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Five Articles on College Graduates: Outlook, Earnings, and More U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Fall 1998

Occupations and Earnings of Workers With Some College But No Degree by Daniel Hecker Workers who have some college education but do not have a degree are more likely than high school graduates but less likely than college graduates to be employed in occupations that usually require a college degree. And they earn more than high school graduates but less than college graduates. Information about the job market for college graduates is abundant. But little attention is given to another group of workers of nearly equal size-those who have some college education but no degree. A comparison of this group's occu-pational employment patterns and earnings data with those of workers with a high school diploma and workers with a college degree reveals what you might expect: Some college is better than none, and more is better than less. In 1996, 17.2 million full-time workers reported having some college but no degree, compared with 17.7 million workers holding a bachelor's degree. These 2 groups, along with 29.1 million workers with a high school diploma and another 7.8 million workers with an associate's degree, accounted for about 81 percent of all full-time workers aged 22 to 64. This article examines the occupational employment patterns and earnings data for workers with some college but no degree compared to workers who have a high school diploma and those who have associate and bachelor's degrees. (Information on workers who do not have a high school diploma or who hold advanced degrees-master's, doctoral, and first professional-is not presented here.) The first section explains how the data were developed and defines the groups analyzed. The next section compares occupational patterns and earnings. Data and Definitions All data in this article are from the 1996 Current Population Survey (CPS) and are for full-time workers aged 22 to 64. The CPS groups workers by level of education and occupation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) analyzes the data further, classifying occupations by the level of education and training usually required for entry into each one. Because occupational patterns and median earnings are different between men and women, data are presented by gender.

Table 1: Percent of employment, by sex, level of education, and occupational education and training category, 1996
Level of Education	All training categories	On-the-job training of up to 1 year	On-the-job training of more than 1 year	Work experience	Postsecondary vocational training	Associate degree	Bachelor's degree or more
Men, aged 22-64
High school diploma	100	48	24	11	6	1	11
Some college, no degree	100	37	25	8	5	2	24
Associate degree	100	26	22	11	8	6	27
Bachelor's degree	100	16	7	11	3	2	62
Women, aged 22-64
High school diploma	100	60	6	8	11	2	14
Some college, no degree	100	51	4	7	12	4	22
Associate degree	100	36	3	6	14	20	22
Bachelor's degree	100	21	3	6	5	9	57

CPS Education and Training Categories The CPS places workers in categories based on their highest level of educational attainment. This article presents data on workers in the following four categories. * Some college, but no degree. Workers with some college but no degree include those who were or still are enrolled in, but have not completed, a bachelor's or associate degree program. This group also includes workers who took or are taking college courses but were never enrolled as degree candidates, as well as workers who have received a certificate of completion for a college program requiring less than the equivalent of 2 years of full-time study. Individuals in this category can have any number of years of college. * High school graduates. This group includes workers who do not have any academic training beyond high school but may have some posthigh school noncollegiate training received in vocational, trade, correspondence, or Armed Forces schools; in apprenticeships; or in formal employersponsored training programs. * Associate degree holders. Workers with an associate degree have completed a college program requiring the equivalent of at least 2 years of full-time study after high school. * Bachelor's degree holders. These workers have completed a college program requiring the equivalent of at least 4 or 5 years of full-time academic study after high school.

