1

Highlights of Women’s

Earnings in 2005

U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

September 2006

Report 995

I

n 2005, women who were full-time wage and

salary workers had median weekly earnings of $585,

or 81 percent of the $722 median for their male

counterparts. (See chart 1.) This ratio has grown since 1979,

the first year comparable earnings data were available; that

year, women earned about 63 percent as much as men did.

This report presents earnings data from the Current

Population Survey (CPS). The CPS is a national monthly

survey of approximately 60,000 households conducted by

the U.S. Census Bureau for the U.S. Bureau of Labor

Statistics. Information on earnings is collected from onefourth of the CPS sample each month. 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, see the Technical Note.

Highlights

Following are some highlights of women’s and men’s

earnings in 2005.

Full-time workers

• Median weekly earnings were highest for women and

men aged 45 to 64. Among women, 45- to 54-year-olds

had median weekly earnings of $644, little different than

the $639 median for 55- to 64-year-olds. Among men,

median weekly earnings also were about the same for

those aged 45 to 54 ($853) as for those aged 55 to 64

($855). (See table 1.)

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

was much larger among middle-aged and older workers

than among younger workers. For instance, among

workers aged 45 to 54, women earned 75 percent as

much as men. By comparison, among workers 25 to 34

years old, women earned 89 percent as much as men,

and among 16- to 24-year-olds, the earnings ratio rose

to 93 percent. (See table 1.)

• Between 1979 and 2005, the earnings gap between

women and men narrowed for most major age groups.

The women’s-to-men’s earnings ratio among 35- to 44-

year-olds, for example, rose from 58 percent in 1979 to

76 percent in 2005, and the ratio for 45- to 54-year-olds

rose from 57 percent in 1979 to 75 percent 26 years later.

The earnings ratios for teenagers and for workers aged

65 and older, however, showed no consistent pattern

over the period. (See table 12.)

• Asian workers of both sexes earned more than their

white, black, and Hispanic counterparts did in 2005.

Asian women’s median weekly earnings ($665) were 12

percent higher than white women’s earnings ($596), 33

percent greater than black women’s earnings ($499),

and 55 percent higher than Hispanic women’s earnings

($429). In comparison, Asian men’s earnings ($825) were

11 percent higher than the earnings of white men ($743),

48 percent greater than the earnings of black men ($559),

and 69 percent higher than those of Hispanic men ($489).

(See tables 1 and 13 and chart 2.)

• Earnings differences between women and men in 2005

were widest for whites and for Asians. Asian women

earned about 81 percent as much as Asian men did, and

white women earned 80 percent as much as white men

did. Both black women (89 percent) and Hispanic women

(88 percent) had earnings that were closer to those of

their male counterparts. (See table 1.)

• Growth in earnings for white women has outpaced that

of their black and Hispanic counterparts. Between 1979

and 2005, inflation-adjusted earnings for white women

grew fairly steadily, rising by 30 percent. Earnings

growth over the period among black and Hispanic

women was 18 percent and 9 percent, respectively. In

contrast, real earnings for white and for black men in

2005 were about the same as in 1979, while those for

Hispanic men fell by 11 percent. (See table 13.)

• Median weekly earnings varied significantly by level

of education. Among women, those with less than a

high school diploma earned $341 per week in 2005,

compared with $883 for those with a college degree.

Among men, high school dropouts had earnings of $455

a week, compared with $1,167 for college graduates.

(See tables 1 and 6.)
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, the drop for women was

significantly less than that for men—10 percent versus

28 percent. Earnings for women with college degrees

have increased by 34 percent since 1979 on an inflationadjusted basis, while earnings of male college graduates

have risen by 18 percent. (See table 14 and chart 3.)

• Women working full time in management, business, and

financial operations occupations earned $847 per week

in 2005. This was more than women earned in any other

major occupational category. The second highest

paying job group was professional and related

occupations, in which women earned $792 per week. In

management, business, and finance, the highest paying

occupations for women were chief executives, computer

and information systems managers, medical and health

services managers, human resources managers,

marketing and sales managers, management analysts,

and education administrators. Among those with

professional and related occupations, women working

as pharmacists, lawyers, computer software engineers,

physicians and surgeons, computer programmers, and

physical therapists had the highest median weekly

earnings. (See table 2.)

• Women and men tend to work in different managerial

and professional occupations. In 2005, among

professional and related occupations, for example,

women were much less likely than men to be employed

in some of the highest paying fields, such as engineering

and computer and mathematical occupations. Instead,

women were more likely to work in lower paying

professional occupations, such as education, training,

and library occupations. (See table 2.)

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

residence, from a high of 90.1 percent in California to a

low of 63.1 percent in Wyoming. The differences among

the States reflect, in part, variation in the occupations

and industries found in each State and in the age

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

sampling error for the State estimates is considerably

larger than it is for the national estimates; thus,

comparisons of State estimates should be made with

care. (See table 3.)

• Just 6 percent of women earned $1,500 or more per week,

compared with 14 percent of men. Not surprisingly,

given their higher earnings overall, Asian women were

more likely than other women to earn at least $1,500 per

week. (See table 7.)

• Median weekly earnings of married women with children

under the age of 18 were 24 percent higher than the

earnings of unmarried mothers. The difference was even

greater for men: married fathers earned 33 percent more

than unmarried fathers did. (See table 8.)

Part-time workers

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

that is, fewer than 35 hours per week. Women who

worked part time made up one-fourth of all female wage

and salary workers in 2005. In contrast, just 11 percent

of men in wage and salary jobs worked part time. These

proportions have not changed much over time. (See

tables 4 and 5.)

• Median weekly earnings of female part-time workers

were $206, compared with $190 for male part-time

workers. Male part-time workers are more highly

concentrated in the youngest age groups, which

typically have low earnings. Half of male part-time

workers were 16 to 24 years old, compared with just

less than a third of female part-timers. (See tables 4 and

5.)

Workers paid by the hour

• About 63 percent of women and 58 percent of men

employed in wage and salary jobs were paid by the

hour in 2005. Women who were paid hourly rates had

median hourly earnings of $10.31. This was 85 percent

of the median for men paid by the hour ($12.16). (See

tables 5, 9, 10, 15, and 16.)

• Among women who were paid hourly rates in 2005,

about 3 percent had hourly earnings at or below the

prevailing Federal minimum wage of $5.15 an hour. This

compares with 2 percent of men who were paid by the

hour. (See tables 11 and 17. Also see the Technical

Note for information about workers with earnings below

the Federal minimum wage.)

• Workers paid hourly rates who were aged 16 to 19 were

the most likely to have earnings at or below the minimum

wage. About 9 percent of teenage workers paid by the

hour earned the minimum wage or less, compared with

less than 2 percent of their counterparts aged 25 and

older. Among those aged 20 to 24, about 5 percent had

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

and chart 4.)
3

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

 (2005) dollars by sex, 1979—2005 annual averages

Earnings (dollars) Percent

400

450

500

550

600

650

700

750

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

Women's earnings

Men's earnings

Women's earnings as a percent of men's

1979 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

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

 and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2005 annual averages

Earnings (dollars)

Women

Men

African

American

or

Latino

Earnings (dollars)

Total White Black or Asian Hispanic

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

585 596

499

665

429

722 743

559

825

489
4

Chart 3. Change in median usual weekly earnings from 1979 to 2005 by educational

 attainment and sex

Highest educational level

Percent change

Bachelor's 

degree and 

higher

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

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

Some college or 

associate degree

High school,

no college

Less than a high 

school diploma

Women

Men

Total 16 to 19 20 to 24 25 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 54 55 to 64 65 and older

0

5

10

15

0

5

10

15

3.3

11.1

6.4

3.0

1.8

1.3 1.3

3.4

Chart 4. Women with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by age,

 2005 annual averages

Percent Percent

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

Years
5

Statistical Tables

Page

0

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

2005 annual averages ............................................................................................................................................. 7

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

2005 annual averages ............................................................................................................................................. 8

3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by State and sex, 2005 annual averages .... 15

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

2005 annual averages ............................................................................................................................................. 16

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

 2005 annual averages ............................................................................................................................................ 17

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

selected characteristics, 2005 annual averages...................................................................................................... 18

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

2005 annual averages ............................................................................................................................................. 19

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

age of own children under 18 years old, 2005 annual averages ............................................................................. 20

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

2005 annual averages ............................................................................................................................................. 21

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

2005 annual averages ............................................................................................................................................. 22

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

by selected characteristics, 2005 annual averages................................................................................................. 23

12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2005) dollars by sex and

age, 1979-2005 annual averages ............................................................................................................................. 25

13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2005) dollars by sex, race,

and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2005 annual averages ............................................................................... 27

14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and older in constant (2005)

dollars by sex and educational attainment, 1979-2005 annual averages ................................................................ 30

15. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2005) dollars by sex and

age, 1979-2005 annual averages ............................................................................................................................. 32

16. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2005) dollars by sex,

race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2005 annual averages....................................................................... 34

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

by sex, 1979-2005 annual averages ......................................................................................................................... 37
[Page intentionally blank]

6
Table 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2005 annual averages 

Both sexes Women Men

AGE

Total, 16 years and older............... 103,560 $651 $2 45,154 $585 $2 58,406 $722 $2 81.0

16 to 24 years...................................... 11,108 397 2 4,711 381 3 6,396 409 2 93.2

16 to 19 years................................... 1,699 318 3 694 304 4 1,005 330 6 92.1

20 to 24 years................................... 9,409 411 2 4,018 396 3 5,391 422 3 94.0

25 years and older............................... 92,453 696 2 40,443 612 2 52,010 771 3 79.4

25 to 34 years................................... 25,013 610 2 10,400 573 4 14,612 644 4 89.1

35 to 44 years................................... 27,103 731 3 11,563 621 4 15,540 822 6 75.6

45 to 54 years................................... 25,650 748 3 11,814 644 5 13,836 853 6 75.4

55 to 64 years................................... 12,774 742 4 5,854 639 7 6,920 855 9 74.7

65 years and older............................ 1,913 569 13 812 492 12 1,102 644 28 76.4

RACE AND HISPANIC OR

LATINO ETHNICITY

White.................................................... 84,110 672 2 35,538 596 2 48,572 743 3 80.2

Black or African American.................... 12,388 520 3 6,472 499 4 5,916 559 8 89.2

Asian.................................................... 4,651 753 8 2,054 665 12 2,597 825 14 80.6

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.................. 14,673 471 3 5,241 429 5 9,433 489 3 87.7

MARITAL STATUS

Never married...................................... 26,750 515 2 11,514 505 3 15,236 522 3 96.7

Married, spouse present...................... 59,249 737 2 23,507 619 2 35,742 827 4 74.9

Other marital status.............................. 17,561 616 3 10,133 577 4 7,428 684 6 84.4

Divorced............................................ 11,823 652 4 6,901 605 4 4,923 729 8 83.1

Separated......................................... 4,135 519 5 2,019 493 7 2,116 573 14 86.1

Widowed........................................... 1,603 555 16 1,213 515 8 390 668 28 77.1

UNION AFFILIATION 

Members of unions ............................ 14,207 801 5 5,761 731 5 8,446 857 6 85.3

Represented by unions ...................... 15,551 795 5 6,442 726 5 9,109 855 6 84.9

Not represented by a union.................. 88,010 622 2 38,712 559 3 49,297 692 3 80.7

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and older..................... 92,453 696 2 40,443 612 2 52,010 771 3 79.4

Less than a high school diploma...... 8,861 409 2 2,878 341 3 5,983 455 4 75.1

High school, no college .................. 27,514 583 2 11,517 493 2 15,997 652 3 75.6

Some college or associate degree... 25,471 670 3 12,103 587 3 13,368 766 4 76.6

Bachelor's degree and higher ........ 30,607 1,013 4 13,944 883 5 16,662 1,167 6 75.7

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table.

2 Differences in earnings levels between workers with and without union

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

bargaining agreement, including the distribution of male and female employees

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

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

to a union.

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

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

covered by a union or an employee association contract. 

 5

 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.

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

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

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

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

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

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

4

Characteristic

5

6

3

2

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

7
Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by detailed occupation and sex, 2005 annual averages 

Both sexes Women Men

Total, 16 years and older............................ 103,560 $651 $2 45,154 $585 $2 58,406 $722 $2 81.0

Management, professional, and related 

 occupations....................................... 36,908 937 3 18,597 813 5 18,311 1,113 7 73.0

Management, business, and financial 

 operations occupations..................... 14,977 997 6 6,782 847 6 8,195 1,167 9 72.6

Management occupations.................. 10,340 1,083 11 4,122 902 11 6,219 1,230 14 73.4

Chief executives........................... 1,043 1,834 79 253 1,413 39 790 1,903 12 74.3

General and operations managers... 754 1,099 38 226 932 38 528 1,152 17 80.9

Advertising and promotions 

 managers................................. 66 870 92 38 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 28 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Marketing and sales managers......... 728 1,235 39 283 990 50 445 1,440 51 68.7

Administrative services managers... 73 978 79 22 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 51 1,104 80 ( 3 )

Computer and information systems 

 managers................................. 326 1,428 45 100 1,094 83 227 1,540 60 71.0

Financial managers..................... 949 1,061 36 503 853 16 446 1,347 39 63.3

Human resources managers............ 263 1,083 60 188 998 42 75 1,357 63 73.6

Industrial production managers...... 295 1,123 48 48 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 247 1,147 30 ( 3 )

Purchasing managers.................. 184 1,099 88 72 939 60 112 1,199 79 78.3

Transportation, storage, and 

 distribution managers.................. 227 757 25 28 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 200 771 26 ( 3 )

Farm, ranch, and other agricultural

 managers................................. 77 680 61 13 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 65 689 52 ( 3 )

Construction managers.................. 430 1,051 30 30 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 400 1,060 31 ( 3 )

Education administrators............... 712 1,114 33 440 972 32 272 1,289 80 75.3

Engineering managers.................. 89 1,788 129 9 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 80 1,852 104 ( 3 )

Food service managers.................. 594 651 19 249 549 26 345 740 21 74.2

Lodging managers........................ 100 647 40 52 525 116 48 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Medical and health services 

 managers................................. 432 1,089 36 308 1,026 40 123 1,327 161 77.3

Property, real estate, and

 community association managers... 341 724 25 193 662 43 149 803 41 82.4

Social and community service 

 managers................................. 258 838 29 176 784 71 82 990 188 79.1

Business and financial operations 

 occupations................................. 4,637 871 8 2,660 778 10 1,976 1,037 17 75.0

Wholesale and retail buyers,

 except farm products.................. 153 802 49 75 708 82 77 930 83 76.1

Purchasing agents, except 

 wholesale, retail, and farm 

 products.................................... 271 785 28 145 710 43 126 912 37 77.9

Claims adjusters, appraisers, 

 examiners, and investigators......... 276 789 42 174 706 25 102 971 45 72.6

Compliance officers, except 

 agriculture, construction, health 

 and safety, and transportation...... 128 893 45 57 923 67 71 877 51 105.2

Cost estimators........................... 80 941 44 14 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 67 961 40 ( 3 )

Human resources, training, and

 labor relations specialists............. 585 791 26 417 762 16 168 904 41 84.3

Management analysts.................. 288 1,229 66 128 981 36 160 1,362 35 72.1

Accountants and auditors............... 1,383 887 16 855 784 17 529 1,072 40 73.1

Appraisers and assessors of 

 real estate................................. 74 832 44 32 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 42 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Budget analysts........................... 50 1,050 106 35 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 14 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Financial analysts........................ 74 1,136 97 33 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 41 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Personal financial advisors............ 270 1,134 27 83 888 85 188 1,239 88 71.7

Insurance underwriters.................. 110 894 45 79 851 32 31 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Loan counselors and officers......... 387 861 42 210 786 39 178 977 49 80.5

Tax examiners, collectors, and 

 revenue agents........................... 72 764 55 43 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 30 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Tax preparers.............................. 52 668 169 36 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 16 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Professional and related occupations...... 21,931 902 4 11,815 792 5 10,116 1,058 7 74.9

Computer and mathematical 

 occupations................................. 2,924 1,132 13 760 1,007 21 2,164 1,174 19 85.7

Computer scientists and systems 

 analysts.................................... 647 1,091 37 198 983 54 449 1,140 25 86.3

