Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm Technical information: (202) 606-6567 USDL 99-232 For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT Media contact: 606-5902 Wednesday, August 25, 1999 AVERAGE ANNUAL PAY LEVELS IN METROPOLITAN AREAS, 1997 Average annual pay of employees within the nation's 315 metropolitan areas increased by 4.9 percent from 1996 to 1997, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The over- the-year gain was the largest since 1992, when average annual pay increased by 5.4 percent. (See chart 1.) Annual pay in metropolitan areas averaged $31,717 in 1997, up from $30,238 in 1996. Average annual pay for the entire nation, metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas combined, was $30,336 in 1997, a 4.8 percent increase from 1996. (Average annual pay by state and industry for 1997 was issued on June 23,1999, in USDL 99-171.) Average annual pay data are compiled from reports submitted by employers subject to state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) laws covering 121.1 million full- and part-time workers. Average annual pay is computed by dividing the total annual payrolls of employees covered by UI programs by the average monthly number of these employees. (See Technical Note beginning on page 5.) Pay differences between areas reflect the varying composition of employment by occupation, industry, and hours of work, as well as other factors. Similarly, over-the-year pay changes may reflect shifts in these characteristics, as well as changes in the level of average pay. Table 1 of this release contains pay data for 321 Metropolitan and Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas within the United States and Puerto Rico; table 2 includes averages and rankings for the 18 areas designated as Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas. (See Technical Note for definitions.) This is the first year that the Bureau of Labor Statistics has published average annual pay for metropolitan areas within Puerto Rico. The data for the metropolitan areas within Puerto Rico are not included in the averages for all metropolitan areas. Metropolitan and Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas San Jose, Calif., the hub of Silicon Valley, led the nation with an average annual pay level of $48,702 in 1997. (See table 1.) New York, N.Y., had the second highest average annual pay level ($47,281), followed by San Francisco, Calif. ($42,583), New Haven-Bridgeport-Stamford-Waterbury- Danbury, Conn. ($42,485), and Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon, N.J. ($41,796). Average pay levels in these five metropolitan areas ranged from 32 to 54 percent above the average for all metropolitan areas in the nation. All of these MSAs have ranked in the top 10 for average annual pay for the last 10 years. Seven of the top 10 average annual pay levels were found in metropolitan areas that are part of the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Conn.-Pa. consolidated metropolitan statistical area. Of the 315 metropolitan areas, 35 reported average annual pay levels above the national metropolitan pay average of $31,717. These 35 MSAs accounted for 41 percent of total employment and 49 percent of total wages. - 2 - Excluding MSAs within Puerto Rico, Jacksonville, N.C., continued to record the lowest average annual pay among metropolitan areas in 1997 ($18,960). The second lowest pay occurred in Yuma, Ariz. ($19,467), followed by Myrtle Beach, S.C. ($19,527), McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Tex. ($19,779), and Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, Tex. ($20,041). The largest percentage increase in average annual pay from 1996 to 1997 occurred in San Jose, Calif. (8.7 percent). General pay gains within manufacturing contributed to the increase in this MSA’s average annual pay. The next largest increase was in Racine, Wis. (8.5 percent), followed by Austin-San Marcos, Tex. (8.2 percent). Both Jacksonville, N.C., and Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash., reported increases of 8.1 percent, followed by Houma, La. (7.9 percent.) (Growth in average annual pay for the Jacksonville, N.C., MSA was partially the result of reporting changes by the Department of Defense.) From 1996 to 1997, average annual pay declined in one metropolitan area. Steubenville-Weirton, Ohio-W.Va., experienced a drop of 3.0 percent due to a strike in manufacturing. Only one metropolitan