Occupational and Training Categories The CPS places workers in more than 400 detailed occupations. These occupations are combined to form occupational groups. This article presents data by education level and median weekly earnings for the largest detailed occupations and for occupation groups. In addition, BLS places each detailed occupation in 1 of 11 categories, condensed here into 6, by the level of education and training usually required for entry. These categories range from occupations that require no more than 4 weeks of on-the-job experience to occupations that usually require a doctoral degree. *Occupations that usually require 1 year or less of on-the-job training. This group includes occupations usually requiring 1 to 12 months of combined on-the-job experience and informal training. Occupations requiring short-term training of a few days to a few weeks are also in this group. * Occupations that usually require long-term on-the-job training. Occupations in this group require more than 12 months of on-the-job training or combined work experience and formal classroom instruction. This category includes craft occupations requiring formal or informal apprenticeships lasting up to 4 years, as well as those jobs where employers provide formal schooling, such as in police and fire academies or in air traffic control or flight attendant school. * Occupations that usually require skills developed through work experience in a related occupation. Occupations in this category require skills and experience gained in other jobs or developed from hobbies, nonwork activities, or service in the Armed Forces. Examples include supervisors, administrative support occupations; police detectives and investigators; and precision assemblers. * Occupations that usually require completion of vocational training provided in postsecondary vocational schools. This category includes occupations requiring completion of a structured program. Some programs take less than a year to complete and lead to a certificate or diploma. Others last longer than 1 year but less than 4. Occupations in this category include automotive mechanics, licensed practical nurses, and welders and cutters. * Occupations that usually require an associate degree, as described above. Occupations in this category include engineering technologists and technicians, legal assistants, and registered nurses. * Occupations that usually require a bachelor's degree or more education. The largest group in this category includes occupations requiring a bachelor's degree, as defined above. The other groups are occupations usually requiring a bachelor's or higher degree plus work experience; a master's degree, which usually requires 1 or 2 years of full-time study beyond the bachelor's degree; a doctoral degree, which usually requires at least 3 years of full-time study beyond the bachelor's degree; and a first professional degree, which usually requires at least 2 years of full-time academic study beyond the bachelor's degree. Occupations in this category include teachers, engineers, and lawyers. Note that according to this classification scheme, no occupations were identified in which the usual education or training was some college but no degree. Also, for most occupations, there is more than one way to qualify for a job. Therefore, some workers without a college degree are employed in occupations that usually require one.

Occupations and Earnings Analysis Workers with some college but no degree have a better chance than workers with a high school diploma of getting jobs that usually require a college degree. However, work-ers with some college do not fare as well as college gradu-ates in getting those same jobs. Earnings follow a similar pattern: Overall, workers with some college earn more than high school graduates but less than college graduates. Employment Patterns A number of workers with some college were employed in occupational categories usually requiring college-level training. Twenty-four percent of men with some college were in occupations that required a bachelor's degree or more education, compared to only 11 percent of high school graduates. Not surprisingly, so were 27 percent with an associate degree, and 62 percent with a bache-lor's degree. For women with some college, 22 percent were in occupations requiring a bachelor's degree or more, com-pared to 14 percent of high school graduates, 22 percent with an associate degree, and 57 percent with a bachelor's degree. In 1996, men with some college were most likely to be in the category of managers not elsewhere classified. These managers held a variety of jobs in industries such as construction, manufacturing, computer services, and repair services. Compared to men with only a high school diploma, those with some college were more likely to be managers not else-where classified, sales supervisors and proprietors, retail sales workers, and sales representatives. However, this group was less likely than the group with a high school diploma to be machine operators, except precision; truckdrivers; automotive mechanics; and carpenters. Compared to men with an associate degree, those with some college were more likely to be managers not elsewhere classified, sales supervisors and proprietors, and truckdrivers but less likely to be engineers, electricians, and electrical and electronic equipment repairers. Compared to men with a bachelor's degree, they were more likely to be machine operators, except precision; truckdrivers; and carpenters but less likely to be managers not elsewhere classified, sales representatives, and engineers. Women with some college were more likely to be in a secretarial occupation than in any other. Compared to female high school graduates, women with some college were more likely to be managers not elsewhere classified, accountants, licensed practical nurses, and secretaries but less likely to be in retail sales, cleaning and building service occupations, and assemblers. Compared to female associate degree holders, women with some college were more likely to be managers not elsewhere classified, bookkeepers, retail sales workers, and nursing aides but less likely to be registered nurses. Compared to women with a bachelor's degree, they were also more likely to be secretaries or bookkeepers but less likely to be managers not else-where classified, accountants, registered nurses, and teachers.

