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Economic News Release
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Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers News Release

Technical information:  (202) 691-6378     USDL 09-0077
               http://www.bls.gov/cps/
                                           For release:  10:00 A.M. (EST)
Media contact:          (202) 691-5902     Thursday, January 22, 2009
                                   
                                   
           USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS:
                          FOURTH QUARTER 2008


   Median weekly earnings of the nation's 105.8 million full-time wage
and salary workers were $728 in the fourth quarter of 2008, the Bureau
of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.
This was 4.0 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain
of 1.6 percent in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) 
over the same period.
   
   Data on usual weekly 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 Technical Note.)  Highlights
from the fourth-quarter data are:

   --Women who usually worked full time had median earnings of $650
     per week, or 80.5 percent of the $807 median for men.  The female-
     to-male earnings ratios were higher among blacks (92.1 percent) and
     Hispanics (90.9 percent) than among whites (80.1 percent) or Asians
     (79.1 percent).  (See table 1.)
  
   --Median earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $618
     per week, 74.2 percent of the median for white men ($833).  The
     difference was less among women, as black women's median earnings
     ($569) were 85.3 percent of those for their white counterparts 
     ($667).  Overall, median earnings of Hispanics who worked full time 
     ($535) were lower than those of blacks ($593), whites ($748), and 
     Asians ($889).  (See table 1.)

   --Among men, those age 45 to 54 had the highest median weekly earnings 
     ($951).  Among women, weekly earnings were highest for those age 45 
     to 54 and age 55 to 64, $714 and $711, respectively.  (See table 2.)

   --Among the major occupational groups, persons employed full time in
     management, professional, and related occupations had the highest
     median weekly earnings--$1,238 for men and $881 for women.  Persons
     employed in service jobs earned the least.  (See table 3.)

   --Full-time workers age 25 and over without a high school diploma had 
     median weekly earnings of $459, compared with $619 for high school
     graduates (no college) and $1,115 for those holding at least a
     bachelor's degree.  Among college graduates with advanced degrees
     (professional or master's degree and above), the highest earning 10
     percent of male workers made $2,991 or more per week, compared with
     $2,147 or more for their female counterparts.  (See table 4.)

Annual Averages for 2007 and 2008

   In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this release in-
cludes 2007 and 2008 annual average weekly earnings for major demo-
graphic and occupational groups and 2008 annual average data for edu-
cational attainment 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 2009 version of Employment and
Earnings Online at http://www.bls.gov/opub/ee/home.htm.






                                  - 2 -


Technical 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 U.S. Census Bureau from a scientifically
selected national sample of about 60,000 households, with coverage in all
50 states and the District of Columbia.  The earnings data are collected
from one-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) 691-5200; 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 de-
pending 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 informa-
tion on estimating standard errors, see the Household Data section of the
"Explanatory Notes and Estimates of Error" at http://www.bls.gov/cps/eetech_
methods.pdf.

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.


                                  - 3 -


   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-to-
24 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, such as $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 busi-
nesses are incorporated.

   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 or Latino ethnicity. Refers to persons who identified themselves
in the enumeration process as being Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino.  Persons
whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.






     Table 1.  Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, quarterly averages, not
     seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                              
                                                                          Number of workers                 Median weekly earnings            
                                                                            (in thousands)                                                    
                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                              
                              Characteristic                                                       In current dollars      In constant (1982) 
                                                                                                                               dollars        
                                                                            IV          IV                                                    
                                                                           2007        2008                                                   
                                                                                                     IV          IV          IV          IV   
                                                                                                    2007        2008        2007        2008  
                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                              
                                SEX AND AGE                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                              
       Total, 16 years and over.......................................   108,318     105,774        $700        $728        $322        $330  
                                                                                                                                              
         Men, 16 years and over.......................................    60,482      58,505         774         807         356         366  
           16 to 24 years.............................................     6,150       5,487         459         462         211         209  
           25 years and over..........................................    54,332      53,018         831         859         382         389  
                                                                                                                                              
         Women, 16 years and over.....................................    47,835      47,269         618         650         284         295  
           16 to 24 years.............................................     4,744       4,392         421         449         194         203  
           25 years and over..........................................    43,091      42,877         649         679         298         308  
                                                                                                                                              
                RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                              
         White........................................................    87,601      85,378         722         748         332         339  
           Men........................................................    50,071      48,379         800         833         368         377  
           Women......................................................    37,530      36,999         632         667         291         302  
                                                                                                                                              
