Highlights of Women’s 

Earnings in 2002 

U.S. Department of Labor 

Bureau of Labor Statistics 

September 2003 

Report 972

NOTE: The statistics in this report for the 

years 2000, 2001, and 2002 were revised 

after this report was published. 

These data were revised in 2003 to incorporate 

Census 2000-based population controls and other 

changes to the survey, but the report was not 

reissued. 

To obtain revised data for these years, contact the 

Division of Labor Force Statistics by email at 

cpsinfo@bls.gov or by telephone at (202) 691-6378.
1

Highlights of Women’s

Earnings in 2002

U.S. Department of Labor

Bureau of Labor Statistics

September 2003

Report 972

Introduction

Median weekly earnings for women who were fulltime wage and salary workers were $530 in 2002, or78 percent of the $680 median for their male counterparts. The corresponding ratio was 76 percent in 2001. In

1979, the first year of comparable earnings data, women

earned 63 percent as much as men. (See chart 1.)

The women’s-to-men’s earnings ratio varies significantly

by demographic group. Among blacks and Hispanics, for

example, the ratios were about 91 and 88 percent, respectively; for whites, the ratio was about 78 percent. Young

women and men (those 16 to 24 years old) had fairly similar

earnings; in the older age groups, however, women’s earnings were much lower than men’s.

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

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

Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The earnings data are collected from one-fourth of the CPS monthly

sample. Users should note that the comparisons of earnings

in this report are on a broad level and do not control for many

factors that can be significant in explaining earnings differences. For a detailed description of the source of the data

and an explanation of the concepts and definitions used,

please see the Technical Note in this report.

Highlights

Following are some highlights of women’s and men’s earnings in 2002:

Full-time workers

• Among women, 45- to 54-year-olds had the highest

earnings ($603), followed by 55- to 64-year-olds and 35- to

44-year-olds (both around $574). Men’s earnings also were

highest among 45- to 54-year-olds ($808). The difference

between women’s and men’s earnings is much greater among

middle-aged and older workers than it is among younger

workers. For instance, among workers aged 45 to 54, women

earned 74.6 percent as much as men; in contrast, 16- to 24-

year-old women earned 93.6 percent as much as their male

counterparts. (See tables 1, 8, and 13.)

• Between 1979 and 2002, the earnings gap between

women and men narrowed for most major age groups. The

women’s-to-men’s earnings ratio among 35- to 44-year-olds,

for example, was 75.4 percent in 2002, compared with 58.3

percent in 1979, and that for 45- to 54-year-olds was 74.6

percent, compared with 56.9 percent. The earnings ratios

for teenagers and for workers aged 65 and older, however,

showed no consistent movement over the period. (See table

13.)

• White workers of either gender earned more than their

black or Hispanic counterparts in 2002, although the differences among women were much smaller than those among

men. White women’s earnings ($549) were 15.8 percent higher

than black women’s ($474), and 38.6 percent higher than those

of Hispanic women ($396). In contrast, white men’s earnings

($702) were 34.2 percent higher than the earnings of their

black counterparts ($523) and 56.3 percent greater than those

of Hispanic men ($449). (See tables 1 and 14.)

• The earnings difference between women and men continued to be widest for whites. White women earned just

78.2 percent as much as white men in 2002. Black women’s

earnings were 90.7 percent of black men’s, and Hispanic

women earned 88.2 percent as much as Hispanic men. (See

tables 1 and 14 and chart 2.)

• Earnings growth of white women and men has outpaced that of their black and Hispanic counterparts. Between 1979 and 2002, inflation-adjusted earnings for white

women grew fairly steadily, rising by 30.1 percent. Earnings

growth over the period among black and Hispanic women

was much less, at 22.2 percent and 9.7 percent, respectively.

However, real earnings for white men rose by only 2.6 percent, earnings for black men were unchanged, and those for

Hispanic men fell. (See table 14.)

• Median weekly earnings varied considerably by educational level in 2002. Among women, those with less than a

high school diploma earned $323 per week, compared with

$809 for those with a college degree. Among men, high school

dropouts had earnings of $421 a week, compared with $1,089

for college graduates. (See table 7.)
2

• At all levels of education, women have fared better

than men with respect to earnings growth. Although both

women and men with less than a high school diploma have

experienced a decline in inflation-adjusted earnings since

1979, women’s earnings have fallen significantly less—7.2

percent, compared with a 27.2-percent drop for men. Earnings for women with college degrees have increased by 33.7

percent since 1979 on an inflation-adjusted basis, while those

of male college graduates have risen by 19.9 percent. (See

table 15 and chart 3.)

• Women working full time in professional specialty occupations earned $773 per week in 2002. This was more than

women earned in any other major occupational category.

Among professional specialty fields, women working as engineers, computer scientists, physicians, pharmacists, physical therapists, and lawyers had the highest median weekly

earnings. (See tables 2 and 3.)

• Women’s share of employment in occupations typified by high earnings has grown. In 2002, 47.5 percent of

full-time wage and salary workers in executive, administrative, and managerial occupations were women, up from 34.2

percent in 1983 (the first year for which comparable data are

available). Over the same period, women’s share of full-time

employment in professional specialty occupations rose from

46.8 percent to 53.1 percent. (See table 2.)

• Despite increased representation in the higher paying

managerial and professional occupations, women remained

a small proportion of other relatively high-paying occupations such as protective service and precision production,

craft, and repair. Men were about 9 times as likely as women

to be employed in precision production, craft, and repair

occupations and nearly 4 times as likely to be in protective

service occupations. (See tables 2 and 3.)

• Women and men traditionally have worked in different

specific occupations within both the managerial and professional occupational categories, a pattern that continued in

2002. In the professional specialty occupations, for example,

women were less likely than men to be employed in some of

the highest-paying occupations, such as engineers and mathematical and computer scientists. Instead, women were more

likely to work in lower paying professional occupations, such

as teachers (except college and university). (See table 3.)

• The ratio of female-to-male earnings varied by State,

from a high of 88.5 percent in the District of Columbia to a

low of 66.2 percent in Wyoming. The differences among the

States reflect, in part, variations in the occupation, industry,

and age composition of each State’s labor force. In addition,

sampling error for the State estimates is considerably larger

than it is for the national data. (See table 4.)

Part-time workers

• Women who worked part time—that is, less than 35

hours per week—comprised 25.2 percent of all female wage

and salary workers in 2002. In contrast, just 10.8 percent of

men in wage and salary jobs worked part time. (See tables 5

and 6.)

• Median weekly earnings of female part-time workers

were $192, compared with $178 for male part-time workers.

Men have lower earnings largely because, unlike women,

male part-time workers are highly concentrated in the youngest age groups, which typically have low earnings. About 52

percent of male part-time workers were 16 to 24 years old,

compared with 31 percent of female part-timers. (See table 5.)

Workers paid by the hour

• About 62 percent of women and 57 percent of men

employed in wage and salary jobs were paid by the hour in

2002. Women who were hourly paid workers had median

hourly earnings of $9.89. This was 85.0 percent of the median for men ($11.63). (See tables 10, 11, 16, and 17.)

• About 4 percent of women who were paid hourly rates

in 2002 reported hourly earnings at or below the prevailing

Federal minimum wage of $5.15. This compares with approximately 2 percent of men who were paid by the hour. (See

tables 12, 18, and chart 4. Also see the Technical Note for

information about workers with earnings below the Federal

minimum wage.)

• As would be expected, 16- to 19-year-old women and

men who were hourly paid workers were the most likely to

have earnings at or below the minimum wage. Among both

women and men, 45- to 54-year-olds were the least likely to

earn the minimum wage or less. (See table 12.)

Census 2000 Population Controls

Beginning in 2000, data reflect the use of Census 2000-based population controls. Thus, data for 2000 forward

are not strictly comparable with data for previous years. Also, estimates for 2000 and 2001 were revised to

incorporate the new population controls, and may differ from previously published figures. For more information

about these and other recent survey changes, see “Revisions in the Current Population Survey Effective in

January 2003” in the February 2003 Employment and Earnings, or the Explanatory Notes and Estimates of Error

section of the February 2003 and subsequent issues of Employment and Earnings.
3

Total White Black Hispanic origin

$0

$100

$200

$300

$400

$500

$600

$700

$0

$100

$200

$300

$400

$500

$600

$700

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

 and Hispanic origin, 2002 annual averages

$680

$530 $549

$702

$474 $523

$396

$449

Earnings Earnings

Women

Men

Chart 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2002) 

 dollars by sex, 1979-2002 annual averages

1979 1985 1990 1995 2000

$400

$500

$600

$700

0

 .2

 .4

 .8

1.0

Earnings Ratio

Men's earnings

Women's earnings

Ratio of women's to men's earnings .6
4

3.7

12.2

6.9

3.1

2.0 2.0

0

5

10

15

20

0

5

10

15

20

16 to 19

 years

20 to 24

years

35 to 44

years

25 to 34

years

45 to 54

years

55 to 64

years

65 years

and older

Total,

16 years

and older

NOTE: Data relate to female wage and salary workers paid hourly rates.

Percent Percent

Chart 4. Percent of women with earnings at or below the Federal minimum wage by age, 

 2002 annual averages

1.5

6.2

Chart 3. Percent change in median usual weekly earnings from 1979 to 2002 by educational 

 attainment and sex

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

No high school diploma

High school diploma only

Some college or associate degree

College graduate

 NOTE: Data relate to earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and over. Changes are calculated from 

constant-dollar annual averages.

Percent change

Women

Men
5

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 Bureau of

Labor Statistics (BLS) by the U.S. Census Bureau using a

national sample of about 60,000 households, with coverage

in all 50 States and the District of Columbia. The earnings

data are collected from one-fourth of the CPS monthly sample.

Material in this report is in the public domain and, with

appropriate credit, may be used without permission. This

information is available to sensory impaired individuals upon

request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service:

1-800-877-8339.

Recent survey changes

The 2002 annual averages in this publication incorporate

new population controls that reflect the results of Census

2000. Data for 2000 and 2001 were revised to incorporate the

new population controls; therefore, estimates presented in

this report may differ from those previously published. Also,

because of these changes, data for 2000 forward are not

strictly comparable with data for earlier years. For more information about these and other recent changes to the survey, see “Revisions to the Current Population Survey Effective in January 2003” in the February 2003 issue of

Employment and Earnings.

Concepts and definitions

The principal concepts and definitions used in connection

with the earnings data in this report are described below.

Usual weekly earnings. Data are collected on wages and

salaries before taxes and other deductions, and include any

overtime pay, commissions, or tips usually received (at the

principal job in the case of multiple jobholders). Self-employed workers are excluded, regardless of whether their

businesses are incorporated. Prior to 1994, respondents were

asked how much they usually earned per week. Since January 1994, respondents have been asked to identify the easiest way for them to report earnings (hourly, weekly, biweekly,

twice monthly, monthly, annually, other) and how much they

usually earn in the reported period. Earnings reported on a

basis other than weekly are converted to a weekly equivalent. The term “usual” is as perceived by the respondent. If

the respondent asks for a definition of usual, interviewers

are instructed to define the term as more than half the weeks

worked during the past 4 or 5 months.

Medians (and quantiles) of weekly earnings. 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 a given distribution have earnings below the upper limit of the first decile (90

percent have higher earnings); 25 percent have earnings

below the upper limit of the first quartile (75 percent have

higher earnings); 75 percent have earnings below the upper

limit of the third quartile (25 percent have higher earnings);

and 90 percent have earnings below the upper limit of the

ninth decile (10 percent have higher earnings).

The BLS estimating procedure for determining the median of an earnings distribution places each reported or calculated weekly earnings value into a $50-wide interval that is

centered on a multiple of $50. The actual value of the median

is estimated through the linear interpolation of the interval in

which the median lies.

Over-the-year changes in the medians (and quantile

boundaries) for specific groups may not necessarily be consistent with the movements estimated for the overall quantile

boundary. The most common reasons for this possible

anomaly are:

(1) A change in the relative weights of the subgroups. For

example, the medians for 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.

(2) A large change in the shape of the distribution of reported earnings, particularly near a quantile boundary. This

could be caused by survey observations that are clustered

at rounded values, for example, $250, $300, or $400. An estimate lying in a $50-wide centered interval containing such a

cluster, or “spike,” tends to change more slowly than one in

other intervals. For example, medians measure the central

tendency of a multipeaked distribution that shifts over time.

As the distribution shifts, the median does not necessarily

move at the same rate. Specifically, the median takes relatively more time to move through a frequently reported interval but, once above the upper limit of such an interval, it can

move relatively quickly to the next frequently reported earnings interval. BLS procedures for estimating medians (and

other quantile boundaries) mitigate such irregular movements

of the measures; however, users should be cautious of these

effects when evaluating short-term changes in the medians,

as well as in ratios of the medians.

Constant dollars. The Consumer Price Index research series

using current methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert current

dollars to constant dollars. BLS has made numerous improvements to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) over the past

quarter-century. While these improvements make the present

and future CPI more accurate, historical price index series are

not adjusted to reflect the improvements. Because many

researchers need a historical series that measures price

change consistently over the entire period, the CPI-U-RS
6

provides an estimate of the CPI that incorporates most of the

methodological improvements made since 1978 into the entire series. For further information, see “CPI research series

using current methods, 1978-98” by Kenneth J. Stewart and

Stephen B. Reed, Monthly Labor Review, June 1999, pp. 29-

38; and “Questions and Answers: Consumer Price Index Research Series Using Current Methods” on the Internet at

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 inflation incorporated into the constantdollar earnings estimates in this report may differ from that

used in previous reports in this series or in other publications.

Wage and salary workers. These are workers who receive

wages, salaries, commissions, tips, payment in kind, or piece

rates. The group includes employees in both the private and

public sectors but, for purposes of the earnings series, excludes all self-employed persons, regardless of whether their

businesses are incorporated.

Full-time workers. Workers who usually work 35 hours or

more per week at their sole or principal job are defined as

working full time for estimates of earnings.

Part-time workers. Workers who usually work less than 35

hours per week at their sole or principal job are defined as

working part time for estimates of earnings.

Hourly paid workers. Workers who are paid an hourly wage

are a subset of wage and salary workers, representing approximately three-fifths of all wage and salary workers. Workers paid by the hour are, therefore, included in the full- and

part-time worker tables in this report, along with salaried

workers and other workers not paid by the hour. (Data for

workers paid at hourly rates are presented separately in tables

10 to 12 and 16 to 18.)

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 12 and 18

pertain only to workers who are paid hourly rates. Salaried

workers and other workers who are not paid by the hour are

not included, even though some have earnings that, when

converted to hourly rates, are at or below the minimum wage.

Consequently, the estimates presented in this report likely

understate the actual number of workers with hourly earnings at or below the minimum wage. Research has shown,

however, that the degree of understatement is small. BLS

does not routinely estimate hourly earnings for workers not

paid by the hour because of data quality concerns associated with such an estimation process.

The prevailing Federal minimum wage was: $2.90 effective January 1979; $3.10 effective January 1980; $3.35 effective January 1981; $3.80 effective April 1990; $4.25 effective

April 1991; $4.75 effective October 1996; and $5.15 effective

September 1997. Data for 1990-91 and 1996-97 in table 18

reflect changes in the minimum wage that took place during

those years.

The presence of workers with hourly earnings below the

minimum wage does not necessarily indicate violations of

the Fair Labor Standards Act, as there are exemptions to the

minimum wage provisions of the law. In addition, some workers might have rounded their hourly earnings to the nearest

dollar in response to survey questions. As a result, some

might have been reported with hourly earnings below the

minimum wage when, in fact, they earned the minimum wage

or higher. This may be more likely to occur in years during

which the minimum wage level is just above a whole dollar

value, as has been the case since September 1997 ($5.15).

Reliability

Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and

nonsampling error. When a sample, rather than an entire

population, is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample

estimates may differ from the “true” population values they

represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies

depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.

