Occupational Wages in the East

South Central Census Division, 1997

Summary 00-4

This report provides estimates of occupational pay from the

1997 National Compensation Survey (NCS) for the East

South Central census division. It highlights average (mean)

hourly pay for workers in six areas:

• Private industry and State and local government

• Metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas

• Selected occupations and major occupational groups

• Full- and part-time wages

• Bargaining status

• Size of establishment

Wages in the East South Central (ESC) census division

averaged $11.88 per hour during 1997. Workers in private

industry in the ESC region averaged $11.34 per hour, whereas

pay of workers in State and local governments averaged

$15.22. Nationwide, pay of all workers covered by the survey averaged $15.09 an hour.

NCS summary reports are published for each of the nine

census regions: New England, Middle Atlantic, East North

Central, West North Central, South Atlantic, East South Central, West South Central, Mountain, and Pacific. Data also

are published for some individual localities. These summary reports are a new product of the National Compensation Survey and may be useful to NCS data users in localities where separate NCS studies are not published.

Table 1 in this summary provides an overview of average

pay data for worker and establishment characteristics and

geographic area by private industry and State and local governments. For example, white-collar workers in private industry averaged $14.18 per hour and blue-collar workers averaged $11.22. Corresponding averages in State and local

governments were $17.99 and $11.19. Generally, average

hourly earnings for private industry workers were lower than

for State and local government workers. Part of this difference can be explained by differences in the occupational and

industrial mix of the two sectors. In State and Local government, for example, professional specialty and technical occupations are proportionately more prevalent than in private

industry. With the exception of the construction industry,

few State and local government workers are in goods-producing industries.

Full-time workers in the ESC region averaged $12.18 per

hour whereas part-time workers averaged $7.36. In private

industry, full-time workers averaged $11.65 an hour, and parttime workers averaged $6.86. For workers in State and local government, average hourly pay was $15.38 and $11.79,

respectively, for full- and part-time workers. NCS classifies

employees as full or part time based on the employer's classification.

Workers in large establishments in the East South Central

region, that is, establishments with 2,500 or more employees, had the highest average hourly pay at $17.54. Workers

in the smallest establishment-size category studied (50-99

employees) had the lowest average at $10.63.

Table 2 shows that workers in metropolitan areas averaged $13.60 per hour, more than the average pay for workers in nonmetropolitan areas, $10.22. Table 2 also shows

that, most of the time, regardless of employee or establishment characteristics, pay tends to be higher in metropolitan

areas than in nonmetropolitan areas. (See the Technical

Note for definitions of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan

areas.)

Among the nine census divisions, average earnings were

generally highest in the New England, Middle Atlantic, and

Pacific regions. Average earnings for all census divisions,

and for other characteristics, can be seen in tables 1 and 2.

Full-time, part-time, and combined average pay rates for

occupations in private industry and in State and local governments are shown in tables 3, 4, and 5. These tables contain wage rates and mean weekly hours for individual occupations and for major occupational groups. Following is an

example of average hourly earnings for combined full- and

part-time workers within the occupational groups of whitecollar, blue-collar, and service workers. All registered nurses,

for example, averaged $17.21 per hour (table 3). Registered

nurses in private industry averaged $16.99 (table 4), whereas

their counterparts in State and local government averaged

$17.77 per hour (table 5). Laborers, except construction,

averaged $8.12 in private industry and $8.46 in State and

local government. Janitors and cleaners, a service occupation, averaged $7.28 in private industry and $7.91 in State

and local government.

In some cases, average rates of pay were higher for parttime workers than for full-time workers. Full-time nursing

1
2

aides, orderlies, and attendants, for example, averaged $6.69

an hour in the service industry, and part-time nursing aides,

orderlies and attendants averaged $7.28. However, these

exceptions did not show up in blue-collar occupations. Stock

handlers and baggers averaged $7.95 and $5.74 for full- and

part-time work, respectively, and hand packers and packagers averaged $7.22 for full-time workers and $5.75 for parttime workers.

Earnings by occupational group and level are shown in

table 6. Generally, the levels tend to show higher pay at

higher work levels. The Bureau uses a generic leveling technique with 10 criteria to assign a level to an occupation. The

Technical Note has more information on generic leveling

and generic leveling criteria. Table A in the Technical Note

shows the number of establishments studied in the ESC census division by employment size; most companies were in

the 100-499 worker size class. It also shows the number of

establishments represented. Table B in the Technical Note

shows the number of workers represented by the surveys in

the ESC census division by major occupational groups such

as professional specialty and technical, sales, and transportation and material moving.
Table 1. Summary, East South Central: Mean hourly earnings1 and weekly hours by selected characteristics, private

industry and State and local government, National Compensation Survey,2 1997

Worker and establishment characteristics,

and geographic areas

Total Private industry State and local government

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

Mean hours

Relative

error3

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error3

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error3

(percent)

Total ........................................................... $11.88 2.3 37.8 $11.34 2.5 38.0 $15.22 1.7 36.9

Worker characteristics:4

White-collar occupations5 ....................... 14.97 1.9 37.8 14.18 2.8 38.1 17.99 .8 36.7

Professional specialty and technical ... 19.91 1.0 37.5 19.15 1.3 38.6 20.86 1.7 36.2

Executive, administrative, and

managerial ........................................ 24.91 3.5 41.0 25.61 4.3 41.9 21.85 1.5 37.2

Sales ................................................... 8.91 6.8 36.3 8.91 6.8 36.3 8.43 2.7 37.6

