1
Technical information:
Media contact:
USDL 04-2320
(202) 691-6569
http://www.bls.gov/oes/
For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Friday, November 12, 2004
691-5902
OCCUPATIONAL EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES, NOVEMBER 2003
Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations such as specialist physicians and dentists accounted for
8 out of the 10 highest-paying occupations in November 2003, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
of the U.S. Department of Labor. The average hourly wages for these health-related occupations ranged
from $87.83 for surgeons to $62.04 for dentists. The lowest-paying occupation was fast food cooks who
earned $7.28 per hour. Five of the six lowest-paying occupations were related to food preparation and
serving.
Retail salespersons and cashiers were the largest occupations in the United States, with about 4.1 million
and 3.4 million employees, respectively. Other occupations with more than 2 million workers included
general office clerks; hand laborers and material movers; registered nurses; waiters and waitresses; janitors
and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners; and combined food preparation and serving workers,
including fast food. The average hourly wages for these occupations ranged from $7.36 for combined food
Chart 1. Mean hourly wage and percent of total employment by major occupational group
5.1%
M an ag em en t ($ 40 .1 0)
.7%
Le gal ($ 37 .7 8)
2.2 %
Occupational group (with mean hourly wage shown in parentheses)
C om p uter an d m athe m a tic al s c ie nc e ($ 30 .8 4)
1 .8%
A rc hitec ture and engin eering ($ 29 .0 4)
4 .9%
H e althc are pra c tition er an d tec hn ic al ($ 27 .0 4)
B us ines s and finan c ial o pera tions ($ 26 .9 2)
4 .0 %
.9%
L ife, ph ys ic al, a nd s o c ial s c ie nc e ($ 26 .4 1)
1.2%
A rts , d es ign, enterta inm en t, s p orts , an d m e dia ($ 20 .8 4)
E duc a tion, tra inin g, an d libra ry ($ 19 .9 0)
6 .2 %
C on s truc tion an d extra c tion ($ 17 .7 9)
4.8%
4 .1%
Ins talla tion , m ainten anc e , a nd rep air ($ 17 .5 8)
1.3%
C om m u nity and s oc ia l se rv ic es ($ 17 .2 1)
P ro te c tiv e s erv ic e ($ 16 .5 6)
2.3 %
10.6%
S a les a nd related ($ 15 .1 7)
8 .0%
P ro du c tion ($ 13 .9 1)
17.7 %
O ffic e an d adm in is trativ e s up port ($ 13 .7 2)
T rans porta tion a nd m ate rial m o v ing ($ 13 .2 8)
7.3%
He alth c are s up port ($ 11 .0 4)
2 .5 %
P e rs on al c a re and s erv ic e ($ 10 .3 7)
2 .4 %
3.4 %
B u ilding a nd grou nds c lea ning and m a in tena nc e ($ 10 .2 3)
.4%
F arm ing , fis hin g, an d fo res try ($9 .7 6)
F oo d pre paration and s erving re lated ($8 .3 7)
8 .1%
0
5,00 0,00 0
1 0,000 ,0 00
1 5,00 0,00 0
E m p lo ym en t le vel
20,0 00,00 0
2 5,000,0 00
2
preparation and serving workers, including fast food to $11.44 for general office clerks, with the exception
of registered nurses who earned $25.39. (See table 1.)
These statistics for wage and salary workers are from the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES)
survey, a federal-state cooperative program between BLS and State Workforce Agencies. The OES survey
provides estimates of employment and hourly and annual wages for wage and salary workers in 22 major
occupational groups and in 770 detailed occupations.
Management and legal occupational groups were the highest paying of the 22 major occupational groups.
Over 30 percent of the workers in these occupational groups earned more than $43.75 per hour. (See table
A.) The major occupational group with the highest employment level in November 2003 was office and
administrative support workers, followed by sales and related workers, food preparation and serving
workers, and production workers. (See chart 1.)
The major occupational groups with the lowest average wages were food preparation and serving
related; farming, fishing, and forestry; building and grounds cleaning and maintenance; and personal care and
Table A. Wage distribution by major occupational group, November 2003
(Percent distribution)
Wage range
Major occupational group
Management .....................................................
Business and financial operations ........................
Computer and mathematical science ...................
Architecture and engineering ..............................
Life, physical, and social science ........................
Community and social services ...........................
Legal................................................................
Education, training, and library ............................
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media ......
Healthcare practitioner and technical ..................
Healthcare support ............................................
Protective service ..............................................
Food preparation and serving related...................
Building and grounds cleaning and
maintenance ..................................................
Personal care and service ..................................
Sales and related ...............................................
Office and administrative support .......................
Farming, fishing, and forestry .............................
Construction and extraction ................................
Installation, maintenance, and repair ....................
Production ........................................................
Transportation and material moving ....................
Under $8.50 $10.75 $13.50 $17.00 $21.50 $27.25 $34.50 Over
to
to
to
to
to
to
to $43.75
$8.50
$10.74 $13.49 $16.99 $21.49 $27.24 $34.49 $43.74
1.3
1.7
.7
.6
1.9
7.0
1.4
11.3
12.2
2.4
24.4
16.3
66.4
1.2
2.1
1.4
1.7
3.5
10.7
2.2
8.7
9.8
4.8
31.1
14.6
17.9
2.8
5.6
3.2
4.1
7.2
17.9
5.5
9.9
12.2
8.0
23.8
15.0
9.0
5.5
12.2
7.0
8.3
13.2
21.4
10.7
14.7
14.9
12.6
13.7
14.8
4.1
9.2
18.9
12.6
14.2
17.7
19.0
14.5
18.8
16.1
19.5
5.2
13.7
1.8
13.5
21.4
18.3
20.7
18.9
13.7
13.3
16.8
13.6
21.0
1.3
13.0
.6
16.0
17.5
21.9
21.1
16.0
7.1
11.2
11.2
9.3
13.7
.3
8.2
.2
17.0
11.1
19.9
17.7
11.4
2.4
10.8
5.2
5.8
7.5
.1
3.4
.1
33.5
9.4
14.9
11.6
10.3
.7
30.3
3.5
6.1
10.6
1.0
-
41.3
48.7
35.9
14.8
56.3
6.9
7.3
17.3
26.1
25.2
22.1
16.9
19.6
17.5
12.0
10.4
19.6
19.3
16.4
12.1
11.5
22.7
11.5
16.5
15.0
20.5
18.1
9.7
7.3
9.5
19.7
7.3
18.6
19.5
17.8
15.1
5.2 1.7
4.9 2.5
8.2 6.4
14.0 6.5
4.3 2.0
17.7 14.8
20.8 16.7
12.4 8.4
11.3 6.2
.4
1.2
4.4
1.9
.7
9.2
7.7
3.0
2.2
.1
.6
3.1
.6
.3
3.3
2.1
.8
.8
.6
4.2
.3
.1
.9
.7
.2
.9
3
service. At least 40 percent of all workers in each of these groups earned less than $8.50 per hour. (See
table A.)
Major groups in which 50 percent or more of the employment was concentrated in the middle three
wage ranges (from $13.50 mean hourly wage to $27.24 mean hourly wage) included business and financial
operations occupations; life, physical, and social science occupations; community and social services
occupations; education, training, and library occupations; healthcare practitioner and technical occupations;
construction and extraction occupations; and installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.
Table 1 shows employment and wage estimates for detailed occupations within each major group. The
OES program also provides national occupational employment and wage data by industry, and cross-industry
estimates for all states and 334 metropolitan areas. November 2003 OES data for states and metropolitan
areas and the national employment and wage data by industry will be available on the BLS Web site in
November.
The OES survey is designed to estimate employment and wages at detailed industry and area levels with
a desired level of reliability based on a sample of 1.2 million establishments, collected in six semiannual panels
over a 3-year period.
Technical Note
Scope of the survey
The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey is a
semiannual mail survey measuring occupational employment
and wage rates for wage and salary workers in nonfarm
establishments, by industry, in the United States (Guam, Puerto
Rico, and the Virgin Islands also are surveyed, but their data
are not included in this release). In 2002, the OES survey
switched from industry coding based on the Standard
Industrial Classification (SIC) system to that based on the
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
In November 2002, the OES survey changed from an annual
survey of 400,000 establishments to a semiannual survey of
200,000 establishments per panel. The OES survey samples
and contacts establishments in May and November of each
year, and over 3 years, or the equivalent of six panels, contacts
approximately 1.2 million establishments. The full 3-year sample
allows the production of estimates at fine levels of geographic,
industry, and occupational detail. The nationwide response
rate for the November 2003 panel was 79 percent for
establishments, covering 73 percent of weighted employment.
The Standard Occupational Classification system
In 1999, the OES survey began using the Office of
Management and Budget’s (OMB) occupational classification
system, the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)
system. The SOC system is the first OMB-required
occupational classification system for federal agencies. The
OES survey categorizes workers in 1 of about 770 detailed
occupations. Together, these detailed occupations comprise
23 major occupational groups. The major groups are as follows:
Management occupations
Business and financial operations occupations
Computer and mathematical science occupations
Architecture and engineering occupations
Life, physical, and social science occupations
Community and social services occupations
Legal occupations
Education, training, and library occupations
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations
Healthcare support occupations
Protective service occupations
Food preparation and serving related occupations
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations
Personal care and service occupations
Sales and related occupations
Office and administrative support occupations
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations
Construction and extraction occupations
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
Production occupations
Transportation and material moving occupations
Military specific occupations (not surveyed in OES)
For more information about the SOC system, please see the
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Web site at http://
www.bls.gov/soc.
The industry coding system
As noted earlier, in 2002, the OES survey switched from
using the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system to
using the North American Industry Classification System
(NAICS). For more information about NAICS, see the BLS
Web site at http://www.bls.gov/bls/naics.htm.
