College wage premium, by gender, 1973–2019
| Date | Premium (men regression-based) | Premium (women regression-based) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 48.5% | 50.6% |
| 2018 | 47.7% | 49.1% |
| 2017 | 48.8% | 49.4% |
| 2016 | 51.6% | 49.4% |
| 2015 | 49.5% | 51.1% |
| 2014 | 46.3% | 51.0% |
| 2013 | 49.7% | 50.4% |
| 2012 | 48.3% | 49.5% |
| 2011 | 46.7% | 49.8% |
| 2010 | 47.5% | 49.2% |
| 2009 | 46.4% | 47.8% |
| 2008 | 46.5% | 50.5% |
| 2007 | 46.2% | 50.0% |
| 2006 | 44.6% | 49.2% |
| 2005 | 45.1% | 48.5% |
| 2004 | 43.3% | 47.0% |
| 2003 | 43.7% | 47.3% |
| 2002 | 44.3% | 48.0% |
| 2001 | 44.8% | 49.4% |
| 2000 | 44.5% | 48.7% |
| 1999 | 43.1% | 48.9% |
| 1998 | 42.3% | 48.0% |
| 1997 | 39.8% | 47.2% |
| 1996 | 38.5% | 46.2% |
| 1995 | 38.4% | 47.0% |
| 1994 | 38.3% | 46.6% |
| 1993 | 38.4% | 45.2% |
| 1992 | 37.9% | 44.9% |
| 1991 | 37.3% | 43.0% |
| 1990 | 37.2% | 44.7% |
| 1989 | 34.8% | 43.0% |
| 1988 | 36.7% | 40.7% |
| 1987 | 36.5% | 40.3% |
| 1986 | 34.3% | 38.4% |
| 1985 | 31.5% | 37.6% |
| 1984 | 30.3% | 35.4% |
| 1983 | 28.0% | 33.7% |
| 1982 | 26.2% | 31.6% |
| 1981 | 24.3% | 30.3% |
| 1980 | 23.1% | 30.1% |
| 1979 | 21.6% | 29.2% |
*Percent by which wages of college graduates exceed those of otherwise-equivalent high school graduates, regression-adjusted.
Source: Authors’ analysis of State of Working America Data library: College wage premium. See Gould (2020).