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Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information: (202) 691-6378 USDL 00-17

Media contact:

691-5902

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Thursday, January 20, 2000

USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS:
FOURTH QUARTER 1999

Median weekly earnings of the nation's 98.2 million full-time wage and
salary workers were $568 in the fourth quarter of 1999, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This was 5.0
percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 2.6 percent in
the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) over the same
period.
Data on usual earnings are collected as part of the Current Population
Survey, a nationwide sample survey of households in which respondents are
asked, among other things, how much each wage and salary worker usually
earns. (See the explanatory note.) Highlights from the fourth-quarter
data are:
--Women who usually worked full time had median earnings of $483 a week,
or 76.3 percent of the $633 median for men. The female-to-male earnings
ratios were higher among blacks (82.3 percent) and Hispanics (85.0 percent)
than among whites (75.5 percent). (See table 1.)
--Median earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $496 per
week, 75.8 percent of the median for white men ($654). The difference was
much less among women, as black women's median earnings ($408) were 82.6
percent of those for their white counterparts ($494). Overall, median
earnings of Hispanics who worked full time ($383) were lower than those of
blacks ($450) and whites ($586). (See table 1.)
--Among men, those in the 45- to 54-year age group had the highest
median weekly earnings ($780), followed by 55- to 64-year-old men, with
median earnings of $728. Among women, earnings also were highest for those
45-to-54 years old, who had a median of $558. (See table 2.)
--Among the major occupational groups, persons employed full time in
managerial and professional specialty occupations had the highest median
weekly earnings--$971 for men and $698 for women--while men and women in
service and farm jobs earned the least. (See table 3.)

--Full-time workers age 25 and over with less than a high school diploma
had median weekly earnings of $349, compared with $495 for high school
graduates (no college) and $876 for college graduates. Among college
graduates with advanced degrees (professional or master's degree and
above), the highest 10 percent of male workers earned $2,311 or more,
compared with $1,678 or more for their female counterparts.
(See table 4.)
- 2 Annual Averages for 1998 and 1999
In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this release includes
1998 and 1999 annual average weekly earnings for major demographic,
occupation, and education groups (tables 6, 7, and 8). Annual average data
on median usual earnings for men and women by detailed occupational
categories will appear in the January 2000 issue of Employment and
Earnings.
Explanatory Note

The estimates in this release were obtained from the Current
Population Survey (CPS), which provides the basic information on the labor
force, employment, and unemployment. The survey is conducted monthly for
the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the Bureau of the Census from a
scientifically selected national sample of about 50,000 households, with
coverage in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The earnings data
are collected from one-quarter of the CPS monthly sample and are limited to
wages and salaries. The data, therefore, exclude self-employment income.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-606-5886; TDD message referral
phone number: 1-800-877-8339.
Reliability
Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error. When a sample, rather than the 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 are generally conducted at the
90-percent level of confidence.

The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling error
can occur for many reasons, including the failure to sample a segment of the
population, inability to obtain information for all respondents in
the sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct
information, and errors made in the collection or processing of the data.
For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS and
information on estimating standard errors, see the "Explanatory Notes and
Estimates of Error" section of the February 1994 and subsequent issues of
Employment and Earnings.
Definitions
The principal definitions used in connection with the earnings series
are described briefly below.
Usual weekly earnings. Data represent earnings before taxes and other
deductions and include any overtime pay, commissions, or tips usually
received (at the main job in the case of multiple jobholders.) 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 time
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 other quantiles) of weekly earnings. The median (or upper
limit of the second quartile) is the amount which divides a given earnings
distribution into two equal groups, one having earnings above the median
and the other having earnings below the median. Ten percent of a given
distribution have earnings below the upper limit of the first decile (90
percent have higher earnings); 25 percent have earnings below the upper
limit of the first quartile (75 percent have higher earnings); 75 percent
have earnings below the upper limit of the third quartile (25 percent have
higher earnings); and 90 percent have earnings below the upper limit of the
ninth decile (10 percent have higher earnings).
The estimating procedure places each reported or calculated weekly
earnings value into $50-wide intervals which are centered around multiples
of $50. The actual value is estimated through the linear interpolation of
the interval in which the quantile boundary lies.
Over-the-year changes in the medians (and other quantile boundaries)

