Full text of 1995 : Text File, USDL 96-463
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Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov
Technical information: (202) 606-6567 USDL 96-463
For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact: 606-5902 Friday, November 8, 1996
AVERAGE ANNUAL PAY LEVELS IN METROPOLITAN AREAS, 1995
The average annual pay of employees in metropolitan areas increased 3.5
percent from 1994 to 1995, according to preliminary data released today by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The
average annual pay level for jobs in the nation's 311 metropolitan areas
was $29,105 in 1995, up from $28,125 in 1994. Average annual pay for the
entire nation, metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas combined, was
$27,845 in 1995. (Average annual pay data by state and industry were
issued on September 25, 1996.)
Annual pay data are compiled from reports submitted by employers subject
to state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) laws covering 115.5
million full- and part-time workers. Average annual pay is computed by
dividing the total annual payrolls of employees covered under UI programs
by the average monthly number of these employees. (See Technical Note
beginning on page 3.) Pay differences between areas reflect the varying
composition of employment by occupation, industry, and hours of work, as
well as other factors. Similarly, over-the-year pay changes may reflect
shifts in these characteristics, as well as changes in the level of average
pay. Along with pay data for 311 Metropolitan Statistical Areas and
Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas, table 2 of this release includes
averages and rankings for the 18 areas designated as Consolidated
Metropolitan Statistical Areas. (See Technical Note for definitions.)
Metropolitan and Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas
San Jose, Calif., led the nation with an average annual pay level of
$42,409 in 1995. (See table 1.) New York, N.Y., had the second highest
average annual pay level ($42,272), followed by San Francisco, Calif.
($37,975), Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon, N.J. ($37,925), and New Haven-
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury-Waterbury, Conn. ($37,546). Average pay levels
in these five metropolitan areas ranged from 29 to 46 percent above the
average for all metropolitan areas in the nation. Of the 311 metropolitan
areas, 38 reported average annual pay levels above the national
metropolitan pay average of $29,105, and 31 had average pay levels in
excess of $30,000.
Jacksonville, N.C., recorded the lowest average annual pay level among
metropolitan areas in 1995 ($16,951), followed by Myrtle Beach, S.C.
($17,910), McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Tex. ($18,031), Yuma, Ariz. ($18,286),
and Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, Tex. ($18,566). Average annual pay
in the five bottom-ranked metropolitan areas averaged 36 to 42 percent
below the national metropolitan pay average. A total of 14 metropolitan
areas reported average annual pay levels below $20,000.
The largest percentage increase in average annual pay from 1994 to 1995
occurred in San Jose, Calif. (8.4 percent), followed by Provo-Orem, Utah
(6.9 percent), Dover, Del. (6.2 percent), Boise City, Idaho (6.1 percent),
and Tucson, Ariz. (6.0 percent). 65 metropolitan areas experienced pay
increases of 4.0 percent or greater in 1995.
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From 1994 to 1995, average annual pay declined in three metropolitan
areas. Vallejo-Fairfield-Napa, Calif., had the largest drop (-2.7
percent), followed by Anchorage, Alaska (-1.3 percent), and Cheyenne, Wyo.
(-1.1 percent). In addition to the three areas in which average pay levels
declined, 13 metropolitan areas experienced pay growth rates of less than 1
percent.
Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas
Average annual pay in the 18 consolidated metropolitan statistical areas
increased by 3.7 percent between 1994 and 1995, from $31,469 to $32,642.
(See table 2.) The New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-
Conn.-Pa., consolidated metropolitan area had the highest pay level, at
$38,047, followed by San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif. ($36,187),
Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, Mich. ($34,118), Washington-Baltimore, D.C.-Md.-
Va.-W.Va. ($32,807), and Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Mass.-
N.H. ($32,791).
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla., had the lowest average annual pay level of
the consolidated metropolitan areas, with an average of $27,161 in 1995.
Portland-Salem, Ore.-Wash., was second lowest ($27,648), followed by
Milwaukee-Racine, Wis. ($27,830), Cincinnati-Hamilton, Ohio-Ky.-Ind.
($27,886), and Cleveland-Akron, Ohio ($28,382).
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif., had the highest percentage
increase in average annual pay between 1994 and 1995 (5.0 percent). The
next largest increases were in New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island,
N.Y.-N.J.-Conn.-Pa., and Portland-Salem, Ore.-Wash. (4.6 percent each), and
Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Mass.-N.H., and Dallas-Fort
Worth, Tex. (4.4 percent each).
None of the 18 consolidated metropolitan areas reported a decline in
average annual pay in 1995. The smallest increase occurred in Los Angeles-
Riverside-Orange County, Calif. (1.8 percent), followed by Washington-
Baltimore, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W.Va. (2.8 percent), Cleveland-Akron, Ohio (2.9
percent), Cincinnati-Hamilton, Ohio-Ky.-Ind., and Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.