The OES survey includes establishments in NAICS sectors
11 (logging and agricultural support activities only), 21, 22, 23,
31-33, 42, 44-45, 48-49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 61, 62, 71, 72, 81
(except private households), state government, and local
government. Data for the U.S. Postal Service and the federal
government are universe counts obtained from the Postal
Service and the Office of Personnel Management, respectively.
An establishment is defined as an economic unit that
processes goods or provides services, such as a factory, mine,
or store. The establishment is generally at a single physical
location and is engaged primarily in one type of economic
activity.
The OES survey covers all full- and part-time wage and
salary workers in nonfarm industries. The survey does not
include the self-employed owners and partners in
unincorporated firms, household workers, or unpaid family
workers.
Survey coverage
BLS funds the survey and provides the procedures and
technical support, while the State Workforce Agencies
(SWAs) collect the data. BLS produces cross-industry NAICS
estimates for the nation, states, and metropolitan statistical
areas (MSAs). NAICS estimates are produced for sector, 3digit, 4-digit, and selected 5-digit industry levels. BLS releases
all cross-industry and national estimates, and the SWAs
release industry estimates at the state and MSA levels.
State Unemployment Insurance (UI) files provide the
universe from which the OES survey draws its sample. The
employment benchmarks are obtained from reports submitted
by employers to the UI program. Supplemental sources are
used for rail transportation (NAICS 4821) and Guam because
they do not report to the UI program. The OES survey sample
is stratified by area, industry, and size class. Size classes are
defined as follows:
Size class
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Number of employees
1 to 4
5 to 9
10 to 19
20 to 49
50 to 99
100 to 249
250 and above
UI reporting units with 250 or more employees are sampled
with virtual certainty across a 3-year period. Generally, onesixth of the certainty units are sampled in each panel in each
state.
Concepts
Occupational employment is the estimate of total wage and
salary employment in an occupation across the industries in
which that occupation was reported. The OES survey defines
employment as the number of workers who can be classified as
full-time or part-time employees, including workers on paid
vacations or other types of leave; workers on unpaid shortterm absences; salaried officers, executives, and staff members
of incorporated firms; employees temporarily assigned to other
units; and employees for whom the reporting unit is their
permanent duty station regardless of whether that unit
prepares their paycheck.
The OES survey form sent to an establishment contains
between 50 and 225 SOC occupations selected on the basis of
the sampled establishment’s industry classification and size
class. To reduce paperwork and respondent burden, no survey
form contains every SOC occupation. Thus, data for specific
occupations are collected primarily from establishments in
industries that are the predominant employers of workers in
those occupations. Each survey form is structured, however,
to allow a respondent to provide detailed occupational
information for each worker at the establishment; that is,
unlisted occupations can be added to the survey form.
Wages for the OES survey are straight-time, gross pay,
exclusive of premium pay. Base rate, cost-of-living allowances,
guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay including
commissions and production bonuses, tips, and on-call pay are
included. Excluded are back pay, jury duty pay, overtime pay,
severance pay, shift differentials, non-production bonuses,
employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition
reimbursements.
The OES survey collects wage data in 12 intervals.
Employers report the number of employees in an occupation
for each wage range. The wage intervals used for the
November 2003 survey are as follows:
Interval
Range A
Range B
Range C
Range D
Range E
Range F
Range G
Range H
Range I
Range J
Range K
Range L
Wages
Hourly
Under $6.75
$6.75 to $8.49
$8.50 to $10.74
$10.75 to $13.49
$13.50 to $16.99
$17.00 to $21.49
$21.50 to $27.24
$27.25 to $34.49
$34.50 to $43.74
$43.75 to $55.49
$55.50 to $69.99
$70.00 and over
Annual
Under $14,040
$14,040 to $17,679
$17,680 to $22,359
$22,360 to $28,079
$28,080 to $35,359
$35,360 to $44,719
$44,720 to $56,679
$56,680 to $71,759
$71,760 to $90,999
$91,000 to $115,439
$115,440 to $145,599
$145,600 and over
Mean hourly wage. The mean hourly wage rate for an
occupation is the total wages that all workers in the occupation
earn in an hour divided by the total employment of the
occupation. To calculate the mean hourly wage of each
occupation, total weighted hourly wages are summed across all
intervals and divided by the occupation’s weighted survey
employment. The mean wage for each interval is based on
occupational wage data collected by the BLS Office of
Compensation and Working Conditions for the National
Compensation Survey (NCS).
The mean hourly wage value for the highest wage interval,
$70.00 and over, is calculated after excluding data for pilots.
Pilots comprise a large portion of the employment from the NCS
that falls into the highest interval, and about 1 percent of the
workers reported for the OES survey makes $70.00 and over.
Since pilots work fewer hours than workers in other
occupations, their hourly wage rates are much higher than
other occupations. After excluding pilots from the calculation,
the mean wage rate for the highest interval was computed
separately for each panel or annual sample (November 2003,
May 2003, November 2002, 2001, and 2000). Then the average
of these five mean wage rates was derived and used for all of
the $70.00 and over data in the November 2003 survey. The
wage rates for this interval do not go through any wage
updating procedures.
Percentile wage. The p-th percentile wage range for an
occupation is the wage where p percent of all workers earn that
amount or less and where (100-p) percent of all workers earn
that amount or more. This statistic is calculated by uniformly
distributing the workers inside each wage interval, ranking the
workers from lowest paid to highest paid, and calculating the
product of the total employment for the occupation and the
desired percentile to determine the worker that earns the p-th
percentile wage rate.
Annual wage. Many employees are paid at an hourly rate
by their employers and may work more than or less than 40
hours per week. Annual wage estimates in this release are
calculated by multiplying the mean hourly wage by a “yearround, full-time” figure of 2,080 hours (52 weeks by 40 hours).
Thus, annual wage estimates may not represent the actual
annual pay received by the employee if they work more or less
than 2,080 hours per year. Alternatively, some workers are paid
based on an annual amount, but they generally do not work the
usual 2,080 hours per year. Since the OES survey does not
collect the actual number of hours worked, hourly rates cannot
be calculated with a reasonable degree of confidence from
annual rates. For this reason, the annual salary is directly
calculated from reported survey data, and only annual wages
are estimated for these occupations. Occupations that
typically have a work year of less than 2,080 hours include
musical and entertainment occupations, pilots and flight
attendants, and teachers.
Hourly versus annual wage reporting. For each
occupation, respondents are asked to report the number of
employees paid within specific wage intervals. The intervals
are defined both as hourly rates and the corresponding annual
rates, where the annual rate for an occupation is calculated by
multiplying the hourly wage rate by a typical work year of 2,080
hours. The responding establishment can reference either the
hourly or the annual rate, but they are instructed to report the
hourly rate for part-time workers.
Estimation methodology
Beginning in the November 2002, the OES survey samples
approximately 200,000 establishments semiannually in
November and May of each year, for a combined sample of 1.2
million different establishments over six semiannual panels.
Until 2002, the survey sampled approximately 400,000
establishments in the fourth quarter of each year, for a 3-year
combined sample size of 1.2 million. While estimates can be
made from a single year or 2 years of data, the OES survey has
been designed to produce estimates at a desired level of
precision using the full 3 years, or 6 panels, of data. The 3-year
sample allows the production of estimates at fine levels of
geographic, industry, and occupational detail.
Producing estimates using the 3 years of sample data
provides significant sampling error reductions (particularly for
small geographic areas and occupations); however, it also has
some quality limitations in that it requires the adjustment of
earlier year’s data to the current reference period, a procedure
referred to as “wage updating.”
Wage updating. As noted above, combining multiple years
of data has both statistical advantages and limitations.
Significant reductions in sampling error can be achieved by
taking advantage of 3 years of data, which covers over 70
percent of the employment in the United States. This feature
is particularly important in improving the reliability of estimates
for small domains in the population (that is, wage and
employment estimates for detailed occupations in small areas).
Combining multiple years of data also has been necessary to
obtain full coverage of establishments with 250 or more workers
that are sampled with certainty.
Starting with the 1997 estimates, the OES program has used
the BLS Employment Cost Index to adjust survey data from
prior years or panels before combining them with the current
panel’s data. The wage updating procedure assumes that each
occupation’s wage rate, as measured in the earlier year or panel,
moves according to the average movement of the broader
occupation division that encompasses it and that there are no
major geographic, industry, or detailed occupational
differences.
November 2003 OES survey estimates. The November 2003
OES survey estimates are based on data collected from
establishments in the November 2003, May 2003, and the
November 2002, 2001, and 2000 samples. The November 2003
estimates used the wage-updating methodology introduced in
1997. In addition, a “nearest neighbor” hot deck imputation
procedure was used to impute occupational employment totals
for establishments that reported no employment data. For
establishments that reported (or imputed) occupational
employment totals but did not report an employment
distribution across the wage intervals, a variation of mean
imputation was used to impute the distribution. During
estimates processing, OES employment data were
benchmarked to the average employment for May and
November 2003 from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment
and Wages.
Reliability of the estimates. Estimates calculated from a
sample survey are subject to two types of error: sampling and
nonsampling. Sampling error occurs when estimates are
calculated from a subset (i.e., sample) of the population instead
of the full population. When a sample of the population is
surveyed, there is a chance that the sample estimate of the
characteristic of interest may differ from the population value
of that characteristic. Differences between the sample estimate
and the population value will vary depending on the sample
selected. This variability can be estimated by calculating the
standard error (SE) of the sample estimate. If we were to repeat
the sampling and estimation process countless times using the
same survey design, approximately 90 percent of the intervals
created by adding and subtracting 1.645 SEs from the sample
estimate would include the population value. These intervals
are called 90-percent confidence intervals. The OES survey,
however, usually uses the relative standard error (RSE) of a
sample estimate instead of its SE to measure sampling error.
