Library Guides: Prices and Wages by Decade: 1980-1989

Wages, 1980-1989

Minimum wage (set by federal law), 1938-2009
Chart from the U.S. Dept of Labor shows the first federal minimum wage law enacted in 1938 (25 cents), and all subsequent increases through 2009. Some states set minimum wage higher than the federal level.
Minimum wage by state, 1968-2016
Shows the minimum wage rates set by state laws, as well as the federal minimum wage rate. Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division.
The 1989 Handbook of Labor Statistics shows the following data:
Median or average weekly earnings for over 200 occupations, by sex
See data for 1983, 1985 and 1986 reported in the BLS Monthly Labor Review.
Earnings by occupation, sex and race - 1980
This is a definitive source from the U.S. Census Bureau. The Table of Contents lists a separate data table for each race. Note the page number for any table of interest, then use the "jump to..." box. The first page of any given table will show overall averages. Page forward to see earnings for individual occupations. Each table extends for about 50 pages.
Average earnings for selected occupations in metro areas, 1986
This source reports the estimated average earnings for selected occupations across 262 metro areas, with breakouts by industry and by each of the four U.S. regions. Includes office, professional, technical occupations as well as custodial, maintenance, tool room, power plant, and material movement occupations. Jump to the edition showing August 1987 data.
Average annual pay by state, 1984-1985
This source clearly shows where people earned the most and least, on average. Page forward to find additional breakouts by industry in each state. Source: Average Annual Pay by State and Industry in BLS News. Find similar data for other years in the 1980s by checking other issues of this series.
Hundreds of occupations - Expected earnings, 1980s
The annual Occupational Outlook Handbook discusses each occupation in a short chapter. Many of these include a section titled "Earnings." Use the Table of Contents to find a page number, then use the page number box and page-turner buttons to navigate to it.
- Table of contents for occupations, 1980-1981 edition
- Table of contents for occupations, 1984-1985 edition
- Table of contents for occupations, 1988-1989 edition
Employee earnings in manufacturing industries, 1954-2007
Select any year from 1954-2007; tables of contents will appear for each issue. Look for tables describing EARNINGS expressed in "current dollars." Mostly covers jobs in manufacturing, industry and production. Note that earnings data for states and major cities are also available in these reports.
Employment, Hours, and Earnings, United States 1909-90
This publication "Employment, Hours, and Earnings, United States, 1909-90" shows average hourly or weekly wages in both "current" and "constant" (1982) dollars. Data is listed by industry and broken out by sex, but not by occupation. Volume I lists wages for goods-producing industries; Volume II for service industries. Link for Volume II

more... less...

Source: Employment, Hours, and Earnings, United States, 1909-90 : Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, No. 2370 : Volume I
Employment, Hours, and Earnings, States and Areas
Employment and Wages - Annual averages, 1980s-2000s
This series is a rich source for average wage data. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
National Survey of Professional, Administrative, Technical, and Clerical Pay
This is part of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin Series, 1960-1987.
- March 1980 (Bulletin 2081)
- March 1981 (Bulletin 2108)
- March 1982 (Bulletin 2145)
- March 1983 (Bulletin 2181)
- March 1984 (Bulletin 2208)
- March 1985 (Bulletin 2243)
- March 1986 (Bulletin 2271)
- March 1987 (Bulletin 2290)
White-collar salaries, 1987-1989
This series from the Bureau of Labor Statistics contain the results of nation-wide white-collar pay surveys. They include the average salaries, broken down by level, of many occupations including accountants, attorneys, auditors, buyers, chemists, computer programmers, drafters, engineers, medical machine technicians, nursing assistants, personnel specialists and supervisors, registered nurses, secretaries, stenographers, systems analysts, typists, and more.
Earnings and Other Characteristics of Organized Workers, May 1980
Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, No. 2105
Analyzing 1981 Earnings Data from the Current Population Survey
Includes some tables that compare earnings to that from other years. Source: BLS Bulletin, No. 2149
Families at Work: The Jobs and the Pay
Provides special analysis of women's contribution to household income, dual-income families, childcare needs, the effect of retirement on family income, etc. Source: BLS Bulletin #2209.
Agriculture - Farm labor wages, 1930-present
The periodical Farm Labor has been in publication for nearly 90 years. It was originally published monthly, and then became a quarterly. Wages expressed in dollars can be found in every issue, it seems. After clicking on the link above, scroll down the section titled "Previous Releases." The Hathi Trust digital library has these issues as well.
Women's income and earnings, 1981
Chapter on earnings extends from pages 81-105. Extensive tables show data in a variety of breakouts. Publication of the Women's Bureau, U.S. Dept of Labor.
Women's and men's annual earnings, 1951-1991
Compare women's and men's median earnings over thirty years in one simple table. Year-round, full time workers only. Note: "current dollars" are unadjusted figures. "Real dollars" are computed figures showing adjustment for inflation.

Wages by location for selected occupations, 1980-1989

Description
AL
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NJ
NY
NC
OH
OK
OR
PA
RI
SC
TN
TX
UT
VA
WA
WI

Click on a state tab above to begin. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Area Wage Survey series for metropolitan areas were published as part of the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics bulletin series. They show wages and salaries for occupations such as secretary, stenographer, file clerk, messenger, typist, switchboard operator, order clerk, accounting clerk, payroll clerk, key entry operator, computer systems analyst, computer programmer, drafter, electronics technician, registered industrial nurse, maintenance carpenter, electrician, painter, machinist, mechanic, millwright, sheet-metal worker, pipe fitter, truck driver, stationary engineer, guard, janitor, and more.

