This started out as a blog for my Daughters, but it is now for general reading .................... I read that the average annual wage for all occupations in the United States is $37,800. The average wage for a manufacturing production worker is $33,000. So that means that there are some above these levels, and some below these levels, which is how the average is established. So ....... if you are above the average consider yourself fortunate. 
I also heard on the radio, I think CNBC that our inner city kids are not graduating from High School at an alarming rate. Detroit & Cleveland city schools are graduating about 25% of the students. (that is 75% of students don't have a basic HIGH SCHOOL diploma) Suburbs are turning out about 75% student graduation. Colon Powell who was involved in the study, if I recall correctly, says this is not a epidemic but a catastrophe! What are we to do??
Multiply the below by 40 years and see what kind of diff it makes
Average Annual Earnings
Professional Degree $109,600
Doctoral Degree $89,400
Master's Degree $62,300
Bachelor's Degree $52,200
Associate's Degree $38,200
Some College $36,800
High School Graduate $30,400
Some High School $23,400
Average Annual Earnings—Different Levels of Education.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Surveys, March 1998, 1999, and 2000.
Making a Lifetime of Difference.
