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Order clerks................................................... 98 548 27 54 541 26

Human resources assistants, except payroll and

 timekeeping................................................... 48 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 40 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Receptionists and information clerks..................... 960 503 6 896 502 6

Reservation and transportation ticket agents and

 travel clerks.................................................. 120 572 32 70 538 28

Information and record clerks, all other.................. 94 639 23 87 624 26

Cargo and freight agents.................................... 17 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Couriers and messengers................................. 178 724 55 24 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Dispatchers................................................... 243 653 24 134 578 23

Meter readers, utilities....................................... 42 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Postal service clerks....................................... 157 877 30 80 853 27

Postal service mail carriers................................. 338 908 18 101 803 42

Postal service mail sorters, processors, and

 processing machine operators........................... 84 830 59 35 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Production, planning, and expediting clerks............ 249 750 32 147 690 42

Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks.................. 478 543 17 140 516 18

Stock clerks and order fillers.............................. 1,059 468 11 371 466 14

Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers,

 recordkeeping................................................ 59 604 23 26 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Secretaries and administrative assistants............ 2,575 616 5 2,485 614 4

Computer operators.......................................... 112 673 32 58 632 33

Data entry keyers............................................. 339 586 14 261 565 23

Word processors and typists.............................. 112 571 31 102 560 35

Desktop publishers.......................................... 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Insurance claims and policy processing clerks...... 264 593 13 219 588 13

Mail clerks and mail machine operators, 

 except postal service....................................... 98 494 20 50 446 15

 See footnotes at end of table.

Both sexes Women

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

22
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed 

occupation and sex, 2008 annual averages—Continued 

Men

Sales and related workers, all other..................... 58 $809 $56 85.9

Office and administrative support occupations............ 4,003 651 8 90.6

First-line supervisors/managers of office and 

 administrative support workers........................ 470 848 26 81.1

Switchboard operators, including answering

 service......................................................... 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Telephone operators....................................... 10 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Communications equipment operators, all other...... 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Bill and account collectors................................. 67 618 32 96.6

Billing and posting clerks and machine operators... 42 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks......... 85 645 32 93.5

Gaming cage workers....................................... 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Payroll and timekeeping clerks........................... 17 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Procurement clerks.......................................... 8 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Tellers............................................................ 54 471 24 99.4

Brokerage clerks............................................. - - -( 2 )

Correspondence clerks.................................... 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Court, municipal, and license clerks..................... 22 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks............... 19 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Customer service representatives........................ 496 607 21 93.6

Eligibility interviewers, government programs......... 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

File clerks...................................................... 42 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks..................... 24 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Interviewers, except eligibility and loan.................. 22 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Library assistants, clerical................................. 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Loan interviewers and clerks.............................. 17 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

New accounts clerks....................................... 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Order clerks................................................... 45 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Human resources assistants, except payroll and

 timekeeping................................................... 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Receptionists and information clerks..................... 64 537 77 93.5

Reservation and transportation ticket agents and

 travel clerks............... .................................... 50 752 48 71.5

Information and record clerks, all other.................. 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Cargo and freight agents.................................... 12 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Couriers and messengers................................. 154 755 33 ( 2 )

Dispatchers................................................... 109 722 26 80.1

Meter readers, utilities....................................... 36 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Postal service clerks....................................... 77 905 36 94.3

Postal service mail carriers................................. 237 939 20 85.5

Postal service mail sorters, processors, and

 processing machine operators........................... 49 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Production, planning, and expediting clerks............ 102 862 52 80.0

Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks.................. 338 559 22 92.3

Stock clerks and order fillers.............................. 688 470 15 99.1

Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers,

 recordkeeping................................................ 34 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Secretaries and administrative assistants............ 90 736 26 83.4

Computer operators.......................................... 55 749 38 84.4

Data entry keyers............................................. 77 652 46 86.7

Word processors and typists.............................. 10 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Desktop publishers.......................................... 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Insurance claims and policy processing clerks...... 44 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Mail clerks and mail machine operators, 

 except postal service....................................... 48 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

 See footnotes at end of table.

Occupation

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

23
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed occupation and sex, 

2008 annual averages—Continued

Office clerks, general....................................... 840 $585 $8 727 $582 $8

Office machine operators, except computer......... 30 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 15 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Proofreaders and copy markers........................... 11 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 8 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Statistical assistants.......................................... 18 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 14 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Office and administrative support workers, all

 other............................................................ 464 657 14 357 636 16

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 

 occupations......................................................... 11,609 702 4 450 607 18

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.................. 756 420 7 144 392 16

First-line supervisors/managers of farming,

 fishing, and forestry workers.............................. 35 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Agricultural inspectors....................................... 28 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 14 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Animal breeders............................................. 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Graders and sorters, agricultural products............ 63 463 30 39 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Miscellaneous agricultural workers..................... 564 394 7 83 346 18

Fishers and related fishing workers..................... 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Hunters and trappers....................................... 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Forest and conservation workers........................ 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Logging workers............................................. 47 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Construction and extraction occupations..................... 6,432 688 6 139 747 28

First-line supervisors/managers of

 construction trades and extraction workers ......... 631 947 37 15 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Boilermakers................................................... 23 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons...... 161 622 49 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Carpenters...................................................... 986 656 14 11 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers......... 118 621 35 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Cement masons, concrete finishers, and 

 terrazzo workers............................................. 77 574 49 - - -

Construction laborers....................................... 1,210 564 18 31 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment

 operators...................................................... 23 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Pile-driver operators.......................................... 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Operating engineers and other construction 

 equipment operators....................................... 360 749 31 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers... 158 559 28 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Electricians................................................... 728 807 23 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Glaziers......................................................... 41 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Insulation workers............................................. 35 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Painters, construction and maintenance............... 386 554 31 20 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Paperhangers................................................ 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters... 492 784 30 8 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Plasterers and stucco masons........................... 42 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Reinforcing iron and rebar workers..................... 15 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Roofers......................................................... 153 558 29 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Sheet metal workers....................................... 112 732 42 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Structural iron and steel workers........................ 71 871 32 - - -

Helpers, construction trades.............................. 94 504 17 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Construction and building inspectors.................. 84 854 25 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Elevator installers and repairers........................... 39 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Fence erectors................................................ 26 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Hazardous materials removal workers.................. 19 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Highway maintenance workers........................... 97 659 29 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment

 operators...................................................... 16 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

 See footnotes at end of table.

Both sexes Women

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

24
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed 

occupation and sex, 2008 annual averages—Continued 

Men

Office clerks, general....................................... 113 $602 $24 96.7

Office machine operators, except computer......... 15 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Proofreaders and copy markers........................... 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Statistical assistants.......................................... 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Office and administrative support workers, all

 other............................................................ 107 729 23 87.2

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 

 occupations......................................................... 11,159 705 4 86.1

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.................. 612 427 12 91.8

First-line supervisors/managers of farming,

 fishing, and forestry workers.............................. 31 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Agricultural inspectors....................................... 14 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Animal breeders............................................. 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Graders and sorters, agricultural products............ 24 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Miscellaneous agricultural workers..................... 481 402 8 86.1

Fishers and related fishing workers..................... 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Hunters and trappers....................................... 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Forest and conservation workers........................ 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Logging workers............................................. 47 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Construction and extraction occupations..................... 6,293 688 6 108.6

First-line supervisors/managers of

 construction trades and extraction workers ......... 615 945 39 ( 2 )

Boilermakers................................................... 23 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons...... 160 624 51 ( 2 )

Carpenters...................................................... 975 655 14 ( 2 )

Carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers......... 116 613 37 ( 2 )

Cement masons, concrete finishers, and 

 terrazzo workers............................................. 77 574 49 ( 2 )

Construction laborers....................................... 1,180 558 20 ( 2 )

Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment

 operators...................................................... 20 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Pile-driver operators.......................................... 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Operating engineers and other construction 

 equipment operators....................................... 354 744 33 ( 2 )

Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers... 154 556 28 ( 2 )

Electricians................................................... 722 809 22 ( 2 )

Glaziers......................................................... 41 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Insulation workers............................................. 31 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Painters, construction and maintenance............... 366 556 30 ( 2 )

Paperhangers................................................ 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters... 484 785 32 ( 2 )

Plasterers and stucco masons........................... 42 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Reinforcing iron and rebar workers..................... 15 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Roofers......................................................... 152 560 29 ( 2 )

Sheet metal workers....................................... 105 733 41 ( 2 )

Structural iron and steel workers........................ 71 871 32 ( 2 )

Helpers, construction trades.............................. 89 500 19 ( 2 )

Construction and building inspectors.................. 77 849 24 ( 2 )

Elevator installers and repairers........................... 36 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Fence erectors................................................ 26 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Hazardous materials removal workers.................. 17 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Highway maintenance workers........................... 96 656 29 ( 2 )

Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment

 operators...................................................... 16 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

 See footnotes at end of table.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

25
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed occupation and sex, 

2008 annual averages—Continued

Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners...... 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Miscellaneous construction and related workers...... 24 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Derrick, rotary drill, and service unit operators,

 oil, gas, and mining....................................... 36 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Earth drillers, except oil and gas........................ 37 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts,

 and blasters................................................... 10 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Mining machine operators................................. 49 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Roof bolters, mining.......................................... 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Roustabouts, oil and gas.................................... 8 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Helpers--extraction workers.............................. 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Other extraction workers.................................... 47 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations......... 4,420 $774 $7 167 $779 $30

First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics,

 installers, and repairers.................................... 297 937 34 24 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Computer, automated teller, and office machine 

 repairers...................................................... 271 823 31 31 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Radio and telecommunications equipment 

 installers and repairers.................................... 199 866 32 27 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Avionics technicians.......................................... 15 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers...... 19 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Electrical and electronics installers and

 repairers, transportation equipment.................. 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Electrical and electronics repairers, industrial

 and utility...................................................... 18 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Electronic equipment installers and repairers,

 motor vehicles................................................ 26 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Electronic home entertainment equipment

 installers and repairers.................................... 52 787 123 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Security and fire alarm systems installers............ 50 745 56 - - -

Aircraft mechanics and service technicians............ 144 919 57 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Automotive body and related repairers.................. 116 713 26 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Automotive glass installers and repairers............... 26 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Automotive service technicians and mechanics...... 650 677 18 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine 

 specialists................................................... 328 763 21 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service 

 technicians and mechanics.............................. 202 846 33 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Small engine mechanics.................................... 44 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Miscellaneous vehicle and mobile equipment

 mechanics, installers, and repairers.................. 69 489 19 - - -

Control and valve installers and repairers............ 22 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration 

 mechanics and installers................................. 311 804 34 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Home appliance repairers................................. 31 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Industrial and refractory machinery mechanics...... 419 801 21 12 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Maintenance and repair workers, general............ 420 720 20 16 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Maintenance workers, machinery........................ 40 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Millwrights...................................................... 65 956 52 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Electrical power-line installers and repairers......... 97 1,093 45 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Telecommunications line installers and repairers... 187 848 34 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Precision instrument and equipment repairers...... 46 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Coin, vending, and amusement machine 

 servicers and repairers.................................... 31 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

 See footnotes at end of table.

Both sexes Women

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

26
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed 

occupation and sex, 2008 annual averages—Continued 

Men

Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners...... 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Miscellaneous construction and related workers...... 24 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Derrick, rotary drill, and service unit operators,

 oil, gas, and mining....................................... 36 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Earth drillers, except oil and gas........................ 37 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts,

 and blasters................................................... 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Mining machine operators................................. 48 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Roof bolters, mining.......................................... 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Roustabouts, oil and gas.................................... 8 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Helpers--extraction workers.............................. 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Other extraction workers.................................... 47 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations......... 4,253 $774 $8 100.6

First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics,

 installers, and repairers.................................... 273 940 32 ( 2 )

Computer, automated teller, and office machine 

 repairers...................................................... 240 805 30 ( 2 )

Radio and telecommunications equipment 

 installers and repairers.................................... 172 881 55 ( 2 )

Avionics technicians.......................................... 13 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers...... 17 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Electrical and electronics installers and

 repairers, transportation equipment.................. 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Electrical and electronics repairers, industrial

 and utility...................................................... 17 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Electronic equipment installers and repairers,

 motor vehicles................................................ 25 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Electronic home entertainment equipment

 installers and repairers.................................... 51 796 123 ( 2 )

Security and fire alarm systems installers............ 50 745 56 ( 2 )

Aircraft mechanics and service technicians............ 141 928 54 ( 2 )

Automotive body and related repairers.................. 115 715 26 ( 2 )

Automotive glass installers and repairers............... 26 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Automotive service technicians and mechanics...... 641 678 18 ( 2 )

Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine 

 specialists................................................... 326 763 21 ( 2 )

Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service 

 technicians and mechanics.............................. 200 847 32 ( 2 )

Small engine mechanics.................................... 43 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Miscellaneous vehicle and mobile equipment

 mechanics, installers, and repairers.................. 69 489 19 ( 2 )

Control and valve installers and repairers............ 22 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration 

 mechanics and installers................................. 306 805 33 ( 2 )

Home appliance repairers................................. 31 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Industrial and refractory machinery mechanics...... 407 806 22 ( 2 )

Maintenance and repair workers, general............ 404 719 20 ( 2 )

Maintenance workers, machinery........................ 40 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Millwrights...................................................... 64 960 52 ( 2 )

Electrical power-line installers and repairers......... 96 1,090 45 ( 2 )

Telecommunications line installers and repairers... 181 836 33 ( 2 )

Precision instrument and equipment repairers...... 40 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Coin, vending, and amusement machine 

 servicers and repairers.................................... 27 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

 See footnotes at end of table.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

27
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed occupation and sex, 

2008 annual averages—Continued

Commercial divers.......................................... 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Locksmiths and safe repairers........................... 21 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Manufactured building and mobile home installers... 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Riggers......................................................... 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Signal and track switch repairers........................ 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair

 workers......................................................... 16 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Other installation, maintenance, and repair

 workers......................................................... 166 $639 $31 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Production, transportation, and material moving 

 occupations......................................................... 14,840 594 3 3,131 $462 $5

Production occupations.......................................... 8,008 595 4 2,245 464 6

First-line supervisors/managers of production 

 and operating workers.................................... 810 857 21 140 634 29

Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems

 assemblers................................................... 23 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Electrical, electronics, and electromechanical 

 assemblers................................................... 185 506 14 107 453 24

Engine and other machine assemblers.................. 14 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Structural metal fabricators and fitters.................. 29 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators............ 959 531 13 337 466 12

Bakers......................................................... 143 426 21 68 393 19

Butchers and other meat, poultry, and fish

 processing workers....................................... 303 490 9 81 430 18

Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying

 machine operators and tenders........................ 10 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Food batchmakers.......................................... 66 477 45 34 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Food cooking machine operators and tenders...... 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Computer control programmers and operators...... 65 810 34 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Extruding and drawing machine setters,

 operators, and tenders, metal and plastic............ 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders,

 metal and plastic............................................. 10 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders,

 metal and plastic............................................. 12 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, 

 operators, and tenders, metal and plastic............ 104 525 20 22 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Drilling and boring machine tool setters, 

 operators, and tenders, metal and plastic............ 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine 

 tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and

 plastic......................................................... 52 690 56 8 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators,

 and tenders, metal and plastic........................... 23 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Milling and planing machine setters, operators,

 and tenders, metal and plastic........................... 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Machinists...................................................... 376 708 15 25 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Metal furnace and kiln operators and tenders......... 25 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Model makers and patternmakers, metal and

 plastic......................................................... 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Molders and molding machine setters, 

 operators, and tenders, metal and plastic............ 52 589 26 11 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

See footnotes at end of table.

Both sexes Women

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

28
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed 

occupation and sex, 2008 annual averages—Continued 

Men

Commercial divers.......................................... 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Locksmiths and safe repairers........................... 20 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Manufactured building and mobile home installers... 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Riggers......................................................... 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Signal and track switch repairers........................ 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair

 workers......................................................... 16 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Other installation, maintenance, and repair

 workers......................................................... 156 $638 $30 ( 2 )

Production, transportation, and material moving 

 occupations......................................................... 11,709 637 5 72.5

Production occupations.......................................... 5,763 659 6 70.4

First-line supervisors/managers of production 

 and operating workers.................................... 671 899 18 70.5

Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems

 assemblers................................................... 16 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Electrical, electronics, and electromechanical 

 assemblers................................................... 78 600 25 75.5

Engine and other machine assemblers.................. 11 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Structural metal fabricators and fitters.................. 29 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators............ 622 581 11 80.2

Bakers......................................................... 75 478 23 82.2

Butchers and other meat, poultry, and fish

 processing workers....................................... 223 512 11 84.0

Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying

 machine operators and tenders........................ 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Food batchmakers.......................................... 32 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Food cooking machine operators and tenders...... 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Computer control programmers and operators...... 59 820 35 ( 2 )

Extruding and drawing machine setters,

 operators, and tenders, metal and plastic............ 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders,

 metal and plastic............................................. 10 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders,

 metal and plastic............................................. 11 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, 

 operators, and tenders, metal and plastic............ 82 548 22 ( 2 )

Drilling and boring machine tool setters, 

 operators, and tenders, metal and plastic............ 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine 

 tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and

 plastic......................................................... 44 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators,

 and tenders, metal and plastic........................... 20 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Milling and planing machine setters, operators,

 and tenders, metal and plastic........................... 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Machinists...................................................... 351 715 14 ( 2 )

Metal furnace and kiln operators and tenders......... 24 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Model makers and patternmakers, metal and

 plastic......................................................... 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Molders and molding machine setters, 

 operators, and tenders, metal and plastic............ 40 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

See footnotes at end of table.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

29
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed occupation and sex, 

2008 annual averages—Continued

Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and

 tenders, metal and plastic................................. 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Tool and die makers.......................................... 64 $946 $66 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Welding, soldering, and brazing workers............... 536 666 16 22 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and

 tenders, metal and plastic................................. 10 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Lay-out workers, metal and plastic..................... 8 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Plating and coating machine setters, operators,

 and tenders, metal and plastic........................... 12 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners..................... 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Metalworkers and plastic workers, all other............ 356 586 14 73 $515 $22

Bookbinders and bindery workers........................ 29 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 12 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Job printers................................................... 36 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Prepress technicians and workers........................ 37 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 20 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Printing machine operators................................. 197 631 30 40 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Laundry and dry-cleaning workers........................ 179 362 9 106 345 9

Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials... 47 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 37 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Sewing machine operators................................. 175 386 18 131 383 21

Shoe and leather workers and repairers............... 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Shoe machine operators and tenders.................. 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Tailors, dressmakers, and sewers........................ 25 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 20 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators

 and tenders................................................... 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and

 tenders......................................................... 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Textile knitting and weaving machine setters,

 operators, and tenders.................................... 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out 

 machine setters, operators, and tenders............ 11 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 8 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, 

 and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers............... 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Fabric and apparel patternmakers........................ 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Upholsterers................................................... 30 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Textile, apparel, and furnishings workers, all other... 20 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters.................. 61 641 31 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Furniture finishers............................................. 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Sawing machine setters, operators, and 

 tenders, wood................................................ 38 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Woodworking machine setters, operators, and

 tenders, except sawing................................... 18 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Woodworkers, all other.................................... 17 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Power plant operators, distributors, and

 dispatchers................................................... 53 960 70 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Stationary engineers and boiler operators............ 97 848 37 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Water and liquid waste treatment plant and 

 system operators.......................................... 73 705 59 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Miscellaneous plant and system operators............ 34 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Chemical processing machine setters, 

 operators, and tenders.................................... 51 918 50 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Crushing, grinding, polishing, mixing, and 

 blending workers.......................................... 106 596 51 18 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Cutting workers................................................ 72 502 22 18 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting

 machine setters, operators, and tenders............ 29 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 8 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

See footnotes at end of table.

