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

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, January 19, 2022                                USDL-22-0078

Technical information:  (202) 691-6378  *  cpsinfo@bls.gov  *  www.bls.gov/cps 
Media contact:          (202) 691-5902  *  PressOffice@bls.gov


                   USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS 
                                 FOURTH QUARTER 2021 


Median weekly earnings of the nation's 116.3 million full-time wage and salary workers
were $1,010 in the fourth quarter of 2021 (not seasonally adjusted), the U.S. Bureau
of Labor Statistics reported today. This was 2.6 percent higher than a year earlier,
compared with a gain of 6.7 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 in
this news release.) Data shown in this news release are not seasonally adjusted unless
otherwise specified.

Highlights from the fourth-quarter data:

 --Median weekly earnings of full-time workers were $1,010 in the fourth quarter of 2021.
   Women had median weekly earnings of $930, or 84.3 percent of the $1,103 median for men.
   (See table 2.)

 --The women's-to-men's earnings ratio varied by race and ethnicity. White women earned
   83.2 percent as much as their male counterparts, compared with 99.4 percent for Black
   women, 77.7 percent for Asian women, and 86.7 percent for Hispanic women. (See table 2.)

 --Among the major race and ethnicity groups, median weekly earnings of Blacks ($805) and
   Hispanics ($799) working full-time jobs were lower than those of Whites ($1,030) and 
   Asians ($1,384). By sex, median weekly earnings for Black men were $807, or 71.5 percent
   of the median for White men ($1,129). Median earnings for Hispanic men were $845, or
   74.8 percent of the median for White men. The difference was less among women, as Black
   women's median earnings were $802, or 85.4 percent of those for White women ($939),
   and earnings for Hispanic women were $733, or 78.1 percent of those for White women.
   Earnings of Asian men ($1,499) and women ($1,165) were higher than those of their White
   counterparts. (See table 2.) 

 --By age, usual weekly earnings were highest for men ages 35 to 64: median weekly earnings
   were $1,232 for men ages 35 to 44, $1,260 for men ages 45 to 54, and $1,311 for men ages
   55 to 64. Among women, usual weekly earnings were also highest for workers ages 35 to 64:
   median weekly earnings were $1,003 for women ages 35 to 44, $1,035 for women ages 45 to
   54, and $994 for women ages 55 to 64. Men and women ages 16 to 24 had the lowest median
   weekly earnings, $662 and $623, respectively. Men's and women's earnings were closer
   among younger workers than older workers; for example, women ages 16 to 24 earned 94.1
   percent as much as men in the same age group, while the women's-to-men's earnings ratio
   was 76.9 percent for those age 55 and over. (See table 3.) 

 --Among the major occupational groups, persons employed full time in management, professional,
   and related occupations had the highest median weekly earnings--$1,618 for men and $1,235
   for women. Men and women employed in service occupations earned the least, $728 and $638,
   respectively. (See table 4.)

 --By educational attainment, full-time workers age 25 and over without a high school diploma
   had median weekly earnings of $651, compared with $831 for high school graduates (no college)
   and $1,467 for those holding at least a bachelor's degree. Among college graduates with
   advanced degrees (master's, professional, and doctoral degrees), the highest earning 10
   percent of male workers made $4,317 or more per week, compared with $2,922 or more for their
   female counterparts. (See table 5.)

 --Seasonally adjusted median weekly earnings were $1,008 in the fourth quarter of 2021, little
   changed from the previous quarter. (See table 1.)

2021 Annual Averages

In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this news release includes 2021 annual averages
on median weekly earnings for major demographic, occupational, and educational attainment groups.
(See tables 7, 8, and 9.) Annual average data on median usual weekly earnings for men and women
by detailed occupational categories will be posted online at www.bls.gov/cps/tables.htm#weekearn
when they become available.


