For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Tuesday, January 24, 2012                 USDL-12-0092

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 2011


Median weekly earnings of the nation's 101.5 million full-time wage and salary 
workers were $764 in the fourth quarter of 2011 (not seasonally adjusted), the 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This was 1.6 percent higher 
than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 3.3 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.) Data shown in this release are not seasonally adjusted 
unless otherwise specified. Highlights from the fourth-quarter data are:

   --Seasonally adjusted median weekly earnings were $762 in the
     fourth quarter of 2011, little changed from the previous quarter
     ($758). (See table 1.)
     
   --On a not seasonally adjusted basis, median weekly earnings were $764 
     in the fourth quarter of 2011. Women who usually worked full time had
     median weekly earnings of $688, or 81.6 percent of the $843 median
     for men. (See table 2.)
     
   --The female-to-male earnings ratio varied by race and ethnicity.
     White women earned 81.4 percent as much as their male counterparts,
     compared with black (91.1 percent), Asian (80.3 percent), and Hispanic
     women (90.4 percent). (See table 2.)
     
   --Among the major race and ethnicity groups, median weekly earnings
     for black men working at full-time jobs were $660 per week, or 75.8
     percent of the median for white men ($871). The difference was less
     among women, as black women's median earnings ($601) were 84.8 percent
     of those for white women ($709). Overall, median earnings of Hispanics
     who worked full time ($537) were lower than those of blacks ($621),
     whites ($786), and Asians ($880). (See table 2.)
     
   --Usual weekly earnings of full-time workers varied by age. Among
     men, those age 45 to 54 and 55 to 64 had the highest median weekly
     earnings--$993 and $1,029, respectively. Usual weekly earnings were
     highest for women age 35 to 64; weekly earnings were $737 for women
     age 35 to 44, $757 for women age 45 to 54, and $742 for women age 55
     to 64. Workers age 16 to 24 had the lowest median weekly earnings, at
     $447. (See table 3.)
     
   --Among the major occupational groups, persons employed full time
     in management, professional, and related occupations had the highest
     median weekly earnings--$1,274 for men and $946 for women. Men and
     women employed in service jobs earned the least, $578 and $440,
     respectively. (See table 4.)
     
   --By educational attainment, full-time workers age 25 and over
     without a high school diploma had median weekly earnings of $444,
     compared with $641 for high school graduates (no college) and $1,158
     for those holding at least a bachelor's degree. Among college
     graduates with advanced degrees (professional or master's degree and
     above), the highest earning 10 percent of male workers made $3,146 or
     more per week, compared with $2,303 or more for their female
     counterparts. (See table 5.)

Annual Averages for 2010 and 2011

In addition to the data for the fourth quarter, this release includes
2010 and 2011 annual averages of median weekly earnings for major
demographic and occupational groups, and 2011 annual average data for
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 
when they become available.



    ------------------------------------------------------------------
   |                                                                  |
   |    Revision of Seasonally Adjusted Usual Weekly Earnings Data    |
   |                                                                  |
   | Seasonally adjusted median usual weekly earnings data shown in   |
   | table 1 of this 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 2007 were subject to revision.              |
   |                                                                  |
   | The Usual Weekly Earnings news release for the first quarter of  |
   | 2012, scheduled for release on April 17, 2012, 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 |
   | 2007 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 Pop-
ulation Survey (CPS), which provides basic information on the labor 
force, employment, and unemployment.  The survey is conducted monthly 
for the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the U.S. Census Bureau from a 
scientifically selected national sample of about 60,000 eligible 
households, with coverage in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The earnings data are collected from one-quarter of the CPS monthly sample
and are limited to wage and salary workers (both incorporated and 
unincorporated self-employed are excluded).  The data, therefore, exclude
self-employment income.

   Information in this release will be made available to sensory
impaired individuals upon request.  Voice phone:  (202) 691-5200;
Federal Relay Service:  (800) 877-8339.

Reliability

   Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and non-
sampling error.  When a sample rather than the entire population is
surveyed, there is a chance that the sample estimates may differ from
the "true" population values they represent.  The exact difference, or
sampling error, varies depending on the particular sample selected,
and this variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.
There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an
estimate based on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard
errors from the "true" population value because of sampling error.
BLS analyses are generally conducted at the 90-percent level of
confidence.