Both sexes Women

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

30
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed 

occupation and sex, 2008 annual averages—Continued 

Men

Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and

 tenders, metal and plastic................................. 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Tool and die makers.......................................... 64 $952 $66 ( 2 )

Welding, soldering, and brazing workers............... 514 673 15 ( 2 )

Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and

 tenders, metal and plastic................................. 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Lay-out workers, metal and plastic..................... 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Plating and coating machine setters, operators,

 and tenders, metal and plastic........................... 11 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners..................... 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Metalworkers and plastic workers, all other............ 283 605 17 85.1

Bookbinders and bindery workers........................ 17 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Job printers................................................... 30 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Prepress technicians and workers........................ 17 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Printing machine operators................................. 157 669 29 ( 2 )

Laundry and dry-cleaning workers........................ 73 414 29 83.3

Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials... 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Sewing machine operators................................. 45 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Shoe and leather workers and repairers............... 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Shoe machine operators and tenders.................. - - -( 2 )

Tailors, dressmakers, and sewers........................ 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators

 and tenders................................................... 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and

 tenders......................................................... 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Textile knitting and weaving machine setters,

 operators, and tenders.................................... 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out 

 machine setters, operators, and tenders............ 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, 

 and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers............... 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Fabric and apparel patternmakers........................ - - -( 2 )

Upholsterers................................................... 23 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Textile, apparel, and furnishings workers, all other... 14 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters.................. 57 655 30 ( 2 )

Furniture finishers............................................. 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Sawing machine setters, operators, and 

 tenders, wood................................................ 35 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Woodworking machine setters, operators, and

 tenders, except sawing................................... 12 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Woodworkers, all other.................................... 13 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Power plant operators, distributors, and

 dispatchers................................................... 47 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Stationary engineers and boiler operators............ 96 849 36 ( 2 )

Water and liquid waste treatment plant and 

 system operators.......................................... 69 693 79 ( 2 )

Miscellaneous plant and system operators............ 33 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Chemical processing machine setters, 

 operators, and tenders.................................... 45 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Crushing, grinding, polishing, mixing, and 

 blending workers.......................................... 88 576 59 ( 2 )

Cutting workers................................................ 55 514 24 ( 2 )

Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting

 machine setters, operators, and tenders............ 21 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

See footnotes at end of table.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

31
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed occupation and sex, 

2008 annual averages—Continued

Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators

 and tenders................................................... 11 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and

 weighers...................................................... 711 $660 $19 301 $527 $21

Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers... 28 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 13 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Medical, dental, and ophthalmic laboratory 

 technicians................................................... 73 582 20 39 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Packaging and filling machine operators and 

 tenders......................................................... 240 449 18 131 401 16

Painting workers............................................. 163 565 29 19 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Photographic process workers and processing 

 machine operators.......................................... 32 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 16 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Semiconductor processors................................. 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Cementing and gluing machine operators and

 tenders......................................................... 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling

 equipment operators and tenders..................... 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Cooling and freezing equipment operators and

 tenders......................................................... 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Etchers and engravers....................................... 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal

 and plastic................................................... 33 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Paper goods machine setters, operators, and

 tenders......................................................... 41 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 12 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Tire builders................................................... 12 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Helpers--production workers.............................. 31 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Production workers, all other.............................. 866 545 14 251 485 13

Transportation and material moving occupations......... 6,832 593 5 886 455 12

Supervisors, transportation and material moving 

 workers......................................................... 215 761 28 38 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Aircraft pilots and flight engineers........................ 92 1,390 63 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Air traffic controllers and airfield operations

 specialists................................................... 26 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Ambulance drivers and attendants, except

 emergency medical technicians........................ 16 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Bus drivers...................................................... 372 561 20 171 507 23

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers.................. 2,729 702 9 116 542 39

Taxi drivers and chauffeurs................................. 208 503 16 30 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Motor vehicle operators, all other........................ 33 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Locomotive engineers and operators.................. 53 1,223 80 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators......... 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Railroad conductors and yardmasters.................. 53 1,067 155 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Subway, streetcar, and other rail transportation

 workers......................................................... 22 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Sailors and marine oilers.................................... 13 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Ship and boat captains and operators.................. 36 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Ship engineers................................................ 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Bridge and lock tenders.................................... 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Parking lot attendants....................................... 50 436 62 3 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Service station attendants................................. 64 373 25 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Transportation inspectors................................. 44 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 7 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Other transportation workers.............................. 13 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Conveyor operators and tenders........................ 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Crane and tower operators................................. 68 925 52 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

See footnotes at end of table.

Both sexes Women

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

32
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed 

occupation and sex, 2008 annual averages—Continued 

Men

Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators

 and tenders................................................... 8 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and

 weighers...................................................... 409 $765 $20 68.9

Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers... 16 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Medical, dental, and ophthalmic laboratory 

 technicians................................................... 34 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Packaging and filling machine operators and 

 tenders......................................................... 109 501 11 80.0

Painting workers............................................. 144 579 25 ( 2 )

Photographic process workers and processing 

 machine operators.......................................... 16 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Semiconductor processors................................. 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Cementing and gluing machine operators and

 tenders......................................................... 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling

 equipment operators and tenders..................... 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Cooling and freezing equipment operators and

 tenders......................................................... 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Etchers and engravers....................................... 2 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal

 and plastic................................................... 30 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Paper goods machine setters, operators, and

 tenders......................................................... 29 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Tire builders................................................... 9 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Helpers--production workers.............................. 26 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Production workers, all other.............................. 615 592 14 81.9

Transportation and material moving occupations......... 5,946 615 5 74.0

Supervisors, transportation and material moving 

 workers......................................................... 177 796 34 ( 2 )

Aircraft pilots and flight engineers........................ 88 1,399 62 ( 2 )

Air traffic controllers and airfield operations

 specialists................................................... 19 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Ambulance drivers and attendants, except

 emergency medical technicians........................ 12 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Bus drivers...................................................... 201 605 19 83.8

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers.................. 2,613 709 9 76.4

Taxi drivers and chauffeurs................................. 179 514 17 ( 2 )

Motor vehicle operators, all other........................ 27 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Locomotive engineers and operators.................. 51 1,207 87 ( 2 )

Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators......... 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Railroad conductors and yardmasters.................. 51 1,080 123 ( 2 )

Subway, streetcar, and other rail transportation

 workers......................................................... 16 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Sailors and marine oilers.................................... 13 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Ship and boat captains and operators.................. 33 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Ship engineers................................................ 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Bridge and lock tenders.................................... 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Parking lot attendants....................................... 46 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Service station attendants................................. 56 378 29 ( 2 )

Transportation inspectors................................. 37 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Other transportation workers.............................. 11 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Conveyor operators and tenders........................ 6 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Crane and tower operators................................. 66 933 32 ( 2 )

See footnotes at end of table.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

33
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed occupation and sex, 

2008 annual averages—Continued

Dredge, excavating, and loading machine 

 operators...................................................... 41 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Hoist and winch operators................................. 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Industrial truck and tractor operators..................... 551 $534 $16 40 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Cleaners of vehicles and equipment..................... 227 428 23 19 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, 

 hand............................................................ 1,392 501 6 198 $417 $14

Machine feeders and offbearers........................ 29 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 13 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Packers and packagers, hand........................... 315 388 10 186 368 9

Pumping station operators................................. 23 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Refuse and recyclable material collectors............ 70 475 50 10 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

Shuttle car operators....................................... 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Tank car, truck, and ship loaders........................ 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) - --

Material moving workers, all other........................ 43 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 8 ( 1 ) ( 1 )

See footnotes at end of table.

Both sexes Women

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

34
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by detailed 

occupation and sex, 2008 annual averages—Continued 

Men

Dredge, excavating, and loading machine

 operators...................................................... 39 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Hoist and winch operators................................. 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Industrial truck and tractor operators..................... 511 $533 $16 ( 2 )

Cleaners of vehicles and equipment..................... 208 437 31 ( 2 )

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, 

 hand............................................................ 1,194 508 6 82.1

Machine feeders and offbearers........................ 16 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Packers and packagers, hand........................... 129 410 12 89.8

Pumping station operators................................. 22 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Refuse and recyclable material collectors............ 61 493 21 ( 2 )

Shuttle car operators....................................... 5 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Tank car, truck, and ship loaders........................ 4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Material moving workers, all other........................ 35 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )

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

 2 Data not shown where base for either the numerator or the denominator is less than 50,000.

 NOTE: Dash indicates data not available or do not meet publication standards.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

35
Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by State 

and sex, 2008 annual averages 

Women

UNITED STATES..................... 106,648 $722 $2 47,209 $638 $2

Alabama....................................... 1,582 638 14 722 561 20

Alaska.......................................... 240 847 16 104 719 16

Arizona......................................... 2,139 714 11 919 657 12

Arkansas...................................... 981 602 9 453 556 38

California...................................... 12,167 794 8 5,085 738 10

Colorado...................................... 1,874 784 14 797 693 15

Connecticut.................................. 1,272 935 21 565 772 24

Delaware...................................... 329 742 12 153 656 16

District of Columbia...................... 261 896 22 133 866 16

Florida.......................................... 6,425 685 7 3,004 616 5

Georgia........................................ 3,506 723 13 1,591 635 15

Hawaii.......................................... 458 723 14 204 652 20

Idaho............................................ 481 658 13 196 560 14

Illinois........................................... 4,639 732 8 2,032 634 11

Indiana......................................... 2,351 696 13 1,046 615 13

Iowa............................................. 1,137 697 13 503 619 12

Kansas......................................... 1,027 694 15 448 589 12

Kentucky...................................... 1,376 645 16 602 551 18

Louisiana..................................... 1,496 654 11 700 565 24

Maine........................................... 441 691 13 196 607 13

Maryland...................................... 2,207 851 19 1,055 774 21

Massachusetts............................. 2,311 897 15 1,038 762 15

Michigan...................................... 3,187 748 10 1,363 638 13

Minnesota.................................... 1,884 794 17 829 717 18

Mississippi................................... 913 603 10 429 510 10

Missouri....................................... 2,135 668 14 981 586 11

Montana....................................... 297 639 11 132 528 15

Nebraska..................................... 673 662 12 296 583 13

Nevada........................................ 1,027 688 13 440 614 9

New Hampshire........................... 501 808 20 222 689 24

New Jersey.................................. 3,222 824 14 1,441 726 13

New Mexico................................. 666 672 13 295 606 9

New York..................................... 6,811 751 6 3,134 687 10

North Carolina.............................. 3,225 639 11 1,472 586 10

North Dakota................................ 243 643 12 112 547 19

Ohio............................................. 4,008 701 9 1,786 614 7

Oklahoma.................................... 1,318 647 11 590 551 27

Oregon......................................... 1,221 715 15 510 633 12

Pennsylvania............................... 4,435 735 7 2,016 642 9

Rhode Island................................ 361 775 20 160 679 21

South Carolina............................. 1,489 637 12 682 576 15

South Dakota............................... 295 621 8 135 568 15

Tennessee................................... 2,121 636 13 969 583 12

Texas........................................... 8,558 639 7 3,582 586 7

Utah............................................. 930 700 12 353 594 11

Vermont....................................... 220 690 15 97 625 15

Virginia......................................... 3,002 758 12 1,381 674 18

Washington.................................. 2,329 822 18 981 709 18

West Virginia................................ 615 636 16 264 546 17

Wisconsin.................................... 2,062 706 12 931 624 11

Wyoming...................................... 197 748 15 80 599 13

See note at end of table.

Both sexes

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

State

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

 36
Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary 

workers, by State and sex, 2008 annual averages—Continued 

Men

UNITED STATES..................... 59,439 $798 $3 79.9

Alabama....................................... 860 720 18 77.9

Alaska.......................................... 136 970 23 74.1

Arizona......................................... 1,220 774 20 84.9

Arkansas...................................... 528 640 23 86.9

California...................................... 7,082 852 16 86.6

Colorado...................................... 1,077 878 23 78.9

Connecticut.................................. 707 1,057 32 73.0

Delaware...................................... 176 821 24 79.9

District of Columbia...................... 128 939 24 92.2

Florida.......................................... 3,422 754 9 81.7

Georgia........................................ 1,914 821 24 77.3

Hawaii.......................................... 254 785 28 83.1

Idaho............................................ 286 736 19 76.1

Illinois........................................... 2,607 814 17 77.9

Indiana......................................... 1,305 807 23 76.2

Iowa............................................. 634 762 12 81.2

Kansas......................................... 579 808 26 72.9

Kentucky...................................... 774 719 16 76.6

Louisiana..................................... 796 777 32 72.7

Maine........................................... 245 764 21 79.5

Maryland...................................... 1,152 926 27 83.6

Massachusetts............................. 1,273 1,003 16 76.0

Michigan...................................... 1,824 862 18 74.0

Minnesota.................................... 1,054 884 19 81.1

Mississippi................................... 484 680 19 75.0

Missouri....................................... 1,154 778 17 75.3

Montana....................................... 165 715 13 73.8

Nebraska..................................... 377 737 17 79.1

Nevada........................................ 588 766 14 80.2

New Hampshire........................... 278 945 20 72.9

New Jersey.................................. 1,782 942 13 77.1

New Mexico................................. 372 749 16 80.9

New York..................................... 3,677 820 12 83.8

North Carolina.............................. 1,753 704 14 83.2

North Dakota................................ 131 721 16 75.9

Ohio............................................. 2,221 776 12 79.1

Oklahoma.................................... 728 727 15 75.8

Oregon......................................... 711 795 23 79.6

Pennsylvania............................... 2,419 815 14 78.8

Rhode Island................................ 202 863 23 78.7

South Carolina............................. 807 716 15 80.4

South Dakota............................... 160 692 17 82.1

Tennessee................................... 1,153 716 21 81.4

Texas........................................... 4,976 697 9 84.1

Utah............................................. 577 818 20 72.6

Vermont....................................... 123 761 24 82.1

Virginia......................................... 1,621 862 24 78.2

Washington.................................. 1,348 915 21 77.5

West Virginia................................ 352 739 21 73.9

Wisconsin.................................... 1,131 787 18 79.3

Wyoming...................................... 117 883 18 67.8

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

 NOTE: Data refer to persons 16 years and older. 

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

State

 37
Table 4. Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers, by selected 

characteristics, 2008 annual averages

AGE

Total, 16 years and older................................ 22,497 $219 $1 15,215 $223 $2

16 to 24 years........................................................ 8,055 162 1 4,527 161 2

16 to 19 years..................................................... 3,914 134 2 2,170 131 2

20 to 24 years..................................................... 4,141 197 2 2,357 197 3

25 years and older................................................. 14,442 265 2 10,688 261 2

25 to 34 years..................................................... 3,575 261 3 2,495 256 4

35 to 44 years..................................................... 3,260 291 5 2,656 282 6

45 to 54 years..................................................... 3,090 288 5 2,516 282 5

55 to 64 years..................................................... 2,631 263 4 1,926 259 4

65 years and older.............................................. 1,885 203 4 1,096 193 5

RACE AND HISPANIC OR

LATINO ETHNICITY

White...................................................................... 18,825 220 1 12,820 225 2

Black or African American..................................... 2,193 210 3 1,425 209 4

Asian...................................................................... 884 235 8 590 246 9

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.................................... 2,751 218 3 1,720 211 4

MARITAL STATUS

Never married........................................................ 10,267 178 2 5,686 175 2

Married, spouse present........................................ 9,269 278 3 7,217 274 3

Other marital status............................................... 2,961 238 3 2,312 232 4

Divorced............................................................. 1,605 253 5 1,223 248 5

Separated........................................................... 698 235 6 523 229 8

Widowed............................................................. 657 208 6 566 205 6

See note at end of table.

Both sexes Women

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Characteristic Standard

error 

of

median 

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

38
Table 4. Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers, by 

selected characteristics, 2008 annual averages—Continued 

Men

AGE

Total, 16 years and older................................ 7,282 $209 $2 106.7

16 to 24 years........................................................ 3,528 164 2 98.2

16 to 19 years..................................................... 1,744 137 3 95.6

20 to 24 years..................................................... 1,785 196 3 100.5

25 years and older................................................. 3,754 276 4 94.6

25 to 34 years..................................................... 1,080 274 6 93.4

35 to 44 years..................................................... 604 329 13 85.7

45 to 54 years..................................................... 575 316 13 89.2

55 to 64 years..................................................... 705 276 10 93.8

65 years and older.............................................. 789 222 8 86.9

RACE AND HISPANIC OR

LATINO ETHNICITY

White...................................................................... 6,005 209 2 107.7

Black or African American..................................... 768 210 6 99.5

Asian...................................................................... 294 216 8 113.9

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.................................... 1,030 232 6 90.9

MARITAL STATUS

Never married........................................................ 4,581 181 2 96.7

Married, spouse present........................................ 2,052 293 6 93.5

Other marital status............................................... 648 260 8 89.2

Divorced............................................................. 382 271 11 91.5

Separated........................................................... 175 251 12 91.2

Widowed............................................................. 91 241 23 85.1

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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as

Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Characteristic

39
Table 5. Median usual weekly earnings of wage and salary workers, by hours usually worked and sex, 

2008 annual averages 

Women

Total, 16 years and older................................ 129,377 $626 $2 62,532 $537 $3

1 to 34 hours.......................................................... 20,144 223 1 13,736 229 2

1 to 4 hours........................................................ 470 59 3 316 55 4

5 to 9 hours........................................................ 1,087 70 2 744 72 2

10 to 14 hours.................................................... 1,754 108 1 1,176 111 2

15 to 19 hours.................................................... 2,609 149 2 1,772 154 2

20 to 24 hours.................................................... 6,066 206 2 4,135 213 2

25 to 29 hours.................................................... 2,776 256 3 1,909 260 3

30 to 34 hours.................................................... 5,383 329 4 3,684 342 5

35 hours or more................................................... 100,997 724 2 45,075 643 2

35 to 39 hours.................................................... 7,890 493 5 5,428 497 5

40 hours............................................................. 72,040 667 2 33,316 621 2

41 hours or more................................................ 21,067 1,087 8 6,331 971 7

41 to 44 hours................................................. 1,326 829 16 526 759 19

45 to 48 hours................................................. 5,971 958 7 2,096 914 14

49 to 59 hours................................................. 9,393 1,164 8 2,681 1,051 15

60 hours or more............................................. 4,376 1,254 14 1,027 1,133 16

Hours vary................................................... 8,236 461 10 3,721 312 5

Usually less than 35 hours.............................. 2,352 182 4 1,479 179 5

Usually 35 hours or more.............................. 5,652 678 11 2,134 492 11

See note at end of table.

