Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm Technical information: (202) 691-6567 USDL 00-349 For release: 10:00 A.M. EST Media contact: 691-5902 Tuesday, November 28, 2000 AVERAGE ANNUAL PAY IN METROPOLITAN AREAS, 1999 Average annual pay of employees within the nation's 316 metropolitan areas increased by 4.4 percent from 1998 to 1999, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The over-the-year gain was smaller than 1998's gain of 5.2 percent. (See chart 1.) Annual pay in metropolitan areas averaged $34,868 in 1999, up from $33,407 in 1998. Average annual pay for the entire nation, metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas combined, was $33,313 in 1999, a 4.3 percent increase from 1998. (Average annual pay by state and industry was issued on Nov. 17, 2000, in USDL 00-339.) Average annual pay data are compiled from reports submitted by employers subject to state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) laws covering 127.0 million full- and part-time jobs. Average annual pay is computed by dividing the total annual payrolls of employees covered by UI programs by the average monthly number of these employees. (See Technical Note.) Pay differences between areas reflect the varying composition of employment by occupation, industry, and hours of work, as well as other factors. Similarly, over-the-year pay changes may reflect shifts in these characteristics, as well as changes in the level of average pay. Table 1 of this release contains pay data for Metropolitan and Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas within the United States and Puerto Rico; table 2 includes averages and rankings for the areas designated as Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas. (See Technical Note for definitions.) New Jersey data were not available for the fourth quarter of 1999 and therefore are not shown for 1999. Totals for the United States were calculated using estimated 1999 data for New Jersey. The data for the six metropolitan areas within Puerto Rico are not included in the averages for all metropolitan areas. Metropolitan and Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas San Jose, Calif., the hub of Silicon Valley, led the nation with an average annual pay level of $61,110 in 1999. (See table 1.) New York, N.Y., had the second highest average annual pay level ($52,351), followed by San Francisco, Calif. ($50,169), New Haven-Bridgeport-Stamford-Waterbury- Danbury, Conn. ($47,142), and Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash. ($43,921). The first four of these Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) occupied the same slots last year. Average pay levels in these five metropolitan areas ranged from 26 to 75 percent above the average for all metropolitan areas in the nation. Of the 307 metropolitan areas in the nation, excluding those with New Jersey components, 29 reported average annual pay levels above the national metropolitan pay average of $34,868. (The nation's metropolitan average annual pay was calculated using estimated New Jersey data.) - 2 - Excluding MSAs within Puerto Rico, Jacksonville, N.C., continued to record the lowest average annual pay among metropolitan areas in 1999 ($20,280). The second lowest pay occurred in Yuma, Ariz. ($20,363), followed by Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, Tex. ($20,997), McAllen- Edinburg-Mission, Tex. ($21,105), and Myrtle Beach, S.C. ($21,691). These five MSAs had the lowest average annual pay in 1998 as well. The largest percentage increase in average annual pay from 1998 to 1999 occurred in San Jose, Calif. (18.9 percent). The next largest increases were in Barnstable-Yarmouth, Mass., and Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash. (10.2 percent each), followed by Austin-San Marcos, Tex. (10.1 percent), and San Francisco, Calif. (9.9 percent). From 1998 to 1999, 275 metropolitan areas experienced less than the average growth in annual pay (4.4 percent). Of these, 5 MSAs had growth around 1 percent; 14 metropolitan areas experienced growth of less than 1 percent; and 9 metropolitan areas reported a decline in average annual pay. Comparison of Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Areas Average annual pay within the nation's nonmetropolitan areas rose 3.8 percent in 1999, compared with 4.4 percent in metropolitan areas. (See chart 2.) Average annual pay in nonmetropolitan areas in 1999 was $25,993, up from $25,039 in 1998. In 1999, nonmetropolitan average annual pay was 25 percent less than metropolitan average annual pay, a difference of $8,875. The difference between nonmetropolitan and metropolitan pay has gradually widened over the years. In 1980, the difference between the two pay levels amounted to approximately 16 percent. A difference of 22 percent was reported in 1988. With the exception of 1993 and 1994, growth in total metropolitan average annual pay outpaced that of nonmetropolitan average annual pay over the last 10 years. (MSA historical data are not directly comparable due to revisions of metropolitan area definitions.) Average annual pay is based on place of employment, not residence. Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas Average annual pay for the nation's 18 Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas (CMSAs) rose by 4.9 percent from 1998 to 1999, from $37,851 to $39,695. (See table 2.) This was lower than the previous year's growth rate of 5.4 percent. The San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif., consolidated metropolitan area had the highest pay level, $48,073. The second highest pay level was recorded in Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Mass.-N.H. ($40,903), followed by Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, Wash. ($40,612), Detroit- Ann Arbor-Flint, Mich. ($39,926), and Washington-Baltimore, D.C.