Wages, salaries and earnings in Alabama --1980s

Birmingham, Alabama
- April 1985
- September 1988
Huntsville, Alabama, Metropolitan Area
- February 1980 (Bulletin 3000-14)
- February 1981 (Bulletin 3010-5)
- February 1989 (Bulletin 3050-3)
Mobile, Alabama, Metropolitan Area
- July 1988 (Bulletin 3045-20)
Selma, Alabama

Wages, salaries and earnings in Arkansas metro areas -- 1980s

Memphis, Tennessee-Arkansas-Mississippi, Metropolitan Area
- November 1980 (Bulletin 3000-59)
- November 1981 (Bulletin 3010-55)
- November 1989 (Bulletin 3050-56)

Wages, salaries and earnings in California metro areas -- 1980s

Anaheim-Santa Ana-Garden Grove, California, Metropolitan Area
- October 1980 (Bulletin 3000-62)
- October 1981 (Bulletin 3010-57)
- October 1984 (Bulletin 3025-58)
- October 1985 (Bulletin 3030-54)
- September 1986 (Bulletin 3035-45)
Anaheim-Santa Ana, California, Metropolitan Area
- September 1988 (Bulletin 3045-43)
- September 1989 (Bulletin 3050-39)
Fresno, California, Metropolitan Area
- June 1980 (Bulletin 3000-30)
- June 1981 (Bulletin 3010-27)
- September 1988 (Bulletin 3045-38)
Los Angeles-Long Beach, California, Metropolitan Area
- October 1980 (Bulletin 3000-63)
- October 1981 (Bulletin 3010-66)
- October 1982 (Bulletin 3015-62)
- October 1983 (Bulletin 3020-55)
- October 1984 (Bulletin 3025-65)
- October 1988 (Bulletin 3045-49)
- October 1989 (Bulletin 3050-57)
- December 1989 (Bulletin 3050-57/corrected)
Oakland, California, Metropolitan Area
- February 1988 (Bulletin 3045-4)
- February 1989 (Bulletin 3050-6)
Riverside-San Bernardino, California, Metropolitan Area
- June 1988 (Bulletin 3045-21)
Sacramento, California, Metropolitan Area
- December 1980 (Bulletin 3000-70)
San Diego, California, Metropolitan Area
- November 1980 (Bulletin 3000-71)
- November 1981 (Bulletin 3010-68)
- November 1982 (Bulletin 3015-67)
- December 1983 (Bulletin 3020-70)
- December 1984 (Bulletin 3025-62)
- December 1986 (Bulletin 3035-71)
- December 1987 (Bulletin 3040-55)
- December 1989 (Bulletin 3050-58)
San Francisco-Oakland, California, Metropolitan Area
- March 1980 (Bulletin 3000-9)
- March 1981 (Bulletin 3010-13)
San Francisco, California, Metropolitan Area
- March 1989 (Bulletin 3050-9)
San Jose, California, Metropolitan Area
- March 1980 (Bulletin 3000-6)
- March 1981 (Bulletin 3010-10)
- March 1988 (Bulletin 3045-13)
- March 1989 (Bulletin 3050-12)
Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, California, Metropolitan Area
- September 1989 (Bulletin 3050-29)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Colorado metro areas - 1980s

Denver-Boulder, Colorado, Metropolitan Area
- December 1980 (Bulletin 3000-68)
- December 1981 (Bulletin 3010-67)
- December 1982 (Bulletin 3015-68)
- December 1983 (Bulletin 3020-72)
- December 1984 (Bulletin 3025-67)
- December 1985 (Bulletin 3030-67)
- December 1988 (Bulletin 3045-59)
Denver, Colorado, Metropolitan Area
- December 1989 (Bulletin 3050-52)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Connecticut metro areas -- 1980s

Danbury, Connecticut, Metropolitan Area
- July 1989 (Bulletin 3050-18)
Hartford, Connecticut, Metropolitan Area
- March 1980 (Bulletin 3000-19)
- March 1981 (Bulletin 3010-21)
- July 1982 (Bulletin 3015-57)
- July 1983 (Bulletin 3020-44)
- July 1984 (Bulletin 3025-35)
- July 1985 (Bulletin 3030-30)
- July 1986 (Bulletin 3035-32)
- July 1988 (Bulletin 3045-25)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Delaware -- 1980s

Wilmington, Delaware-New Jersey-Maryland, Metropolitan Area
- September 1989 (Bulletin 3050-45)

Wages, salaries and earnings in the District of Columbia - 1980s

Washington, D.C.-Maryland-Virginia, Metropolitan Area
- March 1980 (Bulletin 3000-4)
- March 1981 (Bulletin 3010-6)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Florida metro areas -- 1980s

Bradenton, Florida, Metropolitan Area
- June 1989 (Bulletin 3050-15)
Daytona Beach, Florida, Metropolitan Area
- August 1980 (Bulletin 3000-33)
- August 1981 (Bulletin 3010-38)
Gainesville, Florida, Metropolitan Area
- September 1980 (Bulletin 3000-55)
- September 1981 (Bulletin 3010-45)
Jacksonville, Florida, Metropolitan Area
- December 1980 (Bulletin 3000-66)
- December 1981 (Bulletin 3010-63)
Miami, Florida, Metropolitan Area
- October 1980 (Bulletin 3000-51)
- October 1981 (Bulletin 3010-53)
Miami-Hialeah, Florida, Metropolitan Area
- October 1987 (Bulletin 3040-42)
- October 1988 (Bulletin 3045-47)
- October 1989 (Bulletin 3050-37)
Orlando, Florida, Metropolitan Area
- September 1988 (Bulletin 3045-41)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Georgia metro areas -- 1980s