There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence,

that an estimate based on a sample will differ by no more

than 1.6 standard errors from the “true” population value

because of sampling error. BLS analyses generally are conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence. Estimates of

earnings and their standard errors can be used to construct

approximate confidence intervals, or ranges of values that

include the true population value with known probabilities.

The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error.

Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including

the failure to sample a segment of the population, inability to

obtain information for all respondents in the sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct information, and errors made in the collection or processing of

the data.

For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS

and information on estimating standard errors, see the “Explanatory Notes and Estimates of Error” section of Employment and Earnings.
7

Statistical tables

0

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

2002 annual averages ......................................................................................................................................... 9

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

1983 and 2002 annual averages .......................................................................................................................... 10

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

2002 annual averages ......................................................................................................................................... 11

4. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex and State, 2002 annual averages .. 17

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

2002 annual averages ......................................................................................................................................... 18

6. Median usual weekly earnings of employed (full- and part-time) wage and salary workers by hours usually

worked and sex, 2002 annual averages ............................................................................................................... 19

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

selected characteristics, 2002 annual averages .................................................................................................. 20

8. Usual weekly earnings distribution of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics,

2002 annual averages ......................................................................................................................................... 21

9. 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, 2002 annual averages ................................................................... 22

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

2002 annual averages ......................................................................................................................................... 23

11. Hourly earnings distribution of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates by selected characteristics,

2002 annual averages ......................................................................................................................................... 24

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

by selected characteristics, 2002 annual averages ............................................................................................. 25

13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2002) dollars

by sex and age, 1979-2002 annual averages ....................................................................................................... 26

14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2002) dollars

by sex, race, and Hispanic origin, 1979-2002 annual averages ........................................................................... 28

15. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and over in constant (2002)

dollars by sex and educational attainment, 1979-2002 annual averages ............................................................. 30

16. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2002) dollars

by sex and age, 1979-2002 annual averages ....................................................................................................... 32

17. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2002) dollars

by sex, race, and Hispanic origin, 1979-2002 annual averages ........................................................................... 34

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

wage by sex, 1979-2002 annual averages............................................................................................................ 36
[Page intentionally blank]

8
Table 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2002 annual averages

Characteristic

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

AGE

 Total, 16 years and over ................. 100,204 $609 $1 43,773 $530 $2 56,431 $680 $2 78.1

16 to 24 years ....................................... 11,137 381 2 4,817 366 2 6,320 392 2 93.6

 16 to 19 years .................................... 1,892 305 2 769 295 3 1,122 313 3 94.2

 20 to 24 years .................................... 9,245 399 2 4,047 384 2 5,198 410 2 93.7

25 years and over ................................. 89,067 647 2 38,956 570 2 50,111 732 2 77.8

 25 to 34 years .................................... 24,801 590 2 10,414 531 3 14,387 627 3 84.7

 35 to 44 years .................................... 27,645 669 3 11,904 573 3 15,741 759 3 75.4

 45 to 54 years .................................... 24,129 707 4 11,030 603 3 13,099 808 5 74.6

 55 to 64 years .................................... 10,926 673 5 4,944 574 5 5,983 799 8 71.9

 65 years and over .............................. 1,565 502 9 664 428 12 901 583 12 73.4

RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN

White .................................................... 82,438 624 1 34,936 549 2 47,502 702 2 78.2

Black ..................................................... 12,116 498 2 6,323 474 3 5,792 523 4 90.7

Hispanic origin ...................................... 13,168 423 3 4,870 396 3 8,298 449 5 88.2

MARITAL STATUS

Never married ....................................... 25,470 492 2 10,873 476 3 14,598 504 2 94.5

Married, spouse present ....................... 57,854 679 2 23,037 575 2 34,817 768 3 74.9

Other marital status .............................. 16,879 581 3 9,863 523 3 7,016 648 6 80.8

 Divorced ............................................ 11,437 610 3 6,673 571 5 4,764 691 7 82.6

 Separated .......................................... 3,885 492 5 1,980 443 7 1,905 553 14 80.2

 Widowed ............................................ 1,556 509 8 1,210 486 8 347 630 24 77.1

UNION AFFILIATION2

Members of unions3 ............................. 14,592 740 3 5,703 667 5 8,889 780 4 85.5

Represented by unions4 ....................... 16,078 734 3 6,447 662 4 9,631 776 4 85.4

Not represented by a union .................. 84,126 587 1 37,326 510 1 46,800 652 2 78.2

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and over ....................... 89,067 647 2 38,956 570 2 50,111 732 2 77.8

 Less than a high school diploma ........ 8,544 388 2 2,879 323 2 5,665 421 2 76.8

 High school graduates, no college ..... 27,149 536 3 11,760 459 2 15,389 616 2 74.5

 Some college or associate degree ..... 24,623 629 2 11,582 545 3 13,042 732 3 74.4

 College graduates, total ...................... 28,751 941 3 12,736 809 4 16,015 1,089 8 74.3

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table. 2 Differences in earnings levels between workers with and without union

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

bargaining agreement, including the distribution of male and female employees

by occupation, industry, firm size, or geographic region. 3 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar

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

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

covered by a union or an employee association contract.

 NOTE: Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to

totals because data for the "other races" group are not presented and Hispanics

are included in both the white and black population groups.

9
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, 1983 and 2002 annual averages

Occupation

1983 2002

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Percent

women

Median weekly

earnings

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Percent

women

Median weekly

earnings

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s Women Men Women Men 1

 Total, 16 years and over ................. 70,976 40.4 $252 $379 66.6 100,204 43.7 $530 $680 78.1

Managerial and professional specialty 17,451 40.9 358 516 69.2 32,694 50.4 756 1,058 71.4

 Executive, administrative,

 and managerial .............................. 8,117 34.2 340 530 64.0 16,065 47.5 736 1,081 68.1

 Professional specialty ......................... 9,334 46.8 368 506 72.6 16,629 53.1 773 1,037 74.5

Technical, sales, and

administrative support .................... 21,641 62.5 247 386 64.0 27,829 60.9 490 $699 70.0

 Technicians and related support ........ 2,574 44.5 299 424 70.6 3,660 50.1 591 841 70.3

 Sales occupations .............................. 6,313 39.0 205 389 52.7 10,175 43.7 441 742 59.5

 Administrative support,

 including clerical ............................ 12,755 77.7 249 362 68.7 13,994 76.3 488 583 83.7

Service occupations ............................. 7,321 49.2 173 256 67.8 11,542 51.9 343 445 77.0

 Private household .............................. 278 96.0 116 2 ( ) 3 ( ) 338 92.5 276 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Protective service .............................. 1,453 9.5 251 356 70.4 2,300 17.7 501 689 72.6

 Service, except private household

 and protective ................................ 5,590 57.1 176 218 81.0 8,904 59.2 339 379 89.5

Precision production, craft, and repair .. 9,963 7.9 256 387 66.1 11,806 8.0 479 645 74.2

Operators, fabricators, and laborers ..... 13,319 26.2 205 308 66.5 14,645 21.5 385 511 75.3

 Machine operators, assemblers,

 and inspectors ............................... 6,990 40.8 202 320 63.3 5,841 33.6 386 520 74.3

 Transportation and material moving

 occupations ................................... 3,358 4.7 253 335 75.5 4,651 7.9 449 591 76.1

 Handlers, equipment cleaners,

 helpers, and laborers ..................... 2,970 16.0 211 252 83.9 4,153 19.6 359 411 87.4

Farming, forestry, and fishing ............... 1,280 11.2 169 201 84.2 1,687 16.0 308 376 81.9

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table.

2 Data not shown where base is less than 50,000. 3 Data not shown where base for either the numerator or denominator is

less than 50,000.

10
Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2002 annual averages

Occupation

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

 Total, 16 years and over ............................. 100,204 $609 $1 43,773 $530 $2 56,431 $680 $2 78.1

 Managerial and professional specialty ........... 32,694 884 3 16,469 756 2 16,225 1,058 6 71.4

 Executive, administrative, and managerial .... 16,065 890 5 7,633 736 3 8,432 1,081 10 68.1

 Administrators and officials, public

 administration ......................................... 690 910 23 361 766 21 328 1,124 47 68.1

 Administrators, protective services .............. 52 965 73 14 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 39 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Financial managers ..................................... 725 973 22 363 837 23 362 1,170 37 71.6

 Personnel and labor relations managers ..... 211 970 26 138 855 28 73 1,207 160 70.8

 Purchasing managers .................................. 134 1,074 64 56 910 37 78 1,181 48 77.0

 Managers, marketing, advertising, and

 public relations ........................................ 671 1,115 34 244 874 27 427 1,262 42 69.2

 Administrators, education and related fields 727 954 22 453 832 22 275 1,183 36 70.3

 Managers, medicine and health .................. 714 803 22 549 750 12 164 1,110 57 67.5

 Managers, food serving and lodging

 establishments ........................................ 1,031 602 7 487 517 11 544 696 15 74.3

 Managers, properties and real estate .......... 382 687 28 211 616 15 171 817 63 75.4

 Management-related occupations ............... 4,275 778 8 2,524 709 6 1,751 970 13 73.1

 Accountants and auditors .......................... 1,424 799 17 851 734 7 573 980 24 74.9

 Underwriters .............................................. 93 746 27 67 741 24 26 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Other financial officers ............................... 746 917 30 363 718 18 383 1,127 36 63.7

 Management analysts ............................... 298 1,077 40 137 996 59 161 1,226 125 81.2

 Personnel, training, and labor relations 

 specialists .............................................. 554 753 16 417 711 13 137 919 31 77.4

 Buyers, wholesale and retail trade, except

 farm products ........................................ 169 669 25 84 628 37 85 707 51 88.8

 Construction inspectors ............................. 66 842 28 2 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 64 851 28 3 ( )

 Inspectors and compliance officers, except

 construction ............................................ 233 874 38 90 774 26 144 984 31 78.7

 Professional specialty ..................................... 16,629 879 4 8,836 773 4 7,793 1,037 8 74.5

 Engineers, architects, and surveyors ........... 2,046 1,151 9 235 968 37 1,811 1,170 12 82.7

 Architects .................................................... 140 1,004 94 27 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 112 1,102 48 3 ( )

 Engineers ................................................... 1,889 1,161 9 206 1,011 32 1,683 1,180 17 85.6

 Aerospace engineers ................................ 83 1,365 39 8 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 76 1,377 59 3 ( )

 Chemical engineers .................................. 78 1,313 52 10 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 68 1,393 65 3 ( )

 Civil engineers .......................................... 230 1,055 43 28 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 202 1,105 52 3 ( )

 Electrical and electronic engineers ........... 636 1,222 27 67 1,133 46 569 1,231 22 92.0

 Industrial engineers .................................. 233 1,032 36 38 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 195 1,085 50 3 ( )

 Mechanical engineers ............................... 291 1,163 30 19 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 271 1,167 35 3 ( )

 Mathematical and computer scientists ......... 1,808 1,096 19 549 945 17 1,259 1,165 15 81.1

 Computer systems analysts and scientists 1,525 1,125 17 405 962 20 1,120 1,172 20 82.0

 Operations and systems researchers and

 analysts ................................................. 240 953 31 124 897 21 116 1,056 47 85.0

 Natural scientists .......................................... 475 958 21 166 879 34 310 1,025 50 85.7

 Chemists, except biochemists .................... 123 1,013 66 40 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 83 1,136 22 3 ( )

 Biological and life scientists ........................ 100 932 38 42 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 58 926 64 3 ( )

 Medical scientists ....................................... 79 969 51 44 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 35 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Health diagnosing occupations ..................... 628 1,406 51 197 918 45 431 1,549 34 59.3

 Physicians .................................................. 538 1,475 71 169 947 70 370 1,626 104 58.3

 Health assessment and treating occupations 2,445 883 7 2,070 869 7 375 959 23 90.6

 Registered nurses ...................................... 1,737 876 8 1,597 870 7 140 957 43 91.0

 Pharmacists ................................................ 170 1,367 30 84 1,311 94 86 1,473 66 89.0

 Dietitians ..................................................... 51 591 68 47 2 ( ) 2 () 4 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Therapists ................................................... 411 851 17 298 832 21 113 879 13 94.7

 Respiratory therapists ............................... 83 761 35 43 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 40 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Occupational therapists ............................ 52 901 22 45 2 ( ) 2 () 6 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Physical therapists .................................... 121 907 18 78 926 35 43 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Speech therapists ..................................... 82 874 40 76 874 37 6 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Physicians’ assistants ................................. 77 1,031 57 45 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 32 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Teachers, college and university .................. 713 1,028 23 271 896 22 442 1,140 26 78.6

 Teachers, except college and university ...... 4,457 746 5 3,276 720 6 1,181 828 12 87.0

 Teachers, prekindergarten and

 kindergarten ........................................... 449 455 15 440 451 13 10 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Teachers, elementary school ..................... 2,039 764 7 1,677 750 6 362 836 17 89.7

 Teachers, secondary school ....................... 1,135 797 13 639 767 9 496 842 19 91.1

 Teachers, special education ....................... 327 758 14 277 751 14 50 810 59 92.7

 Counselors, educational and vocational ....... 228 821 28 166 786 36 62 874 47 89.9

See footnotes at end of table.

11
Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2002 annual averages — Continued

Occupation

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

 Librarians, archivists, and curators ............... 179 758 29 138 748 25 41 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Librarians .................................................... 157 746 33 124 743 26 33 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Social scientists and urban planners ............ 312 805 25 187 738 20 126 996 47 74.0

 Economists ................................................. 103 847 66 61 779 34 42 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Psychologists .............................................. 168 764 24 111 719 38 57 966 65 74.4

 Social, recreation, and religious workers ...... 1,307 654 10 723 615 8 584 728 18 84.4

 Social workers ............................................ 753 651 11 553 632 11 200 741 32 85.3

 Recreation workers ..................................... 84 437 19 58 432 23 26 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Clergy ......................................................... 342 716 23 41 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 301 727 23 3 ( )

 Lawyers and judges ...................................... 635 1,488 53 215 1,206 82 420 1,615 54 74.7

 Lawyers ...................................................... 605 1,492 54 205 1,237 72 400 1,610 55 76.8

 Writers, artists, entertainers, and athletes .... 1,395 738 9 645 657 12 750 809 19 81.2

 Technical writers ......................................... 56 903 22 31 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 25 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Designers ................................................... 468 753 16 229 635 20 240 855 28 74.2

 Actors and directors .................................... 96 840 88 39 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 57 881 233 3 ( )

 Painters, sculptors, craft artists, and

 artist printmakers .................................... 100 668 57 44 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 56 819 124 3 ( )

 Photographers ............................................ 64 614 32 14 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 50 702 43 3 ( )

 Editors and reporters .................................. 221 755 18 94 697 25 126 813 33 85.8

 Public relations specialists .......................... 161 754 23 108 731 20 52 866 47 84.4

Technical, sales, and administrative support .... 27,829 550 3 16,960 490 1 10,869 699 5 70.0

 Technicians and related support .................... 3,660 694 8 1,834 591 5 1,827 841 10 70.3

 Health technologists and technicians ........... 1,395 585 7 1,093 550 8 302 724 18 75.9

 Clinical laboratory technologists and

 technicians ............................................... 309 664 24 233 614 12 76 828 109 74.1

 Radiologic technicians ................................ 139 714 24 100 671 50 39 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Licensed practical nurses ........................... 296 571 11 274 566 11 22 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Engineering and related technologists and

 technicians ............................................... 842 752 10 157 620 15 685 781 17 79.4

 Electrical and electronic technicians ........... 378 793 21 61 673 49 317 824 22 81.6

 Drafting occupations ................................... 212 718 21 46 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 166 756 21 3 ( )

 Surveying and mapping technicians ........... 54 699 57 3 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 51 703 55 3 ( )

 Science technicians ...................................... 249 656 24 104 576 24 145 733 18 78.7

 Biological technicians ................................. 99 601 33 55 507 25 44 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Chemical technicians .................................. 62 683 27 19 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 42 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Technicians, except health, engineering,

 and science .............................................. 1,174 854 14 480 688 20 695 1,010 22 68.1