area, Killeen-Temple, Tex., experienced pay growth of less than 1.0 percent (0.3 percent). Comparison of Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Areas Average annual pay within the nation's nonmetropolitan areas rose 4.3 percent in 1997, compared with 4.9 percent in metropolitan areas. (See chart 2.) Average annual pay in nonmetropolitan areas in 1997 was $23,846, up from $22,871 in 1996. In 1997, nonmetropolitan average annual pay was $7,871 less than metropolitan average annual pay, a difference of 25 percent. In 1996, the difference was 24 percent. The difference between nonmetropolitan and metropolitan pay has been gradually widening over the years. In 1980, the difference between the two pay levels amounted to approximately 16 percent. A difference of 21 percent was reported in 1987. With the exceptions of 1994 and 1993, growth in total metropolitan average annual pay has outpaced that of nonmetropolitan average annual pay. (MSA historical data are not directly comparable due to revisions of metro- politan area definitions.) Metropolitan pay grew faster than nonmetropolitan pay in both the private and public sectors in 1997. In the private sector, metropolitan average annual pay grew at a rate of 5.2 percent, while non- metropolitan pay increased 4.8 percent. Within the public sector, metro- politan average annual pay increased 3.3 percent, versus 2.6 percent for nonmetropolitan pay. Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas Average annual pay for the nation’s 18 consolidated metropolitan statistical areas (CMSAs) rose by 5.2 percent from 1996 to 1997, from $34,061 to $35,818. (See table 2.) This was the largest percentage increase since 1992. From 1987 to 1997, there has been a slight increase in the difference between the highest and lowest paid CMSAs. In 1987, there was a difference of approximately 28 percent. In 1997, the reported difference was 32 percent. - 3 - For the 11th consecutive year, the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Conn.-Pa., consolidated metropolitan area had the highest pay level, $42,096. The next highest pay level was recorded in San Francisco- Oakland-San Jose, Calif. ($40,618), followed by Detroit-Ann Arbor- Flint, Mich. ($36,402), Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Mass.-N.H. ($36,210), and Washington-Baltimore, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W.Va. ($36,055). Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla., had the lowest average annual pay level ($28,784) of the consolidated metropolitan areas for the fourth consecutive year. Cincinnati-Hamilton, Ohio-Ky.-Ind., had the second lowest ($30,288), followed by Milwaukee-Racine, Wis. ($30,644), Cleveland-Akron, Ohio ($30,650), and Portland-Salem, Ore.-Wash. (30,708). The highest percentage increase in average annual pay from 1996 to 1997, 7.5 percent, was reported in Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, Wash. The next largest increases were in San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif. (7.0 percent), Dallas-Fort Worth, Tex. (6.0 percent), Houston-Galveston- Brazoria, Tex. (5.9 percent), and Milwaukee-Racine, Wis. (5.8 percent). None of the 18 consolidated metropolitan areas reported a decline in average annual pay in 1997. The smallest increase occurred in Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (2.6 percent), followed by Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, Mich. (3.8 percent), Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md. (3.9 percent), Los Angeles- Riverside-Orange County, Calif. (4.3 percent), and Cleveland-Akron, Ohio (4.4 percent). Technical Note These data are the product of a federal-state cooperative program known as Covered Employment and Wages, or the ES-202 program. The data are derived from summaries of employment and total pay of workers covered by unemployment insurance (UI) legislation and provided by State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs). The summaries are a by-product of the administration of state unemployment insurance programs that require most employers to pay quarterly taxes based on the employment and wages of workers covered by UI. Data for 1997 are preliminary and subject to revision. Effective with third-quarter 1997 processing, employment and wage totals were generated using new systems in each of the states and at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is the first year that BLS has published annual pay data for metropolitan areas