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Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information: (202) 606-6567
USDL 97-379
Media contact:

606-5902

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Thursday, October 30, 1997

AVERAGE ANNUAL PAY LEVELS IN METROPOLITAN AREAS, 1996
Average annual pay of employees within the nation's 313 metropolitan
areas increased by 4.0 percent from 1995 to 1996, according to preliminary
data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor. The 4.0 percent increase from 1995 to 1996 was the
largest over-the-year gain since 1992. Average annual pay was $30,250 in
1996, up from $29,099 in 1995. Average annual pay for the entire nation,
metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas combined, was $28,945 in 1996.
(Average annual pay data by state and industry were issued on September 11,
1997, in USDL 97-315.)
Average annual pay data are compiled from reports submitted by employers
subject to state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) laws covering
118.0 million full- and part-time workers. Average annual pay is computed
by dividing the total annual payrolls of employees covered by UI programs
by the average monthly number of these employees. (See Technical Note
beginning on page 4.) 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 313 Metropolitan 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
New York, N.Y., led the nation with an average annual pay level of
$45,028 in 1996. (See table 1.) San Jose, Calif., had the second highest
average annual pay level ($44,819), followed by San Francisco, Calif.
($40,016), Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon, N.J. ($39,631), and New HavenBridgeport-Stamford-Danbury-Waterbury, Conn. ($39,488). Average pay levels
in these five metropolitan areas ranged from 31 to 49 percent above the
average for all metropolitan areas in the nation. Of the 313 metropolitan
areas, 37 reported average annual pay levels above the national
metropolitan pay average of $30,250. (Seven of the top ten average pay
levels were found in metropolitan areas that are part of the New YorkNorthern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Conn.-Pa. consolidated
metropolitan statistical area.)

Jacksonville, N.C., recorded the lowest average annual pay among
metropolitan areas in 1996 ($17,534) for the seventh straight year. The
second lowest pay occurred in Yuma, Ariz. ($18,213), followed by Myrtle
Beach, S.C. ($18,551), McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Tex. ($18,928), and
Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, Tex. ($19,056). Average annual pay in
these five metropolitan areas averaged 37 to 42 percent below the national
metropolitan pay average. Although the individual positions have shifted,
the lowest levels of annual pay in the nation for the past 4 years have
been in these five areas.
The largest percent increase in average annual pay from 1995 to 1996
occurred in Boulder-Longmont, Colo. (8.9 percent); however, the increase
was partially attributed to a reporting change in state government rather
than actual pay increases. The next largest increase was in Austin-San
Marcos, Tex. (6.6 percent), followed by New York, N.Y. (6.5 percent),
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash. (6.5 percent), and Jersey City, N.J. (6.4
percent). In 1996, 96 metropolitan areas experienced pay increases of 4.0
percent or greater, compared with 65 metropolitan areas in 1995.
- 2 From 1995 to 1996, average annual pay declined in five metropolitan
areas. Bakersfield, Calif., had a drop of 1.4 percent, followed by
Gadsden, Ala. (-1.3 percent), Anchorage, Alaska (-0.4 percent), Yuma, Ariz.
(-0.4 percent), and Flint, Mich. (-0.3 percent). In addition, eight other
metropolitan areas experienced pay growth rates of less than 1 percent.
Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas
Average annual pay for consolidated metropolitan statistical areas rose
by 4.4 percent between 1995 and 1996, from $32,643 to $34,069. (See table
2.) The over-the-year increase of 4.4 percent was the largest gain since
1992. For the tenth consecutive year, the New York-Northern New JerseyLong Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Conn.-Pa. consolidated metropolitan area had the
highest pay level, $40,089. The next highest pay level was recorded in San
Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif. ($37,966), followed by Detroit-Ann ArborFlint, Mich. ($35,072), Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Mass.N.H. ($34,383), and Washington-Baltimore, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W.Va. ($34,199).
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla., had the lowest average annual pay level
($28,056) of the consolidated metropolitan areas for the third consecutive
year. Cincinnati-Hamilton, Ohio-Ky.-Ind., had the second lowest ($28,878),
followed by Milwaukee-Racine, Wis. ($28,979), Portland-Salem, Ore.-Wash.
($29,112), and Cleveland-Akron, Ohio ($29,355).
The highest percent increase in average annual pay between 1995 and
1996, 5.8 percent, was reported in Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, Wash. The
next largest increases were in Denver-Boulder-Greeley, Colo. (5.6 percent),