         Black or African American....................................    12,959      12,593         574         593         264         269  
           Men........................................................     6,100       5,833         599         618         276         280  
           Women......................................................     6,859       6,760         539         569         248         258  
                                                                                                                                              
         Asian........................................................     5,200       5,235         856         889         394         403  
           Men........................................................     2,883       2,886         968         989         445         448  
           Women......................................................     2,317       2,348         732         782         337         354  
                                                                                                                                              
         Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.................................    16,298      15,595         507         535         233         242  
           Men........................................................    10,117       9,770         520         563         239         255  
           Women......................................................     6,181       5,825         479         512         221         232  

        NOTE:  Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not
     presented for all races.  Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.  Updated population controls are
     introduced annually with the release of January data.






     Table 2.  Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by age, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity,
     and sex, fourth quarter 2008 averages, not seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                                                           Total                Men                Women       
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
              Age, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity           Number of           Number of           Number of          
                                                                     workers    Median   workers    Median   workers    Median 
                                                                       (in      weekly     (in      weekly     (in      weekly 
                                                                   thousands)  earnings thousands) earnings thousands) earnings
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                 TOTAL                                                                                         
                                                                                                                               
       16 years and over...........................................  105,774      $728    58,505      $807    47,269      $650 
         16 to 24 years............................................    9,879       456     5,487       462     4,392       449 
           16 to 19 years..........................................    1,320       378       808       387       512       362 
           20 to 24 years..........................................    8,559       475     4,679       481     3,880       467 
         25 years and over.........................................   95,895       764    53,018       859    42,877       679 
           25 to 54 years..........................................   78,154       758    43,523       846    34,630       678 
             25 to 34 years........................................   25,395       680    14,507       715    10,888       640 
             35 to 44 years........................................   26,156       801    14,824       918    11,332       689 
             45 to 54 years........................................   26,602       822    14,192       951    12,410       714 
           55 years and over.......................................   17,741       798     9,495       913     8,247       683 
             55 to 64 years........................................   14,998       827     8,012       929     6,985       711 
             65 years and over.....................................    2,744       644     1,482       804     1,261       553 
                                                                                                                               
                                 White                                                                                         
       16 years and over...........................................   85,378       748    48,379       833    36,999       667 
         16 to 24 years............................................    7,936       466     4,489       475     3,447       454 
         25 years and over.........................................   77,442       786    43,891       884    33,551       698 
           25 to 54 years..........................................   62,574       776    35,770       871    26,805       696 
           55 years and over.......................................   14,868       828     8,121       940     6,747       704 
                                                                                                                               
                       Black or African American                                                                               
       16 years and over...........................................   12,593       593     5,833       618     6,760       569 
         16 to 24 years............................................    1,277       403       643       399       635       408 
         25 years and over.........................................   11,316       614     5,190       655     6,125       587 
           25 to 54 years..........................................    9,561       614     4,392       652     5,168       589 
           55 years and over.......................................    1,755       613       798       668       957       573 
                                                                                                                               
                                 Asian                                                                                         
       16 years and over...........................................    5,235       889     2,886       989     2,348       782 
         16 to 24 years............................................      319       537       180       522       139       554 
         25 years and over.........................................    4,916       925     2,707     1,025     2,209       808 
           25 to 54 years..........................................    4,136       938     2,304     1,103     1,832       818 
           55 years and over.......................................      780       840       403       900       377       737 
                                                                                                                               
                      Hispanic or Latino ethnicity                                                                             
       16 years and over...........................................   15,595       535     9,770       563     5,825       512 
         16 to 24 years............................................    1,888       409     1,213       402       675       427 
         25 years and over.........................................   13,707       572     8,557       592     5,150       525 
           25 to 54 years..........................................   12,216       574     7,692       591     4,524       527 
           55 years and over.......................................    1,491       539       865       593       626       516 

        NOTE:  Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because
     data are not presented for all races.  Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. 
     Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.