within Puerto Rico in this release. Coverage Employment and wage data for workers covered by state UI laws and for federal civilian workers covered by the Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) program are compiled from quarterly contribution reports submitted to the SESAs by employers. In addition to the quarterly contribution reports, employers who operate multiple establishments within a state complete a questionnaire, called the "Multiple Worksite Report," which provides detailed information on the location and industry of each of their establishments. Average annual pay data included in this release are derived from microdata summaries of nearly 7.5 million employer reports of employment and wages submitted by states to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These reports are based on place of employment rather than place of residence. UI and UCFE coverage is broad and basically comparable from state to state. In 1997, UI and UCFE programs covered workers in 121.1 million jobs. The estimated 115.8 million workers in these jobs, (after adjustment for multiple jobholders), represented 97.4 percent of wage and salary civilian employment. Multiple job holder estimates are produced by the Current Population Survey (CPS). Covered workers received $3.673 trillion in pay, representing 94.4 percent of the wage and salary component of personal income and 45.3 percent of the gross domestic product. About 82 percent of all covered workers were employed in metropolitan areas. Total wages of workers in metropolitan areas comprised approximately 86 percent of all covered wages in the United States. Major exclusions from UI coverage during 1997 included most agricultural workers on small farms, all members of the Armed Forces, elected officials in most states, most employees of railroads, some domestic workers, most student workers at schools, and employees of certain small nonprofit organizations. - 2 - Concepts and methodology Average annual pay was computed by dividing total annual pay of employees covered by UI programs by the average monthly number of these employees. Included in the annual payroll data are bonuses, the cash value of meals and lodging when supplied, tips and other gratuities, and, in some states, employer contributions to certain deferred compensation plans, such as 401(k) plans, and stock options. Monthly employment is based on the number of workers who worked during or received pay for the pay period including the 12th of the month. With few exceptions, all employees of covered firms are reported, including production and sales workers, corporation officials, executives, supervisory personnel, and clerical workers. Workers on paid vacation and part-time workers are also included. Percent changes in average annual pay were computed using final 1996 data as the base. These final 1996 data may differ from the preliminary 1996 data previously published. Average annual pay is affected by the ratio of full-time to part-time workers as well as the number of individuals in high-paying and low-paying occupations. When comparing average annual pay levels among metropolitan areas, these factors should be taken into consideration. Annual pay data only approximate annual earnings because an individual may not be employed by the same employer all year or may work for more than one employer. Also, year-to-year changes in average annual pay can result from a change in the proportion of employment in high- and low-wage jobs, as well as from changes in the level of average annual pay. In order to insure the highest possible quality of data, SESAs verify with employers and update, if necessary, the industry, location, and ownership classifications of all establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes in establishment classification codes resulting from the verification process are introduced with the data reported for the first quarter of the year. Changes resulting from improved employer reporting are also introduced in the first quarter. For these reasons, some data, especially at more detailed geographic levels, may not be strictly comparable with earlier years. In 1997, effective with first quarter, improved Department of Defense civilian employment and wages were centrally collected from a new data source. