Wages of young female college graduates have not caught up with the wages of their male peers: Cumulative percent change in real average hourly wages of young college graduates, by gender, 2000–2017*
| Date | All | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-12-01 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2001-01-01 | -0.7% | -0.9% | -0.5% |
| 2001-02-01 | -0.4% | -0.9% | 0.0% |
| 2001-03-01 | 0.7% | 1.4% | 0.6% |
| 2001-04-01 | 1.0% | 2.2% | 0.4% |
| 2001-05-01 | 2.3% | 4.0% | 1.3% |
| 2001-06-01 | 1.5% | 3.5% | 0.2% |
| 2001-07-01 | 1.8% | 3.2% | 1.1% |
| 2001-08-01 | 1.6% | 3.9% | 0.0% |
| 2001-09-01 | 2.5% | 6.1% | -0.1% |
| 2001-10-01 | 2.2% | 5.6% | -0.3% |
| 2001-11-01 | 2.1% | 5.4% | -0.3% |
| 2001-12-01 | 1.0% | 4.3% | -1.5% |
| 2002-01-01 | 1.8% | 5.2% | -0.6% |
| 2002-02-01 | 2.7% | 6.6% | 0.1% |
| 2002-03-01 | 1.0% | 4.0% | -1.3% |
| 2002-04-01 | 0.6% | 2.1% | -0.5% |
| 2002-05-01 | -0.3% | 0.5% | -0.8% |
| 2002-06-01 | -0.1% | 1.0% | -1.0% |
| 2002-07-01 | -0.9% | 0.9% | -2.3% |
| 2002-08-01 | -1.1% | 0.6% | -2.1% |
| 2002-09-01 | -1.2% | 1.0% | -2.4% |
| 2002-10-01 | -1.0% | 1.4% | -2.4% |
| 2002-11-01 | -0.2% | 2.6% | -1.9% |
| 2002-12-01 | 0.0% | 3.1% | -1.9% |
| 2003-01-01 | 0.0% | 2.9% | -1.6% |
| 2003-02-01 | -1.2% | 1.1% | -2.5% |
| 2003-03-01 | -1.2% | 0.4% | -1.9% |
| 2003-04-01 | -1.1% | 0.5% | -1.9% |
| 2003-05-01 | -1.1% | 0.9% | -2.1% |
| 2003-06-01 | -1.2% | 0.4% | -1.9% |
| 2003-07-01 | -1.7% | -0.6% | -2.0% |
| 2003-08-01 | -1.9% | -0.5% | -2.5% |
| 2003-09-01 | -2.8% | -1.9% | -3.1% |
| 2003-10-01 | -2.5% | -0.8% | -3.5% |
| 2003-11-01 | -3.5% | -1.8% | -4.4% |
| 2003-12-01 | -3.6% | -3.5% | -3.4% |
| 2004-01-01 | -4.7% | -5.6% | -3.6% |
| 2004-02-01 | -4.3% | -4.4% | -3.8% |
| 2004-03-01 | -3.8% | -3.6% | -3.7% |
| 2004-04-01 | -2.6% | -3.1% | -2.0% |
| 2004-05-01 | -2.2% | -2.9% | -1.4% |
| 2004-06-01 | -2.9% | -3.0% | -2.6% |
| 2004-07-01 | -1.8% | -2.3% | -1.2% |
| 2004-08-01 | -1.9% | -2.8% | -1.0% |
| 2004-09-01 | -1.7% | -1.9% | -1.5% |
| 2004-10-01 | -1.9% | -3.4% | -0.7% |
| 2004-11-01 | -2.1% | -2.8% | -1.7% |
| 2004-12-01 | -2.2% | -2.2% | -2.4% |
| 2005-01-01 | -1.5% | -0.4% | -2.6% |
| 2005-02-01 | -2.2% | -2.1% | -2.5% |
| 2005-03-01 | -2.8% | -2.3% | -3.5% |
| 2005-04-01 | -3.8% | -1.8% | -5.5% |
| 2005-05-01 | -3.5% | 0.2% | -6.8% |
| 2005-06-01 | -2.8% | 1.2% | -6.1% |
| 2005-07-01 | -3.2% | 1.7% | -7.3% |
| 2005-08-01 | -2.6% | 2.9% | -7.1% |
| 2005-09-01 | -3.3% | 0.9% | -6.6% |
| 2005-10-01 | -3.7% | 0.5% | -7.1% |
| 2005-11-01 | -3.4% | -0.3% | -5.8% |
| 2005-12-01 | -3.9% | -0.9% | -6.1% |
| 2006-01-01 | -4.6% | -1.4% | -7.0% |
| 2006-02-01 | -3.0% | -0.1% | -5.4% |
| 2006-03-01 | -2.7% | 0.5% | -5.0% |