Computer programmers.................. 524 1,086 43 133 1,014 50 391 1,129 38 89.8

See footnotes at end of table.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Occupation

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

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

2005 annual averages—Continued

Both sexes Women Men

Computer software engineers......... 778 $1,401 $25 165 $1,174 $59 612 $1,456 $25 80.6

Computer support specialists......... 310 823 24 95 858 33 215 809 23 106.1

Database administrators............... 82 1,116 37 23 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 58 1,314 309 ( 3 )

Network and computer

 systems administrators............... 201 1,058 34 34 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 166 1,072 42 ( 3 )

Network systems and data

 communications analysts............ 254 1,062 41 59 952 32 195 1,082 32 88.0

Operations research analysts......... 80 1,252 34 38 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 43 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Architecture and engineering

 occupations................................. 2,509 1,105 17 322 945 21 2,187 1,133 12 83.4

Architects, except naval.................. 176 1,146 32 42 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 134 1,147 58 ( 3 )

Aerospace engineers..................... 88 1,362 160 10 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 78 1,449 91 ( 3 )

Civil engineers.............................. 277 1,138 22 37 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 239 1,166 22 ( 3 )

Computer hardware engineers......... 72 1,405 283 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 66 1,524 81 ( 3 )

Electrical and electronics engineers 330 1,350 25 22 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 309 1,354 28 ( 3 )

Industrial engineers, including 

 health and safety........................ 185 1,161 45 28 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 157 1,198 46 ( 3 )

Mechanical engineers.................. 306 1,262 25 18 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 288 1,265 26 ( 3 )

Drafters....................................... 186 769 20 42 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 144 783 29 ( 3 )

Engineering technicians, except 

 drafters.................................... 354 805 21 67 695 68 287 819 21 84.9

Surveying and mapping technicians 98 735 58 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 96 742 58 ( 3 )

Life, physical, and social science 

 occupations................................. 1,164 965 18 452 837 27 712 1,073 40 78.0

Biological scientists........................ 106 890 59 49 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 56 1,000 69 ( 3 )

Medical scientists........................ 125 935 82 55 938 175 70 934 91 100.4

Chemists and materials scientists... 109 1,128 85 36 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 72 1,241 107 ( 3 )

Environmental scientists and 

 geoscientists.............................. 87 1,217 67 21 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 66 1,223 168 ( 3 )

Market and survey researchers...... 106 997 34 54 898 84 52 1,138 55 78.9

Psychologists.............................. 83 966 33 50 909 144 32 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Chemical technicians..................... 85 699 39 25 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 60 701 47 ( 3 )

Community and social services 

 occupations................................. 1,797 725 10 1,054 683 12 742 797 22 85.8

Counselors................................. 499 740 15 345 728 16 154 788 52 92.4

Social workers.............................. 602 700 18 473 682 19 129 780 52 87.5

Miscellaneous community and 

 social service specialists............... 237 662 34 146 608 17 90 751 131 80.9

Clergy....................................... 385 785 27 49 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 335 813 31 ( 3 )

Legal occupations........................... 1,162 1,052 25 638 846 19 524 1,531 85 55.3

Lawyers.................................... 598 1,609 54 203 1,354 46 395 1,748 34 77.5

Judges, magistrates, and other

 judicial workers........................... 73 1,101 52 30 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 43 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Paralegals and legal assistants...... 311 740 24 261 737 24 50 769 259 95.8

Miscellaneous legal support 

 workers.................................... 181 715 25 144 702 29 37 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Education, training, and library 

 occupations................................. 6,066 798 8 4,405 753 5 1,660 960 12 78.5

Postsecondary teachers............... 808 1,072 29 323 924 29 485 1,173 39 78.8

Preschool and kindergarten 

 teachers.................................... 515 521 16 495 520 12 19 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Elementary and middle school 

 teachers.................................... 2,204 826 10 1,801 813 9 403 909 22 89.4

Secondary school teachers............ 1,037 878 15 577 841 16 460 942 21 89.3

Special education teachers............ 382 868 28 327 853 32 55 949 69 89.9

Other teachers and instructors......... 306 728 24 187 657 23 120 803 69 81.8

Librarians.................................... 163 829 44 137 826 81 25 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Teacher assistants........................ 546 398 8 496 398 9 50 398 17 100.0

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, 

 and media occupations.................. 1,488 819 17 623 735 17 865 885 23 83.0

Artists and related workers............ 83 868 92 28 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 54 989 147 ( 3 )

Designers.................................... 500 816 33 218 653 29 282 920 28 71.0

Producers and directors.................. 75 971 80 28 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 48 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Athletes, coaches, umpires, and 

 related workers........................... 123 713 59 21 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 102 749 51 ( 3 )

Musicians, singers, and related

 workers..................................... 51 893 58 13 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 38 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

See footnotes at end of table.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Occupation Standard

error 

of

median 

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

2005 annual averages—Continued

Both sexes Women Men

News analysts, reporters and

 correspondents........................... 62 $866 $98 31 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 31 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Public relations specialists............... 135 860 53 86 $817 $78 49 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Editors....................................... 108 865 37 59 794 60 49 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Writers and authors..................... 70 887 161 43 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 27 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Broadcast and sound engineering 

 technicians and radio operators...... 64 813 34 6 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 59 $823 $38 ( 3 )

Photographers.............................. 53 721 100 19 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 34 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Healthcare practitioner and technical 

 occupations................................. 4,821 878 8 3,560 834 9 1,262 1,043 30 79.9

Dietitians and nutritionists............... 51 666 154 47 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Pharmacists................................. 185 1,557 38 89 1,483 112 96 1,597 79 92.9

Physicians and surgeons............... 562 1,547 44 187 1,134 88 375 1,862 150 60.9

Physician assistants..................... 52 1,155 89 26 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 26 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Registered nurses........................ 1,805 935 11 1,654 930 10 151 1,011 50 92.0

Occupational therapists.................. 59 996 41 55 983 39 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Physical therapists........................ 117 1,036 81 74 1,014 28 43 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Respiratory therapists.................. 80 854 44 46 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 34 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Speech-language pathologists......... 68 933 45 60 914 32 7 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Clinical laboratory technologists 

 and technicians........................... 279 750 22 197 725 27 82 836 47 86.7

Dental hygienists........................... 53 895 35 49 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Diagnostic-related technologists

 and technicians........................... 212 873 40 145 789 57 67 973 30 81.1

Emergency medical technicians 

 and paramedics........................... 144 658 49 34 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 110 730 32 ( 3 )

Health-diagnosing and -treating

 practitioner support technicians...... 290 504 13 237 503 12 53 521 57 96.5

Licensed practical and licensed 

 vocational nurses........................ 401 625 13 369 621 12 31 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Medical records and health

 information technicians............... 104 543 33 88 522 17 15 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Service occupations.............................. 14,123 413 2 7,099 379 2 7,024 478 4 79.4

Healthcare support occupations............ 2,085 410 4 1,842 408 4 243 422 11 96.8

Nursing, psychiatric, and home 

 health aides.............................. 1,334 388 4 1,181 385 5 153 406 13 94.8

Dental assistants........................... 150 474 18 142 479 15 8 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Protective service occupations............... 2,549 678 12 525 514 12 2,025 729 13 70.4

First-line supervisors/managers of

 police and detectives.................. 121 1,009 68 15 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 105 1,010 63 ( 3 )

Fire fighters................................. 228 944 31 9 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 219 952 37 ( 3 )

Bailiffs, correctional officers, and 

 jailers....................................... 401 605 14 115 531 35 286 632 34 84.0

Detectives and criminal 

 investigators.............................. 119 1,054 59 31 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 88 1,188 98 ( 3 )

Police and sheriff's patrol officers...... 669 826 18 97 738 22 573 849 19 86.9

Private detectives and investigators 68 662 54 29 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 39 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Security guards and gaming 

 surveillance officers..................... 667 481 12 159 405 16 507 508 14 79.9

Food preparation and serving related

 occupations.................................... 4,007 356 3 1,966 337 5 2,041 371 4 91.0

Chefs and head cooks.................. 275 486 15 46 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 229 494 19 ( 3 )

First-line supervisors/managers

 of food preparation and serving 

 workers.................................... 451 422 12 272 398 10 179 522 34 76.3

Cooks....................................... 1,198 336 5 433 314 5 766 350 6 89.7

Food preparation workers............... 339 321 6 189 318 8 149 324 12 98.0

Bartenders................................. 210 420 12 107 417 16 102 422 27 98.9

Combined food preparation and 

 serving workers, including 

 fast food.................................... 132 310 11 98 308 14 34 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Counter attendants, cafeteria, food 

 concession, and coffee shop......... 90 292 11 56 289 17 34 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Waiters and waitresses.................. 848 352 9 556 332 12 292 384 16 86.3

Food servers, nonrestaurant............ 82 409 19 42 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 40 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Dining room and cafeteria

 attendants and bartender helpers... 163 347 15 72 325 17 92 367 21 88.6

See footnotes at end of table.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Occupation Standard

error 

of

median 

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

2005 annual averages—Continued

Both sexes Women Men

Dishwashers.............................. 141 $296 $9 29 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 112 $293 $10 ( 3 )

Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, 

 lounge, and coffee shop............... 77 332 15 65 $322 $13 12 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Building and grounds cleaning and 

 maintenance occupations.................. 3,425 394 3 1,249 344 5 2,176 428 7 80.4

First-line supervisors/managers of 

 housekeeping and janitorial

 workers.................................... 177 537 50 57 433 27 120 613 26 70.6

First-line supervisors/managers of

 landscaping, lawn service, and 

 groundskeeping workers............... 101 593 32 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 98 598 32 ( 3 )

Janitors and building cleaners......... 1,477 408 5 421 363 8 1,056 441 12 82.5

Maids and housekeeping cleaners... 829 335 7 724 328 6 105 390 18 84.0

Pest control workers..................... 55 508 26 1 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 54 511 25 ( 3 )

Grounds maintenance workers......... 787 389 7 43 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 744 393 7 ( 3 )

Personal care and service occupations... 2,057 409 5 1,517 390 5 540 491 12 79.5

First-line supervisors/managers of

 gaming workers........................... 81 628 37 41 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 40 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

First-line supervisors/managers of

 personal service workers............... 58 577 47 31 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 27 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Nonfarm animal caretakers............ 57 379 31 43 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 14 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Gaming services workers............... 77 579 25 38 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 39 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Hairdressers, hairstylists, and 

 cosmetologists........................... 285 416 12 258 409 12 27 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Baggage porters, bellhops, and

 concierges................................. 60 457 53 11 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 49 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Transportation attendants............... 77 680 40 55 619 53 22 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Childcare workers........................ 444 332 9 414 330 9 30 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Personal and home care aides......... 402 390 10 328 381 10 75 442 27 86.1

Recreation and fitness workers...... 181 487 18 107 479 31 73 494 22 96.9

Sales and office occupations.................. 25,193 575 3 15,654 520 2 9,539 690 6 75.3

Sales and related occupations............... 10,031 622 5 4,449 483 5 5,582 762 6 63.4

First-line supervisors/managers of

 retail salesworkers..................... 2,365 631 9 979 525 11 1,386 723 14 72.6

First-line supervisors/managers of

 non-retail salesworkers............... 922 881 27 250 753 22 673 944 24 79.7

Cashiers.................................... 1,428 336 6 1,064 322 3 363 389 14 82.6

Counter and rental clerks............... 102 429 48 48 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 55 589 78 ( 3 )

Parts salespersons...................... 123 562 42 14 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 109 586 28 ( 3 )

Retail salespersons..................... 1,869 494 8 810 401 8 1,060 606 13 66.2

Advertising sales agents............... 194 870 93 99 730 32 95 1,017 80 71.8

Insurance sales agents.................. 341 742 18 178 624 20 162 908 54 68.7

Securities, commodities, and

 financial services sales agents...... 288 1,007 133 93 733 57 195 1,239 53 59.2

Travel agents.............................. 56 593 33 46 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 11 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Sales representatives, services, 

 all other.................................... 369 814 66 112 648 41 257 919 50 70.5

Sales representatives, wholesale

 and manufacturing..................... 1,140 920 24 289 737 25 851 960 18 76.8

Real estate brokers and sales

 agents....................................... 489 773 34 275 716 42 213 989 38 72.5

Telemarketers.............................. 98 367 18 70 360 21 28 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Door-to-door salesworkers, news

 and street vendors, and related 

 workers.................................... 66 422 51 21 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 46 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Office and administrative support

 occupations.................................... 15,161 550 3 11,205 533 3 3,957 605 6 88.0

First-line supervisors/managers

 of office and administrative

 support workers........................... 1,399 686 10 953 656 10 447 796 30 82.5

Bill and account collectors............... 175 518 11 115 519 13 60 516 19 100.6

Billing and posting clerks and 

 machine operators..................... 355 572 17 313 566 18 42 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Bookkeeping, accounting, and 

 auditing clerks........................... 964 555 12 861 551 12 102 580 27 94.9

Payroll and timekeeping clerks......... 136 613 17 123 611 16 12 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Tellers....................................... 296 426 10 270 425 9 26 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

See footnotes at end of table.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Occupation Standard

error 

of

median 

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

2005 annual averages—Continued

Both sexes Women Men

Court, municipal, and license clerks 95 $575 $40 81 $571 $54 14 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Credit authorizers, checkers, and 

 clerks....................................... 64 607 30 49 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 15 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Customer service representatives... 1,490 524 9 1,010 505 5 480 $624 $17 80.9

File clerks.................................... 255 507 11 201 505 11 54 513 26 98.5

Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks... 107 376 17 66 367 14 41 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Interviewers, except eligibility 

 and loan.................................... 128 502 12 99 501 12 29 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Library assistants, clerical............... 58 517 38 54 496 35 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Loan interviewers and clerks............ 179 623 24 134 614 18 45 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Order clerks................................. 120 519 19 77 509 23 42 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Human resources assistants, 

 except payroll and timekeeping...... 60 601 33 55 580 30 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Receptionists and information

 clerks....................................... 923 466 7 846 463 7 76 504 32 91.9

Reservation and transportation

 ticket agents and travel clerks...... 134 626 42 90 586 61 44 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Couriers and messengers............... 212 664 34 31 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 182 678 44 ( 3 )

Dispatchers................................ 274 584 16 168 556 20 105 613 18 90.7

Postal service clerks.................... 147 791 31 58 750 35 89 830 23 90.3

Postal service mail carriers............ 295 832 15 110 733 51 185 874 16 83.9

Postal service mail sorters, 

 processors, and processing 

 machine operators..................... 109 751 28 50 742 33 59 763 46 97.2

Production, planning, and

 expediting clerks........................ 275 694 20 152 650 18 123 767 24 84.8

Shipping, receiving, and traffic

 clerks....................................... 472 488 10 138 450 17 334 504 11 89.4

Stock clerks and order fillers............ 1,012 427 9 361 409 8 651 448 14 91.1

Weighers, measurers, checkers, 

 and samplers, recordkeeping......... 60 467 54 35 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 26 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Secretaries and administrative

 assistants................................. 2,684 562 6 2,611 559 6 73 654 45 85.6

Computer operators..................... 164 599 53 89 541 25 76 674 47 80.2

Data entry keyers........................ 403 509 8 324 507 7 79 529 112 95.9

Word processors and typists............ 216 500 13 206 499 13 10 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Insurance claims and policy 

 processing clerks........................ 238 560 25 204 565 23 35 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Mail clerks and mail machine 

 operators, except postal service...... 99 508 15 52 480 21 47 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Office clerks, general..................... 672 518 9 574 509 9 98 591 23 86.1

Natural resources, construction, and 

 maintenance occupations..................... 12,086 623 4 517 486 16 11,569 628 4 77.3

Farming, fishing, and forestry

 occupations.................................... 755 372 7 154 327 12 601 388 9 84.2

Graders and sorters, agricultural 

 products.................................... 63 402 25 48 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 15 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Logging workers........................... 64 483 46 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 62 485 45 ( 3 )

Construction and extraction

 occupations.................................... 6,826 604 4 163 480 24 6,663 606 4 79.1

First-line supervisors/managers of

 construction trades and extraction 

 workers .................................... 645 830 23 20 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 626 839 26 ( 3 )

