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.
[Chart data—TXT]
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.
Of interest
Spotlight on Statistics: National Hispanic Heritage Month
In this Spotlight, we take a look at the Hispanic labor force—including labor force participation, employment and unemployment, educational attainment, geographic location, country of birth, earnings, consumer expenditures, time use, workplace injuries, and employment projections.
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Read more »