   The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error.  Nonsampling
errors 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 on a timely basis, mistakes made by
respondents, and errors made in the collection or processing of the
data.

   A full discussion of the reliability of data from the Current Pop-
ulation Survey and information on estimating standard errors is avail-
able on the BLS Web site www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#reliability.

Definitions

   The principal definitions used in connection with the earnings
series are described briefly below.

   Usual weekly earnings. Data represent earnings before taxes and
other deductions and include any overtime pay, commissions, or tips
usually received (at the main job in the case of multiple jobholders).
Prior to 1994, respondents were asked how much they usually earned per
week.  Since January 1994, respondents have been asked to identify the
easiest way for them to report earnings (hourly, weekly, biweekly,
twice monthly, monthly, annually, other) and how much they usually
earn in the reported time period.

   Earnings reported on a basis other than weekly are converted to a
weekly equivalent.  The term "usual" is as perceived by the respondent.
If the respondent asks for a definition of usual, interviewers are in-
structed to define the term as more than half the weeks worked during
the past 4 or 5 months.

   Medians (and other quantiles) of weekly earnings.  The median (or
upper limit of the second quartile) is the amount that divides a given
earnings distribution into two equal groups, one having earnings above
the median and the other having earnings below the median.  Ten percent
of a given distribution have earnings below the upper limit of the first
decile (90 percent have higher earnings); 25 percent have earnings below
the upper limit of the first quartile (75 percent have higher earnings);
75 percent have earnings below the upper limit of the third quartile
(25 percent have higher earnings); and 90 percent have earnings below
the upper limit of the ninth decile (10 percent have higher earnings).
   
   The estimation procedure places each reported or calculated weekly
earnings value into $50-wide intervals that are centered around
multiples of $50.  The actual value is estimated through the linear
interpolation of the interval in which the quantile boundary lies.

   Over-the-year changes in the medians (and other quantile boundaries)
for specific groups may not necessarily be consistent with the movements
estimated for the overall quantile boundary.  The most common reasons
for this possible anomaly are:  (1) There could be a change in the rel-
ative weights of the subgroups.  For example, the medians of both 16-
to-24 year olds and those 25 years and over may rise; but if the lower-
earning 16-to-24 group accounts for a greatly increased share of the
total, the overall median could actually fall.  (2) There could be a
large change in the shape of the distribution of reported earnings,
particularly near a quantile boundary.  This could be caused by survey
observations that are clustered at rounded values, such as $250, $300,
or $400.  An estimate lying in a $50-wide centered interval containing
such a cluster or "spike" tends to change more slowly than one in other
intervals.

   Wage and salary workers.  Workers who receive wages, salaries, com-
missions, tips, payment in kind, or piece rates.  The group includes em-
ployees in both the private and public sectors but, for the purposes of
the earnings series, excludes all self-employed persons, regardless of
whether or not their businesses are incorporated.

   Full-time workers.  Workers who usually work 35 hours or more per
week at their sole or principal job.

   Part-time workers.  Workers who usually work fewer than 35 hours
per week at their sole or principal job.