Both sexes

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Hours of work Standard

error 

of

median 

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

 40
Table 5. Median usual weekly earnings of wage and salary workers, by hours 

usually worked and sex, 2008 annual averages—Continued 

Men

Total, 16 years and older................................ 66,846 $733 $3 73.3

1 to 34 hours.......................................................... 6,409 212 2 108.0

1 to 4 hours........................................................ 154 66 6 83.3

5 to 9 hours........................................................ 342 68 3 105.9

10 to 14 hours.................................................... 579 104 2 106.7

15 to 19 hours.................................................... 837 141 3 109.2

20 to 24 hours.................................................... 1,931 194 3 109.8

25 to 29 hours.................................................... 867 246 5 105.7

30 to 34 hours.................................................... 1,699 311 4 110.0

35 hours or more................................................... 55,922 799 3 80.5

35 to 39 hours.................................................... 2,461 484 9 102.7

40 hours............................................................. 38,724 717 3 86.6

41 hours or more................................................ 14,736 1,142 6 85.0

41 to 44 hours................................................. 800 871 19 87.1

45 to 48 hours................................................. 3,875 987 11 92.6

49 to 59 hours................................................. 6,712 1,218 14 86.3

60 hours or more............................................. 3,349 1,310 29 86.5

Hours vary................................................... 4,515 655 15 47.6

Usually less than 35 hours.............................. 873 188 7 95.2

Usually 35 hours or more.............................. 3,518 790 15 62.3

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

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Hours of work

 41
Table 6. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary 

workers, by selected characteristics, 2008 annual averages

Upper limit of:

SEX, RACE, AND HISPANIC

OR LATINO ETHNICITY

Total, 16 years and older............................. 106,648 $346 $485 $722 $1,125 $1,693

Women..................................................... 47,209 322 440 638 957 1,411

Men........................................................... 59,439 375 518 798 1,249 1,889

White............................................................ 86,022 354 495 742 1,147 1,741

Women..................................................... 36,940 328 452 654 972 1,430

Men........................................................... 49,082 381 534 825 1,273 1,903

Black or African American............................ 12,821 310 409 589 865 1,265

Women..................................................... 6,790 299 392 554 810 1,204

Men........................................................... 6,031 327 435 620 918 1,342

Asian............................................................ 5,266 369 530 861 1,387 1,918

Women..................................................... 2,347 335 487 753 1,146 1,667

Men........................................................... 2,919 395 592 966 1,554 2,194

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.......................... 15,807 299 383 529 795 1,194

Women..................................................... 5,846 284 355 501 732 1,070

Men........................................................... 9,961 312 397 559 836 1,270

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and older............................. 96,027 369 511 761 1,167 1,758

Less than a high school diploma.............. 8,120 282 342 453 618 873

High school, no college1

 .......................... 27,392 335 445 618 886 1,229

Some college or associate degree........... 26,526 383 513 722 1,023 1,421

Bachelor's degree and higher 2

 .............. 33,990 550 758 1,115 1,649 2,314

Women, 25 years and older......................... 42,584 338 470 670 994 1,456

Less than a high school diploma.............. 2,566 252 303 378 497 646

High school, no college1

 .......................... 11,451 304 392 520 711 966

Some college or associate degree........... 12,756 349 470 628 870 1,171

Bachelor's degree and higher 2

 .............. 15,812 506 688 955 1,369 1,888

Men, 25 years and older.............................. 53,444 397 574 857 1,326 1,914

Less than a high school diploma.............. 5,554 298 377 497 683 935

High school, no college1

 .......................... 15,941 378 504 709 997 1,369

Some college or associate degree........... 13,770 426 592 830 1,172 1,590

Bachelor's degree and higher 2

 .............. 18,178 599 861 1,285 1,891 2,719

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

Characteristic

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as

Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

First 

decile

First 

quartile

Second

quartile 

(median) 

Third 

quartile

Ninth 

decile

42
Table 7. Distribution of full-time wage and salary workers, by usual weekly earnings and selected 

characteristics, 2008 annual averages 

(In thousands)

Number of workers by usual weekly earnings

AGE AND SEX

 Total, 16 years and older...... 106,648 844 1,750 7,830 18,146 26,412 18,380 18,687 14,599

16 to 24 years........................... 10,621 186 485 2,132 3,577 2,706 932 471 133

 16 to 19 years........................ 1,552 58 163 540 486 234 41 24 5

 20 to 24 years........................ 9,069 128 322 1,592 3,091 2,472 891 446 127

25 years and older.................... 96,027 658 1,265 5,698 14,569 23,707 17,447 18,217 14,467

 25 to 34 years........................ 25,643 160 398 1,950 4,705 7,611 4,688 3,974 2,157

 35 to 44 years........................ 26,408 173 323 1,447 3,726 6,082 4,777 5,378 4,503

 45 to 54 years........................ 26,640 159 302 1,316 3,552 6,141 4,917 5,491 4,763

 55 to 64 years........................ 14,763 111 159 713 2,096 3,307 2,682 3,045 2,650

 65 years and older................. 2,573 55 84 272 491 566 384 328 394

 Women, 16 years and older.. 47,209 451 1,029 4,488 9,368 12,823 8,001 6,994 4,055

16 to 24 years........................... 4,625 102 280 1,067 1,487 1,137 365 154 33

 16 to 19 years........................ 633 31 83 253 179 72 8 8 -

 20 to 24 years........................ 3,992 72 197 815 1,307 1,065 358 146 33

25 years and older.................... 42,584 349 750 3,421 7,881 11,685 7,635 6,840 4,022

 25 to 34 years........................ 10,974 75 208 1,019 2,220 3,426 1,928 1,480 618

 35 to 44 years........................ 11,385 101 198 915 2,073 2,972 2,010 1,915 1,201

 45 to 54 years........................ 12,258 92 192 898 2,116 3,209 2,281 2,085 1,384

 55 to 64 years........................ 6,827 62 107 447 1,201 1,785 1,256 1,236 735

 65 years and older................. 1,140 19 46 141 272 293 160 124 84

 Men, 16 years and older....... 59,439 392 721 3,342 8,778 13,590 10,379 11,693 10,544

16 to 24 years........................... 5,996 84 205 1,065 2,090 1,569 567 317 100

 16 to 19 years........................ 919 27 80 288 307 162 33 17 5

 20 to 24 years........................ 5,077 56 125 777 1,783 1,407 534 300 95

25 years and older.................... 53,444 309 516 2,277 6,688 12,021 9,812 11,377 10,444

 25 to 34 years........................ 14,669 85 190 931 2,485 4,184 2,760 2,494 1,539

 35 to 44 years........................ 15,023 72 125 532 1,653 3,110 2,766 3,463 3,302

 45 to 54 years........................ 14,382 67 110 418 1,435 2,931 2,636 3,406 3,378

 55 to 64 years........................ 7,936 50 52 266 895 1,522 1,426 1,810 1,915

 65 years and older................. 1,434 36 39 131 219 273 223 203 309

See note at end of table.

$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

43
Table 7. Distribution of full-time wage and salary workers, by usual weekly earnings and selected 

characteristics, 2008 annual averages—Continued

(In thousands)

Number of workers by usual weekly earnings

RACE, HISPANIC OR

 LATINO ETHNICITY, 

AND SEX

White..................................... 86,022 660 1,268 5,851 13,914 21,031 15,184 15,697 12,417

Women...................................... 36,940 340 751 3,286 7,023 10,130 6,428 5,690 3,293

Men........................................... 49,082 320 518 2,565 6,891 10,901 8,757 10,007 9,125

Black or African American..... 12,821 120 337 1,421 2,993 3,615 1,966 1,570 798

Women...................................... 6,790 75 190 887 1,725 1,854 973 736 350

Men........................................... 6,031 45 146 534 1,268 1,761 993 835 448

Asian...................................... 5,266 53 89 302 704 1,063 857 1,055 1,144

Women...................................... 2,347 31 54 172 353 523 440 431 343

Men........................................... 2,919 22 35 130 351 540 417 624 801

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.... 15,807 116 433 2,237 4,232 4,244 2,011 1,641 895

Women...................................... 5,846 63 231 1,035 1,574 1,510 697 510 225

Men........................................... 9,961 53 201 1,202 2,658 2,733 1,314 1,131 670

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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Dash indicates data not

available or do not meet publication standards. 

$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

44
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, 2008 annual averages

WOMEN

Total, all marital statuses................................................ 47,209 $638 $2

With children under 18 years old.................................... 17,219 626 3

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger..................... 10,684 636 5

With children under 6 years old.................................... 6,536 614 4

With no children under 18 years old................................. 29,990 645 3

Total, married, spouse present.......................................... 24,839 692 4

With children under 18 years old.................................... 11,583 680 5

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger..................... 7,089 672 6

With children under 6 years old.................................... 4,494 694 9

With no children under 18 years old................................. 13,255 702 5

Total, other marital statuses .......................................... 22,370 593 2

With children under 18 years old.................................... 5,636 537 7

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger..................... 3,595 590 5

With children under 6 years old.................................... 2,041 481 5

With no children under 18 years old................................. 16,734 608 3

MEN

Total, all marital statuses................................................ 59,439 798 3

With children under 18 years old.................................... 21,747 901 5

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger..................... 11,814 949 7

With children under 6 years old.................................... 9,932 840 8

With no children under 18 years old................................. 37,693 745 3

Total, married, spouse present.......................................... 36,062 917 4

With children under 18 years old.................................... 20,078 918 5

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger..................... 10,856 960 7

With children under 6 years old.................................... 9,222 869 8

With no children under 18 years old................................. 15,984 916 5

Total, other marital statuses .......................................... 23,378 642 4

With children under 18 years old.................................... 1,668 708 12

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger..................... 958 836 22

With children under 6 years old.................................... 711 592 12

With no children under 18 years old................................. 21,709 636 4

Characteristic

Number of 

workers

(in thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

1

1

 1 Includes never-married, divorced, separated, and widowed persons.

NOTE: Children refer to "own" children and include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. Excluded

are other related children such as grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins, as well as unrelated children. 

45
Table 9. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, by selected 

characteristics, 2008 annual averages 

AGE

Total, 16 years and older................................ 75,305 $12.23 $0.03 37,972 $11.49 $0.06

16 to 24 years........................................................ 15,680 8.87 .03 7,701 8.43 .04

16 to 19 years..................................................... 5,137 7.84 .02 2,660 7.71 .03

20 to 24 years..................................................... 10,542 9.76 .04 5,042 9.16 .04

25 years and older................................................. 59,626 13.81 .04 30,270 12.48 .06

25 to 34 years..................................................... 16,893 12.50 .08 7,864 11.72 .08

35 to 44 years..................................................... 15,478 14.38 .12 7,783 12.89 .08

45 to 54 years..................................................... 15,625 14.87 .05 8,260 13.16 .07

55 to 64 years..................................................... 8,987 14.20 .11 4,895 13.00 .10

65 years and older.............................................. 2,642 10.89 .12 1,469 10.53 .16

RACE AND HISPANIC OR

LATINO ETHNICITY

White...................................................................... 60,464 12.54 .05 29,931 11.70 .05

Black or African American...................................... 9,866 11.20 .08 5,457 10.78 .09

Asian...................................................................... 2,844 13.01 .17 1,543 12.25 .21

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.................................... 13,070 10.97 .06 5,313 10.07 .04

MARITAL STATUS

Never married........................................................ 26,790 10.02 .02 12,532 9.60 .07

Married, spouse present........................................ 35,783 14.28 .06 17,649 12.92 .05

Other marital status................................................ 12,732 12.77 .08 7,790 11.91 .05

Divorced............................................................. 7,967 13.58 .13 4,803 12.47 .14

Separated........................................................... 3,242 11.48 .24 1,768 10.50 .18

Widowed............................................................. 1,523 11.90 .14 1,219 11.27 .24

UNION AFFILIATION1

Members of unions ............................................... 9,752 17.96 .09 3,718 15.23 .16

Represented by a union ....................................... 10,580 17.77 .13 4,135 15.12 .09

Not represented by a union.................................... 64,725 11.84 .02 33,837 11.05 .03

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and older....................................... 59,626 13.81 .04 30,270 12.48 .06

Less than a high school diploma........................ 7,636 10.16 .03 2,935 9.06 .05

High school, no college .................................... 22,367 12.97 .04 10,627 11.32 .07

Some college or associate degree..................... 18,999 14.53 .10 10,454 13.17 .06

Bachelor's degree and higher 5

 .......................... 10,623 18.39 .17 6,254 18.03 .15

See footnotes at end of table.

Both sexes Women

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Characteristic Median 

hourly

earnings

3

2

4

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Median 

hourly

earnings

 46
Table 9. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates,

by selected characteristics, 2008 annual averages—Continued 

Men

AGE

Total, 16 years and older................................ 37,334 $13.46 $0.08 85.4

16 to 24 years........................................................ 7,978 9.24 .05 91.2

16 to 19 years..................................................... 2,478 7.98 .03 96.6

20 to 24 years..................................................... 5,500 10.00 .03 91.6

25 years and older................................................. 29,356 15.03 .03 83.0

25 to 34 years..................................................... 9,029 13.47 .15 87.0

35 to 44 years..................................................... 7,696 16.02 .09 80.5

45 to 54 years..................................................... 7,365 16.82 .13 78.2

55 to 64 years..................................................... 4,092 15.90 .14 81.8

65 years and older.............................................. 1,174 11.50 .37 91.6

RACE AND HISPANIC OR

LATINO ETHNICITY

White...................................................................... 30,533 13.85 .05 84.5

Black or African American...................................... 4,408 11.99 .07 89.9

Asian...................................................................... 1,301 14.03 .23 87.3

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.................................... 7,756 11.83 .05 85.1

MARITAL STATUS

Never married........................................................ 14,258 10.25 .05 93.7

Married, spouse present........................................ 18,134 15.85 .07 81.5

Other marital status................................................ 4,941 14.72 .17 80.9

Divorced............................................................. 3,164 15.21 .14 82.0

Separated........................................................... 1,474 12.56 .25 83.6

Widowed............................................................. 304 14.80 .59 76.1

UNION AFFILIATION 1

Members of unions ............................................... 6,034 19.78 .15 77.0

Represented by a union ....................................... 6,446 19.47 .21 77.7

Not represented by a union.................................... 30,888 12.45 .06 88.8

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and older....................................... 29,356 15.03 .03 83.0

Less than a high school diploma........................ 4,702 11.50 .16 78.8

High school, no college .................................... 11,740 15.00 .04 75.5

Some college or associate degree..................... 8,545 16.18 .11 81.4

Bachelor's degree and higher 5

 .......................... 4,369 19.15 .37 94.2

1 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.

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

3 Data refer to workers who report no union affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union or an

employee association contract, as well as to members of a labor union or an employee association

similar to a union. 

 4

 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.

 5

 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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic

or Latino may be of any race.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 

Median 

hourly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Characteristic

3

2

4

 47
Table 10. Distribution of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, by hourly earnings and selected 

characteristics, 2008 annual averages

(In thousands)

Number of workers by hourly earnings

AGE AND SEX

Total, 16 years and older...... 75,305 879 188 539 7,681 13,239 11,736 13,112 13,090 14,841

16 to 24 years............................. 15,680 404 92 287 3,880 4,851 2,824 1,881 1,021 438

16 to 19 years.......................... 5,137 112 36 194 2,196 1,637 580 271 77 34

20 to 24 years.......................... 10,542 292 56 93 1,683 3,214 2,244 1,611 944 404

25 years and older...................... 59,626 475 96 251 3,801 8,388 8,911 11,231 12,069 14,403

25 to 34 years.......................... 16,893 237 45 85 1,300 2,768 2,915 3,404 3,306 2,832

35 to 44 years.......................... 15,478 101 24 62 861 1,979 2,129 2,836 3,246 4,241

45 to 54 years.......................... 15,625 86 11 53 773 1,894 2,044 2,876 3,350 4,539

55 to 64 years.......................... 8,987 37 9 29 507 1,177 1,313 1,644 1,831 2,440

65 years and older................... 2,642 14 7 23 361 571 509 471 337 350

Women, 16 years and older. 37,972 631 121 335 4,757 7,589 6,248 6,647 5,766 5,877

16 to 24 years............................. 7,701 299 54 175 2,195 2,443 1,188 803 380 164

16 to 19 years.......................... 2,660 88 24 113 1,214 836 241 110 25 9

20 to 24 years.......................... 5,042 210 30 62 981 1,607 948 693 355 156

25 years and older...................... 30,270 332 67 160 2,562 5,147 5,060 5,844 5,386 5,713

25 to 34 years.......................... 7,864 164 30 57 791 1,511 1,452 1,509 1,258 1,093

35 to 44 years.......................... 7,783 73 18 35 613 1,266 1,233 1,461 1,434 1,649

45 to 54 years.......................... 8,260 57 5 37 587 1,281 1,265 1,657 1,602 1,770

55 to 64 years.......................... 4,895 28 9 16 352 764 809 950 921 1,045

65 years and older................... 1,469 11 5 16 218 324 301 268 170 156

Men, 16 years and older....... 37,334 249 66 204 2,924 5,649 5,488 6,465 7,324 8,964

16 to 24 years............................. 7,978 106 37 112 1,685 2,408 1,636 1,079 641 274

16 to 19 years.......................... 2,478 23 12 81 982 801 339 161 53 26

20 to 24 years.......................... 5,500 82 26 31 702 1,607 1,297 918 589 249

25 years and older...................... 29,356 143 29 91 1,240 3,241 3,852 5,387 6,683 8,690

25 to 34 years.......................... 9,029 74 15 28 509 1,256 1,463 1,896 2,048 1,740

35 to 44 years.......................... 7,696 28 6 27 248 712 897 1,375 1,811 2,591

45 to 54 years.......................... 7,365 29 6 16 185 613 779 1,219 1,748 2,770

55 to 64 years.......................... 4,092 9 - 13 155 412 504 694 910 1,395

65 years and older................... 1,174 3 2 7 142 247 208 203 166 195

See note at end of table.