 ________________________________________________________________________________________________
|												 |
|              Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on Usual Weekly Earnings Data              |
|												 |
| Usual weekly earnings data for the fourth quarter of 2021 continue to reflect the impact on	 |
| the labor market of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Changes in weekly earnings in recent	 |
| quarters must be interpreted with caution. More information on labor market developments in	 |
| recent months is available at www.bls.gov/covid19/effects-of-covid-19-pandemic-and-response-	 |
| on-the-employment-situation-news-release.htm.							 |
|________________________________________________________________________________________________|


 ________________________________________________________________________________________________
|                 										 |
|                   Revision of Seasonally Adjusted Usual Weekly Earnings Data                   |
|												 |
| Seasonally adjusted median usual weekly earnings data shown in table 1 of this news release	 |
| have been revised using updated seasonal adjustment factors from the Current Population	 |
| Survey, a procedure done at the end of each calendar year. The revisions directly affected	 |
| the number of full-time wage and salary workers and current dollar estimates of median weekly	 |
| earnings; estimates of constant (1982-84) dollar median weekly earnings were indirectly 	 |
| affected. Seasonally adjusted estimates back to the first quarter of 2017 were subject to 	 |
| revision.											 |
|												 |
| The Usual Weekly Earnings news release for the first quarter of 2022, scheduled for release	 |
| on April 15, 2022, will incorporate revisions to the seasonally adjusted data for the median	 |
| weekly earnings in constant (1982-84) dollars. Seasonally adjusted constant (1982-84) dollar	 |
| estimates back to the first quarter of 2017 will be subject to revision due to annual		 |
| revisions to seasonally adjusted data for the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers	 |
| (CPI-U).											 |
|________________________________________________________________________________________________|




Technical Note


   The estimates in this release were obtained from the Current Population Survey (CPS),
which provides basic information on the labor force, employment, and unemployment. The
survey is conducted monthly for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) by the U.S. Census
Bureau using a scientifically selected national sample of about 60,000 eligible house-
holds, with coverage in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The earnings data
are collected from one-fourth of the CPS monthly sample and are limited to wage and
salary workers. All self-employed workers, both incorporated and unincorporated, are
excluded from CPS earnings estimates.

   Material in this news release is in the public domain and may be used without
permission. This information is available to sensory impaired individuals upon
request. Voice telephone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Definitions

   The principal definitions used in connection with the earnings data in this news
release 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, or 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 determined by each respondent's own understanding of the term. If
the respondent asks for a definition of "usual," interviewers are instructed to define
the term as more than half the weeks worked during the past 4 or 5 months.

   Medians (and other quantiles) of weekly earnings. The median (or upper limit of the
second quartile) is the midpoint in a given earnings distribution, with half of workers
having earnings above the median and the other half 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 BLS procedure for estimating the median of an earnings distribution places each 
reported or calculated weekly earnings value into a $50-wide interval that is centered
around a multiple of $50. The median is calculated through the linear interpolation of 
the interval in which the median lies.

   Changes over time 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 as follows: (1) there
could be a change in the relative weights of the subgroups. For example, the median of
16- to 24-year-olds and the median earnings of those 25 years and over may rise, but if
the lower earning 16-to-24 age 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 change could be caused by survey observations that are clustered at rounded values,
such as $400 or $500. 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.

   Constant dollars. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) is used
to convert current dollars to constant (1982-84) dollars.

   Wage and salary workers. These are 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, it excludes all self-
employed persons, both those with incorporated businesses and those with unincorporated
businesses.

   Full-time workers. For the purpose of producing estimates of earnings, workers who
usually work 35 hours or more per week at their sole or principal job are defined as
working full time.

   Part-time workers. For the purpose of producing estimates of earnings, workers who
usually work fewer than 35 hours per week at their sole or principal job are defined as
working part time.

   Race. In the survey process, race is determined by the household respondent. In
accordance with the Office of Management and Budget guidelines, White, Black or African
American, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific 
Islander are terms used to describe a person's race. Estimates for the latter two race
groups and persons who selected more than one race are not included in this release due
to insufficient sample size.

   Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. This refers to people who identified themselves in the
survey process as being of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin. People whose ethnicity
is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

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 component of
this difference that occurs because samples differ by chance is known as sampling error,
and its 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.

   Additional information about the reliability of data from the CPS is available on the
BLS website at www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#reliability.

Seasonal adjustment

   Over the course of a year, the size of the nation's labor force and other measures
of labor market activity undergo regularly occurring fluctuations. These recurring
events include seasonal changes in weather, major holidays, and the opening and closing
of schools. The effect of such seasonal variations can be very large.