Brickmasons, blockmasons, and 

 stonemasons.............................. 166 598 27 — — — 166 598 27 —

Carpenters................................. 1,213 556 15 17 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,196 559 15 ( 3 )

Carpet, floor, and tile installers and 

 finishers.................................... 178 482 16 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 176 484 16 ( 3 )

Cement masons, concrete finishers 

 and terrazzo workers.................. 90 519 17 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 88 518 17 ( 3 )

Construction laborers..................... 1,170 502 6 38 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,132 504 6 ( 3 )

Operating engineers and other

 construction equipment operators... 367 733 22 11 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 356 735 22 ( 3 )

Drywall installers, ceiling tile 

 installers, and tapers.................. 185 511 15 1 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 184 510 15 ( 3 )

Electricians................................. 747 713 14 13 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 734 712 14 ( 3 )

See footnotes at end of table.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Occupation Standard

error 

of

median 

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

2005 annual averages—Continued

Both sexes Women Men

Painters, construction and

 maintenance.............................. 384 $466 $17 17 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 367 $469 $18 ( 3 )

Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters,

 and steamfitters......................... 550 703 19 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 547 704 19 ( 3 )

Roofers....................................... 209 500 20 6 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 203 503 21 ( 3 )

Sheet metal workers..................... 127 653 30 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 123 655 31 ( 3 )

Structural iron and steel workers...... 58 772 49 1 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 57 768 48 ( 3 )

Helpers, construction trades............ 110 437 45 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 108 430 40 ( 3 )

Construction and building

 inspectors................................. 84 791 61 9 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 75 824 47 ( 3 )

Highway maintenance workers......... 86 581 43 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 83 575 45 ( 3 )

Installation, maintenance, and repair 

 occupations.................................... 4,504 705 6 199 $691 $39 4,305 706 6 97.9

First-line supervisors/managers of

 mechanics, installers, and 

 repairers.................................. 307 814 43 18 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 289 817 42 ( 3 )

Computer, automated teller, and

 office machine repairers............... 336 753 28 45 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 291 749 27 ( 3 )

Radio and telecommunications 

 equipment installers and repairers... 206 861 51 29 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 177 858 49 ( 3 )

Security and fire alarm systems 

 installers.................................... 56 705 104 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 53 730 33 ( 3 )

Aircraft mechanics and service

 technicians................................. 137 919 35 8 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 129 920 38 ( 3 )

Automotive body and related

 repairers.................................. 137 587 48 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 135 579 41 ( 3 )

Automotive service technicians and 

 mechanics................................. 724 629 16 13 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 711 631 16 ( 3 )

Bus and truck mechanics and 

 diesel engine specialists............... 326 694 23 1 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 325 693 23 ( 3 )

Heavy vehicle and mobile

 equipment service technicians

 and mechanics........................... 218 726 20 1 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 216 727 20 ( 3 )

Heating, air conditioning, and

 refrigeration mechanics and

 installers.................................... 314 693 21 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 311 694 21 ( 3 )

Industrial and refractory machinery 

 mechanics................................ 444 724 20 14 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 430 724 20 ( 3 )

Maintenance and repair workers, 

 general.................................... 305 631 28 11 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 294 635 31 ( 3 )

Millwrights.................................. 58 824 245 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 55 891 100 ( 3 )

Electrical power-line installers and

 repairers.................................... 105 868 55 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 102 875 49 ( 3 )

Telecommunications line installers 

 and repairers.............................. 145 788 42 9 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 136 780 60 ( 3 )

Precision instrument and 

 equipment repairers..................... 54 819 234 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 50 877 221 ( 3 )

Production, transportation, and material- 

 moving occupations.............................. 15,251 540 4 3,288 420 3 11,963 591 3 71.1

Production occupations........................ 8,403 538 5 2,412 423 4 5,991 608 4 69.6

First-line supervisors/managers of

 production and operating workers... 825 761 15 162 545 33 662 817 22 66.7

Electrical, electronics, and 

 electromechanical assemblers...... 195 473 18 117 441 21 79 528 50 83.6

Bakers....................................... 117 411 18 59 357 34 58 480 27 74.4

Butchers and other meat-, poultry-, 

 and fish-processing workers......... 262 444 19 56 400 17 206 471 22 85.0

Food batchmakers........................ 71 465 25 26 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 44 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Computer control programmers 

 and operators........................... 54 697 39 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 49 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Cutting, punching, and press

 machine setters, operators, and 

 tenders, metal and plastic............ 120 502 20 30 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 90 533 37 ( 3 )

Grinding, lapping, polishing, and 

 buffing machine tool setters, 

 operators, and tenders, metal 

 and plastic................................. 55 557 61 7 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 48 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

See footnotes at end of table.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Occupation Standard

error 

of

median 

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

2005 annual averages—Continued

Both sexes Women Men

Machinists................................. 401 $697 $17 25 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 376 $712 $18 ( 3 )

Molders and molding machine 

 setters, operators, and tenders,

 metal and plastic........................ 60 529 51 13 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 46 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Tool and die makers..................... 91 821 55 1 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 91 824 55 ( 3 )

Welding, soldering, and brazing 

 workers.................................... 550 599 11 32 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 518 608 12 ( 3 )

Printing machine operators............ 201 585 22 30 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 170 617 21 ( 3 )

Laundry and dry-cleaning workers... 125 372 17 82 $347 $17 43 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Sewing machine operators............ 236 360 13 171 355 15 64 372 26 95.3

Cabinetmakers and bench

 carpenters................................. 53 516 18 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 50 518 18 ( 3 )

Sawing machine setters, operators, 

 and tenders, wood..................... 54 428 39 6 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 48 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Stationary engineers and boiler 

 operators................................. 108 819 73 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 105 797 94 ( 3 )

Water and liquid waste treatment

 plant and system operators............ 69 674 80 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 67 710 131 ( 3 )

Chemical-processing machine 

 setters, operators, and tenders...... 56 769 95 7 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 50 717 35 ( 3 )

Crushing, grinding, polishing,

 mixing, and blending workers......... 95 498 24 11 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 84 503 23 ( 3 )

Cutting workers........................... 94 496 29 22 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 72 525 36 ( 3 )

Inspectors, testers, sorters, 

 samplers, and weighers............... 618 596 18 237 486 11 380 679 24 71.6

Medical, dental, and ophthalmic 

 laboratory technicians.................. 76 545 57 37 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 39 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Packaging and filling machine 

 operators and tenders.................. 291 410 11 159 384 12 132 452 19 84.9

Painting workers.......................... 177 562 29 23 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 155 592 22 ( 3 )

Paper goods machine setters,

 operators, and tenders.................. 58 603 30 16 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 42 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Transportation and material-moving 

 occupations.................................... 6,848 543 6 876 412 7 5,972 574 6 71.7

Supervisors, transportation and 

 material-moving workers............... 194 734 28 29 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 164 751 31 ( 3 )

Aircraft pilots and flight engineers... 98 1,366 102 6 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 92 1,368 121 ( 3 )

Busdrivers.................................. 353 517 14 141 456 38 213 576 31 79.1

Driver/salesworkers and truck 

 drivers....................................... 2,758 624 7 101 473 31 2,657 631 9 75.0

Taxi drivers and chauffeurs............ 179 483 23 24 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 155 500 23 ( 3 )

Locomotive engineers and 

 operators................................. 53 998 199 1 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 52 1,013 195 ( 3 )

Railroad conductors and

 yardmasters.............................. 50 1,017 44 — — — 50 1,017 44 —

Service station attendants............... 68 323 10 9 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 59 333 27 ( 3 )

Crane and tower operators............ 69 727 47 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 66 727 57 ( 3 )

Dredge, excavating, and loading

 machine operators..................... 67 616 40 — — — 67 616 40 —

Industrial truck and tractor

 operators................................. 514 499 9 31 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 483 494 9 ( 3 )

Cleaners of vehicles and 

 equipment................................. 224 385 13 27 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 197 390 13 ( 3 )

Laborers and freight, stock, and 

 material movers, hand.................. 1,384 456 10 210 406 11 1,173 469 10 86.6

Packers and packagers, hand......... 377 372 10 240 358 10 137 406 19 88.3

Refuse and recyclable material 

 collectors................................. 66 491 28 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 62 501 31 ( 3 )

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Occupation Standard

error 

of

median 

 — Data not available.

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

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

 

 

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

 3

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

 is less than 50,000.

 

14
Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by State and sex, 2005 annual averages 

Both sexes Women Men

UNITED STATES..................... 103,560 $651 $2 45,154 $585 $2 58,406 $722 $2 81.0

Alabama....................................... 1,647 612 9 740 518 11 907 684 22 75.8

Alaska.......................................... 223 784 13 98 679 17 124 866 20 78.4

Arizona......................................... 2,025 624 10 842 582 12 1,183 670 17 86.9

Arkansas...................................... 967 542 16 448 479 12 520 617 11 77.7

California...................................... 12,067 703 6 4,941 662 10 7,126 734 8 90.1

Colorado...................................... 1,690 721 12 693 639 17 997 790 28 80.9

Connecticut.................................. 1,241 796 26 543 679 23 698 905 21 75.1

Delaware...................................... 332 683 13 152 613 14 180 750 19 81.7

District of Columbia...................... 228 804 18 116 770 18 112 858 35 89.8

Florida.......................................... 6,360 604 4 2,907 544 13 3,452 655 10 83.1

Georgia........................................ 3,290 620 8 1,479 584 9 1,811 668 16 87.4

Hawaii.......................................... 446 660 16 206 598 14 240 718 19 83.3

Idaho............................................ 474 585 12 199 501 9 276 678 16 73.8

Illinois........................................... 4,439 691 9 1,902 610 9 2,537 787 15 77.5

Indiana......................................... 2,292 632 12 980 557 13 1,313 714 16 78.1

Iowa............................................. 1,067 626 11 483 568 19 585 699 17 81.2

Kansas......................................... 973 626 11 417 558 17 556 700 17 79.8

Kentucky...................................... 1,404 601 10 629 530 17 775 656 19 80.7

Louisiana..................................... 1,501 586 9 718 488 11 783 651 16 75.0

Maine........................................... 441 616 11 200 545 21 241 688 20 79.3

Maryland...................................... 2,154 762 14 985 705 24 1,169 832 26 84.8

Massachusetts............................. 2,215 755 10 989 661 12 1,225 844 20 78.3

Michigan...................................... 3,314 718 11 1,397 609 10 1,917 803 16 75.8

Minnesota.................................... 1,891 736 14 818 653 15 1,074 818 21 79.9

Mississippi.................................... 926 545 17 426 471 14 500 620 15 76.0

Missouri........................................ 2,084 622 11 931 551 19 1,153 713 20 77.3

Montana....................................... 305 547 13 136 477 11 169 617 11 77.2

Nebraska..................................... 663 615 11 294 536 17 369 675 16 79.4

Nevada........................................ 923 600 7 384 558 18 539 632 14 88.4

New Hampshire........................... 499 727 15 211 624 15 289 839 32 74.4

New Jersey.................................. 3,213 772 11 1,390 671 15 1,823 860 15 78.0

New Mexico................................. 636 599 10 268 544 22 368 644 24 84.4

New York..................................... 6,566 679 7 2,917 611 7 3,649 748 8 81.7

North Carolina.............................. 3,034 589 8 1,351 523 10 1,683 644 15 81.3

North Dakota................................ 225 586 10 101 508 9 124 649 14 78.2

Ohio............................................. 3,970 653 8 1,778 571 12 2,191 730 11 78.3

Oklahoma.................................... 1,214 586 9 533 490 12 681 656 17 74.7

Oregon......................................... 1,174 634 17 499 554 20 675 731 21 75.8

Pennsylvania............................... 4,445 650 8 1,960 576 8 2,485 739 11 78.0

Rhode Island................................ 379 682 18 170 597 14 209 767 25 77.9

South Carolina............................. 1,449 586 10 682 504 11 768 660 16 76.3

South Dakota............................... 274 569 12 127 493 9 147 624 13 79.0

Tennessee................................... 1,993 572 14 906 508 11 1,087 621 14 81.7

Texas........................................... 8,103 590 5 3,439 524 9 4,664 631 10 83.0

Utah............................................. 792 598 12 301 496 10 491 686 19 72.2

Vermont....................................... 222 650 15 99 590 15 123 709 17 83.1

Virginia......................................... 2,893 686 14 1,302 615 13 1,591 758 17 81.1

Washington.................................. 2,177 743 14 897 626 21 1,280 835 23 75.0

West Virginia................................ 562 590 12 249 499 12 313 668 20 74.8

Wisconsin..................................... 1,974 671 14 850 558 15 1,123 789 16 70.7

Wyoming...................................... 186 628 13 74 481 11 112 762 20 63.1

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

State

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

 NOTE: Data refer to persons 16 years and older. 

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

 15
Table 4. Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2005 annual averages

Both sexes Women Men

AGE

Total, 16 years and older............... 22,052 $201 $1 15,152 $206 $1 6,900 $190 $2 108.6

16 to 24 years...................................... 8,129 149 1 4,687 147 2 3,443 151 2 97.3

16 to 19 years................................... 4,167 121 1 2,323 119 2 1,844 124 2 95.9

20 to 24 years................................... 3,963 183 2 2,364 179 3 1,599 189 3 94.9

25 years and older............................... 13,923 246 2 10,466 245 2 3,457 250 4 98.0

25 to 34 years................................... 3,387 242 3 2,476 239 4 911 253 7 94.5

35 to 44 years................................... 3,484 265 4 2,865 263 4 619 275 10 95.4

45 to 54 years................................... 2,993 269 4 2,454 266 4 539 284 11 93.8

55 to 64 years................................... 2,351 239 5 1,680 238 5 670 242 9 98.0

65 years and older............................ 1,708 188 4 990 173 5 717 209 7 82.9

RACE AND HISPANIC OR

LATINO ETHNICITY

White.................................................... 18,618 202 1 12,868 208 2 5,751 190 2 109.6

Black or African American................... 2,046 197 3 1,373 198 4 673 195 5 101.7

Asian.................................................... 822 204 7 541 210 8 281 190 12 110.6

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.................. 2,500 198 3 1,620 194 3 880 206 5 94.1

MARITAL STATUS

Never married...................................... 9,936 160 1 5,603 158 2 4,333 163 2 96.8

Married, spouse present...................... 9,333 256 2 7,349 255 3 1,984 261 5 97.7

Other marital status............................. 2,783 220 3 2,200 216 3 583 241 9 89.4

Divorced............................................ 1,505 235 5 1,172 232 6 333 250 16 92.7

Separated......................................... 619 215 5 464 208 6 155 243 12 85.5

Widowed........................................... 659 196 7 564 194 7 95 214 22 90.5

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in

this table.

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

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

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

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

as by race.

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Characteristic Standard

error 

of

median 

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

 16
Table 5. Median usual weekly earnings of wage and salary workers by hours usually worked and sex, 2005 annual averages 

Both sexes Women Men

Total, 16 years and older............... 125,889 $577 $2 60,423 $486 $2 65,466 $663 $3 73.2

1 to 34 hours........................................ 19,283 206 1 13,382 212 2 5,901 195 2 108.7

1 to 4 hours....................................... 467 54 3 334 54 4 133 55 7 97.6

5 to 9 hours....................................... 1,045 65 1 745 66 2 301 64 3 103.5

10 to 14 hours................................... 1,725 102 2 1,229 106 2 495 93 3 114.0

15 to 19 hours................................... 2,418 137 2 1,663 143 3 755 126 4 112.9

20 to 24 hours................................... 5,860 193 2 4,009 200 2 1,851 179 3 112.0

25 to 29 hours................................... 2,595 233 3 1,772 239 4 824 222 4 107.6

30 to 34 hours................................... 5,173 309 3 3,630 318 3 1,542 290 5 109.8

35 hours or more................................. 97,242 654 2 42,794 589 2 54,448 724 2 81.3

35 to 39 hours................................... 7,617 435 5 5,210 438 6 2,407 428 9 102.4

40 hours............................................ 68,599 605 1 31,235 567 3 37,364 643 3 88.1

41 hours or more.............................. 21,026 976 5 6,348 878 8 14,678 1,020 6 86.1

41 to 44 hours................................ 1,310 722 13 525 669 19 784 751 5 89.2

45 to 48 hours................................ 5,971 870 8 2,091 806 13 3,880 915 2 88.1

49 to 59 hours................................ 9,359 1,047 9 2,726 967 12 6,633 1,086 3 89.1

60 hours or more........................... 4,386 1,112 17 1,006 955 16 3,380 1,155 4 82.7

Hours vary.................................... 9,364 408 5 4,247 286 5 5,117 567 3 50.4

Usually less than 35 hours............... 2,769 164 3 1,770 165 4 999 161 5 102.9

Usually 35 hours or more............... 6,319 602 6 2,361 463 14 3,958 688 3 67.3

1 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in

this table.