     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         Median weekly earnings  
                                                                                   (in thousands)                                  
                               Occupation and sex                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                  IV            IV            IV            IV     
                                                                                 2007          2008          2007          2008    
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                     TOTAL                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                   
       Management, professional, and related occupations...................     39,787        40,749        $1,002        $1,019   
         Management, business, and financial operations occupations........     16,081        16,531         1,067         1,109   
         Professional and related occupations..............................     23,707        24,219           966           980   
       Service occupations.................................................     14,708        14,853           460           487   
       Sales and office occupations........................................     25,678        24,765           596           622   
         Sales and related occupations.....................................     10,125        10,077           647           674   
         Office and administrative support occupations.....................     15,553        14,688           582           607   
       Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations........     12,520        11,305           689           719   
         Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations........................        711           714           388           428   
         Construction and extraction occupations...........................      7,118         6,269           660           715   
         Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.................      4,691         4,322           774           769   
       Production, transportation, and material moving occupations.........     15,624        14,101           579           591   
         Production occupations............................................      8,627         7,627           587           600   
         Transportation and material moving occupations....................      6,998         6,474           566           581   
                                                                                                                                   
                                      Men                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                   
       Management, professional, and related occupations...................     19,308        19,529         1,223         1,238   
         Management, business, and financial operations occupations........      8,698         8,963         1,274         1,344   
         Professional and related occupations..............................     10,609        10,566         1,169         1,171   
       Service occupations.................................................      7,292         7,389           520           539   
       Sales and office occupations........................................      9,554         9,521           708           737   
         Sales and related occupations.....................................      5,469         5,574           813           826   
         Office and administrative support occupations.....................      4,085         3,947           604           652   
       Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations........     12,045        10,914           695           723   
         Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations........................        579           562           410           441   
         Construction and extraction occupations...........................      6,937         6,169           661           714   
         Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.................      4,528         4,183           779           770   
       Production, transportation, and material moving occupations.........     12,284        11,152           617           630   
         Production occupations............................................      6,176         5,551           646           666   
         Transportation and material moving occupations....................      6,108         5,602           594           602   
                                                                                                                                   
                                     Women                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                   
       Management, professional, and related occupations...................     20,480        21,221           861           881   
         Management, business, and financial operations occupations........      7,382         7,568           887           926   
         Professional and related occupations..............................     13,097        13,653           848           862   
       Service occupations.................................................      7,416         7,464           415           441   
       Sales and office occupations........................................     16,124        15,244           552           583   
         Sales and related occupations.....................................      4,656         4,503           478           529   
         Office and administrative support occupations.....................     11,468        10,741           576           596   
       Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations........        476           390           550           596   
         Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations........................        132           152           339           396   
         Construction and extraction occupations...........................        181           100           622           769   
         Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.................        163           138           674           719   
       Production, transportation, and material moving occupations.........      3,340         2,949           433           458   
         Production occupations............................................      2,450         2,077           445           458   
         Transportation and material moving occupations....................        890           873           404           460   

          NOTE:  Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.






     Table 4. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected
     characteristics, fourth quarter 2008 averages, not seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  Upper limit of:                 
                                                                       Number of                                                  
                              Characteristic                            workers                                                   
                                                                          (in      First     First     Second    Third     Ninth  
                                                                       thousands)  decile   quartile  quartile  quartile   decile 
                                                                                                      (median)                    
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
                SEX, RACE, AND HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY                                                                       
                                                                                                                                  
       Total, 16 years and over.......................................  105,774      $349      $490      $728    $1,129    $1,732 
         Men..........................................................   58,505       372       520       807     1,258     1,901 
         Women........................................................   47,269       328       453       650       960     1,424 
                                                                                                                                  
         White........................................................   85,378       356       499       748     1,152     1,756 
           Men........................................................   48,379       378       532       833     1,288     1,915 
           Women......................................................   36,999       336       464       667       978     1,443 
                                                                                                                                  
         Black or African American....................................   12,593       309       409       593       853     1,251 
           Men........................................................    5,833       326       426       618       901     1,333 
           Women......................................................    6,760       297       397       569       802     1,164 
                                                                                                                                  
         Asian........................................................    5,235       386       563       889     1,445     1,993 
           Men........................................................    2,886       400       606       989     1,592     2,269 
           Women......................................................    2,348       367       509       782     1,163     1,729 
                                                                                                                                  
         Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.................................   15,595       301       382       535       800     1,211 
           Men........................................................    9,770       310       391       563       833     1,311 
           Women......................................................    5,825       288       363       512       752     1,066 
                                                                                                                                  