for specific groups may not necessarily be consistent with the movements
estimated for the overall quantile boundary. The most common reasons for
this possible anomaly are: (1) 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 over may rise; but if the lower-earning 16-to24 group accounts for a greatly increased share of the total, the overall
median could actually fall. (2) 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, e.g., $250, $300, $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.
Wage and salary workers. 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 the purposes of
the earnings series, excludes all self-employed persons, regardless of
whether or not their businesses are incorporated.
- 2 Full-time workers. Workers who usually work 35 hours or more per week
at their sole or principal job.
Part-time workers. Workers who usually work fewer than 35 hours per
week at their sole or principal job.
Constant dollars. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers
(CPI-U) is used to convert current dollars to constant (1982) dollars.
Hispanic origin. Refers to persons who are of Mexican, Puerto Rican,
Cuban, Central or South American, or other Hispanic origin or descent.
Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race; hence, they are included in
the numbers for the white and black populations.
Table 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, quarterly averages,
not seasonally adjusted

Number of workers
(in thousands)

Characteristic

Median weekly earnings

In current dollars
IV
1998

IV
1999

In constant (1982)
dollars

IV
1998

IV
1999

IV
1998

IV
1999

SEX AND AGE
Total, 16 years and over..................................

96,213

98,217

$541

$568

$318

$326

Men, 16 years and over.................................
16 to 24 years.......................................
25 years and over....................................

54,459
6,245
48,214

55,286
6,262
49,024

614
342
664

633
377
681

361
201
391

363
216
391

Women, 16 years and over...............................
16 to 24 years.......................................
25 years and over....................................

41,754
4,563
37,191

42,931
4,648
38,284

471
311
495

483
331
506

277
183
292

277
190
290

White..................................................
Men..................................................
Women................................................

79,627
46,128
33,499

81,300
46,859
34,441

565
635
481

586
654
494

332
374
283

336
375
283

Black..................................................
Men..................................................
Women................................................

12,015
5,807
6,208

12,213
5,855
6,358

439
481
405

450
496
408

258
283
239

258
285
234

Hispanic origin........................................
Men..................................................
Women................................................

10,812
6,875
3,937

11,258
6,876
4,382

372
397
337

383
406
345

219
234
198

220
233
198

RACE, HISPANIC ORIGIN, AND SEX

NOTE: Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data for the "other races"
group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups. Beginning in January
1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

Table 2. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by age, race, Hispanic origin, and sex,
fourth quarter 1999 averages, not seasonally adjusted

Total

Men

Women

Age, race, and Hispanic origin

Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)

Median
weekly
earnings

Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)

Median
weekly
earnings

Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)

Median
weekly
earnings

TOTAL
16 years and over.........................................
16 to 24 years..........................................
16 to 19 years........................................
20 to 24 years........................................
25 years and over.......................................
25 to 54 years........................................
25 to 34 years......................................
35 to 44 years......................................
45 to 54 years......................................
55 years and over.....................................
55 to 64 years......................................
65 years and over...................................

98,217
10,910
1,958
8,952
87,307
76,839
25,464
29,015
22,360
10,468
9,334
1,134

$568
356
296
376
602
604
535
620
669
590
600
415

55,286
6,262
1,188
5,074
49,024
43,179
14,529
16,571
12,079
5,845
5,169
676

$633
377
314
394
681
678
593
713
780
708
728
472

42,931
4,648
770
3,878
38,284
33,661
10,935
12,444
10,281
4,623
4,165
458

$483
331
270
352
506
510
478
514
558
481
490
391

81,300
9,238
72,063
63,063
9,000

586
362
619
621
605

46,859
5,447
41,412
36,288
5,124

654
381
706
701
738

34,441
3,790
30,651
26,775
3,876

494
333
517
522
490

12,213
1,257
10,956
9,906
1,049

450
316
478
481
444

5,855
630
5,225
4,740
484

496
321
522
524
499

6,358
627
5,731
5,166
565

408
309
429
435
393

11,258
1,927
9,331
8,532
798

383
298
408
408
418

6,876
1,254
5,622
5,161
461

406
306
441
440
443

4,382
673
3,709
3,371
338

345
280
368
365
396

White
16 years and over.........................................
16 to 24 years..........................................
25 years and over.......................................
25 to 54 years........................................
55 years and over.....................................
Black
16 years and over.........................................
16 to 24 years..........................................
25 years and over.......................................
25 to 54 years........................................
55 years and over.....................................
Hispanic origin
16 years and over.........................................
16 to 24 years..........................................
25 years and over.......................................
25 to 54 years........................................
55 years and over.....................................