| 2006-04-01 | -2.9% | -0.8% | -4.4% |
| 2006-05-01 | -3.9% | -3.7% | -3.7% |
| 2006-06-01 | -4.4% | -4.3% | -4.3% |
| 2006-07-01 | -3.4% | -3.9% | -2.9% |
| 2006-08-01 | -4.6% | -5.9% | -3.4% |
| 2006-09-01 | -4.3% | -5.5% | -3.2% |
| 2006-10-01 | -3.7% | -4.3% | -3.1% |
| 2006-11-01 | -3.5% | -3.4% | -3.4% |
| 2006-12-01 | -3.1% | -2.5% | -3.5% |
| 2007-01-01 | -2.7% | -1.7% | -3.5% |
| 2007-02-01 | -2.0% | 0.3% | -3.7% |
| 2007-03-01 | -1.9% | 0.4% | -3.9% |
| 2007-04-01 | -1.6% | 2.1% | -4.4% |
| 2007-05-01 | -1.5% | 2.4% | -4.5% |
| 2007-06-01 | -1.2% | 3.3% | -4.7% |
| 2007-07-01 | -2.2% | 3.9% | -6.8% |
| 2007-08-01 | -1.0% | 5.3% | -5.8% |
| 2007-09-01 | -0.1% | 5.7% | -4.5% |
| 2007-10-01 | -0.4% | 6.2% | -5.2% |
| 2007-11-01 | -0.3% | 5.5% | -4.7% |
| 2007-12-01 | -0.6% | 4.1% | -4.0% |
| 2008-01-01 | -1.1% | 1.9% | -3.2% |
| 2008-02-01 | -2.7% | -1.0% | -3.7% |
| 2008-03-01 | -2.1% | -0.5% | -2.9% |
| 2008-04-01 | -2.1% | -1.0% | -2.9% |
| 2008-05-01 | -2.1% | -1.4% | -2.5% |
| 2008-06-01 | -1.7% | -2.5% | -1.1% |
| 2008-07-01 | -2.2% | -3.7% | -1.1% |
| 2008-08-01 | -2.2% | -2.6% | -1.8% |
| 2008-09-01 | -3.2% | -3.0% | -3.1% |
| 2008-10-01 | -3.3% | -4.6% | -2.3% |
| 2008-11-01 | -3.5% | -4.5% | -2.7% |
| 2008-12-01 | -2.7% | -3.4% | -2.1% |
| 2009-01-01 | -2.0% | -2.0% | -2.1% |
| 2009-02-01 | -2.3% | -1.4% | -3.0% |
| 2009-03-01 | -2.7% | -2.0% | -3.1% |
| 2009-04-01 | -2.7% | -1.8% | -3.0% |
| 2009-05-01 | -2.6% | -0.5% | -3.9% |
| 2009-06-01 | -2.0% | 0.8% | -4.0% |
| 2009-07-01 | -0.1% | 4.2% | -2.8% |
| 2009-08-01 | -0.4% | 3.4% | -2.9% |
| 2009-09-01 | -0.2% | 2.5% | -1.8% |
| 2009-10-01 | -1.2% | 1.7% | -2.9% |
| 2009-11-01 | 0.6% | 7.0% | -3.6% |
| 2009-12-01 | -0.4% | 6.7% | -5.0% |
| 2010-01-01 | -0.6% | 7.0% | -5.5% |
| 2010-02-01 | -0.9% | 7.0% | -6.1% |
| 2010-03-01 | -0.4% | 8.5% | -6.6% |
| 2010-04-01 | 0.4% | 9.7% | -6.6% |
| 2010-05-01 | -1.1% | 8.1% | -7.8% |
| 2010-06-01 | -2.4% | 5.7% | -8.1% |
| 2010-07-01 | -4.4% | 1.0% | -8.5% |
| 2010-08-01 | -4.2% | 0.8% | -7.9% |
| 2010-09-01 | -4.7% | 2.1% | -9.9% |
| 2010-10-01 | -3.6% | 3.4% | -9.1% |
| 2010-11-01 | -5.7% | -2.1% | -8.8% |
| 2010-12-01 | -5.8% | -2.4% | -8.7% |
| 2011-01-01 | -6.5% | -3.7% | -9.0% |
| 2011-02-01 | -6.1% | -3.2% | -8.6% |
| 2011-03-01 | -5.3% | -1.7% | -8.8% |
| 2011-04-01 | -6.8% | -4.2% | -9.1% |
| 2011-05-01 | -5.9% | -3.8% | -8.0% |
| 2011-06-01 | -6.1% | -3.4% | -8.5% |
| 2011-07-01 | -5.2% | -2.2% | -7.8% |
| 2011-08-01 | -5.2% | -1.7% | -8.2% |
| 2011-09-01 | -5.2% | -2.8% | -7.4% |
| 2011-10-01 | -5.9% | -3.2% | -8.3% |
| 2011-11-01 | -5.9% | -2.5% | -8.9% |
| 2011-12-01 | -5.2% | -1.7% | -8.3% |
| 2012-01-01 | -5.8% | -2.2% | -9.3% |
| 2012-02-01 | -7.1% | -4.0% | -9.9% |
