Income Equity USA

According to the US Census Bureau, the median salary for men was $59,039 earilier in 2017. The range for men aged 20-24 was $28,540; for women, $26,416. For men 54-65, $55,480; for women $45,180. How this is computed I don't know exactly but it is a complicated effort, since some wages are paid in cash with no records. Even with the astronomical wages in the millions of dollars and above $100,000, the median means that half of people in any group (by gender or age range, etc.) received more than that figure and half received less. (On the other hand, the average or mean could be considerly skewed because relatively few earners have extremely high income).

The Census gives reasons for some of the discrepancies between groups: college graduates earn more; women hold more lower-paying jobs such as teachers and social workers, while more men are engineers and technicians which often pay more. The peak age of earning power for women is lower.

There are so many variables that make it difficult to grasp both the exact figures and their reasoning. Our culture has changed considerably in many ways, including the work force. Visibly, more and more women are appearing in positions previously thought of as a man's role. The opposite is less visible. Double incomes for families, luxuries abounding for some while poverty is far too common. The goal for equal pay for equal tasks is on the move and may someday be resolved, even though it could be more complicated than we wish to admit.

Facts do reveal unfortunate disparities between the poor, middle class and wealthy and does not seem to be liberating considering inflation, the homeless, incarcerated and the under and unemployed. There are reasons for wages: survival and respectability. Sanity in wages must (not should) be well-founded (equitable) across the board, with no partiality or discrimination.