Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm Technical information: (202) 691-6567 USDL 99-374 Media contact: 691-5902 For release: 10:00 A.M. EST Thursday, December 30, 1999 AVERAGE ANNUAL PAY LEVELS IN METROPOLITAN AREAS, 1998 Average annual pay of employees within the nation's 315 metropolitan areas increased by 5.2 percent from 1997 to 1998, according to preliminary 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 $33,381 in 1998, up from $31,734 in 1997. (New Jersey data were not available for the third and fourth quarters of 1998 and therefore are not shown in this release. Totals for the United States were calculated using estimated data for New Jersey.) Average annual pay for the entire nation, metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas combined, was $31,908 in 1998, a 5.1 percent increase from 1997. (Average annual pay by state and industry for 1998 was issued on Dec. 15, 1999, in USDL 99-357.) Average annual pay data are compiled from reports submitted by employers subject to state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) laws covering 124.2 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.) 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 charac- teristics, as well as changes in the level of average pay. Table 1 of this release contains pay data for the Metropolitan and Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas within the United States and Puerto Rico; table 2 includes averages and rankings for the areas designated as Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas. (See Technical Note for definitions.) 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 $51,409 in 1998. (See table 1.) New York, N.Y., had the second highest average annual pay level ($50,395), followed by San Francisco, Calif. ($45,670), New Haven-Bridgeport-Stamford-Waterbury- Danbury, Conn. ($44,853), and Washington, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W.Va. ($40,695). Average pay levels in these five metropolitan areas ranged from 22 to 54 percent above the average for all metropolitan areas in the nation. Of the 306 metropolitan areas in the nation, excluding those with New Jersey com- ponents, 29 reported average annual pay levels above the national metropolitan pay average of $33,381. (The nation's metropolitan average annual pay was calculated using estimated New Jersey data.) Excluding MSAs within Puerto Rico, Jacksonville, N.C., continued to record the lowest average annual pay among metropolitan areas in 1998 ($19,815). The second lowest pay occurred in Yuma, Ariz. ($19,891), followed by McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Tex. ($20,717), Myrtle Beach, S.C. ($20,762), and Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, Tex. ($20,962). The largest percentage increase in average annual pay from 1997 to 1998 occurred in Austin-San Marcos, Tex. (14.3 percent). The second largest increase was in Boulder-Longmont, Colo. (13.9 percent), followed by St. Cloud, Minn. (11.4 percent), Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash. (9.7 percent), and Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula, Miss. (8.8 percent). Growth in average annual pay for the Boulder-Longmont, Colo., MSA was partially the result of large bonuses paid in the service sector. From 1997 to 1998, none of the metropolitan areas reported a decline in average annual pay. Six metro- politan areas experienced pay growth of less than 1.0 percent. - 2 - Comparison of Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Areas Average annual pay within the nation's nonmetropolitan areas rose 4.8 percent in 1998, compared with 5.2 percent in metropolitan areas. (See chart 2.) Average annual pay in nonmetropolitan areas in 1998 was $24,997, up from $23,854 in 1997. In 1998, nonmetropolitan average annual pay was $8,383 less than metropolitan average annual pay, a difference of 25 percent; in 1997, the percentage difference was the same. The difference between nonmetropolitan and metropolitan pay has gradually widened over the years. In 1980, the difference between the two pay levels amounted to approximately 16 percent, and a difference of 22 percent was reported in 1988. With the exception of 1993 and 1994, growth in total metropolitan average annual pay has outpaced that of nonmetropolitan average annual pay over the last 10 years. (MSA historical data are not directly comparable due to revisions of metropolitan area definitions.) Metropolitan pay grew faster than nonmetropolitan pay in both the private and public sectors in 1998. In the private sector, metropolitan average annual pay grew at a rate of 5.6 percent, while nonmetropolitan pay increased 5.3 percent. Within the public sector, metropolitan average annual pay increased 3.2 percent, versus 3.1 percent for nonmetropolitan pay. Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas Average annual pay for the nation's 18 consolidated metropolitan statistical areas (CMSAs) rose by 5.4 percent from 1997 to 1998, from $35,844 to $37,790. (See table 2.) This was the largest percentage increase since 1992. The San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif., consolidated metropolitan area had the highest pay level, $43,143. The second highest pay level was recorded in Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, Mich. ($38,624), followed by Boston- Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Mass.-N.H. ($38,357), Washington- Baltimore, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W.Va. ($38,016), and Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, Wash. ($37,179). (New Jersey data were not available for this release; therefore, data for the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.- Conn.-Pa., and Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md., CMSAs are not included in this release.) Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla., had the lowest average annual pay level ($30,477) of the consolidated metropolitan areas in the nation for the fifth consecutive year. Portland-Salem, Ore.-Wash., had the second lowest ($31,919), followed by Cincinnati-Hamilton, Ohio-Ky.-Ind. ($31,937), Cleveland-Akron, Ohio ($32,011), and Milwaukee-Racine, Wis. ($32,069). The highest percentage increase in average annual pay from 1997 to 1998, 8.8 percent, was reported in Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, Wash. The next largest increases were in Denver-Boulder-Greeley, Colo. (7.6 percent), Dallas-Fort Worth, Tex. (6.3 percent), Sacramento-Yolo, Calif. (6.2 percent), and San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif. (6.1 percent). None of the consolidated metropolitan areas reported a decline in average annual pay in 1998. The smallest increase occurred in Portland- Salem, Ore.-Wash. (4.0 percent), followed by Cleveland-Akron, Ohio (4.4 percent), and Milwaukee-Racine, Wis. (4.6 percent). Both Los Angeles- Riverside-Orange County, Calif., and Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla., reported increases of 5.0 percent, followed by Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, Tex. (5.1 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 1998 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. In some cases, this transition to new systems resulted in larger differences between pre- liminary and final 1997 levels. This is the second 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 7.7 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 1998, UI and UCFE programs covered workers in 124.2 million jobs. The estimated 119.0 million workers in these jobs (after adjustment for multiple jobholders), represented 98.4 percent of wage and salary civilian employment. Multiple jobholder estimates are produced by the Current Population Survey (CPS). Covered workers received $3.961 trillion in pay, representing 95.5 percent of the wage and salary component of personal income and 46.5 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 1998 included most agricultural workers on small farms, all members of the Armed Forces, elected officials in most states, most employees of railroads, some domestic workers, most student workers at schools, and employees of certain small nonprofit organizations. Concepts and methodology Average annual pay was computed by dividing total annual pay of employees covered by 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 1997 data as the base. These final 1997 data may differ from the preliminary 1997 data previously published. - 2 - Average annual pay is affected by the ratio of full-time to part-time workers as well as the number of individuals in high-paying and low-paying occupations. When comparing average annual pay levels 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 metropolitan 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 1-800-553-6847. 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 include 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. - 3 - 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 202-691-6567 (e-mail: 202_info@bls.gov). BLS now issues three other reports which provide data from state UI and UCFE programs. The 1998 news release for average annual pay by state and industry was issued on Dec. 15, 1999 (USDL 99-357), and employment and average annual average pay for large counties is scheduled to be issued in early 2000. The large county report was published for the first time in November 1998 with 1996 data. Also published from this program is the comprehensive 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, 1998 is available for sale from the BLS Publications Sales Center, P.O. Box 2145, Chicago, Illinois 60690. This news release, along with other BLS statistics and information, is available via the Internet at the BLS Internet site (http://stats.bls.gov.newsrels.htm). Information