 Airplane pilots and navigators .................... 108 1,245 39 5 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 103 1,258 38 3 ( )

 Computer programmers ............................. 544 1,020 21 130 902 33 414 1,048 15 86.1

 Legal assistants .......................................... 348 642 16 287 629 15 60 697 40 90.2

 Sales occupations .......................................... 10,175 601 4 4,444 441 4 5,731 742 6 59.5

 Supervisors and proprietors ......................... 3,301 655 7 1,313 507 7 1,988 766 9 66.2

 Sales representatives, finance and business

 services .................................................... 1,951 780 16 868 633 12 1,083 937 15 67.5

 Insurance sales .......................................... 408 674 27 211 580 12 197 872 37 66.5

 Real estate sales ........................................ 399 799 52 223 712 34 176 945 28 75.3

 Securities and financial services sales ....... 430 979 44 132 737 34 297 1,149 34 64.1

 Advertising and related sales ..................... 150 723 31 92 677 33 58 875 133 77.4

 Sales occupations, other business services 564 754 17 210 582 28 354 856 24 67.9

 Sales representatives, commodities, except

 retail .......................................................... 1,362 854 17 326 673 25 1,036 909 20 74.0

 Sales workers, retail and personal services 3,519 380 4 1,907 326 3 1,612 488 9 66.8

 Sales workers, motor vehicles and boats ... 321 665 21 35 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 286 677 19 3 ( )

 Sales workers, apparel ............................... 142 341 18 110 326 17 32 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Sales workers, furniture and home

 furnishings .............................................. 130 509 30 53 469 63 77 555 56 84.5

 Sales workers, radio, television, hi-fi, and

 appliances .............................................. 225 561 35 65 435 34 160 622 32 69.8

 Sales workers, hardware and building

 supplies .................................................. 211 498 14 37 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 174 518 15 3 ( )

 Sales workers, parts ................................... 135 487 36 12 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 123 507 38 3 ( )

 Sales workers, other commodities .............. 706 387 8 422 353 7 284 466 21 75.7

 Sales counter clerks ................................... 91 350 17 50 315 14 40 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Cashiers ..................................................... 1,387 311 3 1,036 307 3 351 324 8 95.0

 Street and door-to-door sales workers ....... 107 481 29 64 458 46 43 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Administrative support, including clerical ........ 13,994 503 2 10,683 488 2 3,312 583 5 83.7

See footnotes at end of table.

12
Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2002 annual averages — Continued

Occupation

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

 Supervisors ................................................... 686 637 14 425 607 10 260 711 29 85.4

 General office ............................................. 398 620 11 277 594 12 122 734 28 80.9

 Financial records processing ...................... 107 718 31 87 688 27 20 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Distribution, scheduling, and

 adjusting clerks ....................................... 159 619 16 53 586 38 106 632 31 92.7

 Computer equipment operators .................... 277 579 12 134 510 11 143 624 23 81.6

 Computer operators .................................... 272 581 12 132 511 11 140 628 27 81.4

 Secretaries, stenographers, and typists ....... 2,249 497 4 2,197 496 3 52 544 39 91.2

 Secretaries ................................................. 1,732 496 5 1,709 496 4 23 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Stenographers ............................................ 84 520 13 77 515 11 7 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Typists ........................................................ 432 495 8 410 491 7 22 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Information clerks ......................................... 1,404 450 5 1,236 442 5 169 533 23 82.9

 Interviewers ................................................ 106 449 22 87 453 24 19 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Hotel clerks ................................................. 98 366 13 69 359 13 29 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Transportation ticket and reservation

 agents ..................................................... 191 572 25 125 519 12 65 623 29 83.4

 Receptionists .............................................. 709 429 7 688 429 6 21 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Records processing, except financial ........... 724 486 8 584 477 8 141 547 58 87.2

 Order clerks ................................................ 248 520 13 184 509 13 64 571 40 89.2

 Personnel clerks, except payroll and

 timekeeping ............................................ 62 506 20 47 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 14 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Library clerks .............................................. 59 476 39 51 442 26 8 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 File clerks ................................................... 172 431 12 136 425 14 37 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Records clerks ............................................ 175 487 16 157 483 14 18 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Financial records processing ........................ 1,502 505 4 1,368 500 4 134 563 24 88.9

 Bookkeepers, accounting, and auditing

 clerks ..................................................... 1,011 502 5 928 500 5 83 525 24 95.3

 Payroll and timekeeping clerks ................... 145 576 13 133 573 15 12 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Billing clerks ................................................ 174 493 9 158 487 8 16 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Billing, posting, and calculating machine

 operators ................................................. 128 491 11 113 485 10 15 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Communications equipment operators ......... 115 467 27 92 478 17 23 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Telephone operators .................................. 95 468 30 78 477 20 17 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Mail and message distributing ...................... 778 691 12 290 627 23 487 720 14 87.1

 Postal clerks, except mail carriers .............. 259 748 11 125 726 17 134 773 17 93.9

 Mail carriers, postal service ........................ 316 745 15 86 697 23 230 761 16 91.7

 Mail clerks, except postal service ............... 123 420 11 61 387 15 62 485 25 79.8

 Messengers ................................................ 79 557 52 18 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 61 586 30 3 ( )

 Material recording, scheduling, and

 distributing clerks ..................................... 1,728 505 4 752 487 6 977 518 6 94.1

 Dispatchers ................................................. 240 562 19 131 523 24 109 595 21 87.9

 Production coordinators .............................. 207 624 17 118 574 24 89 755 30 76.1

 Traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks ........ 583 478 7 161 460 13 423 484 8 95.0

 Stock and inventory clerks .......................... 379 509 7 165 495 10 214 520 10 95.1

 Expediters ................................................... 224 440 13 146 440 12 78 442 36 99.7

 Adjusters and investigators .......................... 1,708 519 4 1,255 509 4 453 586 13 86.8

 Insurance adjusters, examiners, and

 investigators .......................................... 468 596 10 334 570 21 133 738 36 77.2

 Investigators and adjusters, except

 insurance ............................................... 972 504 6 723 495 6 249 534 40 92.7

 Eligibility clerks, social welfare ................... 81 576 32 72 570 41 9 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Bill and account collectors .......................... 187 486 11 126 483 12 61 492 20 98.1

 Miscellaneous administrative support

 occupations .............................................. 2,777 474 4 2,327 460 4 451 545 14 84.4

 General office clerks ................................... 579 482 8 486 474 8 94 521 18 90.9

 Bank tellers ................................................. 318 399 7 289 394 6 28 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Data-entry keyers ....................................... 476 481 8 389 477 8 87 502 19 94.9

 Statistical clerks .......................................... 80 491 21 67 475 17 14 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Teachers’ aides .......................................... 456 367 8 417 366 8 39 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

Service occupations ......................................... 11,542 384 2 5,988 343 2 5,554 445 5 77.0

 Private household ........................................... 338 278 9 312 276 9 25 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Child care workers ........................................ 109 251 19 109 251 17 - - - -

 Cleaners and servants .................................. 225 288 11 201 288 10 24 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Protective service ........................................... 2,300 647 10 408 501 9 1,892 689 13 72.6

 Supervisors ................................................... 222 866 51 27 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 196 904 29 3 ( )

 Police and detectives .................................. 120 913 33 17 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 103 965 68 3 ( )

 Guards ........................................................ 61 613 30 9 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 52 637 125 3 ( )

 Firefighting and fire prevention ..................... 238 842 21 8 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 230 843 21 3 ( )

See footnotes at end of table.

13
Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2002 annual averages — Continued

Occupation

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

 Firefighting .................................................. 225 847 22 6 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 219 846 21 3 ( )

 Police and detectives .................................... 1,072 726 10 187 593 17 885 744 9 79.7

 Police and detectives, public service .......... 598 786 17 91 721 29 507 805 20 89.6

 Sheriffs, bailiffs, and other law enforcement

 officers ................................................... 155 680 33 28 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 127 691 41 3 ( )

 Correctional institution officers ................... 319 602 13 67 505 21 251 642 35 78.6

 Guards .......................................................... 767 460 11 187 414 18 581 480 11 86.2

 Guards and police, exc. public service ....... 722 469 11 167 430 14 555 485 11 88.7

 Service occupations, except private

household and protective ........................... 8,904 355 2 5,268 339 2 3,637 379 3 89.5

 Food preparation and service occupations ... 3,370 325 3 1,630 309 2 1,740 349 4 88.6

 Supervisors ................................................. 261 375 11 143 349 13 118 409 17 85.5

 Bartenders .................................................. 171 382 13 84 367 15 87 397 18 92.6

 Waiters and waitresses .............................. 624 322 5 441 311 5 183 357 14 87.2

 Cooks, except short order .......................... 1,395 333 4 486 303 4 908 355 5 85.4

 Food counter, fountain and related

 occupations ............................................ 106 260 7 67 254 8 39 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Kitchen workers, food preparation .............. 166 320 8 112 316 10 54 326 26 96.9

 Waiters’ and waitresses’ assistants ............ 318 314 7 152 302 8 167 325 13 93.0

 Miscellaneous food preparation

 occupations ............................................ 329 305 5 146 304 6 184 306 7 99.3

 Health service occupations ........................... 1,992 374 3 1,755 372 3 237 385 12 96.6

 Dental assistants ........................................ 134 460 22 131 461 19 3 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Health aides, except nursing ...................... 255 370 8 191 367 9 64 380 24 96.6

 Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants .... 1,603 369 4 1,434 367 4 170 386 14 95.1

 Cleaning and building service occupations .. 2,249 372 4 894 324 4 1,356 407 5 79.6

 Supervisors ................................................. 170 451 16 54 383 21 116 494 36 77.5

 Maids and housemen ................................. 469 317 4 366 311 4 103 350 13 88.7

 Janitors and cleaners ................................. 1,548 383 4 471 336 7 1,077 404 5 83.2

 Pest control ................................................. 55 421 17 - - - 55 420 17 -

 Personal service occupations ....................... 1,293 375 6 989 356 7 305 441 20 80.7

 Supervisors ................................................. 61 564 37 31 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 30 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Hairdressers and cosmetologists ............... 366 377 10 325 372 10 41 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Attendants, amusement and recreation

 facilities .................................................... 137 399 18 64 382 17 73 425 44 90.0

 Public transportation attendants ................. 80 611 33 61 604 26 18 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Welfare service aides ................................. 72 415 20 60 401 18 12 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Early childhood teachers’ assistants .......... 265 301 8 255 301 7 10 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

Precision production, craft, and repair .............. 11,806 629 4 939 479 7 10,867 645 4 74.2

 Mechanics and repairers ................................ 4,075 674 6 194 593 14 3,881 677 6 87.6

 Supervisors ................................................... 221 807 38 17 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 204 817 44 3 ( )

 Mechanics and repairers, except

 supervisors .............................................. 3,854 666 7 177 585 16 3,677 670 7 87.2

 Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics

 and repairers ......................................... 1,504 633 11 23 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 1,480 637 11 3 ( )

 Automobile mechanics ............................. 653 581 11 11 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 642 583 11 3 ( )

 Bus, truck, and stationary engine

 mechanics ........................................... 308 670 19 3 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 306 673 19 3 ( )

 Aircraft engine mechanics ........................ 121 796 27 4 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 117 804 27 3 ( )

 Automobile body and related repairers ..... 172 628 27 4 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 168 637 29 3 ( )

 Heavy equipment mechanics ................... 165 710 29 1 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 164 712 29 3 ( )

 Industrial machinery repairers .................... 427 685 14 13 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 414 691 14 3 ( )

 Electrical and electronic equipment

 repairers ................................................. 780 752 13 101 666 54 679 766 16 86.9

 Electronic repairers, communications and

 industrial equipment ............................. 169 656 61 9 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 159 669 52 3 ( )

 Data processing equipment repairers ....... 235 722 26 41 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 195 736 25 3 ( )

 Telephone installers and repairers ........... 229 825 34 42 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 187 866 39 3 ( )

 Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration

 mechanics ............................................. 287 659 27 1 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 287 660 27 3 ( )

 Miscellaneous mechanics and repairers .... 843 627 11 39 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 803 633 12 3 ( )

 Millwrights ................................................. 61 880 25 4 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 58 884 28 3 ( )

 Construction trades ........................................ 4,534 605 4 94 553 103 4,440 606 5 91.3

 Supervisors ................................................... 554 778 20 16 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 538 784 21 3 ( )

 Construction trades, except supervisors ...... 3,980 585 5 78 501 23 3,902 586 5 85.5

 Brickmasons and stonemasons .................. 175 580 32 - - - 175 580 32 -

 Tile setters, hard and soft ........................... 66 551 59 1 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 65 559 59 3 ( )

 Carpet installers .......................................... 76 412 15 3 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 73 414 17 3 ( )

See footnotes at end of table.

14
Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2002 annual averages — Continued

Occupation

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

 Carpenters .................................................. 1,100 553 12 19 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 1,081 554 12 3 ( )

 Drywall installers ......................................... 117 489 15 - - - 117 489 15 -

 Electricians ................................................. 757 730 14 17 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 740 730 14 3 ( )

 Electrical power installers and repairers ..... 117 730 32 2 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 114 725 41 3 ( )

 Painters, construction and maintenance .... 390 447 13 18 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 371 453 13 3 ( )

 Plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, and

 apprentices ............................................. 459 699 17 5 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 455 698 17 3 ( )

 Concrete and terrazzo finishers .................. 93 510 23 1 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 92 509 23 3 ( )

 Insulation workers ....................................... 53 602 27 5 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 48 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Roofers ....................................................... 138 504 14 1 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 137 503 14 3 ( )

 Structural metalworkers .............................. 65 769 58 2 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 63 771 67 3 ( )

 Extractive occupations .................................... 104 831 27 1 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 103 828 31 3 ( )

 Precision production occupations ................... 3,092 612 6 650 445 8 2,442 663 8 67.1

 Supervisors ................................................... 985 703 12 182 538 15 802 744 14 72.3

 Precision metalworking occupations ............ 758 658 13 39 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 719 670 13 3 ( )

 Tool and die makers ................................... 96 762 34 2 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 94 770 33 3 ( )

 Machinists ................................................... 441 646 17 19 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 421 657 17 3 ( )

 Sheet-metal workers ................................... 115 574 42 3 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 111 580 52 3 ( )

 Precision woodworking occupations ............. 65 475 29 5 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 60 486 25 3 ( )

 Precision textile, apparel, and furnishings

 machine workers ...................................... 113 412 12 51 406 13 62 420 21 96.7

 Precision workers, assorted materials .......... 388 483 12 210 425 13 177 555 25 76.5

 Optical goods workers ................................ 54 507 18 35 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 19 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Electrical and electronic equipment

 assemblers .............................................. 220 451 14 140 423 15 79 499 22 84.7

 Precision food production occupations ......... 346 428 12 115 365 20 231 474 16 77.2

 Butchers and meat cutters .......................... 203 447 15 44 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 159 481 24 3 ( )

 Bakers ........................................................ 105 400 15 48 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 57 436 75 3 ( )

 Precision inspectors, testers, and related

 workers ..................................................... 150 684 24 33 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 117 709 23 3 ( )

 Inspectors, testers, and graders ................. 147 677 26 33 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 114 702 23 3 ( )

 Plant and system operators .......................... 288 755 24 15 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 273 763 27 3 ( )

 Water and sewage treatment plant

 operators ............................................... 79 658 26 4 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 76 667 29 3 ( )

 Stationary engineers ................................... 128 777 46 4 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 124 784 37 3 ( )

Operators, fabricators, and laborers ................. 14,645 482 2 3,147 385 3 11,499 511 2 75.3

 Machine operators, assemblers, and

 inspectors .................................................. 5,841 474 3 1,965 386 3 3,876 520 3 74.3

 Machine operators and tenders, except

 precision .................................................. 3,706 461 5 1,207 374 4 2,499 509 4 73.4

 Metalworking and plastic working machine

 operators ............................................... 279 524 10 48 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 231 540 13 3 ( )

 Punching and stamping press machine

 operators ............................................. 70 484 19 19 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 50 516 21 3 ( )

 Grinding, abrading, buffing, and polishing

 machine operators ................................ 85 518 19 16 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 68 520 21 3 ( )

 Metal and plastic processing machine

 operators ............................................... 130 492 41 24 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 106 528 34 3 ( )

 Molding and casting machine operators ... 82 452 66 20 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 62 540 28 3 ( )

 Woodworking machine operators ............... 103 445 22 13 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 91 451 28 3 ( )

 Sawing machine operators ....................... 71 451 31 6 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 65 468 33 3 ( )

 Printing machine operators ......................... 304 548 27 70 428 28 233 608 17 70.4

 Printing press operators ........................... 244 579 18 42 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 202 615 18 3 ( )

 Textile, apparel, and furnishings machine

 operators ............................................... 640 331 7 421 316 4 219 386 10 81.9

 Textile sewing machine operators ............ 318 316 5 238 314 6 81 322 9 97.3

 Pressing machine operators ..................... 54 315 8 36 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 18 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Laundering and dry cleaning machine

 operators .............................................. 152 324 10 89 300 8 63 414 29 72.4

 Machine operators, assorted materials ...... 2,239 481 5 626 399 5 1,613 511 6 78.1

 Packaging and filling machine operators .. 246 389 10 131 354 9 115 421 11 84.1

 Mixing and blending machine operators ... 102 508 16 12 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 90 503 18 3 ( )

 Separating, filtering, and clarifying 

 machine operators ................................ 66 624 138 7 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 58 740 111 3 ( )

 Painting and paint spraying machine

 operators .............................................. 133 475 17 17 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 116 486 22 3 ( )

 Slicing and cutting machine operators ...... 129 467 23 28 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 101 492 15 3 ( )

 Photographic process machine operators 57 365 21 31 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 27 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

See footnotes at end of table.