$5.00

to

$5.99

Total 

employed Under 

$4.00

$4.00

to

$4.99

Characteristic $20.00

or 

more

$6.00

to

$7.99

$8.00

to

$9.99

$10.00

to

$11.99

$12.00

to

$14.99

$15.00

to

$19.99

48
Table 10. Distribution of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, by hourly earnings and selected 

characteristics, 2008 annual averages—Continued

(In thousands)

Number of workers by hourly earnings

RACE, HISPANIC OR

 LATINO ETHNICITY, 

AND SEX

White........................................ 60,464 745 165 417 5,955 10,191 9,281 10,421 10,766 12,523

Women........................................ 29,931 543 109 266 3,647 5,806 4,865 5,240 4,663 4,793

Men............................................. 30,533 203 56 151 2,308 4,385 4,416 5,181 6,102 7,730

Black or African American....... 9,866 79 10 92 1,252 2,110 1,690 1,903 1,481 1,247

Women........................................ 5,457 50 6 52 822 1,232 979 1,001 710 605

Men............................................. 4,408 29 4 40 430 878 712 902 771 642

Asian........................................ 2,844 31 5 18 213 501 412 447 486 731

Women........................................ 1,543 18 1 9 137 302 232 241 240 363

Men............................................. 1,301 13 4 9 76 199 180 206 246 369

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity...... 13,070 101 22 84 1,452 3,111 2,408 2,342 1,998 1,551

Women........................................ 5,313 61 12 49 846 1,462 925 844 677 437

Men............................................. 7,756 40 10 35 606 1,649 1,483 1,499 1,321 1,114

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. Persons whose

ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Dash indicates data not available or do not meet publication standards.

$5.00

to

$5.99

Total 

employed Under 

$4.00

$4.00

to

$4.99

Characteristic $20.00

or 

more

$6.00

to

$7.99

$8.00

to

$9.99

$10.00

to

$11.99

$12.00

to

$14.99

$15.00

to

$19.99

49
Table 11. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing 

Federal minimum wage, by selected characteristics, 2008 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....................................... 75,305 1,940 286 2,226 3.0

16 to 24 years.............................................................. 15,680 961 161 1,122 7.2

16 to 19 years........................................................... 5,137 437 108 545 10.6

20 to 24 years........................................................... 10,542 524 53 577 5.5

25 years and older....................................................... 59,626 979 125 1,104 1.9

25 to 34 years........................................................... 16,893 441 41 482 2.9

35 to 44 years........................................................... 15,478 219 23 242 1.6

45 to 54 years........................................................... 15,625 172 29 201 1.3

55 to 64 years........................................................... 8,987 83 23 106 1.2

65 years and older.................................................... 2,642 63 9 72 2.7

Women, 16 years and older.................................. 37,972 1,302 196 1,498 3.9

16 to 24 years.............................................................. 7,701 635 103 738 9.6

16 to 19 years........................................................... 2,660 281 70 351 13.2

20 to 24 years........................................................... 5,042 354 33 387 7.7

25 years and older....................................................... 30,270 666 93 759 2.5

25 to 34 years........................................................... 7,864 300 32 332 4.2

35 to 44 years........................................................... 7,783 153 17 170 2.2

45 to 54 years........................................................... 8,260 111 23 134 1.6

55 to 64 years........................................................... 4,895 57 15 72 1.5

65 years and older.................................................... 1,469 44 6 50 3.4

Men, 16 years and older........................................ 37,334 638 90 728 1.9

16 to 24 years.............................................................. 7,978 326 58 384 4.8

16 to 19 years........................................................... 2,478 155 39 194 7.8

20 to 24 years........................................................... 5,500 170 20 190 3.5

25 years and older....................................................... 29,356 313 32 345 1.2

25 to 34 years........................................................... 9,029 141 9 150 1.7

35 to 44 years........................................................... 7,696 66 5 71 .9

45 to 54 years........................................................... 7,365 61 7 68 .9

55 to 64 years........................................................... 4,092 26 9 35 .9

65 years and older.................................................... 1,174 19 3 22 1.9

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

50
Table 11. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing 

Federal minimum wage, by selected characteristics, 2008 annual averages—Continued

(Numbers in thousands)

Workers paid hourly rates

Total at or below 

prevailing Federal 

minimum wage

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO

ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White......................................................................... 60,464 1,568 215 1,783 2.9

Women......................................................................... 29,931 1,073 151 1,224 4.1

Men.............................................................................. 30,533 495 65 560 1.8

Black or African American........................................ 9,866 259 49 308 3.1

Women......................................................................... 5,457 154 32 186 3.4

Men.............................................................................. 4,408 105 17 122 2.8

Asian, 16 years and older......................................... 2,844 58 11 69 2.4

Women......................................................................... 1,543 34 8 42 2.7

Men.............................................................................. 1,301 24 3 27 2.1

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity....................................... 13,070 285 39 324 2.5

Women......................................................................... 5,313 168 23 191 3.6

Men.............................................................................. 7,756 117 15 132 1.7

FULL- AND PART-TIME STATUS AND SEX 1

Full-time workers...................................................... 56,837 778 95 873 1.5

Women......................................................................... 25,474 464 68 532 2.1

Men.............................................................................. 31,363 313 27 340 1.1

Part-time workers...................................................... 18,334 1,162 191 1,353 7.4

Women......................................................................... 12,431 837 128 965 7.8

Men.............................................................................. 5,903 325 63 388 6.6

1 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 or main 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.

Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or

Latino may be of any race. 

At

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Total

Number

Below

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Characteristic

Percent of 

workers 

paid hourly 

rates

51
Table 12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, in current dollars, by sex 

and age, 1979–2008 annual averages

25 years and older

BOTH SEXES

1979.................. $241 $172 $144 $186 $265 $255 $280 $276 $262 $198

1980.................. 262 187 154 200 286 276 302 298 285 203

1981.................. 284 200 161 213 308 296 326 320 309 222

1982.................. 302 208 164 220 327 311 354 345 325 253

1983.................. 313 211 164 223 343 321 370 367 346 261

1984.................. 326 217 169 231 362 335 389 385 366 272

1985.................. 344 224 174 240 379 349 406 400 381 297

1986 .................. 359 232 178 248 391 360 419 416 397 298

1987.................. 374 243 186 259 403 373 435 429 405 310

1988.................. 385 249 196 266 414 383 450 453 419 323

1989.................. 399 259 204 276 427 394 472 472 431 334

1990 .................. 412 269 209 285 449 407 486 489 457 343

1991.................. 426 277 213 291 467 415 498 507 469 381

1992.................. 440 276 212 290 479 422 503 522 483 378

1993.................. 459 282 214 297 491 436 517 542 492 393

1994 .................. 467 286 221 300 500 439 537 566 501 384

1995.................. 479 292 231 306 510 451 550 582 514 389

1996.................. 490 298 240 312 520 463 559 594 535 384

1997 .................. 503 306 252 321 540 481 579 607 558 393

1998 .................. 523 319 268 339 572 502 597 620 592 405

1999 .................. 549 341 281 363 592 518 611 652 604 404

2000 .................. 576 361 297 383 609 549 625 669 620 463

2001.................. 596 375 305 394 630 576 657 693 638 488

2002.................. 608 381 305 399 646 591 668 706 674 502

2003 .................. 620 387 311 402 662 594 687 723 708 516

2004 .................. 638 390 309 406 683 604 713 743 725 560

2005 .................. 651 397 318 411 696 610 731 748 742 569

2006 .................. 671 409 324 423 718 621 748 773 765 583

2007 .................. 695 424 337 450 738 643 769 790 803 605

2008 .................. 722 443 349 467 761 666 804 822 825 644

See footnote at end of table.

16 to 24 years

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

52
Table 12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, in current dollars, by sex 

and age, 1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

25 years and older

WOMEN

1979.................. $182 $154 $132 $161 $195 $199 $196 $192 $189 $170

1980.................. 201 167 145 175 213 218 214 209 205 175

1981.................. 219 180 154 191 233 239 238 225 222 189

1982.................. 239 192 158 201 255 258 258 252 245 211

1983.................. 252 198 158 207 268 272 272 264 257 212

1984.................. 265 203 162 213 283 285 292 279 270 219

1985.................. 277 211 166 221 296 296 307 292 285 242

1986 .................. 291 219 170 231 308 306 319 308 296 256

1987.................. 303 227 172 242 321 316 337 324 308 261

1988.................. 315 235 184 251 335 327 354 339 317 280

1989.................. 328 246 197 260 351 340 370 357 333 292

1990 .................. 346 254 198 269 369 356 390 377 348 300

1991.................. 366 266 205 280 387 371 407 398 363 319

1992.................. 380 267 205 280 400 382 418 417 376 328

1993.................. 393 273 205 289 415 395 435 440 395 335

1994 .................. 399 276 211 290 421 397 448 450 398 336

1995.................. 406 275 215 291 428 403 453 464 403 353

1996.................. 418 284 223 298 444 415 463 481 420 334

1997 .................. 431 292 240 306 462 427 482 495 433 348

1998 .................. 456 305 249 319 485 451 498 516 476 350

1999 .................. 473 324 266 343 497 470 503 534 492 370

2000 .................. 493 344 283 366 516 493 521 564 508 392

2001.................. 512 353 288 375 543 512 547 587 536 390

2002.................. 529 367 295 385 568 530 571 602 574 430

2003 .................. 552 371 299 387 584 546 590 609 601 435

2004 .................. 573 375 293 391 599 561 608 625 615 478

2005 .................. 585 381 304 396 612 573 621 644 639 492

2006 .................. 600 395 305 413 627 583 645 659 658 510

2007 .................. 614 409 318 426 646 597 668 677 679 534

2008 .................. 638 420 322 445 670 623 682 707 711 563

See footnote at end of table.

16 to 24 years

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

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

53
Table 12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, in current dollars, by sex 

and age, 1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

25 years and older

MEN

1979.................. $292 $196 $155 $211 $314 $295 $336 $338 $312 $219

1980.................. 313 208 162 224 339 314 367 367 345 229

1981.................. 340 218 168 237 372 340 397 396 377 266

1982.................. 364 225 170 244 393 358 422 419 399 300

1983.................. 379 223 168 242 407 371 442 444 416 308

1984.................. 392 231 174 250 422 382 471 470 439 328

1985.................. 407 241 183 258 443 394 487 489 467 367

1986 .................. 419 246 186 264 463 402 499 506 484 358

1987.................. 434 257 196 275 477 412 510 520 495 380

1988.................. 449 262 205 279 487 421 517 549 509 395

1989.................. 468 271 209 290 500 434 542 569 521 393

1990 .................. 481 282 218 298 512 449 560 591 546 403

1991.................. 493 285 219 300 523 458 576 612 563 467

1992.................. 501 284 218 297 536 466 581 634 579 421

1993.................. 510 288 221 303 555 476 596 653 586 451

1994 .................. 522 294 228 307 576 479 617 671 603 441

1995.................. 538 303 244 315 588 490 624 685 623 441

1996.................. 557 307 251 321 599 499 632 698 643 477

1997 .................. 579 317 262 338 615 515 651 713 669 452

1998 .................. 598 334 281 357 639 544 677 732 699 482

1999 .................. 618 356 291 379 668 577 702 763 725 470

2000 .................. 641 375 306 395 693 598 728 771 735 522

2001.................. 670 391 319 408 720 617 754 799 760 565

2002.................. 679 391 312 410 732 627 759 807 802 583

2003 .................. 695 398 321 412 744 628 775 834 827 612

2004 .................. 713 400 318 417 762 639 804 857 843 641

2005 .................. 722 409 330 422 771 644 822 853 855 644

2006 .................. 743 418 348 435 797 661 836 897 902 658

2007 .................. 766 443 357 472 823 687 873 909 933 686

2008 .................. 798 461 369 481 857 704 915 944 943 753

See footnote at end of table.

16 to 24 years

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

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

54
Table 12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, in current dollars, by sex 

and age, 1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

25 years and older

WOMEN'S 

EARNINGS

AS PERCENT

 OF MEN'S 

1979.................. 62.3 78.6 85.2 76.3 62.1 67.5 58.3 56.8 60.6 77.6

1980.................. 64.2 80.3 89.5 78.1 62.8 69.4 58.3 56.9 59.4 76.4

1981.................. 64.4 82.6 91.7 80.6 62.6 70.3 59.9 56.8 58.9 71.1

1982.................. 65.7 85.3 92.9 82.4 64.9 72.1 61.1 60.1 61.4 70.3

1983.................. 66.5 88.8 94.0 85.5 65.8 73.3 61.5 59.5 61.8 68.8

1984.................. 67.6 87.9 93.1 85.2 67.1 74.6 62.0 59.4 61.5 66.8

1985.................. 68.1 87.6 90.7 85.7 66.8 75.1 63.0 59.7 61.0 65.9

1986 .................. 69.5 89.0 91.4 87.5 66.5 76.1 63.9 60.9 61.2 71.5

1987.................. 69.8 88.3 87.8 88.0 67.3 76.7 66.1 62.3 62.2 68.7

1988.................. 70.2 89.7 89.8 90.0 68.8 77.7 68.5 61.7 62.3 70.9

1989.................. 70.1 90.8 94.3 89.7 70.2 78.3 68.3 62.7 63.9 74.3

1990 .................. 71.9 90.1 90.8 90.3 72.1 79.3 69.6 63.8 63.7 74.4

1991.................. 74.2 93.3 93.6 93.3 74.0 81.0 70.7 65.0 64.5 68.3

1992.................. 75.8 94.0 94.0 94.3 74.6 82.0 71.9 65.8 64.9 77.9

1993.................. 77.1 94.8 92.8 95.4 74.8 83.0 73.0 67.4 67.4 74.3

1994 .................. 76.4 93.9 92.5 94.5 73.1 82.9 72.6 67.1 66.0 76.2

1995.................. 75.5 90.8 88.1 92.4 72.8 82.2 72.6 67.7 64.7 80.0

1996.................. 75.0 92.5 88.8 92.8 74.1 83.2 73.3 68.9 65.3 70.0

1997 .................. 74.4 92.1 91.6 90.5 75.1 82.9 74.0 69.4 64.7 77.0

1998 .................. 76.3 91.3 88.6 89.4 75.9 82.9 73.6 70.5 68.1 72.6

1999 .................. 76.5 91.0 91.4 90.5 74.4 81.5 71.7 70.0 67.9 78.7

2000 .................. 76.9 91.7 92.5 92.7 74.5 82.4 71.6 73.2 69.1 75.1

2001.................. 76.4 90.3 90.3 91.9 75.4 83.0 72.5 73.5 70.5 69.0

2002.................. 77.9 93.9 94.6 93.9 77.6 84.5 75.2 74.6 71.6 73.8

2003 .................. 79.4 93.2 93.1 93.9 78.5 86.9 76.1 73.0 72.7 71.1

2004 .................. 80.4 93.8 92.1 93.8 78.6 87.8 75.6 72.9 73.0 74.6

2005 .................. 81.0 93.2 92.1 93.8 79.4 89.0 75.5 75.5 74.7 76.4

2006 .................. 80.8 94.5 87.6 94.9 78.7 88.2 77.2 73.5 72.9 77.5

2007 .................. 80.2 92.3 89.1 90.3 78.5 86.9 76.5 74.5 72.8 77.8

2008 .................. 79.9 91.1 87.3 92.5 78.2 88.5 74.5 74.9 75.4 74.8

16 to 24 years

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

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 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 Historical Comparability section of the Household Data technical

documentation provided at http://www.bls.gov/cps/eetech_methods.pdf. 

1

55
Table 13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, in constant (2008) dollars,

by sex and age, 1979–2008 annual averages

25 years and older

BOTH SEXES

1979.................. $666 $475 $398 $514 $732 $704 $773 $762 $724 $547

1980.................. 652 465 383 498 711 687 751 741 709 505

1981.................. 645 455 366 484 700 673 741 727 702 505

1982.................. 647 445 351 471 700 666 758 739 696 542

1983.................. 643 433 337 458 704 659 760 754 710 536

1984.................. 643 428 333 456 714 661 767 759 722 536

1985.................. 656 427 332 458 723 666 775 763 727 567

1986 .................. 672 434 333 464 732 674 785 779 743 558

1987.................. 678 440 337 469 730 676 788 777 734 562

1988.................. 673 435 343 465 724 670 787 792 733 565

1989.................. 668 434 342 462 715 660 791 791 722 559

1990 .................. 658 430 334 455 717 650 776 781 730 548

1991.................. 656 427 328 448 720 639 767 781 723 587

1992.................. 662 415 319 436 720 635 756 785 726 568

1993.................. 673 413 314 435 720 639 758 795 721 576

1994 .................. 671 411 318 431 718 631 772 813 720 552

1995.................. 672 410 324 429 715 633 771 816 721 546

1996.................. 669 407 328 426 710 633 764 811 731 525

1997 .................. 672 409 337 429 722 643 774 811 746 525

1998 .................. 690 421 354 447 755 662 788 818 781 534

1999 .................. 709 441 363 469 765 669 789 842 780 522

2000 .................. 720 451 371 479 761 686 781 836 775 579

2001.................. 724 456 371 479 765 700 798 842 775 593

2002.................. 727 456 365 477 773 707 799 844 806 600

2003 .................. 726 453 364 471 775 696 804 847 829 604

2004 .................. 727 444 352 462 778 688 812 846 826 638

2005 .................. 718 438 351 453 767 673 806 825 818 627

2006 .................. 716 436 346 451 766 663 798 825 816 622

2007 .................. 722 440 350 467 766 668 799 820 834 628

2008 .................. 722 443 349 467 761 666 804 822 825 644

See footnote at end of table.