   Because seasonal events follow a more or less regular pattern each year, their
influence on the level of a series can be tempered by adjusting for regular seasonal
variation. These adjustments make nonseasonal developments easier to spot. The
seasonally adjusted figures provide a more useful tool with which to analyze changes
in quarter-to-quarter activity.

   At the end of each calendar year, the seasonally adjusted data are revised for the past
5 years when the seasonal adjustment factors are updated. More information on seasonal
adjustment is available on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#sa.




Table 1. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex, quarterly averages, seasonally adjusted
Year and quarter Number of workers
(in thousands)
Median weekly earnings
Total Men Women In current dollars In constant (1982-84) dollars
Total
$
Men
$
Women
$
Total
$
Men
$
Women
$

2012

4th quarter

103,748 57,772 45,977 771 868 690 333 375 298

2013

1st quarter

103,928 57,884 46,044 768 860 699 331 370 301

2nd quarter

103,988 57,944 46,044 777 863 706 335 372 304

3rd quarter

104,400 58,082 46,318 779 855 705 334 367 302

4th quarter

104,764 58,095 46,669 782 865 712 334 369 304

2014

1st quarter

105,633 58,682 46,951 790 865 716 335 367 304

2nd quarter

106,342 59,486 46,855 781 860 715 330 363 302

3rd quarter

106,726 59,543 47,183 798 878 721 336 370 304

4th quarter

107,436 60,123 47,313 795 878 724 336 371 306

2015

1st quarter

108,448 60,346 48,102 802 886 725 341 377 308

2nd quarter

108,541 60,386 48,154 803 890 725 339 376 306

3rd quarter

109,315 61,004 48,311 809 896 727 340 377 306

4th quarter

110,060 61,292 48,768 821 904 729 345 380 307

2016

1st quarter

110,323 61,559 48,764 823 904 744 346 380 313

2nd quarter

110,921 61,770 49,152 828 913 746 345 381 311

3rd quarter

111,789 62,239 49,550 834 918 748 347 381 311

4th quarter

111,357 62,182 49,175 845 924 759 349 381 313

2017

1st quarter

111,838 62,363 49,475 858 941 760 352 386 312

2nd quarter

113,140 62,963 50,177 863 937 782 353 384 320

3rd quarter

113,854 63,319 50,535 864 944 769 352 385 313

4th quarter

114,286 63,315 50,971 854 943 770 345 382 312

2018

1st quarter

114,455 63,833 50,622 875 956 778 351 384 312

2nd quarter

115,535 64,185 51,349 881 963 783 351 384 312

3rd quarter

116,267 64,448 51,819 891 980 796 354 389 316

4th quarter

116,019 64,118 51,901 897 991 795 355 392 314

2019

1st quarter

117,108 64,790 52,319 899 994 803 355 393 317

2nd quarter

117,398 65,155 52,243 913 1,004 818 358 393 320

3rd quarter

117,553 65,001 52,552 922 1,010 825 360 394 322

4th quarter

118,262 65,070 53,191 934 1,020 842 362 395 327

2020

1st quarter

116,823 64,175 52,648 951 1,056 853 368 409 330

2nd quarter

104,386 57,867 46,518 1,008 1,091 919 393 425 358

3rd quarter

108,963 60,150 48,813 996 1,112 901 384 429 347

4th quarter

111,408 61,468 49,940 982 1,069 894 376 410 342

2021

1st quarter

112,907 61,974 50,933 983 1,079 897 373 410 341

2nd quarter

113,549 62,412 51,136 996 1,098 905 370 409 337

3rd quarter

114,642 63,204 51,438 1,003 1,108 915 367 406 335

4th quarter

116,156 64,116 52,040 1,008 1,100 928 362 395 333

NOTE: 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 selected characteristics, quarterly averages, not seasonally adjusted
Characteristic Number of workers
(in thousands)
Median weekly earnings
4th
2020
4th
2021
In current dollars In constant (1982-84) dollars
4th
2020
4th
2021
4th
2020
4th
2021