Administrative support ........................ 10.71 2.3 37.8 10.93 2.9 37.9 9.62 1.9 37.3

Blue-collar occupations5 ......................... 11.21 3.7 39.4 11.22 3.8 39.5 11.19 3.9 36.9

Precision production, craft, and repair 13.69 9.0 40.0 13.73 9.8 40.1 13.23 4.0 39.1

Machine operators, assemblers, and

inspectors ......................................... 10.84 4.0 39.9 10.84 4.0 39.9 12.40 11.7 37.4

Transportation and material moving ... 12.42 6.0 41.0 12.68 6.6 42.6 9.93 2.4 30.0

Handlers, equipment cleaners,

helpers, and laborers ........................ 8.55 1.1 37.5 8.51 1.1 37.3 9.15 3.6 39.9

Service occupations5 .............................. 7.57 .7 36.3 – – – 9.83 4.9 37.4

Full time .................................................. 12.18 2.6 40.0 11.65 2.7 40.2 15.38 1.8 39.1

Part time ................................................. 7.36 2.7 20.5 6.86 4.4 21.1 11.79 10.0 16.7

Union ...................................................... 12.89 10.5 38.9 12.28 11.1 39.1 17.85 1.5 37.6

Nonunion ................................................ 11.71 2.1 37.6 11.18 2.7 37.8 14.88 1.8 36.8

Time ........................................................ 11.71 2.0 37.9 11.12 2.1 38.1 15.22 1.7 36.9

Incentive ................................................. 16.66 4.8 35.4 16.65 4.9 35.3 – – –

Establishment characteristics:

Goods producing .................................... 6 ( ) 6 ( ) 6 ( ) 13.66 3.0 40.3 6 ( ) 6 ( ) 6 ( )

Service producing ................................... 6 ( ) 6 ( ) 6 ( ) 10.16 3.6 36.9 6 ( ) 6 ( ) 6 ( )

50-99 workers7 ....................................... 10.63 2.7 35.8 10.64 3.0 35.6 10.53 7.2 38.1

100-499 workers ..................................... 12.46 1.8 38.0 12.16 2.3 38.1 14.47 1.7 37.4

500-999 workers ..................................... 13.39 3.2 39.0 13.13 3.0 39.6 15.62 2.1 35.0

1000-2499 workers ................................. – – – – – – 14.07 3.8 37.8

2500 workers or more ............................. 17.54 1.1 35.9 17.82 3.5 35.4 17.28 2.0 36.4

Geographic areas:8

Metropolitan ............................................ 13.60 1.6 37.0 13.07 2.2 37.0 15.85 .5 37.0

Nonmetropolitan ..................................... 10.22 3.7 38.7 9.84 4.2 38.9 13.94 2.4 36.6

New England .......................................... 16.96 1.8 35.1 16.29 2.1 35.0 20.14 2.1 35.2

Middle Atlantic ........................................ 17.42 1.5 35.7 16.47 1.7 35.8 21.25 1.5 35.5

East North Central .................................. 15.45 .9 36.2 14.85 1.0 36.3 18.51 1.3 35.8

West North Central ................................. 14.44 1.8 36.3 13.70 2.2 36.2 17.24 .8 36.8

South Atlantic ......................................... 13.73 1.4 37.0 13.20 1.8 36.7 15.47 1.4 37.9

East South Central ................................. 11.88 2.3 37.8 11.34 2.5 38.0 15.22 1.7 36.9

West South Central ................................ 13.82 1.0 37.2 13.45 1.2 37.0 14.96 1.3 37.8

Mountain ................................................. 14.04 1.9 36.5 12.97 2.6 36.4 17.42 1.9 36.5

Pacific ..................................................... 16.88 1.5 36.2 15.89 1.8 36.4 20.23 1.7 35.5

1 Earnings are the straight-time hourly wages or salaries paid to employees.

They include incentive pay, cost-of-living adjustments, and hazard pay. Excluded

are premium pay for overtime, vacations, and holidays; nonproduction bonuses;

and tips. The mean is computed by totaling the pay of all workers and dividing by

the number of workers, weighted by hours. 2 In this census division, collection was conducted between October 1996 and

May 1998. The average reference period was December 1997. 3 The relative standard error (RSE) is the standard error expressed as a

percent of the estimate. It can be used to calculate a "confidence interval" around a

sample estimate. For more information about RSEs, see Technical Note. 4 Employees are classified as working either a full-time or a part-time schedule

based on the definition used by each establishment. Union workers are those

whose wages are determined through collective bargaining. Wages of time workers

are based solely on hourly rate or salary; incentive workers are those whose wages

are at least partially based on productivity payments such as piece rates,

commissions, and production bonuses. 5 A classification system including about 480 individual occupations is used to

cover all workers in the civilian economy. See Technical Note for more information. 6 Classification of establishments into goods-producing and service-producing

industries applies to private industry only. 7 Establishments classified with 50-99 workers may contain establishments

with fewer than 50 due to staff reductions between survey sampling and collection. 8 Data are presented for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area divisions as

well as 9 census area divisions. See Technical Note for a list of survey areas in

each census area division and the States comprising the 9 census area divisions.

NOTE: Dashes indicate that no data were reported or that data did not meet

publication criteria. 

