# What weight should I use in IPUMS-CPS

**URL:** <https://forum.ipums.org/t/what-weight-should-i-use-in-ipums-cps/134>\
**Category:** CPS\
**Created:** [January 14, 2013, 6:57am UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/what-weight-should-i-use-in-ipums-cps/134 "2013-01-14T06:57:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![IPUMS](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.ipums.org/ipums/32/41_2.png) [@IPUMS](https://forum.ipums.org/u/IPUMS)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 6:57am UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/what-weight-should-i-use-in-ipums-cps/134/1 "2013-01-14T06:57:00Z")

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What weight should I use in IPUMS-CPS

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![IPUMS](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.ipums.org/ipums/32/41_2.png) [@IPUMS](https://forum.ipums.org/u/IPUMS)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/what-weight-should-i-use-in-ipums-cps/134/2 "2013-01-20T16:39:00Z")

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The IPUMS-CPS samples are weighted, with some records representing more cases than others. This means that persons and households with some characteristics are over-represented in the samples, while others are underrepresented.

User Note: Weight variable names were recently changed to incorporate basic monthly data into IPUMS-CPS. Weight variables specific to the March supplement have been renamed: PERWT is now WTSUPP; HHWT is now HWTSUPP. BLSWT has been renamed WTFINL; it can be used to replicate published Bureau of Labor Statistics figures based on basic monthly survey questions and should be used in analyses of non-March data. Weights appropriate for household-level analyses of non-March data are also available (HWTFINL).

To obtain representative statistics from the samples, users must apply sample weights. Follow one of the following procedures:

1. For most person-level analyses of March supplement IPUMS-CPS data, apply the [WTSUPP](http://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/WTSUPP) variable. WTSUPP gives the population represented by each individual in the sample.

2. For person-level analyses of non-March IPUMS-CPS data, apply the [WTFINL](http://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/WTFINL) variable. WTFINL gives the population represented by each individual in the sample. Analyses to replicate published Bureau of Labor Statistics figures should also use WTFINL rather than WTSUPP.

3. For person-level analyses analyzing the summary health insurance variables ([HCOVANY](http://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/HCOVANY), [HCOVPRIV](http://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/HCOVPRIV), [HINSEMP](http://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/HINSEMP), [HINSPUR](http://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/HINSPUR), [HCOVPUB](http://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/HCOVPUB), [HINSCAID](http://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/HINSCAID), [HINSCARE](http://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/HINSCARE), and[HINSMIL](http://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/HINSMIL)), apply the [HINSWT](http://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/HINSWT) variable rather than WTSUPP.

4. For person-level analyses using the IPUMS-CPS variables [EARNWEEK](http://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/EARNWEEK), [HOURWAGE](http://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/HOURWAGE), [PAIDHOUR](http://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/PAIDHOUR), and [UNION](http://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/UNION), apply the[EARNWT](http://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/EARNWT) variable.

5. For household-level analyses of March supplement data, weight the households using the [HWTSUPP](http://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/HWTSUPP) variable. HWTSUPP gives the number of households in the general population represented by each household in the sample.

6. For household-level analyses of non-March data, weight the households using the [HWTFINL](http://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/HWTFINL) variable. HWTFINL gives the number of households in the general population represented by each household in the sample.