16 to 24 years

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

56
Table 13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, in constant (2008) dollars,

by sex and age, 1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

25 years and older

WOMEN

1979.................. $503 $425 $365 $445 $539 $550 $541 $530 $522 $470

1980.................. 500 415 361 435 530 542 532 520 510 435

1981.................. 498 409 350 434 530 543 541 511 505 430

1982.................. 512 411 338 430 546 552 552 540 525 452

1983.................. 517 407 324 425 550 559 559 542 528 435

1984.................. 523 400 320 420 558 562 576 550 533 432

1985.................. 529 403 317 422 565 565 586 557 544 462

1986 .................. 545 410 318 433 577 573 597 577 554 479

1987.................. 549 411 312 438 582 572 611 587 558 473

1988.................. 551 411 322 439 586 572 619 593 554 490

1989.................. 549 412 330 436 588 570 620 598 558 489

1990 .................. 553 406 316 430 589 569 623 602 556 479

1991.................. 564 410 316 431 596 572 627 613 559 492

1992.................. 571 402 308 421 602 574 629 627 565 493

1993.................. 576 400 301 424 609 579 638 645 579 491

1994 .................. 573 397 303 417 605 570 644 647 572 483

1995.................. 569 386 302 408 600 565 635 651 565 495

1996.................. 571 388 305 407 607 567 633 657 574 456

1997 .................. 576 390 321 409 618 571 644 662 579 465

1998 .................. 602 402 328 421 640 595 657 681 628 462

1999 .................. 611 419 344 443 642 607 650 690 636 478

2000 .................. 616 430 354 458 645 616 651 705 635 490

2001.................. 622 429 350 456 660 622 665 713 651 474

2002.................. 633 439 353 461 679 634 683 720 687 514

2003 .................. 646 434 350 453 684 639 691 713 704 509

2004 .................. 653 427 334 445 682 639 692 712 700 544

2005 .................. 645 420 335 437 675 632 685 710 705 542

2006 .................. 640 422 326 441 669 622 688 703 702 544

2007 .................. 638 425 330 442 671 620 694 703 705 555

2008 .................. 638 420 322 445 670 623 682 707 711 563

See footnote at end of table.

16 to 24 years

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

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

57
Table 13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, in constant (2008) dollars,

by sex and age, 1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

25 years and older

MEN

1979.................. $807 $541 $428 $583 $867 $815 $928 $934 $862 $605

1980.................. 779 517 403 557 843 781 913 913 858 570

1981.................. 773 495 382 539 845 773 902 900 857 605

1982.................. 779 482 364 522 842 767 904 897 854 642

1983.................. 778 458 345 497 836 762 908 912 854 632

1984.................. 773 456 343 493 832 753 929 927 866 647

1985.................. 777 460 349 492 845 752 929 933 891 700

1986 .................. 785 461 348 494 867 753 934 948 906 670

1987.................. 786 466 355 498 864 746 924 942 897 688

1988.................. 785 458 358 488 851 736 904 960 890 691

1989.................. 784 454 350 486 838 727 908 953 873 658

1990 .................. 768 450 348 476 818 717 895 944 872 644

1991.................. 760 439 337 462 806 706 888 943 867 720

1992.................. 753 427 328 447 806 701 874 953 871 633

1993.................. 748 422 324 444 814 698 874 957 859 661

1994 .................. 750 422 328 441 828 688 886 964 866 634

1995.................. 755 425 342 442 825 687 875 961 874 619

1996.................. 761 419 343 439 818 682 863 954 878 652

1997 .................. 774 424 350 452 822 689 870 953 894 604

1998 .................. 789 441 371 471 843 718 893 966 922 636

1999 .................. 798 460 376 490 863 745 907 986 937 607

2000 .................. 801 469 383 494 866 748 910 964 919 653

2001.................. 814 475 388 496 875 750 916 971 923 687

2002.................. 812 468 373 490 876 750 908 965 959 697

2003 .................. 814 466 376 482 871 735 907 977 968 717

2004 .................. 812 456 362 475 868 728 916 976 960 730

2005 .................. 796 451 364 465 850 710 906 940 943 710

2006 .................. 793 446 371 464 851 705 892 957 963 702

2007 .................. 795 460 371 490 855 713 907 944 969 712

2008 .................. 798 461 369 481 857 704 915 944 943 753

16 to 24 years

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

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 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 Historical Comparability section of the

Household Data technical documentation provided at

http://www.bls.gov/cps/eetech_methods.pdf.

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.

1

58
Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, in current

dollars, by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979–2008 annual averages 

BOTH SEXES

1979.......................................... $241 $248 $199 - $194

1980.......................................... 262 269 212 - 209

1981.......................................... 284 291 235 - 223

1982.......................................... 302 310 245 - 240

1983.......................................... 313 320 261 - 250

1984.......................................... 326 336 269 - 259

1985.......................................... 344 356 277 - 270

1986 ......................................... 359 371 291 - 277

1987.......................................... 374 384 301 - 285

1988.......................................... 385 395 314 - 290

1989.......................................... 399 409 319 - 298

1990 .......................................... 412 424 329 - 304

1991.......................................... 426 442 348 - 312

1992.......................................... 440 458 357 - 321

1993.......................................... 459 475 369 - 331

1994 .......................................... 467 484 371 - 324

1995.......................................... 479 494 383 - 329

1996.......................................... 490 506 387 - 339

1997 .......................................... 503 519 400 - 351

1998 .......................................... 523 545 426 - 370

1999 .......................................... 549 573 445 - 385

2000 .......................................... 576 590 474 $615 399

2001.......................................... 596 610 491 639 417

2002.......................................... 608 623 498 658 424

2003 .......................................... 620 636 514 693 440

2004 .......................................... 638 657 525 708 456

2005 .......................................... 651 672 520 753 471

2006 .......................................... 671 690 554 784 486

2007 .......................................... 695 716 569 830 503

2008 .......................................... 722 742 589 861 529

See footnote 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

59
Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, in current

dollars, by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979–2008 annual 

averages—Continued

WOMEN

1979.......................................... $182 $184 $169 - $157

1980.......................................... 201 203 185 - 172

1981.......................................... 219 221 206 - 190

1982.......................................... 239 242 217 - 203

1983.......................................... 252 254 232 - 215

1984.......................................... 265 268 241 - 223

1985.......................................... 277 281 252 - 230

1986 .......................................... 291 294 264 - 241

1987.......................................... 303 307 276 - 251

1988.......................................... 315 318 288 - 260

1989.......................................... 328 334 301 - 269

1990 .......................................... 346 353 308 - 278

1991.......................................... 366 373 323 - 292

1992.......................................... 380 387 335 - 302

1993.......................................... 393 401 348 - 313

1994 .......................................... 399 408 346 - 305

1995.......................................... 406 415 355 - 305

1996.......................................... 418 428 362 - 316

1997 .......................................... 431 444 375 - 318

1998 .......................................... 456 468 400 - 337

1999 .......................................... 473 483 409 - 348

2000 .......................................... 493 502 429 $547 366

2001.......................................... 512 522 454 563 388

2002.......................................... 529 547 473 566 397

2003 .......................................... 552 567 491 598 410

2004 .......................................... 573 584 505 613 419

2005 .......................................... 585 596 499 665 429

2006 .......................................... 600 609 519 699 440

2007 .......................................... 614 626 533 731 473

2008 .......................................... 638 654 554 753 501

See footnote at end of table.

1

1

1

1

1

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years and 

older

White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or

Latino

1

1

1

1

60
Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, in current

dollars, by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979–2008 annual 

averages—Continued

MEN

1979.......................................... $292 $298 $227 - $219

1980.......................................... 313 320 244 - 234

1981.......................................... 340 350 268 - 251

1982.......................................... 364 375 278 - 269

1983.......................................... 379 387 294 - 274

1984.......................................... 392 401 303 - 287

1985.......................................... 407 418 305 - 296

1986 ......................................... 419 433 319 - 299

1987.......................................... 434 450 327 - 306

1988.......................................... 449 465 348 - 308

1989.......................................... 468 482 348 - 315

1990 .......................................... 481 494 361 - 318

1991.......................................... 493 506 375 - 323

1992.......................................... 501 514 380 - 339

1993.......................................... 510 524 392 - 346

1994 .......................................... 522 547 400 - 343

1995.......................................... 538 566 411 - 350

1996.......................................... 557 580 412 - 356

1997 .......................................... 579 595 432 - 371

1998 .......................................... 598 615 468 - 390

1999 .......................................... 618 638 488 - 406

2000 .......................................... 641 662 510 $685 417

2001.......................................... 670 689 529 732 440

2002.......................................... 679 702 524 756 451

2003 .......................................... 695 715 555 772 464

2004 .......................................... 713 732 569 802 480

2005 .......................................... 722 743 559 825 489

2006 .......................................... 743 761 591 882 505

2007 .......................................... 766 788 600 936 520

2008 .......................................... 798 825 620 966 559

See footnote at end of table.

1

1

1

1

1

1

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years and 

older

White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or

Latino

1

1

1

61
Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, in current

dollars, by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979–2008 annual 

averages—Continued

WOMEN'S EARNINGS

AS PERCENT OF MEN'S 

1979.......................................... 62.3 61.7 74.4 - 71.7

1980.......................................... 64.2 63.4 75.8 - 73.5

1981.......................................... 64.4 63.1 76.9 - 75.7

1982.......................................... 65.7 64.5 78.1 - 75.5

1983.......................................... 66.5 65.6 78.9 - 78.5

1984.......................................... 67.6 66.8 79.5 - 77.7

1985.......................................... 68.1 67.2 82.6 - 77.7

1986 ......................................... 69.5 67.9 82.8 - 80.6

1987.......................................... 69.8 68.2 84.4 - 82.0

1988.......................................... 70.2 68.4 82.8 - 84.4

1989.......................................... 70.1 69.3 86.5 - 85.4

1990 .......................................... 71.9 71.5 85.3 - 87.4

1991.......................................... 74.2 73.7 86.1 - 90.4

1992.......................................... 75.8 75.3 88.2 - 89.1

1993.......................................... 77.1 76.5 88.8 - 90.5

1994 .......................................... 76.4 74.6 86.5 - 88.9

1995.......................................... 75.5 73.3 86.4 - 87.1

1996.......................................... 75.0 73.8 87.9 - 88.8

1997 .......................................... 74.4 74.6 86.8 - 85.7

1998 .......................................... 76.3 76.1 85.5 - 86.4

1999 .......................................... 76.5 75.7 83.8 - 85.7

2000 .......................................... 76.9 75.8 84.1 79.9 87.8

2001.......................................... 76.4 75.8 85.8 76.9 88.2

2002.......................................... 77.9 77.9 90.3 74.9 88.0

2003 .......................................... 79.4 79.3 88.5 77.5 88.4

2004 .......................................... 80.4 79.8 88.8 76.4 87.3

2005 .......................................... 81.0 80.2 89.3 80.6 87.7

2006 .......................................... 80.8 80.0 87.8 79.3 87.1

2007 .......................................... 80.2 79.4 88.8 78.1 91.0

2008 .......................................... 79.9 79.3 89.4 78.0 89.6

1 The comparability of historical labor force data

has been affected at various times by

methodological and conceptual changes in the

Current Population Survey (CPS). For an

explanation, see the Historical Comparability

section of the Household Data technical

documentation provided at 

http://www.bls.gov/cps/eetech_methods.pdf . 

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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as

Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Data for

2000-2002 are for the category Asians and Pacific

Islanders. As of 2003, Asians constitute a separate

category. Data for Asians were not tabulated prior

to 2000. Dash indicates data not available. 

1

1

1

1

1

1

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years and 

older

White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or

Latino

1

1

1

62
Table 15. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, in 

constant (2008) dollars, by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 

1979–2008 annual averages 

BOTH SEXES

1979.......................................... $666 $685 $550 - $536

1980.......................................... 652 669 527 - 520

1981.......................................... 645 661 534 - 507

1982.......................................... 647 664 525 - 514

1983.......................................... 643 657 536 - 513

1984.......................................... 643 663 531 - 511

1985.......................................... 656 679 529 - 515

1986 ......................................... 672 695 545 - 519

1987.......................................... 678 696 545 - 516

1988.......................................... 673 691 549 - 507

1989.......................................... 668 685 534 - 499

1990 .......................................... 658 677 526 - 486

1991.......................................... 656 681 536 - 481

1992.......................................... 662 689 537 - 483

1993.......................................... 673 696 541 - 485

1994 .......................................... 671 695 533 - 466

1995.......................................... 672 693 537 - 461

1996.......................................... 669 691 529 - 463

1997 .......................................... 672 694 535 - 469

1998 .......................................... 690 719 562 - 488

1999 .......................................... 709 740 575 - 497

2000 .......................................... 720 738 593 $769 499

2001.......................................... 724 741 597 776 507

2002.......................................... 727 745 596 787 507

2003 .......................................... 726 745 602 811 515

2004 .......................................... 727 748 598 806 519

2005 .......................................... 718 741 573 830 519

2006 .......................................... 716 736 591 837 519

2007 .......................................... 722 744 591 862 522

2008 .......................................... 722 742 589 861 529

See footnote 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

63
Table 15. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, in 

constant (2008) dollars, by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 

1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

WOMEN

1979.......................................... $503 $508 $467 - $434

1980.......................................... 500 505 460 - 428

1981.......................................... 498 502 468 - 432

1982.......................................... 512 518 465 - 435

1983.......................................... 517 522 476 - 441

1984.......................................... 523 529 475 - 440

1985.......................................... 529 536 481 - 439

1986 .......................................... 545 551 494 - 451

1987.......................................... 549 556 500 - 455

1988.......................................... 551 556 503 - 455

1989.......................................... 549 559 504 - 451

1990 .......................................... 553 564 492 - 444

1991.......................................... 564 575 498 - 450

1992.......................................... 571 582 504 - 454

1993.......................................... 576 588 510 - 459

1994 .......................................... 573 586 497 - 438

1995.......................................... 569 582 498 - 428

1996.......................................... 571 585 495 - 432

1997 .......................................... 576 594 501 - 425

1998 .......................................... 602 617 528 - 445

1999 .......................................... 611 624 528 - 450

2000 .......................................... 616 628 536 $684 458

2001.......................................... 622 634 552 684 471

2002.......................................... 633 654 566 677 475

2003 .......................................... 646 664 575 700 480

2004 .......................................... 653 665 575 698 477

2005 .......................................... 645 657 550 733 473

2006 .......................................... 640 650 554 746 470

2007 .......................................... 638 650 553 759 491

2008 .......................................... 638 654 554 753 501

See footnote at end of table.

1

1

1

1

1

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years and 

older

White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or

Latino

1

1

1

1

64
Table 15. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, in 

constant (2008) dollars, by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 

1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

MEN

1979.......................................... $807 $823 $627 - $605

1980.......................................... 779 796 607 - 582

1981.......................................... 773 795 609 - 570

1982.......................................... 779 803 595 - 576

1983.......................................... 778 795 604 - 563

1984.......................................... 773 791 598 - 566

1985.......................................... 777 798 582 - 565

1986 ......................................... 785 811 597 - 560

1987.......................................... 786 815 592 - 554

1988.......................................... 785 813 608 - 538

1989.......................................... 784 807 583 - 528

1990 .......................................... 768 789 577 - 508

1991.......................................... 760 780 578 - 498

1992.......................................... 753 773 571 - 510

1993.......................................... 748 768 575 - 507

1994 .......................................... 750 786 575 - 493

1995.......................................... 755 794 576 - 491

1996.......................................... 761 792 563 - 486

1997 .......................................... 774 795 578 - 496

1998 .......................................... 789 811 617 - 515

1999 .......................................... 798 824 630 - 525

2000 .......................................... 801 828 638 $856 521

2001.......................................... 814 837 643 889 535

2002.......................................... 812 840 627 904 539

2003 .......................................... 814 837 650 904 543

2004 .......................................... 812 834 648 913 547

2005 .......................................... 796 819 616 910 539

2006 .......................................... 793 812 631 941 539

2007 .......................................... 795 818 623 972 540

2008 .......................................... 798 825 620 966 559

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 Historical Comparability

section of the Household Data technical

documentation provided at 

http://www.bls.gov/cps/eetech_methods.pdf . 

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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as

Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Data for

2000-2002 are for the category Asians and Pacific

Islanders. As of 2003, Asians constitute a separate

category. 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. 