Atlanta, Georgia, Metropolitan Area
- May 1980 (Bulletin 3000-21)
- May 1981 (Bulletin 3010-24)
Augusta, Georgia-South Carolina, Metropolitan Area
- July 1989 (Bulletin 3050-17)
Chattanooga, Tennessee-Georgia, Metropolitan Area
- September 1980 (Bulletin 3000-44)
- September 1981 (Bulletin 3010-42)
- September 1982 (Bulletin 3015-43)
- September 1983 (Bulletin 3020-38)
- September 1984 (Bulletin 3025-40)
- September 1985 (Bulletin 3030-40)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Illinois metro areas -- 1980s

Champaign-Urbana-Rantoul, Illinois, Metropolitan Area
- August 1988 (Bulletin 3045-30)
Chicago, Illinois, Metropolitan Area
- May 1980 (Bulletin 3000-26)
- May 1981 (Bulletin 3010-19)
- July 1989 (Bulletin 3050-34)
Davenport-Rock Island-Moline, Iowa-Illinois, Metropolitan Area
- February 1980 (Bulletin 3000-5)
- February 1981 (Bulletin 3010-7)
- February 1989 (Bulletin 3050-8)
Decatur, Illinois, Metropolitan Area
- July 1988 (Bulletin 3045-28)
Joliet, Illinois, Metropolitan Area
- November 1988 (Bulletin 3045-55)
St. Louis, Missouri-Illinois, Metropolitan Area
- March 1980 (Bulletin 3000-12)
- March 1981 (Bulletin 3010-8)
- March 1982 (Bulletin 3015-11)
- March 1983 (Bulletin 3020-9)
- March 1984 (Bulletin 3025-13)
- March 1985 (Bulletin 3030-14)
- March 1986 (Bulletin 3035-10)
- March 1987 (Bulletin 3040-13)
- March 1988 (Bulletin 3045-11)
- March 1989 (Bulletin 3050-11)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Indiana metro areas - 1980s

Cincinnati, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana, Metropolitan Area
- July 1980 (Bulletin 3000-32)
- July 1981 (Bulletin 3010-30)
- July 1988 (Bulletin 3045-24)
Elkhart-Goshen, Indiana, Metropolitan Area
- October 1987 (Bulletin 3040-43)
- October 1989 (Bulletin 3050-38)
Gary-Hammond-East Chicago, Indiana, Metropolitan Area
- November 1980 (Bulletin 3000-56)
- November 1981 (Bulletin 3010-59)
Gary-Hammond, Indiana, Metropolitan Area
- December 1989 (Bulletin 3050-55)
Indianapolis, Indiana, Metropolitan Area
- October 1980 (Bulletin 3000-47)
- October 1981 (Bulletin 3010-56)
Louisville, Kentucky-Indiana, Metropolitan Area
- November 1980 (Bulletin 3000-65)
- November 1981 (Bulletin 3010-60)
- November 1989 (Bulletin 3050-44)
South Bend, Indiana, Metropolitan Area
- August 1980 (Bulletin 3000-36)
- August 1981 (Bulletin 3010-33)
- August 1982 (Bulletin 3015-37)
- August 1983 (Bulletin 3020-33)
- August 1985 (Bulletin 3030-41)
- August 1986 (Bulletin 3035-34)
- August 1987 (Bulletin 3040-27)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Iowa metro areas - 1980s

Davenport-Rock Island-Moline, Iowa-Illinois, Metropolitan Area
- February 1980 (Bulletin 3000-5)
- February 1981 (Bulletin 3010-7)
- February 1989 (Bulletin 3050-8)
Omaha, Nebraska-Iowa, Metropolitan Area
- October 1980 (Bulletin 3000-57)
- October 1981 (Bulletin 3010-51)
- October 1988 (Bulletin 3045-48)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Kansas metro areas -- 1980s

Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas, Metropolitan Area
- September 1980 (Bulletin 3000-42)
- September 1981 (Bulletin 3010-47)
- September 1982 (Bulletin 3015-49)
- September 1983 (Bulletin 3020-50)
- September 1984 (Bulletin 3025-45)
- September 1985 (Bulletin 3030-46)
- September 1986 (Bulletin 3035-44)
- September 1987 (Bulletin 3040-37)
- September 1988 (Bulletin 3045-42)
- September 1989 (Bulletin 3050-25)
Wichita, Kansas, Metropolitan Area
- April 1980 (Bulletin 3000-15)
- April 1981 (Bulletin 3010-11)
- April 1982 (Bulletin 3015-13)
- April 1983 (Bulletin 3020-12)
- April 1985 (Bulletin 3030-15)
- April 1986 (Bulletin 3035-17)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Kentucky metro areas -- 1980s

Cincinnati, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana, Metropolitan Area
- July 1980 (Bulletin 3000-32)
- July 1981 (Bulletin 3010-30)
- July 1988 (Bulletin 3045-24)
Louisville, Kentucky-Indiana, Metropolitan Area
- November 1980 (Bulletin 3000-65)
- November 1981 (Bulletin 3010-60)
- November 1989 (Bulletin 3050-44)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Louisiana metro areas -- 1980s

New Orleans, Louisiana, Metropolitan Area
- October 1980 (Bulletin 3000-58)
- October 1981 (Bulletin 3010-46)
- October 1982 (Bulletin 3015-47)
- October 1983 (Bulletin 3020-48)
- October 1984 (Bulletin 3025-49)
- October 1985 (Bulletin 3030-49)
- October 1987 (Bulletin 3040-49)
- October 1988 (Bulletin 3045-46)
- October 1989 (Bulletin 3050-36)
Shreveport, Louisiana, Metropolitan Area
- November 1988 (Bulletin 3045-53)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Maine -- 1980s