15
Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2002 annual averages — Continued

Occupation

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

 Fabricators, assemblers, and hand working

 occupations ........................................... 1,549 490 5 465 400 6 1,084 533 11 75.1

 Welders and cutters .................................. 449 565 14 22 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 427 573 12 3 ( )

 Assemblers ............................................... 1,011 459 8 410 401 6 601 507 9 79.1

 Production inspectors, testers, samplers,

 and weighers .......................................... 586 492 10 292 410 8 294 596 16 68.9

 Production inspectors, checkers, and

 examiners ............................................. 438 511 11 224 432 11 214 609 16 70.9

 Production testers ..................................... 50 618 27 11 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 38 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Graders and sorters, except agricultural .. 96 333 22 56 308 10 40 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Transportation and material moving

occupations ................................................ 4,651 579 4 367 449 13 4,284 591 4 76.1

 Motor vehicle operators ................................ 3,423 582 4 315 434 15 3,108 595 4 73.0

 Supervisors ................................................. 75 688 27 18 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 56 712 26 3 ( )

 Truck drivers ............................................... 2,601 600 5 102 443 20 2,499 604 5 73.3

 Drivers-sales workers ................................. 114 600 18 4 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 109 603 20 3 ( )

 Bus drivers .................................................. 390 493 8 162 431 24 228 527 20 81.7

 Taxicab drivers and chauffeurs .................. 204 476 30 26 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 178 500 18 3 ( )

 Transportation occupations, except motor

 vehicles .................................................... 156 884 58 5 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 151 902 76 3 ( )

 Rail transportation ...................................... 106 866 48 4 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 103 872 67 3 ( )

 Locomotive operating occupation ............. 59 863 59 2 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 57 881 141 3 ( )

 Material moving equipment operators .......... 1,072 539 11 48 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 1,024 544 11 3 ( )

 Operating engineers ................................... 248 618 17 2 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 246 616 17 3 ( )

 Crane and tower operators ......................... 69 720 91 - - - 69 718 87 -

 Excavating and loading machine operators 78 641 41 1 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 77 645 40 3 ( )

 Industrial truck and tractor equipment

 operators ................................................ 547 491 6 39 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 509 491 7 3 ( )

 Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and

 laborers ...................................................... 4,153 400 3 814 359 5 3,339 411 3 87.4

 Helpers, construction and extractive

 occupations .............................................. 109 375 15 4 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 105 373 14 3 ( )

 Helpers, construction trades ....................... 101 376 15 4 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 97 374 14 3 ( )

 Construction laborers ................................... 906 431 14 30 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 876 435 15 3 ( )

 Freight, stock, and material handlers ........... 1,304 393 5 300 363 8 1,004 403 6 90.0

 Stock handlers and baggers ....................... 625 343 7 211 341 8 414 345 10 98.9

 Machine feeders and offbearers ................. 53 410 25 24 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 30 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Garage and service station related

 occupations ............................................. 133 376 16 11 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 122 382 17 3 ( )

 Vehicle washers and equipment cleaners .... 216 346 10 22 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 194 352 11 3 ( )

 Hand packers and packagers ....................... 347 357 8 213 349 9 134 370 13 94.4

 Laborers, except construction ...................... 1,048 413 6 219 361 10 830 430 10 84.2

Farming, forestry, and fishing ........................... 1,687 363 5 270 308 5 1,417 376 5 81.9

 Farm operators and managers ....................... 85 487 40 24 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 61 571 68 3 ( )

 Farm managers ............................................ 68 488 42 19 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 49 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Other agricultural and related occupations ..... 1,530 354 5 243 304 5 1,287 368 5 82.6

 Farm occupations, except managerial .......... 613 322 4 107 292 7 505 333 8 87.7

 Farm workers .............................................. 562 318 4 94 289 7 468 327 7 88.5

 Related agricultural occupations .................. 917 379 5 135 314 7 781 390 6 80.5

 Supervisors ................................................. 92 561 28 4 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 88 568 28 3 ( )

 Groundskeepers and gardeners, except

 farm ....................................................... 681 375 7 30 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 651 375 7 3 ( )

 Animal caretakers, except farm .................. 82 343 21 57 313 10 26 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Graders and sorters, agricultural

 products .................................................. 55 296 12 43 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 13 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

 Forestry and logging occupations ................... 52 473 50 2 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 49 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 3 ( )

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table.

2 Data not shown where base is less than 50,000. 3 Data not shown where base for either the numerator or denominator is

less than 50,000.

16
Table 4. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex and State, 2002 annual averages

State

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

 UNITED STATES ..................... 100,204 $609 $1 43,773 $530 $2 56,431 $680 $2 78.1

Alabama ....................................... 1,519 548 14 704 471 11 815 638 17 73.8

Alaska ........................................... 216 741 12 94 619 11 122 860 20 72.0

Arizona ......................................... 1,784 593 7 733 518 10 1,051 659 14 78.6

Arkansas ....................................... 890 491 7 408 431 10 482 542 20 79.5

California ...................................... 11,445 645 7 4,758 591 5 6,688 700 7 84.4

Colorado ....................................... 1,638 640 13 664 582 10 974 700 14 83.1

Connecticut ................................... 1,220 738 13 551 647 12 669 842 18 76.9

Delaware ...................................... 313 648 11 145 582 10 168 728 17 79.9

District of Columbia ...................... 236 715 17 119 672 15 117 759 22 88.5

Florida ........................................... 5,683 551 8 2,507 487 5 3,175 608 6 80.2

Georgia ......................................... 3,208 590 7 1,423 513 8 1,785 632 14 81.2

Hawaii ........................................... 401 610 10 191 536 19 210 700 18 76.6

Idaho ............................................. 427 537 12 174 469 10 253 602 11 78.0

Illinois ............................................ 4,515 631 7 2,015 555 9 2,500 726 10 76.4

Indiana .......................................... 2,317 596 8 1,004 497 9 1,313 693 16 71.8

Iowa .............................................. 1,074 577 9 474 502 8 600 644 16 78.0

Kansas .......................................... 964 579 9 427 514 9 537 643 18 80.0

Kentucky ....................................... 1,366 555 12 620 485 8 747 627 15 77.3

Louisiana ...................................... 1,401 534 13 631 454 12 770 620 12 73.2

Maine ............................................ 453 593 9 203 509 8 250 667 17 76.3

Maryland ....................................... 2,075 707 15 974 655 13 1,101 762 18 86.0

Massachusetts .............................. 2,377 712 10 1,026 621 8 1,350 796 12 78.0

Michigan ....................................... 3,443 656 8 1,479 571 9 1,964 761 11 75.0

Minnesota ..................................... 1,889 689 11 820 609 8 1,070 763 14 79.9

Mississippi .................................... 893 510 7 421 460 10 472 593 11 77.7

Missouri ........................................ 2,083 610 9 960 537 17 1,124 680 17 79.0

Montana ........................................ 281 533 12 124 418 9 157 614 12 68.2

Nebraska ...................................... 625 558 10 278 480 9 347 629 13 76.4

Nevada ......................................... 843 560 11 349 496 8 495 609 8 81.5

New Hampshire ............................ 479 653 13 201 553 18 277 748 17 73.9

New Jersey ................................... 3,229 738 7 1,376 651 11 1,854 815 15 80.0

New Mexico .................................. 586 534 15 249 478 11 337 592 12 80.7

New York ...................................... 6,448 636 5 2,877 572 7 3,571 720 10 79.5

North Carolina .............................. 2,864 562 9 1,282 491 6 1,582 615 7 79.9

North Dakota ................................ 228 515 7 103 451 11 125 590 9 76.4

Ohio .............................................. 4,064 612 6 1,762 515 5 2,301 691 11 74.6

Oklahoma ..................................... 1,158 531 12 524 469 11 634 598 10 78.4

Oregon .......................................... 1,171 615 10 486 529 12 684 697 15 75.9

Pennsylvania ................................ 4,303 616 5 1,885 530 8 2,418 687 11 77.1

Rhode Island ................................ 368 642 14 161 567 17 207 721 18 78.7

South Carolina .............................. 1,395 579 10 641 503 8 754 640 14 78.5

South Dakota ................................ 273 507 6 122 442 8 151 582 12 75.9

Tennessee .................................... 2,078 533 13 957 481 7 1,121 610 10 78.8

Texas ............................................ 7,489 542 7 3,224 488 5 4,265 600 7 81.4

Utah .............................................. 712 588 9 274 487 10 438 665 15 73.2

Vermont ........................................ 222 588 10 101 513 9 120 643 18 79.8

Virginia .......................................... 2,749 654 10 1,250 598 10 1,499 734 13 81.5

Washington ................................... 2,026 675 13 836 582 13 1,190 763 19 76.3

West Virginia ................................ 580 524 10 247 439 13 333 594 13 73.9

Wisconsin ..................................... 2,028 612 7 863 515 7 1,165 703 14 73.4

Wyoming ....................................... 177 581 8 76 454 11 101 686 12 66.2

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table.

NOTE: Data refer to persons 16 years and over.

17
Table 5. Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2002 annual averages

Characteristic

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

 median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

 median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

 median

AGE

 Total, 16 years and over ......... 21,573 $188 $1 14,750 $192 $1 6,823 $178 $2 107.8

16 to 24 years ............................... 8,083 143 1 4,560 140 1 3,523 146 2 96.0

 16 to 19 years ............................ 4,323 120 1 2,356 117 1 1,967 124 2 94.3

 20 to 24 years ............................ 3,760 173 2 2,204 168 2 1,556 182 3 92.7

25 years and over ......................... 13,490 225 1 10,190 224 2 3,300 228 3 98.3

 25 to 34 years ............................ 3,404 224 2 2,517 219 2 886 241 5 90.9

 35 to 44 years ............................ 3,589 250 3 2,976 248 3 613 258 7 96.2

 45 to 54 years ............................ 2,904 248 3 2,422 249 3 482 243 8 102.5

 55 to 64 years ............................ 2,031 211 3 1,436 206 3 595 223 6 92.5

 65 years and over ...................... 1,562 168 3 838 148 4 724 190 5 77.7

RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN

White ............................................ 18,441 189 1 12,750 194 1 5,691 177 2 109.6

Black ............................................. 1,990 178 3 1,297 175 3 693 185 4 94.5

Hispanic origin .............................. 2,337 186 3 1,513 180 3 824 196 5 91.9

MARITAL STATUS

Never married ............................... 9,636 152 1 5,333 149 1 4,304 156 1 95.8

Married, spouse present ............... 9,289 234 2 7,321 233 2 1,969 236 4 98.7

Other marital status ...................... 2,647 202 2 2,096 199 3 551 213 6 93.4

 Divorced .................................... 1,447 221 3 1,115 219 4 332 228 10 96.1

 Separated .................................. 559 199 5 426 199 6 133 196 12 101.6

 Widowed .................................... 642 166 5 556 163 5 86 184 13 88.7

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table.

 NOTE: Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum

to totals because data for the "other races" group are not presented and

Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups.

18
Table 6. Median usual weekly earnings of employed (full- and part-time) wage and salary workers by hours usually worked and sex, 2002 annual

averages

Hours of work

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

 Total, 16 years and over ........ 122,009 $524 $1 58,625 $445 $2 63,384 $621 $2 71.7

1 to 34 hours ................................. 19,174 192 1 13,232 197 1 5,942 181 2 108.9

 1 to 4 hours ................................. 480 49 3 348 45 3 133 60 7 76.0

 5 to 9 hours ................................. 1,089 65 1 751 66 1 338 63 2 105.2

 10 to 14 hours ............................. 1,770 97 1 1,220 99 1 550 92 2 107.2

 15 to 19 hours ............................. 2,507 127 2 1,712 134 2 795 118 1 113.4

 20 to 24 hours ............................. 5,829 178 2 3,968 187 2 1,862 166 1 112.6

 25 to 29 hours ............................. 2,513 222 2 1,772 223 2 741 221 3 101.1

 30 to 34 hours ............................. 4,986 288 2 3,462 296 3 1,523 272 3 108.9

35 hours and over ......................... 94,797 610 1 41,740 536 2 53,057 682 2 78.7

 35 to 39 hours ............................. 7,089 418 3 4,900 420 4 2,189 414 7 101.6

 40 hours ...................................... 66,789 566 2 30,626 512 1 36,163 608 2 84.2

 41 hours and over ....................... 20,919 901 4 6,213 783 6 14,705 952 5 82.3

 41 to 44 hours ........................... 1,409 673 11 573 622 9 836 733 12 84.9

 45 to 48 hours ........................... 5,985 791 8 2,070 718 8 3,915 846 8 84.8

 49 to 59 hours ........................... 9,148 965 6 2,593 877 10 6,555 1,004 8 87.4

 60 hours and over ..................... 4,376 1,025 13 978 897 17 3,398 1,082 19 82.9

Hours vary .................................... 8,038 387 4 3,654 273 4 4,385 527 8 51.8

 Usually less than 35 hours ......... 2,399 157 2 1,518 153 3 881 163 4 94.0

 Usually 35 hours or more ........... 5,407 564 9 2,033 408 6 3,374 646 9 63.1

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table.

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

Detail for the above "hours vary" groups will 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.