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

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

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

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

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Hours of work

Standard

error 

of

median 

Median 

weekly

earnings

Median 

weekly

earnings

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

characteristics, 2005 annual averages

Upper limit of:

SEX, RACE, AND HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY

Total, 16 years and older.......................................................... 103,560 $310 $429 $651 $997 $1,506

Women.................................................................................. 45,154 292 395 585 862 1,250

Men........................................................................................ 58,406 331 476 722 1,119 1,689

White.......................................................................................... 84,110 317 445 672 1,021 1,541

Women.................................................................................. 35,538 296 404 596 875 1,267

Men....................................................................................... 48,572 340 488 743 1,145 1,739

Black or African American........................................................ 12,388 284 367 520 768 1,122

Women.................................................................................. 6,472 279 351 499 733 1,053

Men....................................................................................... 5,916 292 387 559 821 1,166

Asian......................................................................................... 4,651 330 483 753 1,170 1,806

Women.................................................................................. 2,054 308 427 665 1,035 1,514

Men....................................................................................... 2,597 359 518 825 1,341 1,917

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity....................................................... 14,673 276 335 471 695 1,041

Women.................................................................................. 5,241 253 313 429 637 936

Men....................................................................................... 9,433 285 352 489 726 1,106

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and older.......................................................... 92,453 331 470 696 1,048 1,559

Less than a high school diploma........................................... 8,861 256 311 409 576 796

High school, no college ........................................................ 27,514 311 411 583 809 1,111

Some college or associate degree........................................ 25,471 351 481 670 952 1,309

Bachelor's degree and higher ............................................. 30,607 494 705 1,013 1,524 2,115

Women, 25 years and older...................................................... 40,443 306 417 612 900 1,297

Less than a high school diploma........................................... 2,878 226 279 341 441 595

High school, no college ........................................................ 11,517 286 366 493 667 887

Some college or associate degree........................................ 12,103 322 425 587 801 1,088

Bachelor's degree and higher ............................................. 13,944 463 634 883 1,242 1,735

Men, 25 years and older........................................................... 52,010 365 511 771 1,168 1,760

Less than a high school diploma........................................... 5,983 282 339 455 625 879

High school, no college ........................................................ 15,997 349 476 652 912 1,217

Some college or associate degree........................................ 13,368 395 547 766 1,074 1,453

Bachelor's degree and higher ............................................. 16,662 538 781 1,167 1,756 2,414

 1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent. 

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

degree.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

classified by ethnicity as well as by race.

First 

decile

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Second

quartile 

(median) 

Characteristic

First 

quartile

Third 

quartile

Ninth 

decile

2

2

1

1

1

2

 18
Table 7. Distribution of full-time wage and salary workers by usual weekly earnings and selected characteristics, 2005 annual 

averages 

(In thousands)

Number of workers by usual weekly earnings

AGE AND SEX

Total, 16 years and older.................................. 103,560 967 2,972 10,368 19,900 25,711 17,046 15,888 10,710

16 to 24 years.......................................................... 11,108 266 961 2,838 3,591 2,410 682 287 73

16 to 19 years....................................................... 1,699 92 293 610 473 181 37 9 3

20 to 24 years....................................................... 9,409 174 668 2,228 3,118 2,229 645 277 70

25 years and older................................................... 92,453 700 2,012 7,529 16,309 23,301 16,364 15,601 10,636

25 to 34 years....................................................... 25,013 198 640 2,513 5,476 7,156 4,277 3,236 1,517

35 to 44 years....................................................... 27,103 169 549 2,001 4,413 6,599 4,878 4,941 3,552

45 to 54 years....................................................... 25,650 173 455 1,850 3,964 6,133 4,699 4,818 3,558

55 to 64 years....................................................... 12,774 98 271 892 2,055 3,031 2,282 2,367 1,778

65 years and older................................................ 1,913 63 96 274 400 383 227 239 231

Women, 16 years and older.............................. 45,154 558 1,756 5,579 10,085 11,893 7,001 5,546 2,737

16 to 24 years.......................................................... 4,711 144 502 1,284 1,527 915 243 83 14

16 to 19 years....................................................... 694 47 144 265 185 41 6 4 1

20 to 24 years....................................................... 4,018 96 358 1,019 1,342 873 237 80 13

25 years and older................................................... 40,443 414 1,254 4,295 8,558 10,978 6,758 5,463 2,723

25 to 34 years....................................................... 10,400 103 376 1,180 2,522 3,082 1,662 1,042 433

35 to 44 years....................................................... 11,563 104 362 1,220 2,368 3,049 1,950 1,634 876

45 to 54 years....................................................... 11,814 108 285 1,203 2,268 3,139 2,048 1,824 939

55 to 64 years....................................................... 5,854 62 187 558 1,196 1,531 1,001 886 433

65 years and older................................................ 812 39 45 133 203 177 97 76 41

Men, 16 years and older................................... 58,406 409 1,216 4,789 9,815 13,818 10,045 10,342 7,973

16 to 24 years.......................................................... 6,396 123 459 1,554 2,064 1,495 439 204 59

16 to 19 years....................................................... 1,005 45 149 344 288 139 31 6 3

20 to 24 years....................................................... 5,391 78 310 1,209 1,776 1,356 408 198 57

25 years and older................................................... 52,010 286 757 3,235 7,752 12,323 9,606 10,138 7,913

25 to 34 years....................................................... 14,612 95 265 1,334 2,954 4,074 2,615 2,193 1,084

35 to 44 years....................................................... 15,540 65 188 781 2,045 3,550 2,928 3,307 2,676

45 to 54 years....................................................... 13,836 65 170 646 1,696 2,994 2,652 2,994 2,619

55 to 64 years....................................................... 6,920 36 85 334 860 1,500 1,281 1,481 1,345

65 years and older................................................ 1,102 24 51 140 197 206 131 163 190

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO

ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White, 16 years and older.................................... 84,110 748 2,242 7,744 15,501 20,889 14,253 13,451 9,282

Women.................................................................... 35,538 442 1,323 4,082 7,720 9,476 5,721 4,520 2,255

Men.......................................................................... 48,572 306 919 3,663 7,781 11,413 8,532 8,931 7,026

Black or African American, 16 years and older.... 12,388 145 534 1,939 3,110 3,219 1,617 1,298 525

Women.................................................................... 6,472 75 317 1,129 1,728 1,636 784 569 234

Men.......................................................................... 5,916 70 217 810 1,382 1,584 833 730 291

Asian, 16 years and older..................................... 4,651 42 116 366 725 1,006 811 833 751

Women.................................................................... 2,054 24 67 206 366 490 346 344 210

Men.......................................................................... 2,597 19 49 160 359 515 465 489 541

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 16 years and older.. 14,673 157 734 2,897 4,249 3,393 1,545 1,159 540

Women.................................................................... 5,241 79 382 1,190 1,494 1,127 511 354 103

Men.......................................................................... 9,433 77 352 1,706 2,755 2,265 1,034 805 437

$250.00

to

$349.99

Total 

employed Under 

$150.00

$350.00 

to 

$499.99

$150.00

to

$249.99

Characteristic $500.00 

to 

$749.99

$750.00 

to 

$999.99

$1,000.00 

to 

$1,499.99

$1,500.00 

or 

more

NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all

races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by

race. 

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

status, and presence and age of own children under 18 years old, 2005 annual averages

WOMEN

Total, all marital statuses................................................... 45,154 $585 $2

With children under 18 years old....................................... 16,724 574 4

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger........................ 10,549 587 4

With children under 6 years old....................................... 6,175 539 7

With no children under 18 years old.................................... 28,430 591 2

Total, married, spouse present............................................. 23,507 619 2

With children under 18 years old....................................... 11,161 611 3

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger........................ 6,858 611 4

With children under 6 years old....................................... 4,304 611 5

With no children under 18 years old.................................... 12,346 628 4

Total, other marital statuses ............................................. 21,647 531 3

With children under 18 years old....................................... 5,563 494 4

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger........................ 3,692 531 7

With children under 6 years old....................................... 1,872 421 6

With no children under 18 years old.................................... 16,084 556 4

MEN

Total, all marital statuses................................................... 58,406 722 2

With children under 18 years old....................................... 22,157 811 4

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger........................ 11,937 853 7

With children under 6 years old....................................... 10,221 765 6

With no children under 18 years old.................................... 36,249 667 3

Total, married, spouse present............................................. 35,742 827 4

With children under 18 years old....................................... 20,491 830 5

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger........................ 10,939 870 7

With children under 6 years old....................................... 9,552 787 7

With no children under 18 years old.................................... 15,251 822 6

Total, other marital statuses ............................................. 22,664 581 3

With children under 18 years old....................................... 1,667 623 10

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger........................ 998 704 14

With children under 6 years old....................................... 669 527 15

With no children under 18 years old.................................... 20,998 578 3

1 Includes never-married, divorced, separated, and

widowed persons.

NOTE: Children refer to "own" children and include

sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children.

Number of 

workers

(in thousands)

Median 

weekly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Characteristic

Excluded are other related children such as

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

unrelated children.

 

1

1

 20
Table 9. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, by selected characteristics, 2005 annual averages 

Both sexes Women Men

AGE

Total, 16 years and older............... 75,609 $11.19 $0.03 37,957 $10.31 $0.04 37,652 $12.16 $0.03 84.8

16 to 24 years...................................... 16,374 8.07 .02 8,086 7.80 .03 8,288 8.42 .06 92.6

16 to 19 years................................... 5,528 7.05 .02 2,874 6.92 .02 2,654 7.21 .03 96.0

20 to 24 years................................... 10,846 8.91 .03 5,212 8.50 .07 5,634 9.20 .05 92.3

25 years and older............................... 59,235 12.48 .05 29,871 11.58 .06 29,364 13.91 .04 83.3

25 to 34 years................................... 16,779 11.76 .07 7,716 10.86 .06 9,063 12.17 .04 89.2

35 to 44 years................................... 16,761 13.11 .05 8,387 11.84 .05 8,374 14.88 .05 79.6

45 to 54 years................................... 15,419 13.48 .11 8,197 12.13 .05 7,222 15.13 .06 80.1

55 to 64 years................................... 8,015 12.95 .08 4,319 11.86 .07 3,695 14.79 .14 80.2

65 years and older............................ 2,261 9.93 .05 1,252 9.82 .08 1,009 10.04 .07 97.7

RACE AND HISPANIC OR

LATINO ETHNICITY

White.................................................... 60,978 11.48 .06 30,078 10.50 .06 30,901 12.47 .08 84.2

Black or African American.................... 9,793 10.17 .03 5,372 9.93 .04 4,421 10.90 .07 91.1

Asian.................................................... 2,720 12.01 .09 1,437 11.64 .41 1,283 12.75 .41 91.3

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.................. 12,527 9.95 .03 5,060 9.18 .06 7,467 10.19 .03 90.0

MARITAL STATUS

Never married...................................... 26,288 9.14 .02 12,307 8.72 .05 13,980 9.79 .03 89.1

Married, spouse present...................... 36,340 13.01 .04 17,645 11.82 .04 18,695 14.75 .09 80.1

Other marital status.............................. 12,982 11.79 .06 8,005 10.98 .06 4,977 13.01 .11 84.4

Divorced............................................ 8,229 12.30 .10 5,026 11.61 .14 3,203 14.24 .20 81.6

Separated......................................... 3,212 10.20 .05 1,738 9.96 .07 1,475 10.93 .16 91.2

Widowed........................................... 1,541 10.69 .18 1,241 10.44 .21 299 12.03 .51 86.8

UNION AFFILIATION 

Members of unions ............................. 9,755 16.16 .11 3,635 13.98 .12 6,120 17.81 .15 78.5

Represented by a union ..................... 10,586 16.02 .08 4,051 13.90 .12 6,535 17.62 .20 78.9

Not represented by a union.................. 65,023 10.69 .04 33,906 10.10 .02 31,117 11.45 .08 88.2

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and older..................... 59,235 12.48 .05 29,871 11.58 .06 29,364 13.91 .04 83.3

Less than a high school diploma...... 8,267 9.57 .11 3,245 8.21 .04 5,022 10.20 .03 80.6

High school, no college ................... 22,698 12.03 .03 10,856 10.55 .07 11,842 13.90 .05 75.9

Some college or associate degree... 18,516 13.51 .10 10,179 12.23 .06 8,337 15.13 .05 80.8

Bachelor's degree and higher ......... 9,754 16.75 .20 5,591 16.71 .24 4,163 16.78 .33 99.6

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

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

2 Differences in earnings levels between workers with and without union

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

bargaining agreement, including the distribution of male and female employees

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

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

a union.

 4

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

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

covered by a union or an employee association contract. 

 5

 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.

 6

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

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

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

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

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

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

Women's

earnings 

 as

percent

of men's 1

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Median 

hourly

earnings

Median 

hourly

earnings

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Standard

error 

of

median 

Characteristic Median 

hourly

earnings

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

Number

of 

workers

(in

thousands)

2

3

4

5

6

 21
Table 10. Distribution of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, by hourly earnings and selected characteristics, 2005 annual 

averages

(In thousands)

Number of workers by hourly earnings

AGE AND SEX

Total, 16 years and older.................................. 75,609 941 143 2,013 11,433 13,366 11,956 12,245 11,832 11,680

16 to 24 years.......................................................... 16,374 482 62 1,194 5,435 4,154 2,434 1,612 749 252

16 to 19 years....................................................... 5,528 169 27 791 2,695 1,173 427 160 61 25

20 to 24 years....................................................... 10,846 313 34 403 2,740 2,981 2,007 1,452 689 227

25 years and older................................................... 59,235 459 82 819 5,998 9,212 9,522 10,633 11,083 11,428

25 to 34 years....................................................... 16,779 223 39 286 1,985 2,968 2,979 3,242 2,928 2,127

35 to 44 years....................................................... 16,761 117 17 196 1,499 2,425 2,498 3,033 3,269 3,707

45 to 54 years....................................................... 15,419 75 19 149 1,302 2,094 2,337 2,711 3,101 3,631

55 to 64 years....................................................... 8,015 29 3 110 755 1,209 1,279 1,361 1,548 1,721

65 years and older................................................ 2,261 15 3 77 456 517 430 286 237 241

Women, 16 years and older.............................. 37,957 660 90 1,243 6,794 7,391 6,267 6,027 4,845 4,640

16 to 24 years.......................................................... 8,086 350 36 712 2,961 1,955 1,080 663 229 100

16 to 19 years....................................................... 2,874 131 20 470 1,464 547 175 51 13 4

20 to 24 years....................................................... 5,212 219 16 242 1,497 1,408 905 613 216 96

25 years and older................................................... 29,871 309 54 532 3,833 5,436 5,188 5,363 4,616 4,540

25 to 34 years....................................................... 7,716 138 23 174 1,159 1,489 1,417 1,412 1,056 849

35 to 44 years....................................................... 8,387 84 13 135 1,023 1,495 1,409 1,511 1,309 1,407

45 to 54 years....................................................... 8,197 58 14 88 917 1,356 1,367 1,508 1,424 1,465

55 to 64 years....................................................... 4,319 18 3 83 488 787 750 772 711 707

65 years and older................................................ 1,252 12 1 51 246 309 245 160 116 113

Men, 16 years and older................................... 37,652 281 53 770 4,639 5,975 5,689 6,218 6,987 7,040

16 to 24 years.......................................................... 8,288 131 26 483 2,475 2,198 1,355 949 520 152

16 to 19 years....................................................... 2,654 37 7 321 1,231 626 253 109 48 22

20 to 24 years....................................................... 5,634 94 18 161 1,243 1,573 1,102 840 472 130

25 years and older................................................... 29,364 149 28 287 2,165 3,777 4,334 5,270 6,467 6,888

25 to 34 years....................................................... 9,063 85 17 112 827 1,479 1,563 1,830 1,872 1,278

35 to 44 years....................................................... 8,374 33 3 61 476 930 1,089 1,522 1,960 2,300

45 to 54 years....................................................... 7,222 17 5 61 385 738 970 1,203 1,676 2,167

55 to 64 years....................................................... 3,695 11 — 27 267 421 529 589 838 1,014

65 years and older................................................ 1,009 3 2 26 210 208 185 126 121 128

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO

ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White, 16 years and older.................................... 60,978 809 125 1,565 9,073 10,241 9,529 9,911 9,890 9,836

Women.................................................................... 30,078 590 81 984 5,340 5,577 4,957 4,851 3,951 3,746

Men.......................................................................... 30,901 219 44 581 3,732 4,665 4,572 5,059 5,939 6,090

Black or African American, 16 years and older.... 9,793 67 12 335 1,613 2,267 1,717 1,557 1,223 1,002

Women.................................................................... 5,372 36 4 193 1,016 1,333 943 766 568 513

Men.......................................................................... 4,421 32 8 141 597 934 774 791 654 490

Asian, 16 years and older..................................... 2,720 33 4 51 374 457 380 438 425 558

Women.................................................................... 1,437 17 3 29 219 262 199 242 197 270

Men.......................................................................... 1,283 16 1 22 156 195 181 196 228 288

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 16 years and older.. 12,527 122 24 345 2,595 2,752 2,235 1,897 1,502 1,056

Women.................................................................... 5,060 76 14 194 1,351 1,147 855 654 470 300

Men.......................................................................... 7,467 46 9 151 1,244 1,605 1,380 1,243 1,033 756

$5.00

to

$5.99

Total 

employed Under 

$4.00

$6.00

 to 

$7.99

$4.00

to

$4.99

Characteristic $8.00

 to 

$9.99

$10.00 

to 

$11.99

$12.00

to 

$14.99

$20.00

or 

more

$15.00

to 

$19.99

 — Data not available.