1

1

1

1

1

1

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years and 

older

White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or

Latino

1

1

1

65
Table 16. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and

older, in current dollars, by sex and educational attainment, 1979–2008 annual averages 

BOTH SEXES

1979.......................................... $265 $210 $249 $282 $344

1980.......................................... 286 222 266 304 376

1981.......................................... 308 240 286 324 407

1982.......................................... 327 248 302 351 438

1983.......................................... 343 256 311 363 461

1984.......................................... 362 263 323 382 486

1985.......................................... 379 270 333 399 506

1986 ...................................... 391 278 344 409 525

1987.......................................... 403 284 356 421 564

1988.......................................... 414 288 368 430 585

1989.......................................... 427 297 375 452 609

1990 ....................................... 449 303 386 476 638

1991.......................................... 467 307 397 489 666

1992.......................................... 479 311 403 484 696

1993.......................................... 491 314 415 494 715

1994 ....................................... 500 307 421 499 733

1995.......................................... 510 309 432 508 747

1996.......................................... 520 317 443 518 758

1997 ....................................... 540 321 461 535 779

1998 ....................................... 572 337 479 558 821

1999 ....................................... 592 346 490 580 860

2000 ....................................... 609 362 505 596 891

2001.......................................... 630 382 520 617 921

2002.......................................... 646 388 535 629 941

2003 ....................................... 662 396 554 639 964

2004 ....................................... 683 401 574 661 986

2005 ....................................... 696 409 583 670 1,013

2006 ....................................... 718 419 595 692 1,039

2007 ....................................... 738 428 604 704 1,072

2008 ....................................... 761 453 618 722 1,115

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

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

1 2

3

66
Table 16. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and

older, in current dollars, by sex and educational attainment, 1979–2008 annual 

averages—Continued

WOMEN

1979.......................................... $195 $152 $185 $211 $264

1980.......................................... 213 164 201 231 290

1981.......................................... 233 175 217 255 318

1982.......................................... 255 184 236 274 346

1983.......................................... 268 195 246 288 369

1984.......................................... 283 200 259 305 390

1985.......................................... 296 202 268 317 414

1986 ...................................... 308 208 277 330 436

1987.......................................... 321 214 288 347 466

1988.......................................... 335 221 298 360 485

1989.......................................... 351 231 304 379 507

1990 ....................................... 369 240 315 395 535

1991.......................................... 387 250 328 409 562

1992.......................................... 400 256 337 407 594

1993.......................................... 415 263 347 422 611

1994 ....................................... 421 257 351 423 634

1995.......................................... 428 262 356 427 644

1996.......................................... 444 268 365 442 657

1997 ....................................... 462 275 378 459 672

1998 ....................................... 485 283 396 476 707

1999 ....................................... 497 290 405 488 740

2000 ....................................... 516 304 420 505 756

2001.......................................... 543 316 443 520 786

2002.......................................... 568 325 458 543 809

2003 ....................................... 584 329 474 560 832

2004 ....................................... 599 334 488 577 860

2005 ....................................... 612 341 493 587 883

2006 ....................................... 627 358 500 602 905

2007 ....................................... 646 369 512 609 932

2008 ....................................... 670 378 520 628 955

See footnotes at end of table.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

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

67
Table 16. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and

older, in current dollars, by sex and educational attainment, 1979–2008 annual 

averages—Continued

MEN

1979.......................................... $314 $252 $308 $329 $396

1980.......................................... 339 267 327 358 427

1981.......................................... 372 286 356 389 475

1982.......................................... 393 293 374 411 503

1983.......................................... 407 301 388 422 518

1984.......................................... 422 308 399 446 562

1985.......................................... 443 314 407 472 590

1986 ...................................... 463 321 416 485 618

1987.......................................... 477 324 423 497 653

1988.......................................... 487 332 437 503 679

1989.......................................... 500 346 450 517 705

1990 ....................................... 512 349 459 542 741

1991.......................................... 523 349 470 563 764

1992.......................................... 536 351 479 555 791

1993.......................................... 555 356 487 572 806

1994 ....................................... 576 342 496 587 826

1995.......................................... 588 347 507 596 845

1996.......................................... 599 357 516 604 874

1997 ....................................... 615 365 535 621 896

1998 ....................................... 639 383 559 643 939

1999 ....................................... 668 395 580 665 977

2000 ....................................... 693 406 591 691 1,020

2001.......................................... 720 419 609 723 1,067

2002.......................................... 732 421 617 731 1,090

2003 ....................................... 744 429 628 740 1,131

2004 ....................................... 762 446 645 761 1,143

2005 ....................................... 771 455 652 766 1,167

2006 ....................................... 797 469 678 796 1,205

2007 ....................................... 823 481 689 810 1,243

2008 ....................................... 857 497 709 830 1,285

See footnotes at end of table.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

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

68
Table 16. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and

older, in current dollars, by sex and educational attainment, 1979–2008 annual 

averages—Continued

WOMEN'S EARNINGS

AS PERCENT OF MEN'S 

1979.......................................... 62.1 60.3 60.1 64.1 66.7

1980.......................................... 62.8 61.4 61.5 64.5 67.9

1981.......................................... 62.6 61.2 61.0 65.6 66.9

1982.......................................... 64.9 62.8 63.1 66.7 68.8

1983.......................................... 65.8 64.8 63.4 68.2 71.2

1984.......................................... 67.1 64.9 64.9 68.4 69.4

1985.......................................... 66.8 64.3 65.8 67.2 70.2

1986 ...................................... 66.5 64.8 66.6 68.0 70.6

1987.......................................... 67.3 66.0 68.1 69.8 71.4

1988.......................................... 68.8 66.6 68.2 71.6 71.4

1989.......................................... 70.2 66.8 67.6 73.3 71.9

1990 ....................................... 72.1 68.8 68.6 72.9 72.2

1991.......................................... 74.0 71.6 69.8 72.6 73.6

1992.......................................... 74.6 72.9 70.4 73.3 75.1

1993.......................................... 74.8 73.9 71.3 73.8 75.8

1994 ....................................... 73.1 75.1 70.8 72.1 76.8

1995.......................................... 72.8 75.5 70.2 71.6 76.2

1996.......................................... 74.1 75.1 70.7 73.2 75.2

1997 ....................................... 75.1 75.3 70.7 73.9 75.0

1998 ....................................... 75.9 73.9 70.8 74.0 75.3

1999 ....................................... 74.4 73.4 69.8 73.4 75.7

2000 ....................................... 74.5 74.9 71.1 73.1 74.1

2001.......................................... 75.4 75.4 72.7 71.9 73.7

2002.......................................... 77.6 77.2 74.2 74.3 74.2

2003 ....................................... 78.5 76.7 75.5 75.7 73.6

2004 ....................................... 78.6 74.9 75.7 75.8 75.2

2005 ....................................... 79.4 74.9 75.6 76.6 75.7

2006 ....................................... 78.7 76.3 73.7 75.6 75.1

2007 ....................................... 78.5 76.7 74.3 75.2 75.0

2008 ....................................... 78.2 76.1 73.3 75.7 74.3

and conceptual changes in the Current

Population Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see

the Historical Comparability section of the

Household Data technical documentation provided

at http://www.bls.gov/cps/eetech_methods.pdf.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

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

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 

3

69
Table 17. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years 

and older, in constant (2008) dollars, by sex and educational attainment, 

1979–2008 annual averages 

BOTH SEXES

1979.......................................... $732 $580 $688 $779 $950

1980.......................................... 711 552 662 756 935

1981.......................................... 700 545 650 736 925

1982.......................................... 700 531 647 752 938

1983.......................................... 704 526 639 745 947

1984.......................................... 714 519 637 753 959

1985.......................................... 723 515 635 761 966

1986 ...................................... 732 521 644 766 983

1987.......................................... 730 514 645 763 1,022

1988.......................................... 724 503 643 752 1,023

1989.......................................... 715 497 628 757 1,020

1990 ....................................... 717 484 617 760 1,019

1991.......................................... 720 473 612 753 1,026

1992.......................................... 720 468 606 728 1,047

1993.......................................... 720 460 609 724 1,048

1994 ....................................... 718 441 605 717 1,053

1995.......................................... 715 433 606 712 1,048

1996.......................................... 710 433 605 708 1,036

1997 ....................................... 722 429 616 715 1,041

1998 ....................................... 755 445 632 736 1,083

1999 ....................................... 765 447 633 749 1,111

2000 ....................................... 761 453 631 745 1,114

2001.......................................... 765 464 632 750 1,119

2002.......................................... 773 464 640 752 1,126

2003 ....................................... 775 464 649 748 1,129

2004 ....................................... 778 457 654 753 1,123

2005 ....................................... 767 451 643 739 1,117

2006 ....................................... 766 447 635 739 1,109

2007 ....................................... 766 444 627 731 1,113

2008 ....................................... 761 453 618 722 1,115

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

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

1 2

3

70
Table 17. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years 

and older, in constant (2008) dollars, by sex and educational attainment, 

1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

WOMEN

1979.......................................... $539 $420 $511 $583 $729

1980.......................................... 530 408 500 575 721

1981.......................................... 530 398 493 580 723

1982.......................................... 546 394 505 587 741

1983.......................................... 550 400 505 591 758

1984.......................................... 558 394 511 602 769

1985.......................................... 565 385 511 605 790

1986 ...................................... 577 390 519 618 816

1987.......................................... 582 388 522 629 844

1988.......................................... 586 386 521 629 848

1989.......................................... 588 387 509 635 849

1990 ....................................... 589 383 503 631 855

1991.......................................... 596 385 505 630 866

1992.......................................... 602 385 507 612 893

1993.......................................... 609 386 509 619 896

1994 ....................................... 605 369 504 608 911

1995.......................................... 600 367 499 599 903

1996.......................................... 607 366 499 604 898

1997 ....................................... 618 368 505 614 898

1998 ....................................... 640 373 522 628 933

1999 ....................................... 642 375 523 630 956

2000 ....................................... 645 380 525 631 945

2001.......................................... 660 384 538 632 955

2002.......................................... 679 389 548 650 968

2003 ....................................... 684 385 555 656 974

2004 ....................................... 682 380 556 657 979

2005 ....................................... 675 376 544 647 974

2006 ....................................... 669 382 534 642 966

2007 ....................................... 671 383 532 632 968

2008 ....................................... 670 378 520 628 955

See footnotes at end of table.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

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

71
Table 17. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years 

and older, in constant (2008) dollars, by sex and educational attainment, 

1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

MEN

1979.......................................... $867 $696 $851 $909 $1,094

1980.......................................... 843 664 813 891 1,062

1981.......................................... 845 650 809 884 1,080

1982.......................................... 842 627 801 880 1,077

1983.......................................... 836 618 797 867 1,064

1984.......................................... 832 607 787 880 1,108

1985.......................................... 845 599 777 901 1,126

1986 ...................................... 867 601 779 908 1,157

1987.......................................... 864 587 766 900 1,183

1988.......................................... 851 580 764 879 1,187

1989.......................................... 838 580 754 866 1,181

1990 ....................................... 818 558 733 866 1,184

1991.......................................... 806 538 724 867 1,177

1992.......................................... 806 528 720 835 1,189

1993.......................................... 814 522 714 839 1,182

1994 ....................................... 828 491 713 843 1,187

1995.......................................... 825 487 711 836 1,185

1996.......................................... 818 488 705 825 1,194

1997 ....................................... 822 488 715 830 1,198

1998 ....................................... 843 505 737 848 1,239

1999 ....................................... 863 510 749 859 1,262

2000 ....................................... 866 508 739 864 1,275

2001.......................................... 875 509 740 878 1,296

2002.......................................... 876 504 738 874 1,304

2003 ....................................... 871 502 735 867 1,324

2004 ....................................... 868 508 735 867 1,302

2005 ....................................... 850 502 719 845 1,287

2006 ....................................... 851 501 724 850 1,286

2007 ....................................... 855 499 715 841 1,291

2008 ....................................... 857 497 709 830 1,285

Comparability section of the Household Data

technical documentation provided at

http://www.bls.gov/cps/eetech_methods.pdf .

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.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

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

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 Historical

3

72
Table 18. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, in current dollars, by sex 

and age, 1979–2008 annual averages

25 years and older

BOTH SEXES

1979.................. $4.44 $3.49 $3.10 $4.02 $5.11 $5.20 $5.29 $5.16 $4.97 $3.23

1980.................. 4.82 3.71 3.22 4.29 5.55 5.66 5.76 5.65 5.39 3.56

1981.................. 5.15 3.97 3.58 4.61 5.99 6.09 6.20 6.01 5.81 3.92

1982.................. 5.40 4.05 3.60 4.66 6.28 6.35 6.61 6.42 6.11 4.12

1983.................. 5.59 4.08 3.61 4.69 6.55 6.50 6.91 6.73 6.41 4.40

1984.................. 5.83 4.18 3.65 4.82 6.84 6.77 7.17 7.08 6.62 4.63

1985.................. 6.03 4.26 3.67 4.94 7.05 6.92 7.49 7.37 6.91 4.74

1986 .................. 6.20 4.41 3.71 5.06 7.23 7.01 7.79 7.73 7.17 4.97

1987.................. 6.47 4.59 3.81 5.21 7.46 7.19 7.94 7.86 7.42 5.08

1988.................. 6.73 4.79 4.03 5.38 7.74 7.43 8.17 8.16 7.48 5.23

1989.................. 6.99 4.95 4.22 5.65 7.94 7.64 8.56 8.42 7.82 5.42

1990 .................. 7.23 5.16 4.49 5.91 8.16 7.90 8.82 8.79 8.02 5.75

1991.................. 7.50 5.26 4.69 6.00 8.48 8.04 9.17 9.11 8.19 5.94

1992.................. 7.72 5.37 4.73 6.03 8.73 8.17 9.38 9.52 8.48 6.14

1993.................. 7.87 5.51 4.80 6.15 8.95 8.27 9.61 9.86 8.90 6.39

1994 .................. 8.01 5.62 4.91 6.22 9.12 8.38 9.92 10.02 9.02 6.39

1995.................. 8.17 5.80 5.04 6.42 9.36 8.71 10.02 10.13 9.20 6.65

1996.................. 8.40 5.94 5.17 6.69 9.62 8.82 10.14 10.24 9.39 6.77

1997 .................. 8.75 6.15 5.51 6.91 9.87 9.04 10.36 10.60 9.73 6.89

1998 .................. 9.10 6.58 5.88 7.24 10.13 9.65 10.86 10.96 10.08 7.40

1999 .................. 9.53 6.87 6.08 7.74 10.47 9.98 11.02 11.33 10.38 7.70

2000 .................. 9.91 7.24 6.41 8.07 10.88 10.18 11.35 11.82 10.82 8.05

2001.................. 10.19 7.69 6.76 8.38 11.40 10.67 11.97 12.17 11.37 8.53

2002.................. 10.47 7.81 6.91 8.47 11.83 10.98 12.18 12.46 11.85 9.07

2003 .................. 10.85 7.90 6.93 8.66 12.05 11.25 12.46 12.97 12.19 9.19

2004 .................. 11.00 7.98 7.00 8.78 12.23 11.37 12.89 13.23 12.58 9.62

2005 .................. 11.19 8.07 7.05 8.91 12.48 11.76 13.11 13.48 12.95 9.93

2006 .................. 11.76 8.24 7.23 9.16 12.94 11.95 13.49 14.03 13.33 10.15

2007 .................. 11.95 8.65 7.57 9.66 13.16 12.05 13.93 14.39 13.71 10.37

2008 .................. 12.23 8.87 7.84 9.76 13.81 12.50 14.38 14.87 14.20 10.89

See footnote at end of table.

16 to 24 years

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

65 years

and 

older

1

73
Table 18. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, in current dollars, by sex 

and age, 1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

25 years and older

WOMEN

1979.................. $3.62 $3.19 $3.03 $3.52 $3.90 $4.04 $3.97 $3.84 $3.75 $3.12

1980.................. 3.95 3.45 3.14 3.79 4.24 4.44 4.29 4.23 4.08 3.38

1981.................. 4.28 3.71 3.52 4.09 4.69 4.89 4.77 4.59 4.43 3.71

1982.................. 4.61 3.78 3.55 4.19 5.02 5.19 5.08 4.95 4.80 3.93

1983.................. 4.80 3.82 3.55 4.26 5.23 5.44 5.31 5.19 5.07 4.16

1984.................. 4.97 3.93 3.59 4.36 5.48 5.60 5.61 5.51 5.27 4.37

1985.................. 5.13 4.01 3.61 4.56 5.73 5.79 5.91 5.76 5.46 4.43

1986 .................. 5.33 4.11 3.65 4.71 5.95 5.95 6.13 5.99 5.75 4.73

1987.................. 5.60 4.22 3.71 4.89 6.16 6.14 6.35 6.28 6.03 4.85

1988.................. 5.84 4.48 3.91 5.05 6.44 6.36 6.76 6.59 6.08 5.12

1989.................. 6.11 4.69 4.10 5.23 6.78 6.68 7.10 6.90 6.38 5.14

1990 .................. 6.44 4.95 4.35 5.57 7.07 7.01 7.37 7.16 6.73 5.45

1991.................. 6.75 5.08 4.64 5.71 7.34 7.19 7.73 7.61 6.95 5.76

1992.................. 6.96 5.16 4.69 5.77 7.65 7.45 7.99 7.94 7.20 5.97

1993.................. 7.12 5.27 4.73 5.96 7.87 7.61 8.16 8.18 7.56 6.18

1994 .................. 7.25 5.32 4.83 5.98 8.05 7.78 8.44 8.46 7.82 6.24

1995.................. 7.46 5.49 4.94 6.09 8.17 7.92 8.63 8.72 7.93 6.45

1996.................. 7.73 5.68 5.09 6.26 8.43 8.06 8.89 8.94 8.07 6.45

1997 .................. 7.94 5.95 5.42 6.55 8.75 8.20 9.14 9.26 8.31 6.83

1998 .................. 8.23 6.24 5.78 6.93 9.13 8.80 9.66 9.78 8.85 7.21

1999 .................. 8.64 6.60 5.98 7.22 9.53 9.10 9.83 9.95 9.33 7.50

2000 .................. 9.06 7.00 6.23 7.80 9.89 9.69 10.03 10.18 9.84 7.87

2001.................. 9.64 7.25 6.61 8.00 10.20 9.94 10.44 10.85 10.39 8.14

2002.................. 9.89 7.45 6.80 8.11 10.71 10.12 10.98 11.18 10.81 8.73

2003 .................. 10.08 7.59 6.85 8.19 11.01 10.51 11.17 11.79 11.05 8.84

2004 .................. 10.17 7.71 6.86 8.32 11.23 10.62 11.45 11.95 11.57 9.16

2005 .................. 10.31 7.80 6.92 8.50 11.58 10.86 11.84 12.13 11.86 9.82

2006 .................. 10.65 7.99 7.11 8.82 11.87 11.07 12.05 12.26 12.12 9.97

2007 .................. 10.98 8.15 7.41 9.00 12.05 11.21 12.36 12.85 12.23 10.15

2008 .................. 11.49 8.43 7.71 9.16 12.48 11.72 12.89 13.16 13.00 10.53

See footnote at end of table.

16 to 24 years

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

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

1

74
Table 18. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, in current dollars, by sex 

and age, 1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

25 years and older

MEN

1979.................. $5.65 $3.90 $3.19 $4.64 $6.69 $6.38 $7.12 $7.10 $6.59 $3.56

1980.................. 6.10 4.10 3.37 4.92 7.22 6.93 7.81 7.78 7.24 3.79

1981.................. 6.57 4.31 3.64 5.11 7.78 7.33 8.30 8.49 7.88 4.21

1982.................. 6.85 4.38 3.66 5.12 8.08 7.67 8.89 8.88 8.14 4.46

1983.................. 6.92 4.38 3.67 5.05 8.31 7.74 9.22 9.16 8.74 4.75

1984.................. 7.12 4.57 3.72 5.16 8.60 7.88 9.51 9.69 8.86 4.91

1985.................. 7.33 4.68 3.75 5.23 8.85 8.00 9.80 9.97 9.04 4.99

1986 .................. 7.59 4.79 3.82 5.43 9.02 8.03 9.99 10.15 9.54 5.18

1987.................. 7.77 4.91 3.95 5.68 9.16 8.26 10.10 10.24 9.72 5.32

1988.................. 7.91 5.03 4.14 5.79 9.38 8.41 10.22 10.69 9.74 5.52

1989.................. 8.10 5.17 4.39 6.02 9.71 8.56 10.59 10.88 10.00 5.90

1990 .................. 8.27 5.44 4.64 6.18 9.84 8.83 10.73 11.13 10.17 6.08

1991.................. 8.59 5.58 4.74 6.23 9.98 8.94 10.98 11.71 10.08 6.22

1992.................. 8.67 5.65 4.80 6.24 10.06 9.02 10.93 12.02 10.39 6.45

1993.................. 8.86 5.75 4.87 6.33 10.18 9.10 11.16 12.15 10.96 6.71

1994 .................. 9.00 5.88 4.98 6.56 10.29 9.10 11.50 12.10 11.06 6.64

1995.................. 9.23 6.04 5.14 6.82 10.73 9.46 11.89 12.32 11.11 6.85

1996.................. 9.52 6.17 5.25 6.99 10.78 9.70 11.91 12.40 11.15 7.04

1997 .................. 9.83 6.45 5.61 7.18 11.10 9.92 12.07 12.80 11.79 6.96

1998 .................. 10.06 6.91 5.98 7.78 11.72 10.22 12.48 13.04 12.22 7.74

1999 .................. 10.31 7.12 6.18 8.03 12.00 10.84 12.78 13.68 12.21 7.86

2000 .................. 10.81 7.63 6.64 8.39 12.24 10.97 13.14 13.90 12.81 8.31

2001.................. 11.32 8.01 6.90 8.92 12.88 11.58 13.92 14.25 12.95 9.00

2002.................. 11.64 8.05 7.02 8.88 13.05 11.89 13.96 14.40 13.38 9.78

2003 .................. 11.89 8.14 7.02 9.00 13.25 12.01 14.13 14.93 14.09 9.79

2004 .................. 12.02 8.21 7.15 9.07 13.74 12.03 14.60 15.11 14.54 9.90

2005 .................. 12.16 8.42 7.21 9.20 13.91 12.17 14.88 15.13 14.79 10.04

2006 .................. 12.68 8.79 7.43 9.75 14.27 12.63 15.06 16.04 15.04 10.72

2007 .................. 12.95 9.13 7.77 9.96 14.75 12.83 15.17 16.15 15.45 11.01

2008 .................. 13.46 9.24 7.98 10.00 15.03 13.47 16.02 16.82 15.90 11.50

See footnote at end of table.