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over

111,480 116,271 $984 $1,010 $378 $364

Men, 16 years and over

61,396 64,082 1,072 1,103 412 397

16 to 24 years

5,399 5,785 625 662 240 238

25 years and over

55,998 58,296 1,137 1,170 437 421

Women, 16 years and over

50,083 52,189 894 930 344 335

16 to 24 years

4,234 4,696 596 623 229 224

25 years and over

45,850 47,493 937 972 360 350

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White

85,757 88,801 1,007 1,030 387 371

Men

48,273 50,033 1,108 1,129 425 406

Women

37,484 38,767 912 939 350 338

Black or African American

14,298 15,228 792 805 304 290

Men

6,785 7,336 810 807 311 290

Women

7,513 7,892 775 802 297 289

Asian

7,493 8,002 1,261 1,384 484 498

Men

4,209 4,370 1,457 1,499 560 540

Women

3,285 3,632 1,091 1,165 419 419

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

19,910 21,066 742 799 285 288

Men

11,868 12,578 769 845 295 304

Women

8,042 8,489 706 733 271 264

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 age, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and sex, 4th quarter 2021 averages, not seasonally adjusted
Age, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity Total Men Women
Number of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
weekly
earnings
Number of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
weekly
earnings
Number of
workers
(in
thousands)
Median
weekly
earnings

TOTAL

16 years and over

116,271 $1,010 64,082 $1,103 52,189 $930

16 to 24 years

10,482 646 5,785 662 4,696 623

16 to 19 years

1,422 566 864 578 558 520

20 to 24 years

9,060 667 4,921 684 4,139 641

25 years and over

105,789 1,069 58,296 1,170 47,493 972

25 to 54 years

81,001 1,058 44,644 1,148 36,356 972

25 to 34 years

29,181 960 16,152 1,005 13,029 901

35 to 44 years

27,111 1,127 15,108 1,232 12,003 1,003

45 to 54 years

24,708 1,152 13,384 1,260 11,324 1,035

55 years and over

24,788 1,118 13,652 1,262 11,136 971

55 to 64 years

19,427 1,145 10,561 1,311 8,866 994

65 years and over

5,361 1,008 3,091 1,165 2,270 865

White

16 years and over

88,801 1,030 50,033 1,129 38,767 939

16 to 24 years

8,143 660 4,563 676 3,581 634

25 years and over

80,658 1,098 45,471 1,195 35,187 986

25 to 54 years

60,902 1,082 34,293 1,168 26,609 982

55 years and over

19,756 1,152 11,178 1,289 8,578 998

Black or African American

16 years and over

15,228 805 7,336 807 7,892 802

16 to 24 years

1,479 579 783 597 696 548

25 years and over

13,748 839 6,553 840 7,195 837

25 to 54 years

10,843 835 5,253 819 5,590 867

55 years and over

2,906 850 1,300 958 1,606 789

Asian

16 years and over

8,002 1,384 4,370 1,499 3,632 1,165

16 to 24 years

382 779 175 804 207 714

25 years and over

7,620 1,414 4,195 1,537 3,425 1,204

25 to 54 years

6,122 1,436 3,340 1,534 2,782 1,291

55 years and over

1,498 1,227 855 1,563 643 996

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

16 years and over

21,066 799 12,578 845 8,489 733

16 to 24 years

2,640 616 1,476 617 1,164 614

25 years and over

18,427 847 11,102 895 7,325 765

25 to 54 years

15,320 845 9,249 894 6,072 768

55 years and over

3,106 856 1,853 897 1,253 752

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 4. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, quarterly averages, not seasonally adjusted
Occupation and sex Number of workers
(in thousands)
Median weekly earnings
4th
2020
4th
2021
4th
2020
4th
2021

