1992 Annual Pay Levels in Metropolitan Areas — 1993-10-18

The average annual pay of employees in metropolitan areas increased 5.6 percent from 1991 to 1992, according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. average annual pay level for the nation's 320 metropolitan areas was $27,173 in 1992, up from $25,729 in 1991. Annual pay for the entire nation averaged $25,903 in 1992. (Average annual pay data by state and industry were issued on September 16, 1993.) Annual pay data are compiled from reports submitted by employers subject to State and Federal Unemployment Insurance (UI) programs covering 107.4 million workers. Average annual pay is computed by dividing the total annual pay of both full- and part-time employees covered under UI programs by the average monthly number of these employees. Pay differences between areas reflect the varying composition of employment by occupation, industry, and hours of work, as well as other factors.