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines metropolitan areas for use in federal statistical activities and updates these definitions as needed each summer. Data in this release use metropolitan area criteria established by OMB in definitions issued June 30, 1996 (OMB Bulletin No.96-08). These definitions reflect information obtained from the 1990 Decennial Census and the 1992 and 1994 Bureau of the Census population estimates. Metropolitan statistical area definitions are typically redefined on a yearly basis. Over the past 11 years, changes to metropo- litan area definitions have occurred in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996. A complete list of metropolitan area definitions is available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), Document Sales, 5205 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Va. 22161, telephone 703-487-4650. Generally speaking, a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is a free- standing urban area that meets a specified size criteria. Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas (PMSAs) are free-standing areas within very large MSAs. Once an area is identified as a PMSA, the term MSA no longer is used to describe the area. The large metropolitan area that is the sum of the PMSAs is called a Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA). The set of areas known as MSAs, PMSAs, and CMSAs are collectively designated and referred to as metropolitan areas. Non-metropolitan areas include counties which do not fall within defined metropolitan areas. Covered employment and wage data includes establishments classified as foreign locations, out-of-state locations, and unknown locations in nonmetropolitan areas. Current metropolitan area definitions are based on standards published in the Federal Register on March 30, 1990 (55 FR12154-12160). Under the 1990 standards, an area qualifies for recognition as an MSA in one of two ways: (1) if it includes a city of at least 50,000 population, or (2) if it includes a Bureau of the Census-defined urbanized area (of at least 50,000 population) and has a total metropolitan population of at least 100,000 (75,000 in New England). In addition to the county(ies) containing the main city or urbanized area, an MSA may include additional counties that have strong economic and social ties to the central county(ies) and meet other specified requirements of metropolitan character. The ties are determined chiefly by census data on commuting to work. An MSA may contain more than one city of 50,000 population and may cross state lines. An area that meets these requirements for recognition as an MSA but also has a total population of one million or more may be recognized as a CMSA if: (1) separate component areas can be identified within the entire area by meeting specified statistical criteria, and (2) local opinion indicates there is support for the component areas. If recognized, the component areas are designated PMSAs, and the entire area becomes a CMSA. If no PMSAs are recognized, the entire area is an MSA. OMB defines metropolitan areas in terms of entire counties, except in the six New England states where they are defined in terms of cities and towns. New England data in this news release, however, are based on a county concept defined by OMB as New England County Metropolitan Areas (NECMAs) because county-level data are the most detailed available from the Covered Employment and Wages program. NECMAs are county-based alternatives to the city- and town-based metropolitan areas in New England. The NECMA for an MSA or CMSA includes: (1) the county containing the first-named city in that MSA/CMSA title (this county may include the first-named cities of other MSAs/CMSAs), and (2) each additional county having at least half its population in the MSA(s)/CMSA(s) whose first-named cities are in the county identified in step 1. Additional statistics and other information Average annual employment and pay data by state and county are available upon request from the Division of Occupational and Administrative Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20212, telephone 202-606-6567, and e-mail (202_info@bls.gov). BLS now issues three other reports which provide data from state UI and UCFE programs. A news release on average annual pay by state and industry was issued on June 23, 1999 (USDL 99-171). Also published from this program is the com- prehensive bulletin, Employment and Wages, which features information by detailed industry on establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all states. Employment and Wages Annual Averages, 1997 is now available