-Md.-Va.- W.Va. ($39,675). (New Jersey data were not available for this release; therefore, data for the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.- Conn.-Pa., and Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md., CMSAs are not included in this release.) - 3 - Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla., had the lowest average annual pay level ($31,725) of the consolidated metropolitan areas in the nation for the sixth consecutive year. Cleveland-Akron, Ohio, had the second lowest ($32,903), followed by Cincinnati-Hamilton, Ohio-Ky.-Ind. ($33,296), Milwaukee-Racine, Wis. ($33,301), and Portland-Salem, Ore.-Wash. ($33,408). The highest percentage increase in average annual pay from 1998 to 1999 was in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif. consolidated metropolitan area, at 11.5 percent. The next largest increases were in Seattle-Tacoma- Bremerton, Wash. (9.2 percent), Denver-Boulder-Greeley, Colo. (6.8 percent), Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Mass.-N.H. (6.7 percent), and Dallas-Fort Worth, Tex. (5.0 percent). None of the consolidated metropolitan areas reported a decline in average annual pay in 1999. The smallest increases occurred in Cleveland- Akron, Ohio (2.8 percent), and Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, Mich. (3.4 percent). Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, Tex., Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, Calif., and Sacramento-Yolo, Calif., reported increases of 3.6 percent. --------------------------------------------------------- | 1999 average annual pay and other data from the Covered| |Employment and Wages program will be available on the BLS| |web site at http://stats.bls.gov/cewnote.htm in early | |December. | --------------------------------------------------------- Technical Note These data are the product of a Federal-State cooperative program known as Covered Employment and Wages, or the ES-202 program. The data are derived from summaries of employment and total pay of workers covered by unemployment insurance (UI) legislation and provided by State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs). The summaries are a by-product of the administration of state unemployment insurance programs that require most employers to pay quarterly taxes based on the employment and wages of workers covered by UI. Data for 1999 are preliminary and subject to revision. Coverage Employment and wage data for workers covered by state UI laws and for federal civilian workers covered by the Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) program are compiled from quarterly contribution reports submitted to the SESAs by employers. In addition to the quarterly contribution reports, employers who operate multiple establishments within a state complete a questionnaire, called the "Multiple Worksite Report," which provides detailed information on the location and industry of each of their establishments. Average annual pay data included in this release are derived from microdata summaries of 7.8 million employer reports of employment and wages submitted by states to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These reports are based on place of employment rather than place of residence. UI and UCFE coverage is broad and basically comparable from state to state. In 1999, UI and UCFE programs covered workers in 127.0 million jobs. The estimated 122 million workers in these jobs (after adjustment for multiple jobholders) represented 99.0 percent of wage and salary civilian employment. Multiple jobholder estimates are produced by the Current Population Survey (CPS). Covered workers received $4.232 trillion in pay, representing 94.7 percent of the wage and salary component of personal income and 45.5 percent of the gross domestic product. About 82 percent of all covered workers were employed in metropolitan areas. Total wages of workers in metropolitan areas comprised approximately 86 percent of all covered wages in the United States. Major exclusions from UI coverage during 1999 included most agricultural workers on small farms, all members of the Armed Forces, elected officials in most states, most employees of railroads, some domestic workers, most student workers at schools, and employees of certain small nonprofit organizations. Concepts and methodology Average annual pay was computed by dividing total annual pay of employees covered by UI programs by the average monthly number of these employees. Included in the annual payroll data are bonuses, the cash value of meals and lodging when supplied, tips and other gratuities, and, in some states, employer contributions to certain deferred compensation plans, such as 401(k) plans, and stock options. Monthly employment is based on the number of workers who worked during or received pay for the pay period including the 12th of the month. With few exceptions, all employees of covered firms are reported, including production and sales workers, corporation officials, executives, supervisory personnel, and clerical workers. Workers on paid vacation and part-time workers also are included. Percent changes in average annual pay were computed using final 1998 data as the base. These final 1998 data may differ from the preliminary 1998 data previously published. Average annual pay is affected by the ratio of full-time to part-time workers as well as the number of individuals in high-paying and low-paying occupations. When comparing average annual pay levels among metropolitan areas, these factors should be taken into consideration. Annual pay data only approximate annual earnings because an individual may not be employed by the same employer all year or may work for more than one employer. Also, year-to-year changes in average annual pay can result from a change in the proportion of employment in high- and low-wage jobs, as well as from changes in the level of average annual pay. In order to insure the highest possible quality of data, SESAs verify with employers and update, if necessary, the industry, location, and ownership classifications of all establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes in establishment classification codes resulting from the verification process are introduced with the data reported for the first quarter of the year. Changes resulting from improved employer reporting also are introduced in the first quarter. For these reasons, some data, especially at more detailed geographic levels, may not be strictly comparable with earlier years. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines metropolitan areas for use in federal statistical activities and updates these definitions as needed each summer. Data in this release use metropolitan area criteria established by OMB in definitions issued June 23, 1998 (OMB Bulletin No. 98- 06). These definitions reflect information obtained from the 1990 Decennial Census and the 1996 and 1997 Bureau of the Census population estimates. Metropolitan statistical area definitions are typically redefined on a yearly basis. A complete list of metropolitan area definitions is available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), Document Sales, 5205 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Va. 22161, telephone 1-800-553-6847. Generally speaking, a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is a free- standing urban area that meets a specified size criteria. Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas (PMSAs) are free-standing areas within very large MSAs. Once an area is identified as a PMSA, the term MSA no longer is used to describe the area. The large metropolitan area that is the sum of the PMSAs is called a Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA). The set of areas known as MSAs, PMSAs, and CMSAs are collectively designated and referred to as metropolitan areas. Nonmetropolitan areas include counties which do not fall within defined metropolitan areas and also establishments classified as foreign locations with U.S. workers, out-of-state locations, and unknown locations. Current metropolitan area definitions are based on standards published in the Federal Register on March 30, 1990 (55 FR12154-12160). Under the 1990 standards, an area qualifies for recognition as an MSA in one of two ways: (1) if it includes a city of at least 50,000 population, or (2) if it includes a Bureau of the Census-defined urbanized area (of at least 50,000 population) and has a total metropolitan population of at least 100,000 (75,000 in New England). In addition to the county(ies) containing the main city or urbanized area, an MSA may include additional counties that have strong economic and social ties to the central county(ies) and meet other specified requirements of metropolitan character. The ties are determined chiefly by census data on commuting to work. An MSA may contain more than one city of 50,000 population and may cross state lines. An area that meets these requirements for recognition as an MSA but also has a total population of one million or more may be recognized as a CMSA if: (1) separate component areas can be identified within the entire area by meeting specified statistical criteria, and (2) local opinion indicates there is support for the component areas. If recognized, the component areas are designated PMSAs, and the entire area becomes a CMSA. If no PMSAs are recognized, the entire area is an MSA. OMB defines metropolitan areas in terms of entire counties, except in the six New England states where they are defined in terms of cities and towns. New England data in this news release, however, are based on a county concept defined by OMB as New England County Metropolitan Areas (NECMAs) because county-level data are the most detailed available from the Covered Employment and Wages program. NECMAs are county-based alternatives to the city- and town-based metropolitan areas in New England. The NECMA for an MSA or CMSA includes: (1) the county containing the first-named city in that MSA/CMSA title (this county may include the first-named cities of other MSAs/CMSAs), and (2) each additional county having at least half its population in the MSA(s)/CMSA(s) whose first-named cities are in the county identified in step 1. Additional statistics and other information Average annual employment and pay data by state and county are available upon request from the Division of Occupational and Administrative Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20212, telephone 202-691-6567 (e-mail: 202_info@bls.gov). BLS issues three other reports which provide data from state UI and UCFE programs. The 1999 news release for average annual pay by state and industry was issued on Nov. 17, 2000 (USDL 00-339), and employment and average annual average pay for large counties is scheduled to be released soon. Also published from this program is the comprehensive bulletin, Employment and Wages, which features information by detailed industry on establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all states. Employment and Wages Annual Averages, 1999 will be available for sale in early 2001 from the BLS Publications Sales Center, P.O. Box 2145, Chicago, Illinois 60690. This news release, along with other BLS statistics and information, is available via the Internet at (http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm). Information in this release will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral phone number: 1-800-877-8339. Table 1. Average annual pay for 1998 and 1999 for all covered workers(1) by metropolitan area Average annual pay Ranking of areas Metropolitan area(2) Percent