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations

49,521 51,676 $1,353 $1,407

Management, business, and financial operations occupations

20,585 21,568 1,460 1,481

Professional and related occupations

28,935 30,108 1,269 1,356

Service occupations

14,003 15,716 626 679

Sales and office occupations

21,922 21,434 799 831

Sales and related occupations

9,408 9,151 860 883

Office and administrative support occupations

12,514 12,283 778 810

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations

11,132 11,284 930 935

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations

750 757 590 604

Construction and extraction occupations

6,282 6,257 927 911

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

4,099 4,270 996 1,033

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

14,903 16,161 739 809

Production occupations

6,923 7,310 777 859

Transportation and material moving occupations

7,980 8,851 707 770

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations

23,607 24,806 1,572 1,618

Management, business, and financial operations occupations

11,005 11,280 1,702 1,673

Professional and related occupations

12,603 13,526 1,528 1,571

Service occupations

6,804 7,280 715 728

Sales and office occupations

9,029 8,681 927 971

Sales and related occupations

5,307 4,988 992 1,018

Office and administrative support occupations

3,722 3,693 861 904

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations

10,567 10,733 940 947

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations

578 604 609 604

Construction and extraction occupations

6,057 6,083 931 911

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

3,932 4,046 1,002 1,043

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

11,388 12,582 791 866

Production occupations

5,115 5,458 834 912

Transportation and material moving occupations

6,274 7,124 751 812

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations

25,913 26,870 1,168 1,235

Management, business, and financial operations occupations

9,580 10,288 1,271 1,328

Professional and related occupations

16,333 16,582 1,129 1,189

Service occupations

7,199 8,435 581 638

Sales and office occupations

12,892 12,753 741 775

Sales and related occupations

4,101 4,163 712 737

Office and administrative support occupations

8,792 8,590 752 785

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations

565 552 721 706

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations

172 153 528 604

Construction and extraction occupations

226 174 855 886

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

167 225 925 758

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

3,514 3,579 609 667

Production occupations

1,808 1,852 636 693

Transportation and material moving occupations

1,706 1,727 590 648

NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data. Effective with January 2020 data, occupations reflect the introduction of the 2018 Census occupational classification system, derived from the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). No historical data have been revised. Data for 2020 are not strictly comparable with earlier years.


Table 5. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 4th quarter 2021 averages, not seasonally adjusted
Characteristic Number of
workers
(in
thousands)
Upper limit of:
First decile First
quartile
Second
quartile
(median)
Third
quartile
Ninth
decile

SEX, RACE, AND HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY

Total, 16 years and over

116,271 $520 $697 $1,010 $1,578 $2,444

Men

64,082 563 741 1,103 1,754 2,720

Women

52,189 494 649 930 1,428 2,117

White

88,801 535 712 1,030 1,604 2,488

Men

50,033 577 763 1,129 1,764 2,761

Women

38,767 500 662 939 1,438 2,163

Black or African American

15,228 470 605 805 1,241 1,836

Men

7,336 484 621 807 1,290 2,002

Women

7,892 449 586 802 1,201 1,739

Asian

8,002 592 824 1,384 2,122 3,270

Men

4,370 620 924 1,499 2,399 3,587

Women

3,632 550 751 1,165 1,877 2,672

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

21,066 467 595 799 1,190 1,864

Men

12,578 490 615 845 1,249 1,910

Women

8,489 425 566 733 1,098 1,681

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Total, 25 years and over

105,789 552 734 1,069 1,655 2,515

Less than a high school diploma

6,355 396 510 651 884 1,176

High school graduates, no college(1)

25,318 501 636 831 1,198 1,672

Some college or associate degree

26,241 528 688 931 1,341 1,904

Bachelor's degree and higher(2)

47,875 725 994 1,467 2,220 3,289

Bachelor's degree only

29,309 684 931 1,351 2,003 2,919

Advanced degree

18,566 819 1,143 1,663 2,486 3,829

Men, 25 years and over

58,296 591 786 1,170 1,853 2,875

Less than a high school diploma

4,344 421 553 704 947 1,235

High school graduates, no college(1)

15,730 550 699 917 1,327 1,873

Some college or associate degree

14,094 587 760 1,047 1,505 2,112

Bachelor's degree and higher(2)

24,129 782 1,133 1,668 2,513 3,847

Bachelor's degree only

15,423 757 1,032 1,527 2,299 3,429

Advanced degree

8,706 893 1,345 1,911 2,903 4,317

Women, 25 years and over

47,493 510 680 972 1,481 2,211

Less than a high school diploma

2,012 360 452 576 709 896

High school graduates, no college(1)

9,588 459 584 726 964 1,390

Some college or associate degree

12,148 486 624 816 1,133 1,564

Bachelor's degree and higher(2)

23,746 671 926 1,307 1,889 2,715

Bachelor's degree only

13,886 626 836 1,176 1,707 2,505

Advanced degree

9,860 773 1,040 1,481 2,098 2,922

Footnotes
(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 6. Median usual weekly earnings of part-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, quarterly averages, not seasonally adjusted
Characteristic Number of workers
(in thousands)
Median weekly earnings
4th
2020
4th
2021
4th
2020
4th
2021