for sale from the BLS Publications Sales Center, P.O. Box 2145, Chicago, Illinois 60690. The news release for 1997 employment and average annual average pay for large counties is scheduled to be released in the summer of 1999. This news release, along with other BLS statistics and information, is available via the Internet at the BLS World Wide Web site (http://stats.bls.gov.newsrels.htm). Information in this release will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-606-STAT; TDD phone: 202-606-5897; TDD message referral phone number: 1-800-326-2577. Table 1. Average annual pay for 1996 and 1997 for all covered workers 1/ by metropolitan area Average Annual Pay Ranking of areas Metropolitan area /2 Percent By level of change average annual 1996 1997 1996-97 3/ pay for 1997 Metropolitan areas /4 $ 30,238 $ 31,717 4.9 --- Abilene, Tex. 21,035 21,942 4.3 297 Aguadilla, P.R. 14,282 15,380 7.7 318 Akron, Ohio 28,090 29,083 3.5 81 Albany, Ga. 24,827 25,408 2.3 189 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y. 28,712 29,725 3.5 65 Albuquerque, N.M. 25,834 27,011 4.6 137 Alexandria, La. 21,995 22,710 3.3 279 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pa. 28,759 29,699 3.3 66 Altoona, Pa. 22,675 23,444 3.4 265 Amarillo, Tex. 23,073 24,012 4.1 244 Anchorage, Alaska 33,501 34,788 3.8 22 Ann Arbor, Mich. 31,041 32,643 5.2 32 Anniston, Ala. 22,366 22,862 2.2 276 Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, Wis. 27,105 28,362 4.6 103 Arecibo, P.R. 13,703 14,117 3.0 321 Asheville, N.C. 23,735 24,645 3.8 220 Athens, Ga. 23,317 24,385 4.6 226 Atlanta, Ga. 31,337 33,259 6.1 29 Atlantic-Cape May, N.J. 27,513 27,927 1.5 108 Augusta-Aiken, Ga.-S.C. 25,968 26,937 3.7 139 Austin-San Marcos, Tex. 28,702 31,059 8.2 44 Bakersfield, Calif. 24,315 25,398 4.5 190 Baltimore, Md. 29,957 31,326 4.6 40 Bangor, Maine 23,523 24,642 4.8 221 Barnstable-Yarmouth, Mass. 24,154 25,132 4.1 198 Baton Rouge, La. 26,015 26,994 3.8 138 Beaumont-Port Arthur, Tex. 27,326 28,575 4.6 94 Bellingham, Wash. 23,307 23,904 2.6 247 Benton Harbor, Mich. 25,864 27,679 7.0 110 Bergen-Passaic, N.J. 36,845 38,509 4.5 8 Billings, Mont. 23,491 24,529 4.4 223 Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula, Miss. 23,212 24,159 4.1 234 Binghamton, N.Y. 26,905 27,668 2.8 111 Birmingham, Ala. 28,511 29,637 4.0 67 Bismarck, N.D. 22,617 23,286 3.0 268 Bloomington, Ind. 23,310 24,221 3.9 232 Bloomington-Normal, Ill. 29,970 30,587 2.1 52 Boise City, Idaho 26,339 27,130 3.0 132 Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Mass.-N.H. 34,357 36,210 5.4 15 Boulder-Longmont, Colo. 30,968 33,198 7.2 30 Brazoria, Tex. 30,781 32,205 4.6 34 Bremerton, Wash. 25,954 27,557 6.2 115 Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, Tex. 19,056 20,041 5.2 311 Bryan-College Station, Tex. 20,683 21,582 4.3 303 Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y. 27,607 28,362 2.7 102 Burlington, Vt. 27,724 28,954 4.4 86 Caguas, P.R. 15,646 16,299 4.2 317 Canton-Massillon, Ohio. 25,110 26,086 3.9 166 Casper, Wyo. 23,200 24,137 4.0 236 Cedar Rapids, Iowa 27,523 29,076 5.6 82 Champaign-Urbana, Ill 24,982 25,826 3.4 172 Charleston-North Charleston, S.C 23,168 24,122 4.1 237 Charleston, W.Va 26,697 27,487 3.0 120 Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, N.C.-S.C. 29,287 30,826 5.3 48 Charlottesville, Va. 25,699 26,557 3.3 148 Chattanooga, Tenn.-Ga. 25,460 26,744 5.0 145 Cheyenne, Wyo. 21,998 23,013 4.6 272 Chicago, Ill. 33,910 35,894 5.9 16 Chico-Paradise, Calif. 21,021 22,117 5.2 292 Cincinnati, Ohio-Ky.-Ind. 29,022 30,492 5.1 54 Clarksville-Hopkinsville, Tenn.-Ky. 21,510 22,210 3.3 289 Cleveland-Lorain-Elyria, Ohio. 29,705 31,089 4.7 43 Colorado Springs, Colo. 25,771 27,296 5.9 125 Columbia, Mo. 23,920 24,453 2.2 225 Columbia, S.C. 24,481 25,477 4.1 186 Columbus, Ga.-Ala. 22,863 24,239 6.0 230 Columbus, Ohio. 27,878 29,453 5.7 72 Corpus Christi, Tex. 24,976 25,634 2.6 178 Cumberland, Md.-W.Va. 22,723 23,445 3.2 264 Dallas, Tex. 32,983 35,012 6.2 18 Danville, Va. 22,173 23,175 4.5 269 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, Iowa-Ill. 26,483 28,463 7.5 98 Dayton-Springfield, Ohio. 28,486 30,312 6.4 59 Daytona Beach, Fla. 21,220 22,001 3.7 295 Decatur, Ala. 25,842 26,877 4.0 141 Decatur, Ill. 28,425 29,525 3.9 69 Denver, Colo. 31,614 33,374 5.6 28 Des Moines, Iowa 27,525 29,171 6.0 80 Detroit, Mich. 35,747 37,126 3.9 11 Dothan, Ala. 23,260 24,220 4.1 233 Dover, Del. 24,176 24,824 2.7 211 Dubuque, Iowa. 24,745 25,438 2.8 188 Duluth-Superior, Minn.