By level of 1998 1999(3) change, average annual 1998-1999 pay for 1999 Metropolitan areas(4)............................... $33,407 $34,868 4.4 - Abilene, TX........................................... 22,274 22,988 3.2 296 Aguadilla, PR......................................... 16,040 16,807 4.8 310 Akron, OH............................................. 30,698 30,990 1.0 80 Albany, GA............................................ 26,152 26,813 2.5 191 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY........................... 31,078 31,901 2.6 68 Albuquerque, NM....................................... 28,177 28,934 2.7 130 Alexandria, LA........................................ 23,884 23,962 0.3 278 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA........................ 30,712 32,154 4.7 62 Altoona, PA........................................... 24,494 25,352 3.5 246 Amarillo, TX.......................................... 24,930 25,632 2.8 236 Anchorage, AK......................................... 35,459 35,707 0.7 25 Ann Arbor, MI......................................... 34,331 35,733 4.1 24 Anniston, AL.......................................... 23,851 24,591 3.1 267 Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, WI........................... 29,399 30,772 4.7 86 Arecibo, PR........................................... 15,083 15,505 2.8 313 Asheville, NC......................................... 25,728 26,504 3.0 205 Athens, GA............................................ 25,772 26,683 3.5 197 Atlanta, GA........................................... 35,405 37,341 5.5 21 Atlantic-Cape May, NJ................................. 28,509 (5) (5) (5) Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC.................................. 28,019 28,592 2.0 140 Austin-San Marcos, TX................................. 35,347 38,930 10.1 15 Bakersfield, CA....................................... 26,478 26,997 2.0 183 Baltimore, MD......................................... 32,731 33,837 3.4 39 Bangor, ME............................................ 25,374 26,219 3.3 215 Barnstable-Yarmouth, MA............................... 26,954 29,711 10.2 110 Baton Rouge, LA....................................... 28,309 28,793 1.7 132 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX.............................. 30,222 30,242 0.1 98 Bellingham, WA........................................ 24,795 25,605 3.3 237 Benton Harbor, MI..................................... 27,848 29,882 7.3 107 Bergen-Passaic, NJ.................................... 40,110 (5) (5) (5) Billings, MT.......................................... 24,802 25,550 3.0 239 Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula, MS........................ 26,319 26,348 0.1 213 Binghamton, NY........................................ 28,445 29,167 2.5 126 Birmingham, AL........................................ 30,607 31,990 4.5 66 Bismarck, ND.......................................... 24,239 24,792 2.3 258 Bloomington, IN....................................... 25,810 26,141 1.3 219 Bloomington-Normal, IL................................ 31,437 32,888 4.6 50 Boise City, ID........................................ 28,000 29,864 6.7 108 Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, MA-NH...... 38,335 40,903 6.7 8 Boulder-Longmont, CO.................................. 37,817 40,002 5.8 10 Brazoria, TX.......................................... 32,945 33,266 1.0 45 Bremerton, WA......................................... 28,346 29,109 2.7 128 Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, TX.................. 20,979 20,997 0.1 305 Bryan-College Station, TX............................. 22,348 23,413 4.8 288 Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY............................. 29,661 30,487 2.8 92 Burlington, VT........................................ 30,444 31,716 4.2 70 Caguas, PR............................................ 17,019 17,480 2.7 309 Canton-Massillon, OH.................................. 27,394 27,707 1.1 167 Casper, WY............................................ 25,094 25,683 2.3 234 Cedar Rapids, IA...................................... 31,375 32,441 3.4 55 Champaign-Urbana, IL.................................. 26,952 28,047 4.1 155 Charleston-North Charleston, SC....................... 25,245 26,410 4.6 209 Charleston, WV........................................ 28,477 29,105 2.2 129 Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC................... 32,897 34,325 4.3 33 Charlottesville, VA................................... 28,601 29,394 2.8 119 Chattanooga, TN-GA.................................... 27,303 28,264 3.5 149 Cheyenne, WY.......................................... 24,312 25,249 3.9 250 Chicago, IL........................................... 37,745 39,536 4.7 13 Chico-Paradise, CA.................................... 23,195 24,115 4.0 274 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN.................................. 32,206 33,626 4.4 41 Clarksville-Hopkinsville, TN-KY....................... 23,052 23,775 3.1 283 Cleveland-Lorain-Elyria, OH........................... 32,354 33,437 3.3 42 Colorado Springs, CO.................................. 29,415 30,674 4.3 88 Columbia, MO.......................................... 25,666 26,547 3.4 202 Columbia, SC.......................................... 26,785 27,941 4.3 160 Columbus, GA-AL....................................... 25,047 26,131 4.3 221 Columbus, OH.......................................... 31,166 32,428 4.0 58 Corpus Christi, TX.................................... 26,553 26,940 1.5 186 Cumberland, MD-WV..................................... 23,697 24,084 1.6 275 Dallas, TX............................................ 37,309 39,281 5.3 14 Danville, VA.......................................... 23,892 