                          EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
       Total, 25 years and over.......................................   95,895       368       513       764     1,170     1,770 
         Less than a high school diploma..............................    8,220       282       341       459       632       883 
         High school graduates, no college (1)........................   26,650       332       449       619       888     1,247 
         Some college or associate degree.............................   26,685       385       515       719     1,008     1,402 
         Bachelor's degree and higher (2).............................   34,340       541       761     1,115     1,673     2,324 
           Bachelor's degree only.....................................   22,229       507       717     1,016     1,544     2,209 
           Advanced degree............................................   12,111       639       891     1,272     1,893     2,662 
                                                                                                                                  
         Men, 25 years and over.......................................   53,018       394       575       859     1,332     1,923 
           Less than a high school diploma............................    5,566       299       378       503       698       950 
           High school graduates, no college (1)......................   15,673       368       501       710     1,003     1,385 
           Some college or associate degree...........................   13,599       427       597       826     1,165     1,596 
           Bachelor's degree and higher (2)...........................   18,180       590       860     1,297     1,902     2,717 
             Bachelor's degree only...................................   11,889       551       806     1,188     1,773     2,480 
             Advanced degree..........................................    6,291       670       998     1,527     2,123     2,991 
                                                                                                                                  
         Women, 25 years and over.....................................   42,877       340       477       679       994     1,476 
           Less than a high school diploma............................    2,654       251       301       377       502       669 
           High school graduates, no college (1)......................   10,977       305       395       525       704       961 
           Some college or associate degree...........................   13,087       353       477       634       860     1,155 
           Bachelor's degree and higher (2)...........................   16,160       507       705       960     1,396     1,909 
             Bachelor's degree only...................................   10,340       480       644       878     1,268     1,770 
             Advanced degree..........................................    5,819       613       817     1,109     1,562     2,147 

        1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
        2 Includes persons with bachelor's, master's, professional, and doctoral degrees.
        NOTE:  Ten percent of all full-time wage and salary workers earn less than the upper limit of the first decile; 25 percent
     earn less than the upper limit of the first quartile; 50 percent earn less than the upper limit of the second quartile, or
     median; 75 percent earn less than the upper limit of the third quartile; and 90 percent earn less than the upper limit of the
     ninth decile.  Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because
     data are not presented for all races.  Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. 
     Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.






     Table 5.  Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, quarterly averages, not
     seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                   Number of workers           Median weekly earnings  
                                                                                     (in thousands)                                    
                                 Characteristic                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                   IV             IV              IV             IV    
                                                                                  2007           2008            2007           2008   
                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                       
                                  SEX AND AGE                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                       
       Total, 16 years and over............................................      22,140         22,913           $214           $218   
                                                                                                                                       
         Men, 16 years and over............................................       7,191          7,528            206            212   
           16 to 24 years..................................................       3,556          3,601            165            164   
           25 years and over...............................................       3,635          3,927            266            279   
                                                                                                                                       
         Women, 16 years and over..........................................      14,949         15,385            218            221   
           16 to 24 years..................................................       4,589          4,614            151            157   
           25 years and over...............................................      10,360         10,770            259            261   
                                                                                                                                       
                  RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX                                                                          
                                                                                                                                       
         White.............................................................      18,630         19,158            216            219   
           Men.............................................................       5,881          6,200            205            211   
           Women...........................................................      12,749         12,958            224            222   
                                                                                                                                       
         Black or African American.........................................       2,092          2,250            204            210   
           Men.............................................................         792            812            226            218   
           Women...........................................................       1,300          1,438            191            207   
                                                                                                                                       
         Asian.............................................................         847            901            204            240   
           Men.............................................................         288            285            185            211   
           Women...........................................................         559            616            213            256   
                                                                                                                                       
         Hispanic or Latino ethnicity......................................       2,736          2,886            209            221   
           Men.............................................................       1,038          1,088            227            243   
           Women...........................................................       1,697          1,799            197            211   

        NOTE:  Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are
     not presented for all races.  Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.  Updated population
     controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.






     Table 6.  Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, annual averages
                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                         
                                                                     Number of workers                 Median weekly earnings            
                                                                       (in thousands)                                                    
                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                         
                            Characteristic                                                    In current dollars      In constant (1982) 
                                                                                                                           dollars       
                                                                      2007        2008                                                   
                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                               2007        2008        2007        2008  
                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                         
                             SEX AND AGE                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                         
       Total, 16 years and over..................................   107,339     106,648        $695        $722        $323        $323  
                                                                                                                                         
         Men, 16 years and over..................................    60,298      59,439         766         798         356         358  
           16 to 24 years........................................     6,458       5,996         443         461         206         207  
           25 years and over.....................................    53,840      53,444         823         857         383         384  
                                                                                                                                         