in this release will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-606-5886; TDD message referral phone number: 1-800-877-8339. Table 1. Average annual pay for 1997 and 1998 for all covered workers(1) by metropolitan area Average annual pay Ranking of areas Metropolitan area(2) Percent By level of 1997 1998(3) change, average annual 1997-1998(4) pay for 1998 Metropolitan areas(5)............................... $31,734 $33,381 5.2 - Abilene, TX........................................... 21,944 22,283 1.5 295 Aguadilla, PR......................................... 15,361 16,044 4.4 309 Akron, OH............................................. 29,101 30,697 5.5 66 Albany, GA............................................ 25,409 26,179 3.0 189 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY........................... 29,724 31,086 4.6 62 Albuquerque, NM....................................... 27,011 28,185 4.3 128 Alexandria, LA........................................ 22,710 23,881 5.2 263 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA........................ 29,706 30,685 3.3 67 Altoona, PA........................................... 23,440 24,435 4.2 252 Amarillo, TX.......................................... 24,013 24,926 3.8 238 Anchorage, AK......................................... 34,787 35,441 1.9 23 Ann Arbor, MI......................................... 32,606 34,350 5.3 27 Anniston, AL.......................................... 22,860 23,851 4.3 266 Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, WI........................... 28,395 29,398 3.5 98 Arecibo, PR........................................... 14,146 15,022 6.2 312 Asheville, NC......................................... 24,633 25,766 4.6 206 Athens, GA............................................ 24,374 25,776 5.8 205 Atlanta, GA........................................... 33,254 35,433 6.6 24 Atlantic-Cape May, NJ................................. 27,934 (6) (6) (6) Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC.................................. 26,944 27,957 3.8 132 Austin-San Marcos, TX................................. 31,061 35,488 14.3 22 Bakersfield, CA....................................... 25,343 26,281 3.7 186 Baltimore, MD......................................... 31,317 32,752 4.6 36 Bangor, ME............................................ 24,642 25,374 3.0 220 Barnstable-Yarmouth, MA............................... 25,121 26,965 7.3 161 Baton Rouge, LA....................................... 26,975 28,335 5.0 124 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX.............................. 28,704 30,236 5.3 80 Bellingham, WA........................................ 23,908 24,792 3.7 243 Benton Harbor, MI..................................... 27,678 27,872 0.7 133 Bergen-Passaic, NJ.................................... 38,513 (6) (6) (6) Billings, MT.......................................... 24,519 24,802 1.2 242 Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula, MS........................ 24,196 26,328 8.8 185 Binghamton, NY........................................ 27,742 28,441 2.5 119 Birmingham, AL........................................ 29,636 30,604 3.3 72 Bismarck, ND.......................................... 23,286 24,233 4.1 257 Bloomington, IN....................................... 24,221 25,836 6.7 203 Bloomington-Normal, IL................................ 30,584 31,410 2.7 51 Boise City, ID........................................ 27,129 28,028 3.3 131 Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, MA-NH...... 36,218 38,357 5.9 10 Boulder-Longmont, CO.................................. 33,199 37,821 13.9 11 Brazoria, TX.......................................... 32,206 32,901 2.2 33 Bremerton, WA......................................... 27,550 28,377 3.0 121 Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, TX.................. 20,009 20,962 4.8 302 Bryan-College Station, TX............................. 21,581 22,358 3.6 294 Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY............................. 28,359 29,659 4.6 91 Burlington, VT........................................ 28,957 30,489 5.3 76 Caguas, PR............................................ 16,287 17,039 4.6 308 Canton-Massillon, OH.................................. 26,084 27,396 5.0 148 Casper, WY............................................ 24,139 25,144 4.2 229 Cedar Rapids, IA...................................... 29,005 31,394 8.2 52 Champaign-Urbana, IL.................................. 25,829 26,941 4.3 163 Charleston-North Charleston, SC....................... 24,102 25,233 4.7 226 Charleston, WV........................................ 27,484 28,448 3.5 118 Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC................... 30,834 32,884 6.6 34 Charlottesville, VA................................... 26,591 28,559 7.4 115 