Table 2: Percent of full-time employment, by occupation and level of education, men with some college ange 22-64, 1996

Occupation	Level of education
	High school diploma or equivalent	Some college, no degree	Associate degree	Bachelor's degree
Managers and administrators, n.e.c.	5.5	9.0	8.0	13.7
Supervisors and proprietors, sales occupations	4.0	6.1	4.4	6.1
Machine operators and tenders, except precision	8.2	4.1	3.3	1.0
Truckdrivers	6.6	3.7	2.5	.7
Sales workers, retail and personal services	2.6	3.3	2.5	2.5
Sales representatives, mining, manufacturing and wholesale	1.2	2.3	1.8	3.8
Sales representatives, finance and business services	.9	2.2	2.2	5.4
Material recording, scheduling, and distribution clerks, n.e.c.	2.4	2.2	1.7	.8
Supervisors, production occupations	2.5	2.1	1.8	.9
Miscellaneous mechanics and repairers	2.0	1.9	2.0	.4
Engineers	.6	1.8	3.7	8.3
Managers, food serving and lodging establishments	1.0	1.7	1.3	1.3
Precision metal working occupations	2.2	1.7	2.0	.1
Janitors and cleaners	2.6	1.6	.9	.4
Carpenters	2.7	1.6	1.2	.4
Writers, artists, entertainers, and athletes	.5	1.5	1.9	2.9
Police and detectives, public service	.7	1.5	1.8	1.1
Electrical and electronic equipment repairers	1.1	1.5	2.4	.6
Electricians	1.7	1.5	2.5	.2
Supervisors, construction occupations	1.5	1.3	.9	.5
Laborers, except construction	2.4	1.3	.7	.3
Mathematical and computer scientists	.3	1.2	1.8	4.0
Engineering technologists and technicians	.6	1.2	3.1	.7
Automobile mechanics	2.0	1.2	2.0	.2
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	1.3	1.1	1.1	.1
Assemblers	1.8	1.1	.9	.3
Cooks	1.3	1.0	.9	.3
Industrial machinery repairers	1.4	1.0	1.0	.1
Guards and police, except public service	.9	.9	.9	.4
Machinists	1.3	.9	1.0	-
Computer programmers	.2	.8	.9	1.5
Firefighting occupations	.3	.8	.7	.2
Farm operators and managers	1.3	.8	1.0	.7
Welders and cutters	1.6	.8	.9	.1
Health technologists and technicians	.3	.7	1.4	.6
Sales occupations, other business services	.3	.7	.6	1.2
Mail carriers, postal service	.5	.7	.5	.2
Traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks	1.1	.7	.5	.2
Production inspectors, checkers, and examiners	.6	.7	.4	.2
Construction laborers	1.4	.7	.3	.2
Managers, marketing, advertising, and public relations	.2	.6	.8	1.8
Social, recreation, and religious workers	.2	.6	.5	1.6
Insurance sales occupations	.3	.6	.5	1.5
Correctional institution officers	.5	.6	.6	.1
Groundskeepers and gardeners, except farm	1.1	.6	.3	.3
Bus, truck, and stationary engine mechanics	.9	.6	.8	-
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics	.7	.6	1.0	.1
Industrial truck and tractor equipment operators	1.3	.6	.3	.1
Drafting occupations	.2	.5	1.1	.2
Real estate sales occupations	.2	.5	.5	1.0
Computer operators	.2	.5	.5	.2
Investigators and adjusters, except insurance	.2	.5	.6	.6
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants	.4	.5	.4	.1
Supervisors, mechanics and repairers	.5	.5	.7	.1
Painters, construction and maintenance	.8	.5	.3	.2
Power plant, water and other system operators	.7	.5	.5	.2
Busdrivers	.4	.5	.4	.1

n.e.c. - not elsewhere classified - Less than 50,000 SOURCE: Current Population Survey

Table 3: Percent of full-time employment, by occupation and level of education, women with some college age 22-64, 1996