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

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

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 adjust-
ing 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 re-
vised for the past 5 years when the seasonal adjustment factors are updated.  
More information on seasonal adjustment is available on the BLS Web site 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 $
2002
4th Quarter	99,895	56,224	43,670	610	683	540	336	376	298
2003
1st Quarter	100,136	56,079	44,057	615	689	546	335	376	297
2nd Quarter	100,255	56,013	44,242	619	692	551	338	378	301
3rd Quarter	100,139	56,178	43,961	621	697	554	337	378	300
4th Quarter	100,628	56,607	44,021	623	702	560	337	379	302
2004
1st Quarter	100,905	56,848	44,057	629	705	562	337	378	301
2nd Quarter	101,135	56,914	44,221	642	715	576	341	380	306
3rd Quarter	101,148	56,931	44,217	635	712	574	335	376	303
4th Quarter	101,658	57,289	44,369	646	720	577	337	376	302
2005
1st Quarter	102,091	57,710	44,381	647	723	580	336	376	302
2nd Quarter	103,201	58,099	45,101	647	714	584	334	369	301
3rd Quarter	104,310	58,843	45,467	651	723	588	331	368	299
4th Quarter	104,605	58,967	45,638	658	730	588	332	368	296
2006
1st Quarter	104,708	58,960	45,748	662	737	594	332	370	298
2nd Quarter	105,798	59,831	45,966	663	732	597	329	364	296
3rd Quarter	107,041	60,060	46,981	678	755	603	334	372	297
4th Quarter	106,847	60,140	46,707	681	748	607	337	370	300
2007
1st Quarter	107,176	60,105	47,070	687	752	610	336	368	298
2nd Quarter	106,827	60,351	46,476	693	765	610	335	370	295
3rd Quarter	107,156	60,216	46,940	698	774	621	336	372	298
4th Quarter	108,178	60,508	47,670	700	774	615	332	368	292
2008
1st Quarter	107,819	60,401	47,418	713	783	633	335	368	298
2nd Quarter	107,051	59,581	47,469	722	801	636	335	372	295
3rd Quarter	106,114	59,259	46,856	724	802	637	331	367	291
4th Quarter	105,585	58,499	47,087	727	807	647	340	378	303
2009
1st Quarter	101,734	56,339	45,395	731	815	645	344	384	304
2nd Quarter	100,002	55,226	44,776	737	816	652	345	382	306
3rd Quarter	99,004	54,451	44,553	742	820	664	345	381	308
4th Quarter	98,535	54,405	44,130	747	824	666	345	380	307
2010
1st Quarter	98,223	54,156	44,067	747	836	662	343	384	304
2nd Quarter	99,621	55,030	44,591	743	812	671	342	374	309
3rd Quarter	100,333	55,569	44,765	745	821	670	342	377	307
4th Quarter	99,927	55,468	44,459	751	828	675	342	377	308
2011
1st Quarter	99,788	55,407	44,380	749	820	680	337	369	306
2nd Quarter	100,377	55,839	44,539	756	828	688	337	369	306
3rd Quarter	100,369	55,981	44,388	758	835	681	335	369	301
4th Quarter	101,294	56,652	44,642	762	841	685	336	371	302
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 2010	4th 2011	In current dollars		In constant (1982-84) dollars
			4th 2010	4th 2011	4th 2010	4th 2011
SEX AND AGE
Total, 16 years and over	100,120	101,458	$752	$764	$344	$338
Men, 16 years and over	55,500	56,678	830	843	379	373
16 to 24 years	4,652	4,943	449	466	205	206
25 years and over	50,848	51,735	878	893	401	395
Women, 16 years and over	44,620	44,779	679	688	310	304
16 to 24 years	3,612	3,787	436	420	199	186
25 years and over	41,008	40,993	709	724	324	320
RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX
White	81,038	82,124	772	786	353	348
Men	45,917	46,881	857	871	391	385
Women	35,121	35,242	695	709	318	314
Black or African American	11,838	11,718	614	621	281	275
Men	5,535	5,533	629	660	287	292
Women	6,303	6,185	605	601	276	266
Asian	4,951	5,271	828	880	378	389
Men	2,771	2,929	947	960	433	425
Women	2,180	2,341	719	771	329	341
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity	15,054	15,222	539	537	246	238
Men	9,374	9,542	567	562	259	248
Women	5,680	5,680	510	508	233	225
NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.