3
Table 2. Summary, East South Central: Mean hourly earnings1 and weekly hours by selected characteristics, metropolitan

and nonmetropolitan areas,2 National Compensation Survey,3 1997

Worker and establishment characteristics,

and geographic areas

Total Metropolitan areas Nonmetropolitan areas

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

Mean hours

Relative

error4

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error4

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error4

(percent)

Total ............................................................ $11.88 2.3 37.8 $13.60 1.6 37.0 $10.22 3.7 38.7

Private Industry ....................................... 11.34 2.5 38.0 13.07 2.2 37.0 9.84 4.2 38.9

State and local government .................... 15.22 1.7 36.9 15.85 .5 37.0 13.94 2.4 36.6

Worker characteristics:5

White-collar occupations6 ....................... 14.97 1.9 37.8 16.05 2.2 37.0 13.24 5.0 39.1

Professional specialty and technical ... 19.91 1.0 37.5 20.37 1.3 37.9 18.41 1.0 36.4

Executive, administrative, and

managerial ........................................ 24.91 3.5 41.0 24.23 .8 41.1 26.03 7.5 40.8

Sales ................................................... 8.91 6.8 36.3 10.43 3.8 31.4 – – –

Administrative support ........................ 10.71 2.3 37.8 10.62 2.7 37.0 10.92 3.8 39.7

Blue-collar occupations6 ......................... 11.21 3.7 39.4 12.10 .6 39.1 10.33 7.1 39.7

Precision production, craft, and repair 13.69 9.0 40.0 15.40 1.7 40.0 11.78 13.1 40.0

Machine operators, assemblers, and

inspectors ......................................... 10.84 4.0 39.9 11.62 1.8 39.7 10.19 8.3 40.1

Transportation and material moving ... 12.42 6.0 41.0 11.96 2.3 42.5 13.29 15.6 38.4

Handlers, equipment cleaners,

helpers, and laborers ........................ 8.55 1.1 37.5 8.81 .5 35.6 8.34 2.2 39.3

Service occupations6 .............................. 7.57 .7 36.3 7.92 1.5 33.4 – – –

Full time .................................................. 12.18 2.6 40.0 14.19 1.3 40.1 10.34 3.8 40.0

Part time ................................................. 7.36 2.7 20.5 7.71 2.1 20.9 6.45 2.7 19.7

Union ...................................................... 12.89 10.5 38.9 15.40 1.1 37.7 11.06 16.2 39.9

Nonunion ................................................ 11.71 2.1 37.6 13.34 1.7 36.9 10.05 3.8 38.5

Time ........................................................ 11.71 2.0 37.9 13.46 1.7 37.1 10.10 3.4 38.7

Incentive ................................................. 16.66 4.8 35.4 15.75 4.3 34.7 22.08 12.2 39.8

Establishment characteristics:

Goods producing7 .................................. 13.66 3.0 40.3 14.86 .6 40.3 12.67 4.9 40.2

Service producing7 ................................. 10.16 3.6 36.9 12.20 3.1 35.5 – – –

50-99 workers8 ....................................... 10.63 2.7 35.8 11.10 3.1 35.8 9.56 4.2 35.9

100-499 workers ..................................... 12.46 1.8 38.0 12.83 2.4 37.9 11.73 2.9 38.4

500-999 workers ..................................... 13.39 3.2 39.0 12.72 3.9 38.1 13.80 5.3 39.6

1000-2499 workers ................................. – – – 13.88 3.3 36.8 – – –

2500 workers or more ............................. 17.54 1.1 35.9 17.54 1.1 35.9 – – –

Geographic areas:9

New England .......................................... 16.96 1.8 35.1 17.42 1.8 35.2 13.75 5.3 34.0

Middle Atlantic ........................................ 17.42 1.5 35.7 17.75 1.3 35.7 12.22 7.4 36.1

East North Central .................................. 15.45 .9 36.2 15.90 1.0 36.2 12.98 1.3 36.4

West North Central ................................. 14.44 1.8 36.3 15.40 2.2 36.3 11.82 3.7 36.2

South Atlantic ......................................... 13.73 1.4 37.0 14.17 1.7 36.9 11.56 4.0 37.4

East South Central ................................. 11.88 2.3 37.8 13.60 1.6 37.0 10.22 3.7 38.7

West South Central ................................ 13.82 1.0 37.2 14.13 1.2 37.2 11.88 4.0 37.3

Mountain ................................................. 14.04 1.9 36.5 14.17 2.4 36.4 13.51 2.4 36.6

Pacific ..................................................... 16.88 1.5 36.2 17.06 1.5 36.2 13.37 2.9 36.1

1 Earnings are the straight-time hourly wages or salaries paid to employees.

They include incentive pay, cost-of-living adjustments, and hazard pay. Excluded

are premium pay for overtime, vacations, and holidays; nonproduction bonuses;

and tips. The mean is computed by totaling the pay of all workers and dividing by

the number of workers, weighted by hours. 2 Metropolitan areas can be a Metropolitan Statistical Area or Consolidated

Metropolitan Statistical Area as defined by the Office of Management and Budget,

1994. Nonmetropolitan areas are counties that do not fit the definitions above. For

more information, see Technical Note. 3 In this census division, collection was conducted between October 1996 and

May 1998. The average reference period was December 1997. 4 The relative standard error (RSE) is the standard error expressed as a

percent of the estimate. It can be used to calculate a "confidence interval" around a

sample estimate. For more information about RSEs, see Technical Note. 5 Employees are classified as working either a full-time or a part-time schedule

based on the definition used by each establishment. Union workers are those

whose wages are determined through collective bargaining. Wages of time workers

are based solely on hourly rate or salary; incentive workers are those whose wages

are at least partially based on productivity payments such as piece rates,

commissions, and production bonuses. 6 A classification system including about 480 individual occupations is used to

cover all workers in the civilian economy. See Technical Note for more information. 7 Classification of establishments into goods-producing and service-producing

industries applies to private industry only. 8 Establishments classified with 50-99 workers may contain establishments

with fewer than 50 workers due to reduction in staff from the time of sampling to

data collection. 9 See Technical Note for a list of survey areas in each census area division and

the States comprising the 9 census area divisions.