New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Conn.-Pa. (5.4
percent), Portland-Salem, Ore.-Wash. (5.3 percent), San Francisco-OaklandSan Jose, Calif. (4.9 percent), and Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, Tex. (4.9
percent). The pay increase in Denver-Boulder-Greeley, Colo. was partially
due to the aforementioned reporting change in Boulder-Longmont, Colo.
None of the 18 consolidated metropolitan areas reported a decline in
average annual pay in 1996. The smallest increase occurred in SacramentoYolo, Calif. (1.0 percent), followed by Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, Mich. (2.8
percent), Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, Calif. (3.2 percent), MiamiFort Lauderdale, Fla. (3.3 percent), and Cleveland-Akron, Ohio (3.4
percent).
Technical Note
These data are the product of a federal-state cooperative program known
as Covered Employment and Wages, or the ES-202 program. The data are
derived from summaries of employment and total pay of workers covered by
unemployment insurance (UI) legislation and provided by state Employment
Security Agencies (SESAs). 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 1996 are preliminary and subject to
revision. A news release providing average annual pay data by state and
industry was issued on September 11, 1997 (USDL 97-315).
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 1996, UI and UCFE programs covered workers in 118.0 million
jobs. The estimated 112.9 million workers in these jobs (because they
include multiple job holders) represented 97.3 percent of wage and salary
civilian employment. Covered workers received $3.415 trillion in
pay, representing 94.0 percent of the wage and salary component of personal
income and 44.7 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 1996 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. Percent changes in average annual
pay were computed using final 1995 data as the base, which may differ from
the preliminary data issued last year.
- 2 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 high- and low- wage jobs, as well
as from changes in the level of average annual pay.
In order to insure the highest possible quality of data, SESAs verify
with employers and update, if necessary, the industry, location, and
ownership classification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes
in establishment classification codes resulting from the verification
process are introduced with the data reported for the first quarter of the
year. Changes resulting from improved employer reporting are also
introduced in the first quarter. For these reasons, some data, especially
at more detailed geographic levels, may not be strictly comparable with
earlier years.
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 June 30, 1995 (OMB Bulletin No. 95-

04). These definitions reflect information obtained from the 1990
Decennial Census and the 1992 and 1994 Bureau of the Census population
estimates. A complete list of metropolitan area definitions is available
from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), Document Sales,
5205 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Va. 22161, telephone 703-487-4650.
Generally speaking, a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is a freestanding 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 Bureau of the Census-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.
- 3 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
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
Annual average 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 (e-mail: 202_info@bls.gov).
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 1996, which is due to be issued in
November 1997, will be available for sale from the BLS Publication Sales
Center, P.O. Box 2145, Chicago, Illinois 60690.
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 1995 and 1996 for all covered workers 1/ by metropolitan area
Average annual pay
Ranking of
areas
Percent
By level of
Metropolitan area 2/
change,
average annual
1995
1996 3/
1995-96 4/ pay for 1996
Metropolitan areas
$ 29,099 $ 30,250
4.0
--Abilene, Tex.
20,365
21,035
3.3
295
Akron, Ohio
27,090
28,106
3.8
74
Albany, Ga.
23,910
24,832
3.9
174
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y.
27,694
28,719
3.7
59
Albuquerque, N.M.
25,093
25,835
3.0
141
Alexandria, La.
21,268
21,995
3.4
277
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pa.
27,804
28,771
3.5
58
Altoona, Pa.
21,768
22,675
4.2
260
Amarillo, Tex.
22,633
23,076
2.0
245
Anchorage, Alaska
33,650
33,501
-0.4
18
Ann Arbor, Mich.
30,013
31,027
3.4
33
Anniston, Ala.
22,024
22,366
1.6
268
Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, Wis.
26,279
27,107
3.1
105
Asheville, N.C.
22,912
23,731
3.6
216
Athens, Ga.
22,762
23,304
2.4
233
Atlanta, Ga.
29,959
31,354
4.7
31
Atlantic-Cape May, N.J.
26,585
27,511
3.5
96
Augusta-Aiken, Ga.-S.C.
25,611
25,976
1.4
133
Austin-San Marcos, Tex.
26,922
28,707
6.6
61
Bakersfield, Calif.
24,659
24,314
-1.4
193
Baltimore, Md.
28,733
29,953
4.2
40
Bangor, Maine
22,953
23,523
2.5
223
Barnstable-Yarmouth, Mass.
23,097
24,154
4.6
200
Baton Rouge, La.
25,172
25,995
3.3
130
Beaumont-Port Arthur, Tex.
26,827
27,318
1.8
102