Table 3. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by age, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and sex, 4th quarter 2011 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	101,458	$764	56,678	$843	44,779	$688
16 to 24 years	8,730	447	4,943	466	3,787	420
16 to 19 years	964	346	550	367	414	318
20 to 24 years	7,766	467	4,393	483	3,373	445
25 years and over	92,728	805	51,735	893	40,993	724
25 to 54 years	73,756	792	41,580	869	32,176	721
25 to 34 years	24,581	687	14,209	715	10,371	655
35 to 44 years	24,012	844	13,746	943	10,266	737
45 to 54 years	25,163	885	13,624	993	11,539	757
55 years and over	18,972	861	10,155	1,005	8,816	730
55 to 64 years	15,901	885	8,440	1,029	7,460	742
65 years and over	3,071	749	1,715	894	1,356	659
White
16 years and over	82,124	786	46,881	871	35,242	709
16 to 24 years	7,049	456	4,071	475	2,978	426
25 years and over	75,075	833	42,811	919	32,264	740
25 to 54 years	59,174	819	34,141	893	25,033	737
55 years and over	15,901	896	8,670	1,040	7,231	749
Black or African American
16 years and over	11,718	621	5,533	660	6,185	601
16 to 24 years	1,060	391	519	413	541	368
25 years and over	10,658	655	5,014	698	5,644	621
25 to 54 years	8,768	652	4,177	690	4,590	621
55 years and over	1,890	662	837	734	1,053	620
Asian
16 years and over	5,271	880	2,929	960	2,341	771
16 to 24 years	266	504	146	509	121	493
25 years and over	5,004	908	2,784	983	2,221	803
25 to 54 years	4,128	933	2,312	1,011	1,816	830
55 years and over	877	808	471	910	405	731
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
16 years and over	15,222	537	9,542	562	5,680	508
16 to 24 years	1,926	405	1,222	415	705	370
25 years and over	13,295	573	8,320	589	4,975	528
25 to 54 years	11,605	573	7,338	583	4,267	543
55 years and over	1,691	576	982	645	708	494
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 2010	4th 2011	4th 2010	4th 2011
TOTAL
Management, professional, and related occupations	39,415	40,227	$1,069	$1,098
Management, business, and financial operations occupations	15,670	16,261	1,162	1,162
Professional and related occupations	23,746	23,966	1,016	1,036
Service occupations	14,144	14,675	485	496
Sales and office occupations	23,086	22,917	633	639
Sales and related occupations	9,384	9,357	661	674
Office and administrative support occupations	13,702	13,559	622	624
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations	9,569	10,004	718	747
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	738	724	414	416
Construction and extraction occupations	4,598	5,027	712	725
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	4,234	4,253	793	823
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations	13,905	13,636	592	608
Production occupations	7,280	7,316	592	596
Transportation and material moving occupations	6,626	6,320	592	621
Men
Management, professional, and related occupations	19,022	19,585	1,267	1,274
Management, business, and financial operations occupations	8,506	8,920	1,396	1,369
Professional and related occupations	10,516	10,665	1,171	1,226
Service occupations	7,175	7,633	585	578
Sales and office occupations	8,982	8,976	732	740
Sales and related occupations	5,253	5,317	767	802
Office and administrative support occupations	3,730	3,660	673	663
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations	9,210	9,611	724	755
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	621	592	433	416
Construction and extraction occupations	4,512	4,917	713	726
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	4,077	4,103	799	830
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations	11,111	10,873	641	654
Production occupations	5,338	5,420	661	664
Transportation and material moving occupations	5,773	5,453	617	644
Women
Management, professional, and related occupations	20,394	20,642	937	946
Management, business, and financial operations occupations	7,163	7,341	967	993
Professional and related occupations	13,230	13,301	922	925
Service occupations	6,969	7,042	421	440
Sales and office occupations	14,104	13,940	602	605
Sales and related occupations	4,131	4,040	517	554
Office and administrative support occupations	9,973	9,900	615	618
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations	360	392	533	548
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	117	132	356	422
Construction and extraction occupations	86	110	626	671
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	157	150	620	697
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations	2,794	2,763	468	474
Production occupations	1,941	1,896	478	464
Transportation and material moving occupations	853	867	446	502
NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.

