The earnings data are collected from one-quarter of the Current Population Survey CPS monthly sample and are limited to wage and salary workers. All self-employed workers are excluded. Most series pertain to workers who usually work full time on their sole or primary job.

Earnings data are available for all workers, with data available by age, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, sex, occupation, usual full- or part-time status, educational attainment, and other characteristics.