NOTE: Workers paid hourly rates represent approximately three-fifths of all

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

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

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

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

ethnicity as well as by race. 

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

wage by selected characteristics, 2005 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Workers paid hourly rates 

Total at or below prevailing 

Federal minimum wage

AGE AND SEX

Total, 16 years and older...................................................... 75,609 1,403 479 1,882 2.5

16 to 24 years.............................................................................. 16,374 720 283 1,002 6.1

16 to 19 years.......................................................................... 5,528 312 179 491 8.9

20 to 24 years.......................................................................... 10,846 408 104 511 4.7

25 years and older....................................................................... 59,235 683 196 880 1.5

25 to 34 years.......................................................................... 16,779 306 67 373 2.2

35 to 44 years.......................................................................... 16,761 169 39 208 1.2

45 to 54 years.......................................................................... 15,419 134 30 164 1.1

55 to 64 years.......................................................................... 8,015 42 37 79 1.0

65 years and older................................................................... 2,261 32 24 56 2.5

Women, 16 years and older.................................................. 37,957 944 290 1,234 3.3

16 to 24 years.............................................................................. 8,086 496 153 650 8.0

16 to 19 years.......................................................................... 2,874 225 93 318 11.1

20 to 24 years.......................................................................... 5,212 271 60 331 6.4

25 years and older....................................................................... 29,871 447 137 584 2.0

25 to 34 years.......................................................................... 7,716 185 45 229 3.0

35 to 44 years.......................................................................... 8,387 122 25 148 1.8

45 to 54 years.......................................................................... 8,197 93 17 109 1.3

55 to 64 years.......................................................................... 4,319 26 30 56 1.3

65 years and older................................................................... 1,252 22 20 42 3.4

Men, 16 years and older....................................................... 37,652 459 189 648 1.7

16 to 24 years.............................................................................. 8,288 223 130 353 4.3

16 to 19 years.......................................................................... 2,654 86 86 173 6.5

20 to 24 years.......................................................................... 5,634 137 43 180 3.2

25 years and older....................................................................... 29,364 236 60 296 1.0

25 to 34 years.......................................................................... 9,063 122 22 144 1.6

35 to 44 years.......................................................................... 8,374 46 14 60 0.7

45 to 54 years.......................................................................... 7,222 42 13 55 0.8

55 to 64 years.......................................................................... 3,695 16 7 23 0.6

65 years and older................................................................... 1,009 10 4 14 1.4

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO

ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White, 16 years and older........................................................ 60,978 1,188 349 1,537 2.5

Women.......................................................................................... 30,078 836 216 1,053 3.5

Men............................................................................................. 30,901 352 133 485 1.6

Black or African American, 16 years and older........................ 9,793 119 96 215 2.2

Women.......................................................................................... 5,372 57 54 111 2.1

Men............................................................................................. 4,421 63 42 105 2.4

Asian, 16 years and older........................................................ 2,720 51 14 65 2.4

Women.......................................................................................... 1,437 26 9 35 2.4

Men............................................................................................. 1,283 25 5 30 2.3

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 16 years and older...................... 12,527 210 71 282 2.2

Women.......................................................................................... 5,060 125 42 167 3.3

Men............................................................................................. 7,467 85 29 114 1.5

FULL- AND PART-TIME STATUS AND SEX 

Full-time workers...................................................................... 57,385 608 143 752 1.3

Women.......................................................................................... 25,474 356 74 430 1.7

Men............................................................................................. 31,911 252 69 321 1.0

Part-time workers..................................................................... 18,084 790 336 1,126 6.2

Women.......................................................................................... 12,415 583 216 799 6.4

Men............................................................................................. 5,669 207 120 327 5.8

See footnotes at end of table.

At

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Total

Number

Below

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Characteristic

Percent of 

workers 

paid hourly 

rates

2

1

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

based on unrounded data. 

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

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

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

number of multiple jobholders.

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

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

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

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

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

24
Table 12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2005) dollars by sex and age, 

1979-2005 annual averages

16 to 24 years 25 years and older

BOTH SEXES

1979.................................... $601 $429 $359 $464 $661 $637 $699 $689 $652 $494

1980.................................... 587 420 346 449 642 618 677 667 639 456

1981.................................... 581 411 331 437 632 607 667 656 633 455

1982.................................... 586 404 318 427 634 603 686 669 631 490

1983.................................... 582 392 304 414 638 597 687 682 643 484

1984.................................... 583 388 302 413 647 600 696 689 654 486

1985.................................... 595 387 301 415 655 604 702 693 659 513

1986 ................................. 610 394 303 422 665 612 712 707 674 507

1987.................................... 614 398 305 425 662 613 715 704 666 509

1988.................................... 611 395 310 421 657 607 713 718 664 512

1989.................................... 606 394 310 420 650 599 718 718 655 507

1990 ................................. 597 390 303 413 650 590 705 708 662 498

1991.................................... 595 388 298 407 653 581 696 709 656 533

1992.................................... 601 377 290 395 653 575 686 713 659 516

1993.................................. 610 375 284 395 653 580 688 720 654 522

1994 ................................. 609 373 288 390 651 573 700 738 653 501

1995.................................... 609 372 293 389 649 574 700 740 654 495

1996.................................... 608 369 297 386 645 574 692 736 663 476

1997 ................................. 611 372 306 390 655 584 702 737 677 477

1998 ................................. 625 382 320 405 684 600 714 742 709 484

1999 ................................. 643 400 330 425 693 606 715 763 708 473

2000 ................................. 653 409 337 434 690 622 708 758 702 525

2001.................................... 657 414 336 435 695 636 724 765 703 538

2002.................................... 660 413 331 433 702 641 726 766 732 545

2003 ................................. 658 411 330 426 703 630 730 767 751 547

2004 ................................. 659 403 319 419 706 624 737 767 748 579

2005 ................................. 651 397 318 411 696 610 731 748 742 569

WOMEN

1979.................................... 454 384 329 402 486 496 488 479 471 425

1980.................................... 451 375 325 392 477 489 481 468 459 392

1981.................................... 449 370 316 392 478 490 487 461 455 387

1982.................................. 463 372 306 390 493 500 501 488 474 409

1983.................................... 468 367 294 385 498 505 505 491 478 394

1984.................................... 474 364 289 382 506 509 522 499 483 391

1985.................................... 480 364 287 382 512 512 531 505 492 419

1986 ................................. 494 372 289 394 525 520 543 525 503 435

1987.................................. 498 372 282 397 527 519 553 532 506 429

1988.................................... 499 373 292 399 531 518 561 538 503 443

1989................................. 498 374 299 396 533 517 562 542 506 444

1990 ................................. 502 368 287 389 535 516 566 547 504 435

1991.................................... 512 372 286 392 541 518 570 556 507 446

1992.................................... 518 364 279 382 545 521 570 569 513 448

1993.................................. 523 363 273 385 552 525 579 585 525 445

1994 ................................. 520 359 276 378 549 518 584 587 519 439

1995.................................... 516 350 273 370 544 513 577 590 513 449

1996.................................... 518 352 276 370 550 515 574 596 521 414

1997 ................................. 523 354 291 372 560 518 585 600 525 422

1998 ................................. 546 365 298 382 580 540 595 617 570 419

1999 ................................. 554 379 312 402 582 551 589 626 576 433

2000 ................................. 559 391 320 415 585 559 590 640 576 445

2001.................................... 565 389 318 414 598 565 603 648 591 431

2002.................................... 575 398 320 418 617 575 620 653 623 467

2003 ................................. 586 394 318 411 620 580 627 646 638 462

2004 ................................. 592 387 303 404 619 580 628 646 635 494

2005 ................................. 585 381 304 396 612 573 621 644 639 492

See footnotes at end of table.

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years

and 

older

Total 16 to 19 

years

20 to 24 

years

Total 25 to 34 

years

35 to 44 

years

55 to 64 

years

65 years

and 

older

45 to 54 

years

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

25
Table 12. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2005) dollars by sex and age, 

1979-2005 annual averages—Continued

16 to 24 years 25 years and older

MEN

1979.................................... $727 $489 $386 $526 $783 $737 $837 $842 $779 $546

1980.................................... 701 467 363 502 761 705 823 822 773 513

1981.................................... 696 448 344 486 761 696 814 812 773 546

1982.................................. 706 436 329 473 762 693 818 811 773 582

1983.................................... 704 415 312 449 756 689 822 825 774 573

1984.................................... 701 414 312 448 755 684 843 840 786 586

1985.................................... 704 416 316 447 766 681 842 846 809 635

1986 ................................. 713 418 316 449 787 683 848 860 824 609

1987.................................. 712 422 322 451 784 676 838 854 813 624

1988.................................... 712 414 325 442 773 667 820 870 806 626

1989................................. 711 412 318 441 760 659 824 864 792 598

1990 ................................. 697 408 316 432 742 651 812 857 791 583

1991.................................... 690 399 306 419 732 641 805 857 788 653

1992.................................... 683 387 298 406 731 636 793 864 790 574

1993.................................. 679 383 293 403 738 633 792 869 779 600

1994 ................................. 681 383 297 400 751 625 805 874 786 575

1995.................................... 685 386 311 401 748 623 794 871 792 561

1996.................................... 690 381 311 398 743 618 784 865 796 592

1997 ................................. 702 385 318 410 746 625 790 865 811 548

1998 ................................. 716 399 337 427 764 651 810 875 836 577

1999 ................................. 724 417 341 444 782 676 822 893 849 551

2000 ................................. 726 425 347 447 786 678 825 874 833 592

2001.................................... 739 431 352 450 794 680 831 881 838 623

2002.................................... 737 425 339 445 795 681 825 876 871 633

2003 ................................. 737 423 341 438 790 667 823 885 878 649

2004 ................................. 736 413 328 430 787 660 830 885 870 662

2005 ................................. 722 409 330 422 771 644 822 853 855 644

WOMEN'S EARNINGS

AS PERCENT OF MEN'S 

1979.................................... 62.5 78.5 85.2 76.5 62.1 67.4 58.3 56.9 60.5 77.8

1980.................................... 64.3 80.1 89.5 78.0 62.7 69.4 58.4 56.9 59.4 76.5

1981.................................... 64.5 82.6 91.8 80.7 62.7 70.4 59.9 56.8 58.9 70.9

1982.................................. 65.5 85.3 92.8 82.5 64.7 72.1 61.2 60.1 61.3 70.4

1983.................................... 66.6 88.6 94.1 85.9 65.8 73.3 61.5 59.5 61.8 68.7

1984.................................... 67.6 87.9 92.7 85.3 67.0 74.5 61.9 59.4 61.4 66.8

1985.................................... 68.2 87.5 90.8 85.5 66.9 75.1 63.1 59.7 60.9 66.0

1986 ................................. 69.3 88.9 91.5 87.7 66.7 76.2 64.0 61.0 61.0 71.4

1987.................................. 69.9 88.1 87.8 88.0 67.3 76.8 66.1 62.3 62.2 68.7

1988.................................... 70.1 90.0 89.8 90.1 68.7 77.7 68.4 61.8 62.4 70.8

1989................................. 70.1 90.7 94.0 89.8 70.2 78.4 68.1 62.7 63.9 74.2

1990 ................................. 71.9 90.1 91.0 90.2 72.1 79.2 69.7 63.8 63.7 74.5

1991.................................... 74.3 93.3 93.5 93.5 74.0 80.9 70.8 64.9 64.4 68.4

1992.................................... 75.8 94.0 93.8 94.2 74.6 82.0 71.9 65.8 64.9 78.1

1993.................................. 77.1 94.8 93.0 95.6 74.7 82.9 73.0 67.3 67.4 74.1

1994 ................................. 76.4 93.7 92.7 94.5 73.1 82.9 72.5 67.1 66.1 76.3

1995.................................... 75.4 90.8 87.9 92.2 72.7 82.4 72.7 67.8 64.8 79.9

1996.................................... 75.0 92.4 88.9 92.8 74.1 83.2 73.2 68.9 65.4 70.0

1997 ................................. 74.5 92.1 91.4 90.6 75.1 82.9 74.0 69.4 64.7 77.1

1998 ................................. 76.3 91.3 88.5 89.4 75.9 83.0 73.5 70.5 68.2 72.6

1999 ................................. 76.5 91.0 91.3 90.5 74.4 81.5 71.7 70.1 67.8 78.7

2000 ................................. 77.0 92.0 92.3 92.8 74.5 82.5 71.5 73.2 69.2 75.1

2001.................................... 76.4 90.2 90.3 91.9 75.3 83.0 72.6 73.5 70.5 69.1

2002.................................... 77.9 93.7 94.5 93.9 77.6 84.4 75.2 74.5 71.5 73.8

2003 ................................. 79.5 93.3 93.2 94.0 78.5 87.0 76.2 73.0 72.6 71.2

2004 ................................. 80.3 93.7 92.2 93.8 78.7 87.9 75.6 73.0 73.0 74.6

2005 ................................. 81.0 93.2 92.1 94.0 79.4 89.1 75.6 75.4 74.7 76.4

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 2006 and subsequent issues of Employment and

Earnings , a monthly BLS periodical.

 2

 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in

this table.

NOTE: The Consumer Price Index research series using current

methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert current dollars to constant dollars.

See Technical Note.

