The average weekly earnings of USA’s 107.2 million full-time wage and salary workers was $720 in the third quarter of 2008. This was 3.6 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with an annual rise of 5.3 percent in the cost of living.

Highlights from the third-quarter data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics were:

Amongst men, those aged 45 to 54 had the highest median weekly earnings ($964). Women aged 45 to 54 had median earnings of $716, just fractionally higher than for women aged 55 to 64 ($715).

Amongst the major occupational groups, those employed full time in management, business, and finance had the highest average weekly earnings at $1135 . Those employed in service jobs earned the least.

Full-time workers age 25 and over without a high school diploma had median weekly earnings of $471, compared with $618 for high school graduates (no college) and $1,131 for those holding at least a bachelor’s degree. Among college graduates with advanced degrees (professional or master’s degree and above), the highest earning 10 percent of male workers made $3,192 or more per week, compared with $2,287 or more for their female counterparts

Full Time American Average Weekly Earnings By Occupation
Q3 2008