Chattanooga, TN-GA.................................... 26,783 27,328 2.0 149 Cheyenne, WY.......................................... 23,024 24,314 5.6 255 Chicago, IL........................................... 35,892 37,752 5.2 12 Chico-Paradise, CA.................................... 22,164 23,205 4.7 278 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN.................................. 30,484 32,220 5.7 43 Clarksville-Hopkinsville, TN-KY....................... 22,207 23,054 3.8 283 Cleveland-Lorain-Elyria, OH........................... 31,086 32,375 4.1 39 Colorado Springs, CO.................................. 27,299 29,407 7.7 96 Columbia, MO.......................................... 24,411 25,623 5.0 212 Columbia, SC.......................................... 25,473 26,798 5.2 167 Columbus, GA-AL....................................... 24,216 25,046 3.4 234 Columbus, OH.......................................... 29,488 31,180 5.7 60 Corpus Christi, TX.................................... 25,635 26,557 3.6 176 Cumberland, MD-WV..................................... 23,439 23,696 1.1 269 Dallas, TX............................................ 35,015 37,323 6.6 14 Danville, VA.......................................... 23,196 23,852 2.8 265 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL................... 28,462 29,298 2.9 99 Dayton-Springfield, OH................................ 30,304 31,210 3.0 58 Daytona Beach, FL..................................... 21,932 22,730 3.6 289 Decatur, AL........................................... 26,872 27,676 3.0 141 Decatur, IL........................................... 29,533 31,234 5.8 57 Denver, CO............................................ 33,359 35,628 6.8 20 Des Moines, IA........................................ 29,167 30,627 5.0 71 Detroit, MI........................................... 37,164 39,520 6.3 7 Dothan, AL............................................ 24,218 25,371 4.8 221 Dover, DE............................................. 24,824 25,972 4.6 201 Dubuque, IA........................................... 25,446 26,457 4.0 180 Duluth-Superior, MN-WI................................ 24,888 26,156 5.1 191 Dutchess County, NY................................... 31,136 33,581 7.9 29 Eau Claire, WI........................................ 23,171 24,615 6.2 247 El Paso, TX........................................... 22,743 23,697 4.2 268 Elkhart-Goshen, IN.................................... 27,203 28,724 5.6 111 Elmira, NY............................................ 24,968 25,830 3.5 204 Enid, OK.............................................. 21,557 21,765 1.0 300 Erie, PA.............................................. 26,799 27,488 2.6 146 Eugene-Springfield, OR................................ 25,108 26,132 4.1 193 Evansville-Henderson, IN-KY........................... 26,692 28,419 6.5 120 Fargo-Moorhead, ND-MN................................. 23,818 25,072 5.3 233 Fayetteville, NC...................................... 23,545 24,500 4.1 251 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR.................... 24,351 26,115 7.2 194 Flagstaff, AZ-UT...................................... 22,151 23,409 5.7 276 Flint, MI............................................. 33,654 34,612 2.8 25 Florence, AL.......................................... 23,545 23,599 0.2 271 Florence, SC.......................................... 24,243 25,269 4.2 224 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO............................. 27,410 29,159 6.4 103 Fort Lauderdale, FL................................... 28,502 29,939 5.0 82 Fort Myers-Cape Coral, FL............................. 24,197 25,267 4.4 225 Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie, FL........................ 24,810 25,507 2.8 215 Fort Smith, AR-OK..................................... 22,921 23,901 4.3 262 Fort Walton Beach, FL................................. 22,108 23,352 5.6 277 Fort Wayne, IN........................................ 27,592 28,836 4.5 109 Fort Worth-Arlington, TX.............................. 30,054 31,660 5.3 49 Fresno, CA............................................ 22,626 23,822 5.3 267 Gadsden, AL........................................... 24,028 24,422 1.6 253 Gainesville, FL....................................... 23,612 24,956 5.7 236 Galveston-Texas City, TX.............................. 26,926 28,238 4.9 126 Gary, IN.............................................. 29,067 30,514 5.0 75 Glens Falls, NY....................................... 25,165 26,064 3.6 196 Goldsboro, NC......................................... 22,069 23,088 4.6 282 Grand Forks, ND-MN.................................... 22,132 22,825 3.1 288 Grand Junction, CO.................................... 23,608 24,555 4.0 249 Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, MI..................... 29,627 31,178 5.2 61 Great Falls, MT....................................... 