Real entry-level wages of male and female college graduates, 1979–2013

YEAR Men Women
1979  $                    21.34  $                     16.88
1980  $                    21.36  $                     16.51
1981  $                    21.07  $                     16.75
1982  $                    21.43  $                     17.31
1983  $                    21.22  $                     17.27
1984  $                    21.77  $                     17.25
1985  $                    22.13  $                     18.07
1986  $                    22.74  $                     18.42
1987  $                    22.50  $                     19.03
1988  $                    23.03  $                     18.94
1989  $                    21.82  $                     18.99
1990  $                    21.93  $                     19.24
1991  $                    21.27  $                     18.66
1992  $                    20.86  $                     18.59
1993  $                    20.91  $                     18.79
1994  $                    20.64  $                     18.31
1995  $                    20.20  $                     18.58
1996  $                    20.44  $                     18.23
1997  $                    21.03  $                     18.54
1998  $                    22.82  $                     19.51
1999  $                    23.25  $                     20.44
2000  $                    24.30  $                     20.71
2001  $                    25.35  $                     21.07
2002  $                    24.68  $                     21.19
2003  $                    23.60  $                     20.49
2004  $                    22.91  $                     20.40
2005  $                    23.53  $                     20.38
2006  $                    23.40  $                     20.30
2007  $                    23.69  $                     20.37
2008  $                    23.54  $                     20.10
2009  $                    23.59  $                     20.28
2010  $                    23.26  $                     19.69
2011  $                    22.46  $                     19.48
2012  $                    22.19  $                     19.23
2013  $                    22.67  $                     19.04

Note: Entry-level workers are defined as having one to seven years of experience (i.e., workers age 23–29).

Source: Authors' analysis of the Current Population Survey Outgoing Rotation Group microdata

UPDATED FROM: Figure 4Q in The State of Working America, 12th Edition, an Economic Policy Institute book published by Cornell University Press in 2012

View the underlying data on epi.org.