         Women, 16 years and over................................    47,041      47,209         614         638         286         286  
           16 to 24 years........................................     4,792       4,625         409         420         190         188  
           25 years and over.....................................    42,249      42,584         646         670         301         300  
                                                                                                                                         
             RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                         
         White...................................................    86,653      86,022         716         742         333         333  
           Men...................................................    49,889      49,082         788         825         367         370  
           Women.................................................    36,764      36,940         626         654         291         293  
                                                                                                                                         
         Black or African American...............................    13,061      12,821         569         589         265         264  
           Men...................................................     6,186       6,031         600         620         279         278  
           Women.................................................     6,874       6,790         533         554         248         248  
                                                                                                                                         
         Asian...................................................     5,155       5,266         830         861         386         386  
           Men...................................................     2,858       2,919         936         966         435         433  
           Women.................................................     2,297       2,347         731         753         340         337  
                                                                                                                                         
         Hispanic or Latino ethnicity............................    16,201      15,807         503         529         234         237  
           Men...................................................    10,248       9,961         520         559         242         251  
           Women.................................................     5,953       5,846         473         501         220         225  

        NOTE:  Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are
     not presented for all races.  Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.  Updated population
     controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.






      Table 7. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, annual averages
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                 Number of workers         Median weekly earnings  
                                                                                   (in thousands)                                  
                               Occupation and sex                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                 2007          2008          2007          2008    
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                     TOTAL                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                   
       Management, professional, and related occupations...................     39,147        40,154          $996        $1,025   
         Management, business, and financial operations occupations........     15,977        16,310         1,080         1,128   
         Professional and related occupations..............................     23,170        23,845           951           980   
       Service occupations.................................................     14,716        14,814           454           475   
       Sales and office occupations........................................     25,702        25,232           598           614   
         Sales and related occupations.....................................     10,448        10,113           643           656   
         Office and administrative support occupations.....................     15,253        15,119           581           601   
       Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations........     12,486        11,609           670           702   
         Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations........................        739           756           372           420   
         Construction and extraction occupations...........................      7,227         6,432           646           688   
         Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.................      4,520         4,420           749           774   
       Production, transportation, and material moving occupations.........     15,289        14,840           577           594   
         Production occupations............................................      8,389         8,008           581           595   
         Transportation and material moving occupations....................      6,900         6,832           570           593   
                                                                                                                                   
                                      Men                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                   
       Management, professional, and related occupations...................     19,222        19,619         1,187         1,238   
         Management, business, and financial operations occupations........      8,684         8,847         1,261         1,343   
         Professional and related occupations..............................     10,538        10,773         1,148         1,169   
       Service occupations.................................................      7,371         7,355           515           537   
       Sales and office occupations........................................      9,725         9,597           714           733   
         Sales and related occupations.....................................      5,773         5,594           791           796   
         Office and administrative support occupations.....................      3,952         4,003           619           651   
       Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations........     12,028        11,159           674           705   
         Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations........................        601           612           382           427   
         Construction and extraction occupations...........................      7,071         6,293           648           688   
         Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.................      4,357         4,253           750           774   
       Production, transportation, and material moving occupations.........     11,951        11,709           616           637   
         Production occupations............................................      5,992         5,763           641           659   
         Transportation and material moving occupations....................      5,959         5,946           596           615   
                                                                                                                                   
                                     Women                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                   
       Management, professional, and related occupations...................     19,924        20,535           858           892   
         Management, business, and financial operations occupations........      7,293         7,463           908           941   
         Professional and related occupations..............................     12,632        13,072           835           867   
       Service occupations.................................................      7,345         7,458           406           418   
       Sales and office occupations........................................     15,976        15,635           550           578   
         Sales and related occupations.....................................      4,675         4,518           493           516   
         Office and administrative support occupations.....................     11,301        11,117           570           590   
       Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations........        457           450           539           607   
         Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations........................        138           144           348           392   
         Construction and extraction occupations...........................        156           139           573           747   
         Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.................        163           167           726           779   
       Production, transportation, and material moving occupations.........      3,338         3,131           437           462   
         Production occupations............................................      2,396         2,245           443           464   
         Transportation and material moving occupations....................        942           886           424           455   

          NOTE:  Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.