21,782 22,509 3.3 292 Greeley, CO........................................... 25,294 26,408 4.4 182 Green Bay, WI......................................... 28,920 29,799 3.0 89 Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point, NC............. 27,201 28,628 5.2 113 Greenville, NC........................................ 24,835 25,477 2.6 216 Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC................... 26,473 27,692 4.6 139 Hagerstown, MD........................................ 25,499 26,527 4.0 177 Hamilton-Middletown, OH............................... 28,789 29,896 3.8 84 Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, PA....................... 28,827 30,413 5.5 78 Hartford, CT.......................................... 36,662 38,504 5.0 9 Hattiesburg, MS....................................... 22,645 22,884 1.1 286 Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir, NC.......................... 23,576 24,992 6.0 235 Honolulu, HI.......................................... 29,512 30,248 2.5 79 Houma, LA............................................. 25,994 27,142 4.4 153 Houston, TX........................................... 34,938 36,732 5.1 16 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH.......................... 24,797 25,107 1.3 231 Huntsville, AL........................................ 32,588 33,798 3.7 28 Indianapolis, IN...................................... 30,514 32,495 6.5 38 Iowa City, IA......................................... 26,431 27,263 3.1 151 Jackson, MI........................................... 28,604 29,492 3.1 94 Jackson, MS........................................... 26,143 27,086 3.6 155 Jackson, TN........................................... 25,631 26,782 4.5 168 Jacksonville, FL...................................... 27,959 29,937 7.1 83 Jacksonville, NC...................................... 18,977 19,815 4.4 306 Jamestown, NY......................................... 23,567 24,660 4.6 246 Janesville-Beloit, WI................................. 29,462 29,877 1.4 85 Jersey City, NJ....................................... 38,459 (6) (6) (6) Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA................. 24,881 25,661 3.1 210 Johnstown, PA......................................... 22,403 23,166 3.4 280 Jonesboro, AR......................................... 22,981 23,647 2.9 270 Joplin, MO............................................ 22,912 23,424 2.2 275 Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, MI............................ 29,400 30,628 4.2 70 Kankakee, IL.......................................... 26,242 26,381 0.5 183 Kansas City, MO-KS.................................... 29,809 31,278 4.9 56 Kenosha, WI........................................... 27,270 28,916 6.0 105 Killeen-Temple, TX.................................... 22,491 23,185 3.1 279 Knoxville, TN......................................... 26,415 27,673 4.8 142 Kokomo, IN............................................ 35,880 37,517 4.6 13 La Crosse, WI-MN...................................... 23,968 24,944 4.1 237 Lafayette, LA......................................... 25,684 26,514 3.2 178 Lafayette, IN......................................... 27,461 28,742 4.7 110 Lake Charles, LA...................................... 27,064 27,751 2.5 135 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL............................. 25,036 26,189 4.6 188 Lancaster, PA......................................... 27,272 28,515 4.6 116 Lansing-East Lansing, MI.............................. 30,672 30,943 0.9 63 Laredo, TX............................................ 21,470 22,003 2.5 298 Las Cruces, NM........................................ 21,477 22,705 5.7 290 Las Vegas, NV-AZ...................................... 28,198 29,801 5.7 88 Lawrence, KS.......................................... 21,913 22,833 4.2 287 Lawton, OK............................................ 21,504 23,042 7.2 284 Lewiston-Auburn, ME................................... 23,460 24,368 3.9 254 Lexington, KY......................................... 27,053 28,159 4.1 130 Lima, OH.............................................. 25,817 27,239 5.5 152 Lincoln, NE........................................... 25,180 26,608 5.7 174 Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR..................... 26,438 27,703 4.8 137 Longview-Marshall, TX................................. 24,797 25,396 2.4 219 Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA............................ 34,958 36,608 4.7 17 Louisville, KY-IN..................................... 27,609 29,162 5.6 102 Lubbock, TX........................................... 23,439 24,597 4.9 248 Lynchburg, VA......................................... 25,030 26,037 4.0 197 Macon, GA............................................. 26,441 27,701 4.8 138 Madison, WI........................................... 28,470 