Table 5. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 4th quarter 2011 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	101,458	$357	$502	$764	$1,194	$1,839
Men	56,678	376	535	843	1,336	1,976
Women	44,779	337	472	688	1,039	1,538
White	82,124	364	515	786	1,225	1,869
Men	46,881	382	559	871	1,358	2,002
Women	35,242	343	480	709	1,066	1,553
Black or African American	11,718	329	427	621	907	1,405
Men	5,533	346	438	660	953	1,536
Women	6,185	315	419	601	869	1,294
Asian	5,271	381	553	880	1,429	2,018
Men	2,929	387	594	960	1,608	2,295
Women	2,341	374	516	771	1,269	1,847
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity	15,222	303	381	537	829	1,330
Men	9,542	314	393	562	878	1,422
Women	5,680	289	360	508	767	1,159
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
Total, 25 years and over	92,728	379	533	805	1,245	1,881
Less than a high school diploma	7,156	288	348	444	602	838
High school graduates, no college(1)	24,910	345	463	641	928	1,276
Some college or associate degree	25,616	390	529	744	1,075	1,495
Bachelor's degree and higher(2)	35,046	572	787	1,158	1,756	2,484
Bachelor's degree only	22,299	517	742	1,071	1,577	2,291
Advanced degree	12,746	671	922	1,351	1,942	2,881
Men, 25 years and over	51,735	396	585	893	1,387	2,034
Less than a high school diploma	4,881	302	372	482	651	927
High school graduates, no college(1)	14,864	371	505	723	1,037	1,440
Some college or associate degree	13,410	423	598	855	1,214	1,686
Bachelor's degree and higher(2)	18,580	617	885	1,341	1,919	2,894
Bachelor's degree only	11,961	591	827	1,210	1,841	2,580
Advanced degree	6,619	727	1,058	1,596	2,285	3,146
Women, 25 years and over	40,993	358	496	724	1,089	1,572
Less than a high school diploma	2,276	266	311	394	502	640
High school graduates, no college(1)	10,045	321	408	562	757	1,035
Some college or associate degree	12,206	364	486	648	912	1,248
Bachelor's degree and higher(2)	16,466	518	731	1,005	1,463	2,048
Bachelor's degree only	10,338	481	661	933	1,346	1,854
Advanced degree	6,128	628	836	1,154	1,681	2,303
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 2010	4th 2011	4th 2010	4th 2011
SEX AND AGE
Total, 16 years and over	24,409	24,652	$226	$233
Men, 16 years and over	8,349	8,744	217	226
16 to 24 years	3,541	3,757	168	176
25 years and over	4,808	4,987	266	271
Women, 16 years and over	16,061	15,909	232	237
16 to 24 years	4,620	4,460	164	168
25 years and over	11,440	11,448	267	271
RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX
White	20,225	20,272	228	233
Men	6,768	7,070	217	223
Women	13,457	13,203	235	239
Black or African American	2,519	2,795	211	226
Men	924	1,086	211	232
Women	1,595	1,709	212	222
Asian	1,038	899	245	262
Men	366	334	240	258
Women	672	565	248	266
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity	3,341	3,720	228	223
Men	1,411	1,660	239	227
Women	1,930	2,061	220	218
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
	2010	2011	In current dollars		In constant (1982-84) dollars
			2010	2011	2010	2011
SEX AND AGE
Total, 16 years and over	99,531	100,457	$747	$756	$342	$336
Men, 16 years and over	55,059	55,971	824	832	378	370
16 to 24 years	4,770	4,951	443	455	203	202
25 years and over	50,289	51,020	874	886	401	394
Women, 16 years and over	44,472	44,486	669	684	307	304
16 to 24 years	3,782	3,772	422	421	194	187
25 years and over	40,691	40,714	704	718	323	319
RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX
White	80,656	81,336	765	775	351	344
Men	45,685	46,360	850	856	390	381
Women	34,971	34,976	684	703	313	313
Black or African American	11,658	11,604	611	615	280	274
Men	5,376	5,414	633	653	290	290
Women	6,283	6,191	592	595	271	264
Asian	4,946	5,197	855	866	392	385
Men	2,753	2,912	936	970	429	431
Women	2,193	2,284	773	751	355	334
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity	14,837	15,147	535	549	245	244
Men	9,239	9,448	560	571	257	254
Women	5,598	5,700	508	518	233	230
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
	2010	2011	2010	2011
TOTAL
Management, professional, and related occupations	39,145	39,791	$1,063	$1,082
Management, business, and financial operations occupations	15,648	16,061	1,155	1,160
Professional and related occupations	23,497	23,730	1,008	1,029
Service occupations	14,424	14,378	479	486
Sales and office occupations	23,060	22,989	631	638
Sales and related occupations	9,121	9,294	666	670
Office and administrative support occupations	13,939	13,695	619	623
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations	9,869	9,965	719	732
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	729	775	416	430
Construction and extraction occupations	5,020	5,031	709	717
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	4,120	4,159	794	806
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations	13,034	13,333	599	609
Production occupations	6,861	7,058	599	605
Transportation and material moving occupations	6,172	6,275	599	614
Men
Management, professional, and related occupations	19,009	19,267	1,256	1,269
Management, business, and financial operations occupations	8,552	8,676	1,363	1,370
Professional and related occupations	10,457	10,592	1,179	1,211
Service occupations	7,294	7,387	543	551
Sales and office occupations	8,840	9,012	736	738
Sales and related occupations	5,058	5,225	805	804
Office and administrative support occupations	3,782	3,787	656	668
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations	9,464	9,574	726	740
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	577	625	438	445
Construction and extraction occupations	4,918	4,937	710	718
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	3,968	4,013	799	807
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations	10,453	10,730	640	651
Production occupations	5,085	5,241	664	667
Transportation and material moving occupations	5,368	5,489	618	634
Women
Management, professional, and related occupations	20,136	20,524	923	941
Management, business, and financial operations occupations	7,096	7,386	971	977
Professional and related occupations	13,040	13,139	900	919
Service occupations	7,129	6,991	423	433
Sales and office occupations	14,220	13,977	597	602
Sales and related occupations	4,063	4,069	516	549
Office and administrative support occupations	10,158	9,908	612	615
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations	406	391	537	515
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	151	150	369	371
Construction and extraction occupations	102	95	646	612
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	152	146	683	751
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations	2,581	2,603	473	485
Production occupations	1,776	1,817	481	483
Transportation and material moving occupations	805	786	447	490
NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.