Occupation	Level of education
	High school diploma or equivalent	Some college, no degree	Associate degree	Bachelor's degree
Secretaries	7.9	9.2	8.4	2.7
Managers and administrators, n.e.c.	3.5	5.3	4.1	6.4
Bookkeepers, accounting, and auditing clerks	3.4	4.0	2.9	1.3
Supervisors and proprietors, sales occupations	3.9	3.9	3.4	3.3
Sales workers, retail and personal services	5.5	3.6	2.4	1.9
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants	3.9	3.3	1.8	.4
Health technologists and technicians	1.5	3.1	6.7	1.9
Material recording, scheduling, and distribution clerks, n.e.c.	2.5	2.3	1.7	.8
Receptionists	1.9	2.2	1.5	.5
Investigators and adjusters, except insurance	1.8	2.2	1.5	1.2
Administrative support occupations, n.e.c.	1.7	2.1	1.8	1.1
Accountants and auditors	.8	1.7	2.2	4.4
Data-entry keyers	1.5	1.6	1.3	.4
Typists	1.4	1.5	1.2	.5
General office clerks	1.5	1.5	1.0	.6
Supervisors, administrative support occupations	1.1	1.4	1.0	.8
Licensed practical nurses	.3	1.3	2.6	.2
Managers, medicine and health	.6	1.2	1.9	1.6
Managers, food serving and lodging establishments	.7	1.2	.7	1.0
Registered nurses	.3	1.2	13.4	6.9
Other financial officers	.7	1.1	1.0	1.1
Management related occupations, n.e.c	.9	1.1	1.2	1.1
Health technologists and technicians, n.e.c.	.8	1.1	1.7	.3
Writers, artists, entertainers, and athletes	.7	1.1	1.4	3.7
Financial managers	.5	1.1	.5	1.4
Insurance adjusters, examiners, and investigators	.7	1.1	.7	.7
Teachers aides	1.0	1.1	.9	.5
Protective service occupations	.8	1.0	.6	.6
Mail and message distributing occupations	1.1	1.0	.5	.4
Social, recreation, and religious workers	.5	.9	1.0	2.8
Family child-care providers	1.1	.9	.7	.4
Officials and administrators, public administration	.6	.9	.6	.9
Mathematical and computer scientists	.3	.8	.9	2.2
Cleaning and building service occupations, except private household	2.8	.8	.6	.2
Sales representatives, mining, manufacturing, and wholesale	.6	.8	.7	1.5
Bank tellers	1.0	.7	.4	.2
Assemblers	2.1	.7	.5	.1
Teachers, prekindergarten and kindergarten	.5	.7	.9	1.8
Legal assistants	.4	.7	1.0	.6
Waiters and waitresses	1.1	.7	.4	.2
Hairdressers and cosmetologists	1.5	.7	1.2	.1
Personnel, training, and labor relations specialists	.4	.7	.5	1.2
Managers, marketing, advertising, and public administration	.2	.6	.5	1.2
Cooks	1.6	.5	.5	.1
Managers, service organizations, n.e.c.	.3	.5	.6	1.2
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians	.3	.5	1.1	1.0

n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified SOURCE: Current Population Survey

Table 4: Median weekly earnings of full-time workers, by sex and level of education, 1996
	Men		Women
	Median	Premium or discount*	Median	Premium or discount*
All levels	$584	.98	$435	.94
High school graduate or equivalent	504	1.13	361	1.14
Some college, no degree	571	1.00	411	1.00
Associate degree	612	.93	473**	.87**
Bachelor's degree	767	.74	592	.69

* This shows the earnings of workers with some college divided by the earnings of workers in each education group. For example, men with some college earned $1.13 for every $1 earned by high school graduates byt earned 93 cents for every $1 earned by assiciate degree graduates. ** For women with assiciate degrees, except registered nurses, the median was $440 and the index was .93

Earnings Most workers with some college but no degree earned more than high school graduates and less than workers with an asso-ciate or bachelor's degree in 1996. This financial return associated with attending college is often described in terms of a wage premium-that is, those with some college or a bachelor's degree command an earnings premium over high school graduates of the same age group and sex. The reduction of earnings from not completing a degree is defined as a wage discount. Chart 1: Employment distribution and median weekly earnings of male wage and salary workers employed full time, by educational level and occupational group, 1996 Median earnings of men with some college but no degree were 13 percent higher than those of men with just a high school diploma; women with some college earned 14 percent more than their high school counterparts did. Compared to associate degree holders, however, men with some college earned 7 percent less-and women with some college earned 13 percent less. The corresponding differences were greater at the bachelor's degree level: Men with some college earned 26 percent less than bachelor's degree holders, and women earned 31 percent less. Premiums and discounts for those with come college exist for two reasons. First, workers with some college were more likely than high school graduates but less likely than college graduates to be in higher paid occupations. Second, within an occupation, workers with some college usually earned more than their high school graduate coworkers and less than those who had graduated from college. Effect of differing occupational patterns. Employment data for occupational groups are divided into four categories, each consisting of groups with similar median earnings. The categories for men, ranked by level of earnings from highest to lowest, include: Executive, administrative, and managerial occupations; professional specialty occupations; technicians; nonretail sales occupations; and police and firefighters; Precision production, mechanics, and construction craft occupations; Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors; transportation and material moving occupations; handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers; and farming, forestry, and fishing occupations; Administrative support occupations, including clerical; retail sales; and service occupations, except police and fire-fighter. About 40 percent of men with some college were in the executive occupations group, which had earnings well above the median for all other occupations. In contrast, only 20 percent of men with a high school diploma were in this earnings group. Not surprisingly, so were 46 percent of men with an associate degree and 78 percent of those with a bachelor's degree. The machine operators group, which had median earnings well below that for all men, included only 20 percent of men with some college but 34 percent of high school graduates. Chart 2: Employment distribution and median weekly earnings of female wage salary workers employed full-time, by educational level and occupational group, 1996