16 to 24 years

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

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

1

75
Table 18. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, in current dollars, by sex 

and age, 1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

25 years and older

WOMEN'S 

EARNINGS

AS PERCENT

OF MEN'S 

1979.................. 64.1 81.8 95.0 75.9 58.3 63.3 55.8 54.1 56.9 87.6

1980.................. 64.8 84.1 93.2 77.0 58.7 64.1 54.9 54.4 56.4 89.2

1981.................. 65.1 86.1 96.7 80.0 60.3 66.7 57.5 54.1 56.2 88.1

1982.................. 67.3 86.3 97.0 81.8 62.1 67.7 57.1 55.7 59.0 88.1

1983.................. 69.4 87.2 96.7 84.4 62.9 70.3 57.6 56.7 58.0 87.6

1984.................. 69.8 86.0 96.5 84.5 63.7 71.1 59.0 56.9 59.5 89.0

1985.................. 70.0 85.7 96.3 87.2 64.7 72.4 60.3 57.8 60.4 88.8

1986 .................. 70.2 85.8 95.5 86.7 66.0 74.1 61.4 59.0 60.3 91.3

1987.................. 72.1 85.9 93.9 86.1 67.2 74.3 62.9 61.3 62.0 91.2

1988.................. 73.8 89.1 94.4 87.2 68.7 75.6 66.1 61.6 62.4 92.8

1989.................. 75.4 90.7 93.4 86.9 69.8 78.0 67.0 63.4 63.8 87.1

1990 .................. 77.9 91.0 93.8 90.1 71.8 79.4 68.7 64.3 66.2 89.6

1991.................. 78.6 91.0 97.9 91.7 73.5 80.4 70.4 65.0 68.9 92.6

1992.................. 80.3 91.3 97.7 92.5 76.0 82.6 73.1 66.1 69.3 92.6

1993.................. 80.4 91.7 97.1 94.2 77.3 83.6 73.1 67.3 69.0 92.1

1994 .................. 80.6 90.5 97.0 91.2 78.2 85.5 73.4 69.9 70.7 94.0

1995.................. 80.8 90.9 96.1 89.3 76.1 83.7 72.6 70.8 71.4 94.2

1996.................. 81.2 92.1 97.0 89.6 78.2 83.1 74.6 72.1 72.4 91.6

1997 .................. 80.8 92.2 96.6 91.2 78.8 82.7 75.7 72.3 70.5 98.1

1998 .................. 81.8 90.3 96.7 89.1 77.9 86.1 77.4 75.0 72.4 93.2

1999 .................. 83.8 92.7 96.8 89.9 79.4 83.9 76.9 72.7 76.4 95.4

2000 .................. 83.8 91.7 93.8 93.0 80.8 88.3 76.3 73.2 76.8 94.7

2001.................. 85.2 90.5 95.8 89.7 79.2 85.8 75.0 76.1 80.2 90.4

2002.................. 85.0 92.5 96.9 91.3 82.1 85.1 78.7 77.6 80.8 89.3

2003 .................. 84.8 93.2 97.6 91.0 83.1 87.5 79.1 79.0 78.4 90.3

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 92.4 83.2 89.2 79.6 80.2 80.2 97.8

2006 .................. 84.0 90.9 95.7 90.5 83.2 87.6 80.0 76.4 80.6 93.0

2007 .................. 84.8 89.3 95.4 90.4 81.7 87.4 81.5 79.6 79.2 92.2

2008 .................. 85.4 91.2 96.6 91.6 83.0 87.0 80.5 78.2 81.8 91.6

16 to 24 years

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 Historical Comparability section of the Household Data technical

documentation provided at http://www.bls.gov/cps/eetech_methods.pdf. 

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

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

1

76
Table 19. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, in constant 

(2008) dollars, by sex and age, 1979–2008 annual averages

25 years and older

BOTH SEXES

1979.................. $12.27 $9.64 $8.56 $11.10 $14.12 $14.36 $14.61 $14.25 $13.73 $8.92

1980.................. 11.99 9.23 8.01 10.67 13.81 14.08 14.33 14.05 13.41 8.86

1981.................. 11.70 9.02 8.14 10.48 13.61 13.84 14.09 13.66 13.20 8.91

1982.................. 11.56 8.67 7.71 9.98 13.45 13.60 14.15 13.75 13.08 8.82

1983.................. 11.48 8.38 7.41 9.63 13.45 13.35 14.19 13.82 13.16 9.03

1984.................. 11.50 8.24 7.20 9.51 13.49 13.35 14.14 13.96 13.06 9.13

1985.................. 11.51 8.13 7.00 9.43 13.45 13.21 14.29 14.06 13.19 9.05

1986 .................. 11.61 8.26 6.95 9.48 13.54 13.13 14.59 14.48 13.43 9.31

1987.................. 11.72 8.32 6.90 9.44 13.51 13.03 14.38 14.24 13.44 9.20

1988.................. 11.77 8.37 7.05 9.41 13.53 12.99 14.28 14.27 13.08 9.14

1989.................. 11.71 8.29 7.07 9.46 13.30 12.80 14.34 14.10 13.10 9.08

1990 .................. 11.55 8.24 7.17 9.44 13.04 12.62 14.09 14.04 12.81 9.19

1991.................. 11.56 8.10 7.23 9.24 13.07 12.39 14.13 14.04 12.62 9.15

1992.................. 11.61 8.08 7.11 9.07 13.13 12.29 14.11 14.32 12.75 9.23

1993.................. 11.54 8.08 7.04 9.02 13.12 12.13 14.09 14.46 13.05 9.37

1994 .................. 11.51 8.07 7.05 8.94 13.10 12.04 14.25 14.40 12.96 9.18

1995.................. 11.46 8.13 7.07 9.00 13.13 12.22 14.05 14.21 12.90 9.33

1996.................. 11.48 8.11 7.06 9.14 13.14 12.05 13.85 13.99 12.83 9.25

1997 .................. 11.70 8.22 7.37 9.24 13.20 12.09 13.85 14.17 13.01 9.21

1998 .................. 12.01 8.68 7.76 9.55 13.36 12.73 14.33 14.46 13.30 9.76

1999 .................. 12.31 8.88 7.86 10.00 13.53 12.89 14.24 14.64 13.41 9.95

2000 .................. 12.39 9.05 8.01 10.09 13.60 12.73 14.19 14.78 13.53 10.06

2001.................. 12.38 9.34 8.21 10.18 13.85 12.96 14.54 14.79 13.82 10.36

2002.................. 12.52 9.34 8.27 10.13 14.15 13.13 14.57 14.90 14.17 10.85

2003 .................. 12.70 9.25 8.11 10.14 14.11 13.17 14.59 15.19 14.27 10.76

2004 .................. 12.53 9.09 7.97 10.00 13.93 12.95 14.68 15.07 14.33 10.96

2005 .................. 12.34 8.90 7.77 9.82 13.76 12.97 14.45 14.86 14.28 10.95

2006 .................. 12.55 8.79 7.72 9.78 13.81 12.75 14.40 14.97 14.23 10.83

2007 .................. 12.41 8.98 7.86 10.03 13.67 12.51 14.47 14.94 14.24 10.77

2008 .................. 12.23 8.87 7.84 9.76 13.81 12.50 14.38 14.87 14.20 10.89

See footnote at end of table.

16 to 24 years

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

65 years

and 

older

1

77
Table 19. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, in constant 

(2008) dollars, by sex and age, 1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

25 years and older

WOMEN

1979.................. $10.00 $8.81 $8.37 $9.72 $10.77 $11.16 $10.97 $10.61 $10.36 $8.62

1980.................. 9.83 8.58 7.81 9.43 10.55 11.04 10.67 10.52 10.15 8.41

1981.................. 9.73 8.43 8.00 9.30 10.66 11.11 10.84 10.43 10.07 8.43

1982.................. 9.87 8.09 7.60 8.97 10.75 11.11 10.88 10.60 10.28 8.42

1983.................. 9.86 7.84 7.29 8.75 10.74 11.17 10.90 10.66 10.41 8.54

1984.................. 9.80 7.75 7.08 8.60 10.81 11.05 11.07 10.87 10.39 8.62

1985.................. 9.79 7.65 6.89 8.70 10.94 11.05 11.28 10.99 10.42 8.45

1986 .................. 9.98 7.70 6.84 8.82 11.14 11.14 11.48 11.22 10.77 8.86

1987.................. 10.14 7.64 6.72 8.86 11.16 11.12 11.50 11.38 10.92 8.79

1988.................. 10.21 7.83 6.84 8.83 11.26 11.12 11.82 11.52 10.63 8.95

1989.................. 10.23 7.86 6.87 8.76 11.36 11.19 11.89 11.56 10.69 8.61

1990 .................. 10.29 7.91 6.95 8.90 11.29 11.20 11.77 11.44 10.75 8.71

1991.................. 10.40 7.83 7.15 8.80 11.31 11.08 11.91 11.73 10.71 8.88

1992.................. 10.47 7.76 7.05 8.68 11.50 11.20 12.02 11.94 10.83 8.98

1993.................. 10.44 7.73 6.94 8.74 11.54 11.16 11.96 11.99 11.09 9.06

1994 .................. 10.42 7.64 6.94 8.59 11.57 11.18 12.13 12.16 11.24 8.97

1995.................. 10.46 7.70 6.93 8.54 11.46 11.11 12.10 12.23 11.12 9.05

1996.................. 10.56 7.76 6.95 8.55 11.52 11.01 12.14 12.21 11.02 8.81

1997 .................. 10.61 7.95 7.25 8.76 11.70 10.96 12.22 12.38 11.11 9.13

1998 .................. 10.86 8.23 7.63 9.14 12.04 11.61 12.74 12.90 11.68 9.51

1999 .................. 11.16 8.53 7.73 9.33 12.31 11.76 12.70 12.86 12.05 9.69

2000 .................. 11.33 8.75 7.79 9.75 12.36 12.11 12.54 12.73 12.30 9.84

2001.................. 11.71 8.81 8.03 9.72 12.39 12.08 12.69 13.18 12.62 9.89

2002.................. 11.83 8.91 8.13 9.70 12.81 12.11 13.13 13.37 12.93 10.44

2003 .................. 11.80 8.89 8.02 9.59 12.89 12.31 13.08 13.81 12.94 10.35

2004 .................. 11.58 8.78 7.81 9.48 12.79 12.10 13.04 13.61 13.18 10.43

2005 .................. 11.37 8.60 7.63 9.37 12.77 11.97 13.05 13.37 13.08 10.83

2006 .................. 11.37 8.53 7.59 9.41 12.67 11.81 12.86 13.08 12.93 10.64

2007 .................. 11.40 8.46 7.69 9.35 12.51 11.64 12.83 13.34 12.70 10.54

2008 .................. 11.49 8.43 7.71 9.16 12.48 11.72 12.89 13.16 13.00 10.53

See footnote at end of table.

16 to 24 years

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

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

1

78
Table 19. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, in constant 

(2008) dollars, by sex and age, 1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

25 years and older

MEN

1979.................. $15.61 $10.77 $8.81 $12.82 $18.48 $17.62 $19.67 $19.61 $18.20 $9.83

1980.................. 15.17 10.20 8.38 12.24 17.96 17.24 19.43 19.35 18.01 9.43

1981.................. 14.93 9.80 8.27 11.61 17.68 16.66 18.86 19.30 17.91 9.57

1982.................. 14.67 9.38 7.84 10.96 17.30 16.42 19.04 19.01 17.43 9.55

1983.................. 14.21 8.99 7.54 10.37 17.06 15.89 18.93 18.81 17.95 9.75

1984.................. 14.04 9.01 7.34 10.18 16.96 15.54 18.76 19.11 17.48 9.68

1985.................. 13.99 8.93 7.16 9.98 16.89 15.27 18.70 19.03 17.25 9.52

1986 .................. 14.21 8.97 7.15 10.17 16.89 15.04 18.71 19.01 17.87 9.70

1987.................. 14.08 8.89 7.16 10.29 16.59 14.96 18.30 18.55 17.61 9.64

1988.................. 13.83 8.79 7.24 10.12 16.40 14.70 17.87 18.69 17.03 9.65

1989.................. 13.57 8.66 7.35 10.08 16.26 14.34 17.74 18.22 16.75 9.88

1990 .................. 13.21 8.69 7.41 9.87 15.72 14.11 17.14 17.78 16.25 9.71

1991.................. 13.24 8.60 7.30 9.60 15.38 13.78 16.92 18.04 15.53 9.58

1992.................. 13.04 8.50 7.22 9.38 15.13 13.56 16.44 18.08 15.62 9.70

1993.................. 12.99 8.43 7.14 9.28 14.93 13.34 16.36 17.82 16.07 9.84

1994 .................. 12.93 8.45 7.16 9.43 14.78 13.07 16.52 17.39 15.89 9.54

1995.................. 12.95 8.47 7.21 9.57 15.05 13.27 16.68 17.28 15.58 9.61

1996.................. 13.01 8.43 7.17 9.55 14.73 13.25 16.27 16.94 15.23 9.62

1997 .................. 13.14 8.62 7.50 9.60 14.84 13.26 16.14 17.11 15.76 9.30

1998 .................. 13.27 9.12 7.89 10.26 15.46 13.48 16.46 17.20 16.12 10.21

1999 .................. 13.32 9.20 7.98 10.37 15.50 14.01 16.51 17.67 15.78 10.16

2000 .................. 13.51 9.54 8.30 10.49 15.30 13.71 16.43 17.38 16.01 10.39

2001.................. 13.75 9.73 8.38 10.84 15.65 14.07 16.91 17.31 15.74 10.94

2002.................. 13.92 9.63 8.40 10.62 15.61 14.22 16.70 17.22 16.00 11.70

2003 .................. 13.92 9.53 8.22 10.54 15.52 14.06 16.55 17.48 16.50 11.46

2004 .................. 13.69 9.35 8.14 10.33 15.65 13.70 16.63 17.21 16.56 11.28

2005 .................. 13.41 9.28 7.95 10.14 15.34 13.42 16.41 16.68 16.31 11.07

2006 .................. 13.53 9.38 7.93 10.41 15.23 13.48 16.07 17.12 16.05 11.44

2007 .................. 13.45 9.48 8.07 10.34 15.32 13.32 15.75 16.77 16.04 11.43

2008 .................. 13.46 9.24 7.98 10.00 15.03 13.47 16.02 16.82 15.90 11.50

16 to 24 years

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 Historical Comparability section of the

Household Data technical documentation provided at

http://www.bls.gov/cps/eetech_methods.pdf.

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.

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

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

1

79
Table 20. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, in

current dollars, by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 

1979–2008 annual averages 

BOTH SEXES

1979.......................................... $4.44 $4.51 $4.11 - $4.08

1980.......................................... 4.82 4.88 4.44 - 4.44

1981.......................................... 5.15 5.18 4.90 - 4.81

1982.......................................... 5.40 5.47 5.06 - 5.01

1983.......................................... 5.59 5.66 5.15 - 5.09

1984.......................................... 5.83 5.90 5.36 - 5.27

1985.......................................... 6.03 6.10 5.50 - 5.47

1986 ......................................... 6.20 6.28 5.80 - 5.65

1987.......................................... 6.47 6.56 5.99 - 5.82

1988.......................................... 6.73 6.81 6.15 - 5.95

1989.......................................... 6.99 7.08 6.43 - 6.07

1990 .......................................... 7.23 7.33 6.81 - 6.28

1991.......................................... 7.50 7.61 7.00 - 6.46

1992.......................................... 7.72 7.82 7.06 - 6.65

1993.......................................... 7.87 7.97 7.18 - 6.83

1994 .......................................... 8.01 8.11 7.29 - 6.93

1995.......................................... 8.17 8.32 7.66 - 7.00

1996.......................................... 8.40 8.57 7.76 - 7.17

1997 .......................................... 8.75 8.88 8.01 - 7.39

1998 .......................................... 9.10 9.22 8.39 - 7.92

1999 .......................................... 9.53 9.74 8.85 - 8.07

2000 .......................................... 9.91 9.96 9.34 $10.07 8.54

2001.......................................... 10.19 10.26 9.78 10.75 9.06

2002.......................................... 10.47 10.71 9.93 10.36 9.22

2003 .......................................... 10.85 10.97 10.15 11.12 9.76

2004 .......................................... 11.00 11.13 10.19 11.10 9.81

2005 .......................................... 11.19 11.48 10.17 12.01 9.95

2006 .......................................... 11.76 11.86 10.66 12.53 10.12

2007 .......................................... 11.95 12.08 10.89 12.22 10.24

2008 .......................................... 12.23 12.54 11.20 13.01 10.97

See footnote 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

80
Table 20. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, in

current dollars, by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 

1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

WOMEN

1979.......................................... $3.62 $3.62 $3.55 - $3.44

1980.......................................... 3.95 3.96 3.88 - 3.78

1981.......................................... 4.28 4.28 4.19 - 4.10

1982.......................................... 4.61 4.61 4.49 - 4.33

1983.......................................... 4.80 4.81 4.72 - 4.42

1984.......................................... 4.97 4.98 4.87 - 4.65

1985.......................................... 5.13 5.14 5.04 - 4.82

1986 .......................................... 5.33 5.35 5.17 - 5.00

1987.......................................... 5.60 5.62 5.40 - 5.11

1988.......................................... 5.84 5.86 5.61 - 5.28

1989.......................................... 6.11 6.13 5.88 - 5.53

1990 .......................................... 6.44 6.46 6.23 - 5.80

1991.......................................... 6.75 6.76 6.55 - 5.98

1992.......................................... 6.96 6.99 6.64 - 6.17

1993.......................................... 7.12 7.16 6.87 - 6.31

1994 .......................................... 7.25 7.34 6.93 - 6.40

1995.......................................... 7.46 7.54 7.12 - 6.60

1996.......................................... 7.73 7.79 7.20 - 6.77

1997 .......................................... 7.94 8.00 7.59 - 6.82

1998 .......................................... 8.23 8.33 7.90 - 7.22

1999 .......................................... 8.64 8.73 8.13 - 7.46

2000 .......................................... 9.06 9.09 8.86 $9.77 7.89

2001.......................................... 9.64 9.73 9.15 10.07 8.28

2002.......................................... 9.89 9.94 9.45 10.10 8.54

2003 .......................................... 10.08 10.11 9.91 10.68 8.88

2004 .......................................... 10.17 10.21 9.93 10.57 9.04

2005 .......................................... 10.31 10.50 9.93 11.64 9.18

2006 .......................................... 10.65 10.77 10.11 11.95 9.50

2007 .......................................... 10.98 11.06 10.45 11.83 9.80

2008 .......................................... 11.49 11.70 10.78 12.25 10.07

See footnote at end of table.