Bellingham, Wash.
Benton Harbor, Mich.
Bergen-Passaic, N.J.
Billings, Mont.
Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula, Miss.
Binghamton, N.Y.
Birmingham, Ala.
Bismarck, N.D.
Bloomington, Ind.
Bloomington-Normal, Ill.
Boise City, Idaho
Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Mass.-N.H.
Boulder-Longmont, Colo.
Brazoria, Tex.
Bremerton, Wash.
Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, Tex.
Bryan-College Station, Tex.
Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Burlington, Vt.
Canton-Massillon, Ohio
Casper, Wyo.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
Charleston-North Charleston, S.C.
Charleston, W.Va.
Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, N.C.-S.C.
Charlottesville, Va.
Chattanooga, Tenn.-Ga.
Cheyenne, Wyo.
Chicago, Ill.
Chico-Paradise, Calif.
Cincinnati, Ohio-Ky.-Ind.
Clarksville-Hopkinsville, Tenn.-Ky.
Cleveland-Lorain-Elyria, Ohio
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Columbia, Mo.
Columbia, S.C.
Columbus, Ga.-Ala.
Columbus, Ohio
Corpus Christi, Tex.
Cumberland, Md.-W.Va.
Dallas, Tex.
Danville, Va.
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, Iowa-Ill.
Dayton-Springfield, Ohio
Daytona Beach, Fla.
Decatur, Ala.
Decatur, Ill.
Denver, Colo.

22,357
25,188
35,746
22,813
22,869
26,008
27,337
22,014
22,590
29,023
26,072
32,798
28,441
29,892
25,877
18,566
19,788
26,749
26,480
24,644
22,621
26,572
24,353
22,508
25,846
27,859
24,708
24,775
21,913
32,523
20,573
28,057
20,728
28,742
24,500
23,150
23,647
22,257
26,948
24,032
21,958
31,500
21,931
25,861
27,676
20,497
24,853
27,339
30,059

23,307
25,864
36,840
23,491
23,223
26,904
28,520
22,617
23,311
29,962
26,342
34,383
30,968
30,781
25,954
19,056
20,683
27,607
27,724
25,109
23,200
27,523
24,939
23,167
26,700
29,291
25,704
25,464
21,999
33,907
21,021
29,043
21,511
29,705
25,771
23,917
24,479
22,858
27,888
24,976
22,719
32,996
22,169
26,510
28,659
21,121
25,843
28,399
31,627

4.3
2.7
3.1
3.0
1.5
3.4
4.3
2.7
3.2
3.2
1.0
4.8
8.9
3.0
0.3
2.6
4.5
3.2
4.7
1.9
2.6
3.6
2.4
2.9
3.3
5.1
4.0
2.8
0.4
4.3
2.2
3.5
3.8
3.4
5.2
3.3
3.5
2.7
3.5
3.9
3.5
4.7
1.1
2.5
3.6
3.0
4.0
3.9
5.2

232
139
8
225
242
107
64
261
231
39
117
15
34
35
135
309
301
92
86
164
243
95
170
244
109
47
145
151
276
16
296
55
286
44
142
212
188
251
79
169
256
23
273
112
62
292
140
68
29