Portland, Maine, Metropolitan Area
- December 1980 (Bulletin 3000-61)
- December 1981 (Bulletin 3010-64)
- December 1986 (Bulletin 3035-66)
- December 1988 (Bulletin 3045-54)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Maryland metro areas -- 1980s

Baltimore, Maryland, Metropolitan Area
- August 1980 (Bulletin 3000-38)
- August 1981 (Bulletin 3010-39)
- August 1982 (Bulletin 3015-39)
- August 1983 (Bulletin 3020-39)
- August 1984 (Bulletin 3025-39)
- August 1985 (Bulletin 3030-35)
- August 1986 (Bulletin 3035-37)
- September 1987 (Bulletin 3040-33)
- September 1988 (Bulletin 3045-34)
- September 1989 (Bulletin 3050-40)
Washington, D.C.-Maryland-Virginia, Metropolitan Area
- March 1980 (Bulletin 3000-4)
- March 1981 (Bulletin 3010-6)
Wilmington, Delaware-New Jersey-Maryland, Metropolitan Area
- September 1989 (Bulletin 3050-45)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Massachusetts metro areas -- 1980s

Boston, Massachusetts, Metropolitan Area
- August 1980 (Bulletin 3000-40)
- August 1981 (Bulletin 3010-48)
- August 1982 (Bulletin 3015-55)
- August 1983 (Bulletin 3020-41)
- August 1984 (Bulletin 3025-46)
- August 1985 (Bulletin 3030-39)
- August 1986 (Bulletin 3035-40)
- August 1987 (Bulletin 3040-34)
- August 1988 (Bulletin 3045-31)
- August 1989 (Bulletin 3050-23)
Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, Rhode Island-Massachusetts, Metropolitan Area
- June 1980 (Bulletin 3000-27)
- June 1981 (Bulletin 3010-36)
Worcester, Massachusetts, Metropolitan Area
- April 1980 (Bulletin 3000-25)
- April 1981 (Bulletin 3010-34)
- November 1989 (Bulletin 3050-47)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Michigan metro areas -- 1980s

Detroit, Michigan, Metropolitan Area
- March 1980 (Bulletin 3000-7)
- April 1981 (Bulletin 3010-12)
- April 1988 (Bulletin 3045-14)
- December 1989 (Bulletin 3050-59)
Saginaw, Michigan, Metropolitan Area
- November 1980 (Bulletin 3000-54)
- November 1981 (Bulletin 3010-58)
Toledo, Ohio-Michigan, Metropolitan Area
- May 1980 (Bulletin 3000-13)
- June 1981 (Bulletin 3010-20)
- June 1982 (Bulletin 3015-21)
- June 1983 (Bulletin 3020-22)
- June 1984 (Bulletin 3025-23)
- June 1985 (Bulletin 3030-25)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Minnesota metro areas -- 1980s

Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota-Wisconsin, Metropolitan Area
- January 1980 (Bulletin 3000-1)
- January 1981 (Bulletin 3010-1)
- January 1984 (Bulletin 3025-2)
- February 1988 (Bulletin 3045-6)
- February 1989 (Bulletin 3050-5)
St. Cloud, Minnesota, Metropolitan Area
- October 1989 (Bulletin 3050-31)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Mississippi metro areas -- 1980s

Jackson, Mississippi, Metropolitan Area
- January 1980 (Bulletin 3000-2)
- January 1981 (Bulletin 3010-4—READEX microfiche, Government Documents, 82-16616)
- January 1982 (Bulletin 3015-1)
- January 1983 (Bulletin 3020-2)
- January 1987 (Bulletin 3040-1)
- January 1989 (Bulletin 3050-1)
Memphis, Tennessee-Arkansas-Mississippi, Metropolitan Area
- November 1980 (Bulletin 3000-59)
- November 1981 (Bulletin 3010-55)
- November 1989 (Bulletin 3050-56)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Missouri metro areas -- 1980s

Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas, Metropolitan Area
- September 1980 (Bulletin 3000-42)
- September 1981 (Bulletin 3010-47)
- September 1982 (Bulletin 3015-49)
- September 1983 (Bulletin 3020-50)
- September 1984 (Bulletin 3025-45)
- September 1985 (Bulletin 3030-46)
- September 1986 (Bulletin 3035-44)
- September 1987 (Bulletin 3040-37)
- September 1988 (Bulletin 3045-42)
- September 1989 (Bulletin 3050-25)
St. Louis, Missouri-Illinois, Metropolitan Area
- March 1980 (Bulletin 3000-12)
- March 1981 (Bulletin 3010-8)
- March 1982 (Bulletin 3015-11)
- March 1983 (Bulletin 3020-9)
- March 1984 (Bulletin 3025-13)
- March 1985 (Bulletin 3030-14)
- March 1986 (Bulletin 3035-10)
- March 1987 (Bulletin 3040-13)
- March 1988 (Bulletin 3045-11)
- March 1989 (Bulletin 3050-11)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Montana -- 1980s

Billings, Montana, Metropolitan Area
- July 1980 (Bulletin 3000-31)
- July 1981 (Bulletin 3010-25)
- November 1989 (Bulletin 3050-41)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Nebraska -- 1980s

Omaha, Nebraska-Iowa, Metropolitan Area
- October 1980 (Bulletin 3000-57)
- October 1981 (Bulletin 3010-51)
- October 1988 (Bulletin 3045-48)