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years 

and older

White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or

Latino

1

81
Table 20. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, in

current dollars, by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 

1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

MEN

1979.......................................... $5.65 $5.79 $4.89 - $4.79

1980.......................................... 6.10 6.23 5.18 - 5.03

1981.......................................... 6.57 6.71 5.81 - 5.37

1982.......................................... 6.85 6.98 5.97 - 5.73

1983.......................................... 6.92 7.07 5.96 - 5.81

1984.......................................... 7.12 7.26 6.16 - 6.04

1985.......................................... 7.33 7.58 6.15 - 6.07

1986 ......................................... 7.59 7.78 6.57 - 6.19

1987.......................................... 7.77 7.93 6.74 - 6.37

1988.......................................... 7.91 8.06 6.94 - 6.51

1989.......................................... 8.10 8.28 7.07 - 6.66

1990 .......................................... 8.27 8.55 7.37 - 6.74

1991.......................................... 8.59 8.82 7.57 - 6.88

1992.......................................... 8.67 8.89 7.62 - 6.99

1993.......................................... 8.86 9.07 7.67 - 7.12

1994 .......................................... 9.00 9.21 7.92 - 7.17

1995.......................................... 9.23 9.62 8.16 - 7.26

1996.......................................... 9.52 9.79 8.18 - 7.62

1997 .......................................... 9.83 9.96 8.67 - 7.90

1998 .......................................... 10.06 10.18 9.09 - 8.24

1999 .......................................... 10.31 10.61 9.77 - 8.61

2000 .......................................... 10.81 10.95 9.98 $10.79 9.04

2001.......................................... 11.32 11.61 10.18 11.84 9.67

2002.......................................... 11.64 11.86 10.24 11.02 9.92

2003 .......................................... 11.89 12.03 10.81 11.89 10.03

2004 .......................................... 12.02 12.16 10.88 11.90 10.02

2005 .......................................... 12.16 12.47 10.90 12.75 10.19

2006 .......................................... 12.68 12.88 11.42 13.18 10.84

2007 .......................................... 12.95 13.22 11.57 13.22 11.07

2008 .......................................... 13.46 13.85 11.99 14.03 11.83

See footnote at end of table.

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years 

and older

White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or

Latino

1

82
Table 20. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, in

current dollars, by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 

1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

WOMEN'S EARNINGS

AS PERCENT OF MEN'S

1979.......................................... 64.1 62.5 72.6 - 71.8

1980.......................................... 64.8 63.6 74.9 - 75.1

1981.......................................... 65.1 63.8 72.1 - 76.4

1982.......................................... 67.3 66.0 75.2 - 75.6

1983.......................................... 69.4 68.0 79.2 - 76.1

1984.......................................... 69.8 68.6 79.1 - 77.0

1985.......................................... 70.0 67.8 82.0 - 79.4

1986 ......................................... 70.2 68.8 78.7 - 80.8

1987.......................................... 72.1 70.9 80.1 - 80.2

1988.......................................... 73.8 72.7 80.8 - 81.1

1989.......................................... 75.4 74.0 83.2 - 83.0

1990 .......................................... 77.9 75.6 84.5 - 86.1

1991.......................................... 78.6 76.6 86.5 - 86.9

1992.......................................... 80.3 78.6 87.1 - 88.3

1993.......................................... 80.4 78.9 89.6 - 88.6

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 - 88.8

1997 .......................................... 80.8 80.3 87.5 - 86.3

1998 .......................................... 81.8 81.8 86.9 - 87.6

1999 .......................................... 83.8 82.3 83.2 - 86.6

2000 .......................................... 83.8 83.0 88.8 90.5 87.3

2001.......................................... 85.2 83.8 89.9 85.1 85.6

2002.......................................... 85.0 83.8 92.3 91.7 86.1

2003 .......................................... 84.8 84.0 91.7 89.8 88.5

2004 .......................................... 84.6 84.0 91.3 88.8 90.2

2005 .......................................... 84.8 84.2 91.1 91.3 90.1

2006 .......................................... 84.0 83.6 88.5 90.7 87.6

2007 .......................................... 84.8 83.7 90.3 89.5 88.5

2008 .......................................... 85.4 84.5 89.9 87.3 85.1

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 Historical Comparability section

of the Household Data technical documentation

provided at 

http://www.bls.gov/cps/eetech_methods.pdf . 

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. Persons

whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino

may be of any race. Data for 2000-2002 are for the

category Asians and Pacific Islanders. As of 2003,

Asians constitute a separate category. Data for

Asians were not tabulated prior to 2000. Dash

indicates data not available. 

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years 

and older

White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or

Latino

1

83
Table 21. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, in

constant (2008) dollars, by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 

1979–2008 annual averages 

BOTH SEXES

1979.......................................... $12.27 $12.46 $11.35 - $11.27

1980.......................................... 11.99 12.14 11.04 - 11.04

1981.......................................... 11.70 11.77 11.14 - 10.93

1982.......................................... 11.56 11.71 10.84 - 10.73

1983.......................................... 11.48 11.62 10.57 - 10.45

1984.......................................... 11.50 11.64 10.57 - 10.39

1985.......................................... 11.51 11.64 10.50 - 10.44

1986 ......................................... 11.61 11.76 10.86 - 10.58

1987.......................................... 11.72 11.88 10.85 - 10.54

1988.......................................... 11.77 11.91 10.75 - 10.40

1989.......................................... 11.71 11.86 10.77 - 10.17

1990 .......................................... 11.55 11.71 10.88 - 10.03

1991.......................................... 11.56 11.73 10.79 - 9.95

1992.......................................... 11.61 11.76 10.62 - 10.00

1993.......................................... 11.54 11.69 10.53 - 10.01

1994 .......................................... 11.51 11.65 10.47 - 9.96

1995.......................................... 11.46 11.67 10.74 - 9.82

1996.......................................... 11.48 11.71 10.60 - 9.80

1997 .......................................... 11.70 11.87 10.71 - 9.88

1998 .......................................... 12.01 12.16 11.07 - 10.45

1999 .......................................... 12.31 12.58 11.43 - 10.43

2000 .......................................... 12.39 12.45 11.68 $12.59 10.68

2001.......................................... 12.38 12.47 11.88 13.06 11.01

2002.......................................... 12.52 12.81 11.88 12.39 11.03

2003 .......................................... 12.70 12.85 11.89 13.02 11.43

2004 .......................................... 12.53 12.68 11.61 12.64 11.17

2005 .......................................... 12.34 12.66 11.21 13.24 10.97

2006 .......................................... 12.55 12.66 11.38 13.37 10.80

2007 .......................................... 12.41 12.54 11.31 12.69 10.63

2008 .......................................... 12.23 12.54 11.20 13.01 10.97

See footnote 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

84
Table 21. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, in

constant (2008) dollars, by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 

1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

WOMEN

1979.......................................... $10.00 $10.00 $9.81 - $9.50

1980.......................................... 9.83 9.85 9.65 - 9.40

1981.......................................... 9.73 9.73 9.52 - 9.32

1982.......................................... 9.87 9.87 9.61 - 9.27

1983.......................................... 9.86 9.88 9.69 - 9.08

1984.......................................... 9.80 9.82 9.61 - 9.17

1985.......................................... 9.79 9.81 9.62 - 9.20

1986 .......................................... 9.98 10.02 9.68 - 9.36

1987.......................................... 10.14 10.18 9.78 - 9.26

1988.......................................... 10.21 10.24 9.81 - 9.23

1989.......................................... 10.23 10.27 9.85 - 9.26

1990 .......................................... 10.29 10.32 9.95 - 9.27

1991.......................................... 10.40 10.42 10.09 - 9.21

1992.......................................... 10.47 10.51 9.98 - 9.28

1993.......................................... 10.44 10.50 10.07 - 9.25

1994 .......................................... 10.42 10.55 9.96 - 9.20

1995.......................................... 10.46 10.58 9.99 - 9.26

1996.......................................... 10.56 10.64 9.84 - 9.25

1997 .......................................... 10.61 10.70 10.15 - 9.12

1998 .......................................... 10.86 10.99 10.42 - 9.53

1999 .......................................... 11.16 11.28 10.50 - 9.64

2000 .......................................... 11.33 11.36 11.08 $12.21 9.86

2001.......................................... 11.71 11.82 11.12 12.24 10.06

2002.......................................... 11.83 11.89 11.30 12.08 10.22

2003 .......................................... 11.80 11.84 11.60 12.51 10.40

2004 .......................................... 11.58 11.63 11.31 12.04 10.30

2005 .......................................... 11.37 11.58 10.95 12.83 10.12

2006 .......................................... 11.37 11.49 10.79 12.75 10.14

2007 .......................................... 11.40 11.48 10.85 12.28 10.18

2008 .......................................... 11.49 11.70 10.78 12.25 10.07

See footnote at end of table.

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years 

and older

White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or

Latino

1

85
Table 21. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, in 

constant (2008) dollars, by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity,

1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

MEN

1979.......................................... $15.61 $15.99 $13.51 - $13.23

1980.......................................... 15.17 15.50 12.89 - 12.51

1981.......................................... 14.93 15.25 13.20 - 12.20

1982.......................................... 14.67 14.95 12.78 - 12.27

1983.......................................... 14.21 14.52 12.24 - 11.93

1984.......................................... 14.04 14.32 12.15 - 11.91

1985.......................................... 13.99 14.47 11.74 - 11.58

1986 ......................................... 14.21 14.57 12.30 - 11.59

1987.......................................... 14.08 14.37 12.21 - 11.54

1988.......................................... 13.83 14.09 12.13 - 11.38

1989.......................................... 13.57 13.87 11.84 - 11.16

1990 .......................................... 13.21 13.66 11.77 - 10.77

1991.......................................... 13.24 13.59 11.66 - 10.60

1992.......................................... 13.04 13.37 11.46 - 10.51

1993.......................................... 12.99 13.30 11.25 - 10.44

1994 .......................................... 12.93 13.23 11.38 - 10.30

1995.......................................... 12.95 13.49 11.44 - 10.18

1996.......................................... 13.01 13.37 11.17 - 10.41

1997 .......................................... 13.14 13.32 11.59 - 10.56

1998 .......................................... 13.27 13.43 11.99 - 10.87

1999 .......................................... 13.32 13.71 12.62 - 11.12

2000 .......................................... 13.51 13.69 12.48 $13.49 11.30

2001.......................................... 13.75 14.11 12.37 14.39 11.75

2002.......................................... 13.92 14.19 12.25 13.18 11.87

2003 .......................................... 13.92 14.09 12.66 13.92 11.74

2004 .......................................... 13.69 13.85 12.39 13.55 11.41

2005 .......................................... 13.41 13.75 12.02 14.06 11.23

2006 .......................................... 13.53 13.75 12.19 14.07 11.57

2007 .......................................... 13.45 13.73 12.01 13.73 11.50

2008 .......................................... 13.46 13.85 11.99 14.03 11.83

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 Historical Comparability section

of the Household Data technical documentation

provided at 

http://www.bls.gov/cps/eetech_methods.pdf . 

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. Persons

whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino

may be of any race. Data for 2000-2002 are for the

category Asians and Pacific Islanders. As of 2003,

Asians constitute a separate category. Data for

Asians were not tabulated prior to 2000. Dash

indicates data not available. The Consumer Price

Index research series using current methods (CPI-URS) is used to convert current dollars to constant

dollars. See Technical Note. 

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years 

and older

White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or

Latino

1

86
Table 22. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the 

prevailing Federal minimum wage, by sex, 1979–2008 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

2007 .............................. 129,767 75,873 58.5 1,462 267 1,729 2.3

2008 .............................. 129,377 75,305 58.2 1,940 286 2,226 3.0

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 2 2 2

2 2 2 2

2 2 2 2

1 2 2 2 2

1

1

1

1

2 22 2

1 2 22 2

87
Table 22. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the 

prevailing Federal minimum wage, by sex, 1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

(Numbers in thousands)

Workers paid hourly rates

Total at or below 

prevailing Federal 

minimum wage

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

2007 .............................. 62,299 38,082 61.1 1,002 181 1,183 3.1

2008 .............................. 62,532 37,972 60.7 1,302 196 1,498 3.9

See footnotes at end of table.

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

2 2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

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

2 22 2

1 2 2 2 2

88
Table 22. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the 

prevailing Federal minimum wage, by sex, 1979–2008 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

2007 .............................. 67,468 37,790 56.0 460 86 546 1.4

2008 .............................. 66,846 37,334 55.9 638 90 728 1.9

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 Historical

Comparability section of the Household Data technical

documentation provided at

http://www.bls.gov/cps/eetech_methods.pdf . 

 2

 Data for 1990-91, 1996-97, and 2007-08 

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, to $5.15

in September 1997, to $5.85 in July 2007, and to $6.55

in July 2008. See Technical Note for more information

about minimum wage workers. 

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

2

2

2

2 2 2

2

2

2

2 2

2

2

2

2

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

2 2 2 2

1 2 2 22

89
90

Technical Note

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 may be used 

without permission. This information is available to sensoryimpaired individuals upon request. Voice telephone: (202) 691–

5200; Federal Relay Service: 1–800–877–8339. 

Concepts and defi nitions

The principal concepts and defi nitions used in connection with the 

earnings data in this report are described next.

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 or 

main job in the case of multiple jobholders). All self-employed 

workers are excluded, both those with incorporated businesses 

as well as those with unincorporated businesses. 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, or other) and how much they 

usually earn in the period reported. 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 defi nition of “usual,” interviewers are instructed to defi ne 

the term as “more than half the weeks worked during the past 4 

or 5 months.”

Medians (and other 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 fi rst decile (90 percent 

have higher earnings), 25 percent have earnings below the upper 

limit of the fi rst 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 around 

a multiple of $50. The median is estimated through the linear 

interpolation of the interval in which the median lies.

Over-the-year changes in the medians (and other quantile 

boundaries) for specifi c groups may not necessarily be consistent 

with the movements estimated for the overall quantile boundary. 

The most common reasons for this possible anomaly are as 

follows: 

• 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 change could be caused by survey observations

that are clustered at rounded values—for example, $300, $400,

or $500. 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 such a distribution shifts, the median does not

necessarily move at the same rate. Specifi cally, 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 years. Although these 

improvements make the CPI more accurate, the offi cial histories 

of price index series are not adjusted to refl ect the improvements. 

Because many researchers need a historical series that measures 

price change consistently over time, BLS developed the CPIU-RS to provide an estimate of the CPI that incorporates most 

of the methodological improvements made since 1978 into the 

entire series. For further information, see Kenneth J. Stewart and 

Stephen B. Reed, “CPI research series using current methods, 

1978–98” Monthly Labor Review, June 1999 (http://www.

bls.gov/opub/mlr/1999/06/art4full.pdf); and “Questions and 

Answers: Consumer Price Index Research Series Using Current 

Methods,” on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpirsdc.

htm.

This report uses the most recent version of the CPI-U-RS 

available at the time of production. Users should note, however, 

that the CPI-U-RS is subject to periodic revision. As a result, the 

rate of infl ation incorporated into the constant-dollar earnings 

estimates in this report may differ from that in previous reports in 

this series or in other publications. 
91

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, both those with incorporated businesses as well as those 

with unincorporated businesses.

Full-time workers. For the purpose of producing estimates of 

earnings, workers who usually work 35 hours or more per week at 

their sole or principal job are defi ned as working full time. 

Part-time workers. For the purpose of producing estimates of 

earnings, workers who usually work fewer than 35 hours per week 

at their sole or principal job are defi ned as working part time.

Workers paid by the hour. Historically, workers paid an hourly 

wage have made up approximately three-fi fths of all wage and 

salary workers. Workers paid by the hour are included in the fulland part-time worker tables in this report, along with salaried 

workers and other workers not paid by the hour. Data for workers 

paid at hourly rates are presented separately in tables 9 to 11 and 

18 to 22.

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 11 and 22 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 the hourly earnings of 

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 1, 1979; $3.10, effective January 1, 1980; $3.35, effective 

January 1, 1981; $3.80, effective April 1, 1990; $4.25, effective 

April 1, 1991; $4.75, effective October 1, 1996; $5.15, effective 

September 1, 1997; $5.85, effective July 24, 2007; and $6.55 

effective July 24, 2008. Data for 1990–91, 1996–97, and 2007-08 

refl ect changes in the minimum wage that took place during those 

years. Note 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 because there are a number of exemptions 

to the minimum wage provisions of the law. In addition, some 

workers might have rounded their hourly earnings 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. Whenever 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 with 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 confi dence, 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 confi dence. Estimates of earnings 

and their standard errors can be used to construct approximate 

confi dence intervals, or ranges of values, that include the true 

population value with known probabilities.

The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. This 

kind of error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to 

sample a segment of the population, inability to obtain information 

on 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 “Reliability of 

the estimates” section of Household Data technical documentation 

on the Internet at www.bls.gov/cps/eetech_methods.pdf.