(3.4 percent each).
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Technical Note
These data are the product of a Federal-State cooperative program in
which State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs) prepare summaries of
employment and total pay of workers covered by unemployment insurance (UI)
legislation. The summaries are a by-product of the administration of state
unemployment insurance programs that require most employers to pay
quarterly taxes based on the employment and wages of workers covered by UI.
Data for 1995 are preliminary and subject to revision. A news release
providing average annual pay data by state and industry was issued on
September 25, 1996 (USDL 96-393).
Coverage
Employment and wage data for workers covered by state UI laws and for
federal civilian workers covered by the Unemployment Compensation for
Federal Employees (UCFE) program are compiled from quarterly contribution
reports submitted to the SESAs by employers. In addition to the quarterly
contribution report, employers who operate multiple establishments within a
state complete a questionnaire, called the "Multiple Worksite Report,"
which provides detailed information on the location and industry of each of
their establishments. Average annual pay data included in this release are
derived from summaries of employment and wages submitted by states to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
UI and UCFE coverage is broad and basically comparable from state to
state. In 1995, UI and UCFE programs covered workers in 115.5 million
jobs, representing 96.7 percent of wage and salary civilian employment.
Covered workers received $3.216 trillion in pay representing 93.7 percent
of the wage and salary component of personal income and 44.3 percent of the
gross domestic product. About 82 percent of all covered workers were
employed in metropolitan areas. Total wages of workers in metropolitan
areas comprised approximately 86 percent of all covered wages in the
United States.
Major exclusions from UI coverage during 1995 included most agricultural
workers on small farms, all members of the Armed Forces, elected officials
in most states, most employees of railroads, some domestic workers, most
student workers at schools, and employees of certain small nonprofit
organizations.
Concepts and methodology
Average annual pay was computed by dividing total annual pay of
employees covered by unemployment insurance programs by the average monthly
number of these employees. Included in the annual payroll data are
bonuses, the cash value of meals and lodging when supplied, tips and other
gratuities, and, in some states, employer contributions to certain deferred
compensation plans, such as 401(k) plans, and stock options.
Monthly employment is based on the number of workers who worked during or
received pay for the pay period including the 12th of the month. With few
exceptions, all employees of covered firms are reported, including
production and sales workers, corporation officials, executives,
supervisory personnel, and clerical workers. Workers on paid vacation
and part-time workers are also included. Percentage changes in average
annual pay were computed using final 1994 data as the base, which may
differ from the preliminary data issued last year.
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Average annual pay is affected by the ratio of full-time to part-time
workers as well as the number of individuals in high-paying and low-paying
occupations. When comparing average annual pay levels between metropolitan
areas, these factors should be taken into consideration. Annual pay
data only approximate annual earnings because an individual may not be
employed by the same employer all year or may work for more than one
employer. Year to year changes in average annual pay can result from a
change in the proportion of employment in low and high wage jobs, as well
as from changes in the level of average annual pay.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines metropolitan areas for
use in federal statistical activities and updates these definitions as
needed each summer. Data in this release use metropolitan area criteria
established by OMB in definitions issued July 5, 1994 (OMB Bulletin No.
94-07). These definitions reflect information obtained from the 1990
Decennial Census and the 1992 Census Bureau population estimates. A
complete list of metropolitan area definitions is available from the
National Technical Information Service (NTIS), Document Sales, 5285 Port
Royal Road, Springfield, Va. 22161, telephone 703-487-4650.
Generally speaking, a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is a free-
standing urban area that meets a specified size criteria. Primary
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (PMSAs) are free-standing areas within very
large MSAs. Once an area is identified as a PMSA, the term MSA no longer
is used to describe the area. The large metropolitan area that is the sum
of the PMSAs is called a Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA).
The set of areas known as MSAs, PMSAs, and CMSAs are collectively
designated and referred to as metropolitan areas.
Current metropolitan area definitions are based on standards published
in the Federal Register on March 30, 1990 (55 FR12154-12160). Under the
1990 standards, an area qualifies for recognition as an MSA in one of two
ways: (1) if it includes a city of at least 50,000 population, or (2) if
it includes a Census Bureau-defined urbanized area (of at least 50,000
population) and has a total metropolitan population of at least 100,000
(75,000 in New England). In addition to the county(ies) containing the
main city or urbanized area, an MSA may include additional counties that
have strong economic and social ties to the central county(ies) and meet
other specified requirements of metropolitan character. The ties are
determined chiefly by census data on commuting to work. An MSA may contain
more than one city of 50,000 population and may cross state lines.