29,872 4.9 86 Mansfield, OH......................................... 25,713 26,656 3.7 173 Mayaguez, PR.......................................... 14,502 15,510 7.0 311 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX.......................... 19,785 20,717 4.7 304 Medford-Ashland, OR................................... 23,309 24,291 4.2 256 Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, FL..................... 28,366 29,462 3.9 95 Memphis, TN-AR-MS..................................... 29,278 31,301 6.9 55 Merced, CA............................................ 21,656 22,386 3.4 293 Miami-Dade, FL........................................ 29,385 30,828 4.9 64 Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon, NJ...................... 41,794 (6) (6) (6) Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI................................ 30,689 32,136 4.7 44 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI........................... 33,581 35,626 6.1 21 Mobile, AL............................................ 25,166 25,842 2.7 202 Modesto, CA........................................... 24,971 26,036 4.3 198 Monmouth-Ocean, NJ.................................... 31,510 (6) (6) (6) Monroe, LA............................................ 24,065 24,525 1.9 250 Montgomery, AL........................................ 25,315 26,148 3.3 192 Muncie, IN............................................ 26,399 26,485 0.3 179 Myrtle Beach, SC...................................... 19,521 20,762 6.4 303 Naples, FL............................................ (7) 26,739 (7) 171 Nashville, TN......................................... 29,904 30,685 2.6 68 Nassau-Suffolk, NY.................................... 34,338 35,752 4.1 18 New Haven-Bridgeport-Stamford-Waterbury-Danbury, CT... 42,551 44,853 5.4 4 New London-Norwich, CT................................ 33,053 34,612 4.7 26 New Orleans, LA....................................... 27,560 28,983 5.2 104 New York, NY.......................................... 47,378 50,395 6.4 2 Newark, NJ............................................ 40,413 (6) (6) (6) Newburgh, NY-PA....................................... 25,851 26,874 4.0 165 Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA-NC............ (8) 26,160 (8) 190 Oakland, CA........................................... 36,410 38,535 5.8 8 Ocala, FL............................................. 22,420 23,570 5.1 273 Odessa-Midland, TX.................................... 27,523 28,350 3.0 123 Oklahoma City, OK..................................... 25,093 25,980 3.5 200 Olympia, WA........................................... 27,374 28,460 4.0 117 Omaha, NE-IA.......................................... 27,591 28,584 3.6 114 Orange County, CA..................................... 33,750 35,714 5.8 19 Orlando, FL........................................... (7) 27,759 (7) 134 Owensboro, KY......................................... 23,519 24,073 2.4 259 Panama City, FL....................................... 22,569 23,873 5.8 264 Parkersburg-Marietta, WV-OH........................... 25,679 26,410 2.8 181 Pensacola, FL......................................... 23,830 24,854 4.3 241 Peoria-Pekin, IL...................................... 29,423 30,769 4.6 65 Philadelphia, PA-NJ................................... 34,367 (6) (6) (6) Phoenix-Mesa, AZ...................................... 29,306 31,190 6.4 59 Pine Bluff, AR........................................ 23,822 24,768 4.0 244 Pittsburgh, PA........................................ 30,366 31,379 3.3 53 Pittsfield, MA........................................ 27,942 28,842 3.2 108 Pocatello, ID......................................... 22,028 22,663 2.9 291 Ponce, PR............................................. 14,880 15,690 5.4 310 Portland, ME.......................................... 27,541 28,897 4.9 106 Portland-Vancouver, OR-WA............................. 31,590 32,846 4.0 35 Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, RI...................... 28,606 30,088 5.2 81 Provo-Orem, UT........................................ 24,175 25,301 4.7 223 Pueblo, CO............................................ 23,091 23,953 3.7 261 Punta Gorda, FL....................................... 22,199 23,102 4.1 281 Racine, WI............................................ 30,346 31,371 3.4 54 Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC........................ 30,923 32,332 4.6 40 Rapid City, SD........................................ 21,447 22,208 3.5 297 Reading, PA........................................... 29,431 30,547 3.8 74 Redding, CA........................................... 24,697 25,417 2.9 218 Reno, NV.............................................. 28,439 29,827 4.9 87 Richland-Kennewick-Pasco, WA.......................... 28,317 29,521 4.3 93 Richmond-Petersburg, VA............................... 29,986 31,442 4.9 50 