-Wis. 24,221 24,881 2.7 208 Dutchess County, N.Y. 30,546 31,104 1.8 42 Eau Claire, Wis. 22,148 23,163 4.6 270 El Paso, Tex. 21,834 22,748 4.2 278 Elkhart-Goshen, Ind. 26,333 27,208 3.3 127 Elmira, N.Y. 24,358 24,968 2.5 205 Enid, Okla. 20,630 21,539 4.4 304 Erie, Pa. 25,941 26,795 3.3 144 Eugene-Springfield, Ore. 24,152 25,166 4.2 196 Evansville-Henderson, Ind.-Ky. 25,322 26,691 5.4 146 Fargo-Moorhead, N.D.-Minn. 22,973 23,816 3.7 251 Fayetteville, N.C. 22,508 23,574 4.7 257 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark. 23,003 24,347 5.8 228 Flagstaff, Ariz.-Utah. 21,440 22,142 3.3 291 Flint, Mich. 33,294 33,640 1.0 26 Florence, Ala. 22,810 23,562 3.3 258 Florence, S.C. 23,440 24,224 3.3 231 Fort Collins-Loveland, Colo 26,166 27,413 4.8 123 Fort Lauderdale, Fla 27,546 28,401 3.1 100 Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Fla 23,246 24,112 3.7 239 Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie, Fla 23,589 24,734 4.9 217 Fort Smith, Ark.-Okla. 21,980 22,921 4.3 274 Fort Walton Beach, Fla. 20,657 21,921 6.1 298 Fort Wayne, Ind. 26,463 27,595 4.3 113 Fort Worth-Arlington, Tex. 28,515 30,040 5.3 60 Fresno, Calif. 21,703 22,606 4.2 281 Gadsden, Ala. 23,256 24,029 3.3 243 Gainesville, Fla. 22,348 23,505 5.2 261 Galveston-Texas City, Tex. (5) 26,926 (5) 140 Gary, Ind. 28,505 29,068 2.0 83 Glens Falls, N.Y. 24,324 25,161 3.4 197 Goldsboro, N.C. 21,417 22,070 3.0 293 Grand Forks, N.D.-Minn. 20,476 21,944 7.2 296 Grand Junction, Colo. 22,715 23,613 4.0 254 Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, Mich. 28,486 29,632 4.0 68 Great Falls, Mont. 21,072 21,781 3.4 300 Greeley, Colo. 24,527 25,273 3.0 193 Green Bay, Wis. 27,118 28,916 6.6 88 Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point, N.C. 26,123 27,173 4.0 130 Greenville, N.C. 23,466 24,800 5.7 212 Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, S.C. 25,431 26,475 4.1 149 Hagerstown, Md. 24,393 25,499 4.5 184 Hamilton-Middletown, Ohio 27,629 28,787 4.2 90 Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, Pa. 27,776 28,829 3.8 89 Hartford, Conn. 34,844 36,643 5.2 12 Hattiesburg, Miss. 21,774 22,623 3.9 280 Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir, N.C. 22,498 23,580 4.8 256 Honolulu, Hawaii 28,336 29,511 4.1 70 Houma, La. 24,096 25,994 7.9 168 Houston, Tex. 32,895 34,930 6.2 19 Huntington-Ashland, W.Va.-Ky.-Ohio. 23,922 24,784 3.6 214 Huntsville, Ala. 31,472 32,543 3.4 33 Indianapolis, Ind. 29,133 30,517 4.8 53 Iowa City, Iowa. 25,536 26,408 3.4 154 Jackson, Mich. 27,579 28,566 3.6 95 Jackson, Miss. 24,906 26,145 5.0 161 Jackson, Tenn. 24,591 25,624 4.2 179 Jacksonville, Fla. 26,375 27,422 4.0 122 Jacksonville, N.C. 17,534 18,960 8.1 315 Jamestown, N.Y. 22,807 23,558 3.3 259 Janesville-Beloit, Wis. 27,832 29,457 5.8 71 Jersey City, N.J. 36,833 38,455 4.4 10 Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, Tenn.-Va. 24,492 24,922 1.8 206 Johnstown, Pa. 21,564 22,403 3.9 287 Jonesboro, Ark.. 21,942 22,980 4.7 273 Joplin, Mo. 21,932 22,910 4.5 275 Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Mich. 28,611 29,434 2.9 74 Kankakee, Ill. 25,213 26,240 4.1 159 Kansas City, Mo.-Kan. 28,772 29,819 3.6 64 Kenosha, Wis. 26,228 27,183 3.6 129 Killeen-Temple, Tex 22,419 22,487 0.3 283 Knoxville, Tenn 25,340 26,367 4.1 156 Kokomo, Ind 34,787 35,815 3.0 17 LaCrosse, Wis.-Minn. 23,002 23,961 4.2 246 Lafayette, Ind. 25,992 27,465 5.7 121 Lafayette, La. 23,955 25,671 7.2 176 Lake Charles, La. 26,059 27,067 3.9 135 Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla. 24,106 25,019 3.8 204 Lancaster, Pa. 26,467 27,272 3.0 126 Lansing-East Lansing, Mich. 29,101 30,688 5.5 50 Laredo, Tex. 20,387 21,473 5.3 307 Las Cruces, N.M. 20,372 21,477 5.4 306 Las Vegas, Nev.-Ariz. 27,331 28,202 3.2 105 Lawrence, Kan. 21,198 21,913 3.4 299 Lawton, Okla. 20,916 21,497 2.8 305 Lewiston-Auburn, Maine 22,495 23,460 4.3 263 Lexington, Ky. 25,746 27,027 5.0 136 Lima, Ohio 25,013 25,819 3.2 173 Lincoln, Neb. 24,018 25,182 4.8 194 Little Rock-North Little Rock, Ark. 25,389 26,431 4.1 153 Longview-Marshall, Tex. 23,983 24,795 3.4 213 Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif. 33,476 34,846 4.1 20 Louisville, Ky.-Ind. 26,635 27,616 3.7 112 Lubbock, Tex. 22,721 23,437 3.2 266 Lynchburg, Va. 23,946 25,042 4.6 203 Macon, Ga. 24,766 26,436 6.7 151 Madison, Wis. 27,191 28,474 4.7 97 Mansfield, Ohio 24,535 25,712 4.8 174 Mayaguez, P.R. 13,741 14,604 6.3 320 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Tex. 18,928 19,779 4.5 312 Medford-Ashland, Ore. 22,679 23,299 2.7 267 Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, Fla. 27,370 28,499 4.1 96 Memphis, Tenn.