24,681 3.3 265 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL................... 29,293 29,263 -0.1 125 Dayton-Springfield, OH................................ 31,196 32,362 3.7 59 Daytona Beach, FL..................................... 22,859 23,640 3.4 285 Decatur, AL........................................... 27,700 28,892 4.3 131 Decatur, IL........................................... 31,239 32,061 2.6 64 Denver, CO............................................ 35,606 38,133 7.1 16 Des Moines, IA........................................ 30,604 32,271 5.4 61 Detroit, MI........................................... 39,497 40,836 3.4 9 Dothan, AL............................................ 25,362 25,923 2.2 229 Dover, DE............................................. 25,974 26,408 1.7 210 Dubuque, IA........................................... 26,462 26,662 0.8 198 Duluth-Superior, MN-WI................................ 26,145 27,198 4.0 179 Dutchess County, NY................................... 33,568 35,256 5.0 28 Eau Claire, WI........................................ 24,601 25,318 2.9 248 El Paso, TX........................................... 23,691 24,275 2.5 270 Elkhart-Goshen, IN.................................... 28,725 29,643 3.2 114 Elmira, NY............................................ 25,846 26,603 2.9 199 Enid, OK.............................................. 21,765 22,695 4.3 300 Erie, PA.............................................. 27,489 27,864 1.4 163 Eugene-Springfield, OR................................ 26,132 26,913 3.0 189 Evansville-Henderson, IN-KY........................... 28,412 29,166 2.7 127 Fargo-Moorhead, ND-MN................................. 25,069 25,983 3.6 226 Fayetteville, NC...................................... 24,491 25,120 2.6 254 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR.................... 26,133 27,679 5.9 168 Flagstaff, AZ-UT...................................... 23,419 23,814 1.7 282 Flint, MI............................................. 34,580 35,658 3.1 26 Florence, AL.......................................... 23,617 24,792 5.0 259 Florence, SC.......................................... 25,273 26,101 3.3 222 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO............................. 29,165 30,019 2.9 104 Fort Lauderdale, FL................................... 30,006 31,210 4.0 76 Fort Myers-Cape Coral, FL............................. 25,300 26,451 4.5 207 Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie, FL........................ 25,558 26,044 1.9 224 Fort Smith, AR-OK..................................... 23,901 24,731 3.5 263 Fort Walton Beach, FL................................. 23,492 23,913 1.8 279 Fort Wayne, IN........................................ 28,847 30,052 4.2 103 Fort Worth-Arlington, TX.............................. 31,662 32,961 4.1 49 Fresno, CA............................................ 23,856 24,734 3.7 262 Gadsden, AL........................................... 24,476 24,740 1.1 261 Gainesville, FL....................................... 24,923 25,166 1.0 252 Galveston-Texas City, TX.............................. 28,238 28,371 0.5 146 Gary, IN.............................................. 30,510 30,455 -0.2 94 Glens Falls, NY....................................... 26,059 26,140 0.3 220 Goldsboro, NC......................................... 23,116 23,989 3.8 277 Grand Forks, ND-MN.................................... 22,783 23,385 2.6 292 Grand Junction, CO.................................... 24,553 25,312 3.1 249 Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, MI..................... 31,060 31,913 2.7 67 Great Falls, MT....................................... 22,509 23,153 2.9 294 Greeley, CO........................................... 26,404 27,384 3.7 175 Green Bay, WI......................................... 29,789 30,632 2.8 90 Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point, NC............. 28,610 29,676 3.7 112 Greenville, NC........................................ 25,447 26,515 4.2 204 Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC................... 27,663 28,704 3.8 134 Hagerstown, MD........................................ 26,525 27,637 4.2 170 Hamilton-Middletown, OH............................... 29,897 30,980 3.6 81 Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, PA....................... 30,416 31,487 3.5 72 Hartford, CT.......................................... 38,490 39,954 3.8 11 Hattiesburg, MS....................................... 22,880 23,615 3.2 286 Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir, NC.......................... 24,941 25,965 4.1 228 Honolulu, HI.......................................... 30,260 30,971 2.3 83 Houma, LA............................................. 27,147 27,091 -0.2 181 Houston, TX........................................... 36,729 38,114 3.8 17 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH.......................... 25,099 25,577 1.9 238 Huntsville, AL........................................ 33,789 34,225 1.3 35 Indianapolis, IN...................................... 32,487 33,655 3.6 40 Iowa City, IA......................................... 27,232 28,578 4.9 141 Jackson, MI........................................... 29,488 30,828 4.5 85 Jackson, MS........................................... 27,073 28,074 3.7 153 Jackson, TN........................................... 26,788 27,811 3.8 165 Jacksonville, FL...................................... 29,955 29,918 -0.1 106 Jacksonville, NC...................................... 19,818 20,280 2.3 307 Jamestown, NY......................................... 24,660 24,813 0.6 257 Janesville-Beloit, WI................................. 29,867 30,501 2.1 91 Jersey City, NJ....................................... 40,079 (5) (5) (5) Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA................. 25,695 26,142 1.7 218 Johnstown, PA......................................... 23,160 24,018 3.7 276 Jonesboro, AR......................................... 23,655 24,375 3.0 269 Joplin, MO............................................ 23,469 24,245 3.3 271 Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, MI............................ 30,601 31,246 2.1 75 Kankakee, IL.......................................... 26,399 27,293 3.4 178 Kansas City, MO-KS.................................... 31,276 33,026 5.6 47 Kenosha, WI........................................... 28,906 30,073 4.0 102 Killeen-Temple, TX.................................... 23,145 23,879 3.2 280 Knoxville, TN......................................... 27,700 28,597 3.2 139 Kokomo, IN............................................ 37,532 39,653 5.7 12 La Crosse, WI-MN...................................... 24,928 25,972 4.2 227 Lafayette, LA......................................... 26,528 26,146 -1.4 217 Lafayette, IN......................................... 28,752 29,296 1.9 123 Lake Charles, LA...................................... 27,757 27,957 0.7 159 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL............................. 26,188 26,914 2.8 188 Lancaster, PA......................................... 28,539 29,452 3.2 118 Lansing-East Lansing, MI.............................. 30,945 32,434 4.8 56 Laredo, TX............................................ 22,169 22,653 2.2 301 Las Cruces, NM........................................ 22,707 22,798 0.4 297 Las Vegas, NV-AZ...................................... 29,803 30,634 2.8 89 Lawrence, KS.......................................... 22,840 23,643 3.5 284 Lawton, OK............................................ 23,068 23,087 0.1 295 Lewiston-Auburn, ME................................... 24,368 25,364 4.1 244 Lexington, KY......................................... 28,151 29,319 4.1 122 Lima, OH.............................................. 27,231 28,210 3.6 150 Lincoln, NE........................................... 26,602 27,431 3.1 174 Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR..................... 27,698 28,620 3.3 138 Longview-Marshall, TX................................. 25,387 25,865 1.9 232 Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA............................ 36,571 37,748 3.2 19 Louisville, KY-IN..................................... 29,172 30,473 4.5 93 Lubbock, TX........................................... 24,618 24,727 0.4 264 Lynchburg, VA......................................... 26,041 26,857 3.1 190 Macon, GA............................................. 27,692 28,355 2.4 147 Madison, WI........................................... 29,863 31,097 4.1 77 Mansfield, OH......................................... 26,660 27,307 2.4 177 Mayaguez, PR.......................................... 15,487 16,047 3.6 312 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX.......................... 20,689 21,105 2.0 304 Medford-Ashland, OR................................... 24,275 25,677 5.8 235 Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, FL..................... 29,492 29,961 1.6 105 Memphis, TN-AR-MS..................................... 31,285 32,591 4.2 52 Merced, CA............................................ 22,380 23,502 5.0 287 Miami-Dade, FL........................................ 30,867 32,059 3.9 65 Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon, NJ...................... 44,567 (5) (5) (5) Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI................................ 32,130 33,375 3.9 43 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI........................... 35,624 37,248 4.6 22 Missoula, MT.......................................... 23,266(6) 24,127(7) 3.7 273 Mobile, AL............................................ 25,832 26,595 3.0 200 Modesto, CA........................................... 26,040 26,958 3.5 185 Monmouth-Ocean, NJ.................................... 33,233 (5) (5) (5) Monroe, LA............................................ 24,520 25,356 3.4 245 Montgomery, AL........................................ 26,159 27,309 4.4 176 Muncie, IN............................................ 26,490 26,775 1.1 193 Myrtle Beach, SC...................................... 20,762 21,691 4.5 303 Naples, FL............................................ 26,802 28,008 4.5 157 Nashville, TN......................................... 30,691 31,711 3.3 71 Nassau-Suffolk, NY.................................... 35,783 36,944 3.2 23 New Haven-Bridgeport-Stamford-Waterbury-Danbury, CT... 44,812 47,142 5.2 4 New London-Norwich, CT................................ 34,618 35,409 2.3 27 New Orleans, LA....................................... 28,984 29,365 1.3 120 New York, NY.......................................... 50,381 52,351 3.9 2 Newark, NJ............................................ 42,906 (5) (5) (5) Newburgh, NY-PA....................................... 26,870 27,671 3.0 169 Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA-NC............ 26,131 27,156 3.9 180 Oakland, CA........................................... 38,559 40,975 6.3 7 Ocala, FL............................................. 23,591 24,196 2.6 272 Odessa-Midland, TX.................................... 28,384 27,785 -2.1 166 Oklahoma City, OK..................................... 25,972 26,700 2.8 196 Olympia, WA........................................... 28,456 29,702 4.4 111 Omaha, NE-IA.......................................... 28,593 30,084 5.2 101 Orange County, CA..................................... 35,717 37,487 5.0 20 Orlando, FL........................................... 27,796 28,781 3.5 133 Owensboro, KY......................................... 24,107 25,077 4.0 255 