An area that meets these requirements for recognition as an MSA but also
has a total population of one million or more may be recognized as a CMSA
if: (1) separate component areas can be identified within the entire area
by meeting specified statistical criteria, and (2) local opinion indicates
there is support for the component areas. If recognized, the component
areas are designated PMSAs, and the entire area becomes a CMSA. If no
PMSAs are recognized, the entire area is an MSA.
OMB defines metropolitan areas in terms of entire counties, except in
the six New England states where they are defined in terms of cities and
towns. New England data in this news release, however, are based on a
county concept defined by OMB as New England County Metropolitan Areas
(NECMAs) because county-level data are the most detailed available from the
Covered Employment and Wages program. NECMAs are county-based alternatives
- 5 -
to the city- and town-based metropolitan areas in New England. The NECMA
for an MSA or CMSA includes: (1) the county containing the first-named
city in that MSA/CMSA title (this county may include the first-named cities
of other MSAs/CMSAs), and (2) each additional county having at least half
its population in the MSA(s)/CMSA(s) whose first-named cities are in the
county identified in step 1.
Additional statistics and other information
Average annual employment and pay data by state and county are available
upon request from the Division of Occupational and Administrative
Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,
Washington, DC 20212, telephone 202-606-6567. The comprehensive bulletin,
Employment and Wages, features information by detailed industry on
establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all states. The
bulletin for 1995, which is due to be issued in late 1996, will be
available for sale from the BLS Publication Sales Center, P.O. Box 2145,
Chicago, Illinois 60690.
This news release, along with other BLS statistics and information, is
available via the Internet at the BLS World Wide Web site
(http://stats.bls.gov). Information in this release will be made available
to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-606-STAT;
TDD phone: 202-606-5897; TDD message referral phone number:
1-800-326-2577.
Table 1. Average annual pay for 1994 and 1995 for all covered workers 1/ by metropolitan area
Average annual pay Ranking of areas
By percent
By level of change in
Percent average average
change, annual pay annual pay,
Metropolitan area 2/ 1994 1995 3/ 1994-95 4/ for 1995 1994-95
All metropolitan areas..............................$28,125 $29,105 3.5 --- ---
Abilene, Tex............................................. 20,320 20,365 0.2 293 307
Akron, Ohio.............................................. 26,357 27,090 2.8 78 183
Albany, Ga............................................... 23,317 23,877 2.4 179 224
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y............................. 27,231 27,694 1.7 59 266
Albuquerque, N.M......................................... 24,309 25,019 2.9 137 176
Alexandria, La........................................... 20,712 21,268 2.7 278 208
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pa........................... 26,602 27,804 4.5 58 28
Altoona, Pa.............................................. 21,127 21,768 3.0 266 168
Amarillo, Tex............................................ 22,108 22,633 2.4 233 224
Anchorage, Alaska........................................ 34,098 33,650 -1.3 14 310
Ann Arbor, Mich.......................................... 29,258 30,013 2.6 31 214
Anniston, Ala............................................ 21,433 22,024 2.8 256 183
Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, Wis............................. 25,381 26,279 3.5 104 104
Asheville, N.C........................................... 21,892 22,880 4.5 223 28
Athens, Ga............................................... 22,234 22,761 2.4 228 224
Atlanta, Ga.............................................. 28,688 29,952 4.4 32 37
Atlantic-Cape May, N.J................................... 26,185 26,585 1.5 93 279
Augusta-Aiken, Ga.-S.C................................... 24,919 25,609 2.8 116 183
Austin-San Marcos, Tex................................... 25,618 26,922 5.1 80 13
Bakersfield, Calif....................................... 24,591 24,659 0.3 154 306
Baltimore, Md............................................ 27,955 28,745 2.8 41 183
Bangor, Maine............................................ 22,335 22,953 2.8 222 183
Barnstable-Yarmouth, Mass................................ 22,371 23,097 3.2 212 141
Baton Rouge, La.......................................... 24,410 25,172 3.1 132 153
Beaumont-Port Arthur, Tex................................ 26,397 26,827 1.6 88 272
Bellingham, Wash......................................... 21,554 22,357 3.7 246 83
Benton Harbor, Mich...................................... 24,854 25,188 1.3 131 287
Bergen-Passaic, N.J...................................... 34,675 35,746 3.1 8 153
Billings, Mont........................................... 22,320 22,813 2.2 227 240
Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula, Miss......................... 22,299 22,869 2.6 224 214
Binghamton, N.Y.......................................... 25,744 26,008 1.0 110 294
Birmingham, Ala.......................................... 26,252 27,337 4.1 71 54