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over

22,671 22,544 $308 $319

Men, 16 years and over

8,062 7,748 309 315

16 to 24 years

3,345 3,324 252 265

25 years and over

4,717 4,424 375 390

Women, 16 years and over

14,610 14,796 307 321

16 to 24 years

4,535 4,419 235 247

25 years and over

10,075 10,377 356 375

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White

17,524 17,590 310 318

Men

6,064 5,935 311 312

Women

11,461 11,655 309 321

Black or African American

2,580 2,567 284 311

Men

987 911 288 298

Women

1,593 1,657 281 319

Asian

1,622 1,391 317 351

Men

618 522 316 381

Women

1,004 870 317 331

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

4,197 4,180 314 313

Men

1,705 1,518 324 317

Women

2,492 2,663 307 311

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 selected characteristics, annual averages
Characteristic Number of workers
(in thousands)
Median weekly earnings
2020 2021 In current dollars In constant (1982-84) dollars
2020 2021 2020 2021

SEX AND AGE

Total, 16 years and over

110,387 114,316 $984 $998 $380 $368

Men, 16 years and over

60,911 62,928 1,082 1,097 418 405

16 to 24 years

5,191 5,737 622 650 240 240

25 years and over

55,720 57,191 1,144 1,160 442 428

Women, 16 years and over

49,476 51,388 891 912 344 336

16 to 24 years

4,172 4,655 589 605 227 223

25 years and over

45,304 46,733 929 954 359 352

RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX

White

85,142 87,738 1,003 1,018 387 376

Men

48,051 49,382 1,110 1,125 429 415

Women

37,091 38,356 905 925 350 341

Black or African American

14,044 14,740 794 801 307 296

Men

6,709 7,099 830 825 321 304

Women

7,335 7,641 764 776 295 286

Asian

7,353 7,780 1,310 1,328 506 490

Men

4,084 4,259 1,447 1,453 559 536

Women

3,269 3,520 1,143 1,141 442 421

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

19,558 20,841 758 777 293 287

Men

11,695 12,469 797 820 308 303

Women

7,863 8,372 705 718 272 265

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 8. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, annual averages
Occupation and sex Number of workers
(in thousands)
Median weekly earnings
2020 2021 2020 2021

TOTAL

Management, professional, and related occupations

50,023 51,166 $1,356 $1,390

Management, business, and financial operations occupations

20,811 21,529 1,461 1,482

Professional and related occupations

29,213 29,637 1,270 1,335

Service occupations

13,771 14,630 621 644

Sales and office occupations

21,165 21,748 809 826

Sales and related occupations

8,958 9,281 880 887

Office and administrative support occupations

12,207 12,467 781 806

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations

10,690 11,182 905 919

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations

787 800 589 623

Construction and extraction occupations

5,826 6,171 906 904

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

4,077 4,211 984 1,017

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

14,738 15,590 746 774

Production occupations

6,820 7,107 775 809

Transportation and material moving occupations

7,917 8,483 719 738

Men

Management, professional, and related occupations

24,090 24,561 1,578 1,609

Management, business, and financial operations occupations

11,082 11,231 1,667 1,672

Professional and related occupations

13,008 13,330 1,532 1,555

Service occupations

6,740 7,000 704 723

Sales and office occupations

8,435 8,677 956 970

Sales and related occupations

4,991 5,090 1,046 1,049

Office and administrative support occupations

3,445 3,587 868 899

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations

10,152 10,635 917 930

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations

600 651 608 637

Construction and extraction occupations

5,635 5,965 910 908

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

3,917 4,019 991 1,023

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

11,494 12,056 796 825

Production occupations

5,055 5,251 841 884

Transportation and material moving occupations

6,439 6,804 759 786

Women

Management, professional, and related occupations

25,933 26,605 1,164 1,222

Management, business, and financial operations occupations

9,729 10,299 1,274 1,306

Professional and related occupations

16,204 16,306 1,121 1,167

Service occupations

7,032 7,630 574 598

Sales and office occupations

12,729 13,071 746 766

Sales and related occupations

3,967 4,191 715 720

Office and administrative support occupations

8,762 8,880 756 779

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations

538 547 682 696

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations

187 149 528 585

Construction and extraction occupations

191 207 796 720

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

160 192 801 836

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

3,243 3,535 614 638

Production occupations

1,765 1,856 630 653

Transportation and material moving occupations

1,478 1,679 600 624

NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data. Effective with January 2020 data, occupations reflect the introduction of the 2018 Census occupational classification system, derived from the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). No historical data have been revised. Data for 2020 are not strictly comparable with earlier years.