Panama City, FL....................................... 23,916 23,841 -0.3 281 Parkersburg-Marietta, WV-OH........................... 26,426 26,770 1.3 194 Pensacola, FL......................................... 24,888 25,172 1.1 251 Peoria-Pekin, IL...................................... 30,749 31,784 3.4 69 Philadelphia, PA-NJ................................... 36,231 (5) (5) (5) Phoenix-Mesa, AZ...................................... 31,197 32,430 4.0 57 Pine Bluff, AR........................................ 24,777 25,339 2.3 247 Pittsburgh, PA........................................ 31,369 33,057 5.4 46 Pittsfield, MA........................................ 28,882 29,629 2.6 115 Pocatello, ID......................................... 22,656 23,322 2.9 293 Ponce, PR............................................. 15,720 16,198 3.0 311 Portland, ME.......................................... 28,897 30,412 5.2 96 Portland-Vancouver, OR-WA............................. 32,840 34,380 4.7 32 Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, RI...................... 30,092 31,053 3.2 78 Provo-Orem, UT........................................ 25,292 26,543 4.9 203 Pueblo, CO............................................ 23,952 24,605 2.7 266 Punta Gorda, FL....................................... 23,144 23,393 1.1 291 Racine, WI............................................ 31,348 32,532 3.8 54 Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC........................ 32,821 34,866 6.2 30 Rapid City, SD........................................ 22,204 23,406 5.4 289 Reading, PA........................................... 30,541 31,002 1.5 79 Redding, CA........................................... 25,399 25,906 2.0 230 Reno, NV.............................................. 29,832 31,380 5.2 74 Richland-Kennewick-Pasco, WA.......................... 29,517 30,088 1.9 100 Richmond-Petersburg, VA............................... 31,404 33,012 5.1 48 Riverside-San Bernardino, CA.......................... 27,529 28,328 2.9 148 Roanoke, VA........................................... 26,750 28,011 4.7 156 Rochester, MN......................................... 33,125 35,025 5.7 29 Rochester, NY......................................... 32,084 32,588 1.6 53 Rockford, IL.......................................... 30,598 31,441 2.8 73 Rocky Mount, NC....................................... 25,729 26,798 4.2 192 Sacramento, CA........................................ 32,979 34,266 3.9 34 Saginaw-Bay City-Midland, MI.......................... 33,330 33,990 2.0 36 St. Cloud, MN......................................... 26,207 26,148 -0.2 216 St. Joseph, MO........................................ 25,104 26,000 3.6 225 St. Louis, MO-IL...................................... 32,256 33,345 3.4 44 Salem, OR............................................. 25,738 26,931 4.6 187 Salinas, CA........................................... 27,279 28,500 4.5 143 Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT.............................. 28,370 29,486 3.9 117 San Angelo, TX........................................ 23,454 24,521 4.5 268 San Antonio, TX....................................... 26,976 28,068 4.0 154 San Diego, CA......................................... 32,210 34,690 7.7 31 San Francisco, CA..................................... 45,644 50,169 9.9 3 San Jose, CA.......................................... 51,397 61,110 18.9 1 San Juan-Bayamon, PR.................................. 19,113 19,720 3.2 308 San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, CA............ 25,853 26,441 2.3 208 Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, CA.................. 29,279 30,092 2.8 99 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA............................ 28,836 30,975 7.4 82 Santa Fe, NM.......................................... 26,924 27,559 2.4 172 Santa Rosa, CA........................................ 30,631 32,077 4.7 63 Sarasota-Bradenton, FL................................ (8) 25,506 (8) 241 Savannah, GA.......................................... 27,745 28,643 3.2 136 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA.................. 26,068 26,593 2.0 201 Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA.......................... 39,849 43,921 10.2 5 Sharon, PA............................................ 24,868 25,442 2.3 242 Sheboygan, WI......................................... 28,164 29,622 5.2 116 Sherman-Denison, TX................................... 27,026 28,098 4.0 152 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA........................... 25,546 26,272 2.8 214 Sioux City, IA-NE..................................... 24,793 25,440 2.6 243 Sioux Falls, SD....................................... 25,969 26,964 3.8 184 South Bend, IN........................................ 27,683 28,632 3.4 137 Spokane, WA........................................... 26,553 27,566 3.8 171 Springfield, IL....................................... 32,610 33,990 4.2 37 Springfield, MO....................................... 24,733 25,508 3.1 240 Springfield, MA....................................... 29,392 30,281 3.0 97 State College, PA..................................... 26,964 27,971 3.7 158 Steubenville-Weirton, OH-WV........................... 26,346 26,742 1.5 195 Stockton-Lodi, CA..................................... 27,011 27,921 3.4 162 Sumter, SC............................................ 22,206 22,758 2.5 298 Syracuse, NY.......................................... 29,593 30,423 2.8 95 Tacoma, WA............................................ 27,482 28,654 4.3 135 Tallahassee, FL....................................... 26,920 27,544 2.3 173 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL................... 28,249 29,342 3.9 121 Terre Haute, IN....................................... 