| 2012-03-01 | -9.7% | -8.6% | -10.6% |
| 2012-04-01 | -9.8% | -8.0% | -11.3% |
| 2012-05-01 | -9.7% | -7.8% | -11.4% |
| 2012-06-01 | -9.4% | -7.4% | -11.2% |
| 2012-07-01 | -9.4% | -5.8% | -12.5% |
| 2012-08-01 | -10.0% | -6.5% | -12.9% |
| 2012-09-01 | -9.7% | -6.3% | -12.6% |
| 2012-10-01 | -9.8% | -6.1% | -12.7% |
| 2012-11-01 | -9.2% | -5.8% | -11.7% |
| 2012-12-01 | -8.5% | -5.6% | -10.9% |
| 2013-01-01 | -7.8% | -5.1% | -9.9% |
| 2013-02-01 | -7.3% | -4.4% | -9.4% |
| 2013-03-01 | -6.5% | -3.1% | -9.0% |
| 2013-04-01 | -6.7% | -3.5% | -9.6% |
| 2013-05-01 | -6.5% | -2.8% | -10.0% |
| 2013-06-01 | -6.9% | -3.2% | -10.1% |
| 2013-07-01 | -7.6% | -5.2% | -10.1% |
| 2013-08-01 | -6.8% | -3.4% | -10.2% |
| 2013-09-01 | -6.9% | -2.4% | -11.0% |
| 2013-10-01 | -6.3% | -1.2% | -11.0% |
| 2013-11-01 | -6.4% | -1.4% | -11.1% |
| 2013-12-01 | -7.5% | -1.6% | -12.7% |
| 2014-01-01 | -7.5% | -0.4% | -13.7% |
| 2014-02-01 | -7.7% | -0.5% | -13.9% |
| 2014-03-01 | -7.7% | -0.4% | -14.3% |
| 2014-04-01 | -6.8% | 0.3% | -12.9% |
| 2014-05-01 | -7.0% | -0.3% | -12.8% |
| 2014-06-01 | -6.5% | 1.4% | -13.1% |
| 2014-07-01 | -5.6% | 3.6% | -13.3% |
| 2014-08-01 | -5.8% | 3.2% | -13.4% |
| 2014-09-01 | -5.8% | 2.3% | -13.0% |
| 2014-10-01 | -5.9% | 1.1% | -12.3% |
| 2014-11-01 | -5.5% | 2.3% | -12.5% |
| 2014-12-01 | -4.6% | 2.8% | -11.3% |
| 2015-01-01 | -4.8% | 1.0% | -10.4% |
| 2015-02-01 | -3.9% | 1.0% | -8.6% |
| 2015-03-01 | -3.9% | 0.5% | -8.2% |
| 2015-04-01 | -3.6% | 1.1% | -8.3% |
| 2015-05-01 | -3.1% | 1.7% | -7.7% |
| 2015-06-01 | -2.8% | 1.3% | -7.0% |
| 2015-07-01 | -1.2% | 2.7% | -5.4% |
| 2015-08-01 | -1.7% | 1.4% | -5.1% |
| 2015-09-01 | -1.5% | 2.4% | -5.5% |
| 2015-10-01 | -1.0% | 4.5% | -6.5% |
| 2015-11-01 | -1.5% | 3.7% | -6.8% |
| 2015-12-01 | -1.3% | 4.9% | -7.3% |
| 2016-01-01 | -0.7% | 6.4% | -7.4% |
| 2016-02-01 | -0.9% | 7.1% | -8.2% |
| 2016-03-01 | 0.4% | 8.1% | -6.8% |
| 2016-04-01 | 1.5% | 8.6% | -5.1% |
| 2016-05-01 | 1.3% | 8.7% | -5.6% |
| 2016-06-01 | 0.3% | 7.3% | -6.2% |
| 2016-07-01 | -2.3% | 4.1% | -7.9% |
| 2016-08-01 | -2.0% | 4.2% | -7.5% |
| 2016-09-01 | -1.3% | 5.2% | -7.2% |
| 2016-10-01 | -1.4% | 4.4% | -6.2% |
| 2016-11-01 | -0.7% | 4.0% | -4.6% |
| 2016-12-01 | -0.7% | 3.2% | -3.9% |
| 2017-01-01 | 0.6% | 3.5% | -2.0% |
| 2017-02-01 | 1.4% | 5.4% | -2.2% |
* Data reflect 12-month moving averages; data for 2017 represent 12-month average from March 2016 to February 2017.
Note: Data are for college graduates age 21–24 who do not have an advanced degree and are not enrolled in further schooling. Wages are in 2016 dollars. Shaded areas denote recessions.
Source: EPI analysis of Current Population Survey Outgoing Rotation Group microdata