RSE is defined as the SE of a sample estimate divided by the
sample estimate itself. This statistic provides the user with a
measure of the relative precision of the sample estimate. RSEs
are calculated for both occupational employment and mean
wage rate estimates. Occupational employment RSEs are
calculated using a subsample, random group replication
technique called the Jackknife. Mean wage rate RSEs are
calculated using a variance components model that accounts
for both the observed and unobserved components of the wage
data. The variances of the unobserved components are
estimated using wage data from the BLS National
Compensation Survey. In general, estimates based on many
establishments have lower RSEs than estimates based on few
establishments. If the distributional assumptions of the models
are violated, the resulting confidence intervals may not reflect
the prescribed level of confidence.
Nonsampling error occurs for a variety of reasons, none of
which are directly connected to sampling. Examples of
nonsampling error include: nonresponse, data incorrectly
reported by the respondent, mistakes made in entering
collected data into the database, and mistakes made in editing
and processing the collected data.
Additional information
The November 2003 OES national data by occupation,
comparable to data in table 1, will be available soon on the
Internet (http://www.bls.gov/oes). Users also may access each
occupation’s definition and percentile wages. The November
2003 cross-industry data for states and metropolitan areas will
be available on the BLS Web site in November. Industry
staffing patterns at the sector, 3-, 4-, and selected 5-digit
NAICS levels also will be available from the Internet beginning
in November. These data will include industry-specific
occupational employment and wage data.
For additional information, contact the Office of
Employment and Unemployment Statistics, Division of
Occupational Employment Statistics, Room 2135,
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Washington, DC, 20212;
telephone 202-691-6569 (e-mail: [email protected]).
Information in this release will be made available to sensory
impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-6915200; TDD message referral phone number: 1-800-877-8339.
Table 1. National employment and wage data from the Occupational Employment Statistics survey by occupation, November 2003
Mean wages
Occupation
Employment
Hourly
Annual¹
Median hourly
wages
Management occupations
Chief executives........................................................................................................................
General and operations managers............................................................................................
Legislators.................................................................................................................................
Advertising and promotions managers......................................................................................
Marketing managers..................................................................................................................
Sales managers........................................................................................................................
Public relations managers.........................................................................................................
372,170
1,841,470
64,570
64,390
176,270
310,320
54,490
$66.53
42.94
15.03
35.60
45.16
44.53
37.00
$138,380
89,310
31,260
74,050
93,930
92,610
76,960
$65.58
35.86
7.96
29.52
40.97
39.41
32.60
Administrative services managers............................................................................................
Computer and information systems managers..........................................................................
Financial managers...................................................................................................................
Human resources managers.....................................................................................................
Industrial production managers.................................................................................................
Purchasing managers...............................................................................................................
Transportation, storage, and distribution managers..................................................................
266,330
257,860
509,690
158,560
159,820
84,750
90,940
31.11
46.13
42.54
36.84
37.38
35.32
34.06
64,710
95,960
88,470
76,620
77,750
73,470
70,830
27.95
43.51
38.02
33.82
34.45
32.61
31.19
Farm, ranch, and other agricultural managers..........................................................................
Construction managers.............................................................................................................
Education administrators, preschool and child care center/program........................................
Education administrators, elementary and secondary school...................................................
Education administrators, postsecondary.................................................................................
Engineering managers..............................................................................................................
Food service managers.............................................................................................................
Funeral directors.......................................................................................................................
Gaming managers.....................................................................................................................
Lodging managers.....................................................................................................................
Medical and health services managers.....................................................................................
Natural sciences managers.......................................................................................................
Postmasters and mail superintendents.....................................................................................
Property, real estate, and community association managers....................................................
Social and community service managers..................................................................................
5,000
194,820
54,570
208,850
102,200
188,350
218,920
24,220
3,580
31,570
223,940
39,780
26,230
159,760
116,210
25.08
36.44
19.68
(²)
36.12
48.31
20.18
26.83
31.19
20.20
35.74
45.41
24.55
23.18
24.13
52,180
75,800
40,940
75,420
75,120
100,490
41,980
55,810
64,880
42,030
74,340
94,440
51,050
48,210
50,180
22.92
32.51
16.94
(²)
32.58
45.98
18.24
22.17
27.85
17.48
31.90
41.78
24.38
18.63
22.21
12,240
14,940
139,140
244,940
236,810
11,260
32.76
24.05
23.61
24.33
22.54
21.72
68,150
50,020
49,120
50,610
46,890
45,170
26.78
21.03
20.29
22.72
21.17
21.46
159,640
186,710
9,800
171,660
87,090
196,880
433,830
33,290
24.12
25.43
23.65
23.14
23.79
22.85
35.15
20.42
50,160
52,900
49,180
48,140
49,480
47,530
73,110
42,470
22.32
23.66
21.69
19.70
22.54
21.28
30.33
18.78
Accountants and auditors..........................................................................................................
Appraisers and assessors of real estate...................................................................................
Budget analysts.........................................................................................................................
Credit analysts...........................................................................................................................
Financial analysts......................................................................................................................
Personal financial advisors........................................................................................................
Insurance underwriters..............................................................................................................
Financial examiners..................................................................................................................
Loan counselors........................................................................................................................
Loan officers..............................................................................................................................
Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue agents........................................................................
Tax preparers............................................................................................................................
954,270
65,770
53,430
68,420
171,170
93,020
93,770
23,300
31,620
262,920
69,950
46,260
26.98
23.85
27.90
26.44
34.06
38.46
25.96
30.69
18.36
27.19
22.78
16.38
56,110
49,610
58,030
55,000
70,850
79,990
53,990
63,830
38,190
56,550
47,390
34,070
23.93
20.63
26.49
22.42
29.39
28.96
23.25
28.39
16.19
22.85
20.79
13.26
Computer and mathematical science occupations
Computer and information scientists, research.........................................................................
Computer programmers............................................................................................................
Computer software engineers, applications..............................................................................
Computer software engineers, systems software......................................................................
Computer support specialists....................................................................................................
Computer systems analysts......................................................................................................
Database administrators...........................................................................................................
Network and computer systems administrators........................................................................
Network systems and data communications analysts...............................................................
23,770
403,220
410,580
292,520
480,520
485,720
97,540
244,610
156,270
40.98
31.33
36.66
38.36
20.74
32.23
29.86
28.90
29.92
85,240
65,170
76,260
79,790
43,140
67,040
62,100
60,100
62,220
39.81
29.68
35.30
37.14
19.18
31.28
28.44
27.43
28.51
Actuaries...................................................................................................................................
Mathematicians.........................................................................................................................
14,550
2,410
41.84
37.62
87,040
78,240
36.19
37.34
Business and financial operations occupations
Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes........................................
Purchasing agents and buyers, farm products..........................................................................
Wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products..................................................................
Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products..............................................
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators........................................................................
Insurance appraisers, auto damage..........................................................................................
Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety,
and transportation..............................................................................................................
Cost estimators.........................................................................................................................
Emergency management specialists.........................................................................................
Employment, recruitment, and placement specialists...............................................................
Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists...............................................................
Training and development specialists.......................................................................................
Management analysts...............................................................................................................
Meeting and convention planners.............................................................................................
See footnotes at end of table.
Table 1. National employment and wage data from the Occupational Employment Statistics survey by occupation, November 2003 Continued
Mean wages
Occupation
Employment
Hourly
Annual¹
Median hourly
wages
Computer and mathematical science occupations  Continued
Operations research analysts....................................................................................................
Statisticians...............................................................................................................................
Mathematical technicians..........................................................................................................
53,620
20,980
1,790
$29.98
30.87
20.56
$62,360
64,210
42,760
$28.41
30.92
17.97
Architecture and engineering occupations
Architects, except landscape and naval....................................................................................
Landscape architects................................................................................................................
Cartographers and photogrammetrists......................................................................................
Surveyors..................................................................................................................................
91,830
18,730
9,150
51,430
31.31
26.45
23.19
21.54
65,120
55,010
48,230
44,800
28.19
24.41
21.90
20.16
Aerospace engineers................................................................................................................
Agricultural engineers................................................................................................................
Biomedical engineers................................................................................................................
Chemical engineers...................................................................................................................
Civil engineers...........................................................................................................................
Computer hardware engineers..................................................................................................
Electrical engineers...................................................................................................................
Electronics engineers, except computer...................................................................................
Environmental engineers...........................................................................................................
Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors..........................
Industrial engineers...................................................................................................................
Marine engineers and naval architects......................................................................................
Materials engineers...................................................................................................................
Mechanical engineers...............................................................................................................
Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers........................................
Nuclear engineers.....................................................................................................................
Petroleum engineers.................................................................................................................
71,750
2,780
7,560
29,770
211,280
70,110
149,540
131,240
44,930
27,770
163,470
6,060
22,030
214,070
4,680
16,320
13,340
37.82
27.90
32.49
37.70
31.55
39.44
35.27
35.96
31.76
30.62
31.50
35.07
32.16
32.42
32.31
41.08
42.33
78,660
58,040
67,580
78,410
65,620
82,040
73,370
74,800
66,070
63,680
65,530
72,940
66,900
67,430
67,200
85,440
88,050
37.19
25.17
31.14
36.21
30.21
38.02
34.05
35.32
30.79
29.53
30.79
34.28
31.25
31.35
30.86
40.03
40.73
Architectural and civil drafters...................................................................................................
Electrical and electronics drafters.............................................................................................
Mechanical drafters...................................................................................................................
Aerospace engineering and operations technicians..................................................................
Civil engineering technicians.....................................................................................................
Electrical and electronic engineering technicians......................................................................
Electro-mechanical technicians.................................................................................................
Environmental engineering technicians.....................................................................................
Industrial engineering technicians.............................................................................................
Mechanical engineering technicians.........................................................................................
Surveying and mapping technicians..........................................................................................
97,200
34,600
74,620
10,650
87,890
181,550
23,640
17,480
66,050
47,010
57,970
19.06
22.18
21.35
25.47
19.04
22.20
20.22
19.48
22.33
21.22
15.54
39,630
46,120
44,410
52,970
39,610
46,190
42,070
40,510
46,440
44,140
32,320
18.36
20.49
20.37
24.85
18.38
21.82
19.58
18.35
20.61
20.51
14.41
Life, physical, and social science occupations
Agricultural and food scientists..................................................................................................