25,515 26,402 3.5 211 Texarkana, TX-Texarkana, AR........................... 24,212 24,828 2.5 256 Toledo, OH............................................ 29,705 30,890 4.0 84 Topeka, KS............................................ 27,472 28,464 3.6 144 Trenton, NJ........................................... 41,612 (5) (5) (5) Tucson, AZ............................................ 26,764 28,194 5.3 151 Tulsa, OK............................................. 28,670 29,273 2.1 124 Tuscaloosa, AL........................................ 27,001 28,384 5.1 145 Tyler, TX............................................. 27,568 28,505 3.4 142 Utica-Rome, NY........................................ 25,194 25,881 2.7 231 Vallejo-Fairfield-Napa, CA............................ 28,309 29,674 4.8 113 Ventura, CA........................................... 31,973 33,927 6.1 38 Victoria, TX.......................................... 25,335 25,707 1.5 233 Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, NJ...................... 30,198 (5) (5) (5) Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, CA........................ 21,826 22,703 4.0 299 Waco, TX.............................................. 25,468 26,487 4.0 206 Washington, DC-MD-VA-WV............................... 40,585 42,601 5.0 6 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA.............................. 26,697 26,352 -1.3 212 Wausau, WI............................................ 26,951 27,853 3.3 164 West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL........................ 31,877 32,609 2.3 51 Wheeling, WV-OH....................................... 23,594 24,792 5.1 260 Wichita, KS........................................... 30,479 30,770 1.0 87 Wichita Falls, TX..................................... 23,000 23,395 1.7 290 Williamsport, PA...................................... 25,141 26,101 3.8 223 Wilmington-Newark, DE-MD.............................. 36,758 37,990 3.4 18 Wilmington, NC........................................ 25,621 27,017 5.4 182 Yakima, WA............................................ 21,518 22,400 4.1 302 Yolo, CA.............................................. 32,025 32,341 1.0 60 York, PA.............................................. 29,280 29,817 1.8 109 Youngstown-Warren, OH................................. 27,110 27,932 3.0 161 Yuba City, CA......................................... 23,983 25,129 4.8 253 Yuma, AZ.............................................. 19,894 20,363 2.4 306 1 Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs. 2 Includes data for Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas as of June 1999. In the New England areas, the New England County Metropolitan Area (NECMA) definitions were used. See Technical Note. 3 Data are preliminary. 4 Totals were calculated using estimated data for New Jersey for the fourth quarter in 1999 and do not include the six MSAs within Puerto Rico. 5 MSAs containing New Jersey data are not available for 1999. Please see text for more information. 6 Data are being provided for over-the-year comparison purposes only. 7 Data consists of a new MSA. 8 Data are not available for release. Table 2. Average annual pay for 1998 and 1999 for all covered workers(1) by Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area Average annual pay Ranking of areas Consolidated metropolitan statistical area(2) Percent By level of 1998 1999(3) change, average annual 1998-1999 pay for 1999 Consolidated metropolitan statistical areas(4)........ $37,851 $39,695 4.9 - Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, MA-NH........ 38,335 40,903 6.7 2 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI.......................... 37,094 38,765 4.5 6 Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN........................... 31,919 33,296 4.3 14 Cleveland-Akron, OH..................................... 31,994 32,903 2.8 15 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX................................... 35,718 37,503 5.0 9 Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO.............................. 35,415 37,833 6.8 7 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI............................. 38,599 39,926 3.4 4 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria,TX........................... 36,247 37,550 3.6 8 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA................. 34,932 36,182 3.6 10 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL............................... 30,530 31,725 3.9 16 Milwaukee-Racine, WI.................................... 32,062 33,301 3.9 13 New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA... 44,582 (5) (5) (5) Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD...... 35,666 (5) (5) (5) Portland-Salem, OR-WA................................... 31,913 33,408 4.7 12 Sacramento-Yolo, CA..................................... 32,877 34,062 3.6 11 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA...................... 43,127 48,073 11.5 1 San Juan-Caguas-Arecibo, PR............................. 18,734 19,319 3.1 17 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA............................ 37,174 40,612 9.2 3 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV....................... 37,928 39,675 4.6 5 1 Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs. 2 Includes data for Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas as of June 1999. In the New England areas, the New England County Metropolitan Area (NECMA) definitions were used. See Technical Note. 3 Data are preliminary. 4 Totals were calculated using estimated data for New Jersey for the fourth quarter in 1999 and do not include the six MSAs within Puerto Rico. 5 CMSAs containing New Jersey data are not available for 1999. Please see text for more information.