NOTE: Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data for the "other races"
group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups. Beginning in January
1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, quarterly averages,
not seasonally adjusted

Number of workers
(in thousands)

Median weekly earnings

Occupation and sex
IV
1998

IV
1999

IV
1998

IV
1999

30,396
15,034
15,362
27,225
3,349
9,734
14,143
10,469
413
2,071
7,985
11,245
3,807
4,049
3,389
15,158
6,985
4,349
3,824
1,721

31,355
15,269
16,086
27,484
3,711
9,941
13,833
10,521
307
2,089
8,125
11,979
3,959
4,415
3,605
15,283
6,646
4,520
4,117
1,596

$792
788
795
482
611
510
443
325
236
615
306
585
606
566
580
423
420
520
359
303

$814
814
814
494
632
531
453
337
296
621
313
605
636
586
598
444
442
527
375
344

TOTAL
Managerial and professional specialty....................
Executive, administrative, and managerial..............
Professional specialty.................................
Technical, sales, and administrative support.............
Technicians and related support........................
Sales occupations......................................
Administrative support, including clerical.............
Service occupations......................................
Private household......................................
Protective service.....................................
Service, except private household and protective.......
Precision production, craft, and repair..................
Mechanics and repairers................................
Construction trades....................................
Other precision production, craft, and repair..........
Operators, fabricators, and laborers.....................
Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors..........
Transportation and material moving occupations.........
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers....
Farming, forestry, and fishing...........................
Men

Managerial and professional specialty....................
Executive, administrative, and managerial..............
Professional specialty.................................
Technical, sales, and administrative support.............
Technicians and related support........................
Sales occupations......................................
Administrative support, including clerical.............
Service occupations......................................
Private household......................................
Protective service.....................................
Service, except private household and protective.......
Precision production, craft, and repair..................
Mechanics and repairers................................
Construction trades....................................
Other precision production, craft, and repair..........
Operators, fabricators, and laborers.....................
Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors..........
Transportation and material moving occupations.........
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers....
Farming, forestry, and fishing...........................

15,579
8,111
7,468
10,349
1,698
5,238
3,414
5,239
30
1,739
3,469
10,317
3,681
3,985
2,651
11,501
4,490
3,979
3,032
1,475

15,733
8,079
7,654
10,546
1,804
5,362
3,379
5,086
4
1,752
3,331
10,869
3,734
4,336
2,799
11,661
4,130
4,150
3,382
1,391

942
947
937
612
738
635
526
396
(1)
629
321
597
604
567
617
467
487
537
372
313

971
1,015
947
639
736
670
556
410
(1)
637
348
616
636
589
641
480
502
536
389
359

14,817
6,923
7,894
16,876
1,651
4,496
10,729
5,230
382
331
4,516
928
126
64
737
3,657
2,495
370
793
246

15,622
7,190
8,432
16,938
1,906
4,579
10,453
5,434
303
337
4,794
1,110
225
79
806
3,621
2,517
370
735
206

672
642
698
422
519
375
421
298
227
542
296
439
690
(1)
414
342
345
406
315
253

698
656
733
436
548
407
429
302
298
501
299
437
646
(1)
409
351
352
465
311
263

Women
Managerial and professional specialty....................
Executive, administrative, and managerial..............
Professional specialty.................................
Technical, sales, and administrative support.............
Technicians and related support........................
Sales occupations......................................
Administrative support, including clerical.............
Service occupations......................................
Private household......................................
Protective service.....................................
Service, except private household and protective.......
Precision production, craft, and repair..................
Mechanics and repairers................................
Construction trades....................................
Other precision production, craft, and repair..........
Operators, fabricators, and laborers.....................
Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors..........
Transportation and material moving occupations.........
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers....
Farming, forestry, and fishing...........................
1 Data not shown where base is less than 100,000.

Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

Table 4. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected
characteristics, fourth quarter 1999 averages, not seasonally adjusted

Characteristic

Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)

Upper limit of:

First
decile

First
quartile

Second
quartile
(median)

Third
quartile

Ninth
decile

SEX, RACE, AND HISPANIC ORIGIN
Total, 16 years and over..................................
Men.....................................................
Women...................................................

98,217
55,286
42,931

$276
296
251

$373
416
327

$568
633
483

$845
953
710

$1,246
1,402
1,015

White...................................................
Men...................................................
Women.................................................

81,300
46,859
34,441

280
302
254

385
430
336

586
654
494

872
979
724

1,278
1,432
1,034

Black...................................................
Men...................................................
Women.................................................

12,213
5,855
6,358

247
266
235

314
340
300

450
496
408

664
717
606

925
979
875

Hispanic................................................
Men...................................................
Women.................................................

11,258
6,876
4,382

226
239
206

281
296
258

383
406
345

584
613
508

837
902
743

87,307
8,531
27,274
24,127
27,375
17,996
9,378

287
213
274
300
445
418
533

397
271
353
407
624
587
740

602
349
495
590
876
809
1,020

889
494
689
816
1,292
1,171
1,471

1,308
687
941
1,103
1,770
1,599
2,078

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
Total, 25 years and over................................
Less than a high school diploma.......................
High school graduates, no college.....................
Some college or associate degree......................
College graduates, total..............................
Bachelor's degree only..............................
Advanced degree.....................................

Men, 25 years and over................................
Less than a high school diploma.....................
High school graduates, no college...................
Some college or associate degree....................
College graduates, total............................
Bachelor's degree only............................
Advanced degree...................................

49,024
5,577
15,396
12,583
15,467
10,192
5,274

316
240
305
343
496
472
596

460
299
414
484
705
658
825

681
398
588
675
1,003
940
1,173

999
562
783
925
1,456
1,357
1,666

1,451
761
1,044
1,230
1,978
1,837
2,311

Women, 25 years and over..............................
Less than a high school diploma.....................
High school graduates, no college...................
Some college or associate degree....................
College graduates, total............................
Bachelor's degree only............................
Advanced degree...................................

38,284
2,954
11,878
11,544
11,908
7,804
4,104

262
188
243
280
405
385
496

346
233
306
360
561
511
673

506
289
407
500
751
687
874

740
373
547
688
1,039
927
1,190

1,058
495
714
913
1,435
1,297
1,678

NOTE:
Ten percent of all full-time wage and salary workers earn less than the upper limit of the first decile; 25
percent earn less than the upper limit of the first quartile; 50 percent earn less than the upper limit of the second
quartile, or median; 75 percent earn less than the upper limit of the third quartile; and 90 percent earn less than the
upper limit of the ninth decile. Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data
for the "other races" group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups.
Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

Table 5. Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, quarterly
averages, not seasonally adjusted

Number of workers
(in thousands)

Median weekly earnings

Characteristic
IV
1998

IV
1999

IV
1998

IV
1999

21,324

21,630

$158

$165

SEX AND AGE
Total, 16 years and over..................................

Men, 16 years and over.................................
16 to 24 years.......................................
25 years and over....................................

6,739
3,622
3,117

6,759
3,797
2,961

143
115
195

156
125
208

Women, 16 years and over...............................
16 to 24 years.......................................
25 years and over....................................

14,585
4,615
9,970

14,872
4,791
10,080

165
117
199

169
122
201

White..................................................
Men..................................................
Women................................................

18,310
5,639
12,671

18,360
5,608
12,751

159
143
167

168
156
173

Black..................................................
Men..................................................
Women................................................

2,172
735
1,437

2,274
762
1,512

148
138
154

146
145
147

Hispanic origin........................................
Men..................................................
Women................................................

1,752
587
1,166

1,784
573
1,211

163
171
158

163
154
168

RACE, HISPANIC ORIGIN, AND SEX

NOTE: Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data for the "other
races" group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups. Beginning in
January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
Table 6. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, annual averages

Number of workers
(in thousands)

Characteristic

Median weekly earnings

In current dollars
1998

In constant (1982)
dollars

1999
1998

1999

1998

1999

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over..................................

