Table 1

Hourly wages of entry-level workers by education, 1973–2011 (2011 dollars)

Education Hourly wage Percent change
1973 1979 1989 1995 2000 2007 2011 1979–1989 1989–2000 2000–2007 2007–2011 1979–2011

High school*

Men $15.92 $15.64 $12.59 $11.67 $12.82 $12.70 $11.68 -19.5% 1.8% -0.9% -8.0% -25.3%
Women $11.66 $11.56 $10.30 $9.96 $10.93 $10.23 $9.92 -10.8% 6.1% -6.4% -3.1% -14.2%

College**

Men $21.11 $20.61 $21.07 $19.51 $23.47 $22.88 $21.68 2.2% 11.4% -2.5% -5.2% 5.2%
Women $17.69 $16.30 $18.34 $17.95 $20.00 $19.67 $18.80 12.5% 9.0% -1.6% -4.4% 15.4%

* Entry level wage measured as wage of those from 19 to 25 years of age.

** Entry level wage measured as wage of those from 23 to 29 years of age.

Source: Forthcoming Mishel, Bivens, Gould, and Shierholz, State of Working America 2012-2013; Economic Policy Institute

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