Bismarck, N.D............................................ 21,317 22,014 3.3 257 132
Bloomington, Ind......................................... 21,880 22,590 3.2 236 141
Bloomington-Normal, Ill.................................. 27,769 29,020 4.5 40 28
Boise City, Idaho........................................ 24,571 26,072 6.1 109 4
Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Mass.-N.H..... 31,403 32,791 4.4 17 37
Boulder-Longmont, Colo................................... 26,948 28,441 5.5 46 9
Brazoria, Tex............................................ 28,941 29,892 3.3 33 132
Bremerton, Wash.......................................... 25,095 25,877 3.1 111 153
Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, Tex.................... 17,952 18,566 3.4 307 120
Bryan-College Station, Tex............................... 19,255 19,788 2.8 303 183
Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y............................... 25,780 26,749 3.8 89 71
Burlington, Vt........................................... 25,582 26,480 3.5 97 104
Canton-Massillon, Ohio................................... 23,945 24,644 2.9 156 176
Casper, Wyo.............................................. 22,152 22,621 2.1 234 246
Cedar Rapids, Iowa....................................... 25,706 26,572 3.4 94 120
Champaign-Urbana, Ill.................................... 23,318 24,356 4.5 164 28
Charleston-North Charleston, S.C......................... 22,175 22,508 1.5 241 279
Charleston, W.Va......................................... 25,116 25,845 2.9 113 176
Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, N.C.-S.C................... 26,520 27,859 5.0 56 15
Charlottesville, Va...................................... 23,860 24,705 3.5 149 104
Chattanooga, Tenn.-Ga.................................... 23,747 24,775 4.3 148 42
Cheyenne, Wyo............................................ 22,167 21,913 -1.1 260 309
Chicago, Ill............................................. 31,340 32,524 3.8 18 71
Chico-Paradise, Calif.................................... 20,380 20,573 0.9 290 296
Cincinnati, Ohio-Ky.-Ind................................. 27,106 28,057 3.5 50 104
Clarksville-Hopkinsville, Tenn.-Ky....................... 19,893 20,728 4.2 289 46
Cleveland-Lorain-Elyria, Ohio............................ 27,927 28,742 2.9 42 176
Colorado Springs, Colo................................... 23,754 24,500 3.1 160 153
Columbia, Mo............................................. 22,636 23,150 2.3 209 233
Columbia, S.C............................................ 22,901 23,647 3.3 186 132
Columbus, Ga.-Ala........................................ 21,478 22,255 3.6 251 94
Columbus, Ohio........................................... 26,291 26,948 2.5 79 220
Corpus Christi, Tex...................................... 23,660 24,032 1.6 173 272
Cumberland, Md.-W.Va..................................... 21,268 21,958 3.2 258 141
Dallas, Tex.............................................. 30,105 31,502 4.6 23 26
Danville, Va............................................. 21,192 21,931 3.5 259 104
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, Iowa-Ill................... 25,434 25,861 1.7 112 266
Dayton-Springfield, Ohio................................. 26,721 27,673 3.6 60 94
Daytona Beach, Fla....................................... 19,895 20,494 3.0 291 168
Decatur, Ala............................................. 24,133 24,853 3.0 144 168
Decatur, Ill............................................. 27,071 27,339 1.0 70 294
Denver, Colo............................................. 28,965 30,059 3.8 30 71
Des Moines, Iowa......................................... 25,509 26,376 3.4 100 120
Detroit, Mich............................................ 33,201 34,706 4.5 10 28
Dothan, Ala.............................................. 22,155 23,094 4.2 213 46
Dover, Del............................................... 21,709 23,054 6.2 218 3
Dubuque, Iowa............................................ 23,277 24,053 3.3 172 132
Duluth-Superior, Minn.-Wis............................... 22,712 23,288 2.5 202 220
Dutchess County, N.Y..................................... 28,860 29,707 2.9 35 176
Eau Claire, Wis.......................................... 21,151 21,613 2.2 269 240
El Paso, Tex............................................. 20,221 20,971 3.7 285 83
Elkhart-Goshen, Ind...................................... 24,690 25,155 1.9 133 255
Elmira, N.Y.............................................. 22,880 23,749 3.8 183 71
Enid, Okla............................................... 19,601 19,934 1.7 299 266
Erie, Pa................................................. 24,518 25,204 2.8 130 183
Eugene-Springfield, Ore.................................. 22,510 23,206 3.1 208 153
Evansville-Henderson, Ind.-Ky............................ 23,821 24,269 1.9 166 255
Fargo-Moorhead, N.D.-Minn................................ 21,397 22,087 3.2 255 141
Fayetteville, N.C........................................ 20,928 21,557 3.0 272 168
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark...................... 21,597 22,363 3.6 244 94
Flint, Mich.............................................. 33,219 33,389 0.5 15 301
Florence, Ala............................................ 21,798 22,310 2.3 247 233
Florence, S.C............................................ 21,681 22,605 4.3 235 42
Fort Collins-Loveland, Colo.............................. 24,221 24,983 3.1 139 153