19
Table 7. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected

characteristics, 2002 annual averages

Characteristic

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Upper limit of:

First

decile

First

quartile

Second

quartile

(median)

Third

quartile

Ninth

decile

SEX, RACE, AND HISPANIC ORIGIN

Total, 16 years and over ........................................................... 100,204 $296 $404 $609 $923 $1,376 

 Women ................................................................................... 43,773 278 371 530 777 1,122

 Men ......................................................................................... 56,431 315 445 680 1,029 1,545

White ........................................................................................ 82,438 301 415 624 948 1,417

 Women ................................................................................... 34,936 282 380 549 794 1,140

 Men ......................................................................................... 47,502 321 462 702 1,062 1,571

Black ......................................................................................... 12,116 272 349 498 730 1,013

 Women ................................................................................... 6,323 255 329 474 677 959

 Men ......................................................................................... 5,792 287 378 523 767 1,093

Hispanic origin .......................................................................... 13,168 251 312 423 632 930

 Women ................................................................................... 4,870 232 292 396 587 826

 Men ......................................................................................... 8,298 269 325 449 670 992

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and over ........................................................... 89,067 312 434 647 967 1,437

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 8,544 240 298 388 525 730

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 27,149 294 390 536 758 1,023

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 24,623 332 450 629 889 1,214

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 28,751 475 658 941 1,387 1,913

Women, 25 years and over ...................................................... 38,956 289 390 570 817 1,157

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 2,879 209 266 323 415 542

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 11,760 270 342 459 616 819

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 11,582 304 400 545 746 994

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 12,736 433 599 809 1,128 1,546

Men, 25 years and over ............................................................ 50,111 343 490 732 1,098 1,605

 Less than a high school diploma ............................................ 5,665 264 321 421 591 795

 High school graduates, no college ......................................... 15,389 326 443 616 864 1,160

 Some college or associate degree ......................................... 13,042 378 517 732 999 1,366

 College graduates, total .......................................................... 16,015 514 741 1,089 1,574 2,279

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

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

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

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

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

earn less than the upper limit of the ninth decile. Detail for the

above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals

because data for the "other races" group are not presented and

Hispanics are included in both the white and black population

groups.

20
Table 8. Usual weekly earnings distribution of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2002 annual averages

(In thousands)

Characteristic Total

employed

Usual weekly earnings distribution

Under

$150.00

$150.00

to

$249.99

$250.00

to

$349.99

$350.00

to

$499.99

$500.00

to

$749.99

$750.00

to

$999.99

$1000.00

to

$1499.99

$1500.00

or

more

AGE AND SEX

Total, 16 years and over ............................. 100,204 1,008 3,738 11,859 20,445 25,419 16,050 13,561 8,126

16 to 24 years ....................................................... 11,137 252 1,141 3,162 3,589 2,184 531 223 55

 16 to 19 years .................................................... 1,892 105 370 739 507 139 26 3 2

 20 to 24 years .................................................... 9,245 147 771 2,423 3,081 2,045 506 220 52

25 years and over ................................................. 89,067 756 2,597 8,697 16,856 23,235 15,518 13,337 8,071

 25 to 34 years .................................................... 24,801 171 792 2,804 5,616 7,261 4,019 2,907 1,231

 35 to 44 years .................................................... 27,645 229 754 2,583 4,971 7,055 4,909 4,342 2,802

 45 to 54 years .................................................... 24,129 169 601 2,024 4,073 5,916 4,516 4,169 2,661

 55 to 64 years .................................................... 10,926 118 318 1,035 1,874 2,697 1,883 1,764 1,237

 65 years and over .............................................. 1,565 69 131 251 321 307 191 155 140

Women, 16 years and over ........................ 43,773 605 2,257 6,359 10,521 11,619 6,254 4,331 1,826

16 to 24 years ....................................................... 4,817 148 576 1,431 1,535 878 184 56 10

 16 to 19 years .................................................... 769 58 170 308 185 39 9 1 –

 20 to 24 years .................................................... 4,047 90 406 1,123 1,349 839 175 55 10

25 years and over ................................................. 38,956 457 1,681 4,928 8,986 10,741 6,071 4,275 1,816

 25 to 34 years .................................................... 10,414 100 476 1,411 2,639 3,137 1,491 839 321

 35 to 44 years .................................................... 11,904 135 530 1,543 2,704 3,168 1,856 1,348 619

 45 to 54 years .................................................... 11,030 112 407 1,244 2,360 2,948 1,873 1,476 610

 55 to 64 years .................................................... 4,944 71 203 607 1,120 1,351 775 562 254

 65 years and over .............................................. 664 38 65 123 163 137 76 50 13

Men, 16 years and over .............................. 56,431 402 1,480 5,500 9,924 13,800 9,795 9,229 6,300

16 to 24 years ....................................................... 6,320 103 565 1,731 2,054 1,306 348 167 45

 16 to 19 years .................................................... 1,122 47 200 431 322 100 17 3 2

 20 to 24 years .................................................... 5,198 56 365 1,300 1,732 1,206 331 165 43

25 years and over ................................................. 50,111 299 915 3,769 7,870 12,494 9,448 9,062 6,254

 25 to 34 years .................................................... 14,387 72 316 1,393 2,977 4,124 2,528 2,068 910

 35 to 44 years .................................................... 15,741 93 224 1,040 2,268 3,887 3,053 2,994 2,183

 45 to 54 years .................................................... 13,099 56 194 780 1,713 2,968 2,644 2,693 2,052

 55 to 64 years .................................................... 5,983 47 115 429 754 1,346 1,108 1,202 983

 65 years and over .............................................. 901 31 67 127 158 170 115 105 127

RACE, SEX, AND HISPANIC ORIGIN

White, 16 years and over ............................ 82,438 781 2,814 9,156 16,094 21,041 13,608 11,768 7,175

Women ................................................................. 34,936 455 1,667 4,831 8,167 9,492 5,174 3,579 1,572

Men ....................................................................... 47,502 327 1,146 4,325 7,927 11,549 8,434 8,190 5,603

Black, 16 years and over ............................ 12,116 176 725 1,999 3,194 3,083 1,602 966 370

Women ................................................................. 6,323 115 471 1,154 1,733 1,527 742 445 137

Men ....................................................................... 5,792 61 254 845 1,461 1,556 860 522 233

Hispanic origin, 16 years and over ............. 13,168 192 972 3,063 3,697 2,913 1,193 799 339

Women ................................................................. 4,870 110 532 1,255 1,304 995 393 209 73

Men ....................................................................... 8,298 82 441 1,808 2,392 1,918 800 590 266

 NOTE: Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to

totals because data for the "other races" group are not presented and

Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups.

21
Table 9. 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, 2002 annual averages 

Characteristic

Number of

workers

(in thousands)

 Median

weekly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

WOMEN

Total, all marital statuses ............................................ 43,773 $530 $2

With children under 18 years old ............................ 16,846 515 2

 With children 6 to 17, none younger .................... 10,699 524 3

 With children under 6 years old ........................... 6,147 498 3

With no children under 18 years old ....................... 26,927 545 3

Total, married, spouse present ................................... 23,037 575 2

With children under 18 years old ............................ 11,281 556 4

 With children 6 to 17, none younger .................... 7,063 558 5

 With children under 6 years old ........................... 4,217 552 6

With no children under 18 years old ....................... 11,756 586 3

Total, other marital statuses1 ..................................... 20,736 498 2

With children under 18 years old ............................ 5,565 461 4

 With children 6 to 17, none younger .................... 3,635 492 4

 With children under 6 years old ........................... 1,930 406 4

With no children under 18 years old ....................... 15,171 512 2

MEN

Total, all marital statuses ............................................ 56,431 680 2

With children under 18 years old ............................ 21,879 755 3

 With children 6 to 17, none younger .................... 11,827 783 5

 With children under 6 years old ........................... 10,051 723 5

With no children under 18 years old ....................... 34,552 627 3

Total, married, spouse present ................................... 34,817 768 3

With children under 18 years old ............................ 20,259 768 3

 With children 6 to 17, none younger .................... 10,860 796 5

 With children under 6 years old ........................... 9,399 740 5

With no children under 18 years old ....................... 14,559 768 4

Total, other marital statuses1 ..................................... 21,614 545 4

With children under 18 years old ............................ 1,620 601 8

 With children 6 to 17, none younger .................... 967 678 14

 With children under 6 years old ........................... 653 512 9

With no children under 18 years old ....................... 19,994 539 4

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, and

unrelated children.

22
Table 10. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates by selected characteristics, 2002 annual averages

Characteristic

Both sexes Women Men

Women’s

earnings

as

percent

of men’s1

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

hourly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

hourly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

Number

of

workers

(in

thousands)

Median

hourly

earnings

Standard

error

of

median

AGE

Total, 16 years and over ............. 72,720 $10.46 $0.04 36,585 $9.89 $0.01 36,135 $11.63 $0.06 85.0

16 to 24 years ....................................... 16,191 7.80 .02 7,949 7.43 .03 8,242 8.05 .02 92.3

 16 to 19 years .................................... 5,808 6.90 .02 2,958 6.79 .02 2,850 7.02 .02 96.8

 20 to 24 years .................................... 10,383 8.46 .04 4,991 8.10 .03 5,392 8.87 .04 91.4

25 years and over ................................. 56,529 11.83 .02 28,636 10.71 .03 27,893 13.04 .04 82.1

 25 to 34 years .................................... 16,357 10.96 .04 7,644 10.12 .03 8,712 11.87 .04 85.2

 35 to 44 years .................................... 17,151 12.19 .04 8,723 10.99 .04 8,428 13.96 .07 78.8

 45 to 54 years .................................... 14,190 12.48 .09 7,535 11.19 .05 6,655 14.42 .17 77.6

 55 to 64 years .................................... 6,883 11.84 .07 3,693 10.81 .07 3,190 13.37 .23 80.8

 65 years and over .............................. 1,948 9.05 .08 1,041 8.69 .14 907 9.80 .11 88.7

RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN

White .................................................... 59,199 10.71 .03 29,370 9.94 .02 29,829 11.86 .03 83.8

Black ..................................................... 9,692 9.92 .03 5,224 9.41 .08 4,469 10.23 .07 92.0

Hispanic origin ...................................... 11,206 9.20 .06 4,582 8.53 .09 6,624 9.90 .04 86.2

MARITAL STATUS

Never married ....................................... 24,983 8.74 .03 11,590 8.16 .02 13,393 9.14 .03 89.3

Married, spouse present ....................... 35,558 12.08 .02 17,451 10.86 .03 18,107 13.77 .07 78.8

Other marital status .............................. 12,179 10.85 .05 7,544 10.12 .03 4,635 12.18 .08 83.1

 Divorced ............................................ 7,768 11.56 .10 4,713 10.74 .07 3,054 13.06 .10 82.2

 Separated .......................................... 2,953 9.87 .06 1,626 9.18 .07 1,327 10.62 .28 86.4

 Widowed ............................................ 1,458 9.80 .10 1,204 9.25 .15 254 11.62 .60 79.5

UNION AFFILIATION2

Members of unions3 ............................. 10,294 15.02 .05 3,688 12.84 .08 6,606 16.51 .17 77.8

Represented by unions4 ....................... 11,186 14.92 .05 4,120 12.81 .08 7,066 16.20 .12 79.1

Not represented by a union .................. 61,534 10.02 .01 32,465 9.61 .03 29,069 10.60 .06 90.7

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and over ....................... 56,529 11.83 .02 28,636 10.71 .03 27,893 13.04 .04 82.1

 Less than a high school diploma ........ 7,956 9.03 .04 3,170 7.90 .03 4,786 9.98 .03 79.1

 High school graduates, no college ..... 22,414 11.27 .05 10,959 10.02 .02 11,455 13.10 .05 76.5

 Some college or associate degree ..... 17,466 12.58 .07 9,503 11.47 .08 7,963 14.38 .13 79.8

 College graduates, total ...................... 8,692 15.79 .15 5,004 15.17 .13 3,689 16.29 .30 93.2

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table. 2 Differences in earnings levels between workers with and without union

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

bargaining agreement, including the distribution of male and female employees

by occupation, industry, firm size, or geographic region. 3 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar

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

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

covered by a union or an employee association contract.

 NOTE: Hourly-paid workers account for approximately three-fifths of all

wage and salary workers. Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups

will not sum to totals because data for the "other races" group are not presented

and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups.

23
Table 11. Hourly earnings distribution of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates by selected characteristics, 2002 annual averages

(In thousands)

Characteristic Total

employed

Hourly earnings distribution

Under

$4.00

$4.00

to

$4.99

$5.00

to

$5.99

$6.00

to

$7.99

$8.00

to

$9.99

$10.00

to

$11.99

$12.00

to

$15.99

$16.00

to

$19.99

$20.00

or

more

AGE AND SEX

Total, 16 years and over ............................. 72,720 934 189 2,926 13,307 13,309 11,727 14,398 6,755 9,174

16 to 24 years ....................................................... 16,191 491 80 1,657 5,895 3,901 2,211 1,467 286 203

16 to 19 years ..................................................... 5,808 181 37 1,072 2,854 1,097 391 145 14 18

20 to 24 years ..................................................... 10,383 310 42 585 3,042 2,804 1,821 1,321 272 185

25 years and over ................................................. 56,529 443 109 1,269 7,412 9,408 9,516 12,932 6,469 8,971

25 to 34 years ..................................................... 16,357 181 34 406 2,396 3,038 3,103 3,797 1,662 1,738

35 to 44 years ..................................................... 17,151 124 31 357 2,002 2,620 2,711 4,043 2,183 3,081

45 to 54 years ..................................................... 14,190 81 17 224 1,593 2,147 2,239 3,256 1,810 2,823

55 to 64 years ..................................................... 6,883 37 15 149 920 1,179 1,127 1,549 733 1,175

65 years and over ............................................... 1,948 21 12 133 500 424 337 287 81 153

Women, 16 years and over ........................ 36,585 658 102 1,806 7,897 7,424 6,091 6,689 2,482 3,434

16 to 24 years ....................................................... 7,949 339 41 959 3,108 1,835 944 584 77 63

16 to 19 years ..................................................... 2,958 141 15 587 1,502 510 159 37 5 2

20 to 24 years ..................................................... 4,991 198 26 371 1,606 1,325 785 546 72 62

25 years and over ................................................. 28,636 319 61 848 4,790 5,589 5,147 6,106 2,406 3,371

25 to 34 years ..................................................... 7,644 121 20 271 1,432 1,578 1,458 1,570 574 620

35 to 44 years ..................................................... 8,723 94 19 242 1,378 1,629 1,501 1,897 797 1,166

45 to 54 years ..................................................... 7,535 54 13 157 1,101 1,391 1,349 1,680 692 1,098

55 to 64 years ..................................................... 3,693 31 6 94 589 749 661 825 305 433

65 years and over ............................................... 1,041 19 3 85 289 242 178 135 37 53

Men, 16 years and over .............................. 36,135 276 87 1,120 5,410 5,885 5,636 7,709 4,273 5,740

16 to 24 years ....................................................... 8,242 152 39 698 2,788 2,066 1,267 883 210 140

16 to 19 years ..................................................... 2,850 39 22 484 1,352 587 232 108 9 16

20 to 24 years ..................................................... 5,392 112 16 214 1,436 1,479 1,036 775 200 123

25 years and over ................................................. 27,893 124 48 421 2,622 3,819 4,369 6,826 4,063 5,600

25 to 34 years ..................................................... 8,712 60 14 136 964 1,459 1,645 2,228 1,088 1,118

35 to 44 years ..................................................... 8,428 30 12 115 624 990 1,210 2,146 1,387 1,915

45 to 54 years ..................................................... 6,655 27 4 67 492 756 889 1,576 1,118 1,725

55 to 64 years ..................................................... 3,190 6 9 55 331 431 466 724 427 742

65 years and over ............................................... 907 2 9 48 211 183 159 152 44 99

RACE, SEX, AND HISPANIC ORIGIN

White, 16 years and over ............................ 59,199 808 151 2,283 10,605 10,465 9,472 11,760 5,794 7,862

Women ................................................................. 29,370 574 85 1,411 6,228 5,851 4,891 5,411 2,084 2,835

Men ....................................................................... 29,829 234 65 871 4,377 4,615 4,580 6,349 3,710 5,027

Black, 16 years and over ............................ 9,692 75 30 510 1,946 2,106 1,652 1,913 668 794

Women ................................................................. 5,224 51 10 326 1,219 1,181 875 927 268 366

Men ....................................................................... 4,469 23 20 184 726 924 777 986 400 427

Hispanic origin, 16 years and over ............. 11,206 86 24 527 2,881 2,544 1,915 1,826 677 725

Women ................................................................. 4,582 45 10 323 1,431 1,083 717 640 162 171

Men ....................................................................... 6,624 40 14 205 1,449 1,461 1,198 1,186 516 554

 NOTE: Hourly-paid workers account for approximately three-fifths of all

wage and salary workers. Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin

groups will not sum to totals because data for the "other races" group are

not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black

population groups.