Des Moines, Iowa
Detroit, Mich.
Dothan, Ala.
Dover, Del.
Dubuque, Iowa.
Duluth-Superior, Minn.-Wis.
Dutchess County, N.Y.
Eau Claire, Wis.
El Paso, Tex.
Elkhart-Goshen, Ind.
Elmira, N.Y.
Enid, Okla.
Erie, Pa.
Eugene-Springfield, Ore.
Evansville-Henderson, Ind.-Ky.
Fargo-Moorhead, N.D.-Minn.
Fayetteville, N.C.
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark.
Flagstaff, Ariz.-Utah
Flint, Mich.
Florence, Ala.
Florence, S.C.
Fort Collins-Loveland, Colo.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Fla.
Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Fort Smith, Ark.-Okla.
Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Fort Wayne, Ind.
Fort Worth-Arlington, Tex.
Fresno, Calif.
Gadsden, Ala.
Gainesville, Fla.
Galveston-Texas City, Tex.
Gary, Ind.
Glens Falls, N.Y.
Goldsboro, N.C.
Grand Forks, N.D.-Minn.
Grand Junction, Colo.
Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, Mich.
Great Falls, Mont.
Greeley, Colo.
Green Bay, Wis.
Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point, N.C.
Greenville, N.C.
Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, S.C.
Hagerstown, Md.
Hamilton-Middletown, Ohio
Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, Pa.

26,376
34,710
23,094
23,054
24,053
23,217
29,707
21,613
20,971
25,155
23,749
19,934
25,204
23,206
24,294
22,077
21,557
22,363
20,849
33,389
22,310
22,605
24,983
26,691
22,233
23,015
21,461
19,788
25,557
27,454
21,331
23,558
21,822
26,361
27,498
23,346
20,343
19,904
22,181
27,298
20,213
23,468
26,298
25,229
22,635
24,667
23,695
26,601
26,856

27,528
35,748
23,268
24,177
24,745
24,184
30,546
22,147
21,834
26,333
24,358
20,629
25,941
24,150
25,319
22,973
22,514
23,003
21,444
33,294
22,801
23,440
26,166
27,547
23,246
23,601
22,016
20,653
26,465
28,511
21,704
23,256
22,349
27,370
28,504
24,321
21,417
20,476
22,715
28,478
21,073
24,527
27,118
26,130
23,466
25,397
24,388
27,629
27,788

4.4
3.0
0.8
4.9
2.9
4.2
2.8
2.5
4.1
4.7
2.6
3.5
2.9
4.1
4.2
4.1
4.4
2.9
2.9
-0.3
2.2
3.7
4.7
3.2
4.6
2.5
2.6
4.4
3.6
3.9
1.8
-1.3
2.4
3.8
3.7
4.2
5.3
2.9
2.4
4.3
4.3
4.5
3.1
3.6
3.7
3.0
2.9
3.9
3.5

94
11
237
199
177
197
37
274
279
118
191
303
136
201
156
249
263
247
287
20
253
229
123
93
239
220
275
302
114
65
283
238
270
98
66
192
289
304
257
67
294
185
104
124
227
153
190
91
85

Hartford, Conn.
Hattiesburg, Miss.
Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir, N.C.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Houma, La.
Houston, Tex.
Huntington-Ashland, W.Va.-Ky.-Ohio
Huntsville, Ala.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Iowa City, Iowa
Jackson, Mich.
Jackson, Miss.
Jackson, Tenn.
Jacksonville, Fla.
Jacksonville, N.C.
Jamestown, N.Y.
Janesville-Beloit, Wis.
Jersey City, N.J.
Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, Tenn.-Va.
Johnstown, Pa.
Joplin, Mo.
Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Mich.
Kankakee, Ill.
Kansas City, Mo.-Kan.
Kenosha, Wis.
Killeen-Temple, Tex.
Knoxville, Tenn.
Kokomo, Ind.
LaCrosse, Wis.-Minn.
Lafayette, Ind.
Lafayette, La.
Lake Charles, La.
Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.
Lancaster, Pa.
Lansing-East Lansing, Mich.
Laredo, Tex.
Las Cruces, N.M.
Las Vegas, Nev.-Ariz.
Lawrence, Kan.
Lawton, Okla.
Lewiston-Auburn, Maine
Lexington, Ky.
Lima, Ohio
Lincoln, Neb.
Little Rock-North Little Rock, Ark.
Longview-Marshall, Tex.
Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif.
Louisville, Ky.-Ind.
Lubbock, Tex.