In the other two groups, patterns tended to lower earnings relative to those of men with high school diplomas, but the overall effect was minor. Men with some college were 2 percent more likely to be in the low-paid administrative support occupations. And men with some college were less likely than high school graduates to be in the precision production occupations category, which had median earnings that were somewhat above average. The categories for women, also ranked by level of earnings, include: Executive, administrative, and managerial occupations; professional specialty occupations; technicians; and nonretail sales occupations; Administrative support occupations; Precision production, craft, and repair occupations; machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors; transportation and material moving occupations; handlers, equipmentcleaners, helpers, and laborers; and farming, forestry, and fishing occupations; Retail sales and service occupations; Thirty-seven percent of women with some college, but only 24 percent of high school graduates, were in the executive occupations category, having the highest median earnings. Also in this category were 52 percent of women with an associate degree, and 77 percent with a bachelor's degree. Only 24 percent of women with some college, but 41 percent of women with high school diplomas, were in the categories having the lowest median earnings, those that include retail sales and precision production occupations. These two groups also had 17 percent of those with an associate degree, and 8 percent with a bachelor's degree. However, women with some college were more likely than high school graduates to be in below-average earnings category of administrative support occupations. Occupational earnings and premiums within occupations. Within each occupation, as within occupational groups, workers with some college usually earned more than their high school graduate counterparts but less than those with an associate or a bachelor's degree. Men with some college had higher earnings than those with only a high school diploma in 70 percent of occupations for which there were statistically reliable data; women with some college earned more in 73 percent of occupations as well. Additionally, men with some college earned less than men with an associate degree in 76 percent of the occupations, while women earned less in 71 percent of occupations in the same comparison. In some occupations, the earnings of workers with some college were the same or lower than those of high school graduates. This is usually because a greater proportion of workers with some college was young, and young workers with little or no experience usually earn less. Data examining occupational patterns only for those workers aged 35-64 show that, in almost all cases, workers with some college earned more than high school graduates. Note that workers with some college employed in occupations such as nursing aides, and retail sales workers earned less than the median for all high school graduates. Meanwhile, workers with some college employed as engineers, managers and administrators not elsewhere classified, and financial managers earned premiums of at least 50 percent over the median for high school graduates. Conclusion Data in this article show that education pays off for workers with some college but no degree. In 1996, these workers were more likely than high school graduates to be in college-level jobs and to earn substantially more than workers with a high school diploma. Nevertheless, those with some college but no degree were less likely to be in college-level jobs than were workers with an associate or bachelor's degree, and their overall median earnings were below those of their collegegraduate counterparts. All differences in occupational patterns and earnings may not be attributable to level of education, however. People who complete just a few college courses may have different personal characteristics from people who do not, perhaps including level of maturity and ambition; verbal, mathematical, or mechanical abilities; or a preference for working with people, data, or things. These differences may affect their occupational choices and earnings. In addition, occupational patterns and earnings may reflect nonacademic training acquired on the job, through postsecondary vocational schools, in the military, or elsewhere. It is clear, however, that completion of some college coursework increases one's chances of entering certain occupations and usually increases earnings within that occupation. Daniel Hecker is an economist in the Office of Employment Projections, BLS, (202) 606-5713.