Table 9. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2021 annual averages
Characteristic Number of
workers
(in
thousands)
Upper limit of:
First decile First
quartile
Second
quartile
(median)
Third
quartile
Ninth
decile

TOTAL

Total, 25 years and over

103,924 $528 $714 $1,057 $1,648 $2,506

Less than a high school diploma

6,033 388 496 626 850 1,179

High school graduates, no college(1)

24,860 479 608 809 1,164 1,642

Some college or associate degree

25,824 516 673 925 1,337 1,890

Bachelor's degree and higher(2)

47,207 706 973 1,452 2,194 3,246

Bachelor's degree only

28,930 659 907 1,334 1,982 2,913

Advanced degree

18,277 809 1,139 1,658 2,492 3,812

Men

Total, 25 years and over

57,191 576 764 1,160 1,839 2,838

Less than a high school diploma

4,123 415 527 684 926 1,264

High school graduates, no college(1)

15,496 514 669 904 1,299 1,832

Some college or associate degree

13,775 581 749 1,047 1,506 2,093

Bachelor's degree and higher(2)

23,798 752 1,119 1,661 2,507 3,826

Bachelor's degree only

15,069 716 1,003 1,512 2,287 3,316

Advanced degree

8,729 896 1,328 1,910 2,906 4,354

Women

Total, 25 years and over

46,733 499 661 954 1,462 2,178

Less than a high school diploma

1,910 341 430 550 676 887

High school graduates, no college(1)

9,364 420 544 698 936 1,324

Some college or associate degree

12,049 483 609 803 1,129 1,544

Bachelor's degree and higher(2)

23,409 669 904 1,272 1,882 2,711

Bachelor's degree only

13,861 622 832 1,165 1,725 2,488

Advanced degree

9,548 765 1,023 1,460 2,087 2,920

White, total

Total, 25 years and over

79,699 546 732 1,085 1,672 2,518

Less than a high school diploma

4,897 392 504 637 870 1,188

High school graduates, no college(1)

19,086 488 621 841 1,207 1,716

Some college or associate degree

19,916 537 696 962 1,379 1,914

Bachelor's degree and higher(2)

35,800 723 990 1,468 2,211 3,298

Bachelor's degree only

22,468 679 927 1,359 2,011 2,977

Advanced degree

13,332 829 1,149 1,662 2,497 3,839

White men

Total, 25 years and over

44,861 587 786 1,184 1,861 2,878

Less than a high school diploma

3,449 421 544 691 938 1,268

High school graduates, no college(1)

12,173 528 692 940 1,341 1,886

Some college or associate degree

10,934 598 780 1,096 1,555 2,122

Bachelor's degree and higher(2)

18,305 767 1,135 1,673 2,521 3,849

Bachelor's degree only

11,948 735 1,032 1,543 2,305 3,429

Advanced degree

6,357 915 1,335 1,916 2,910 4,487

White women

Total, 25 years and over

34,838 507 677 968 1,475 2,184

Less than a high school diploma

1,448 347 435 554 680 883

High school graduates, no college(1)

6,913 431 555 710 953 1,340

Some college or associate degree

8,983 490 621 824 1,147 1,569

Bachelor's degree and higher(2)

17,495 683 915 1,292 1,885 2,719

Bachelor's degree only

10,519 638 845 1,180 1,741 2,499

Advanced degree

6,976 782 1,038 1,465 2,081 2,921

Black or African American, total

Total, 25 years and over

13,351 474 610 844 1,302 1,913

Less than a high school diploma

581 354 448 562 733 1,003

High school graduates, no college(1)

3,842 415 554 708 982 1,428

Some college or associate degree

3,951 472 592 766 1,127 1,548

Bachelor's degree and higher(2)