33,948
20,867
21,726
27,936
22,969
31,390
23,408
31,233
28,081
24,798
26,848
24,193
23,901
25,256
16,951
22,358
26,898
34,621
23,424
21,085
21,359
27,259
23,961
27,597
24,933
21,589
24,567
33,967
21,874
25,263
22,735
25,399
23,238
25,605
28,149
19,174
20,186
26,263
20,860
20,780
21,582
24,501
24,694
23,285
24,569
23,080
32,445
25,554
21,529

34,819
21,797
22,493
28,336
24,099
32,895
23,929
31,473
29,137
25,536
27,640
24,928
24,898
26,373
17,534
22,807
27,832
36,833
24,492
21,561
21,994
28,611
25,205
28,774
26,228
22,432
25,340
34,779
23,001
25,990
23,942
26,059
24,106
26,467
29,247
20,388
20,371
27,324
21,198
20,916
22,495
25,746
25,013
24,018
25,392
23,983
33,478
26,628
22,721

2.6
4.5
3.5
1.4
4.9
4.8
2.2
0.8
3.8
3.0
3.0
3.0
4.2
4.4
3.4
2.0
3.5
6.4
4.6
2.3
3.0
5.0
5.2
4.3
5.2
3.9
3.1
2.4
5.2
2.9
5.3
2.6
3.7
3.4
3.9
6.3
0.9
4.0
1.6
0.7
4.2
5.1
1.3
3.1
3.4
3.9
3.2
4.2
5.5

12
281
265
70
203
25
211
30
49
150
90
171
172
116
313
252
82
9
187
285
278
63
159
57
122
266
155
13
248
131
209
128
202
113
48
305
306
101
291
297
264
144
167
206
154
207
19
110
255

Lynchburg, Va.
Macon, Ga.
Madison, Wis.
Mansfield, Ohio
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Tex.
Medford-Ashland, Ore.
Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, Fla.
Memphis, Tenn.-Ark.-Miss.
Merced, Calif.
Miami, Fla.
Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon, N.J.
Milwaukee-Waukesha, Wis.
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.-Wis.
Mobile, Ala.
Modesto, Calif.
Monmouth-Ocean, N.J.
Monroe, La.
Montgomery, Ala.
Muncie, Ind.
Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Naples, Fla.
Nashville, Tenn.
Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y.
New Haven-Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury-Waterbury, Conn.
New London-Norwich, Conn.
New Orleans, La.
New York, N.Y.
Newark, N.J.
Newburgh, N.Y.-Pa.
Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, Va.-N.C.
Oakland, Calif.
Ocala, Fla.
Odessa-Midland, Tex.
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Olympia, Wash.
Omaha, Neb.-Iowa
Orange County, Calif.
Orlando, Fla.
Owensboro, Ky.
Panama City, Fla.
Parkersburg-Marietta, W.Va.-Ohio
Pensacola, Fla.
Peoria-Pekin, Ill.
Philadelphia, Pa.-N.J.
Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.
Pine Bluff, Ark.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Pittsfield, Mass.
Portland, Maine

23,077
23,853
26,364
23,584
18,031
22,112
26,854
26,915
20,256
27,453
37,925
27,926
30,170
23,318
23,376
29,033
22,977
23,798
24,123
17,910
22,747
27,346
31,635
37,546
30,892
25,593
42,272
37,224
25,016
23,544
33,180
21,082
25,032
23,626
26,083
24,978
30,904
24,450
21,685
20,491
24,000
22,506
27,548
31,695
26,748
22,457
28,051
25,513
25,359

23,934
24,766
27,191
24,536
18,928
22,679
27,360
27,912
20,909
28,383
39,631
29,079
31,941
24,262
23,735
29,920
23,389
24,511
25,144
18,551
23,728
28,172
32,993
39,488
32,000
26,085
45,028
38,886
25,594
24,184
34,402
21,677
25,897
24,286
26,575
25,961
32,179
25,204
22,209
21,121
24,686
23,244
27,861
33,080
27,826
22,738
29,069
26,297
26,379