24
Table 12. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by selected

characteristics, 2002 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Characteristic

Workers paid hourly rates

Total

Below

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

At 

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Total at or below prevailing Federal

minimum wage

Number

Percent of

hourly-paid

workers

AGE AND SEX

Total, 16 years and over ............................. 72,720 1,598 570 2,168 3.0

16 to 24 years ....................................................... 16,191 818 340 1,158 7.1

 16 to 19 years .................................................... 5,808 379 226 604 10.4

 20 to 24 years .................................................... 10,383 439 114 553 5.3

25 years and over ................................................. 56,529 780 230 1,010 1.8

 25 to 34 years .................................................... 16,357 294 81 375 2.3

 35 to 44 years .................................................... 17,151 205 59 264 1.5

 45 to 54 years .................................................... 14,190 136 31 167 1.2

 55 to 64 years .................................................... 6,883 81 25 106 1.5

 65 years and over .............................................. 1,948 65 34 99 5.1

Women, 16 years and over ........................ 36,585 1,016 352 1,368 3.7

16 to 24 years ....................................................... 7,949 511 194 705 8.9

 16 to 19 years .................................................... 2,958 233 128 361 12.2

 20 to 24 years .................................................... 4,991 278 65 343 6.9

25 years and over ................................................. 28,636 505 158 663 2.3

 25 to 34 years .................................................... 7,644 183 55 238 3.1

 35 to 44 years .................................................... 8,723 134 43 177 2.0

 45 to 54 years .................................................... 7,535 91 18 110 1.5

 55 to 64 years .................................................... 3,693 54 20 74 2.0

 65 years and over .............................................. 1,041 43 22 64 6.2

Men, 16 years and over .............................. 36,135 582 218 800 2.2

16 to 24 years ....................................................... 8,242 307 146 453 5.5

 16 to 19 years .................................................... 2,850 146 97 243 8.5

 20 to 24 years .................................................... 5,392 161 49 210 3.9

25 years and over ................................................. 27,893 275 72 347 1.2

 25 to 34 years .................................................... 8,712 110 26 136 1.6

 35 to 44 years .................................................... 8,428 71 16 87 1.0

 45 to 54 years .................................................... 6,655 44 13 57 .9

 55 to 64 years .................................................... 3,190 27 5 32 1.0

 65 years and over .............................................. 907 23 12 35 3.8

RACE, SEX, AND HISPANIC ORIGIN

White, 16 years and over ............................ 59,199 1,329 452 1,781 3.0

Women ................................................................. 29,370 865 290 1,155 3.9

Men ....................................................................... 29,829 464 162 625 2.1

Black, 16 years and over ............................ 9,692 187 89 276 2.8

Women ................................................................. 5,224 102 45 147 2.8

Men ....................................................................... 4,469 85 44 129 2.9

Hispanic origin, 16 years and over ............. 11,206 195 110 305 2.7

Women ................................................................. 4,582 98 64 162 3.5

Men ....................................................................... 6,624 97 47 143 2.2

FULL- AND PART-TIME STATUS

AND SEX1

Full-time workers .................................................. 55,029 682 169 851 1.5

 Women ............................................................... 24,557 396 87 483 2.0

 Men ..................................................................... 30,472 285 82 367 1.2

Part-time workers ................................................. 17,568 908 401 1,308 7.4

 Women ............................................................... 11,969 614 265 879 7.3

 Men ..................................................................... 5,599 294 136 430 7.7

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

hours usually worked. These data will not sum to totals because full- or

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

of multiple jobholders.

 NOTE: Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not

sum to totals because data for the "other races" group are not presented

and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population

groups. See Technical Note for more information about minimum wage

workers.

25
Table 13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2002) dollars by sex and age, 1979-2002 annual averages

Year and sex

Total, 16

years and

over

16 to 24 years 25 years and over

Total 16 to 19

years

20 to 24

years

Total 25 to 34

years

35 to 44

years

45 to 54

years

55 to 64

years

65 years

and over

BOTH SEXES

1979 .......................................... $553 $395 $330 $427 $608 $586 $643 $634 $600 $454

1980 .......................................... 541 387 318 414 592 570 624 615 589 420

1981 .......................................... 536 379 305 403 583 560 615 605 584 420

1982 .......................................... 539 371 293 393 583 555 631 616 580 451

1983 .......................................... 536 361 280 381 588 550 633 628 593 446

1984 .......................................... 537 358 278 380 596 553 641 634 602 448

1985 .......................................... 548 357 277 383 604 557 647 639 607 473

19861 ........................................ 562 363 279 388 612 564 656 650 621 467

1987 .......................................... 566 367 281 391 610 565 658 649 613 469

1988 .......................................... 563 364 286 388 605 559 657 661 612 472

1989 .......................................... 559 363 285 387 599 552 661 661 604 467

19901 ........................................ 549 358 279 380 598 542 649 651 609 458

1991 .......................................... 548 357 274 375 601 534 641 652 603 490

1992 .......................................... 553 347 267 364 601 530 632 656 607 475

1993 .......................................... 562 345 262 364 602 535 634 664 603 481

19941 ........................................ 561 344 265 360 600 527 644 680 601 461

1995 .......................................... 561 342 270 358 598 528 645 682 603 456

1996 .......................................... 560 340 274 356 594 529 638 678 611 438

19971 ........................................ 562 342 281 359 603 538 647 678 624 440

19981 ........................................ 576 352 295 373 630 553 657 683 652 446

19991 ........................................ 592 368 304 391 638 558 659 703 652 436

20001 ........................................ 600 374 306 397 636 570 656 700 644 461

2001 .......................................... 605 380 308 399 639 586 666 703 649 489

2002 .......................................... 609 381 305 399 647 590 669 707 673 502

WOMEN

1979 .......................................... 418 353 302 370 447 456 449 441 433 391

1980 .......................................... 415 345 300 361 440 451 443 431 423 361

1981 .......................................... 414 341 291 362 441 452 450 426 420 357

1982 .......................................... 426 342 281 359 454 460 460 449 436 377

1983 .......................................... 432 338 271 355 458 465 466 452 441 363

1984 .......................................... 437 335 267 352 466 469 480 459 445 360

1985 .......................................... 443 336 265 353 472 472 490 465 454 387

19861 ........................................ 455 342 266 362 483 479 500 483 463 400

1987 .......................................... 459 343 260 366 486 478 510 490 466 395

1988 .......................................... 460 344 269 367 489 477 516 495 463 408

1989 .......................................... 459 345 276 365 491 476 518 500 466 409

19901 ........................................ 462 338 264 358 492 475 520 503 464 400

1991 .......................................... 472 343 263 361 498 477 524 512 467 411

1992 .......................................... 477 335 257 352 502 480 525 524 472 412

1993 .......................................... 482 335 251 355 509 484 533 539 484 410

19941 ........................................ 479 331 254 348 506 477 537 540 478 404

1995 .......................................... 476 323 252 341 502 473 532 544 473 413

1996 .......................................... 477 324 255 341 507 474 528 549 480 382

19971 ........................................ 482 326 268 342 516 477 538 553 484 389

19981 ........................................ 503 336 274 351 534 497 548 568 525 385

19991 ........................................ 511 349 287 370 536 507 543 576 531 399

20001 ........................................ 513 357 291 379 537 514 542 589 528 395

2001 .......................................... 520 359 290 381 551 521 554 597 548 390

2002 .......................................... 530 366 295 384 570 531 573 603 574 428

See footnotes at end of table.

26
Table 13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2002) dollars by sex and age, 1979-2002 annual averages —

 Continued

Year and sex

Total, 16

years and

over

16 to 24 years 25 years and over

Total 16 to 19

years

20 to 24

years

Total 25 to 34

years

35 to 44

years

45 to 54

years

55 to 64

years

65 years

and over

MEN

1979 .......................................... $669 $450 $355 $484 $720 $677 $770 $774 $717 $502 

1980 .......................................... 646 431 335 462 701 650 759 757 712 472

1981 .......................................... 642 413 317 449 702 642 751 749 713 504

1982 .......................................... 650 401 303 435 701 638 752 746 711 535

1983 .......................................... 648 382 287 414 696 635 757 760 713 528

1984 .......................................... 645 381 287 412 696 630 776 774 724 540

1985 .......................................... 649 384 292 412 706 628 776 780 745 586

19861 ........................................ 656 385 291 413 724 629 780 791 758 561

1987 .......................................... 656 389 296 416 722 623 772 786 749 575

1988 .......................................... 656 382 299 407 712 614 755 801 742 576

1989 .......................................... 655 380 293 406 700 607 760 797 729 551

19901 ........................................ 642 375 290 397 683 599 747 788 727 537

1991 .......................................... 635 367 282 386 673 590 741 788 725 601

1992 .......................................... 629 356 274 373 673 586 730 796 727 528

1993 .......................................... 626 353 270 371 680 583 730 801 718 553

19941 ........................................ 627 353 274 368 692 575 741 805 724 529

1995 .......................................... 631 355 286 370 690 574 732 803 730 517

1996 .......................................... 636 351 286 367 684 570 722 797 733 545

19971 ........................................ 646 354 293 378 687 576 727 796 747 505

19981 ........................................ 659 367 310 393 704 599 746 806 770 531

19991 ........................................ 667 384 314 409 720 623 757 823 783 507

20001 ........................................ 671 389 316 410 727 625 761 809 770 564

2001 .......................................... 680 395 323 413 730 628 765 812 774 573

2002 .......................................... 680 392 313 410 732 627 759 808 799 583

WOMEN’S

EARNINGS

AS PERCENT

OF MEN’S2

1979 .......................................... 62.5 78.5 85.2 76.5 62.1 67.4 58.3 56.9 60.5 77.8 

1980 .......................................... 64.3 80.1 89.5 78.0 62.7 69.4 58.4 56.9 59.4 76.5 

1981 .......................................... 64.5 82.6 91.8 80.7 62.7 70.4 59.9 56.8 58.9 70.9 

1982 .......................................... 65.5 85.3 92.8 82.5 64.7 72.1 61.2 60.1 61.3 70.4 

1983 .......................................... 66.6 88.6 94.1 85.9 65.8 73.3 61.5 59.5 61.8 68.7 

1984 .......................................... 67.6 87.9 92.7 85.3 67.0 74.5 61.9 59.4 61.4 66.8 

1985 .......................................... 68.2 87.5 90.8 85.5 66.9 75.1 63.1 59.7 60.9 66.0 

19861 ........................................ 69.3 88.9 91.5 87.7 66.7 76.2 64.0 61.0 61.0 71.4 

1987 .......................................... 69.9 88.1 87.8 88.0 67.3 76.8 66.1 62.3 62.2 68.7 

1988 .......................................... 70.1 90.0 89.8 90.1 68.7 77.7 68.4 61.8 62.4 70.8 

1989 .......................................... 70.1 90.7 94.0 89.8 70.2 78.4 68.1 62.7 63.9 74.2 

19901 ........................................ 71.9 90.1 91.0 90.2 72.1 79.2 69.7 63.8 63.7 74.5 

1991 .......................................... 74.3 93.3 93.5 93.5 74.0 80.9 70.8 64.9 64.4 68.4 

1992 .......................................... 75.8 94.0 93.8 94.2 74.6 82.0 71.9 65.8 64.9 78.1 

1993 .......................................... 77.1 94.8 93.0 95.6 74.7 82.9 73.0 67.3 67.4 74.1 

19941 ........................................ 76.4 93.7 92.7 94.5 73.1 82.9 72.5 67.1 66.1 76.3 

1995 .......................................... 75.4 90.8 87.9 92.2 72.7 82.4 72.7 67.8 64.8 79.9 

1996 .......................................... 75.0 92.4 88.9 92.8 74.1 83.2 73.2 68.9 65.4 70.0 

19971 ........................................ 74.5 92.1 91.4 90.6 75.1 82.9 74.0 69.4 64.7 77.1 

19981 ........................................ 76.3 91.3 88.5 89.4 75.9 83.0 73.5 70.5 68.2 72.6 

19991 ........................................ 76.5 91.0 91.3 90.5 74.4 81.5 71.7 70.1 67.8 78.7 

20001 ........................................ 76.4 91.6 92.0 92.6 73.9 82.3 71.2 72.8 68.5 69.9 

2001 .......................................... 76.4 90.9 89.7 92.3 75.4 83.1 72.4 73.4 70.8 68.1 

2002 .......................................... 78.1 93.6 94.2 93.7 77.8 84.7 75.4 74.6 71.9 73.4 

1 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at

various times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current

Population Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory Notes and

Estimates of Error section of the February 2003 and subsequent issues of 

Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS periodical. 2 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table.

 NOTE: The Consumer Price Index research series using current methods

(CPI-U-RS) is used to convert current dollars to constant dollars. See

Technical Note. 

27
Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2002) dollars by sex, race,

and Hispanic origin, 1979-2002 annual averages

Year and sex Total, 16 years

and over White Black Hispanic origin

BOTH SEXES

1979 .................................................................. $553 $568 $456 $444

1980 .................................................................. 541 555 439 432

1981 .................................................................. 536 549 444 422

1982 .................................................................. 539 552 437 428

1983 .................................................................. 536 548 447 428

1984 .................................................................. 537 554 443 427

1985 .................................................................. 548 567 442 430

19861 ................................................................ 562 580 456 434

1987 .................................................................. 566 581 455 431

1988 .................................................................. 563 576 459 424

1989 .................................................................. 559 573 447 418

19901 ................................................................ 549 565 439 405

1991 .................................................................. 548 569 448 402

1992 .................................................................. 553 575 448 404

1993 .................................................................. 562 582 452 405

19941 ................................................................ 561 580 446 389

1995 .................................................................. 561 580 448 385

1996 .................................................................. 560 577 442 387

19971 ................................................................ 562 580 447 393

19981 ................................................................ 576 600 469 408

19991 ................................................................ 592 618 480 415

20001 ................................................................ 600 615 488 412

2001 .................................................................. 605 620 494 421

2002 .................................................................. 609 624 498 423

WOMEN

1979 .................................................................. 418 422 388 361

1980 .................................................................. 415 419 383 356

1981 .................................................................. 414 417 389 359

1982 .................................................................. 426 431 387 363

1983 .................................................................. 432 436 397 368

1984 .................................................................. 437 442 397 368

1985 .................................................................. 443 449 402 366

19861 ................................................................ 455 461 413 378

1987 .................................................................. 459 465 417 380

1988 .................................................................. 460 465 421 380

1989 .................................................................. 459 467 422 377

19901 ................................................................ 462 471 411 371

1991 .................................................................. 472 480 415 376

1992 .................................................................. 477 486 421 379

1993 .................................................................. 482 491 426 383

19941 ................................................................ 479 490 416 366

1995 .................................................................. 476 486 416 358

1996 .................................................................. 477 489 414 361

19971 ................................................................ 482 496 419 355

19981 ................................................................ 503 515 440 371

19991 ................................................................ 511 521 441 375

20001 ................................................................ 513 521 448 379

2001 .................................................................. 520 530 459 392

2002 .................................................................. 530 549 474 396

See footnotes at end of table.