4,976 591 809 1,164 1,739 2,500

Bachelor's degree only

3,068 563 754 1,070 1,555 2,285

Advanced degree

1,908 682 942 1,360 1,969 2,896

Black or African American men

Total, 25 years and over

6,383 486 635 885 1,377 2,038

Less than a high school diploma

357 389 478 597 766 1,053

High school graduates, no college(1)

2,186 462 590 754 1,092 1,495

Some college or associate degree

1,789 484 627 838 1,220 1,686

Bachelor's degree and higher(2)

2,052 616 851 1,321 1,911 2,876

Bachelor's degree only

1,347 594 793 1,167 1,749 2,490

Advanced degree

705 709 1,008 1,561 2,227 3,236

Black or African American women

Total, 25 years and over

6,967 455 592 812 1,233 1,780

Less than a high school diploma

224 311 412 532 637 894

High school graduates, no college(1)

1,657 386 508 653 861 1,297

Some college or associate degree

2,162 454 572 718 1,041 1,441

Bachelor's degree and higher(2)

2,924 569 786 1,105 1,566 2,317

Bachelor's degree only

1,721 526 725 995 1,386 2,064

Advanced degree

1,203 645 924 1,248 1,850 2,575

Asian, total

Total, 25 years and over

7,355 584 825 1,369 2,155 3,135

Less than a high school diploma

274 352 476 597 781 1,104

High school graduates, no college(1)

997 459 588 748 1,027 1,489

Some college or associate degree

914 523 675 910 1,297 1,904

Bachelor's degree and higher(2)

5,170 752 1,126 1,712 2,501 3,607

Bachelor's degree only

2,586 684 970 1,474 2,257 3,096

Advanced degree

2,583 922 1,331 1,895 2,878 3,899

Asian men

Total, 25 years and over

4,048 614 923 1,500 2,393 3,481

Less than a high school diploma

139 378 500 658 913 1,284

High school graduates, no college(1)

554 504 619 843 1,215 1,640

Some college or associate degree

499 577 716 989 1,407 2,024

Bachelor's degree and higher(2)

2,855 821 1,237 1,885 2,844 3,871

Bachelor's degree only

1,368 710 1,035 1,631 2,414 3,243

Advanced degree

1,486 1,008 1,463 2,090 3,075 4,304

Asian women

Total, 25 years and over

3,307 533 744 1,169 1,885 2,779

Less than a high school diploma

135 324 432 533 675 919

High school graduates, no college(1)

443 408 533 673 875 1,146

Some college or associate degree

415 495 610 833 1,146 1,555

Bachelor's degree and higher(2)

2,315 712 991 1,496 2,172 3,110

Bachelor's degree only

1,218 664 920 1,351 1,931 2,881

Advanced degree

1,097 797 1,132 1,619 2,354 3,454

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, total

Total, 25 years and over

18,234 474 603 818 1,242 1,890

Less than a high school diploma

3,806 387 495 616 803 1,110

High school graduates, no college(1)

5,613 469 590 760 1,042 1,500

Some college or associate degree

4,245 504 645 868 1,228 1,733

Bachelor's degree and higher(2)

4,569 616 849 1,260 1,895 2,801

Bachelor's degree only

3,117 588 783 1,160 1,747 2,521

Advanced degree

1,452 742 1,046 1,536 2,213 3,150

Hispanic or Latino men

Total, 25 years and over

10,974 491 624 878 1,309 1,946

Less than a high school diploma

2,712 409 519 660 891 1,191

High school graduates, no college(1)

3,694 496 623 824 1,157 1,599

Some college or associate degree

2,265 560 706 985 1,357 1,910

Bachelor's degree and higher(2)

2,302 644 905 1,373 2,095 3,156

Bachelor's degree only

1,606 609 845 1,251 1,905 2,886

Advanced degree

697 761 1,156 1,750 2,508 3,827

Hispanic or Latino women

Total, 25 years and over

7,260 436 571 752 1,150 1,755

Less than a high school diploma

1,094 345 428 544 652 807

High school graduates, no college(1)

1,919 419 521 655 839 1,179

Some college or associate degree

1,980 474 603 771 1,044 1,444

Bachelor's degree and higher(2)

2,267 596 803 1,164 1,729 2,477

Bachelor's degree only

1,511 565 742 1,068 1,563 2,295

Advanced degree

756 715 973 1,401 1,951 2,703

Footnotes
(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 19, 2022