95,595

97,626

$523

$549

$309

$318

Men, 16 years and over.................................

54,313

55,181

598

618

354

358

16 to 24 years.......................................
25 years and over....................................

6,325
47,988

6,444
48,738

334
639

356
668

198
378

206
387

Women, 16 years and over...............................
16 to 24 years.......................................
25 years and over....................................

41,282
4,721
36,561

42,444
4,830
37,615

456
305
485

473
324
497

270
180
287

274
188
288

White..................................................
Men..................................................
Women................................................

79,403
46,087
33,316

80,849
46,825
34,024

545
615
468

573
638
483

323
364
277

332
370
280

Black..................................................
Men..................................................
Women................................................

11,776
5,751
6,025

12,190
5,846
6,344

426
468
400

445
488
409

252
277
237

258
283
237

Hispanic origin........................................
Men..................................................
Women................................................

10,532
6,716
3,816

10,950
6,788
4,162

370
390
337

385
406
348

219
231
199

223
235
202

RACE, HISPANIC ORIGIN, AND SEX

NOTE: Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data for the "other races"
group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups. Beginning in January 1999,
data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
Table 7. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, annual averages

Number of workers
(in thousands)

Median weekly earnings

Occupation and sex
1998

1999

1998

1999

29,304
14,451
14,853
27,372
3,507
9,636
14,229
10,592
381
2,140

30,704
14,973
15,731
27,388
3,550
9,728
14,109
10,841
384
2,138

$759
755
763
477
599
502
438
327
223
598

$797
792
800
488
618
523
447
336
243
592

TOTAL
Managerial and professional specialty.........................
Executive, administrative, and managerial...................
Professional specialty......................................
Technical, sales, and administrative support..................
Technicians and related support.............................
Sales occupations...........................................
Administrative support, including clerical..................
Service occupations...........................................
Private household...........................................
Protective service..........................................

Service, except private household and protective............
Precision production, craft, and repair.......................
Mechanics and repairers.....................................
Construction trades.........................................
Other precision production, craft, and repair...............
Operators, fabricators, and laborers..........................
Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors...............
Transportation and material moving occupations..............
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers.........
Farming, forestry, and fishing................................

8,070
11,691
4,081
4,054
3,555
15,082
6,987
4,322
3,773
1,555

8,318
11,927
4,263
4,143
3,521
15,182
6,814
4,401
3,967
1,583

307
572
597
543
561
415
406
510
351
302

313
594
621
566
588
429
423
513
363
331

14,941
7,746
7,195
10,439
1,773
5,299
3,368
5,291
19
1,817
3,455
10,741
3,926
3,989
2,826
11,564
4,482
3,977
3,105
1,337

15,537
7,981
7,556
10,525
1,802
5,402
3,322
5,209
17
1,791
3,400
10,861
4,057
4,059
2,745
11,685
4,371
4,083
3,230
1,364

905
915
895
606
701
622
518
389
(1)
613
325
587
599
545
611
456
472
519
362
307

952
967
939
626
728
666
539
402
(1)
613
336
606
622
571
634
472
487
522
377
341

14,363
6,705
7,658
16,933
1,734
4,338
10,862
5,301
362
323

15,167
6,992
8,175
16,863
1,749
4,326
10,788
5,632
367
347

655
626
682
419
511
372
418
296
220
481

681
652
707
431
528
399
427
304
240
492

Men
Managerial and professional specialty.........................
Executive, administrative, and managerial...................
Professional specialty......................................
Technical, sales, and administrative support..................
Technicians and related support.............................
Sales occupations...........................................
Administrative support, including clerical..................
Service occupations...........................................
Private household...........................................
Protective service..........................................
Service, except private household and protective............
Precision production, craft, and repair.......................
Mechanics and repairers.....................................
Construction trades.........................................
Other precision production, craft, and repair...............
Operators, fabricators, and laborers..........................
Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors...............
Transportation and material moving occupations..............
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers.........
Farming, forestry, and fishing................................
Women
Managerial and professional specialty.........................
Executive, administrative, and managerial...................
Professional specialty......................................
Technical, sales, and administrative support..................
Technicians and related support.............................
Sales occupations...........................................
Administrative support, including clerical..................
Service occupations...........................................
Private household...........................................
Protective service..........................................