28
Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2002) dollars by sex,

race, and Hispanic origin, 1979-2002 annual averages — Continued

Year and sex Total, 16 years

and over White Black Hispanic origin

MEN

1979 ........................................................ $669 $684 $522 $503 

1980 ........................................................ 646 661 505 484

1981 ........................................................ 642 661 507 475

1982 ........................................................ 650 669 496 479

1983 ........................................................ 648 663 503 470

1984 ........................................................ 645 660 499 473

1985 ........................................................ 649 666 486 471

19861 ...................................................... 656 678 499 468

1987 ........................................................ 656 681 494 463

1988 ........................................................ 656 679 507 449

1989 ........................................................ 655 675 487 441

19901 ...................................................... 642 658 481 424

1991 ........................................................ 635 651 482 416

1992 ........................................................ 629 646 478 426

1993 ........................................................ 626 642 480 424

19941 ...................................................... 627 657 481 412

1995 ........................................................ 631 664 482 410

1996 ........................................................ 636 662 470 406

19971 ...................................................... 646 665 483 415

19981 ...................................................... 659 677 515 429

19991 ...................................................... 667 689 527 438

20001 ...................................................... 671 694 525 429

2001 ........................................................ 680 701 526 443

2002 ........................................................ 680 702 523 449

WOMEN’S

EARNINGS

AS PERCENT

OF MEN’S2

1979 ........................................................ 62.5 61.7 74.3 71.7 

1980 ........................................................ 64.3 63.5 75.8 73.6 

1981 ........................................................ 64.5 63.1 76.7 75.6 

1982 ........................................................ 65.5 64.4 78.0 75.7 

1983 ........................................................ 66.6 65.7 78.9 78.3 

1984 ........................................................ 67.6 67.0 79.6 77.8 

1985 ........................................................ 68.2 67.4 82.8 77.7 

19861 ...................................................... 69.3 67.9 82.7 80.7 

1987 ........................................................ 69.9 68.2 84.4 82.1 

1988 ........................................................ 70.1 68.5 83.0 84.6 

1989 ........................................................ 70.1 69.2 86.5 85.6 

19901 ...................................................... 71.9 71.5 85.5 87.6 

1991 ........................................................ 74.3 73.7 86.1 90.5 

1992 ........................................................ 75.8 75.2 88.1 89.1 

1993 ........................................................ 77.1 76.5 88.8 90.4 

19941 ...................................................... 76.4 74.5 86.5 88.8 

1995 ........................................................ 75.4 73.2 86.3 87.3 

1996 ........................................................ 75.0 73.8 88.1 89.0 

19971 ...................................................... 74.5 74.6 86.8 85.6 

19981 ...................................................... 76.3 76.1 85.4 86.5 

19991 ...................................................... 76.5 75.7 83.7 85.7 

20001 ...................................................... 76.4 75.1 85.2 88.4 

2001 ........................................................ 76.4 75.6 87.2 88.5 

2002 ........................................................ 78.1 78.2 90.7 88.2 

1 The comparability of historical labor force data has

been affected at various times by methodological and

conceptual changes in the Current Population Survey

(CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory Notes

and Estimates of Error section of the February 2003 and

subsequent issues of Employment and Earnings, a

monthly BLS periodical. 2 These figures are computed using unrounded

medians and may differ slightly from percents computed

using the rounded medians displayed in this table.

 NOTE: Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any

race; thus they are included in both the white and black

population groups. The Consumer Price Index research

series using current methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to

convert current dollars to constant dollars. See

Technical Note.

29
Table 15. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and over in constant (2002) dollars by sex

and educational attainment, 1979-2002 annual averages

Year and sex

Total,

25 years and

over

 Less than a

high school

diploma

 High school

graduates, no

college

 Some college or

associate degree

 College

graduates, total

BOTH SEXES

1979 ........................................................ $608 $482 $570 $647 $789

1980 ........................................................ 592 459 550 627 778

1981 ........................................................ 583 453 541 613 769

1982 ........................................................ 583 442 538 625 780

1983 ........................................................ 588 438 533 621 790

1984 ........................................................ 596 434 532 629 800

1985 ........................................................ 604 431 532 636 806

19861 ...................................................... 612 435 538 640 821

1987 ........................................................ 610 429 539 636 853

1988 ........................................................ 605 421 537 628 855

1989 ........................................................ 599 417 525 634 854

19901 ...................................................... 598 404 514 634 850

1991 ........................................................ 601 395 511 630 857

1992 ........................................................ 601 390 507 608 874

1993 ........................................................ 602 385 508 605 876

19941 ...................................................... 600 369 505 598 880

1995 ........................................................ 598 362 506 595 875

1996 ........................................................ 594 362 506 591 866

19971 ...................................................... 603 358 515 598 871

19981 ...................................................... 630 371 528 614 904

19991 ...................................................... 638 374 529 626 927

20001 ...................................................... 636 375 527 624 934

2001 ........................................................ 639 383 528 630 939

2002 ........................................................ 647 388 536 629 941

WOMEN

1979 ........................................................ 447 348 424 483 605

1980 ........................................................ 440 339 414 477 599

1981 ........................................................ 441 330 411 482 601

1982 ........................................................ 454 328 421 489 618

1983 ........................................................ 458 334 422 493 632

1984 ........................................................ 466 329 426 502 643

1985 ........................................................ 472 322 427 506 661

19861 ...................................................... 483 325 433 516 682

1987 ........................................................ 486 324 435 526 704

1988 ........................................................ 489 322 435 525 708

1989 ........................................................ 491 324 426 531 711

19901 ...................................................... 492 320 419 526 714

1991 ........................................................ 498 321 423 526 723

1992 ........................................................ 502 321 423 512 746

1993 ........................................................ 509 322 425 517 748

19941 ...................................................... 506 308 422 507 761

1995 ........................................................ 502 307 418 500 755

1996 ........................................................ 507 306 417 504 750

19971 ...................................................... 516 307 423 513 751

19981 ...................................................... 534 311 436 525 779

19991 ...................................................... 536 313 437 527 798

20001 ...................................................... 537 316 439 526 793

2001 ........................................................ 551 319 448 533 796

2002 ........................................................ 570 323 459 545 809

See footnotes at end of table.

30
Table 15. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and over in constant (2002) dollars by sex

and educational attainment, 1979-2002 annual averages — Continued

Year and sex

Total,

25 years and

over

 Less than a

high school

diploma

 High school

graduates, no

college

 Some college or

associate degree

 College

graduates, total

MEN

1979 ........................................................ $720 $578 $707 $755 $908 

1980 ........................................................ 701 553 676 740 883

1981 ........................................................ 702 540 673 735 899

1982 ........................................................ 701 523 667 733 897

1983 ........................................................ 696 516 664 723 888

1984 ........................................................ 696 507 657 734 925

1985 ........................................................ 706 501 650 752 941

19861 ...................................................... 724 502 650 760 967

1987 ........................................................ 722 490 640 752 988

1988 ........................................................ 712 485 637 734 991

1989 ........................................................ 700 485 631 724 988

19901 ...................................................... 683 466 612 723 988

1991 ........................................................ 673 449 605 724 984

1992 ........................................................ 673 441 601 697 994

1993 ........................................................ 680 437 597 701 987

19941 ...................................................... 692 411 596 704 992

1995 ........................................................ 690 407 595 699 990

1996 ........................................................ 684 407 590 690 997

19971 ...................................................... 687 408 598 694 1,001

19981 ...................................................... 704 422 615 709 1,034

19991 ...................................................... 720 426 626 717 1,054

20001 ...................................................... 727 423 618 727 1,065

2001 ........................................................ 730 421 618 734 1,093

2002 ........................................................ 732 421 616 732 1,089

WOMEN’S

EARNINGS

AS PERCENT

OF MEN’S2

1979 ........................................................ 62.1 60.2 60.0 64.0 66.6 

1980 ........................................................ 62.7 61.3 61.3 64.5 67.8 

1981 ........................................................ 62.7 61.1 61.0 65.6 66.9 

1982 ........................................................ 64.7 62.8 63.1 66.7 68.9 

1983 ........................................................ 65.8 64.6 63.5 68.1 71.1 

1984 ........................................................ 67.0 64.8 64.9 68.4 69.5 

1985 ........................................................ 66.9 64.4 65.7 67.2 70.2 

19861 ...................................................... 66.7 64.7 66.6 67.9 70.6 

1987 ........................................................ 67.3 66.1 68.0 69.9 71.3 

1988 ........................................................ 68.7 66.4 68.3 71.5 71.4 

1989 ........................................................ 70.2 66.8 67.6 73.3 71.9 

19901 ...................................................... 72.1 68.8 68.6 72.8 72.2 

1991 ........................................................ 74.0 71.5 69.9 72.6 73.5 

1992 ........................................................ 74.6 72.8 70.3 73.4 75.0 

1993 ........................................................ 74.7 73.8 71.3 73.7 75.8 

19941 ...................................................... 73.1 74.9 70.8 72.0 76.7 

1995 ........................................................ 72.7 75.4 70.2 71.6 76.2 

1996 ........................................................ 74.1 75.2 70.7 73.1 75.2 

19971 ...................................................... 75.1 75.2 70.8 73.8 75.0 

19981 ...................................................... 75.9 73.7 70.9 74.0 75.3 

19991 ...................................................... 74.4 73.5 69.8 73.5 75.7 

20001 ...................................................... 73.9 74.7 71.1 72.3 74.5 

2001 ........................................................ 75.4 75.6 72.5 72.6 72.9 

2002 ........................................................ 77.8 76.8 74.5 74.4 74.3 

1 The comparability of historical labor force data has been

affected at various times by methodological and conceptual

changes in the Current Population Survey (CPS). For an

explanation, see the Explanatory Notes and Estimates of Error

section of the February 2003 and subsequent issues of

Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS periodical.

2 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and

may differ slightly from percents computed using the rounded

medians displayed in this table.

 NOTE: The Consumer Price Index research series using

current methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert current dollars to

constant dollars. See Technical Note.

31
Table 16. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2002) dollars by sex and age, 1979-2002 annual averages

Year and sex

Total, 16

years and

over

16 to 24 years 25 years and over

Total 16 to 19

years

20 to 24

years

Total 25 to 34

years

35 to 44

years

45 to 54

years

55 to 64

years

65 years

and over

BOTH SEXES

1979 .............................. $10.20 $8.02 $7.14 $9.25 $11.75 $11.95 $12.17 $11.86 $11.42 $7.43

1980 .............................. 9.99 7.69 6.68 8.88 11.48 11.71 11.92 11.70 11.16 7.38

1981 .............................. 9.75 7.52 6.78 8.73 11.34 11.54 11.74 11.39 11.00 7.43

1982 .............................. 9.64 7.24 6.44 8.33 11.21 11.33 11.81 11.46 10.91 7.36

1983 .............................. 9.60 7.00 6.20 8.05 11.23 11.14 11.85 11.54 10.99 7.54

1984 .............................. 9.62 6.90 6.03 7.95 11.28 11.16 11.83 11.68 10.92 7.64

1985 .............................. 9.63 6.81 5.87 7.90 11.26 11.05 11.96 11.78 11.03 7.57

19861 ............................ 9.72 6.92 5.82 7.94 11.33 10.99 12.20 12.12 11.23 7.79

1987 .............................. 9.80 6.96 5.78 7.90 11.30 10.89 12.02 11.91 11.23 7.70

1988 .............................. 9.83 7.00 5.89 7.87 11.32 10.87 11.94 11.93 10.93 7.66

1989 .............................. 9.81 6.94 5.92 7.93 11.14 10.71 12.00 11.81 10.97 7.60

19901 ............................ 9.66 6.89 6.00 7.90 10.90 10.55 11.77 11.74 10.71 7.69

1991 .............................. 9.67 6.79 6.05 7.74 10.93 10.36 11.81 11.74 10.55 7.65

1992 .............................. 9.71 6.76 5.95 7.59 10.98 10.28 11.80 11.97 10.67 7.73

1993 .............................. 9.65 6.76 5.89 7.55 10.97 10.15 11.79 12.10 10.92 7.84

19941 ............................ 9.63 6.76 5.91 7.48 10.96 10.07 11.92 12.04 10.84 7.68

1995 .............................. 9.59 6.81 5.92 7.54 10.98 10.22 11.76 11.89 10.79 7.81

1996 .............................. 9.60 6.79 5.91 7.65 10.99 10.08 11.59 11.70 10.73 7.74

19971 ............................ 9.79 6.88 6.16 7.73 11.04 10.12 11.58 11.85 10.89 7.71

19981 ............................ 10.04 7.26 6.48 7.99 11.17 10.64 11.97 12.08 11.11 8.16

19991 ............................ 10.29 7.43 6.57 8.36 11.31 10.77 11.90 12.23 11.20 8.32

20001 ............................ 10.35 7.53 6.65 8.42 11.39 10.62 12.02 12.37 11.30 8.36

2001 .............................. 10.34 7.76 6.85 8.43 11.59 10.95 12.16 12.38 11.43 8.52

2002 .............................. 10.46 7.80 6.90 8.46 11.83 10.96 12.19 12.48 11.84 9.05

WOMEN

1979 .............................. 8.31 7.33 6.96 8.09 8.96 9.29 9.12 8.83 8.63 7.18

1980 .............................. 8.19 7.15 6.51 7.86 8.78 9.20 8.88 8.76 8.45 7.01

1981 .............................. 8.10 7.02 6.67 7.76 8.89 9.26 9.04 8.70 8.39 7.04

1982 .............................. 8.23 6.76 6.35 7.49 8.97 9.28 9.07 8.85 8.57 7.02

1983 .............................. 8.24 6.55 6.10 7.31 8.97 9.33 9.11 8.90 8.70 7.14

1984 .............................. 8.20 6.48 5.93 7.20 9.05 9.25 9.25 9.10 8.70 7.22

1985 .............................. 8.20 6.41 5.77 7.29 9.16 9.24 9.44 9.20 8.72 7.09

19861 ............................ 8.36 6.44 5.73 7.39 9.32 9.32 9.61 9.39 9.01 7.42

1987 .............................. 8.48 6.40 5.62 7.42 9.34 9.31 9.62 9.51 9.14 7.35

1988 .............................. 8.54 6.55 5.72 7.39 9.41 9.30 9.88 9.63 8.89 7.49

1989 .............................. 8.57 6.59 5.75 7.34 9.51 9.38 9.95 9.68 8.94 7.21

19901 ............................ 8.60 6.61 5.82 7.44 9.44 9.36 9.84 9.55 8.98 7.27

1991 .............................. 8.70 6.56 5.98 7.36 9.46 9.27 9.97 9.80 8.96 7.42

1992 .............................. 8.75 6.50 5.90 7.26 9.63 9.37 10.05 9.98 9.06 7.51

1993 .............................. 8.74 6.47 5.81 7.32 9.66 9.34 10.01 10.03 9.28 7.59

19941 ............................ 8.71 6.40 5.81 7.19 9.67 9.36 10.14 10.16 9.39 7.50

1995 .............................. 8.75 6.45 5.80 7.16 9.59 9.30 10.13 10.24 9.31 7.57

1996 .............................. 8.84 6.50 5.82 7.16 9.64 9.21 10.16 10.21 9.23 7.38

19971 ............................ 8.88 6.66 6.07 7.33 9.79 9.17 10.23 10.36 9.29 7.64

19981 ............................ 9.07 6.88 6.37 7.64 10.07 9.70 10.65 10.78 9.75 7.95

19991 ............................ 9.33 7.13 6.46 7.80 10.29 9.83 10.61 10.75 10.08 8.10

20001 ............................ 9.44 7.28 6.50 8.13 10.33 10.10 10.50 10.64 10.19 8.11

2001 .............................. 9.75 7.32 6.70 8.12 10.35 10.13 10.55 10.97 10.40 8.18

2002 .............................. 9.89 7.43 6.79 8.10 10.71 10.12 10.99 11.19 10.81 8.69

See footnotes at end of table.

