April 21, 2000 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

College grads have biggest wage increase in 1999

Median weekly earnings increased for workers at all four major educational levels in 1999. However, median weekly earnings for those with a college degree increased the most, rising by 4.8 percent over the year, to $860.

Percent increase in median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by educational attainment, 1999
[Chart data—TXT]

Earnings for persons with some college experience or an associate’s degree increased by 3.9 percent, to $580, while earnings for those with a high school diploma rose by 2.3 percent, to $490. Earnings for workers with less than a high school diploma were up 2.7 percent in 1999, to $346.

These data are from the Current Population Survey. To find out more, see "The job market remains strong in 1999," by Jennifer Martel and Laura A. Kelter, Monthly Labor Review, February 2000. Earnings data here are for full-time wage and salary workers.

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