Fort Lauderdale, Fla..................................... 25,830 26,695 3.3 91 132
Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Fla............................... 21,814 22,230 1.9 252 255
Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie, Fla.......................... 22,275 23,065 3.5 217 104
Fort Smith, Ark.-Okla.................................... 20,982 21,461 2.3 274 233
Fort Walton Beach, Fla................................... 19,325 19,789 2.4 302 224
Fort Wayne, Ind.......................................... 24,774 25,557 3.2 119 141
Fort Worth-Arlington, Tex................................ 26,463 27,454 3.7 66 83
Fresno, Calif............................................ 21,253 21,332 0.4 277 303
Gadsden, Ala............................................. 22,609 23,558 4.2 193 46
Gainesville, Fla......................................... 21,302 21,822 2.4 263 224
Galveston-Texas City, Tex................................ 25,178 26,361 4.7 102 23
Gary, Ind................................................ 26,671 27,498 3.1 65 153
Glens Falls, N.Y......................................... 23,204 23,346 0.6 200 299
Goldsboro, N.C........................................... 19,476 20,343 4.5 294 28
Grand Forks, N.D.-Minn................................... 19,416 19,918 2.6 300 214
Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, Mich...................... 26,431 27,297 3.3 72 132
Great Falls, Mont........................................ 19,985 20,213 1.1 296 293
Greeley, Colo............................................ 22,929 23,468 2.3 195 233
Green Bay, Wis........................................... 25,289 26,298 4.0 103 59
Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point, N.C................. 24,197 25,229 4.3 129 42
Greenville, N.C.......................................... 22,490 22,635 0.6 232 299
Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, S.C..................... 23,497 24,667 5.0 153 15
Hagerstown, Md........................................... 22,983 23,695 3.1 185 153
Hamilton-Middletown, Ohio................................ 25,804 26,601 3.1 92 153
Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, Pa.......................... 25,982 26,856 3.4 85 120
Hartford, Conn........................................... 33,172 33,948 2.3 13 233
Hattiesburg, Miss........................................ 20,063 20,867 4.0 286 59
Hickory-Morganton, N.C................................... 21,385 21,724 1.6 267 272
Honolulu, Hawaii......................................... 27,736 27,936 0.7 52 297
Houma, La................................................ 22,431 22,969 2.4 221 224
Houston, Tex............................................. 30,349 31,390 3.4 25 120
Huntington-Ashland, W.Va.-Ky.-Ohio....................... 23,368 23,408 0.2 197 307
Huntsville, Ala.......................................... 30,389 31,233 2.8 26 183
Indianapolis, Ind........................................ 27,437 28,081 2.3 49 233
Iowa City, Iowa.......................................... 24,131 24,798 2.8 147 183
Jackson, Mich............................................ 26,414 26,848 1.6 87 272
Jackson, Miss............................................ 23,030 24,193 5.1 168 13
Jackson, Tenn............................................ 22,591 23,901 5.8 177 7
Jacksonville, Fla........................................ 24,315 25,255 3.9 128 66
Jacksonville, N.C........................................ 16,332 16,951 3.8 311 71
Jamestown, N.Y........................................... 22,051 22,358 1.4 245 282
Janesville-Beloit, Wis................................... 25,819 26,885 4.1 83 54
Jersey City, N.J......................................... 33,012 34,621 4.9 11 19
Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, Tenn.-Va................. 22,643 23,424 3.5 196 104
Johnstown, Pa............................................ 20,644 21,085 2.1 282 246
Joplin, Mo............................................... 20,296 21,359 5.2 276 11
Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Mich............................. 26,517 27,259 2.8 75 183
Kankakee, Ill............................................ 22,991 23,952 4.2 175 46
Kansas City, Mo.-Kan..................................... 26,601 27,597 3.7 61 83
Kenosha, Wis............................................. 24,001 24,933 3.9 141 66
Killeen-Temple, Tex...................................... 20,850 21,589 3.5 270 104
Knoxville, Tenn.......................................... 23,711 24,567 3.6 158 94
Kokomo, Ind.............................................. 33,231 33,967 2.2 12 240
LaCrosse, Wis.-Minn...................................... 21,517 21,876 1.7 261 266
Lafayette, Ind........................................... 24,487 25,263 3.2 127 141
Lafayette, La............................................ 21,974 22,735 3.5 231 104
Lake Charles, La......................................... 24,741 25,399 2.7 123 208
Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla............................... 22,377 23,238 3.9 205 66
Lancaster, Pa............................................ 24,838 25,605 3.1 117 153
Lansing-East Lansing, Mich............................... 28,026 28,151 0.4 48 303
Laredo, Tex.............................................. 18,730 19,174 2.4 306 224
Las Cruces, N.M.......................................... 19,451 19,997 2.8 298 183
Las Vegas, Nev.-Ariz..................................... 25,247 26,263 4.0 105 59