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years

and 

older

Total 16 to 19 

years

20 to 24 

years

Total 25 to 34 

years

35 to 44 

years

55 to 64 

years

45 to 54 

years

65 years

and 

older

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

26
Table 13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2005)

dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2005 annual averages 

# #

BOTH SEXES

1979............................................. $601 $617 $496 — $483

1980............................................. 587 602 476 — 469

1981............................................. 581 595 481 — 457

1982............................................. 586 600 475 — 465

1983............................................. 582 595 486 — 464

1984............................................. 583 602 481 — 464

1985............................................. 595 615 480 — 467

1986 ............................................. 610 630 495 — 471

1987............................................. 614 631 494 — 468

1988............................................. 611 626 498 — 460

1989............................................. 606 622 485 — 453

1990 ............................................. 597 614 477 — 440

1991............................................. 595 619 487 — 437

1992............................................. 601 625 486 — 439

1993............................................. 610 632 491 — 440

1994 ............................................. 609 630 484 — 423

1995............................................. 609 629 487 — 418

1996............................................. 608 626 480 — 420

1997 ............................................. 611 630 485 — 426

1998 ............................................. 625 652 509 — 443

1999 ............................................. 643 671 521 — 451

2000 ............................................. 653 669 538 $697 452

2001............................................. 657 673 541 705 460

2002............................................. 660 677 540 715 460

2003 ............................................. 658 676 546 736 467

2004 ............................................. 659 679 542 732 471

2005 ............................................. 651 672 520 753 471

WOMEN

1979............................................. 454 459 422 — 392

1980............................................. 451 455 415 — 387

1981............................................. 449 452 422 — 389

1982............................................. 463 469 421 — 394

1983............................................. 468 473 431 — 399

1984............................................. 474 480 431 — 399

1985............................................. 480 487 437 — 397

1986 ............................................. 494 501 449 — 411

1987............................................. 498 505 453 — 413

1988............................................. 499 505 457 — 413

1989............................................. 498 507 458 — 409

1990 ............................................. 502 512 447 — 403

1991............................................. 512 521 451 — 409

1992............................................. 518 527 457 — 412

1993............................................. 523 533 462 — 416

1994 ............................................. 520 532 451 — 397

1995............................................. 516 527 451 — 388

1996............................................. 518 530 449 — 392

1997 ............................................. 523 539 455 — 386

1998 ............................................. 546 560 478 — 403

1999 ............................................. 554 566 479 — 407

2000 ............................................. 559 569 487 620 416

2001............................................. 565 575 501 621 428

2002............................................. 575 594 514 615 431

2003 ............................................. 586 602 521 635 435

2004 ............................................. 592 603 522 633 432

2005 ............................................. 585 596 499 665 429

See footnotes at end of table.

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years 

and older

White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or

Latino

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

27
Table 13. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers in constant (2005)

dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2005 annual averages—Continued 

# #

MEN

1979............................................. $727 $744 $567 — $547

1980............................................. 701 717 548 — 525

1981............................................. 696 717 550 — 515

1982............................................. 706 728 539 — 520

1983............................................. 704 720 546 — 510

1984............................................. 701 717 542 — 513

1985............................................. 704 722 527 — 511

1986 ............................................. 713 737 542 — 509

1987............................................. 712 740 537 — 503

1988............................................. 712 737 551 — 488

1989............................................. 711 732 529 — 478

1990 ............................................. 697 716 522 — 461

1991............................................. 690 707 524 — 452

1992............................................. 683 701 519 — 462

1993............................................. 679 697 521 — 460

1994 ............................................. 681 713 522 — 447

1995............................................. 685 721 523 — 445

1996............................................. 690 719 510 — 441

1997 ............................................. 702 722 524 — 451

1998 ............................................. 716 735 559 — 466

1999 ............................................. 724 748 572 — 475

2000 ............................................. 726 750 578 $776 472

2001............................................. 739 760 584 808 485

2002............................................. 737 762 568 821 490

2003 ............................................. 737 759 589 819 493

2004 ............................................. 736 756 587 828 496

2005 ............................................. 722 743 559 825 489

WOMEN'S EARNINGS

AS PERCENT OF MEN'S 

1979............................................. 62.5 61.7 74.3 — 71.7

1980............................................. 64.3 63.5 75.8 — 73.6

1981............................................. 64.5 63.1 76.7 — 75.6

1982............................................. 65.5 64.4 78.0 — 75.7

1983............................................. 66.6 65.7 78.9 — 78.3

1984............................................. 67.6 67.0 79.6 — 77.8

1985............................................. 68.2 67.4 82.8 — 77.7

1986 ............................................. 69.3 67.9 82.7 — 80.7

1987............................................. 69.9 68.2 84.4 — 82.1

1988............................................. 70.1 68.5 83.0 — 84.6

1989............................................. 70.1 69.2 86.5 — 85.6

1990 ............................................. 71.9 71.5 85.5 — 87.6

1991............................................. 74.3 73.7 86.1 — 90.5

1992............................................. 75.8 75.2 88.1 — 89.1

1993............................................. 77.1 76.5 88.8 — 90.4

1994 ............................................. 76.4 74.5 86.5 — 88.8

1995............................................. 75.4 73.2 86.3 — 87.3

1996............................................. 75.0 73.8 88.1 — 89.0

1997 ............................................. 74.5 74.6 86.8 — 85.6

1998 ............................................. 76.3 76.1 85.4 — 86.5

1999 ............................................. 76.5 75.7 83.7 — 85.7

2000 ............................................. 77.0 75.8 84.2 79.9 88.0

2001............................................. 76.4 75.6 85.8 76.9 88.2

2002............................................. 77.9 78.0 90.4 74.9 88.1

2003 ............................................. 79.5 79.4 88.4 77.5 88.3

2004 ............................................. 80.3 79.8 88.9 76.4 87.1

2005 ............................................. 81.0 80.2 89.2 80.6 87.7

See footnotes at end of table.

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years 

and older

White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or

Latino

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

28
 — Data not available.

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 2006 and subsequent issues of

Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS periodical.

2 These figures are computed using unrounded

medians and may differ slightly from percents

computed using the rounded medians displayed in this

table.

NOTE: As of 2003, estimates for the above race

groups (white, black or African American, and Asian)

include persons who selected this race group only;

persons who selected more than one race group are

not included. Prior to 2003, persons who reported

more than one race were included in the group they

identified as the main race. Estimates for race groups

do not sum to totals because data are not presented

for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as

Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore,

are classified by ethnicity as well as by race. Data for

2000-2002 are for the category Asians and Pacific

Islanders. As of 2003, Asians constitute a separate

category. For more information, see the Explanatory

Notes and Estimates of Error section of Employment 

and Earnings . Data for Asians were not tabulated

prior to 2000. The Consumer Price Index research

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

convert current dollars to constant dollars. See

Technical Note.

29
Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and older in constant (2005) 

dollars by sex and educational attainment, 1979-2005 annual averages 

# #

BOTH SEXES

1979................................................................................. $661 $524 $620 $703 $858

1980................................................................................. 642 498 597 681 844

1981................................................................................. 632 491 587 664 833

1982................................................................................. 634 480 585 680 848

1983................................................................................. 638 476 579 674 857

1984................................................................................. 647 471 577 683 869

1985................................................................................. 655 467 577 689 875

1986 ..................................................................................... 665 473 584 696 892

1987................................................................................. 662 466 585 691 925

1988................................................................................. 657 457 583 682 928

1989................................................................................. 650 452 570 688 926

1990 .............................................................................. 650 439 559 690 924

1991................................................................................. 653 430 555 685 931

1992................................................................................. 653 424 550 661 949

1993................................................................................. 653 418 552 657 950

1994 .............................................................................. 651 401 549 650 956

1995................................................................................. 649 393 549 646 950

1996................................................................................. 645 393 549 641 940

1997 .............................................................................. 655 389 559 649 946

1998 .............................................................................. 684 403 573 667 982

1999 .............................................................................. 693 405 574 679 1,007

2000 .............................................................................. 690 410 573 676 1,010

2001................................................................................. 695 422 574 680 1,015

2002................................................................................. 702 422 581 683 1,021

2003 .............................................................................. 703 421 588 678 1,023

2004 .............................................................................. 706 414 593 682 1,019

2005 .............................................................................. 696 409 583 670 1,013

WOMEN

1979................................................................................. 486 378 461 525 658

1980................................................................................. 477 367 450 518 650

1981................................................................................. 478 358 445 523 652

1982................................................................................. 493 357 457 532 672

1983................................................................................. 498 362 458 535 686

1984................................................................................. 506 357 463 545 698

1985................................................................................. 512 350 463 549 717

1986 ..................................................................................... 525 353 471 561 741

1987................................................................................. 527 352 472 570 765

1988................................................................................. 531 350 472 570 769

1989................................................................................. 533 352 463 576 771

1990 .............................................................................. 535 348 456 572 776

1991................................................................................. 541 349 459 571 786

1992................................................................................. 545 349 459 556 810

1993................................................................................. 552 350 461 561 812

1994 .............................................................................. 549 335 458 551 827

1995................................................................................. 544 333 453 543 819

1996................................................................................. 550 332 452 547 814

1997 .............................................................................. 560 334 459 557 816

1998 .............................................................................. 580 338 474 570 846

1999 .............................................................................. 582 339 474 572 866

2000 .............................................................................. 585 345 477 573 857

2001................................................................................. 598 348 488 573 867

2002................................................................................. 617 353 497 590 878

2003 .............................................................................. 620 349 504 595 883

2004 .............................................................................. 619 345 504 596 888

2005 .............................................................................. 612 341 493 587 883

See footnotes at end of table.

Year and sex

Total, 

25 years 

and older

Less than a 

high school 

diploma

High

school, 

no college

Some college

or associate 

degree

Bachelor's 

degree and 

higher 1 2

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

30
Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and older in constant (2005) 

dollars by sex and educational attainment, 1979-2005 annual averages—Continued

# #

MEN

1979................................................................................. $783 $629 $769 $821 $987

1980................................................................................. 761 600 734 803 958

1981................................................................................. 761 586 730 797 974

1982................................................................................. 762 569 725 797 975

1983................................................................................. 756 560 721 785 964

1984................................................................................. 755 551 713 797 1,005

1985................................................................................. 766 543 705 816 1,021

1986 ..................................................................................... 787 546 707 826 1,051

1987................................................................................. 784 532 694 816 1,072

1988................................................................................. 773 527 692 797 1,076

1989................................................................................. 760 526 684 786 1,072

1990 .............................................................................. 742 506 665 786 1,074

1991................................................................................. 732 488 658 787 1,069

1992................................................................................. 731 479 653 757 1,079

1993................................................................................. 738 474 647 761 1,072

1994 .............................................................................. 751 446 647 765 1,077

1995................................................................................. 748 441 645 758 1,075

1996................................................................................. 743 442 640 749 1,083

1997 .............................................................................. 746 443 649 754 1,087

1998 .............................................................................. 764 458 668 770 1,123

1999 .............................................................................. 782 462 679 778 1,144

2000 .............................................................................. 786 461 670 783 1,157

2001................................................................................. 794 462 671 797 1,177

2002................................................................................. 795 457 670 794 1,184

2003 .............................................................................. 790 456 667 785 1,201

2004 .............................................................................. 787 461 666 787 1,181

2005 .............................................................................. 771 455 652 766 1,167

WOMEN'S EARNINGS

AS PERCENT OF MEN'S 

1979................................................................................. 62.1 60.2 60.0 64.0 66.6

1980................................................................................. 62.7 61.3 61.3 64.5 67.8

1981................................................................................. 62.7 61.1 61.0 65.6 66.9

1982................................................................................. 64.7 62.8 63.1 66.7 68.9

1983................................................................................. 65.8 64.6 63.5 68.1 71.1

1984................................................................................. 67.0 64.8 64.9 68.4 69.5

1985................................................................................. 66.9 64.4 65.7 67.2 70.2

1986 ..................................................................................... 66.7 64.7 66.6 67.9 70.6

1987................................................................................. 67.3 66.1 68.0 69.9 71.3

1988................................................................................. 68.7 66.4 68.3 71.5 71.4

1989................................................................................. 70.2 66.8 67.6 73.3 71.9

1990 .............................................................................. 72.1 68.8 68.6 72.8 72.2

1991................................................................................. 74.0 71.5 69.9 72.6 73.5

1992................................................................................. 74.6 72.8 70.3 73.4 75.0

1993................................................................................. 74.7 73.8 71.3 73.7 75.8

1994 .............................................................................. 73.1 74.9 70.8 72.0 76.7

1995................................................................................. 72.7 75.4 70.2 71.6 76.2

1996................................................................................. 74.1 75.2 70.7 73.1 75.2

1997 .............................................................................. 75.1 75.2 70.8 73.8 75.0

1998 .............................................................................. 75.9 73.7 70.9 74.0 75.3

1999 .............................................................................. 74.4 73.5 69.8 73.5 75.7

2000 .............................................................................. 74.5 74.9 71.2 73.1 74.1

2001................................................................................. 75.3 75.4 72.7 71.9 73.7

2002................................................................................. 77.6 77.1 74.3 74.3 74.2

2003 .............................................................................. 78.5 76.7 75.6 75.7 73.6

2004 .............................................................................. 78.7 74.9 75.6 75.8 75.2

2005 .............................................................................. 79.4 75.1 75.6 76.6 75.7

 1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent. 

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

degree.

3 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at

various times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current

Population Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory Notes

and Estimates of Error section of the February 2006 and subsequent

 

issues of Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS periodical. 

4 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may

differ slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians

displayed in this table.

NOTE: The Consumer Price Index research series using current

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

dollars. See Technical Note.

Year and sex

Total, 

25 years 

and older

Less than a 

high school 

diploma

High

 school, 

no college 

Some college

or associate 

degree

Bachelor's 

degree and 

higher

4

1 2

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

31
Table 15. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2005) dollars by sex and age, 

1979-2005 annual averages

16 to 24 years 25 years and older

BOTH SEXES

1979.................................... $11.09 $8.72 $7.77 $10.06 $12.77 $13.00 $13.23 $12.89 $12.41 $8.08

1980.................................... 10.84 8.35 7.25 9.64 12.46 12.71 12.93 12.70 12.11 8.01

1981.................................... 10.57 8.15 7.35 9.46 12.30 12.50 12.73 12.34 11.92 8.05

1982.................................. 10.48 7.87 7.00 9.06 12.19 12.32 12.84 12.46 11.86 8.00

1983.................................... 10.42 7.60 6.73 8.73 12.19 12.09 12.86 12.53 11.93 8.19

1984.................................... 10.45 7.49 6.55 8.64 12.25 12.12 12.85 12.68 11.86 8.30

1985.................................... 10.45 7.39 6.37 8.57 12.21 11.99 12.98 12.78 11.97 8.21

1986 ................................. 10.57 7.52 6.32 8.63 12.31 11.94 13.26 13.17 12.20 8.46

1987.................................. 10.63 7.55 6.27 8.57 12.26 11.83 13.05 12.93 12.19 8.36

1988.................................... 10.67 7.60 6.39 8.54 12.28 11.80 12.97 12.95 11.87 8.31

1989................................. 10.64 7.54 6.43 8.61 12.09 11.62 13.03 12.81 11.90 8.25

1990 ................................. 10.50 7.49 6.53 8.58 11.85 11.47 12.79 12.76 11.64 8.35

1991.................................... 10.51 7.38 6.57 8.41 11.88 11.26 12.83 12.75 11.46 8.32

1992.................................... 10.54 7.34 6.46 8.25 11.93 11.16 12.81 13.00 11.59 8.39

1993.................................. 10.47 7.33 6.39 8.19 11.91 11.01 12.79 13.13 11.85 8.51

1994 ................................. 10.46 7.34 6.41 8.13 11.91 10.94 12.95 13.08 11.78 8.34

1995.................................... 10.41 7.39 6.42 8.18 11.92 11.09 12.76 12.90 11.71 8.48

1996.................................... 10.42 7.37 6.41 8.31 11.93 10.94 12.58 12.70 11.64 8.40

1997 ................................. 10.63 7.47 6.69 8.39 11.99 10.99 12.58 12.88 11.82 8.38

1998 ................................. 10.90 7.88 7.04 8.67 12.13 11.55 13.00 13.12 12.07 8.87

1999 ................................. 11.17 8.06 7.13 9.08 12.28 11.69 12.92 13.28 12.16 9.03

2000 ................................. 11.23 8.21 7.27 9.15 12.33 11.54 12.87 13.40 12.27 9.12

2001.................................... 11.23 8.48 7.45 9.24 12.57 11.76 13.20 13.42 12.54 9.41

2002.................................... 11.37 8.48 7.50 9.20 12.84 11.92 13.23 13.53 12.87 9.85

2003 ................................. 11.52 8.39 7.35 9.19 12.80 11.94 13.22 13.77 12.94 9.76

2004 ................................. 11.36 8.25 7.23 9.07 12.63 11.75 13.32 13.66 13.00 9.94

2005 ................................. 11.19 8.07 7.05 8.91 12.48 11.76 13.11 13.48 12.95 9.93

WOMEN

1979.................................... 9.04 7.97 7.57 8.79 9.74 10.10 9.92 9.60 9.38 7.81

