October 29, 2004 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Earnings and educational level in 2003

Median weekly earnings varied considerably by educational level in 2003.

Usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers ages 25 years and over by sex and educational attainment, 2003 annual averages
[Chart data—TXT]

Among women, those with less than a high school diploma earned $329 per week, compared with $832 for those with a college degree. Among men, high school dropouts had earnings of $429 a week, compared with $1,131 for college graduates.

These data on earnings are produced by the Current Population Survey. Earnings data in this article are median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers. For more information see "Highlights of Women’s Earnings in 2003," BLS Report 978 (PDF 208K).