Lawrence, Kan............................................ 20,287 20,860 2.8 287 183
Lawton, Okla............................................. 20,268 20,780 2.5 288 220
Lewiston-Auburn, Maine................................... 20,809 21,582 3.7 271 83
Lexington, Ky............................................ 23,510 24,501 4.2 159 46
Lima, Ohio............................................... 24,359 24,694 1.4 150 282
Lincoln, Neb............................................. 22,564 23,285 3.2 203 141
Little Rock-North Little Rock, Ark....................... 23,678 24,569 3.8 157 71
Longview-Marshall, Tex................................... 22,397 23,080 3.0 215 168
Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif............................ 31,831 32,445 1.9 19 255
Louisville, Ky.-Ind...................................... 24,627 25,554 3.8 120 71
Lubbock, Tex............................................. 21,259 21,529 1.3 273 287
Lynchburg, Va............................................ 22,340 23,074 3.3 216 132
Macon, Ga................................................ 23,333 23,850 2.2 181 240
Madison, Wis............................................. 25,432 26,364 3.7 101 83
Mansfield, Ohio.......................................... 22,908 23,584 2.9 192 176
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Tex............................ 17,683 18,031 2.0 309 251
Medford-Ashland, Ore..................................... 21,541 22,112 2.7 253 208
Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, Fla....................... 26,325 26,853 2.0 86 251
Memphis, Tenn.-Ark.-Miss................................. 25,840 26,915 4.2 81 46
Merced, Calif............................................ 20,007 20,253 1.2 295 291
Miami, Fla............................................... 26,488 27,452 3.6 67 94
Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon, N.J........................ 36,690 37,925 3.4 4 120
Milwaukee-Waukesha, Wis.................................. 26,958 27,926 3.6 53 94
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.-Wis.......................... 29,102 30,185 3.7 29 83
Mobile, Ala.............................................. 22,687 23,318 2.8 201 183
Modesto, Calif........................................... 23,037 23,374 1.5 199 279
Monmouth-Ocean, N.J...................................... 28,338 29,033 2.5 39 220
Monroe, La............................................... 21,978 22,977 4.5 220 28
Montgomery, Ala.......................................... 22,984 23,798 3.5 182 104
Muncie, Ind.............................................. 23,671 24,123 1.9 170 255
Myrtle Beach, S.C........................................ 17,498 17,910 2.4 310 224
Naples, Fla.............................................. 21,568 22,747 5.5 229 9
Nashville, Tenn.......................................... 26,200 27,345 4.4 69 37
Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y...................................... 30,765 31,635 2.8 21 183
New Haven-Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury-Waterbury, Conn.... 35,535 37,546 5.7 5 8
New London-Norwich, Conn................................. 30,015 30,892 2.9 27 176
New Orleans, La.......................................... 24,748 25,594 3.4 118 120
New York, N.Y............................................ 39,933 42,272 5.9 2 6
Newark, N.J.............................................. 35,910 37,224 3.7 6 83
Newburgh, N.Y.-Pa........................................ 24,507 25,016 2.1 138 246
Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, Va.-N.C............. 22,988 23,540 2.4 194 224
Oakland, Calif........................................... 32,157 33,180 3.2 16 141
Ocala, Fla............................................... 20,273 21,084 4.0 283 59
Odessa-Midland, Tex...................................... 24,722 25,032 1.3 136 287
Oklahoma City, Okla...................................... 23,298 23,626 1.4 187 282
Olympia, Wash............................................ 25,300 26,083 3.1 107 153
Omaha, Neb.-Iowa......................................... 23,748 24,977 5.2 140 11
Orange County, Calif..................................... 30,315 30,889 1.9 28 255
Orlando, Fla............................................. 23,630 24,448 3.5 162 104
Owensboro, Ky............................................ 20,784 21,371 2.8 275 183
Panama City, Fla......................................... 19,858 20,489 3.2 292 141
Parkersburg-Marietta, W.Va.-Ohio......................... 23,475 24,000 2.2 174 240
Pensacola, Fla........................................... 22,078 22,509 2.0 240 251
Peoria-Pekin, Ill........................................ 27,010 27,548 2.0 64 251
Philadelphia, Pa.-N.J.................................... 30,519 31,695 3.9 20 66
Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz....................................... 25,738 26,748 3.9 90 66
Pine Bluff, Ark.......................................... 21,740 22,457 3.3 242 132
Pittsburgh, Pa........................................... 27,121 28,051 3.4 51 120
Pittsfield, Mass......................................... 24,658 25,513 3.5 121 104
Portland, Maine.......................................... 24,455 25,359 3.7 125 83
Portland-Vancouver, Ore.-Wash............................ 27,065 28,357 4.8 47 22
Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, R.I........................ 25,515 26,487 3.8 96 71
