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Income
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FAQs
1. What do the initials CPS stand for?
The initials CPS stand for Current Population Survey. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) sponsors this survey. The BLS uses the CPS to produce the official monthly unemployment data. In addition to the basic questions, each March field representatives
ask respondents supplemental questions on their income and earnings during the previous calendar year.
2. Is CPS income data comparable with other surveys?
You can access "Guidance on Survey Differences in Income
and Poverty Estimates" for differences between Census Bureau surveys.
For differences between other agencies and census income, you should
see "Comparability of Current Population Survey Income Data
with Other Data".
3. What is the difference between households and families?
A family consists of two or more people (one of whom is the
householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption residing
in the same housing unit. A household consists of all people
who occupy a housing unit regardless of relationship. A
household may consist of a person living alone or multiple
unrelated individuals or families living together. You may
access all of the CPS definitions at
http://www.census.gov/population/www/cps/cpsdef.html
4. What is the difference between a median and a mean?
Median income is the amount which divides the income
distribution into two equal groups, half having income above
that amount, and half having income below that amount.
Mean income (average) is the amount obtained by dividing the
total aggregate income of a group by the number of units in
that group. The means and medians for households and families
are based on all households and families. Means and medians for
people are based on people 15 years old and over with income.
You may access all of the CPS definitions at
http://www.census.gov/population/www/cps/cpsdef.html
5. What is the latest median household income in the US by race
and Hispanic origin?
6. What is the income of the "middle class"?
7. Do you have income data by quintile, decile, or percentile?
8. What is the median annual earnings for a person in
executive, administrative, or managerial occupations?
9. How much money does a woman earn compared to a man?
10. What is the median earnings for a man or woman with a
Bachelor's Degree?
11. Do you have income for the elderly?
12. How can I access microdata files on internet?
You may access the microdata files for the CPS through the
Federal Electronic Research and Review Extraction Tool (Ferret)
at http://dataferrett.census.gov/.
13. I am having trouble accessing your income data, what should I do?
If you are having trouble accessing our data, please contact the Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division at
(301)763-3242 for instructions.
14. How can I download your data?
If you are having trouble downloading our data, please contact the Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division at
(301)763-3242 for instructions.
Contact the Demographic Call Center Staff at 301-763-2422 or 1-866-758-1060 (toll free) or visit
ask.census.gov for further information on Income Data.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division