Wages, salaries and earnings in New Jersey metro areas -- 1980s

Bergen-Passaic, New Jersey, Metropolitan Area
- September 1988 (Bulletin 3045-40)
- September 1989 (Bulletin 3050-35)
Monmouth-Ocean, New Jersey, Metropolitan Area
- January 1989 (Bulletin 3050-2)
New York, New York-New Jersey, Metropolitan Area
- May 1980 (Bulletin 3000-24)
- May 1981 (Bulletin 3010-41)
- May 1988 (Bulletin 3045-19)
Newark, New Jersey, Metropolitan Area
- January 1980 (Bulletin 3000-8)
- January 1981 (Bulletin 3010-3)
- February 1989 (Bulletin 3050-7)
Paterson-Clifton-Passaic, New Jersey, Metropolitan Area
- June 1980 (Bulletin 3000-34)
- June 1981 (Bulletin 3010-35)
- April 1982 (Bulletin 3015-14)
- April 1983 (Bulletin 3020-24)
- June 1984 (Bulletin 3025-38)
- June 1985 (Bulletin 3030-31)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-New Jersey, Metropolitan Area
- November 1980 (Bulletin 3000-53)
- November 1981 (Bulletin 3010-52)
Trenton, New Jersey, Metropolitan Area
- September 1980 (Bulletin 3000-43)
- September 1981 (Bulletin 3010-50)
- November 1988 (Bulletin 3045-51)
Wilmington, Delaware-New Jersey-Maryland, Metropolitan Area
- September 1989 (Bulletin 3050-45)

Wages, salaries and earnings in New York metro areas -- 1980s

Albany-Schenectady-Troy, New York, Metropolitan Area
- September 1980 (Bulletin 3000-45)
- September 1981 (Bulletin 3010-49)
- September 1982 (Bulletin 3015-46)
- September 1983 (Bulletin 3020-45)
- September 1984 (Bulletin 3025-43)
Buffalo, New York, Metropolitan Area
- October 1980 (Bulletin 3000-52)
- October 1981 (Bulletin 3010-61)
- October 1988 (Bulletin 3045-52)
Nassau-Suffolk, New York, Metropolitan Area
- June 1980 (Bulletin 3000-29)
- June 1981 (Bulletin 3010-31)
- August 1989 (Bulletin 3050-28)
New York, New York, Metropolitan Area
- June 1989 (Bulletin 3050-32)
New York, New York-New Jersey, Metropolitan Area
- May 1980 (Bulletin 3000-24)
- May 1981 (Bulletin 3010-41)
- May 1988 (Bulletin 3045-19)
Poughkeepsie, New York, Metropolitan Area
- June 1980 (Bulletin 3000-35)
- June 1981 (Bulletin 3010-28)
- September 1983 (Bulletin 3020-52)
- September 1984 (Bulletin 3025-53)
Poughkeepsie-Kingston-Newburgh, New York Area
- June 1980 (Bulletin 3000-39)
- June 1981 (Bulletin 3010-32)
- September 1983 (Bulletin 3020-60)
- September 1984 (Bulletin 3025-56)
- September 1986 (Bulletin 3035-47)
Rochester, New York, Metropolitan Area
- November 1989 (Bulletin 3050-42)

Wages, salaries and earnings in North Carolina -- 1980s

Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, North Carolina-South Carolina, Metropolitan Area
- September 1988 (Bulletin 3045-39)
Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point, North Carolina, Metropolitan Area
- August 1980 (Bulletin 3000-50)
- August 1981 (Bulletin 3010-43)
Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Portsmouth, Virginia-North Carolina, Metropolitan Area
- May 1980 (Bulletin 3000-20)
- May 1981 (Bulletin 3010-17)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Ohio metro areas -- 1980s

Cincinnati, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana, Metropolitan Area
- July 1980 (Bulletin 3000-32)
- July 1981 (Bulletin 3010-30)
- July 1988 (Bulletin 3045-24)
Cleveland, Ohio, Metropolitan Area
- September 1980 (Bulletin 3000-46)
- September 1981 (Bulletin 3010-44)
- September 1982 (Bulletin 3015-45)
- September 1983 (Bulletin 3020-46)
- September 1984 (Bulletin 3025-44)
- September 1985 (Bulletin 3030-45)
- September 1986 (Bulletin 3035-42)
- September 1987 (Bulletin 3040-40)
- September 1988 (Bulletin 3045-35)
- September 1989 (Bulletin 3050-33)
Columbus, Ohio, Metropolitan Area
- October 1980 (Bulletin 3000-48)
- October 1981 (Bulletin 3010-54)
- October 1982 (Bulletin 3015-51)
- October 1983 (Bulletin 3020-49)
- October 1984 (Bulletin 3025-50)
- October 1985 (Bulletin 3030-51)
- October 1986 (Bulletin 3035-51)
Dayton, Ohio, Metropolitan Area
- December 1980 (Bulletin 3000-64)
- December 1981 (Bulletin 3010-65)
- December 1982 (Bulletin 3015-66)
- December 1983 (Bulletin 3020-66)
- December 1984 (Bulletin 3025-61)
- December 1986 (Bulletin 3035-64)
Toledo, Ohio-Michigan, Metropolitan Area
- May 1980 (Bulletin 3000-13)
- June 1981 (Bulletin 3010-20)
- June 1982 (Bulletin 3015-21)
- June 1983 (Bulletin 3020-22)
- June 1984 (Bulletin 3025-23)
- June 1986 (Bulletin 3035-21)
Toledo, Ohio, Metropolitan Area
- December 1988 (Bulletin 3045-60)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Oklahoma -- 1980s

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Metropolitan Area
- August 1980 (Bulletin 3000-41)
- August 1981 (Bulletin 3010-37)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Oregon -- 1980s