NOTE: Dashes indicate that no data were reported or that data did not meet

publication criteria. 

4
Table 3. Selected occupations, East South Central: Mean hourly earnings1 and weekly hours for full-time and part-time workers,2

National Compensation Survey,3 1997

Occupation4

Total Full time Part time

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

Mean hours

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

All .......................................................................................... $11.88 2.3 37.8 $12.18 2.6 40.0 $7.36 2.7 20.5

All excluding sales ......................................................... 12.24 2.2 38.0 12.50 2.4 40.1 7.64 3.3 20.0

White collar ...................................................................... 14.97 1.9 37.8 15.36 2.0 40.0 9.17 3.2 20.7

White collar excluding sales ...................................... 16.96 1.5 38.3 17.18 1.4 40.0 11.95 1.4 19.2

Professional specialty and technical ......................... 19.91 1.0 37.5 20.06 1.1 39.5 16.21 4.8 17.2

Professional specialty ................................................ 21.71 1.5 37.3 21.84 1.5 39.5 18.28 4.9 15.8

Engineers, architects, and surveyors ..................... 23.29 3.9 40.8 23.29 3.9 40.8 – – –

Civil engineers ................................................... 22.93 3.5 39.5 22.93 3.5 39.5 – – –

Electrical and electronic engineers .................... 24.61 3.7 40.3 24.61 3.7 40.3 – – –

Mechanical engineers ........................................ 24.97 3.2 40.1 24.97 3.2 40.1 – – –

Engineers, n.e.c. ................................................ 24.65 4.8 42.0 24.65 4.8 42.0 – – –

Mathematical and computer scientists ................... 22.31 2.3 40.9 22.31 2.3 40.9 – – –

Computer systems analysts and scientists ........ 22.68 2.2 40.7 22.68 2.2 40.7 – – –

Operations and systems researchers and

analysts ............................................................ 17.84 5.8 45.8 17.84 5.8 45.8 – – –

Natural scientists ................................................... 22.74 8.2 41.3 22.74 8.2 41.3 – – –

Health related ........................................................ 19.74 2.5 36.5 19.70 2.5 39.8 20.16 10.2 19.0

Physicians .......................................................... 53.85 5.5 37.1 51.88 3.0 45.5 – – –

Registered nurses .............................................. 17.21 .9 36.4 17.12 1.0 39.5 18.18 3.5 19.8

Pharmacists ....................................................... 26.01 3.1 38.3 25.90 3.3 40.0 – – –

Dietitians ............................................................ 15.38 5.5 39.6 15.38 5.5 39.6 – – –

Respiratory therapists ........................................ 15.96 3.8 31.7 16.32 4.1 39.5 – – –

Physical therapists ............................................. 25.98 3.4 37.0 – – – – – –

Speech therapists .............................................. 20.80 7.8 40.0 20.80 7.8 40.0 – – –

Teachers, college and university ........................... 26.70 6.4 32.5 26.45 6.0 37.4 29.39 9.7 13.7

History teachers ................................................. 27.68 7.7 28.3 – – – – – –

Business, commerce, and marketing teachers .. 34.00 16.3 22.3 – – – – – –

Art, drama, and music teachers ......................... 20.89 6.6 27.1 20.49 7.8 38.5 – – –

English teachers ................................................ 21.46 8.1 29.3 22.68 5.7 37.5 – – –

Trade and industrial teachers ............................ 24.15 3.1 35.4 25.35 5.2 36.1 – – –

Teachers, post secondary, n.e.c. ....................... 21.30 5.4 30.8 20.53 4.4 39.2 – – –

Teachers, except college and university ................ 22.66 .9 35.8 23.06 1.1 37.9 7.83 3.5 12.0

Prekindergarten and kindergarten ..................... 12.35 15.7 36.7 13.11 15.8 38.9 – – –

Elementary school teachers .............................. 22.94 .6 38.1 22.94 .6 38.1 – – –

Secondary school teachers ............................... 23.32 .6 37.4 23.32 .6 37.5 – – –

Teachers, special education .............................. 23.97 2.5 36.6 23.97 2.5 36.6 – – –

Teachers, n.e.c. ................................................. 22.46 8.6 36.4 23.02 8.9 38.2 – – –

Substitute teachers ............................................ 6.47 4.7 9.7 – – – 6.47 4.7 9.7

Vocational and educational counselors ............. 24.87 4.1 38.6 24.93 8.9 38.6 – – –

Librarians, archivists, and curators ........................ 17.64 3.0 36.4 18.26 4.0 38.9 12.64 4.2 24.2

Librarians ........................................................... 18.36 4.3 35.9 19.15 5.7 38.4 – – –

Social scientists and urban planners ..................... 17.92 10.3 41.2 17.92 10.3 41.2 – – –

Psychologists ..................................................... 19.57 17.2 40.0 19.57 17.2 40.0 – – –

