Education is one of the most important factors determining earnings levels.
By examining the average annual earnings for males and females with various levels of education attainment, Indicator 17 informs us about the relationship between education, sex, and annual earnings levels. Thus, by definition, the ratio for those with a high school education is 100. Ratios that are below or above 100 reveal average annual earnings that do not reach or that exceed the earnings of those with a high school education. These comparisons do not take into account potential differences between males and females in the total number of years in the labor force. In the United States and all other countries reported, average annual earnings increased with education attainment.