$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

$30,000

$35,000

$40,000

$45,000

1947 1952 1957 1962 1967 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997

$199

7

Median Family Income,1947-97

1947-73+104%

1973-97+8.8%

$44,568

$20,102

$40,979 $44,284$41,051

Growth in Hourly Wages,1947-97

$7.00

$8.00

$9.00

$10.00

$11.00

$12.00

$13.00

$14.00

1947 1952 1957 1962 1967 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997

$199

7

1947-1973+79%

1973-1997-8.0%

$12.28

$13.40

$7.49

Note: These inflation-adjusted wages are for the approximately 82% of the privately employed labor force categorized as production nonsupervisory workers.

Annual Growth in Family Incomeby Income Group

3.0%2.6% 2.7% 2.7%

2.4%

0.0%

1.0%

2.0%

3.0%

4.0%

1947-73

Poorest 20% Top20%Upper-MiddleIncome Group

MiddleIncome Group

Lower-MiddleIncome Group

Note: One-fifth of all families are in each income class. The one-fifth of families with the lowest incomes are in the lowest fifth; the one-fifth of families with the highest incomes are in the highest fifth, etc.

Annual Growth in Family Incomeby Income Group

-0.2%

0.1%0.4%

0.7%

1.4%

-1.0%

0.0%

1.0%

2.0%

3.0%

1973-97

Poorest 20% Top20%Upper-MiddleIncome Group

MiddleIncome Group

Lower-MiddleIncome Group

Note: One-fifth of all families are in each income class. The one-fifth of families with the lowest incomes are in the lowest fifth; the one-fifth of families with the highest incomes are in the highest fifth, etc.

Percent of Workers EarningPoverty-Level Wages,

1973-1997

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1973 1979 1989 1997

Per

cent

Men

All Workers

Women

28.5%

35.3%

28.6%

22.5%23.7%23.5%

Note: A full-time year-round worker with poverty level wages earns insufficient income to lift a family of four out of poverty.

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

1973 1979 1989 1997

Per

cent

Percent of Workers EarningPoverty-Level Wages,

1973-1997

Whites

Blacks

46.7%

38.2%

24.5%21.8%

Hispanics

33.5%

32.8%

Note: A full-time year-round worker with poverty level wages earns insufficient income to lift a family of four out of poverty.

Entry Level Wages of College Graduates,1973-1997

$11

$12

$13

$14

$15

$16

1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997

Hou

rly

Wag

e $1

997

Women

Men$14.82

12.95$13.44

$14.89

$13.65

$12.20

$6

$7

$8

$9

$10

$11

$12

1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997

Hou

rly

Wag

e $1

997

Entry Level Wages ofHigh School Graduates,

1973-1997

Women

Men

$11.10

$8.36 $8.34

$10.98

$7.95

$6.81

75

80

85

90

95

100

105

110

1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997

Inde

x (1

973=

100)

`

Low Wage

Median Wage

High Wage

Change in Hourly Wages1973-1997

Men

Change in Hourly Wages1973-1997

90

95

100

105

110

115

120

125

130

1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997

Inde

x (1

973=

100)

Women

Low Wage

Median Wage

High Wage