1980.................................... 8.89 7.75 7.06 8.53 9.53 9.98 9.63 9.50 9.17 7.61

1981.................................... 8.78 7.61 7.23 8.41 9.63 10.04 9.80 9.43 9.09 7.63

1982.................................. 8.95 7.35 6.90 8.14 9.76 10.08 9.86 9.62 9.32 7.64

1983.................................... 8.95 7.11 6.62 7.93 9.74 10.13 9.88 9.67 9.44 7.76

1984.................................... 8.90 7.04 6.44 7.82 9.83 10.04 10.05 9.88 9.45 7.84

1985.................................... 8.90 6.95 6.26 7.91 9.94 10.03 10.24 9.98 9.46 7.69

1986 ................................. 9.09 7.00 6.22 8.03 10.13 10.13 10.44 10.20 9.80 8.07

1987.................................. 9.21 6.94 6.10 8.05 10.14 10.10 10.44 10.32 9.92 7.98

1988.................................... 9.27 7.12 6.21 8.02 10.22 10.10 10.73 10.45 9.65 8.13

1989................................. 9.30 7.15 6.24 7.96 10.32 10.17 10.80 10.51 9.70 7.82

1990 ................................. 9.35 7.19 6.32 8.09 10.26 10.17 10.69 10.39 9.76 7.91

1991.................................... 9.45 7.13 6.50 7.99 10.28 10.07 10.83 10.65 9.74 8.06

1992.................................... 9.50 7.06 6.41 7.89 10.46 10.18 10.91 10.84 9.84 8.16

1993.................................. 9.48 7.02 6.30 7.94 10.48 10.14 10.86 10.89 10.07 8.23

1994 ................................. 9.46 6.95 6.31 7.81 10.50 10.16 11.02 11.04 10.20 8.15

1995.................................... 9.50 6.99 6.30 7.76 10.41 10.09 10.99 11.11 10.11 8.22

1996.................................... 9.59 7.05 6.32 7.77 10.46 10.00 11.03 11.09 10.01 8.01

1997 ................................. 9.65 7.23 6.59 7.96 10.64 9.96 11.11 11.25 10.09 8.30

1998 ................................. 9.86 7.47 6.92 8.30 10.94 10.54 11.57 11.71 10.59 8.63

1999 ................................. 10.13 7.74 7.01 8.46 11.17 10.67 11.52 11.67 10.94 8.80

2000 ................................. 10.28 7.94 7.07 8.84 11.22 10.99 11.37 11.54 11.16 8.92

2001.................................... 10.62 7.99 7.29 8.82 11.25 10.96 11.51 11.97 11.45 8.98

2002.................................... 10.74 8.09 7.38 8.81 11.63 10.99 11.92 12.13 11.74 9.48

2003 ................................. 10.70 8.06 7.27 8.70 11.69 11.16 11.86 12.51 11.73 9.39

2004 ................................. 10.50 7.97 7.09 8.59 11.60 10.97 11.83 12.35 11.95 9.46

2005 ................................. 10.31 7.80 6.92 8.50 11.58 10.86 11.84 12.13 11.86 9.82

See footnotes at end of table.

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years

and 

older

Total 16 to 19 

years

20 to 24 

years

Total 25 to 34 

years

35 to 44 

years

55 to 64 

years

45 to 54 

years

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

65 years

and 

older

32
Table 15. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant (2005) dollars by sex and age, 

1979-2005 annual averages—Continued

16 to 24 years 25 years and older

MEN

1979.................................... $14.12 $9.76 $7.98 $11.60 $16.71 $15.93 $17.78 $17.73 $16.45 $8.91

1980.................................... 13.69 9.22 7.59 11.05 16.21 15.55 17.53 17.47 16.25 8.52

1981.................................... 13.47 8.86 7.48 10.49 15.97 15.05 17.02 17.43 16.17 8.66

1982.................................. 13.30 8.50 7.11 9.95 15.68 14.88 17.24 17.24 15.80 8.67

1983.................................... 12.88 8.16 6.84 9.40 15.47 14.41 17.15 17.05 16.27 8.85

1984.................................... 12.76 8.19 6.67 9.26 15.40 14.12 17.03 17.35 15.88 8.80

1985.................................... 12.70 8.12 6.51 9.07 15.33 13.85 16.98 17.27 15.66 8.64

1986 ................................. 12.92 8.17 6.51 9.25 15.35 13.68 17.01 17.27 16.24 8.83

1987.................................. 12.78 8.07 6.51 9.34 15.07 13.58 16.59 16.83 15.97 8.75

1988.................................... 12.56 7.99 6.58 9.20 14.88 13.34 16.22 16.96 15.46 8.77

1989................................. 12.32 7.87 6.68 9.16 14.77 13.03 16.12 16.55 15.21 8.98

1990 ................................. 12.00 7.90 6.74 8.97 14.28 12.82 15.57 16.15 14.76 8.83

1991.................................... 12.03 7.81 6.65 8.73 13.97 12.52 15.38 16.39 14.11 8.71

1992.................................... 11.84 7.72 6.56 8.53 13.74 12.32 14.93 16.41 14.18 8.82

1993.................................. 11.80 7.66 6.49 8.44 13.55 12.11 14.86 16.17 14.59 8.93

1994 ................................. 11.75 7.67 6.51 8.57 13.43 11.88 15.01 15.79 14.43 8.67

1995.................................... 11.75 7.70 6.56 8.69 13.66 12.05 15.14 15.68 14.15 8.73

1996.................................... 11.81 7.66 6.52 8.68 13.37 12.03 14.77 15.38 13.83 8.73

1997 ................................. 11.94 7.83 6.82 8.72 13.49 12.05 14.66 15.55 14.33 8.46

1998 ................................. 12.04 8.28 7.16 9.31 14.03 12.24 14.94 15.61 14.63 9.27

1999 ................................. 12.09 8.35 7.25 9.42 14.07 12.70 14.98 16.03 14.31 9.22

2000 ................................. 12.25 8.65 7.53 9.52 13.88 12.44 14.90 15.76 14.52 9.42

2001.................................... 12.48 8.83 7.61 9.84 14.20 12.76 15.35 15.71 14.28 9.93

2002.................................... 12.64 8.74 7.63 9.64 14.17 12.91 15.16 15.64 14.53 10.62

2003 ................................. 12.62 8.64 7.45 9.55 14.06 12.75 15.00 15.85 14.96 10.39

2004 ................................. 12.41 8.48 7.39 9.37 14.20 12.43 15.09 15.61 15.02 10.23

2005 ................................. 12.16 8.42 7.21 9.20 13.91 12.17 14.88 15.13 14.79 10.04

WOMEN'S EARNINGS

AS PERCENT OF MEN'S 

1979.................................... 64.0 81.7 94.9 75.8 58.3 63.4 55.8 54.1 57.0 87.7

1980.................................... 64.9 84.1 93.1 77.2 58.8 64.2 54.9 54.4 56.4 89.3

1981.................................... 65.2 86.0 96.6 80.2 60.3 66.7 57.6 54.1 56.2 88.1

1982.................................. 67.3 86.5 97.1 81.8 62.2 67.8 57.2 55.8 59.0 88.1

1983.................................... 69.5 87.1 96.9 84.4 63.0 70.3 57.6 56.7 58.0 87.6

1984.................................... 69.8 86.0 96.6 84.5 63.8 71.1 59.0 56.9 59.5 89.1

1985.................................... 70.1 85.7 96.1 87.2 64.8 72.4 60.3 57.8 60.4 88.9

1986 ................................. 70.3 85.8 95.5 86.9 66.0 74.1 61.4 59.1 60.3 91.3

1987.................................. 72.0 86.0 93.7 86.2 67.3 74.4 62.9 61.4 62.1 91.2

1988.................................... 73.9 89.1 94.4 87.3 68.7 75.7 66.2 61.6 62.5 92.6

1989................................. 75.5 90.8 93.4 86.9 69.9 78.1 67.0 63.5 63.8 87.2

1990 ................................. 77.9 91.0 93.8 90.2 71.9 79.4 68.7 64.3 66.2 89.6

1991.................................... 78.6 91.2 97.8 91.6 73.6 80.4 70.4 65.0 69.0 92.6

1992.................................... 80.2 91.4 97.7 92.5 76.1 82.6 73.1 66.0 69.4 92.5

1993.................................. 80.4 91.6 97.2 94.1 77.3 83.7 73.1 67.3 69.0 92.2

1994 ................................. 80.6 90.6 97.0 91.1 78.2 85.5 73.4 69.9 70.7 94.0

1995.................................... 80.8 90.9 96.0 89.4 76.2 83.7 72.6 70.9 71.4 94.1

1996.................................... 81.2 92.0 96.9 89.5 78.3 83.1 74.7 72.1 72.4 91.7

1997 ................................. 80.8 92.3 96.6 91.3 78.9 82.7 75.8 72.4 70.5 98.1

1998 ................................. 81.8 90.3 96.7 89.1 77.9 86.1 77.4 75.0 72.4 93.1

1999 ................................. 83.8 92.7 96.7 89.8 79.4 84.0 76.9 72.8 76.4 95.4

2000 ................................. 83.9 91.8 93.8 92.9 80.8 88.3 76.3 73.2 76.8 94.6

2001.................................... 85.1 90.5 95.8 89.6 79.2 85.9 75.0 76.2 80.2 90.4

2002.................................... 85.0 92.5 96.8 91.4 82.1 85.1 78.6 77.6 80.8 89.2

2003 ................................. 84.8 93.2 97.6 91.1 83.1 87.6 79.0 79.0 78.4 90.4

2004 ................................. 84.6 93.9 95.9 91.7 81.7 88.3 78.4 79.1 79.6 92.5

2005 ................................. 84.8 92.6 96.0 92.3 83.3 89.2 79.6 80.1 80.2 97.7

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 2006 and subsequent issues of Employment and

Earnings , a monthly BLS periodical.

 2

 These figures are computed using unrounded medians and may differ

slightly from percents computed using the rounded medians displayed in

this table.

NOTE: The Consumer Price Index research series using current

methods (CPI-U-RS) is used to convert current dollars to constant dollars.

See Technical Note.

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years

and 

older

Total 16 to 19 

years

20 to 24 

years

Total 25 to 34 

years

35 to 44 

years

55 to 64 

years

45 to 54 

years

2

65 years

and 

older

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

33
Table 16. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in constant 

(2005) dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2005 annual averages 

# #

BOTH SEXES

1979............................................. $11.09 $11.26 $10.27 — $10.19

1980............................................. 10.84 10.96 9.99 — 9.97

1981............................................. 10.57 10.64 10.07 — 9.87

1982............................................. 10.48 10.62 9.83 — 9.73

1983............................................. 10.42 10.55 9.58 — 9.48

1984............................................. 10.45 10.57 9.61 — 9.45

1985............................................. 10.45 10.57 9.53 — 9.48

1986 ............................................. 10.57 10.69 9.89 — 9.63

1987............................................. 10.63 10.79 9.85 — 9.58

1988............................................. 10.67 10.81 9.76 — 9.45

1989............................................. 10.64 10.78 9.78 — 9.25

1990 ............................................. 10.50 10.64 9.88 — 9.11

1991............................................. 10.51 10.66 9.80 — 9.05

1992............................................. 10.54 10.68 9.64 — 9.08

1993............................................. 10.47 10.61 9.56 — 9.09

1994 ............................................. 10.46 10.58 9.52 — 9.04

1995............................................. 10.41 10.59 9.76 — 8.92

1996............................................. 10.42 10.63 9.63 — 8.90

1997 ............................................. 10.63 10.79 9.73 — 8.98

1998 ............................................. 10.90 11.04 10.05 — 9.49

1999 ............................................. 11.17 11.41 10.37 — 9.47

2000 ............................................. 11.23 11.30 10.59 $11.41 9.68

2001............................................. 11.23 11.31 10.78 11.85 9.99

2002............................................. 11.37 11.63 10.78 11.25 10.01

2003 ............................................. 11.52 11.64 10.78 11.80 10.36

2004 ............................................. 11.36 11.50 10.53 11.47 10.13

2005 ............................................. 11.19 11.48 10.17 12.01 9.95

WOMEN

1979............................................. 9.04 9.05 8.87 — 8.60

1980............................................. 8.89 8.90 8.72 — 8.49

1981............................................. 8.78 8.80 8.61 — 8.42

1982............................................. 8.95 8.96 8.73 — 8.42

1983............................................. 8.95 8.95 8.79 — 8.24

1984............................................. 8.90 8.92 8.74 — 8.34

1985............................................. 8.90 8.91 8.74 — 8.36

1986 ............................................. 9.09 9.12 8.81 — 8.52

1987............................................. 9.21 9.24 8.89 — 8.40

1988............................................. 9.27 9.31 8.91 — 8.38

1989............................................. 9.30 9.34 8.95 — 8.42

1990 ............................................. 9.35 9.38 9.04 — 8.42

1991............................................. 9.45 9.47 9.17 — 8.38

1992............................................. 9.50 9.55 9.07 — 8.44

1993............................................. 9.48 9.53 9.15 — 8.41

1994 ............................................. 9.46 9.58 9.05 — 8.36

1995............................................. 9.50 9.61 9.07 — 8.41

1996............................................. 9.59 9.67 8.93 — 8.40

1997 ............................................. 9.65 9.72 9.22 — 8.28

1998 ............................................. 9.86 9.98 9.46 — 8.64

1999 ............................................. 10.13 10.23 9.54 — 8.75

2000 ............................................. 10.28 10.31 10.04 11.08 8.95

2001............................................. 10.62 10.73 10.09 11.10 9.13

2002............................................. 10.74 10.79 10.26 10.97 9.27

2003 ............................................. 10.70 10.74 10.51 11.34 9.42

2004 ............................................. 10.50 10.55 10.26 10.92 9.34

2005 ............................................. 10.31 10.50 9.93 11.64 9.18

See footnotes at end of table.

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years 

and older

White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or

Latino

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

34
Table 16. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates in 

constant (2005) dollars by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979-2005 

annual averages—Continued

# #

MEN

1979............................................. $14.12 $14.47 $12.21 — $11.97

1980............................................. 13.69 13.98 11.63 — 11.29

1981............................................. 13.47 13.77 11.92 — 11.02

1982............................................. 13.30 13.55 11.60 — 11.13

1983............................................. 12.88 13.16 11.09 — 10.82

1984............................................. 12.76 13.00 11.03 — 10.81

1985............................................. 12.70 13.14 10.65 — 10.52

1986 ............................................. 12.92 13.26 11.19 — 10.55

1987............................................. 12.78 13.04 11.08 — 10.47

1988............................................. 12.56 12.79 11.01 — 10.33

1989............................................. 12.32 12.60 10.77 — 10.13

1990 ............................................. 12.00 12.41 10.70 — 9.79

1991............................................. 12.03 12.35 10.60 — 9.64

1992............................................. 11.84 12.14 10.41 — 9.55

1993............................................. 11.80 12.08 10.21 — 9.48

1994 ............................................. 11.75 12.02 10.34 — 9.36

1995............................................. 11.75 12.26 10.39 — 9.25

1996............................................. 11.81 12.14 10.15 — 9.45

1997 ............................................. 11.94 12.10 10.54 — 9.60

1998 ............................................. 12.04 12.18 10.88 — 9.87

1999 ............................................. 12.09 12.44 11.46 — 10.10

2000 ............................................. 12.25 12.41 11.32 $12.24 10.25

2001............................................. 12.48 12.80 11.22 13.06 10.66

2002............................................. 12.64 12.88 11.12 11.97 10.77

2003 ............................................. 12.62 12.77 11.47 12.62 10.65

2004 ............................................. 12.41 12.56 11.24 12.30 10.35

2005 ............................................. 12.16 12.47 10.90 12.75 10.19

WOMEN'S EARNINGS

AS PERCENT OF MEN'S 

1979............................................. 64.0 62.6 72.6 — 71.8

1980............................................. 64.9 63.6 75.0 — 75.2

1981............................................. 65.2 63.9 72.2 — 76.4

1982............................................. 67.3 66.1 75.3 — 75.7

1983............................................. 69.5 68.1 79.3 — 76.1

1984............................................. 69.8 68.6 79.2 — 77.1

1985............................................. 70.1 67.8 82.0 — 79.5

1986 ............................................. 70.3 68.8 78.8 — 80.8

1987............................................. 72.0 70.8 80.2 — 80.3

1988............................................. 73.9 72.8 80.9 — 81.2

1989............................................. 75.5 74.1 83.2 — 83.1

1990 ............................................. 77.9 75.6 84.5 — 86.1

1991............................................. 78.6 76.7 86.6 — 86.9

1992............................................. 80.2 78.7 87.2 — 88.4

1993............................................. 80.4 78.9 89.6 — 88.7

1994 ............................................. 80.6 79.7 87.5 — 89.3

1995............................................. 80.8 78.4 87.3 — 90.9

1996............................................. 81.2 79.6 88.0 — 88.9

1997 ............................................. 80.8 80.3 87.5 — 86.3

1998 ............................................. 81.8 81.9 86.9 — 87.5

1999 ............................................. 83.8 82.3 83.2 — 86.7

2000 ............................................. 83.9 83.0 88.7 90.6 87.4

2001............................................. 85.1 83.9 89.9 85.0 85.7

2002............................................. 85.0 83.8 92.3 91.7 86.1

2003 ............................................. 84.8 84.1 91.6 89.8 88.5

2004 ............................................. 84.6 84.0 91.3 88.8 90.2

2005 ............................................. 84.8 84.2 91.1 91.3 90.0

See footnotes at end of table.