Table 9. Quartiles and selected deciles of usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2011 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	91,733	$380	$528	$797	$1,228	$1,867
Less than a high school diploma	7,019	288	346	451	616	862
High school graduates, no college(1)	25,157	349	464	638	919	1,266
Some college or associate degree	25,205	387	519	739	1,063	1,476
Bachelor's degree and higher(2)	34,353	571	783	1,150	1,743	2,475
Bachelor's degree only	21,834	518	734	1,053	1,561	2,215
Advanced degree	12,520	663	924	1,346	1,922	2,886
Men
Total, 25 years and over	51,020	399	581	886	1,371	2,009
Less than a high school diploma	4,794	299	368	488	674	950
High school graduates, no college(1)	14,937	381	508	720	1,023	1,419
Some college or associate degree	13,156	420	589	840	1,195	1,645
Bachelor's degree and higher(2)	18,132	607	888	1,332	1,913	2,882
Bachelor's degree only	11,634	580	819	1,199	1,806	2,499
Advanced degree	6,498	718	1,045	1,569	2,276	3,232
Women
Total, 25 years and over	40,714	358	493	718	1,070	1,556
Less than a high school diploma	2,225	269	316	395	516	677
High school graduates, no college(1)	10,220	322	409	554	748	1,015
Some college or associate degree	12,048	360	479	645	913	1,237
Bachelor's degree and higher(2)	16,221	524	726	998	1,443	2,001
Bachelor's degree only	10,200	490	664	930	1,320	1,851
Advanced degree	6,021	622	842	1,154	1,656	2,310
White, total
Total, 25 years and over	74,220	387	548	825	1,256	1,887
Less than a high school diploma	5,800	290	350	458	629	881
High school graduates, no college(1)	20,291	360	482	663	954	1,315
Some college or associate degree	20,266	396	537	762	1,104	1,519
Bachelor's degree and higher(2)	27,863	580	803	1,165	1,760	2,499
Bachelor's degree only	17,833	529	746	1,082	1,601	2,284
Advanced degree	10,030	677	937	1,359	1,973	2,900
White men
Total, 25 years and over	42,220	406	594	909	1,404	2,062
Less than a high school diploma	4,081	301	371	494	687	964
High school graduates, no college(1)	12,308	390	525	745	1,060	1,463
Some college or associate degree	10,879	438	606	873	1,232	1,678
Bachelor's degree and higher(2)	14,952	615	905	1,353	1,924	2,895
Bachelor's degree only	9,733	587	839	1,234	1,854	2,523
Advanced degree	5,219	733	1,064	1,604	2,297	3,350
White women
Total, 25 years and over	32,000	365	503	736	1,098	1,573
Less than a high school diploma	1,719	272	317	394	514	685
High school graduates, no college(1)	7,983	328	420	572	766	1,046
Some college or associate degree	9,387	368	488	665	937	1,268
Bachelor's degree and higher(2)	12,911	535	735	1,011	1,455	2,010
Bachelor's degree only	8,101	496	674	939	1,340	1,872
Advanced degree	4,811	632	856	1,163	1,655	2,309
Black or African American, total
Total, 25 years and over	10,583	340	451	643	955	1,406
Less than a high school diploma	709	266	320	416	563	720
High school graduates, no college(1)	3,397	315	399	538	746	1,039