Biochemists and biophysicists...................................................................................................
Microbiologists...........................................................................................................................
Zoologists and wildlife biologists...............................................................................................
Conservation scientists.............................................................................................................
Foresters...................................................................................................................................
Epidemiologists.........................................................................................................................
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists................................................................................
17,530
15,940
13,970
14,340
14,130
10,250
3,900
66,020
25.81
33.70
27.69
24.83
25.09
23.16
27.46
32.77
53,690
70,100
57,600
51,650
52,200
48,180
57,110
68,170
23.85
30.96
25.05
23.71
24.60
22.63
25.80
28.94
Astronomers..............................................................................................................................
Physicists...................................................................................................................................
Atmospheric and space scientists.............................................................................................
Chemists...................................................................................................................................
Materials scientists....................................................................................................................
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health........................................................
Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers................................................................
Hydrologists...............................................................................................................................
810
13,450
7,280
81,750
7,180
63,520
25,190
7,120
40.12
41.33
31.53
28.82
35.14
26.25
37.26
30.04
83,440
85,960
65,590
59,940
73,080
54,600
77,490
62,480
41.30
40.18
31.44
26.42
34.18
24.07
32.97
28.37
Economists................................................................................................................................
Market research analysts..........................................................................................................
Survey researchers...................................................................................................................
Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists..........................................................................
Industrial-organizational psychologists......................................................................................
Sociologists...............................................................................................................................
Urban and regional planners.....................................................................................................
Anthropologists and archeologists............................................................................................
Geographers..............................................................................................................................
Historians..................................................................................................................................
Political scientists......................................................................................................................
11,940
153,130
16,300
98,000
1,590
3,300
30,600
4,690
740
2,450
4,700
37.68
29.87
15.61
28.19
35.06
28.90
26.31
21.63
27.35
22.19
39.14
78,370
62,130
32,470
58,640
72,930
60,120
54,720
44,990
56,890
46,160
81,400
33.90
26.36
12.97
25.59
32.57
26.74
25.33
19.84
27.06
20.37
39.27
Agricultural and food science technicians.................................................................................
Biological technicians................................................................................................................
18,220
52,950
15.09
17.00
31,390
35,360
14.03
16.04
See footnotes at end of table.
Table 1. National employment and wage data from the Occupational Employment Statistics survey by occupation, November 2003 Continued
Mean wages
Occupation
Employment
Hourly
Annual¹
Median hourly
wages
Life, physical, and social science occupations  Continued
Chemical technicians................................................................................................................
Geological and petroleum technicians......................................................................................
Nuclear technicians...................................................................................................................
Environmental science and protection technicians, including health........................................
Forensic science technicians....................................................................................................
Forest and conservation technicians.........................................................................................
61,870
10,310
7,530
28,070
9,010
18,090
$18.82
20.88
28.77
18.11
22.22
16.43
$39,130
43,420
59,840
37,660
46,220
34,160
$18.09
19.60
28.97
17.21
20.77
15.38
Community and social services occupations
Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors..............................................................
Educational, vocational, and school counselors........................................................................
Marriage and family therapists..................................................................................................
Mental health counselors..........................................................................................................
Rehabilitation counselors..........................................................................................................
Child, family, and school social workers....................................................................................
Medical and public health social workers..................................................................................
Mental health and substance abuse social workers..................................................................
Health educators.......................................................................................................................
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists..........................................................
Social and human service assistants........................................................................................
Clergy........................................................................................................................................
Directors, religious activities and education..............................................................................
64,900
217,570
20,850
86,650
117,670
252,870
103,040
102,110
45,520
87,200
326,050
37,630
12,120
16.15
22.52
19.92
16.86
14.47
17.88
19.49
17.24
19.92
20.31
12.29
18.47
16.33
33,580
46,850
41,420
35,060
30,100
37,190
40,540
35,860
41,430
42,240
25,570
38,410
33,960
15.15
21.63
18.37
15.41
13.18
16.49
18.83
16.18
18.32
18.85
11.54
16.80
14.06
Legal occupations
Lawyers.....................................................................................................................................
Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers...................................................
Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators.....................................................................................
Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates.............................................................................
Paralegals and legal assistants.................................................................................................
Court reporters..........................................................................................................................
Law clerks.................................................................................................................................
Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers.............................................................................
512,070
14,820
4,710
25,270
210,440
16,200
41,200
48,620
51.56
34.15
29.88
42.04
19.78
22.66
16.26
18.50
107,250
71,040
62,150
87,430
41,130
47,130
33,820
38,490
44.58
32.37
25.80
43.86
18.48
20.29
15.75
16.30
Education, training, and library occupations
Business teachers, postsecondary............................................................................................
Computer science teachers, postsecondary.............................................................................
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary........................................................................
Architecture teachers, postsecondary.......................................................................................
Engineering teachers, postsecondary.......................................................................................
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary.........................................................................
Biological science teachers, postsecondary..............................................................................
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary....................................................
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary.............................
Chemistry teachers, postsecondary..........................................................................................
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary......................................................................
Physics teachers, postsecondary..............................................................................................
68,040
37,090
43,440
5,730
32,470
10,620
58,620
3,050
8,880
17,880
3,850
12,500
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
64,410
57,480
56,480
64,680
76,110
67,010
71,820
66,570
68,940
63,040
65,440
68,400
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary............................................................
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary......................................................
Economics teachers, postsecondary.........................................................................................
Geography teachers, postsecondary.........................................................................................
Political science teachers, postsecondary.................................................................................
Psychology teachers, postsecondary........................................................................................
Sociology teachers, postsecondary...........................................................................................
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary..............................................................................
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary.....................................................................
Education teachers, postsecondary..........................................................................................
Library science teachers, postsecondary..................................................................................
4,910
7,190
12,120
4,140
12,990
28,370
13,890
98,390
35,170
46,390
3,850
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
65,310
62,390
72,300
60,150
64,280
59,780
58,720
75,760
54,860
51,350
54,260
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary...............................................
Law teachers, postsecondary....................................................................................................
Social work teachers, postsecondary........................................................................................
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary.......................................................................
Communications teachers, postsecondary...............................................................................
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary.........................................................
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary........................................................
History teachers, postsecondary...............................................................................................
Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary.....................................................................
Graduate teaching assistants....................................................................................................
Home economics teachers, postsecondary..............................................................................
Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary..........................................................
Vocational education teachers, postsecondary.........................................................................
9,900
11,980
6,870
62,010
20,910
57,290
21,520
18,780
16,780
116,520
4,120
15,250
116,570
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
20.80
49,440
94,620
55,860
52,210
52,610
52,080
51,050
57,450
54,990
27,340
50,530
47,000
43,320
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
19.10
Preschool teachers, except special education..........................................................................
Kindergarten teachers, except special education......................................................................
Elementary school teachers, except special education.............................................................
363,790
163,250
1,418,570
11.26
(²)
(²)
23,430
43,530
44,960
9.83
(²)
(²)
See footnotes at end of table.
Table 1. National employment and wage data from the Occupational Employment Statistics survey by occupation, November 2003 Continued
Mean wages
Occupation
Employment
Hourly
Annual¹
Median hourly
wages
Education, training, and library occupations  Continued
Middle school teachers, except special and vocational education............................................
Vocational education teachers, middle school..........................................................................
Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education.....................................
Vocational education teachers, secondary school....................................................................
Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school.........................
Special education teachers, middle school...............................................................................
Special education teachers, secondary school.........................................................................
Adult literacy, remedial education, and GED teachers and instructors.....................................
Self-enrichment education teachers..........................................................................................
611,440
16,820
1,033,020
100,660
202,100
96,160
133,550
62,150
136,810
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
20.52
16.67
$45,600
45,610
47,810
47,160
45,230
47,750
48,760
42,670
34,680
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
18.23
14.69
Archivists, curators, and museum technicians..........................................................................
Librarians...................................................................................................................................
Library technicians.....................................................................................................................
Audio-visual collections specialists...........................................................................................
Farm and home management advisors....................................................................................
Instructional coordinators..........................................................................................................
Teacher assistants....................................................................................................................
22,080
151,650
109,140
8,300
13,400
100,760
1,242,800
19.40
22.18
12.54
17.35
20.12
24.20
(²)
40,360
46,140
26,080
36,090
41,860
50,330
20,100
17.39
21.50
11.95
16.37
19.20
22.86
(²)
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
Art directors...............................................................................................................................
Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators.........................................................
Multi-media artists and animators.............................................................................................
Commercial and industrial designers........................................................................................
Fashion designers.....................................................................................................................
Floral designers.........................................................................................................................
Graphic designers.....................................................................................................................
Interior designers.......................................................................................................................
Merchandise displayers and window trimmers..........................................................................
Set and exhibit designers..........................................................................................................
24,790
9,370
32,030
32,940
11,090
67,460
156,220
45,810
58,150
8,610
34.39
20.48
25.73
26.97
30.78
10.22
20.01
21.42
12.46
18.96
71,530
42,610
53,530
56,110
64,030
21,260
41,620
44,550
25,910
39,430
30.37
17.80
22.48
25.04
26.21
9.66
17.75
19.43
10.89
17.17
Actors........................................................................................................................................
Producers and directors............................................................................................................
Athletes and sports competitors................................................................................................
Coaches and scouts..................................................................................................................
Umpires, referees, and other sports officials.............................................................................
Dancers.....................................................................................................................................
Choreographers.........................................................................................................................
Music directors and composers.................................................................................................
Musicians and singers...............................................................................................................
57,580
59,460
11,520
113,370
8,780
14,230
15,140
9,550
50,750
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
12.73
17.65
(²)
(²)
47,650
73,030
85,040
33,190
28,740
26,480
36,700
42,960
51,450
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
(²)
9.49
15.41
(²)
(²)
Announcers...............................................................................................................................