Service, except private household and protective............
Precision production, craft, and repair.......................
Mechanics and repairers.....................................
Construction trades.........................................
Other precision production, craft, and repair...............
Operators, fabricators, and laborers..........................
Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors...............
Transportation and material moving occupations..............
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers.........
Farming, forestry, and fishing................................

4,616
949
155
64
730
3,518
2,505
345
669
218

4,918
1,066
206
85
776
3,498
2,444
317
737
218

295
408
519
408
392
327
328
373
311
272

302
428
592
423
403
337
340
394
314
283

1 Data not shown where base is less than 50,000.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
Table 8. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected
characteristics, 1999 annual averages

Educational attainment,
sex, and race

Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)

Upper limit of:

First
decile

First
quartile

Second
quartile
(median)

Third
quartile

Ninth
decile

TOTAL

Total, 25 years and over..........................
Less than a high school diploma.................
High school graduates, no college...............
Some college or associate degree................
College graduates, total........................
Bachelor's degree only........................
Advanced degree...............................

86,352
8,459
27,314
23,949
26,630
17,660
8,971

$284
215
270
300
430
406
515

$393
267
349
404
607
575
721

$592
346
490
580
860
787
997

$872
494
688
798
1,243
1,146
1,433

$1,260
680
932
1,079
1,749
1,566
1,957

48,738
5,471
15,467
12,752
15,047
9,932
5,114

312
237
302
340
484
455
583

450
294
407
476
681
634
804

668
395
580
665
977
912
1,150

979
550
781
915
1,425
1,319
1,625

1,425
746
1,027
1,208
1,921
1,832
2,304

Men
Total, 25 years and over..........................
Less than a high school diploma.................
High school graduates, no college...............
Some college or associate degree................
College graduates, total........................
Bachelor's degree only........................
Advanced degree...............................

Women
Total, 25 years and over..........................
Less than a high school diploma.................
High school graduates, no college...............
Some college or associate degree................
College graduates, total........................
Bachelor's degree only........................
Advanced degree...............................

37,615
2,988
11,847
11,196
11,583
7,727
3,856

258
189
240
279
393
374
477

342
236
304
359
541
502
641

497
290
405
488
740
680
863

727
375
546
665
1,013
931
1,160

1,020
501
723
886
1,372
1,250
1,547

41,242
4,654
12,902
10,671
13,016
8,610
4,405

322
238
315
358
492
469
591

472
296
425
494
700
650
828

692
399
598
690
1,005
936
1,165

1,007
567
806
940
1,448
1,349
1,657

1,456
769
1,055
1,239
1,992
1,878
2,365

30,125
2,250
9,572
8,800
9,503
6,278
3,224

264
190
244
282
401
381
484

353
236
310
367
549
506
650

507
290
413
498
746
686
873

739
377
559
678
1,024
936
1,169

1,039
505
732
897
1,396
1,264
1,566

5,215
577
2,085
1,572
981
716
264

277
225
264
290
414
400
536

362
284
335
386
578
546
674

511
370
458
522
766
732
934

738
488
641
738
1,023
980
1,326

1,012
613
860
990
1,454
1,348
1,860

5,620
526
1,863

240
185
228

306
232
283

428
287
361

632
368
492

902
492
666

White men
Total, 25 years and over..........................
Less than a high school diploma.................
High school graduates, no college...............
Some college or associate degree................
College graduates, total........................
Bachelor's degree only........................
Advanced degree...............................
White women
Total, 25 years and over..........................
Less than a high school diploma.................
High school graduates, no college...............
Some college or associate degree................
College graduates, total........................
Bachelor's degree only........................
Advanced degree...............................
Black men
Total, 25 years and over..........................
Less than a high school diploma.................
High school graduates, no college...............
Some college or associate degree................
College graduates, total........................
Bachelor's degree only........................
Advanced degree...............................
Black women
Total, 25 years and over..........................
Less than a high school diploma.................
High school graduates, no college...............

Some college or associate degree................
College graduates, total........................
Bachelor's degree only........................
Advanced degree...............................
NOTE:

See note table 4.

1,958
1,273
888
385

263
357
327
442

328
511
486
594

441
684
642
806

607
941
887
1,057

802
1,216
1,140
1,366