Riverside-San Bernardino, CA.......................... 26,161 27,505 5.1 145 Roanoke, VA........................................... 25,689 26,780 4.2 169 Rochester, MN......................................... 31,551 33,142 5.0 31 Rochester, NY......................................... 31,345 32,087 2.4 45 Rockford, IL.......................................... 29,304 30,600 4.4 73 Rocky Mount, NC....................................... 24,823 25,722 3.6 209 Sacramento, CA........................................ 31,003 33,001 6.4 32 Saginaw-Bay City-Midland, MI.......................... 32,063 33,274 3.8 30 St. Cloud, MN......................................... 23,570 26,247 11.4 187 St. Joseph, MO........................................ 24,050 25,105 4.4 232 St. Louis, MO-IL...................................... 30,989 32,263 4.1 41 Salem, OR............................................. 24,734 25,744 4.1 207 Salinas, CA........................................... 26,091 27,294 4.6 150 Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT.............................. 27,140 28,365 4.5 122 San Angelo, TX........................................ 22,237 23,444 5.4 274 San Antonio, TX....................................... 25,514 26,984 5.8 158 San Diego, CA......................................... 30,357 32,221 6.1 42 San Francisco, CA..................................... 42,698 45,670 7.0 3 San Jose, CA.......................................... 48,655 51,409 5.7 1 San Juan-Bayamon, PR.................................. 18,089 19,042 5.3 307 San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, CA............ 24,703 25,733 4.2 208 Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, CA.................. 27,745 29,277 5.5 101 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA............................ 27,160 28,862 6.3 107 Santa Fe, NM.......................................... 25,542 26,900 5.3 164 Santa Rosa, CA........................................ 28,771 30,653 6.5 69 Sarasota-Bradenton, FL................................ 23,588 25,208 6.9 227 Savannah, GA.......................................... 25,822 27,733 7.4 136 Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton, PA.................... 25,087 26,071 3.9 195 Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA.......................... 36,315 39,848 9.7 6 Sharon, PA............................................ 24,342 24,870 2.2 240 Sheboygan, WI......................................... 27,123 28,171 3.9 129 Sherman-Denison, TX................................... 25,431 27,025 6.3 156 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA........................... 24,517 25,566 4.3 213 Sioux City, IA-NE..................................... 23,603 24,909 5.5 239 Sioux Falls, SD....................................... 24,568 25,993 5.8 199 South Bend, IN........................................ 26,571 27,683 4.2 140 Spokane, WA........................................... 25,527 26,568 4.1 175 Springfield, IL....................................... 31,175 32,608 4.6 37 Springfield, MO....................................... 23,640 24,743 4.7 245 Springfield, MA....................................... 28,359 29,406 3.7 97 State College, PA..................................... 26,080 26,967 3.4 160 Steubenville-Weirton, OH-WV........................... 25,438 26,337 3.5 184 Stockton-Lodi, CA..................................... 26,143 26,972 3.2 159 Sumter, SC............................................ 21,772 22,212 2.0 296 Syracuse, NY.......................................... 28,677 29,595 3.2 92 Tacoma, WA............................................ 26,462 27,507 3.9 144 Tallahassee, FL....................................... 25,064 26,803 6.9 166 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL................... 26,831 28,220 5.2 127 Terre Haute, IN....................................... 24,141 25,516 5.7 214 Texarkana, TX-Texarkana, AR........................... 23,999 24,225 0.9 258 Toledo, OH............................................ 29,052 29,733 2.3 90 Topeka, KS............................................ 26,120 27,479 5.2 147 Trenton, NJ........................................... 39,834 (6) (6) (6) Tucson, AZ............................................ 25,504 26,773 5.0 170 Tulsa, OK............................................. 27,464 28,673 4.4 112 Tuscaloosa, AL........................................ 25,961 26,997 4.0 157 Tyler, TX............................................. 26,109 27,572 5.6 143 Utica-Rome, NY........................................ 24,660 25,189 2.1 228 Vallejo-Fairfield-Napa, CA............................ 27,076 28,309 4.6 125 Ventura, CA........................................... 30,489 31,962 4.8 47 Victoria, TX.......................................... 24,104 25,339 5.1 222 Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, NJ...................... 