Black--white wage gap, 1979–2019
| Date | Gap (median) | Gap (regression-based) |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 22.30% | NA |
| 1974 | 19.80% | NA |
| 1975 | 19.10% | NA |
| 1976 | 19.00% | NA |
| 1977 | 18.80% | NA |
| 1978 | 20.10% | NA |
| 1979 | 16.40% | 8.60% |
| 1980 | 17.30% | 8.60% |
| 1981 | 17.50% | 8.20% |
| 1982 | 19.40% | 9.90% |
| 1983 | 18.30% | 9.30% |
| 1984 | 19.50% | 10.20% |
| 1985 | 19.30% | 10.60% |
| 1986 | 20.00% | 10.40% |
| 1987 | 19.60% | 10.50% |
| 1988 | 18.40% | 9.80% |
| 1989 | 20.40% | 10.70% |
| 1990 | 20.10% | 10.90% |
| 1991 | 22.10% | 10.80% |
| 1992 | 20.50% | 10.80% |
| 1993 | 19.90% | 10.80% |
| 1994 | 20.10% | 10.70% |
| 1995 | 20.80% | 10.70% |
| 1996 | 21.80% | 12.90% |
| 1997 | 21.50% | 12.10% |
| 1998 | 20.40% | 10.50% |
| 1999 | 19.60% | 10.70% |
| 2000 | 20.80% | 10.20% |
| 2001 | 22.60% | 11.50% |
| 2002 | 21.30% | 11.30% |
| 2003 | 20.20% | 10.70% |
| 2004 | 19.90% | 10.50% |
| 2005 | 21.10% | 12.30% |
| 2006 | 20.60% | 11.40% |
| 2007 | 22.30% | 12.20% |
| 2008 | 23.10% | 12.60% |
| 2009 | 21.30% | 11.70% |
| 2010 | 21.20% | 11.90% |
| 2011 | 22.20% | 12.40% |
| 2012 | 24.60% | 12.70% |
| 2013 | 22.50% | 13.10% |
| 2014 | 24.10% | 13.90% |
| 2015 | 25.60% | 14.50% |
| 2016 | 23.00% | 13.60% |
| 2017 | 25.30% | 15.50% |
| 2018 | 26.70% | 16.20% |
| 2019 | 24.40% | 14.90% |
Note: Wages are adjusted into 2019 dollars by the CPI-U-RS. The regression-based gap is based on average wages and controls for gender, race and ethnicity, education, age, and geographic division. The log of the hourly wage is the dependent variable.
Source: Authors’ analysis of Current Population Survey Outgoing Rotation Group. State of Working America Data Library: Black–white wage gap. See Gould (2020).