Portland, Oregon-Washington, Metropolitan Area
- June 1980 (Bulletin 3000-49)
- June 1981 (Bulletin 3010-29)
- June 1982 (Bulletin 3015-31)
- June 1983 (Bulletin 3020-40)
- June 1984 (Bulletin 3025-28)
- June 1985 (Bulletin 3030-24)
- June 1986 (Bulletin 3035-26)
- June 1987 (Bulletin 3040-21)
Portland, Oregon, Metropolitan Area
- September 1989 (Bulletin 3050-48)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Pennsylvania metro areas -- 1980s

Northeast Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Area
- August 1980 (Bulletin 3000-37)
- August 1981 (Bulletin 3010-40)
- August 1982 (Bulletin 3015-41)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-New Jersey, Metropolitan Area
- November 1980 (Bulletin 3000-53)
- November 1981 (Bulletin 3010-52)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Area
- January 1980 (Bulletin 3000-3)
- January 1981 (Bulletin 3010-2)
- January 1982 (Bulletin 3015-6)
- January 1983 (Bulletin 3020-3)
- January 1984 (Bulletin 3025-4)
- January 1985 (Bulletin 3030-3)
- January 1986 (Bulletin 3035-4)
- February 1987 (Bulletin 3040-2)
- February 1988 (Bulletin 3045-7)
- February 1989 (Bulletin 3050-4)
Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Area
- August 1988 (Bulletin 3045-36)
- August 1989 (Bulletin 3050-26)
York, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Area
- February 1980 (Bulletin 3000-11)
- February 1981 (Bulletin 3010-9)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Rhode Island -- 1980s

Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, Rhode Island-Massachusetts, Metropolitan Area
- June 1980 (Bulletin 3000-27)
- June 1981 (Bulletin 3010-36)

Wages, salaries and earnings in South Carolina metro areas -- 1980s

Augusta, Georgia-South Carolina, Metropolitan Area
- July 1989 (Bulletin 3050-17)
Charleston, South Carolina, Metropolitan Area
- November 1988 (Bulletin 3045-44)
Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, North Carolina-South Carolina, Metropolitan Area
- September 1988 (Bulletin 3045-39)
Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina, Metropolitan Area
- June 1980 (Bulletin 3000-16)
- June 1981 (Bulletin 3010-23)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Tennessee -- 1980s

Chattanooga, Tennessee-Georgia, Metropolitan Area
- September 1980 (Bulletin 3000-44)
- September 1981 (Bulletin 3010-42)
- September 1982 (Bulletin 3015-43)
- September 1983 (Bulletin 3020-38)
- September 1984 (Bulletin 3025-40)
- September 1985 (Bulletin 3030-40)
Knoxville, Tennessee
- October 1980
Memphis, Tennessee-Arkansas-Mississippi, Metropolitan Area
- November 1980 (Bulletin 3000-59)
- November 1981 (Bulletin 3010-55)
- November 1989 (Bulletin 3050-56)
Nashville, Tennessee, Metropolitan Area
- September 1989 (Bulletin 3050-30)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Texas metro areas -- 1980s

Austin, Texas, Metropolitan Area
- August 1988 (Bulletin 3045-32)
Corpus Christi, Texas, Metropolitan Area
- July 1980 (Bulletin 3000-28)
- July 1981 (Bulletin 3010-22)
- July 1988 (Bulletin 3045-27)
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, Metropolitan Area
- December 1980 (Bulletin 3000-67)
- December 1981 (Bulletin 3010-69)
- December 1982 (Bulletin 3015-65)
- December 1983 (Bulletin 3020-67)
- December 1984 (Bulletin 3025-71)
- December 1985 (Bulletin 3030-66)
- December 1986 (Bulletin 3035-69)
- December 1987 (Bulletin 3040-53)
- December 1988 (Bulletin 3045-58)
- December 1989 (Bulletin 3050-51)
Houston, Texas, Metropolitan Area
- April 1980 (Bulletin 3000-18)
- May 1981 (Bulletin 3010-14)
- April 1988 (Bulletin 3045-15)
- April 1989 (Bulletin 3050-13)
San Antonio, Texas, Metropolitan Area
- May 1980 (Bulletin 3000-17)
- May 1981 (Bulletin 3010-15)
- July 1988 (Bulletin 3045-23)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Utah -- 1980s

Salt Lake City-Ogden, Utah, Metropolitan Area
- November 1980 (Bulletin 3000-60)
- November 1981 (Bulletin 3010-62)
- November 1984 (Bulletin 3025-68)
- November 1985 (Bulletin 3030-56)
- November 1988 (Bulletin 3045-56)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Virginia metro areas -- 1980s

Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Portsmouth, Virginia-North Carolina, Metropolitan Area
- May 1980 (Bulletin 3000-20)
- May 1981 (Bulletin 3010-17)
Richmond, Virginia, Metropolitan Area
- June 1980 (Bulletin 3000-23)
- June 1981 (Bulletin 3010-18)
Richmond-Petersburg, Virginia, Metropolitan Area
- August 1989 (Bulletin 3050-24)
Washington, D.C.-Maryland-Virginia, Metropolitan Area
- March 1980 (Bulletin 3000-4)
- March 1981 (Bulletin 3010-6)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Washington state metro areas -- 1980s

Portland, Oregon-Washington, Metropolitan Area
- June 1980 (Bulletin 3000-49)
- June 1981 (Bulletin 3010-29)
- June 1982 (Bulletin 3015-31)
- June 1983 (Bulletin 3020-40)
- June 1984 (Bulletin 3025-28)
- June 1985 (Bulletin 3030-24)
- June 1986 (Bulletin 3035-26)
- June 1987 (Bulletin 3040-21)
Seattle-Everett, Washington, Metropolitan Area
- December 1980 (Bulletin 3000-69)
Seattle, Washington, Metropolitan Area
- November 1988 (Bulletin 3045-50)

