From the Office of Occupational Employment and Wages:
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In 2008, the U.S. median wage was $15.57 per hour or $32,390 per year.
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That is a stark contrast to what Social Security reports as the "average" wage of $42,000 or so. The social security number is "skewed" by a few percent of people at the very top making a very lot of money! They do not represent the core group of American working men and women.
The OEW numbers comprise about a 1,000 different occupations. Here is an example of those occupations, EACH ONE earning right at $32,000 a year.
Forest and conservation technicians
Floor sanders and finishers
Medical transcriptionists
Electronic Home entertainment equipment installers and repairers
Automotive glass installers and repairers
Printing machine operators
Semiconductor processors
Dental assistants
Parking enforcement workers
Structural metal fabricators and fitters
Loan interviewers and clerks
Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks
Log graders and scalers
Metal pourers and casters
Engine and other machine assemblers
Opticians, dispensing
Broadcast technicians
Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers
Meter reader, utilities
Painters, construction and maintenance