Household income declined between 1989 and 1993.
Real median household income (in 1993 dollars) in the United
States fell 7.0 percent from $33,585 in 1989 to $31,241 in
1993.1 Most recently, real median household income fell
1.0 percent between 1992 and 1993. This continuing decline
occurred during and after the 1990-91 recession.
Household income varied by household
composition.
In 1993, the median income of married-couple households was
$43,129. The median income was much less for households with a
female householder, no husband present ($18,545), and for
nonfamily households, mainly one-person households
($18,880).2
Households with the oldest householders and the youngest
householders had the lowest median incomes in 1993. Households
with householders 65 years old and over had a median income of
only $17,751. Somewhat higher was the median income of households
with householders 15 to 24 years old, $19,340. In contrast,
households with householders 45 to 54 years old had the highest
median income, $46,207.
Household income varied by race and ethnic
origin.
In 1993, Asian and Pacific Islander households had the highest
median income ($38,347); whereas, Black households had the lowest
($19,532). The 1993 median income was $32,960 for White
households and $22,886 for Hispanic households.3
Household income varied by the number of earners in a
household.
Households with no earners had the lowest median income in 1993
($11,807); whereas, households with two or more earners had the
highest median income ($49,430). Households with one earner had a
median income of $25,560.
Household income varied by the householder's job
status.
In 1993, the median household income of householders who were
employed year-round, full-time was $44,834. Among householders
who were part-time workers, the median household income was
$21,608. Householders who did not work had a median household
income of only $14,787.
Median earnings of year-round, full-time workers varied
by gender.
In 1993, the median earnings of year-round, full-time workers was
$30,407 for men and $21,747 for women. The female-to-male
earnings ratio for year-round, full-time workers was 0.72,
comparable to the all-time high reached in 1990.4
Median earnings of year-round, full-time workers varied
by occupation.
In 1993, among male year-round, full-time workers, the median
earnings was $42,722 for executives and managers; $32,327 for
sales workers; and $27,653 for precision production, craft, and
repair workers. For women, the figures were $28,876, $18,743, and
$21,357, respectively.
Median earnings of year-round, full-time workers varied
by educational attainment.
In 1993, the median earnings of male year-round, full-time
workers 25 years old and over with a college degree was $45,987.
In comparison, the median earnings for those with only a high
school diploma was $26,820, and the median earnings for those
with some high school education but no diploma was $21,402. For
female year-round, full-time workers, the comparable figures were
$32,291, $19,168, and $14,700, respectively.
The distribution of income has become somewhat more
unequal over time.
The household income distribution changed over the past 25 years.
In 1993, those at the bottom 20 percent of the income
distribution received less of the Nation's income than
previously, while those at the top 20 percent received more.
In 1968, the poorest 20 percent of households received 4.2
percent of the aggregate household income. By 1993, their share
declined to just 3.6 percent. In contrast, the highest 20 percent
of households received 42.8 percent of the aggregate household
income in 1968. By 1993, their share had increased to 48.2
percent.
Those in the middle of the income distribution also received
proportionally less of the Nation's income in 1993 than
previously. The middle 60 percent of households received 53.0
percent of the aggregate household income in 1968. By 1993, their
share had declined to 48.2 percent.
---------------
1 Changes in "real" income refer to comparisons after
adjusting for inflation based on changes in the Consumer Price
Index.
2 The difference between $18,880 and $18,545 is not
statistically significant.
3 Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race. These data
do not include the population of Puerto Rico. Due to the small
number of American Indian, Eskimo, and Aleut households, a median
income figure for them would be statistically unreliable.
4 The earnings data and female-to-male earnings ratio for
1989 and 1990 were modified based on the inclusion of data on
members of the Armed Forces.
For Further Information
See: Current Population Reports, Series P60-188, Income,
Poverty, and Valuation of Noncash Benefits: 1993.
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