Wages, salaries and earnings in Wisconsin metro areas -- 1980s

Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, Wisconsin, Metropolitan Area
- November 1989 (Bulletin 3050-43)
Green Bay, Wisconsin, Metropolitan Area
- July 1980 (Bulletin 3000-22)
- July 1981 (Bulletin 3010-26)
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota-Wisconsin, Metropolitan Area
- January 1980 (Bulletin 3000-1)
- January 1981 (Bulletin 3010-1)
- January 1984 (Bulletin 3025-2)
- February 1988 (Bulletin 3045-6)
- February 1989 (Bulletin 3050-5)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Metropolitan Area
- April 1980 (Bulletin 3000-10)
- May 1981 (Bulletin 3010-16)
- May 1982 (Bulletin 3015-18)
- May 1983 (Bulletin 3020-14)
- May 1984 (Bulletin 3025-21)
- May 1985 (Bulletin 3030-17)
- May 1987 (Bulletin 3040-17)
- May 1988 (Bulletin 3045-17)
- May 1989 (Bulletin 3050-14)

Wages for occupations by industry, 1980-1989

Unless otherwise noted, the following listings refer to Industry Wage Surveys from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Bulletin series.

Air Carrier job wages
- September 1980 (Bulletin 2129)
- June 1984 (Bulletin 2241)
- January 1989 (Bulletin 2356)
Apparel - Mens and boys shirts and nightwear manufacturing job wages
- June 1987 (Bulletin 2304)
Apparel - Womens dress manufacturing job wages
- August 1982 (Bulletin 2187)
Appliance Repair job wages
- November 1981 (Bulletin 2177)
Banking job wages
- 1980 (Bulletin 2099)
- 1985 (Bulletin 2269)
- 1989 (Bulletin 2371)
Banking jobs
Occupational earnings in selected metro areas, 1985
Lists the average weekly earnings of bank employees in 14 cities by specific occupation such as accounting clerk, stenographer, loan officer, etc.
Chemical (industrial) manufacturing job wages
- May 1981 (Bulletin 2136)
- June 1986 (Bulletin 2287)
Cigarette manufacturing job wages
- June 1981 (Bulletin 2132)
- July 1986 (Bulletin 2276)
Coal industry job wages
- July 1988 (Bulletin 2342)
Communications industry job wages
- October-December 1981 (Bulletin 2188)
Computer and data processing service job wages
- 1987 (Bulletin 2318)
Congress, Members of - Salaries
- See Salaries of Members of Congress: Recent Actions and Historical Tables, page 16 (page 20 of the pdf)
Contract cleaning service job wages
- July 1981 (Bulletin 2152)
- August 1986 (Bulletin 2299)
Department store job wages
- August 1986 (Bulletin 2311)
Education - School teacher salaries
- 1981-82 teacher salaries in 23 states plus Guam are listed in ERIC document 213678. Source: American Federation of Teachers data.
- 1982-1983 Illinois teacher salaries. Source: Illinois State Board of Education, Planning, Research, and Evaluation.
Electric and gas utility job wages
- October 1982 (Bulletin 2218)
- February 1988 (Bulletin 2338)
Footwear manufacturing job wages
- October 1986 (Bulletin 2291)
Glass and glassware manufacturing job wages
- June 1986 (Bulletin 2286)
Government - Congress persons' salaries
- See Salaries of Members of Congress: Recent Actions and Historical Tables, page 16.
Grain mill product industry job wages
- September 1987 (Bulletin 2325)
Hosiery manufacturing industry job wages
- August 1981 (Bulletin 2151)
- August 1987 (Bulletin 2321)
Hospital job wages
- August 1984 (Bulletin 2204)
- March 1989 (Bulletin 2364)
Hotel and motel job wages
Includes occupations such as bell boys, porters, housekeepers / maids, waiters and waitresses, bartenders, cooks, dishwashers, checkout cashiers, maintenance workers and stationary engineers. Reports pay by metro areas, including Atlantic city, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, Washington DC, Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, Denver, Los Angeles, Oakland CA, San Diego and San Francisco.
- July-September 1983 (Bulletin 2227)
- June-July 1988 (Bulletin 2335)
Iron and steel foundry job wages
- October 1986 (Bulletin 2291)
Iron and steel industry job wages
- August 1983 (Bulletin 2221)
- October 1988 (Bulletin 2346)
Life and health insurance job wages
- July 1986 (Bulletin 2293)
Life insurance job wages
Earnings of actuaries, claim approvers, underwriters, etc.
- February 1980 (Bulletin 2119)
Machinery manufacturing job wages
- January 1981 (Bulletin 2124)
- November 1983 (Bulletin 2229)
Motor vehicles and parts manufacturing job wages
- May 1983 (Bulletin 2223)
- June & August 1989 (Bulletin 2384)
Moving and storage job wages, 1984
- Some reports cover the entire states of Connecticut, Montana, North Dakota, West Virginia, and northern New York state,
- Some reports cover specific cities and counties (listed here alphabetically by state) :
Oil and gas extraction job wages
- June 1988 (Bulletin 2334)
Paper manufacturing job wages
- July 1982 (Bulletin 2180)
- September 1987 (Bulletin 2324)
Printing trades - Union wages and hours,
- July 1980 (Bulletin 2091)
- September 1980 (Bulletin 2125)
Savings and loan associations job wages
- February 1980 (Bulletin 2106)
Shipbuilding and repairing job wages
- October 1986 (Bulletin 2295)
Structural clay product industry job wages
- September 1980 (Bulletin 2139)
- October 1986 (Bulletin 2288)
Synthetic fiber manufacturing job wages
- August 1981 (Bulletin 2150)
- September 1985 (Bulletin 2268)
Wood household furniture manufacturing job wages
- June 1986 (Bulletin 2283)