News analysts, reporters and correspondents..........................................................................
Public relations specialists........................................................................................................
Editors.......................................................................................................................................
Technical writers.......................................................................................................................
Writers and authors...................................................................................................................
Interpreters and translators.......................................................................................................
48,760
61,200
157,050
106,540
43,860
44,380
25,310
14.48
19.38
23.36
23.18
26.56
25.49
17.55
30,110
40,320
48,590
48,210
55,250
53,020
36,500
10.33
15.25
20.70
20.41
25.08
20.84
16.44
Audio and video equipment technicians....................................................................................
Broadcast technicians...............................................................................................................
Radio operators.........................................................................................................................
Sound engineering technicians.................................................................................................
Photographers...........................................................................................................................
Camera operators, television, video, and motion picture..........................................................
Film and video editors...............................................................................................................
40,060
30,940
1,840
11,550
56,210
22,580
15,250
17.12
16.11
16.14
22.11
14.63
20.25
23.20
35,610
33,510
33,570
45,980
30,430
42,120
48,260
14.98
13.55
14.92
17.89
12.47
17.96
20.11
Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations
Chiropractors.............................................................................................................................
Dentists.....................................................................................................................................
Dietitians and nutritionists.........................................................................................................
Optometrists..............................................................................................................................
Pharmacists...............................................................................................................................
20,660
98,800
46,630
22,760
219,790
40.02
62.04
20.93
46.45
39.03
83,230
129,040
43,520
96,610
81,180
32.02
57.90
20.50
41.99
39.67
Anesthesiologists......................................................................................................................
Family and general practitioners...............................................................................................
Internists, general......................................................................................................................
Obstetricians and gynecologists................................................................................................
Pediatricians, general................................................................................................................
Psychiatrists..............................................................................................................................
Surgeons...................................................................................................................................
22,280
111,160
53,330
19,510
25,440
19,730
53,410
86.72
67.24
76.84
84.92
68.18
66.63
87.83
180,380
139,860
159,820
176,630
141,800
138,590
182,690
(³)
66.19
(³)
(³)
65.62
65.12
(³)
Physician assistants..................................................................................................................
Podiatrists..................................................................................................................................
Registered nurses.....................................................................................................................
Audiologists...............................................................................................................................
Occupational therapists.............................................................................................................
61,850
7,650
2,280,170
10,480
83,220
32.02
51.63
25.39
25.47
26.39
66,600
107,390
52,810
52,990
54,890
32.79
45.94
24.53
24.04
25.63
See footnotes at end of table.
Table 1. National employment and wage data from the Occupational Employment Statistics survey by occupation, November 2003 Continued
Mean wages
Occupation
Employment
Hourly
Annual¹
Median hourly
wages
Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations  Continued
Physical therapists.....................................................................................................................
Radiation therapists...................................................................................................................
Recreational therapists..............................................................................................................
Respiratory therapists................................................................................................................
Speech-language pathologists..................................................................................................
Veterinarians.............................................................................................................................
137,370
14,030
22,460
89,300
89,370
45,070
$29.44
28.35
16.25
20.64
25.80
36.13
$61,240
58,970
33,800
42,930
53,670
75,160
$28.22
26.71
15.64
20.22
24.47
31.39
Medical and clinical laboratory technologists............................................................................
Medical and clinical laboratory technicians...............................................................................
Dental hygienists.......................................................................................................................
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians..........................................................................
Diagnostic medical sonographers.............................................................................................
Nuclear medicine technologists.................................................................................................
Radiologic technologists and technicians..................................................................................
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics.....................................................................
148,710
142,700
145,170
43,150
40,210
17,400
175,800
186,110
21.82
15.11
28.23
18.73
24.90
27.67
20.87
13.02
45,380
31,420
58,730
38,950
51,800
57,540
43,410
27,080
21.37
14.49
27.25
18.17
24.51
25.81
20.12
11.90
Dietetic technicians...................................................................................................................
Pharmacy technicians...............................................................................................................
Psychiatric technicians..............................................................................................................
Respiratory therapy technicians................................................................................................
Surgical technologists...............................................................................................................
Veterinary technologists and technicians..................................................................................
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses...................................................................
Medical records and health information technicians.................................................................
Opticians, dispensing................................................................................................................
Orthotists and prosthetists.........................................................................................................
Occupational health and safety specialists and technicians.....................................................
Athletic trainers..........................................................................................................................
25,690
226,200
59,200
25,530
77,980
55,090
691,110
152,220
61,990
4,930
44,700
12,860
12.04
11.80
13.55
17.64
16.27
12.19
16.31
12.97
14.18
27.26
23.85
(²)
25,030
24,540
28,180
36,700
33,830
25,350
33,930
26,990
29,500
56,700
49,610
35,720
10.99
11.26
12.34
17.29
15.94
11.63
15.92
11.98
13.15
23.97
23.24
(²)
Healthcare support occupations
Home health aides....................................................................................................................
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants...................................................................................
Psychiatric aides........................................................................................................................
Occupational therapist assistants..............................................................................................
Occupational therapist aides.....................................................................................................
Physical therapist assistants.....................................................................................................
Physical therapist aides.............................................................................................................
Massage therapists...................................................................................................................
Dental assistants.......................................................................................................................
Medical assistants.....................................................................................................................
Medical equipment preparers....................................................................................................
Medical transcriptionists............................................................................................................
Pharmacy aides.........................................................................................................................
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers............................................................
576,560
1,363,310
53,550
19,990
5,830
54,240
37,480
29,550
271,200
376,300
39,330
96,340
61,150
67,510
9.08
10.27
11.61
18.33
12.49
17.92
10.76
16.83
13.72
12.08
11.92
13.72
9.51
9.42
18,890
21,370
24,140
38,130
25,970
37,270
22,390
35,000
28,550
25,130
24,800
28,530
19,770
19,590
8.75
9.98
11.11
18.33
11.09
17.93
10.13
14.40
13.41
11.69
11.51
13.36
8.89
8.83
Protective service occupations
First-line supervisors/managers of correctional officers............................................................
First-line supervisors/managers of police and detectives.........................................................
First-line supervisors/managers of fire fighting and prevention workers...................................
35,570
98,750
55,700
22.53
30.68
28.59
46,870
63,820
59,460
21.29
30.38
27.56
Fire fighters...............................................................................................................................
Fire inspectors and investigators...............................................................................................
Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists......................................................................
274,590
12,250
1,540
18.66
22.88
19.57
38,810
47,600
40,700
17.99
22.03
18.52
Bailiffs........................................................................................................................................
Correctional officers and jailers.................................................................................................
Detectives and criminal investigators........................................................................................
Fish and game wardens............................................................................................................
Parking enforcement workers....................................................................................................
Police and sheriff's patrol officers..............................................................................................
Transit and railroad police.........................................................................................................
16,690
412,030
85,670
7,010
9,690
612,420
4,790
16.83
17.11
26.53
23.43
14.30
21.90
22.29
35,000
35,580
55,190
48,730
29,740
45,560
46,350
16.48
15.98
25.65
20.40
13.64
21.41
21.28
Animal control workers..............................................................................................................
Private detectives and investigators..........................................................................................
Gaming surveillance officers and gaming investigators............................................................
Security guards..........................................................................................................................
Crossing guards........................................................................................................................
13,050
33,420
8,170
961,660
68,910
12.97
16.96
13.54
10.48
9.82
26,970
35,270
28,150
21,790
20,430
12.44
14.65
12.39
9.60
9.18
Food preparation and serving related occupations
Chefs and head cooks...............................................................................................................
First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers................................
Cooks, fast food........................................................................................................................
Cooks, institution and cafeteria.................................................................................................
Cooks, restaurant......................................................................................................................
Cooks, short order.....................................................................................................................
Food preparation workers.........................................................................................................
117,370
705,070
620,300
405,480
742,160
223,780
860,770
16.00
13.03
7.28
9.42
9.68
8.39
8.43
33,280
27,100
15,130
19,590
20,140
17,450
17,520
14.19
12.01
7.01
8.93
9.33
8.00
7.98
See footnotes at end of table.
Table 1. National employment and wage data from the Occupational Employment Statistics survey by occupation, November 2003 Continued
Mean wages
Occupation
Employment
Hourly
Food preparation and serving related occupations  Continued
Bartenders.................................................................................................................................
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food.......................................
Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop............................................
Waiters and waitresses.............................................................................................................
Food servers, nonrestaurant.....................................................................................................
Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers...................................................
Dishwashers..............................................................................................................................
Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop......................................................
Annual¹
Median hourly
wages
479,330
2,072,980
473,560
2,170,120
184,180
389,660
486,090
299,190
$8.15
7.36
7.79
7.63
8.44
7.41
7.47
7.79
$16,950
15,320
16,210
15,870
17,560
15,420
15,550
16,210
$7.29
7.05
7.47
6.79
7.82
7.06
7.27
7.45
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations
First-line supervisors/managers of housekeeping and janitorial workers..................................
First-line supervisors/managers of landscaping, lawn service, and
groundskeeping workers....................................................................................................
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners............................................
Maids and housekeeping cleaners............................................................................................
Pest control workers..................................................................................................................
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers...............................................................................
Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation........................................................
Tree trimmers and pruners........................................................................................................
202,410
15.15
31,510
14.02
97,810
2,073,410
894,170
58,340
838,740
23,040
40,130
17.83
9.85
8.53
13.12
10.51
12.71
13.24
37,090
20,480
17,740
27,290
21,850
26,450
27,540
16.41
8.98
8.06
12.38
9.70
12.38
12.44
Personal care and service occupations
Gaming supervisors..................................................................................................................
Slot key persons........................................................................................................................
First-line supervisors/managers of personal service workers...................................................
Animal trainers..........................................................................................................................
Nonfarm animal caretakers.......................................................................................................
