Pay gap crosses occupational lines
August 04, 2000
Workers in metropolitan areas earned an average of $15.73 per hour in 1997. Workers in non-metropolitan areas averaged $11.84.
[Chart data—TXT]
White-collar occupations generally recorded higher hourly earnings than blue-collar or service occupations. In metropolitan areas, wages in all three occupations were higher than their counterparts in non-metropolitan areas.
White-collar workers averaged $19.07 in metropolitan areas and $15.15 in non-metropolitan areas. Among blue-collar workers, the corresponding figures were $12.78 and $10.74. Service workers in metropolitan areas received $9.40 per hour while those in non-metropolitan areas received $8.00.
These data are the product of the National Compensation Survey. Read more in "When It Comes To Pay, Does Location Matter?" (PDF 49K), Compensation and Working Conditions, Summer 2000.
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