     Table 8.  Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics,
     2008 annual averages
                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                    Upper limit of:                      
                                                                   Number of                                                             
                            Characteristic                          workers                                                              
                                                                      (in        First       First       Second      Third       Ninth   
                                                                   thousands)    decile     quartile    quartile    quartile     decile  
                                                                                                        (median)                         
                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                         
                                TOTAL                                                                                                    
       Total, 25 years and over..................................    96,027        $369        $511        $761      $1,167      $1,758  
         Less than a high school diploma.........................     8,120         282         342         453         618         873  
         High school graduates, no college (1)...................    27,392         335         445         618         886       1,229  
         Some college or associate degree........................    26,526         383         513         722       1,023       1,421  
         Bachelor's degree and higher (2)........................    33,990         550         758       1,115       1,649       2,314  
           Bachelor's degree only................................    22,033         510         710       1,012       1,524       2,112  
           Advanced degree.......................................    11,957         640         890       1,287       1,883       2,719  
                                                                                                                                         
                                 Men                                                                                                     
       Total, 25 years and over..................................    53,444         397         574         857       1,326       1,914  
         Less than a high school diploma.........................     5,554         298         377         497         683         935  
         High school graduates, no college (1)...................    15,941         378         504         709         997       1,369  
         Some college or associate degree........................    13,770         426         592         830       1,172       1,590  
         Bachelor's degree and higher (2)........................    18,178         599         861       1,285       1,891       2,719  
           Bachelor's degree only................................    11,831         572         798       1,172       1,753       2,406  
           Advanced degree.......................................     6,347         692         993       1,512       2,116       3,113  
                                                                                                                                         
                                Women                                                                                                    
       Total, 25 years and over..................................    42,584         338         470         670         994       1,456  
         Less than a high school diploma.........................     2,566         252         303         378         497         646  
         High school graduates, no college (1)...................    11,451         304         392         520         711         966  
         Some college or associate degree........................    12,756         349         470         628         870       1,171  
         Bachelor's degree and higher (2)........................    15,812         506         688         955       1,369       1,888  
           Bachelor's degree only................................    10,202         478         636         878       1,250       1,755  
           Advanced degree.......................................     5,610         609         817       1,128       1,544       2,111  
                                                                                                                                         
                             White, total                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                         
       Total, 25 years and over..................................    77,431         379         524         784       1,199       1,802  
         Less than a high school diploma.........................     6,650         285         348         466         631         895  
         High school graduates, no college (1)...................    22,046         345         467         643         918       1,269  
         Some college or associate degree........................    21,249         393         529         746       1,066       1,461  
         Bachelor's degree and higher (2)........................    27,487         566         769       1,133       1,689       2,392  
           Bachelor's degree only................................    17,850         521         726       1,035       1,557       2,201  
           Advanced degree.......................................     9,637         651         898       1,293       1,893       2,796  
                                                                                                                                         
                              White men                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                         
       Total, 25 years and over..................................    44,148         406         589         883       1,352       1,952  
         Less than a high school diploma.........................     4,770         301         380         502         693         957  
         High school graduates, no college (1)...................    13,132         389         522         738       1,028       1,407  
         Some college or associate degree........................    11,328         443         612         866       1,212       1,636  
         Bachelor's degree and higher (2)........................    14,917         610         879       1,329       1,905       2,876  
           Bachelor's degree only................................     9,816         585         830       1,223       1,826       2,499  
           Advanced degree.......................................     5,101         705       1,001       1,527       2,202       3,197  
                                                                                                                                         
                             White women                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                         
       Total, 25 years and over..................................    33,283         346         481         688       1,013       1,474  
         Less than a high school diploma.........................     1,879         253         304         378         497         647  
         High school graduates, no college (1)...................     8,914         311         401         535         727         985  
         Some college or associate degree........................     9,920         358         479         644         891       1,199  
         Bachelor's degree and higher (2)........................    12,569         515         697         961       1,375       1,898  
           Bachelor's degree only................................     8,034         483         642         883       1,256       1,764  
           Advanced degree.......................................     4,535         622         828       1,130       1,549       2,156  
                                                                                                                                         
                   Black or African American, total                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                         
       Total, 25 years and over..................................    11,511         324         432         611         901       1,314  
         Less than a high school diploma.........................       885         260         319         408         547         698  
         High school graduates, no college (1)...................     3,918         301         387         515         712         980  
         Some college or associate degree........................     3,705         337         458         608         844       1,143  
         Bachelor's degree and higher (2)........................     3,004         471         644         912       1,338       1,831  
           Bachelor's degree only................................     2,077         438         613         842       1,231       1,665  
           Advanced degree.......................................       927         581         764       1,127       1,536       2,010  
                                                                                                                                         