Provo-Orem, Utah......................................... 21,377 22,848 6.9 225 2
Pueblo, Colo............................................. 21,066 21,869 3.8 262 71
Punta Gorda, Fla......................................... 20,048 21,058 5.0 284 15
Racine, Wis.............................................. 26,410 26,861 1.7 84 266
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.......................... 26,703 27,925 4.6 54 26
Rapid City, S.D.......................................... 19,584 20,107 2.7 297 208
Reading, Pa.............................................. 26,705 27,442 2.8 68 183
Redding, Calif........................................... 23,431 23,590 0.7 191 297
Reno, Nev................................................ 25,632 26,513 3.4 95 120
Richland-Kennewick-Pasco, Wash........................... 26,835 27,570 2.7 63 208
Richmond-Petersburg, Va.................................. 26,483 27,596 4.2 62 46
Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.......................... 24,477 24,816 1.4 145 282
Roanoke, Va.............................................. 22,825 23,951 4.9 176 19
Rochester, Minn.......................................... 28,262 29,155 3.2 38 141
Rochester, N.Y........................................... 28,299 29,302 3.5 36 104
Rockford, Ill............................................ 26,488 27,229 2.8 76 183
Rocky Mount, N.C......................................... 21,749 22,532 3.6 239 94
Sacramento, Calif........................................ 28,125 29,289 4.1 37 54
Saginaw-Bay City-Midland, Mich........................... 29,080 29,863 2.7 34 208
Salem, Ore............................................... 22,419 23,108 3.1 211 153
Salinas, Calif........................................... 23,462 24,261 3.4 167 120
Salt Lake City-Ogden, Utah............................... 23,839 24,693 3.6 151 94
San Angelo, Tex.......................................... 20,543 21,124 2.8 281 183
San Antonio, Tex......................................... 23,016 23,725 3.1 184 153
San Diego, Calif......................................... 27,261 27,842 2.1 57 246
San Francisco, Calif..................................... 36,510 37,975 4.0 3 59
San Jose, Calif.......................................... 39,123 42,409 8.4 1 1
San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, Calif............ 22,327 23,026 3.1 219 153
Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, Calif.................. 25,390 25,806 1.6 114 272
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, Calif............................ 24,068 25,036 4.0 135 59
Santa Fe, N.M............................................ 22,596 23,613 4.5 189 28
Santa Rosa, Calif........................................ 25,232 26,178 3.7 106 83
Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.................................. 21,282 22,279 4.7 248 23
Savannah, Ga............................................. 23,130 23,865 3.2 180 141
Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton, Pa....................... 22,430 23,278 3.8 204 71
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash........................... 30,181 31,550 4.5 22 28
Sharon, Pa............................................... 22,403 22,815 1.8 226 263
Sheboygan, Wis........................................... 24,411 24,874 1.9 143 255
Sherman-Denison, Tex..................................... 23,231 23,879 2.8 178 183
Shreveport-Bossier City, La.............................. 22,990 23,408 1.8 197 263
Sioux City, Iowa-Neb..................................... 21,367 22,443 5.0 243 15
Sioux Falls, S.D......................................... 21,979 22,739 3.5 230 104
South Bend, Ind.......................................... 24,115 25,096 4.1 134 54
Spokane, Wash............................................ 22,828 23,595 3.4 190 120
Springfield, Ill......................................... 27,963 28,614 2.3 44 233
Springfield, Mass........................................ 25,661 26,437 3.0 98 168
Springfield, Mo.......................................... 21,183 22,111 4.4 254 37
St. Cloud, Minn.......................................... 21,253 21,717 2.2 268 240
St. Joseph, Mo........................................... 21,911 22,279 1.7 248 266
St. Louis, Mo.-Ill....................................... 27,392 28,599 4.4 45 37
State College, Pa........................................ 23,641 24,298 2.8 165 183
Steubenville-Weirton, Ohio-W.Va.......................... 25,254 25,649 1.6 115 272
Stockton-Lodi, Calif..................................... 24,263 24,376 0.5 163 301
Sumter, S.C.............................................. 19,334 19,880 2.8 301 183
Syracuse, N.Y............................................ 26,577 27,267 2.6 73 214
Tacoma, Wash............................................. 23,832 24,687 3.6 152 94
Tallahassee, Fla......................................... 22,246 23,141 4.0 210 59
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla..................... 23,767 24,650 3.7 155 83
Terre Haute, Ind......................................... 21,972 22,583 2.8 237 183
Texarkana, Tex.-Texarkana, Ark........................... 21,169 21,770 2.8 264 183
Toledo, Ohio............................................. 25,921 26,907 3.8 82 71
Topeka, Kan.............................................. 23,912 24,904 4.1 142 54
Trenton, N.J............................................. 35,345 36,614 3.6 7 94
