Median annual earnings of full-time, full-year wage and salary workers ages 25–34, by educational attainment, sex, and race/ethnicity: Selected years, 1980

Economic Outcomes

Table 20-1. Median annual earnings of full-time, full-year wage and salary workers ages 25–34, by educational attainment, sex, and race/ethnicity: Selected years, 1980–2005

[In constant 2004 dollars]

Educational attainment, sex, and race/ethnicity¹	1980	1985	1990	1995	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005

Total	$35,600	$35,100	$32,500	$31,600	$34,200	$34,000	$33,800	$33,200	$33,600	$32,800

Educational attainment
Less than high school	27,000	24,900	23,200	21,000	22,100	22,400	22,500	22,000	21,800	21,500
High school diploma or equivalent	32,400	30,200	28,500	26,400	28,600	28,000	28,000	27,500	27,100	26,800
Some college	35,900	35,300	32,600	30,200	32,700	32,900	32,500	31,900	32,000	31,200
Bachelor’s degree or higher	40,800	43,900	43,000	41,100	45,000	44,700	44,600	44,200	43,500	43,100

Sex and educational attainment
Male	40,600	39,100	36,700	34,200	37,800	37,600	37,300	36,500	36,300	35,100
Less than high school	30,700	27,500	25,200	24,100	23,200	23,800	24,000	23,100	23,600	23,500
High school diploma or equivalent	38,800	35,200	32,000	29,700	32,300	31,400	31,100	30,900	30,400	29,600
Some college	40,800	39,800	37,600	33,000	38,000	37,400	37,300	36,000	36,400	35,500
Bachelor’s degree or higher	46,300	48,200	46,000	46,400	50,900	51,200	51,400	49,600	50,700	48,400

Female	27,600	29,100	28,900	27,500	30,100	31,200	31,600	31,500	31,000	30,300
Less than high school	19,900	19,600	18,200	17,100	18,500	17,900	18,000	19,800	18,700	17,800
High school diploma or equivalent	25,500	25,000	23,700	21,800	23,500	24,200	24,600	24,400	24,000	23,500
Some college	27,800	28,900	29,000	26,700	27,800	28,100	28,200	28,000	28,800	28,100
Bachelor’s degree or higher	34,100	36,900	38,800	37,300	39,900	40,200	42,000	41,300	40,300	39,500

Race/ethnicity¹ and sex
White	36,700	36,600	34,600	33,000	35,600	36,800	37,100	36,300	36,700	35,000
Male	42,000	41,400	38,300	37,200	39,700	39,300	39,700	38,800	40,300	38,500
Female	28,000	29,900	29,700	28,800	32,500	33,100	32,900	32,400	32,300	31,100

Black	28,200	27,100	26,300	26,400	28,500	28,900	29,200	29,300	27,600	28,200
Male	31,800	29,400	28,000	28,600	32,100	32,400	32,200	31,700	28,700	28,600
Female	25,900	24,300	24,800	24,700	25,600	27,000	27,800	27,700	27,200	27,800

Hispanic	30,800	29,400	27,000	25,500	28,000	27,300	27,800	27,200	26,600	26,600
Male	35,200	31,800	28,700	26,400	29,700	28,400	28,500	27,900	27,700	27,300
Female	25,500	27,000	24,000	23,400	24,600	25,300	26,300	26,000	24,800	25,900

Asian	—	—	33,900²	33,500²	40,300²	41,600²	42,200	42,500	40,700	40,400
Male	—	—	35,600²	35,400²	45,400²	45,000²	47,600	45,100	44,300	44,400
Female	—	—	32,100²	31,500²	38,400²	37,700²	34,100	37,700	37,100	38,800

American Indian/Alaska Native	—	—	29,700	25,600	27,200	29,000	26,500	27,500	26,500	30,000
Male	—	—	‡	‡	‡	‡	‡	‡	‡	‡
Female	—	—	‡	‡	‡	‡	‡	‡	‡	‡

More than one race	—	—	—	—	—	—	35,300	32,500	32,300	33,900
Male	—	—	—	—	—	—	37,000	37,100	35,000	35,900
Female	—	—	—	—	—	—	32,400	30,000	30,100	30,600

Other	35,000	34,900	‡	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Male	39,800	38,600	‡	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Female	28,800	30,600	‡	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

— Not available.
‡ Reporting standards not met (too few cases).
¹Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity.
²From 1989 through 2002, Asians and Pacific Islanders were not reported separately; therefore, Pacific Islanders are included with Asians during this period. Pacific Islander data, for years available separately, did not meet reporting standards.
NOTE: Earnings are presented in constant dollars by means of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to eliminate inflationary factors and allow direct comparison across years. See supplemental note 11 for further discussion. Full-year worker refers to those who were employed 50 or more weeks the previous year; full-time worker refers to those who were usually employed 35 or more hours per week. The Current Population Survey (CPS) questions used to obtain educational attainment were changed in 1992. In 1994, the survey instrument for the CPS was changed and weights were adjusted. Estimates are revised from previous editions. See supplemental note 2 for further discussion.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), March and Annual Social and Economic Supplement, selected years, 1981–2006.

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