College wage premium has been declining in recent years: College wage premium for all workers and young workers, 1980–2026 of employment, by selected groups
| Date | All | Age 22–27 |
|---|---|---|
| 1980-01-01 | 31.1% | 17.2% |
| 1981-01-01 | 32.3% | 18.9% |
| 1982-01-01 | 34.4% | 22.3% |
| 1983-01-01 | 36.8% | 23.7% |
| 1984-01-01 | 39.5% | 27.2% |
| 1985-01-01 | 41.9% | 31.9% |
| 1986-01-01 | 44.2% | 32.9% |
| 1987-01-01 | 46.9% | 34.7% |
| 1988-01-01 | 47.3% | 35.0% |
| 1989-01-01 | 47.1% | 38.0% |
| 1990-01-01 | 50.2% | 40.4% |
| 1991-01-01 | 49.1% | 35.4% |
| 1992-01-01 | 50.9% | 33.8% |
| 1993-01-01 | 51.5% | 36.4% |
| 1994-01-01 | 52.3% | 34.5% |
| 1995-01-01 | 52.5% | 34.7% |
| 1996-01-01 | 51.9% | 35.1% |
| 1997-01-01 | 53.6% | 37.6% |
| 1998-01-01 | 55.9% | 42.9% |
| 1999-01-01 | 57.3% | 42.5% |
| 2000-01-01 | 58.3% | 44.1% |
| 2001-01-01 | 58.7% | 45.2% |
| 2002-01-01 | 57.1% | 42.5% |
| 2003-01-01 | 56.1% | 37.7% |
| 2004-01-01 | 55.5% | 37.8% |
| 2005-01-01 | 57.8% | 39.9% |
| 2006-01-01 | 58.0% | 44.1% |
| 2007-01-01 | 59.8% | 46.1% |
| 2008-01-01 | 60.3% | 44.5% |
| 2009-01-01 | 58.4% | 41.9% |
| 2010-01-01 | 60.4% | 40.9% |
| 2011-01-01 | 60.0% | 42.8% |
| 2012-01-01 | 60.9% | 41.2% |
| 2013-01-01 | 62.6% | 46.1% |
| 2014-01-01 | 60.4% | 45.2% |
| 2015-01-01 | 63.3% | 49.7% |
| 2016-01-01 | 63.5% | 49.8% |
| 2017-01-01 | 61.1% | 46.6% |
| 2018-01-01 | 60.0% | 45.9% |
| 2019-01-01 | 61.7% | 48.4% |
| 2020-01-01 | 61.8% | 50.6% |
| 2021-01-01 | 59.8% | 42.5% |
| 2022-01-01 | 61.2% | 43.7% |
| 2023-01-01 | 59.5% | 39.2% |
| 2024-01-01 | 57.9% | 42.8% |
| 2025-01-01 | 55.2% | 40.0% |
Notes: This series in not based in year ending March. Annual calculations are made using the usual January–December period. Shaded areas indicate recessions.
Source: EPI analysis of the Current Population Survey basic monthly microdata, EPI Current Population Survey Extracts, Version 2026.4.13, https://microdata.epi.org.