Social, recreation, and religious workers ............... 13.00 4.7 39.6 13.00 4.7 39.7 – – –

Social workers ................................................... 13.09 4.6 39.6 13.09 4.6 39.6 – – –

Recreation workers ............................................ 10.17 17.5 34.9 – – – – – –

Lawyers and judges ............................................... 31.74 4.3 39.3 32.27 5.2 48.3 – – –

Lawyers ............................................................. 31.74 4.3 39.3 32.27 5.2 48.3 – – –

Writers, authors, entertainers, athletes, and

professionals, n.e.c. ............................................. 18.34 .7 40.3 18.45 .6 41.1 – – –

Technical writers ................................................ 15.90 3.1 40.0 15.90 3.1 40.0 – – –

Designers ........................................................... 18.90 10.1 41.6 19.30 9.9 42.2 – – –

Editors and reporters ......................................... 24.70 8.2 41.3 24.70 8.2 41.3 – – –

Public relations specialists ................................. 14.76 8.4 41.6 14.76 8.4 41.7 – – –

Professional, n.e.c. ............................................ 16.44 4.6 38.4 16.21 4.5 38.4 – – –

Technical ................................................................... 13.85 3.0 38.2 14.01 2.8 39.6 10.58 5.4 22.3

Clinical laboratory technologists and

technicians ....................................................... 13.31 4.3 37.7 13.33 4.1 39.7 – – –

Health record technologists and technicians ..... 11.17 6.1 35.2 11.11 5.7 39.6 – – –

Radiological technicians .................................... 13.41 3.4 39.4 13.41 3.4 39.4 – – –

Licensed practical nurses .................................. 10.87 2.5 37.1 10.95 2.5 39.6 10.16 4.9 24.1

Health technologists and technicians, n.e.c. ...... 12.16 9.2 37.3 12.31 9.8 40.0 – – –

Electrical and electronic technicians .................. 16.47 4.5 40.4 16.47 4.5 40.4 – – –

See footnotes at end of table.

5
Table 3. Selected occupations, East South Central: Mean hourly earnings1 and weekly hours for full-time and part-time workers,2

National Compensation Survey,3 1997–Continued

Occupation4

Total Full time Part time

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

Mean hours

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

White collar –Continued

Professional specialty and technical –Continued

Technical –Continued

Engineering technicians, n.e.c. .......................... $18.05 3.0 39.6 $18.05 3.0 39.6 – – –

Drafters .............................................................. 14.53 6.5 41.9 14.53 6.5 41.9 – – –

Biological technicians ........................................ 14.49 15.2 40.0 14.49 15.2 40.0 – – –

Chemical technicians ......................................... 15.19 8.6 40.0 15.19 8.6 40.0 – – –

Computer programmers ..................................... 17.03 2.8 41.0 17.03 2.8 41.0 – – –

Legal assistants ................................................. 14.88 1.6 41.4 14.88 1.6 41.4 – – –

Technical and related, n.e.c. .............................. 12.96 2.3 38.3 – – – – – –

Executive, administrative, and managerial ............... 24.91 3.5 41.0 24.90 3.4 41.5 $26.68 17.3 13.7

Executives, administrators, and managers ............ 27.12 3.7 41.2 27.12 3.6 42.0 26.85 17.7 13.5

Administrators and officials, public

administration .................................................. 20.64 3.6 36.8 20.56 5.1 40.4 – – –

Financial managers ........................................... 24.96 1.7 41.6 24.96 1.7 41.6 – – –

Personnel and labor relations managers ........... 20.58 2.8 40.0 20.58 2.8 40.0 – – –

Managers, marketing, advertising, and public

relations ........................................................... 26.62 2.3 42.2 26.62 2.3 42.2 – – –

Administrators, education and related fields ...... 26.21 5.6 38.8 26.21 5.6 38.8 – – –

Managers, medicine and health ......................... 27.17 6.2 40.5 27.17 6.2 40.5 – – –

Managers, food servicing and lodging

establishments ................................................. 15.66 9.3 42.2 15.70 9.4 42.8 – – –

Managers and administrators, n.e.c. ................. 29.36 6.0 44.3 29.36 6.0 44.3 – – –

Management related .............................................. 20.02 1.5 40.4 20.02 1.5 40.4 – – –

Accountants and auditors .................................. 17.84 3.5 40.3 17.84 3.5 40.3 – – –

Other financial officers ....................................... 18.92 6.6 40.6 18.92 6.6 40.6 – – –

Management analysts ........................................ 24.94 3.2 40.4 24.95 3.3 40.5 – – –

Personnel, training, and labor relations

specialists ........................................................ 23.66 3.4 39.6 23.66 3.4 39.6 – – –

Buyers, wholesale and retail trade, except farm

products ........................................................... 18.14 18.7 43.0 18.14 18.7 43.0 – – –

Purchasing agents and buyers, n.e.c. ............... 15.84 5.6 40.0 15.84 5.6 40.0 – – –

Inspectors and compliance officers, except

construction ..................................................... 15.13 5.5 40.6 15.13 5.5 40.6 – – –

Management related, n.e.c. ............................... 21.34 4.1 40.4 21.34 4.1 40.4 – – –

Sales ............................................................................. 8.91 6.8 36.3 – – – 6.42 1.8 22.4

Supervisors, sales ............................................. 14.20 2.4 41.1 14.36 2.8 41.3 – – –

Sales, other business services .......................... 18.63 3.4 40.4 18.63 3.4 40.4 – – –