-Ark.-Miss. 27,909 29,269 4.9 78 Merced, Calif. 20,909 21,650 3.5 302 Miami, Fla. 28,382 29,030 2.3 85 Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon, N.J. 39,630 41,796 5.5 5 Milwaukee-Waukesha, Wis. 29,076 30,673 5.5 51 Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.-Wis. 31,935 33,577 5.1 27 Mobile, Ala. 24,252 25,179 3.8 195 Modesto, Calif. 23,738 24,908 4.9 207 Monmouth-Ocean, N.J. 29,919 31,506 5.3 38 Monroe, La. 23,389 24,060 2.9 241 Montgomery, Ala. 24,508 25,323 3.3 192 Muncie, Ind. 25,144 26,400 5.0 155 Myrtle Beach, S.C. 18,551 19,527 5.3 313 Naples, Fla. 23,728 25,500 7.5 183 Nashville, Tenn. 28,143 29,880 6.2 62 Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y. 32,879 34,341 4.4 24 New Haven-Bridgeport-Stamford-Waterbury-Danbury, Conn. 39,495 42,485 7.6 4 New London-Norwich, Conn. 32,003 33,043 3.3 31 New Orleans, La. 26,116 27,555 5.5 116 New York, N.Y. 45,007 47,281 5.1 2 Newark, N.J. 38,894 40,411 3.9 6 Newburgh, N.Y.-Pa. 25,593 25,850 1.0 170 Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, Va.-N.C. 24,183 25,115 3.9 200 Oakland, Calif. 34,427 36,377 5.7 13 Ocala, Fla. 21,677 22,473 3.7 285 Odessa-Midland, Tex. 25,902 27,542 6.3 117 Oklahoma City, Okla. 24,294 25,130 3.4 199 Olympia, Wash. 26,575 27,377 3.0 124 Omaha, Neb.-Iowa 25,964 27,588 6.3 114 Orange County, Calif. 32,179 33,767 4.9 25 Orlando, Fla. 25,206 26,303 4.4 157 Owensboro, Ky. 22,209 23,525 5.9 260 Panama City, Fla. 21,121 22,504 6.5 282 Parkersburg-Marietta, W.Va.-Ohio 24,685 25,668 4.0 177 Pensacola, Fla. 23,245 23,888 2.8 248 Peoria-Pekin, Ill. 27,842 29,434 5.7 73 Philadelphia, Pa.-N.J. 33,076 34,375 3.9 23 Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz. 27,826 29,301 5.3 76 Pine Bluff, Ark. 22,738 23,820 4.8 250 Pittsburgh, Pa. 29,060 30,363 4.5 57 Pittsfield, Mass. 26,298 27,936 6.2 107 Pocatello, Idaho 21,391 22,025 3.0 294 Ponce, P.R. 14,367 14,899 3.7 319 Portland, Maine 26,379 27,541 4.4 118 Portland-Vancouver, Ore.-Wash. 29,935 31,606 5.6 36 Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, R.I. 27,330 28,615 4.7 93 Provo-Orem, Utah 23,480 23,842 1.5 249 Pueblo, Colo. 22,357 23,091 3.3 271 Punta Gorda, Fla. 21,816 22,145 1.5 290 Racine, Wis. 27,973 30,341 8.5 58 Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C. 29,091 30,908 6.2 47 Rapid City, S.D. 20,719 21,447 3.5 308 Reading, Pa. 28,206 29,432 4.3 75 Redding, Calif. 23,855 24,681 3.5 218 Reno, Nev. 27,679 28,451 2.8 99 Richland-Kennewick-Pasco, Wash. 27,863 28,310 1.6 104 Richmond-Petersburg, Va. 28,704 30,025 4.6 61 Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif. 25,279 26,185 3.6 160 Roanoke, Va. 24,581 25,693 4.5 175 Rochester, Minn. 30,662 31,517 2.8 37 Rochester, N.Y. 30,235 31,353 3.7 39 Rockford, Ill. 28,060 29,278 4.3 77 Rocky Mount, N.C. 23,266 24,832 6.7 210 Sacramento, Calif. 29,560 31,028 5.0 45 Saginaw-Bay City-Midland, Mich. 31,117 32,117 3.2 35 Salem, Ore. 23,748 24,769 4.3 216 Salinas, Calif. 24,852 26,103 5.0 164 Salt Lake City-Ogden, Utah. 25,768 27,130 5.3 131 San Angelo, Tex. 21,426 22,222 3.7 288 San Antonio, Tex. 24,459 25,517 4.3 182 San Diego, Calif. 28,845 30,364 5.3 56 San Francisco, Calif. 40,017 42,583 6.4 3 San Jose, Calif. 44,824 48,702 8.7 1 San Juan-Bayamon, P.R. 17,351 18,103 4.3 316 San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, Calif. 23,970 24,771 3.3 215 Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, Calif. 26,251 27,738 5.7 109 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, Calif. 26,098 27,188 4.2 128 Santa Fe, N.M. 24,553 25,539 4.0 180 Santa Rosa, Calif. 26,938 28,724 6.6 91 Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla. 22,455 23,492 4.6 262 Savannah, Ga. 25,079 25,832 3.0 171 Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton, Pa. 24,075 25,069 4.1 202 Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash. 33,586 36,311 8.1 14 Sharon, Pa. 23,494 24,343 3.6 229 Sheboygan, Wis. 26,020 27,119 4.2 133 Sherman-Denison, Tex. 25,124 25,396 1.1 191 Shreveport-Bossier City, La. 23,729 24,502 3.3 224 Sioux City, Iowa-Neb. 23,273 23,605 1.4 255 Sioux Falls, S.D. 23,547 24,569 4.3 222 South Bend, Ind. 25,661 26,572 3.6 147 Spokane, Wash. 24,536 25,530 4.0 181 Springfield, Ill. 29,700 31,171 5.0 41 Springfield, Mass. 27,411 28,373 3.5 101 Springfield, Mo. 22,869 23,651 3.4 252 St. Cloud, Minn. 22,680 23,622 4.2 253 St. Joseph, Mo. 23,239 24,048 3.5 242 St. Louis, Mo.