3.7
3.8
3.1
4.0
5.0
2.6
1.9
3.7
3.2
3.4
4.5
4.1
5.9
4.0
1.5
3.1
1.8
3.0
4.2
3.6
4.3
3.0
4.3
5.2
3.6
1.9
6.5
4.5
2.3
2.7
3.7
2.8
3.5
2.8
1.9
3.9
4.1
3.1
2.4
3.1
2.9
3.3
1.1
4.4
4.0
1.3
3.6
3.1
4.0

210
175
103
183
310
259
99
77
298
69
4
50
28
195
215
42
230
186
162
311
218
73
24
5
27
127
1
6
147
197
14
284
137
194
111
134
26
160
272
292
180
240
81
22
83
254
52
119
115

Portland-Vancouver, Ore.-Wash.
Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, R.I.
Provo-Orem, Utah
Pueblo, Colo.
Punta Gorda, Fla.
Racine, Wis.
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.
Rapid City, S.D.
Reading, Pa.
Redding, Calif.
Reno, Nev.
Richland-Kennewick-Pasco, Wash.
Richmond-Petersburg, Va.
Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.
Roanoke, Va.
Rochester, Minn.
Rochester, N.Y.
Rockford, Ill.
Rocky Mount, N.C.
Sacramento, Calif.
Saginaw-Bay City-Midland, Mich.
Salem, Ore.
Salinas, Calif.
Salt Lake City-Ogden, Utah
San Angelo, Tex.
San Antonio, Tex.
San Diego, Calif.
San Francisco, Calif.
San Jose, Calif.
San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, Calif.
Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, Calif.
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, Calif.
Santa Fe, N.M.
Santa Rosa, Calif.
Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.
Savannah, Ga.
Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton, Pa.
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash.
Sharon, Pa.
Sheboygan, Wis.
Sherman-Denison, Tex.
Shreveport-Bossier City, La.
Sioux City, Iowa-Neb.
Sioux Falls, S.D.
South Bend, Ind.
Spokane, Wash.
Springfield, Ill.
Springfield, Mass.
Springfield, Mo.

28,358
26,487
22,848
21,869
21,058
26,861
27,925
20,107
27,442
23,590
26,513
27,570
27,598
24,815
23,955
29,107
29,301
27,228
22,532
29,289
29,863
23,108
24,260
24,693
21,124
23,725
27,842
37,975
42,409
23,026
25,805
25,036
23,691
26,177
22,279
23,865
23,278
31,550
22,815
24,875
23,879
23,408
22,443
22,739
25,096
23,595
28,615
26,437
22,111

29,940
27,339
23,481
22,357
21,817
27,973
29,077
20,719
28,205
23,856
27,679
27,864
28,714
25,248
24,589
30,663
30,241
28,093
23,280
29,576
31,138
23,747
24,851
25,770
21,426
24,460
28,845
40,016
44,819
23,969
26,251
26,098
24,539
26,876
22,560
25,084
24,071
33,588
23,494
26,020
25,124
23,731
23,273
23,547
25,661
24,536
29,714
27,423
22,875

5.6
3.2
2.8
2.2
3.6
4.1
4.1
3.0
2.8
1.1
4.4
1.1
4.0
1.7
2.6
5.3
3.2
3.2
3.3
1.0
4.3
2.8
2.4
4.4
1.4
3.1
3.6
5.4
5.7
4.1
1.7
4.2
3.6
2.7
1.3
5.1
3.4
6.5
3.0
4.6
5.2
1.4
3.7
3.6
2.2
4.0
3.8
3.7
3.5

41
100
226
269
280
76
51
299
72
213
88
80
60
158
181
36
38
75
235
45
32
214
173
143
288
189
56
3
2
208
120
126
182
108
262
165
204
17
224
129
163
216
236
221
146
183
43
97
250