Sales representatives, mining, manufacturing,

and wholesale .................................................. 18.58 9.3 40.8 18.58 9.3 40.8 – – –

Sales workers, motor vehicles and boats .......... 14.53 17.9 50.4 14.53 17.9 50.4 – – –

Sales workers, apparel ...................................... 7.47 4.4 26.3 – – – 6.41 .0 23.0

Sales workers, hardware and building supplies – – – 12.16 9.5 40.0 – – –

Sales workers, parts .......................................... 9.73 5.1 35.3 10.20 5.2 40.2 – – –

Sales workers, other commodities ..................... 8.90 5.1 31.4 9.86 7.4 37.1 7.06 2.7 24.2

Sales counter clerks .......................................... 6.17 2.5 28.5 6.61 1.5 38.7 – – –

Cashiers ............................................................. – – – – – – 5.78 1.1 20.9

Sales support, n.e.c. .......................................... 9.13 4.3 40.1 9.13 4.3 40.1 – – –

Administrative support, including clerical ................ 10.71 2.3 37.8 10.84 2.2 39.8 8.68 10.8 21.2

Supervisors, general office ................................ 13.25 6.1 39.8 13.25 6.1 39.8 – – –

Supervisors, financial records processing ......... 16.43 5.5 40.3 16.43 5.5 40.3 – – –

Supervisors, distribution, scheduling, and

adjusting clerks ................................................ 19.90 10.2 38.3 19.90 10.2 38.3 – – –

Secretaries ......................................................... 11.01 1.6 38.2 11.11 1.5 39.6 8.76 3.7 20.4

Typists ............................................................... 9.30 6.2 39.9 9.33 6.2 40.0 – – –

Interviewers ....................................................... 8.54 7.7 34.9 – – – – – –

Hotel clerks ........................................................ 6.60 .0 36.8 – – – – – –

Receptionists ..................................................... 7.77 4.5 37.3 7.81 4.8 39.8 7.34 1.6 21.0

Information clerks, n.e.c. .................................... 8.80 2.2 38.1 8.94 2.5 40.0 – – –

Order clerks ....................................................... 8.40 3.3 36.7 9.47 4.5 40.0 – – –

See footnotes at end of table.

6
Table 3. Selected occupations, East South Central: Mean hourly earnings1 and weekly hours for full-time and part-time workers,2

National Compensation Survey,3 1997–Continued

Occupation4

Total Full time Part time

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

Mean hours

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

White collar –Continued

Administrative support, including clerical

–Continued

Personnel clerks, except payroll and

timekeeping ..................................................... $12.02 4.9 36.9 $12.30 3.4 40.0 – – –

Library clerks ..................................................... 6.87 4.2 27.7 7.12 3.0 40.0 $5.87 4.8 12.5

File clerks ........................................................... 9.46 10.0 39.6 9.46 10.0 39.6 – – –

Payroll and timekeeping clerks .......................... 10.15 5.5 39.8 10.15 5.5 39.8 – – –

Billing clerks ....................................................... 10.33 3.4 33.1 10.51 3.1 40.0 – – –

Telephone operators .......................................... 9.86 4.2 35.9 10.11 4.0 39.6 7.93 2.5 20.7

Mail clerks, except postal service ...................... 10.20 6.6 36.3 10.74 6.1 40.0 – – –

Dispatchers ........................................................ 10.48 6.7 37.5 10.86 6.1 40.0 – – –

Production coordinators ..................................... 12.53 6.6 40.0 12.53 6.6 40.0 – – –

Traffic, shipping and receiving clerks ................. 13.16 13.3 31.1 14.14 12.7 40.1 – – –

Stock and inventory clerks ................................. 9.88 3.5 37.5 9.96 3.4 39.9 – – –

Meter readers .................................................... 13.75 4.7 40.0 13.75 4.7 40.0 – – –

Material recording, scheduling, and distribution

clerks, n.e.c. ..................................................... 11.00 12.6 39.6 11.60 11.8 39.6 – – –

Insurance adjusters, examiners, and

investigators ..................................................... 15.18 15.7 40.0 15.18 15.7 40.0 – – –

Investigators and adjusters, except insurance ... 10.26 2.4 37.0 10.42 2.6 39.7 8.49 10.0 21.3

Eligibility clerks, social welfare ........................... 10.34 4.4 39.4 10.34 4.4 39.4 – – –

General office clerks .......................................... 9.49 2.5 37.8 9.28 1.4 39.7 – – –

Bank tellers ........................................................ 8.11 2.4 36.9 8.17 2.2 39.5 7.47 3.9 22.3

Data entry keyers ............................................... 8.23 2.5 35.0 8.57 2.2 40.3 – – –

Teachers’ aides ................................................. 7.78 3.4 33.7 7.79 4.0 37.5 7.73 .6 20.0

Administrative support, n.e.c. ............................ 9.54 7.4 39.6 9.57 7.7 40.1 7.84 2.7 24.4

Blue collar ........................................................................ 11.21 3.7 39.4 11.31 3.8 40.4 7.40 4.4 20.2

Precision production, craft, and repair ...................... 13.69 9.0 40.0 13.71 9.1 40.2 8.44 3.9 21.4

Supervisors, mechanics and repairers .............. 19.61 2.5 40.0 19.61 2.5 40.0 – – –

Automobile mechanics ....................................... 13.66 7.7 40.1 13.66 7.7 40.1 – – –