Some college or associate degree	3,496	353	458	616	862	1,200
Bachelor's degree and higher(2)	2,981	494	695	958	1,381	1,975
Bachelor's degree only	1,966	473	656	912	1,242	1,817
Advanced degree	1,016	572	767	1,074	1,639	2,294
Black or African American men
Total, 25 years and over	4,913	357	478	689	1,015	1,482
Less than a high school diploma	399	280	342	447	595	812
High school graduates, no college(1)	1,791	335	425	598	819	1,152
Some college or associate degree	1,509	374	491	687	964	1,344
Bachelor's degree and higher(2)	1,214	502	725	1,027	1,528	2,127
Bachelor's degree only	827	494	708	979	1,364	1,921
Advanced degree	388	520	787	1,174	1,834	2,575
Black or African American women
Total, 25 years and over	5,670	329	429	613	895	1,324
Less than a high school diploma	310	246	305	385	513	633
High school graduates, no college(1)	1,606	298	377	493	657	879
Some college or associate degree	1,987	341	433	589	791	1,085
Bachelor's degree and higher(2)	1,767	489	676	915	1,262	1,860
Bachelor's degree only	1,139	451	625	843	1,159	1,648
Advanced degree	628	590	761	1,024	1,524	2,096
Asian, total
Total, 25 years and over	4,903	390	566	901	1,444	2,090
Less than a high school diploma	313	284	349	448	563	717
High school graduates, no college(1)	892	326	413	564	783	1,117
Some college or associate degree	783	369	497	711	1,006	1,365
Bachelor's degree and higher(2)	2,915	575	802	1,224	1,840	2,483
Bachelor's degree only	1,637	502	718	1,062	1,546	2,117
Advanced degree	1,278	679	959	1,461	2,009	2,878
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, total
Total, 25 years and over	13,299	313	401	582	891	1,339
Less than a high school diploma	3,889	286	335	419	575	777
High school graduates, no college(1)	4,130	323	407	568	810	1,137
Some college or associate degree	3,042	355	483	663	952	1,385
Bachelor's degree and higher(2)	2,239	481	692	1,000	1,457	1,981
Bachelor's degree only	1,552	438	643	947	1,340	1,807
Advanced degree	686	585	825	1,178	1,804	2,513
Hispanic or Latino men
Total, 25 years and over	8,239	322	412	600	932	1,412
Less than a high school diploma	2,800	294	351	450	609	820
High school graduates, no college(1)	2,602	341	435	606	901	1,211
Some college or associate degree	1,666	377	516	737	1,061	1,525
Bachelor's degree and higher(2)	1,172	488	746	1,114	1,627	2,280
Bachelor's degree only	829	460	705	1,035	1,456	1,919
Advanced degree	343	606	888	1,394	1,977	2,918
Hispanic or Latino women
Total, 25 years and over	5,060	301	384	543	813	1,201
Less than a high school diploma	1,089	260	308	377	483	621
High school graduates, no college(1)	1,527	302	377	501	681	927
Some college or associate degree	1,377	338	446	600	837	1,160
Bachelor's degree and higher(2)	1,067	472	650	922	1,300	1,769
Bachelor's degree only	724	424	615	862	1,173	1,591
Advanced degree	344	567	766	1,078	1,538	2,094
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.