Table 5: Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, men with some college compared to men at other educational levels, 1996

Occupation	Level of education					Premium or discount* for workers with some college, no degree compared to . . .
	All levels	High school graduate or equivalent	Some college, no degree	Associate degree recipient	Bachelor's degree recipient	High School graduate	Associates degree recipient	Bachelor's degree recipient
Total employed	$584	$504	$571	$612	$767	$1.13	.93	.74
Writers artists, entertainers, and, athletes	743	585	698	742	747	1.19	.94	.93
Cashiers	303	269	310	-	-	1.15	-	-
Construction	409	414	474	-	-	1.14	-	-
Police and detectives, public service	688	612	695	657	748	1.14	1.06	.93
Managers, food serving and lodging establishments	539	480	542	581	636	1.13	.93	.85
Precision metalworking occupations	603	588	658	682	-	1.12	.96	-
Automotive mechanics	502	508	567	580	-	1.12	.98	-
Carpenters	502	513	569	-	612	1.11	-	.93
Supervisors, production occupations	653	623	685	824	806	1.10	.83	.85
Supervisors and proprietors, sales occupations	614	550	605	594	748	1.10	1.02	.81
Engineers	962	794	876	835	971	1.10	1.05	.90
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	603	597	648	-	-	1.09	-	-
Busdrivers	477	480	521	-	-	1.09	-	-
Managers and administrators, n.e.c.	935	726	785	839	1,082	1.08	.91	.71
Electricians	638	619	671	697	-	1.08	.96	-
Guards anal police, except public service	370	338	366	-	-	1.08	-	-
Machine operators and tenders, except precision	438	464	499	482	491	1.08	3.04	1.02
Supervisors, construction occupations	676	659	711	-	-	1.08	-	-
Truckdrivers	493	504	541	583	480	1.07	.93	1.13
Power plant, water, and other system operators	635	607	652	-	-	1.07	-	-
Farm occupations, except managerial	293	325	349	-	-	1.07	-	-
Health technologists and technicians	547	474	501	572	620	1.06	.88	.81
Material recording, scheduling, and distribution clerks, n.e.c.	464	463	484	472	527	1.05	1.03	.92
Firefighting occupations	665	665	658	-	-	1.04	-	-
Industrial truck and tractor equipment operators	425	460	478	-	-	1.04	-	-
Groundskeepers and gardeners, except farm	314	329	341	-	-	1.04	-	-
Bus, truck and stationary engine mechanics	564	565	585	-	-	1.04	-	-
Cooks	300	307	315	309	-	1.03	1.02	-
Electrical and electronic equipment repairers	684	685	706	680	664	1.03	1.04	1.06
Janitors and cleaners	323	350	362	-	-	1.03	-	-
Production inspectors, checkers, and examiners	507	503	520	-	-	1.03	-	-
Assemblers	447	470	481	-	-	1.02	-	-
Farm operators and managers	469	465	475	-	625	1.02	-	.76
Maid carriers, postal service	684	676	690	-	-	1.02	-	-
Industrial machinery repairers	579	588	600	-	-	1.02	-	-
Welders and cutters	488	500	510	-	-	1.02	-	-
Nursing aides, orderlies and attendants	348	349	353	-	-	1.01	-	-
Mathmatical and computer scientists	936	818	819	831	941	1.00	.99	.87
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics	544	559	559	-	-	1.00	-	-
Sales representatives, mining, manufacturing and wholesale trade	728	619	611	697	841	.99	.88	.73
Administrative support occupations, including clerical	506	505	498	515	557	.99	.97	.89
Laborers, except construction	388	404	401	-	-	.99	-	-
Sales workers, retail and personal services	415	410	400	409	543	.98	.98	.74
Insurance, real estate and other services, sales workers	732	606	559	639	835	.92	.87	.67
Engingeering technologists and technicians	648	660	609	639	711	.92	.95	.86
Painters, construction and maintenance	421	482	430	-	-	.89	-	-
Correctional institution officers	568	612	499	-	-	.82	-	-

* This is the earnings of workers with some college divided by earnings in each education group. Thus, men in police and detective occupations with some college earned $1.14 for every $1 earned by high school graduates but 93 cents for every $1 earned by those with a bachelor's degree. Occupations are ranked by index for workers with some college but no degree to that of high school graduates. n.e.c. - not elsewhere classified - Less than 50,000 SOURCE: Current Population Survey