25,290
15,400
115,350
7,480
88,100
19.96
12.07
15.79
12.86
9.28
41,520
25,110
32,840
26,740
19,310
19.54
10.95
14.36
10.99
8.40
Gaming dealers.........................................................................................................................
Gaming and sports book writers and runners...........................................................................
Motion picture projectionists......................................................................................................
Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers..............................................................................
Amusement and recreation attendants.....................................................................................
Costume attendants..................................................................................................................
Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants............................................................
78,660
16,520
10,610
106,740
234,560
3,330
22,800
7.76
10.02
9.79
8.03
7.99
13.76
8.77
16,140
20,840
20,360
16,690
16,610
28,620
18,240
6.84
9.13
8.21
7.17
7.35
12.17
8.40
Embalmers................................................................................................................................
Funeral attendants....................................................................................................................
Barbers......................................................................................................................................
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists..........................................................................
Makeup artists, theatrical and performance..............................................................................
Manicurists and pedicurists.......................................................................................................
Shampooers..............................................................................................................................
Skin care specialists..................................................................................................................
8,010
29,550
17,680
334,660
760
41,070
15,210
17,750
17.59
9.83
11.20
10.66
15.77
9.67
7.45
13.23
36,590
20,450
23,300
22,170
32,810
20,120
15,490
27,510
16.59
9.15
9.75
9.28
11.47
8.41
7.00
11.38
Baggage porters and bellhops..................................................................................................
Concierges................................................................................................................................
Tour guides and escorts............................................................................................................
Travel guides.............................................................................................................................
Flight attendants........................................................................................................................
Transportation attendants, except flight attendants and baggage porters................................
57,190
17,740
28,140
5,240
99,910
28,440
10.64
11.72
9.86
16.49
(²)
9.98
22,130
24,370
20,500
34,310
49,900
20,750
8.67
11.03
9.17
13.47
(²)
9.08
Child care workers.....................................................................................................................
Personal and home care aides..................................................................................................
Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors...................................................................................
Recreation workers...................................................................................................................
Residential advisors..................................................................................................................
496,330
507,410
177,890
261,740
50,040
8.47
8.31
14.58
10.28
11.08
17,610
17,290
30,340
21,370
23,040
7.96
8.05
11.83
9.11
10.27
Sales and related occupations
First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers............................................................
First-line supervisors/managers of non-retail sales workers.....................................................
Cashiers....................................................................................................................................
Gaming change persons and booth cashiers............................................................................
1,128,280
313,500
3,425,840
29,940
17.49
32.98
8.21
10.00
36,380
68,600
17,070
20,790
15.18
27.26
7.68
9.79
Counter and rental clerks..........................................................................................................
Parts salespersons....................................................................................................................
Retail salespersons...................................................................................................................
447,070
236,920
4,083,810
10.11
13.19
10.84
21,030
27,430
22,540
8.55
11.93
8.82
Advertising sales agents...........................................................................................................
Insurance sales agents.............................................................................................................
Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents...................................................
Travel agents.............................................................................................................................
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific
products..............................................................................................................................
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical
and scientific products........................................................................................................
141,840
287,840
239,990
98,410
23.35
25.92
41.23
14.15
48,560
53,920
85,760
29,430
18.85
19.41
30.14
13.11
385,020
31.82
66,190
27.80
1,417,380
25.49
53,020
21.41
See footnotes at end of table.
Table 1. National employment and wage data from the Occupational Employment Statistics survey by occupation, November 2003 Continued
Mean wages
Occupation
Employment
Hourly
Annual¹
Median hourly
wages
Sales and related occupations  Continued
Demonstrators and product promoters......................................................................................
Models.......................................................................................................................................
Real estate brokers...................................................................................................................
Real estate sales agents...........................................................................................................
Sales engineers.........................................................................................................................
Telemarketers...........................................................................................................................
Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers............................
97,650
1,520
42,670
123,680
69,220
405,060
18,730
$11.98
14.59
35.63
21.94
35.16
11.08
13.64
$24,920
30,340
74,100
45,640
73,120
23,060
28,370
$9.75
10.88
26.14
16.27
32.94
9.75
11.06
Office and administrative support occupations
First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers..........................
Switchboard operators, including answering service................................................................
Telephone operators.................................................................................................................
1,402,290
210,190
39,440
20.66
10.80
14.61
42,960
22,460
30,390
19.19
10.34
13.98
Bill and account collectors.........................................................................................................
Billing and posting clerks and machine operators.....................................................................
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks..........................................................................
Gaming cage workers...............................................................................................................
Payroll and timekeeping clerks..................................................................................................
Procurement clerks...................................................................................................................
Tellers........................................................................................................................................
417,430
490,960
1,762,390
18,640
198,800
71,490
538,860
13.84
13.26
14.06
10.97
14.82
14.85
10.15
28,790
27,590
29,250
22,830
30,820
30,880
21,100
13.08
12.76
13.45
10.65
14.29
14.56
10.01
Brokerage clerks.......................................................................................................................
Correspondence clerks.............................................................................................................
Court, municipal, and license clerks..........................................................................................
Credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks...................................................................................
Customer service representatives.............................................................................................
Eligibility interviewers, government programs...........................................................................
File clerks..................................................................................................................................
Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks..........................................................................................
72,360
23,680
103,210
72,930
1,920,600
94,390
239,990
186,630
17.79
13.75
14.35
14.40
13.81
16.03
10.50
8.81
37,010
28,600
29,840
29,940
28,720
33,340
21,850
18,320
16.58
13.14
13.41
13.29
12.79
15.69
9.91
8.43
Interviewers, except eligibility and loan.....................................................................................
Library assistants, clerical.........................................................................................................
Loan interviewers and clerks.....................................................................................................
New accounts clerks.................................................................................................................
Order clerks...............................................................................................................................
Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping.................................................
Receptionists and information clerks........................................................................................
Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks.................................................
188,160
109,080
196,520
99,830
302,350
161,890
1,064,600
156,140
11.58
10.25
14.49
13.25
12.82
15.56
10.71
13.99
24,090
21,320
30,150
27,560
26,670
32,370
22,280
29,090
11.02
9.61
13.70
12.59
12.09
15.06
10.31
12.71
Cargo and freight agents...........................................................................................................
Couriers and messengers.........................................................................................................
Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers....................................................................................
Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance.......................................................................
Meter readers, utilities...............................................................................................................
Postal service clerks..................................................................................................................
Postal service mail carriers.......................................................................................................
Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators...........................
Production, planning, and expediting clerks..............................................................................
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks........................................................................................
Stock clerks and order fillers.....................................................................................................
Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping...............................................
69,380
117,460
90,490
161,570
50,740
76,800
344,090
221,930
281,030
757,750
1,540,270
82,440
16.95
10.17
14.36
15.83
15.14
19.69
20.87
18.05
17.60
12.25
10.44
13.18
35,250
21,160
29,860
32,920
31,490
40,950
43,410
37,540
36,610
25,490
21,710
27,410
16.28
9.56
13.71
14.72
14.26
19.60
21.41
18.92
16.95
11.53
9.55
11.85
Executive secretaries and administrative assistants.................................................................
Legal secretaries.......................................................................................................................
Medical secretaries...................................................................................................................
Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive....................................................................
1,436,190
273,900
361,780
1,822,940
17.35
17.94
13.11
12.81
36,080
37,310
27,260
26,640
16.51
17.17
12.53
12.29
Computer operators..................................................................................................................
Data entry keyers......................................................................................................................
Word processors and typists.....................................................................................................
Desktop publishers....................................................................................................................
Insurance claims and policy processing clerks.........................................................................
Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service................................................
Office clerks, general.................................................................................................................
Office machine operators, except computer..............................................................................
Proofreaders and copy markers................................................................................................
Statistical assistants..................................................................................................................
150,030
322,770
173,730
33,290
235,120
150,950
2,961,160
92,880
22,560
19,940
15.48
11.43
13.87
16.07
14.47
10.99
11.44
11.71
12.75
15.14
32,190
23,780
28,860
33,430
30,090
22,860
23,800
24,360
26,520
31,490
14.59
10.93
13.21
15.10
13.86
10.54
10.79
11.03
11.80
14.42
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations
First-line supervisors/managers of farming, fishing, and forestry workers................................
Farm labor contractors..............................................................................................................
Agricultural inspectors...............................................................................................................
Animal breeders........................................................................................................................
Graders and sorters, agricultural products................................................................................
Agricultural equipment operators..............................................................................................
Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse......................................................
19,810
2,880
13,650
1,520
51,960
20,440
236,710
18.43
10.21
15.42
14.73
8.64
9.68
8.01
38,340
21,230
32,070
30,630
17,970
20,130
16,660
17.09
8.10
14.01
12.29
7.95
8.80
7.55
See footnotes at end of table.
Table 1. National employment and wage data from the Occupational Employment Statistics survey by occupation, November 2003 Continued
Mean wages
Occupation
Employment
Hourly
Annual¹
Median hourly
wages
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations  Continued
Farmworkers, farm and ranch animals......................................................................................
Forest and conservation workers..............................................................................................
Fallers........................................................................................................................................
Logging equipment operators....................................................................................................
Log graders and scalers............................................................................................................
42,290
9,330
11,090
27,910
4,470
$9.01
11.24
14.48
13.93
13.90
$18,740
23,380
30,120
28,970
28,910
$8.27
9.39
12.86
13.37
12.89
Construction and extraction occupations
First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers........................
Boilermakers.............................................................................................................................
Brickmasons and blockmasons.................................................................................................
Stonemasons............................................................................................................................
Carpenters.................................................................................................................................
Carpet installers........................................................................................................................
Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles......................................................................
Floor sanders and finishers.......................................................................................................
Tile and marble setters..............................................................................................................
Cement masons and concrete finishers....................................................................................
Terrazzo workers and finishers.................................................................................................
Construction laborers................................................................................................................
Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators...............................................................
Pile-driver operators..................................................................................................................