Prices, 1980-1989

Average Retail Food and Energy Prices, 1980-2018
Prices for meats, fruits, vegetables, bread, eggs, milk and more foods, as well as gasoline, electricity, natural gas and other residential energy. To view data back to 1980, click the green "Historical Data" icon in the rows, then use drop-down boxes near the top of the page to set start and end years.
Food Consumption, Prices, and Expenditures
This source gives average retail food prices much as the source above, but it also discusses consumer expenditure patterns, and shows the percent of household disposable income going for food.
Restaurant food and drink prices, 1980s
Site has nearly 300 scanned restaurant menus from the 1980-1989 decade. This is not a government resource but it can be useful for spot-checking prices for specific food or beverages at restaurants.
Mail order catalogs for Christmas, 1980s
This link leads to WishbookWeb.com, a site that displays complete, historic mail order catalogs in color and offers keyword searching in the full text. Find retail prices for clothing, jewelry, toys, household decor and furnishings, gift items and other merchandise selected for inclusion in Christmas catalogs. Retailers include Sears, JCPenney and Wards.
Median gross rent by state, 1940-2000
Gross rent is defined as "the monthly amount of rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water and sewer) and fuels (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). This source shows data by state and for the U.S. as a whole. Source: U.S. Census of Housing, choose unadjusted figures. Table displays best in Chrome.
Median home values by state, 1940-2000
Median home values for states and for the U.S. as a whole. Source: U.S. Census of Housing, choose unadjusted figures. The table displays best in Chrome.
New home sale prices - 1963-2011
For those who want a simple figure which does not take into account number of rooms, square footage or home location, this U.S. Census Bureau chart shows the average and median selling price of only NEW homes (not older homes), reported monthly back to January 1963. For greater detail on sales of newly built homes up through 1985, see the Census Bureau's Construction Reports series "Sales of New One Family Homes"
New home sale prices by characteristic - 1980s
The U.S. Census Bureau's Characteristics of New Housing series tells average and median sale prices of new homes by number of bedrooms, square feet, and also by region of the country. First choose a report by date, then use the "Search in this Text" feature for the phrase "SALES PRICE," or just "price." See for example this table that shows sales price by square footage and location for 1982-1986.
Farm real estate values in Missouri, Illinois and Iowa, 1912-2018
Shows average value per acre (statewide) for farm real estate including both land and buildings. Table shows price per acre for each year from 1912 to 2018. Compares the figures to the average for all other states.
Gasoline prices, 1983-2019
Shows gasoline retail price data by state, region, or for the whole U.S. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Gasoline prices, 1949-2011
"Nominal price" was the price paid by the customer at the time of the transaction. This table shows the nominal price of leaded regular gasoline from 1949-1990 and unleaded regular gas from 1976-2011. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.
New car loans - Average amount financed, 1971-2011
Indicates how much people were paying on average for their new cars. Downloadable data from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
Intercity bus fares, 1983
Fares were regulated and based on mileage. See fare chart in this National Bus Traffic Association publication.
Telephone service, residential - Average monthly rates, 1983-1991
Average rates for unlimited local calling, taxes and average connection charges. Source: U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
Rates for interstate long-distance telephone calls - 1980
This chart shows U.S. mainland phone charges. Scroll forward in the source to see rates for international calls and for calls to Alaska and Hawaii. Source: U.S. Federal Communications Commission
Wholesale prescription drug prices, 1985-1991
Tracks price increases for twenty-five common prescription drugs including Percocet, Valium, Premarin, Prozac, Motrin and more. Note: this shows prices paid by retail pharmacies, not the prices paid by the consumer.
Cost to mail a letter, 1863-present
Chart shows postal rates for mailing a domestic letter. Source: the Historian of the U.S. Postal Service.
Price of gold per ounce, 1968-1998
Annual data for 1968-1998 plus narrative information on historical gold prices back to the 1700s. Tells the eras in which "a man could buy a fine suit of clothes" with one ounce of gold. Source: U.S. Geological Survey publication, Metal prices in the United States through 1998

Consumer expenditures, 1980-1989

Consumer expenditures, 1986 compared to 2010
Simple table shows average annual amounts spent on food, housing, apparel, transportation, health care, entertainment, etc. in 1986 and compares these figures to that collected for the year 2010. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Health Care expenditures by the elderly, 1977-1988
Chart shows average annual out-of-pocket expenditures for health care by the elderly. Source: U.S. congressional hearing "Health Care Costs for America's Elderly, 1977-1988."

Prices in Foreign Countries, 1980-1989

Travelers' expenses in foreign ports - early 1980s
The U.S. Navy published a series of travel guidebooks for naval personnel who would be visiting ports as tourists. These guidebooks tell prices for transportation, hotel stays, meals at restaurants, etc. These booklets also tell the monetary rates of exchange. Note that prices can appear anywhere in these texts so you may need to use the tables of contents to find chapters and page numbers.
- Africa (eastern), including Djibouti, Somalia, and Kenya in 1980
- Brazil (southern) in 1982
- Italy -- Napoli in 1982
- Spain
  - Malaga and Torremolinos in 1986
  - Rota in 1982
  - Palma de Mallorca in 1982

Buying power of historic wages expressed in today's dollars

Consumer Price Index Inflation Calculator
This calculator allows you to compare the buying power of wages earned at different points in history. For example, a dollar earned in 2016 had the same buying power as 4 cents in 1913. Conversely, a dollar earned in 1913 had the same buying power as $24.24 in the year 2016.

Prices and Wages by Decade: 1980-1989