Tucson, Ariz............................................. 22,286 23,622 6.0 188 5
Tulsa, Okla.............................................. 24,805 25,338 2.1 126 246
Tuscaloosa, Ala.......................................... 23,772 24,487 3.0 161 168
Tyler, Tex............................................... 23,729 24,176 1.9 169 255
Utica-Rome, N.Y.......................................... 22,808 23,207 1.8 207 263
Vallejo-Fairfield-Napa, Calif............................ 26,181 25,464 -2.7 122 311
Ventura, Calif........................................... 26,905 27,262 1.3 74 287
Victoria, Tex............................................ 21,553 22,267 3.3 250 132
Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, N.J........................ 26,430 27,104 2.6 77 214
Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, Calif........................ 18,807 19,457 3.5 304 104
Waco, Tex................................................ 21,777 22,534 3.5 238 104
Washington, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W.Va............................ 33,947 34,891 2.8 9 183
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa............................... 24,181 24,813 2.6 146 214
Wausau, Wis.............................................. 23,313 24,112 3.4 171 120
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Fla.......................... 26,617 27,911 4.9 55 19
Wheeling, W.Va.-Ohio..................................... 21,516 21,769 1.2 265 291
Wichita, Kan............................................. 25,291 26,388 4.3 99 42
Wichita Falls, Tex....................................... 20,624 21,264 3.1 279 153
Williamsport, Pa......................................... 22,368 23,093 3.2 214 141
Wilmington-Newark, Del.-Md............................... 30,175 31,439 4.2 24 46
Wilmington, N.C.......................................... 22,552 23,233 3.0 206 168
Yakima, Wash............................................. 18,398 19,271 4.7 305 23
Yolo, Calif.............................................. 27,825 28,616 2.8 43 183
York, Pa................................................. 25,113 26,074 3.8 108 71
Youngstown-Warren, Ohio.................................. 25,025 25,380 1.4 124 282
Yuba City, Calif......................................... 21,145 21,237 0.4 280 303
Yuma, Ariz............................................... 17,996 18,286 1.6 308 272
1/ Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal
Employees (UCFE) programs.
2/ Includes data for Metropolitan Statistical Areas as of July 5, 1994. In the New England areas,
the New England County Metropolitan Area (NECMA) definitions were used. See Technical Note.
3/ Data are preliminary.
4/ Percent changes were computed from unrounded average annual pay data and may differ from those
computed using data rounded to the nearest dollar.
Table 2. Average annual pay for 1994 and 1995 for all covered workers 1/ by Consolidated Metropolitan
Statistical Area
Average annual pay Ranking of areas
By percent
By level of change in
Percent average average
change, annual pay annual pay,
Consolidated metropolitan statistical area 2/ 1994 1995 3/ 1994-95 4/ for 1995 1994-95
All consolidated metropolitan statistical areas.....$31,469 $32,642 3.7 -- --
Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Mass.-N.H..... 31,403 32,791 4.4 5 4
Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, Ill.-Ind.-Wis...................... 30,888 32,047 3.8 6 10
Cincinnati-Hamilton, Ohio-Ky.-Ind....................... 26,958 27,886 3.4 15 14
Cleveland-Akron, Ohio.................................... 27,585 28,382 2.9 14 16
Dallas-Fort Worth, Tex................................... 29,050 30,340 4.4 10 4
Denver-Boulder-Greeley, Colo............................. 28,416 29,531 3.9 12 9
Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, Mich............................ 32,788 34,118 4.1 3 7
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, Tex.......................... 30,059 31,107 3.5 8 12
Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, Calif............... 30,368 30,912 1.8 9 18
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla............................... 26,239 27,161 3.5 18 12
Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.................................... 26,909 27,830 3.4 16 14
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Conn. 36,357 38,047 4.6 1 2
Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md.. 30,120 31,238 3.7 7 11
Portland-Salem, Ore.-Wash................................ 26,427 27,648 4.6 17 2
Sacramento-Yolo, Calif................................... 28,092 29,214 4.0 13 8
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif.................... 34,475 36,187 5.0 2 1
Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, Wash........................... 28,809 30,052 4.3 11 6
Washington-Baltimore, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W.Va.................. 31,920 32,807 2.8 4 17
1/ Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal
Employees (UCFE) programs.
2/ Includes data for Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas as of July 5, 1994. In the New England areas,
the New England County Metropolitan Area (NECMA) definitions were used. See Technical Note.
3/ Data are preliminary.
4/ Percent changes were computed from unrounded average annual pay data and may differ from those
computed using data rounded to the nearest dollar.