32
Table 16. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2002) dollars by sex and age, 1979-2002 annual averages —

Continued

Year and sex

Total, 16

years and

over

16 to 24 years 25 years and over

Total 16 to 19

years

20 to 24

years

Total 25 to 34

years

35 to 44

years

45 to 54

years

55 to 64

years

65 years

and over

MEN

1979 .............................. $12.99 $8.97 $7.34 $10.67 $15.37 $14.65 $16.35 $16.31 $15.13 $8.20

1980 .............................. 12.61 8.50 6.99 10.18 14.94 14.33 16.16 16.10 14.98 7.85

1981 .............................. 12.43 8.17 6.90 9.68 14.73 13.88 15.70 16.08 14.92 7.99

1982 .............................. 12.23 7.82 6.54 9.15 14.42 13.68 15.86 15.85 14.53 7.97

1983 .............................. 11.87 7.52 6.30 8.66 14.25 13.28 15.80 15.70 14.99 8.15

1984 .............................. 11.75 7.54 6.14 8.52 14.19 13.01 15.68 15.98 14.62 8.10

1985 .............................. 11.71 7.48 6.00 8.36 14.13 12.77 15.65 15.92 14.44 7.97

19861 ............................ 11.89 7.51 5.99 8.51 14.13 12.59 15.65 15.89 14.94 8.13

1987 .............................. 11.77 7.44 6.00 8.60 13.88 12.51 15.29 15.50 14.71 8.06

1988 .............................. 11.57 7.36 6.06 8.47 13.70 12.29 14.94 15.63 14.24 8.08

1989 .............................. 11.36 7.25 6.16 8.45 13.61 12.01 14.85 15.25 14.02 8.27

19901 ............................ 11.04 7.26 6.20 8.25 13.14 11.79 14.32 14.86 13.58 8.12

1991 .............................. 11.07 7.19 6.12 8.03 12.85 11.52 14.15 15.08 12.99 8.01

1992 .............................. 10.91 7.11 6.04 7.85 12.65 11.34 13.75 15.12 13.06 8.12

1993 .............................. 10.87 7.06 5.98 7.78 12.49 11.16 13.69 14.90 13.45 8.23

19941 ............................ 10.82 7.07 6.00 7.89 12.36 10.94 13.82 14.54 13.29 7.98

1995 .............................. 10.83 7.09 6.04 8.01 12.59 11.11 13.95 14.45 13.04 8.04

1996 .............................. 10.88 7.06 6.01 7.99 12.32 11.08 13.60 14.17 12.74 8.04

19971 ............................ 11.00 7.21 6.28 8.03 12.42 11.10 13.50 14.31 13.19 7.79

19981 ............................ 11.09 7.62 6.59 8.58 12.92 11.27 13.75 14.37 13.47 8.54

19991 ............................ 11.14 7.69 6.68 8.68 12.96 11.70 13.80 14.77 13.18 8.49

20001 ............................ 11.32 7.92 6.86 8.74 12.85 11.41 13.80 14.54 13.39 8.65

2001 .............................. 11.50 8.09 7.00 8.96 13.13 11.92 14.18 14.67 13.13 9.18

2002 .............................. 11.63 8.05 7.02 8.87 13.04 11.87 13.96 14.42 13.37 9.80

WOMEN’S

EARNINGS

AS PERCENT

OF MEN’S2

1979 .............................. 64.0 81.7 94.9 75.8 58.3 63.4 55.8 54.1 57.0 87.7

1980 .............................. 64.9 84.1 93.1 77.2 58.8 64.2 54.9 54.4 56.4 89.3

1981 .............................. 65.2 86.0 96.6 80.2 60.3 66.7 57.6 54.1 56.2 88.1

1982 .............................. 67.3 86.5 97.1 81.8 62.2 67.8 57.2 55.8 59.0 88.1

1983 .............................. 69.5 87.1 96.9 84.4 63.0 70.3 57.6 56.7 58.0 87.6

1984 .............................. 69.8 86.0 96.6 84.5 63.8 71.1 59.0 56.9 59.5 89.1

1985 .............................. 70.1 85.7 96.1 87.2 64.8 72.4 60.3 57.8 60.4 88.9

19861 ............................ 70.3 85.8 95.5 86.9 66.0 74.1 61.4 59.1 60.3 91.3

1987 .............................. 72.0 86.0 93.7 86.2 67.3 74.4 62.9 61.4 62.1 91.2

1988 .............................. 73.9 89.1 94.4 87.3 68.7 75.7 66.2 61.6 62.5 92.6

1989 .............................. 75.5 90.8 93.4 86.9 69.9 78.1 67.0 63.5 63.8 87.2

19901 ............................ 77.9 91.0 93.8 90.2 71.9 79.4 68.7 64.3 66.2 89.6

1991 .............................. 78.6 91.2 97.8 91.6 73.6 80.4 70.4 65.0 69.0 92.6

1992 .............................. 80.2 91.4 97.7 92.5 76.1 82.6 73.1 66.0 69.4 92.5

1993 .............................. 80.4 91.6 97.2 94.1 77.3 83.7 73.1 67.3 69.0 92.2

19941 ............................ 80.6 90.6 97.0 91.1 78.2 85.5 73.4 69.9 70.7 94.0

1995 .............................. 80.8 90.9 96.0 89.4 76.2 83.7 72.6 70.9 71.4 94.1

1996 .............................. 81.2 92.0 96.9 89.5 78.3 83.1 74.7 72.1 72.4 91.7

19971 ............................ 80.8 92.3 96.6 91.3 78.9 82.7 75.8 72.4 70.5 98.1

19981 ............................ 81.8 90.3 96.7 89.1 77.9 86.1 77.4 75.0 72.4 93.1

19991 ............................ 83.8 92.7 96.7 89.8 79.4 84.0 76.9 72.8 76.4 95.4

20001 ............................ 83.4 91.9 94.8 93.0 80.4 88.5 76.1 73.2 76.1 93.8

2001 .............................. 84.8 90.6 95.7 90.6 78.8 85.0 74.4 74.8 79.2 89.1

2002 .............................. 85.0 92.3 96.8 91.4 82.1 85.2 78.8 77.6 80.8 88.7

1 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at

various times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current

Population Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory Notes and

Estimates of Error section of the February 2003 and subsequent issues of

Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS periodical. 2 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table.

 NOTE: The Consumer Price Index research series using current methods

(CPI-U-RS) is used to convert current dollars to constant dollars. See

Technical Note.

33
Table 17. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2002) dollars by sex,

race, and Hispanic origin, 1979-2002 annual averages

Year and sex Total, 16 years and

over White Black Hispanic origin

BOTH SEXES

1979 .............................. $10.20 $10.36 $9.44 $9.37

1980 .............................. 9.99 10.10 9.20 9.19

1981 .............................. 9.75 9.82 9.29 9.11

1982 .............................. 9.64 9.76 9.04 8.95

1983 .............................. 9.60 9.72 8.83 8.73

1984 .............................. 9.62 9.74 8.85 8.70

1985 .............................. 9.63 9.75 8.79 8.74

19861 ............................ 9.72 9.84 9.10 8.86

1987 .............................. 9.80 9.94 9.08 8.82

1988 .............................. 9.83 9.95 8.99 8.70

1989 .............................. 9.81 9.93 9.01 8.52

19901 ............................ 9.66 9.79 9.09 8.38

1991 .............................. 9.67 9.81 9.02 8.33

1992 .............................. 9.71 9.84 8.88 8.36

1993 .............................. 9.65 9.78 8.81 8.38

19941 ............................ 9.63 9.75 8.77 8.33

1995 .............................. 9.59 9.76 9.00 8.22

1996 .............................. 9.60 9.79 8.87 8.19

19971 ............................ 9.79 9.94 8.96 8.27

19981 ............................ 10.04 10.16 9.25 8.73

19991 ............................ 10.29 10.51 9.55 8.72

20001 ............................ 10.35 10.42 9.69 8.87

2001 .............................. 10.34 10.42 9.82 9.13

2002 .............................. 10.46 10.71 9.92 9.20

WOMEN

1979 .............................. 8.31 8.33 8.16 7.91

1980 .............................. 8.19 8.20 8.04 7.83

1981 .............................. 8.10 8.12 7.94 7.77

1982 .............................. 8.23 8.24 8.03 7.74

1983 .............................. 8.24 8.25 8.10 7.59

1984 .............................. 8.20 8.21 8.05 7.68

1985 .............................. 8.20 8.21 8.06 7.71

19861 ............................ 8.36 8.39 8.11 7.84

1987 .............................. 8.48 8.51 8.19 7.74

1988 .............................. 8.54 8.57 8.21 7.72

1989 .............................. 8.57 8.60 8.25 7.76

19901 ............................ 8.60 8.63 8.31 7.75

1991 .............................. 8.70 8.72 8.44 7.71

1992 .............................. 8.75 8.80 8.35 7.77

1993 .............................. 8.74 8.78 8.43 7.75

19941 ............................ 8.71 8.82 8.33 7.70

1995 .............................. 8.75 8.85 8.35 7.75

1996 .............................. 8.84 8.91 8.23 7.74

19971 ............................ 8.88 8.95 8.49 7.63

19981 ............................ 9.07 9.19 8.71 7.96

19991 ............................ 9.33 9.43 8.79 8.06

20001 ............................ 9.44 9.47 9.23 8.24

2001 .............................. 9.75 9.88 9.22 8.36

2002 .............................. 9.89 9.94 9.41 8.53

See footnotes at end of table.

34
Table 17. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2002) dollars by sex,

race, and Hispanic origin, 1979-2002 annual averages — Continued

Year and sex Total, 16 years and

over White Black Hispanic origin

MEN

1979 .............................. $12.99 $13.31 $11.23 $11.01 

1980 .............................. 12.61 12.88 10.72 10.41

1981 .............................. 12.43 12.71 11.00 10.17

1982 .............................. 12.23 12.46 10.67 10.23

1983 .............................. 11.87 12.12 10.22 9.97

1984 .............................. 11.75 11.97 10.16 9.96

1985 .............................. 11.71 12.11 9.82 9.70

19861 ............................ 11.89 12.20 10.30 9.70

1987 .............................. 11.77 12.01 10.21 9.65

1988 .............................. 11.57 11.78 10.14 9.51

1989 .............................. 11.36 11.62 9.92 9.34

19901 ............................ 11.04 11.41 9.84 9.01

1991 .............................. 11.07 11.37 9.75 8.87

1992 .............................. 10.91 11.18 9.58 8.79

1993 .............................. 10.87 11.13 9.41 8.74

19941 ............................ 10.82 11.06 9.52 8.62

1995 .............................. 10.83 11.29 9.57 8.52

1996 .............................. 10.88 11.18 9.35 8.71

19971 ............................ 11.00 11.14 9.70 8.83

19981 ............................ 11.09 11.22 10.02 9.09

19991 ............................ 11.14 11.46 10.55 9.30

20001 ............................ 11.32 11.50 10.36 9.38

2001 .............................. 11.50 11.89 10.26 9.71

2002 .............................. 11.63 11.86 10.23 9.90

WOMEN’S

EARNINGS

AS PERCENT

OF MEN’S2

1979 .............................. 64.0 62.6 72.6 71.8

1980 .............................. 64.9 63.6 75.0 75.2

1981 .............................. 65.2 63.9 72.2 76.4

1982 .............................. 67.3 66.1 75.3 75.7

1983 .............................. 69.5 68.1 79.3 76.1

1984 .............................. 69.8 68.6 79.2 77.1

1985 .............................. 70.1 67.8 82.0 79.5

19861 ............................ 70.3 68.8 78.8 80.8

1987 .............................. 72.0 70.8 80.2 80.3

1988 .............................. 73.9 72.8 80.9 81.2

1989 .............................. 75.5 74.1 83.2 83.1

19901 ............................ 77.9 75.6 84.5 86.1

1991 .............................. 78.6 76.7 86.6 86.9

1992 .............................. 80.2 78.7 87.2 88.4

1993 .............................. 80.4 78.9 89.6 88.7

19941 ............................ 80.6 79.7 87.5 89.3

1995 .............................. 80.8 78.4 87.3 90.9

1996 .............................. 81.2 79.6 88.0 88.9

19971 ............................ 80.8 80.3 87.5 86.3

19981 ............................ 81.8 81.9 86.9 87.5

19991 ............................ 83.8 82.3 83.2 86.7

20001 ............................ 83.4 82.3 89.0 87.9

2001 .............................. 84.8 83.1 89.9 86.0

2002 .............................. 85.0 83.8 92.0 86.2

1 The comparability of historical labor force data has

been affected at various times by methodological and

conceptual changes in the Current Population Survey

(CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory Notes and

Estimates of Error section of the February 2003 and

subsequent issues of Employment and Earnings, a monthly

BLS periodical. 2 These figures are computed using unrounded medians

and may differ slightly from percents computed using the

rounded medians displayed in this table.

 NOTE: Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race;

thus they are included in both the white and black

population groups. The Consumer Price Index research

series using current methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert

current dollars to constant dollars. See Technical Note.

35
Table 18. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by sex, 1979-2002 annual

averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Year and sex

Total

wage and

salary

 workers

Workers paid hourly rates

Total

Percent of

total wage

and salary

workers

Below

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

At

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Total at or below

prevailing Federal

minimum wage

Number

Percent

of hourly

paid 

workers

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 

19861 ............................ 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 

19901 ............................ 104,876 63,172 60.2 22,132 21,096 23,228 25.1 

1991 .............................. 103,723 62,627 60.4 22,377 22,906 25,283 28.4 

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 

19941 ............................ 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 21,863 21,861 23,724 25.4 

19971 ............................ 114,533 70,735 61.8 22,990 21,764 24,754 26.7 

19981 ............................ 116,730 71,440 61.2 2,834 1,593 4,427 6.2 

19991 ............................ 118,963 72,306 60.8 2,194 1,146 3,340 4.6 

20001 ............................ 122,292 73,638 60.2 1,853 870 2,724 3.7 

2001 .............................. 122,401 73,467 60.0 1,615 638 2,253 3.1 

2002 .............................. 122,009 72,720 59.6 1,598 570 2,168 3.0 

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 

19861 ............................ 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 

19901 ............................ 49,323 31,069 63.0 21,420 2711 22,131 26.9 

1991 .............................. 49,105 30,988 63.1 21,582 21,792 23,374 210.9 

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 

19941 ............................ 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 21,244 21,106 22,350 26.8 

19971 ............................ 54,708 35,214 64.4 21,843 21,092 22,935 28.3 

19981 ............................ 55,757 35,680 64.0 1,794 965 2,760 7.7 

19991 ............................ 57,050 36,233 63.5 1,426 700 2,126 5.9 

20001 ............................ 58,540 36,867 63.0 1,215 547 1,762 4.8 

2001 .............................. 58,695 36,818 62.7 1,085 388 1,473 4.0 

2002 .............................. 58,625 36,585 62.4 1,016 352 1,368 3.7 

See footnotes at end of table.

36
Table 18. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by sex, 1979-2002 annual

averages — Continued

(Numbers in thousands)

Year and sex

Total

wage and

salary

 workers

Workers paid hourly rates

Total

Percent of

total wage

and salary

workers

Below

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

At

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Total at or below

prevailing Federal

minimum wage

Number

Percent

of hourly

paid 

workers

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 

19861 ............................ 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 

19901 ............................ 55,553 32,104 57.8 2712 2385 21,097 23.4 

1991 .............................. 54,618 31,639 57.9 2795 21,114 21,909 26.0 

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 

19941 ............................ 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 2619 2755 21,374 23.9 

19971 ............................ 59,825 35,521 59.4 21,147 2673 21,820 25.1 

19981 ............................ 60,973 35,761 58.7 1,039 628 1,667 4.7 

19991 ............................ 61,914 36,073 58.3 768 446 1,214 3.4 

20001 ............................ 63,752 36,771 57.7 638 324 962 2.6 

2001 .............................. 63,706 36,649 57.5 530 250 780 2.1 

2002 .............................. 63,384 36,135 57.0 582 218 800 2.2 

1 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at

various times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current

Population Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory Notes

and Estimates of Error section of the February 2003 and subsequent

issues of Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS periodical. 2 Data for 1990-91 and 1996-97 reflect changes in the minimum wage

that took place in those years.

 NOTE: The prevailing Federal minimum wage was $2.90 in 1979, $3.10

in 1980, and $3.35 in 1981-89. The minimum wage rose to $3.80 in April

1990, to $4.25 in April 1991, to $4.75 in October 1996, and to $5.15 in

September 1997. See Technical Note for more information about minimum

wage workers.

37