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators...........................................
Drywall and ceiling tile installers................................................................................................
Tapers.......................................................................................................................................
518,660
17,970
109,660
14,420
873,840
38,860
15,030
7,000
37,710
187,900
6,820
845,890
60,210
4,170
343,600
111,980
32,380
25.32
21.25
20.60
17.43
18.04
17.01
16.99
14.49
18.03
16.25
15.02
13.85
15.69
23.12
18.47
17.90
19.64
52,660
44,190
42,850
36,260
37,520
35,370
35,330
30,140
37,500
33,790
31,250
28,810
32,630
48,090
38,410
37,230
40,850
23.75
20.77
20.23
16.44
16.77
15.79
15.81
13.28
17.08
14.88
13.45
12.03
14.12
23.42
16.85
16.37
18.95
Electricians................................................................................................................................
Glaziers.....................................................................................................................................
Insulation workers.....................................................................................................................
Painters, construction and maintenance...................................................................................
Paperhangers............................................................................................................................
Pipelayers..................................................................................................................................
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters......................................................................................
Plasterers and stucco masons..................................................................................................
Reinforcing iron and rebar workers...........................................................................................
Roofers......................................................................................................................................
Sheet metal workers..................................................................................................................
Structural iron and steel workers...............................................................................................
575,980
45,910
52,590
245,560
7,930
53,900
422,360
52,410
33,740
116,070
189,130
71,090
21.29
17.45
16.55
15.49
16.59
15.44
20.97
17.36
19.49
16.15
18.43
20.79
44,290
36,300
34,420
32,210
34,500
32,120
43,620
36,110
40,540
33,580
38,330
43,240
20.16
15.49
14.57
14.21
15.77
13.96
19.70
15.98
17.17
14.63
17.02
20.10
Helpers--brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, and tile and marble setters....................
Helpers--carpenters...................................................................................................................
Helpers--electricians..................................................................................................................
Helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons............................................
Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters.....................................................
Helpers--roofers.........................................................................................................................
59,250
101,740
90,790
27,760
77,940
21,310
13.15
11.01
11.97
10.63
11.56
10.52
27,350
22,910
24,900
22,110
24,040
21,890
11.85
10.51
11.27
9.74
10.87
9.92
Construction and building inspectors........................................................................................
Elevator installers and repairers................................................................................................
Fence erectors..........................................................................................................................
Hazardous materials removal workers......................................................................................
Highway maintenance workers..................................................................................................
Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators..........................................................
Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners.........................................................................
Segmental pavers.....................................................................................................................
82,080
21,910
23,090
37,710
139,810
12,120
17,270
1,860
21.59
26.80
12.29
17.47
14.42
16.71
14.81
13.67
44,910
55,750
25,560
36,330
29,990
34,750
30,810
28,440
20.72
26.88
11.14
15.90
14.00
17.23
13.81
12.97
Derrick operators, oil and gas...................................................................................................
Rotary drill operators, oil and gas..............................................................................................
Service unit operators, oil, gas, and mining..............................................................................
Earth drillers, except oil and gas...............................................................................................
Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters..................................................
Continuous mining machine operators......................................................................................
Mine cutting and channeling machine operators.......................................................................
Rock splitters, quarry.................................................................................................................
Roof bolters, mining..................................................................................................................
Roustabouts, oil and gas...........................................................................................................
Helpers--extraction workers.......................................................................................................
14,130
13,480
14,030
18,730
5,170
8,300
4,580
3,350
4,070
35,010
27,260
15.40
18.22
16.28
16.67
17.55
17.75
17.75
13.33
18.57
11.74
13.35
32,030
37,890
33,860
34,670
36,510
36,920
36,920
27,730
38,620
24,420
27,770
14.59
16.78
14.83
15.88
17.07
17.83
17.79
12.48
18.60
10.53
12.68
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers..................................
Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers.......................................................
Radio mechanics.......................................................................................................................
Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers........................
Avionics technicians..................................................................................................................
Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers.......................................................................
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment...........................
Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment...............................
447,750
142,910
6,320
193,780
21,020
25,130
17,130
72,680
24.92
17.04
18.41
22.55
21.06
16.66
19.26
20.19
51,820
35,450
38,280
46,900
43,800
34,650
40,070
41,990
23.70
16.32
17.55
23.43
20.95
15.78
19.17
20.04
See footnotes at end of table.
Table 1. National employment and wage data from the Occupational Employment Statistics survey by occupation, November 2003 Continued
Mean wages
Occupation
Employment
Hourly
Annual¹
Median hourly
wages
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations  Continued
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay...................................
Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles..................................................
Electronic home entertainment equipment installers and repairers..........................................
Security and fire alarm systems installers.................................................................................
20,310
15,070
34,700
47,690
$24.90
13.99
14.20
17.80
$51,790
29,090
29,540
37,020
$25.35
12.52
13.36
16.39
Aircraft mechanics and service technicians..............................................................................
Automotive body and related repairers......................................................................................
Automotive glass installers and repairers..................................................................................
Automotive service technicians and mechanics........................................................................
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists...........................................................
Farm equipment mechanics......................................................................................................
Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines...............................................................
Rail car repairers.......................................................................................................................
Motorboat mechanics................................................................................................................
Motorcycle mechanics...............................................................................................................
Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics.................................................
Bicycle repairers........................................................................................................................
Recreational vehicle service technicians...................................................................................
Tire repairers and changers......................................................................................................
113,470
168,630
18,040
689,630
249,230
31,850
112,070
16,790
17,990
15,000
25,010
7,560
12,520
85,030
21.52
17.35
13.59
16.19
17.37
13.72
18.27
19.04
14.85
14.28
12.44
9.87
14.45
10.72
44,770
36,080
28,260
33,680
36,120
28,550
38,010
39,600
30,890
29,690
25,870
20,530
30,060
22,300
21.15
16.04
13.08
15.18
16.90
13.30
17.87
19.42
14.30
13.39
11.89
9.52
13.63
10.01
Mechanical door repairers.........................................................................................................
Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door.........................................
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers.......................................
Home appliance repairers.........................................................................................................
Industrial machinery mechanics................................................................................................
Maintenance and repair workers, general.................................................................................
Maintenance workers, machinery..............................................................................................
Millwrights..................................................................................................................................
Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons.................................................................
Electrical power-line installers and repairers.............................................................................
Telecommunications line installers and repairers.....................................................................
Camera and photographic equipment repairers........................................................................
Medical equipment repairers.....................................................................................................
Musical instrument repairers and tuners...................................................................................
Watch repairers.........................................................................................................................
10,730
35,900
217,130
36,810
199,090
1,245,160
85,060
60,470
3,740
99,290
146,410
4,220
24,390
5,260
3,750
15.62
20.61
17.93
15.47
19.16
15.20
16.30
21.14
18.44
22.95
19.63
15.61
18.92
15.34
15.25
32,480
42,870
37,290
32,170
39,850
31,620
33,890
43,970
38,360
47,730
40,840
32,470
39,360
31,920
31,710
14.11
20.81
17.15
14.56
18.63
14.49
15.73
20.76
18.02
23.62
19.72
14.81
18.39
13.68
13.56
Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers............................................
Commercial divers.....................................................................................................................
Fabric menders, except garment...............................................................................................
Locksmiths and safe repairers..................................................................................................
Manufactured building and mobile home installers...................................................................
Riggers......................................................................................................................................
Signal and track switch repairers..............................................................................................
Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers............................................................
35,540
2,660
1,990
18,730
14,470
12,780
7,600
151,820
13.78
18.13
14.72
15.06
11.50
17.01
21.44
11.26
28,660
37,700
30,610
31,330
23,920
35,390
44,590
23,420
13.32
16.38
14.07
14.11
10.99
16.51
21.12
10.23
Production occupations
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers......................................
Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers..................................................
Coil winders, tapers, and finishers............................................................................................
Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers.......................................................................
Electromechanical equipment assemblers................................................................................
Engine and other machine assemblers.....................................................................................
Structural metal fabricators and fitters.......................................................................................
Fiberglass laminators and fabricators.......................................................................................
Team assemblers......................................................................................................................
Timing device assemblers, adjusters, and calibrators..............................................................
690,910
19,830
28,400
228,100
51,040
47,520
88,190
31,600
1,185,060
4,390
22.65
17.40
12.28
12.45
13.12
16.97
14.72
12.41
12.23
13.75
47,120
36,190
25,550
25,890
27,290
35,290
30,620
25,810
25,430
28,590
21.23
16.95
11.76
11.54
12.60
16.30
14.03
11.94
11.26
12.86
Bakers.......................................................................................................................................
Butchers and meat cutters........................................................................................................
Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers.............................................................................
Slaughterers and meat packers................................................................................................
Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders......................
Food batchmakers.....................................................................................................................
Food cooking machine operators and tenders..........................................................................
159,420
131,250
142,640
130,880
17,450
80,080
38,780
10.90
13.21
9.35
10.10
12.44
11.40
10.74
22,680
27,470
19,440
21,000
25,870
23,710
22,330
10.13
12.51
8.90
9.95
11.67
10.67
10.05
Computer-controlled machine tool operators, metal and plastic...............................................
Numerical tool and process control programmers....................................................................
Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.................
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic........................................
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic..........................................
Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders,
metal and plastic................................................................................................................
Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.................
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders,
metal and plastic................................................................................................................
Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic..................
123,700
17,370
90,940
40,600
40,330
14.98
19.62
13.20
13.76
14.44
31,170
40,800
27,450
28,620
30,040
14.43
18.78
12.82
12.91
14.01
249,360
46,360
12.80
14.44
26,620
30,030
12.23
13.46
95,740
73,080
14.00
14.99
29,120
31,170
12.99
14.48
See footnotes at end of table.
Table 1. National employment and wage data from the Occupational Employment Statistics survey by occupation, November 2003 Continued
Mean wages
Occupation
Employment
Hourly
Production occupations  Continued
Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.......................
