Last week, the BLS reported that Americans on average earned $18.48 an hour and $609.84 per week in May 2009.* That’s compared to  $17.94 and $602.78 in May 2008.

What does this mean? Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings increased by 3.1 percent, while average weekly earnings rose by only 1.2 percent – reflecting a sign of the times: a decline in the average workweek.

If you have money on the brain — and who doesn’t these days? — read on for our latest installment of highlights from Parade’s “What People Earn” issue. And if you need a Friday diversion, try playing Parade’s Salary Guessing Game.

Phylecia Ross, 31
Computer scientist
La Mesa, Calif.
$89,000

Alan Salmon, 53
Forensic video analyst
Norman, Okla.
$64,000

Patrick Dempsey, 43
Actor
Los Angeles, Calif.
$3.5 million

Julie Sorenson, 45
Certified nurse’s aide
Glenwood, Utah
$20,200

Jace Scribner, 40
Electrical contractor
Woodinville, Wash.
$165,000

Patricia Ringgenberg, 52
Air-quality specialist
Las Vegas, Nev.
$79,900

Carol VanHorn, 50
Part-time office mgr.
Kihei, Hawaii
$15,000

Will Ferrell, 41
Actor/comedian
Los Angeles, Calif.
$31 million

La Kisha Byrd, 31
Assistant investigator
Washington, D.C.
$46,400

Jose Aleixo, 48
Solar-energy worker
Dacula, Ga.
$70,000

Dave Dougherty, 42
Deputy sheriff
Philadelphia, Pa.
$47,800

Karen Carter, 41
Insurance agent
Oklahoma City, Okla.
$27,000

Norma Alicia Vargas, 39
Pharmacy technician
Brownsville, Texas
$32,900

David Borst, 66
Gambling counselor
Syracuse, N.Y.
$30,000

Connie Parker, 49
Legal assistant
Plant City, Fla.
$52,000

Ken Ardizzone, 54
Landscape gardener
Vista, Calif.
$77,000

Kathleen Douthat, 50
College counselor
Knoxville, Tenn.
$45,000

Mark Chiaramonte, 28
Chief operator, water treatment plant
Menifee, Calif.
$74,000

Leroy Ferguson, 44
Public housing analyst
Woodbridge, Va.
$65,000

David Chmielewski, 62
School bus driver
Land O’Lakes, Fla.
$18,700

Think you know who makes more?  Play the Salary Guessing Game

How do you stack up?  See how your salary compares to others

See more Real People, Real Salaries

*Average hourly and weekly earnings of production and nonsupervisory workers(1) on private nonfarm payrolls
by industry sector and selected industry detail.