Year and sex

Total, 

16 years 

and older

White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or

Latino

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

35
 — Data not available.

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 2006 and

subsequent issues of Employment and Earnings , a

monthly BLS periodical.

2 These figures are computed using unrounded

medians and may differ slightly from percents computed

using the rounded medians displayed in this table.

NOTE: As of 2003, estimates for the above race

groups (white, black or African American, and Asian)

include persons who selected this race group only;

persons who selected more than one race group are not

included. Prior to 2003, persons who reported more

than one race were included in the group they identified

as the main race. Estimates for race groups do not sum

to totals because data are not presented for all races.

Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or

Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified

by ethnicity as well as by race. Data for 2000-2002 are

for the category Asians and Pacific Islanders. As of

2003, Asians constitute a separate category. For more

information, see the Explanatory Notes and Estimates of

Error section of Employment and Earnings . Data for

Asians were not tabulated prior to 2000. The Consumer

Price Index research series using current methods (CPIU-RS) is used to convert current dollars to constant

dollars. See Technical Note.

36
Table 17. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by 

sex, 1979-2005 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Workers paid hourly rates

Total at or below prevailing 

Federal minimum wage

BOTH SEXES

1979...................................................... 87,529 51,721 59.1 2,916 3,997 6,912 13.4

1980...................................................... 87,644 51,335 58.6 3,087 4,686 7,773 15.1

1981...................................................... 88,516 51,869 58.6 3,513 4,311 7,824 15.1

1982...................................................... 87,368 50,846 58.2 2,348 4,148 6,496 12.8

1983...................................................... 88,290 51,820 58.7 2,077 4,261 6,338 12.2

1984...................................................... 92,194 54,143 58.7 1,838 4,125 5,963 11.0

1985...................................................... 94,521 55,762 59.0 1,639 3,899 5,538 9.9

1986 ...................................................... 96,903 57,529 59.4 1,599 3,461 5,060 8.8

1987...................................................... 99,303 59,552 60.0 1,468 3,229 4,698 7.9

1988...................................................... 101,407 60,878 60.0 1,319 2,608 3,927 6.5

1989...................................................... 103,480 62,389 60.3 1,372 1,790 3,162 5.1

1990 ...................................................... 104,876 63,172 60.2 2,132 1,096 3,228 5.1

1991...................................................... 103,723 62,627 60.4 2,377 2,906 5,283 8.4

1992...................................................... 104,668 63,610 60.8 1,939 2,982 4,921 7.7

1993...................................................... 106,101 64,274 60.6 1,707 2,625 4,332 6.7

1994 ...................................................... 107,989 66,549 61.6 1,995 2,132 4,128 6.2

1995...................................................... 110,038 68,354 62.1 1,699 1,956 3,656 5.3

1996...................................................... 111,960 69,255 61.9 1,863 1,861 3,724 5.4

1997 ...................................................... 114,533 70,735 61.8 2,990 1,764 4,754 6.7

1998 .................................................... 116,730 71,440 61.2 2,834 1,593 4,427 6.2

1999 ...................................................... 118,963 72,306 60.8 2,194 1,146 3,340 4.6

2000 .................................................... 122,089 73,496 60.2 1,752 898 2,650 3.6

2001...................................................... 122,229 73,392 60.0 1,518 656 2,174 3.0

2002...................................................... 121,826 72,508 59.5 1,579 567 2,146 3.0

2003 ...................................................... 122,358 72,946 59.6 1,555 545 2,100 2.9

2004 ...................................................... 123,554 73,939 59.8 1,483 520 2,003 2.7

2005 ...................................................... 125,889 75,609 60.1 1,403 479 1,882 2.5

WOMEN

1979...................................................... 38,129 23,329 61.2 2,070 2,644 4,714 20.2

1980...................................................... 38,944 23,626 60.7 2,104 2,990 5,095 21.6

1981...................................................... 39,672 24,294 61.2 2,394 2,778 5,172 21.3

1982...................................................... 39,777 24,365 61.3 1,651 2,561 4,212 17.3

1983...................................................... 40,433 24,989 61.8 1,492 2,603 4,095 16.4

1984...................................................... 42,172 26,003 61.7 1,348 2,499 3,847 14.8

1985...................................................... 43,506 26,869 61.8 1,198 2,356 3,554 13.2

1986 ...................................................... 44,961 27,863 62.0 1,192 2,125 3,317 11.9

1987...................................................... 46,365 29,078 62.7 1,105 1,946 3,051 10.5

1988...................................................... 47,495 29,820 62.8 1,008 1,542 2,550 8.6

1989...................................................... 48,691 30,702 63.1 994 1,056 2,050 6.7

1990 ...................................................... 49,323 31,069 63.0 1,420 711 2,131 6.9

1991...................................................... 49,105 30,988 63.1 1,582 1,792 3,374 10.9

1992...................................................... 49,842 31,454 63.1 1,286 1,751 3,036 9.7

1993...................................................... 50,626 31,937 63.1 1,133 1,534 2,667 8.4

1994 ...................................................... 51,419 33,021 64.2 1,322 1,241 2,563 7.8

1995...................................................... 52,369 33,934 64.8 1,157 1,161 2,318 6.8

1996...................................................... 53,488 34,418 64.3 1,244 1,106 2,350 6.8

1997 ...................................................... 54,708 35,214 64.4 1,843 1,092 2,935 8.3

1998 .................................................... 55,757 35,680 64.0 1,794 965 2,760 7.7

1999 ...................................................... 57,050 36,233 63.5 1,426 700 2,126 5.9

2000 .................................................... 58,427 36,777 62.9 1,170 579 1,749 4.8

2001...................................................... 58,582 36,848 62.9 1,021 409 1,430 3.9

2002...................................................... 58,555 36,508 62.3 997 350 1,347 3.7

2003 ...................................................... 59,122 37,093 62.7 1,062 332 1,394 3.8

2004 ...................................................... 59,408 37,133 62.5 1,013 310 1,323 3.6

2005 ...................................................... 60,423 37,957 62.8 944 290 1,234 3.3

See footnotes at end of table.

At

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Total

Number

Below

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Year and sex

Percent of 

workers 

paid hourly 

rates

Percent 

of total 

wage and

salary 

workers

Total

 wage and

 salary 

workers

1

1

1

2 22 2

222 2

2 2 2 2

1 2 2 2 2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

2 2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

37
Table 17. Wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below the prevailing Federal minimum wage by

sex, 1979-2005 annual averages—Continued

(Numbers in thousands)

Workers paid hourly rates

Total at or below prevailing 

Federal minimum wage

MEN

1979...................................................... 49,400 28,392 57.5 846 1,353 2,199 7.7

1980...................................................... 48,700 27,709 56.9 983 1,696 2,678 9.7

1981...................................................... 48,844 27,576 56.5 1,119 1,533 2,652 9.6

1982...................................................... 47,591 26,481 55.6 697 1,587 2,284 8.6

1983...................................................... 47,856 26,831 56.1 585 1,658 2,243 8.4

1984...................................................... 50,022 28,140 56.3 490 1,626 2,116 7.5

1985...................................................... 51,015 28,893 56.6 440 1,544 1,984 6.9

1986 ...................................................... 51,942 29,666 57.1 408 1,336 1,743 5.9

1987...................................................... 52,938 30,474 57.6 364 1,283 1,647 5.4

1988...................................................... 53,912 31,058 57.6 311 1,066 1,377 4.4

1989...................................................... 54,789 31,687 57.8 379 733 1,112 3.5

1990 ...................................................... 55,553 32,104 57.8 712 385 1,097 3.4

1991...................................................... 54,618 31,639 57.9 795 1,114 1,909 6.0

1992...................................................... 54,826 32,155 58.6 653 1,231 1,885 5.9

1993...................................................... 55,475 32,337 58.3 573 1,091 1,664 5.1

1994 ...................................................... 56,570 33,528 59.3 674 891 1,565 4.7

1995...................................................... 57,669 34,420 59.7 542 796 1,338 3.9

1996...................................................... 58,473 34,838 59.6 619 755 1,374 3.9

1997 ...................................................... 59,825 35,521 59.4 1,147 673 1,820 5.1

1998 .................................................... 60,973 35,761 58.7 1,039 628 1,667 4.7

1999 ...................................................... 61,914 36,073 58.3 768 446 1,214 3.4

2000 .................................................... 63,662 36,720 57.7 582 319 901 2.5

2001...................................................... 63,647 36,544 57.4 497 247 744 2.0

2002...................................................... 63,272 36,000 56.9 582 217 799 2.2

2003 ...................................................... 63,236 35,853 56.7 493 213 706 2.0

2004 ...................................................... 64,145 36,806 57.4 470 210 680 1.8

2005 ...................................................... 65,466 37,652 57.5 459 189 648 1.7

At

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Total

Number

Below

prevailing

Federal

minimum

wage

Year and sex

Percent 

of total 

wage and

salary 

workers

Total

 wage and

 salary

 workers

1 The comparability of historical labor force data has been affected at

various times by methodological and conceptual changes in the Current

Population Survey (CPS). For an explanation, see the Explanatory Notes

and Estimates of Error section of the February 2006 and subsequent

issues of Employment and Earnings, a monthly BLS periodical.

 2

 Data for 1990-91 and 1996-97 reflect changes in the minimum wage 

that took place in those years.

NOTE: The prevailing Federal minimum wage was $2.90 in 1979, $3.10

in 1980, and $3.35 in 1981-89. The minimum wage rose to $3.80 in April

1990, to $4.25 in April 1991, to $4.75 in October 1996, and to $5.15 in

September 1997. See Technical Note for more information about minimum

wage workers. 

Percent of 

workers 

paid hourly 

rates

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

2

2

2

22 2

2

2

2

2 2

2

2

2

2

38
39

The estimates in this report were obtained from the CurrentPopulation 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 on

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

Service: 1-800-877-8339.

Concepts and definitions

The principal concepts and definitions used in connection

with the earnings data in this report are described below.

Usual weekly earnings. Data are collected on wages and

salaries before taxes and other deductions, and include any

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

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

businesses are incorporated. Prior to 1994, respondents

were asked how much they usually earned per week. Since

January 1994, respondents have been asked to identify the

easiest way for them to report earnings (hourly, weekly,

biweekly, twice monthly, monthly, annually, other) and how

much they usually earn in the reported period. Earnings

reported on a basis other than weekly are converted to a

weekly equivalent. The term “usual” is as perceived by the

respondent. If the respondent asks for a definition of usual,

interviewers are instructed to define the term as more than

half the weeks worked during the past 4 or 5 months.

Medians (and quantiles) of weekly earnings. Most of the

earnings estimates shown in this report are medians. The

median (or upper limit of the second quartile) is the amount

that divides a given earnings distribution into two equal

groups, one having earnings above the median, and the

other having earnings below the median. Ten percent of

workers in a given distribution have earnings below the

upper limit of the first decile (90 percent have higher

earnings); 25 percent have earnings below the upper limit of

the first quartile (75 percent have higher earnings); 75 percent

have earnings below the upper limit of the third quartile (25

percent have higher earnings); and 90 percent have earnings

below the upper limit of the ninth decile (10 percent have

higher earnings).

The BLS estimating procedure for determining the median

of an earnings distribution places each reported or calculated

weekly earnings value into a $50-wide interval that is centered

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

estimated through the linear interpolation of the interval in

which the median lies.

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

boundaries) for specific groups may not necessarily be

consistent with the movements estimated for the overall

quantile boundary. The most common reasons for this

possible anomaly are:

• There could be a change in the relative weights of the

subgroups. For example, the medians of both 16- to 24-

year-olds and those 25 years and older may rise, but if the

lower earning 16-to-24 age group accounts for a greatly

increased share of the total, the overall median could actually

fall.

• There could be a large change in the shape of the

distribution of reported earnings, particularly near a quantile

boundary. This could be caused by survey observations

that are clustered at rounded values, for example, $250, $300,

or $400. An estimate lying in a $50-wide centered interval

containing such a cluster, or “spike,” tends to change more

slowly than one in other intervals. For example, medians

measure the central tendency of a multipeaked distribution

that shifts over time. As the distribution shifts, the median

does not necessarily move at the same rate. Specifically, the

median takes relatively more time to move through a

frequently reported interval but, once above the upper limit

of such an interval, it can move relatively quickly to the next

frequently reported earnings interval. BLS procedures for

estimating medians (and other quantile boundaries) mitigate

such irregular movements of the measures; however, users

should be cautious of these effects when evaluating shortterm changes in the medians and in ratios of the medians.

Constant dollars. The Consumer Price Index research series

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

dollars to constant dollars. BLS has made numerous

improvements to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) over the

past quarter-century. While these improvements make the

present and future CPI more accurate, historical price index

series are not adjusted to reflect the improvements. Because

many researchers need a historical series that measures price

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

provides an estimate of the CPI that incorporates most of

the methodological improvements made since 1978 into the

entire series. For further information, see “CPI research

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

Stewart and Stephen B. Reed, Monthly Labor Review, June

1999, pp. 29-38; and “Questions and Answers: Consumer

Price Index Research Series Using Current Methods” on the

Internet at www.bls.gov/cpi/cpirsdc.htm.

Technical Note
40

This report uses the most recent version of the CPI-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

constant-dollar earnings estimates in this report may differ

from that in previous reports in this series or in other

publications.

Wage and salary workers. These are workers who receive

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

rates. The group includes employees in both the private

and public sectors but, for purposes of the earnings series,

excludes all self-employed persons, whether or not their

businesses are incorporated.

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

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

working full time for estimates of earnings.

Part-time workers. Workers who usually work fewer than

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

working part time for estimates of earnings.

Workers paid by the hour. Workers who are paid an hourly

wage make up approximately three-fifths of all wage

and salary workers. Workers paid by the hour are,

therefore, included in the full- and part-time worker tables in

this report, along with salaried workers and other

workers not paid by the hour. (Data for workers paid at

hourly rates are presented separately in tables 9 to 11 and 15

to 17.)

Workers paid at or below the Federal minimum wage. The

estimates of the numbers of workers with reported earnings

at or below the Federal minimum wage in tables 11 and 17

pertain only to workers who are paid hourly rates. Salaried

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

not included, even though some have earnings that, when

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

Consequently, the estimates presented in this report likely

understate the actual number of workers with hourly earnings

at or below the minimum wage. Research has shown,

however, that the degree of understatement is small. BLS

does not routinely estimate hourly earnings for workers not

paid by the hour because of data quality concerns associated

with such an estimation process.

The prevailing Federal minimum wage was: $2.90 effective

January 1979; $3.10 effective January 1980; $3.35 effective

January 1981; $3.80 effective April 1990; $4.25 effective April

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

September 1997. Data for 1990-91 and 1996-97 in table 17

reflect changes in the minimum wage that took place during

those years.

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 data collection or processing.

For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the

CPS and information on estimating standard errors, see the

“Explanatory Notes and Estimates of Error” section of

Employment and Earnings, on the BLS Web site at

www.bls.gov/cps/eetech_methods.pdf.