Machinists.................................................................................................................................
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders............................................................................
Pourers and casters, metal.......................................................................................................
Model makers, metal and plastic...............................................................................................
Patternmakers, metal and plastic..............................................................................................
Foundry mold and coremakers..................................................................................................
Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders,
metal and plastic................................................................................................................
Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.................................
Annual¹
Median hourly
wages
29,110
361,240
17,070
13,540
8,300
5,730
18,680
$14.82
16.56
15.96
14.51
21.57
18.68
13.95
$30,820
34,440
33,190
30,180
44,860
38,840
29,010
$14.49
16.15
15.55
13.69
21.43
18.11
13.03
148,840
95,650
12.40
14.71
25,800
30,600
11.57
13.84
Tool and die makers..................................................................................................................
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers...................................................................................
Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders...............................
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.............................
Lay-out workers, metal and plastic............................................................................................
Plating and coating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic......................
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners.........................................................................................
101,090
350,230
50,280
25,120
11,040
38,200
20,730
21.13
15.16
15.12
14.57
15.88
13.35
15.08
43,940
31,530
31,460
30,310
33,040
27,760
31,370
20.59
14.39
14.03
14.01
15.39
12.62
14.41
Bindery workers.........................................................................................................................
Bookbinders..............................................................................................................................
Job printers................................................................................................................................
Prepress technicians and workers............................................................................................
Printing machine operators.......................................................................................................
76,510
6,660
58,410
80,290
182,740
12.02
14.84
15.85
15.91
15.30
24,990
30,870
32,970
33,090
31,820
11.03
14.06
15.06
15.17
14.30
Laundry and dry-cleaning workers............................................................................................
Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials......................................................................
Sewing machine operators........................................................................................................
Shoe and leather workers and repairers...................................................................................
Shoe machine operators and tenders.......................................................................................
Sewers, hand.............................................................................................................................
Tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers................................................................................
Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders..................................................
Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders............................................................
Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders......................................
Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders................
Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic
and glass fibers..................................................................................................................
Fabric and apparel patternmakers............................................................................................
Upholsterers..............................................................................................................................
217,360
84,270
251,370
7,830
5,000
15,490
31,540
22,960
27,300
45,860
56,140
8.66
8.54
9.16
9.92
10.39
9.68
11.49
10.69
10.46
11.34
11.19
18,010
17,760
19,040
20,640
21,620
20,140
23,900
22,230
21,760
23,590
23,280
8.16
8.20
8.53
9.40
9.81
8.76
10.43
10.44
9.90
11.32
10.73
24,580
10,450
38,830
13.79
16.69
12.84
28,680
34,720
26,710
13.64
14.19
12.10
Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters......................................................................................
Furniture finishers......................................................................................................................
Model makers, wood.................................................................................................................
Patternmakers, wood................................................................................................................
Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood ..........................................................
Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing...................................
126,490
27,720
3,610
3,060
54,280
88,340
12.69
11.82
14.29
15.55
11.28
11.29
26,390
24,590
29,710
32,350
23,470
23,470
11.98
11.17
12.10
14.85
10.81
10.78
Nuclear power reactor operators...............................................................................................
Power distributors and dispatchers...........................................................................................
Power plant operators...............................................................................................................
Stationary engineers and boiler operators.................................................................................
Water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators.................................................
Chemical plant and system operators.......................................................................................
Gas plant operators...................................................................................................................
Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers.......................................
4,010
9,300
33,770
48,430
95,130
60,200
10,890
40,950
30.56
27.62
24.60
21.46
16.99
21.33
23.85
23.09
63,560
57,450
51,170
44,650
35,340
44,370
49,600
48,030
30.42
27.36
24.78
21.09
16.43
21.29
23.86
24.06
Chemical equipment operators and tenders.............................................................................
Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators,
and tenders........................................................................................................................
Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders.............................
Grinding and polishing workers, hand.......................................................................................
Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders..................................................
Cutters and trimmers, hand.......................................................................................................
Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders....................................................
Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders.........
Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders.....................................................
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers................................................................
Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers......................................................................
Dental laboratory technicians....................................................................................................
Medical appliance technicians...................................................................................................
Ophthalmic laboratory technicians............................................................................................
51,070
18.81
39,120
18.64
37,850
41,390
42,320
113,690
28,450
68,920
72,010
30,230
489,020
28,120
45,980
11,230
26,180
16.08
13.39
11.96
13.99
11.74
13.31
13.76
14.95
14.91
14.68
15.94
15.09
11.93
33,440
27,840
24,870
29,110
24,430
27,690
28,630
31,100
31,010
30,540
33,160
31,380
24,810
15.53
12.68
11.16
13.41
10.70
12.74
13.07
14.24
13.56
13.22
14.62
13.68
11.04
Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders..............................................................
Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders................................
Painters, transportation equipment...........................................................................................
Painting, coating, and decorating workers................................................................................
401,520
92,710
47,390
28,980
11.44
13.07
17.80
11.84
23,790
27,200
37,020
24,620
10.56
12.46
16.52
10.73
See footnotes at end of table.
Table 1. National employment and wage data from the Occupational Employment Statistics survey by occupation, November 2003 Continued
Mean wages
Occupation
Employment
Hourly
Production occupations  Continued
Photographic process workers..................................................................................................
Photographic processing machine operators............................................................................
Semiconductor processors........................................................................................................
Cementing and gluing machine operators and tenders.............................................................
Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders................................
Cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders...........................................................
Etchers and engravers..............................................................................................................
Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic..........................................................
Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders.............................................................
Tire builders...............................................................................................................................
Helpers--production workers.....................................................................................................
Annual¹
Median hourly
wages
28,730
54,090
43,970
24,850
16,650
7,980
8,840
37,210
109,210
16,400
457,200
$11.05
10.09
13.85
12.11
12.36
11.90
12.23
12.67
14.57
17.35
10.24
$22,970
20,990
28,810
25,190
25,710
24,740
25,440
26,350
30,300
36,080
21,290
$9.84
9.15
13.21
11.29
11.46
10.64
10.86
11.77
14.11
18.64
9.58
8,580
159,780
19.12
19.42
39,760
40,400
16.65
18.37
211,960
76,940
19,940
22,610
4,670
22.88
(²)
(²)
45.31
20.22
47,590
129,230
58,720
94,240
42,050
21.32
(²)
(²)
46.64
17.65
Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians............................
Bus drivers, transit and intercity................................................................................................
Bus drivers, school....................................................................................................................
Driver/sales workers..................................................................................................................
Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer......................................................................................
Truck drivers, light or delivery services.....................................................................................
Taxi drivers and chauffeurs.......................................................................................................
18,420
187,900
471,130
397,630
1,520,740
951,400
131,880
9.80
14.77
11.11
11.34
16.49
12.86
10.23
20,380
30,730
23,100
23,580
34,290
26,750
21,280
9.10
13.96
10.92
9.79
15.98
11.65
9.25
Locomotive engineers...............................................................................................................
Locomotive firers.......................................................................................................................
Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers.................................................................
Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators............................................................................
Railroad conductors and yardmasters.......................................................................................
Subway and streetcar operators................................................................................................
30,070
630
6,020
15,310
35,120
8,720
25.98
22.73
18.81
23.26
25.21
22.52
54,050
47,290
39,130
48,370
52,430
46,850
24.45
22.22
17.60
21.97
22.25
23.49
Sailors and marine oilers...........................................................................................................
Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels............................................................................
Motorboat operators..................................................................................................................
Ship engineers..........................................................................................................................
27,170
24,050
3,130
10,230
15.25
25.52
17.42
27.20
31,710
53,090
36,230
56,570
14.33
24.47
16.04
26.23
Bridge and lock tenders.............................................................................................................
Parking lot attendants................................................................................................................
Service station attendants.........................................................................................................
Traffic technicians.....................................................................................................................
Transportation inspectors..........................................................................................................
3,490
109,890
96,450
5,980
23,860
16.48
8.54
8.86
16.97
24.07
34,270
17,770
18,420
35,300
50,060
17.61
8.08
8.22
16.20
23.79
Conveyor operators and tenders...............................................................................................
Crane and tower operators........................................................................................................
Dredge operators.......................................................................................................................
Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators..........................................................
Loading machine operators, underground mining.....................................................................
Hoist and winch operators.........................................................................................................
Industrial truck and tractor operators.........................................................................................
Cleaners of vehicles and equipment.........................................................................................
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand...........................................................
Machine feeders and offbearers................................................................................................
Packers and packagers, hand...................................................................................................
Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators................................................................
Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers..............................................................................
Wellhead pumpers....................................................................................................................
Refuse and recyclable material collectors.................................................................................
Shuttle car operators.................................................................................................................
Tank car, truck, and ship loaders..............................................................................................
52,920
44,610
2,190
67,540
3,520
6,440
605,390
321,630
2,269,700
150,190
868,390
5,250
10,540
8,640
137,510
3,220
15,910
12.73
18.48
14.33
16.31
16.04
17.63
13.50
9.28
10.45
11.21
8.86
21.56
18.01
15.95
12.98
18.03
16.73
26,480
38,430
29,810
33,920
33,370
36,660
28,080
19,290
21,740
23,320
18,430
44,840
37,470
33,170
27,000
37,510
34,800
12.17
17.65
13.39
15.29
15.79
15.18
12.72
8.34
9.61
10.59
8.17
21.07
17.04
15.60
12.06
18.66
15.59
Transportation and material moving occupations
Aircraft cargo handling supervisors...........................................................................................
First-line supervisors/managers of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand....................
First-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine
and vehicle operators.........................................................................................................
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers...............................................................................
Commercial pilots......................................................................................................................
Air traffic controllers...................................................................................................................
Airfield operations specialists....................................................................................................
1
Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those
occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
2
Hourly wage rates for occupations where workers typically work fewer than 2,080 hours per year are not available.
3
Represents a wage above $70.00 per hour.