Bus, truck, and stationary engine mechanics .... 11.67 9.6 40.4 11.67 9.6 40.4 – – –

Heavy equipment mechanics ............................. 13.67 8.7 40.0 13.67 8.7 40.0 – – –

Industrial machinery repairers ........................... 16.80 2.8 40.1 16.80 2.8 40.1 – – –

Machinery maintenance ..................................... 10.33 4.6 40.0 10.33 4.6 40.0 – – –

Electronic repairers, communications and

industrial equipment ......................................... 14.88 7.9 40.0 14.88 7.9 40.0 – – –

Telephone line installers and repairers .............. 14.88 9.4 40.0 14.88 9.4 40.0 – – –

Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration

mechanics ........................................................ 11.03 13.0 39.5 11.03 13.0 39.5 – – –

Mechanics and repairers, n.e.c. ......................... 12.95 3.8 40.3 12.95 3.8 40.3 – – –

Supervisors, electricians and power

transmission installers ..................................... 22.47 2.9 40.1 22.47 2.9 40.1 – – –

Supervisors, construction trades, n.e.c. ............. 17.59 4.2 42.4 17.59 4.2 42.4 – – –

Carpenters ......................................................... 14.75 7.4 40.0 14.75 7.4 40.0 – – –

Electricians ........................................................ 16.24 4.6 40.0 16.24 4.6 40.0 – – –

Electrical power installers and repairers ............ 16.88 4.8 40.0 16.88 4.8 40.0 – – –

Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters ............... 15.90 9.1 40.0 15.90 9.1 40.0 – – –

Construction trades, n.e.c. ................................. 12.84 5.9 35.9 12.60 5.8 40.0 – – –

Supervisors, production ..................................... 18.10 2.3 41.0 18.10 2.3 41.0 – – –

Butchers and meat cutters ................................. 11.27 7.2 40.0 11.27 7.2 40.0 – – –

Inspectors, testers, and graders ........................ 13.89 3.3 35.7 14.93 3.9 39.6 – – –

Water and sewer treatment plant operators ...... 11.22 10.5 40.0 11.22 10.5 40.0 – – –

Power plant operators ........................................ 17.31 1.9 40.0 17.31 1.9 40.0 – – –

Miscellaneous plant and system operators,

n.e.c. ................................................................ 18.12 2.8 40.0 18.12 2.8 40.0 – – –

Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors ..... 10.84 4.0 39.9 10.86 4.0 40.0 8.60 6.3 28.3

Punching and stamping press operators ........... 9.97 4.9 40.0 9.97 4.9 40.0 – – –

Fabricating machine operators, n.e.c. ............... 9.64 1.8 39.8 9.64 1.8 39.8 – – –

Printing press operators ..................................... 13.80 4.7 37.5 13.64 6.1 39.4 – – –

See footnotes at end of table.

7
Table 3. Selected occupations, East South Central: Mean hourly earnings1 and weekly hours for full-time and part-time workers,2

National Compensation Survey,3 1997–Continued

Occupation4

Total Full time Part time

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

Mean hours

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Blue collar –Continued

Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors

–Continued

Textile sewing machine operators ..................... $7.71 12.6 40.0 $7.71 12.6 40.0 – – –

Laundering and dry cleaning machine operators 6.57 3.3 37.9 6.61 3.5 39.1 – – –

Mixing and blending machine operators ............ 13.64 4.1 41.1 13.64 4.1 41.1 – – –

Furnace, kiln, and oven operators, except food 11.39 7.9 40.0 11.39 7.9 40.0 – – –

Slicing and cutting machine operators ............... 11.67 15.0 39.9 11.67 15.0 39.9 – – –

Photographic process machine operators ......... 12.95 23.7 40.0 12.95 23.7 40.0 – – –

Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c. .......... 12.97 15.7 40.0 12.99 15.8 40.0 – – –

Welders and cutters ........................................... 12.73 8.4 39.6 12.72 8.7 40.0 – – –

Assemblers ........................................................ 11.22 5.5 39.7 11.30 5.4 40.0 – – –

Miscellaneous hand working, n.e.c. ................... 7.41 6.4 40.0 7.41 6.4 40.0 – – –

Production inspectors, checkers and examiners 8.81 23.4 40.1 8.83 23.6 40.1 – – –

Production testers .............................................. 15.16 8.7 40.1 15.16 8.7 40.1 – – –

Transportation and material moving ......................... 12.42 6.0 41.0 12.55 6.1 42.6 $9.01 3.4 19.9

Truck drivers ...................................................... 12.40 3.8 44.7 12.42 3.8 45.1 – – –

Driver-sales workers .......................................... 11.16 5.7 40.2 11.16 5.7 40.2 – – –

Bus drivers ......................................................... 10.25 8.4 24.8 11.20 10.0 30.4 8.95 5.9 19.8

Motor transportation, n.e.c. ................................ 11.46 18.7 40.0 11.46 18.7 40.0 – – –

Marine engineers ............................................... 11.68 21.2 57.9 11.68 21.2 57.9 – – –

Excavating and loading machine operators ....... 12.67 10.9 39.5 12.67 10.9 39.5 – – –

Grader, dozer, and scrapper operators ............. 8.33 2.7 40.0 8.33 2.7 40.0 – – –

Industrial truck and tractor equipment operators 9.87 3.1 40.0 9.87 3.1 40.0 – – –

Miscellaneous material moving equipment

operators, n.e.c. ............................................... 11.66 7.4 33.3 12.31 13.2 40.0 – – –