St. Cloud, Minn.
21,685
22,681
4.6
258
St. Joseph, Mo.
22,279
23,242
4.3
241
St. Louis, Mo.-Ill.
28,599
29,469
3.0
46
State College, Pa.
24,298
24,730
1.8
178
Steubenville-Weirton, Ohio-W.Va.
25,649
26,245
2.3
121
Stockton-Lodi, Calif.
24,380
24,765
1.6
176
Sumter, S.C.
19,880
20,708
4.2
300
Syracuse, N.Y.
27,267
27,652
1.4
89
Tacoma, Wash.
24,687
25,548
3.5
148
Tallahassee, Fla.
23,141
24,244
4.8
196
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla.
24,650
25,540
3.6
149
Terre Haute, Ind.
22,583
23,047
2.1
246
Texarkana, Tex.-Texarkana, Ark.
21,770
22,390
2.8
267
Toledo, Ohio
26,907
27,793
3.3
84
Topeka, Kan.
24,904
25,454
2.2
152
Trenton, N.J.
36,614
37,598
2.7
7
Tucson, Ariz.
23,622
24,705
4.6
179
Tulsa, Okla.
25,338
26,116
3.1
125
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
24,487
25,051
2.3
166
Tyler, Tex.
24,176
25,295
4.6
157
Utica-Rome, N.Y.
23,207
23,677
2.0
219
Vallejo-Fairfield-Napa, Calif.
25,453
25,889
1.7
138
Ventura, Calif.
27,262
28,260
3.7
71
Victoria, Tex.
22,267
23,448
5.3
228
Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, N.J.
27,104
27,901
2.9
78
Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, Calif.
19,439
19,768
1.7
308
Waco, Tex.
22,534
23,302
3.4
234
Washington, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W.Va.
34,910
36,383
4.2
10
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa
24,813
25,170
1.4
161
Wausau, Wis.
24,112
25,011
3.7
168
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Fla.
27,912
29,057
4.1
53
Wheeling, W.Va.-Ohio
21,769
22,228
2.1
271
Wichita, Kan.
26,388
27,688
4.9
87
Wichita Falls, Tex.
21,264
21,718
2.1
282
Williamsport, Pa.
23,093
23,526
1.9
222
Wilmington-Newark, Del.-Md.
31,439
33,223
5.7
21
Wilmington, N.C.
23,233
24,050
3.5
205
Yakima, Wash.
19,271
19,780
2.6
307
Yolo, Calif.
28,616
29,053
1.5
54
York, Pa.
26,074
26,955
3.4
106
Youngstown-Warren, Ohio
25,380
25,981
2.4
132
Yuba City, Calif.
21,237
21,374
0.6
290
Yuma, Ariz.
18,286
18,213
-0.4
312
1/ Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for
Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.
2/ Includes data for Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas
as of June 30, 1995. 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 1995 and 1996 for all covered workers 1/ by Consolidated
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Average annual pay
Consolidated metropolitan
statistical area 2/
Percent
change,
1995
1996 3/
1995-96 4/
Consolidated metropolitan statistical areas

$ 32,643

$ 34,069

4.4

Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Mass.-N.H.
32,798
34,383
4.8
Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, Ill.-Ind.-Wis.
32,047
33,405
4.2
Cincinnati-Hamilton, Ohio-Ky.-Ind.
27,886
28,878
3.6
Cleveland-Akron, Ohio
28,382
29,355
3.4
Dallas-Fort Worth, Tex.
30,339
31,713
4.5
Denver-Boulder-Greeley, Colo.
29,531
31,198
5.6
Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, Mich.
34,121
35,072
2.8
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, Tex.
31,107
32,620
4.9
Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, Calif.
30,915
31,897
3.2
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
27,161
28,056
3.3
Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.
27,830
28,979
4.1
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Conn.-Pa. 38,047
40,089
5.4
Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md.
31,238
32,625
4.4
Portland-Salem, Ore.-Wash.
27,649
29,112
5.3
Sacramento-Yolo, Calif.
29,214
29,519
1.0
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif.
36,186
37,966
4.9
Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, Wash.
30,052
31,792
5.8
Washington-Baltimore, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W.Va.
32,816
34,199
4.2
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 June 30, 1995.
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.

Ranking of
areas
By level of
average annual
pay for 1996
-4
6
17
14
11
12
3
8
9
18
16
1
7
15
13
2
10
5