-Ill. 29,474 30,995 5.2 46 State College, Pa. 24,730 26,081 5.5 167 Steubenville-Weirton, Ohio-W.Va. 26,240 25,441 -3.0 187 Stockton-Lodi, Calif. 24,763 26,101 5.4 165 Sumter, S.C. 20,708 21,777 5.2 301 Syracuse, N.Y. 27,652 28,671 3.7 92 Tacoma, Wash. 25,548 26,455 3.5 150 Tallahassee, Fla. 24,226 25,109 3.6 201 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla. 25,530 26,799 5.0 143 Terre Haute, Ind. 23,046 24,140 4.7 235 Texarkana, Tex.-Texarkana, Ark. 22,390 23,989 7.1 245 Toledo, Ohio. 27,793 29,054 4.5 84 Topeka, Kan. 25,454 26,131 2.7 162 Trenton, N.J. 37,598 39,835 6.0 7 Tulsa, Okla. 26,122 27,491 5.2 119 Tuscaloosa, Ala. 25,051 25,951 3.6 169 Tuscon, Ariz. 24,705 25,491 3.2 185 Tyler, Tex. 25,295 26,109 3.2 163 Utica-Rome, N.Y. 23,678 24,658 4.1 219 Vallejo-Fairfield-Napa, Calif. 25,833 27,092 4.9 134 Ventura, Calif. 28,289 30,454 7.7 55 Victoria, Tex. 23,448 24,101 2.8 240 Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, N.J. 27,901 28,953 3.8 87 Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, Calif. 19,768 20,770 5.1 309 Waco, Tex. 23,302 24,383 4.6 227 Washington, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W.Va. 36,385 38,487 5.5 9 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa 25,169 26,433 5.0 152 Wausau, Wis. 25,011 26,260 5.0 158 West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Fla. 29,057 29,821 2.6 63 Wheeling, W.Va.-Ohio 22,220 22,824 2.7 277 Wichita, Kan. 27,685 29,204 5.5 286 Wichita Falls, Tex. 21,719 22,431 3.3 79 Williamsport, Pa. 23,526 24,116 2.5 238 Wilmington-Newark, Del.-Md. 33,220 34,841 4.9 21 Wilmington, N.C. 24,019 24,833 3.4 209 Yakima, Wash. 19,780 20,716 4.7 310 Yolo, Calif. 29,067 30,739 5.7 49 York, Pa. 26,955 28,113 4.3 106 Youngstown-Warren, Ohio. 25,985 26,856 3.4 142 Yuba City, Calif. 21,365 22,483 5.2 284 Yuma, Ariz. 18,213 19,467 6.9 314 1/ Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs. 2/ Includes data for Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas as of June 30, 1996. In the New England areas, the New England County Metropolitan Area (NECMA) definitions were used. See Technical Note. 3/ Percent changes were computed from unrounded average annual pay data and may differ from those computed using data rounded to the nearest dollar. 4/ Does not include the six MSAs within Puerto Rico. 5/ Data for 1996 and 1997 are not comparable. Table 2. Average annual pay for 1996 and 1997 for all covered workers 1/ by Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area Consolidated metropolitan statistical area 2/ Average Annual Pay Ranking of areas Percent By level of change average annual 1996 1997 1996-97 3/ pay for 1997 Consolidated metropolitan statistical areas $ 34,061 $ 35,818 5.2 -- Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Mass.-N.H. 34,357 36,210 5.4 4 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, Ill.-Ind.-Wis. 33,407 35,285 5.6 6 Cincinnati-Hamilton, Ohio-Ky.-Ind. 28,855 30,288 5.0 17 Cleveland-Akron, Ohio 29,350 30,650 4.4 15 Dallas-Fort Worth, Tex. 31,700 33,603 6.0 10 Denver-Boulder-Greeley, Colo. 31,186 32,958 5.7 12 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, Mich. 35,074 36,402 3.8 3 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, Tex. 32,577 34,490 5.9 7 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, Calif. 31,898 33,269 4.3 11 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 28,055 28,784 2.6 18 Milwaukee-Racine, Wis. 28,978 30,644 5.8 16 New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Conn.-Pa. 40,065 42,096 5.1 1 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md. 32,621 33,896 3.9 9 Portland-Salem, Ore.-Wash. 29,108 30,708 5.5 14 Sacramento-Yolo, Calif. 29,505 30,997 5.1 13 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif. 37,973 40,618 7.0 2 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, Wash. 31,786 34,162 7.5 8 Washington-Baltimore, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W.Va. 34,203 36,055 5.4 5 1/ Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs. 2/ Includes data for Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas as of June 30 1996. In the New England areas, the New England County Metropolitan Area (NECMA) definitions were used. See Technical Note. 3/ Percent changes were computed from unrounded average annual pay data and may differ from those computed using data rounded to the nearest dollar.