28,952 (6) (6) (6) Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, CA........................ 20,795 21,812 4.9 299 Waco, TX.............................................. 24,383 25,470 4.5 217 Washington, DC-MD-VA-WV............................... 38,461 40,695 5.8 5 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA.............................. 26,432 26,728 1.1 172 Wausau, WI............................................ 26,266 26,956 2.6 162 West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL........................ 29,808 31,735 6.5 48 Wheeling, WV-OH....................................... 22,828 23,599 3.4 272 Wichita, KS........................................... 29,211 30,474 4.3 77 Wichita Falls, TX..................................... 22,429 22,999 2.5 285 Williamsport, PA...................................... 24,117 25,144 4.3 230 Wilmington-Newark, DE-MD.............................. 34,843 36,758 5.5 15 Wilmington, NC........................................ 24,767 25,645 3.5 211 Yakima, WA............................................ 20,715 21,483 3.7 301 Yolo, CA.............................................. 30,868 32,024 3.7 46 York, PA.............................................. 28,116 29,280 4.1 100 Youngstown-Warren, OH................................. 26,855 27,123 1.0 154 Yuba City, CA......................................... 22,521 24,052 6.8 260 Yuma, AZ.............................................. 19,466 19,891 2.2 305 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 1998. In the New England areas, the New England County Metropolitan Area (NECMA) definitions were used. See Technical Note. 3 Data are preliminary. 4 Percent changes were computed from unrounded average annual pay data and may differ from those computed using data rounded to the nearest dollar. 5 Totals were calculated using estimated data for New Jersey for the third and fourth quarters in 1998 and do not include the six MSAs within Puerto Rico. 6 MSAs containing New Jersey data are not available for 1998. Please see text for more information. 7 Data are not available for release. 8 Data do not meet BLS or State agency disclosure standards. Table 2. Average annual pay for 1997 and 1998 for all covered workers(1) by Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area Average annual pay Ranking of areas Consolidated metropolitan statistical area(2) Percent By level of 1997 1998(3) change, average annual 1997-1998(4) pay for 1998 Consolidated metropolitan statistical areas(5)........ $35,844 $37,790 5.4 - Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, MA-NH........ 36,218 38,357 5.9 3 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI.......................... 35,284 37,105 5.2 6 Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN........................... 30,278 31,937 5.5 14 Cleveland-Akron, OH..................................... 30,654 32,011 4.4 13 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX................................... 33,610 35,732 6.3 8 Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO.............................. 32,941 35,440 7.6 9 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI............................. 36,430 38,624 6.0 2 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria,TX........................... 34,497 36,242 5.1 7 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA................. 33,321 34,974 5.0 10 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL............................... 29,038 30,477 5.0 16 Milwaukee-Racine, WI.................................... 30,658 32,069 4.6 12 New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA... 42,142 (6) (6) (6) Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD...... 33,889 (6) (6) (6) Portland-Salem, OR-WA................................... 30,689 31,919 4.0 15 Sacramento-Yolo, CA..................................... 30,988 32,897 6.2 11 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA...................... 40,649 43,143 6.1 1 San Juan-Caguas-Arecibo, PR............................. 17,741 18,677 5.3 17 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA............................ 34,165 37,179 8.8 5 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV....................... 36,034 38,016 5.5 4 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 1998. In the New England areas, the New England County Metropolitan Area (NECMA) definitions were used. See Technical Note. 3 Data are preliminary. 4 Percent changes were computed from unrounded average annual pay data and may differ from those computed using data rounded to the nearest dollar. 5 Totals were calculated using estimated data for New Jersey for the third and fourth quarters in 1998 and do not include the six MSAs within Puerto Rico. 6 CMSAs containing New Jersey data are not available for 1998. Please see text for more information.