Table 6: Median weekely earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, woment with some college compared to women at other educational levels, 1996

Occupation	Level of education					Premium or discount* for workers with some college, no degree compared to . . .
	All levels	High school graduate or equivalent	Some college, no degree	Associate degree recipient	Bachelor's degree recipient	High School graduate	Associates degree recipient	Bachelor's degree recipient
Total employed	$435	$361	$411	$473	$592	$1.14	.87	.69
Protective service occupations	456	357	501	-	657	.40	-	.76
Sales representatives, mining, manufacturing, and wholesale trade	589	438	551	-	747	1.26	-	.74
Social, recreation, and religious workers	494	338	417	438	483	1.23	.95	.86
Health technologists and technicians, n.e.c.	417	377	440	476	442	1.17	.92	1.00
Real estate sales occupations	503	447	524	-	548	1.17	-	.96
Health aides, except nursing	314	289	337	-	-	1.17	-	-
Writers, artists, entertainers, and athletes	544	393	449	504	584	1.14	.89	.77
Managers and administrators, n.e.c.	623	495	554	625	756	1.12	.89	.73
Teachers, prekindergarten and kindergarten	370	251	-	282	474	1.12	-	.59
Supervisors, general office	506	470	526	-	-	1.12	-	-
Dental assistants	361	364	405	-	-	1.11	-	-
Teachers aides	273	257	285	-	-	1.11	-	-
Cleaning and building service occupations	272	278	308	-	-	1.11	-	-
Waiters and waitresses	267	265	291	-	287	1.10	-	1.01
Other financial officers	606	522	571	-	622	1.09	-	.92
Assemblers	325	342	374	-	-	1.09	-	-
Farming, forestry, and fishing occupations	268	295	321	-	324	1.09	-	.99
Administrative support occupations, n.e.c.	453	420	456	462	495	1.09	.99	.92
Supervisors and proprietors, sales occupations	424	392	425	494	571	1.08	.86	.74
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants	292	291	313	308	-	1.08	1.02	-
Precision production, craft, and repair occupations	384	379	404	430	632	1.07	.94	.64
Secretaries	411	398	425	429	412	1.07	.99	1.03
Accountants and auditors	564	482	508	484	616	1.05	1.05	.82
Managers, medicine and health	613	497	523	610	732	1.05	.86	.71
Transportation and material moving occupations	357	357	369	-	-	1.03	-	-
Financial managers	636	560	578	-	785	1.03	-	.74
Mail and message distributing occupations	542	527	543	-	-	1.03	-	-
Receptionists	344	341	350	344	357	1.03	1.02	.98
Investigators and adjusters, except insurance	406	392	403	393	467	1.03	1.03	.86
Licensed practical nurses	469	460	472	468	-	1.03	1.01	-
Administrators and officials, public administration	639	547	558	-	747	1.02	-	.75
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers	302	308	314	-	-	1.02	-	-
Sales workers, retail and personal services	277	271	273	348	408	1.01	.78	.67
Insurance sales occupations	483	459	459	-	617	1.00	-	.74
Management related occupations, n.e.c.	508	495	494	-	549	1.00	-	.90
Managers, food serving and lodging establishments	405	389	388	-	511	1.00	-	.76
Typists	407	408	404	-	-	.99	-	-
Bank tellers	317	318	314	-	-	.99	-	-
Bookkeepers, accounting, and auditing clerks	400	401	394	396	437	.98	.99	.90
General office clerks	371	369	361	-	424	.98	-	.85
Insurance adjusters, examiners, and investigators	462	456	446	-	518	.98	-	.86
Computer operators	410	419	407	-	-	.97	-	-
Data-entry keyers	368	377	363	-	-	.96	-	-
Legal assistants	559	571	523	-	-	.92	-	-
Hairdressers and cosmetologists	298	298	271	-	-	.91	-	-

* This is the earnings of workers with some college divided by earnings in each education group. Thus, women in protective service occupations with some college earned $1.40 for every $1 earned by high school graduates but 76 cents for every $1 earned by those with a bachelor's degree. Occupations are ranked by index for workers with some college but no degree to that of high school graduates. n.e.c. - not elsewhere classified - Less than 50,000 SOURCE: Current Population Survey

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