                    Black or African American men                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                         
       Total, 25 years and over..................................     5,360         342         476         654         954       1,383  
         Less than a high school diploma.........................       453        $277        $353        $449        $600        $747  
         High school graduates, no college (1)...................     1,989         325         422         581         784       1,046  
         Some college or associate degree........................     1,611         370         497         665         925       1,244  
         Bachelor's degree and higher (2)........................     1,307         477         674         966       1,420       1,994  
           Bachelor's degree only................................       904         437         637         886       1,294       1,779  
           Advanced degree.......................................       403         597         868       1,235       1,732       2,286  
                                                                                                                                         
                   Black or African American women                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                         
       Total, 25 years and over..................................     6,151         310         408         582         843       1,240  
         Less than a high school diploma.........................       432         251         302         382         490         615  
         High school graduates, no college (1)...................     1,929         283         361         480         626         888  
         Some college or associate degree........................     2,094         323         422         576         777       1,029  
         Bachelor's degree and higher (2)........................     1,697         468         621         862       1,260       1,680  
           Bachelor's degree only................................     1,173         439         599         804       1,187       1,564  
           Advanced degree.......................................       524         564         737       1,026       1,389       1,858  
                                                                                                                                         
                             Asian, total                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                         
       Total, 25 years and over..................................     4,923         380         561         895       1,430       1,958  
         Less than a high school diploma.........................       341         248         323         419         603         813  
         High school graduates, no college (1)...................       822         310         410         568         765       1,114  
         Some college or associate degree........................       795         356         490         695         989       1,453  
         Bachelor's degree and higher (2)........................     2,964         527         788       1,167       1,738       2,308  
           Bachelor's degree only................................     1,737         493         718       1,027       1,508       1,994  
           Advanced degree.......................................     1,228         642         943       1,438       1,909       2,774  
                                                                                                                                         
                 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, total                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                         
       Total, 25 years and over..................................    13,773         305         395         568         840       1,256  
         Less than a high school diploma.........................     4,308         281         332         422         577         773  
         High school graduates, no college (1)...................     4,227         309         397         553         775       1,084  
         Some college or associate degree........................     3,047         359         483         663         943       1,340  
         Bachelor's degree and higher (2)........................     2,192         444         641         945       1,399       2,003  
           Bachelor's degree only................................     1,541         430         608         872       1,256       1,886  
           Advanced degree.......................................       650         494         783       1,147       1,699       2,387  
                                                                                                                                         
                        Hispanic or Latino men                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                         
       Total, 25 years and over..................................     8,674         320         412         591         887       1,335  
         Less than a high school diploma.........................     3,151         293         358         472         610         822  
         High school graduates, no college (1)...................     2,704         333         426         603         850       1,172  
         Some college or associate degree........................     1,678         388         516         724       1,042       1,482  
         Bachelor's degree and higher (2)........................     1,141         452         694       1,059       1,638       2,318  
           Bachelor's degree only................................       793         434         646         990       1,435       2,200  
           Advanced degree.......................................       348         499         856       1,378       1,895       2,886  
                                                                                                                                         
                       Hispanic or Latino women                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                         
       Total, 25 years and over..................................     5,099         288         365         518         767       1,131  
         Less than a high school diploma (1).....................     1,156         247         296         360         465         599  
         High school graduates, no college.......................     1,523         287         354         479         654         874  
         Some college or associate degree........................     1,369         326         440         601         805       1,121  
         Bachelor's degree and higher (2)........................     1,051         436         610         852       1,184       1,613  
           Bachelor's degree only................................       749         427         580         802       1,097       1,487  
           Advanced degree.......................................       302         489         734       1,007       1,421       1,909  

        1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
        2 Includes persons with bachelor's, master's, professional, and doctoral degrees.
        NOTE:  Ten percent of all full-time wage and salary workers earn less than the upper limit of the first decile; 25 percent earn
     less than the upper limit of the first quartile; 50 percent earn less than the upper limit of the second quartile, or median; 75
     percent earn less than the upper limit of the third quartile; and 90 percent earn less than the upper limit of the ninth decile. 
     Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not
     presented for all races.  Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.  Updated population
     controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.






Last Modified Date: January 22, 2009