January 7, 1999 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

High earnings without long hours a possibility

In 1997, men working as physicians ($1,134), lawyers ($1,057), electrical/electronic engineers ($955), civil engineers ($950), computer scientists ($919), industrial engineers ($873), and operations researchers ($867) earned more per week working standard hours than the average for men working extended hours. Among women, physicians ($1,106), computer scientists ($834), lawyers ($807), engineers ($801), and college teachers ($727) earned more working standard hours than the average for women working extended hours.

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Not surprisingly, these occupations generally require a college degree for entry. Physicians and lawyers require a professional degree; most college teachers require a doctoral or professional degree. Engineers, computer scientists, and schoolteachers generally need a bachelor's degree, and registered nurses need at least an associate degree.

Among all workers, weekly earnings for men who worked 35 to 44 hours per week averaged $505, compared with $775 for men who worked 45 to 99 hours per week. Weekly earnings for women who worked 35 to 44 hours per week averaged $408, compared with $658 for women who worked 45 to 99 hours per week.

These data are a product of the Current Population Survey. More information may be obtained from "How hours of work affect occupational earnings," Monthly Labor Review, October 1998.