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and

laborers ....................................................................... 8.55 1.1 37.5 8.67 1.2 40.1 6.78 6.1 19.5

Supervisors, handlers, equipment cleaners, and

laborers, n.e.c. ................................................. 12.39 5.2 40.7 12.39 5.2 40.7 – – –

Helpers, mechanics and repairers ..................... 10.58 4.6 39.9 10.58 4.6 39.9 – – –

Helpers, construction trades .............................. 9.66 1.7 40.0 9.66 1.7 40.0 – – –

Construction laborers ......................................... 8.19 3.7 39.6 8.22 3.8 40.0 – – –

Production helpers ............................................. 8.74 12.0 39.6 8.79 12.5 40.0 – – –

Stock handlers and baggers .............................. 7.51 3.3 33.3 7.98 4.1 39.9 5.74 1.9 20.6

Machine feeders and offbearers ........................ 9.70 6.2 39.7 9.73 6.2 40.1 – – –

Freight, stock, and material handlers, n.e.c. ...... 9.62 3.8 36.1 9.72 4.4 40.6 – – –

Vehicle washers and equipment cleaners ......... 7.96 6.6 22.8 9.23 8.9 40.0 – – –

Hand packers and packagers ............................ 7.09 4.7 36.5 7.22 4.9 40.0 5.75 2.6 19.1

Laborers, except construction, n.e.c. ................. 8.18 3.8 39.2 8.20 3.8 40.0 – – –

Service .............................................................................. 7.57 .7 36.3 – – – 5.47 1.4 20.4

Protective service .................................................. 10.31 2.9 40.3 10.36 2.9 41.1 7.68 10.4 18.6

Supervisors, firefighters and fire prevention ...... 14.18 6.5 52.4 14.18 6.5 52.4 – – –

Supervisors, police and detectives .................... 17.24 6.3 40.2 17.24 6.3 40.2 – – –

Firefighting ......................................................... 10.02 2.2 52.0 10.06 2.2 52.6 – – –

Police and detectives, public service ................. 13.93 3.5 37.4 13.92 3.6 39.8 – – –

Sheriffs, bailiffs, and other law enforcement

officers ............................................................. 11.92 1.9 39.6 11.98 1.9 40.2 – – –

Correctional institution officers ........................... 10.47 3.2 39.8 10.47 3.2 39.8 – – –

Guards and police, except public service .......... – – – – – – 7.04 12.4 19.0

Protective service, n.e.c. .................................... 8.98 3.9 35.6 9.55 3.7 39.1 – – –

Food service .......................................................... 5.76 1.7 36.1 – – – 5.17 1.7 21.9

Supervisors, food preparation and service ........ 9.17 6.1 39.4 9.24 6.4 40.9 – – –

Bartenders ......................................................... 5.92 10.3 37.1 – – – – – –

Waiters and waitresses ...................................... – – – – – – 2.76 2.3 20.9

Cooks ................................................................. 6.99 3.6 32.6 7.30 3.6 37.4 5.90 4.0 22.5

Food counter, fountain, and related ................... 5.65 2.4 26.6 5.83 3.8 38.0 5.46 1.9 20.5

Kitchen workers, food preparation ..................... 7.37 5.1 33.7 7.69 4.9 38.2 6.18 5.1 23.1

Waiters’/Waitresses’ assistants ......................... 5.47 4.3 22.4 – – – 5.58 5.6 21.2

See footnotes at end of table.

8
Table 3. Selected occupations, East South Central: Mean hourly earnings1 and weekly hours for full-time and part-time workers,2

National Compensation Survey,3 1997–Continued

Occupation4

Total Full time Part time

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

Mean hours

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Service –Continued

Food service –Continued

Food preparation, n.e.c. ..................................... – – – – – – $5.54 1.3 23.4

Health service ........................................................ $7.12 1.9 36.7 $7.09 1.9 39.5 7.51 5.9 18.6

Health aides, except nursing ............................. 8.55 7.3 33.7 8.73 7.6 39.6 7.81 12.5 21.0

Nursing aides, orderlies and attendants ............ 6.85 1.4 37.3 6.83 1.5 39.4 7.24 2.7 16.8

Cleaning and building service ................................ 7.83 1.2 37.6 7.89 1.3 39.0 6.55 13.4 22.2

Maids and housemen ........................................ 5.90 1.9 38.5 5.90 1.9 38.6 – – –

Janitors and cleaners ......................................... 7.51 .0 34.7 7.64 2.4 37.6 6.56 13.5 22.2

Personal service .................................................... – – – – – – – – –

Baggage porters and bellhops ........................... 6.62 1.6 31.3 – – – – – –

Early childhood teachers’ assistants .................. 7.38 2.8 32.2 7.78 4.7 36.0 – – –

Child care workers, n.e.c. .................................. 6.92 2.5 31.7 – – – 7.08 2.9 17.8

1 Earnings are the straight-time hourly wages or salaries paid to employees. They

include incentive pay, cost-of-living adjustments, and hazard pay. Excluded are premium

pay for overtime, vacations, and holidays; nonproduction bonuses; and tips. The mean is

computed by totaling the pay of all workers and dividing by the number of workers,

weighted by hours. 2 All workers include full-time and part-time workers. Employees are classified as

working either a full-time or a part-time schedule based on the definition used by each

establishment. Therefore, a worker with a 35-hour-per-week schedule might be considered

a full-time employee in one establishment, but classified as part-time in another firm, where

a 40-hour week is the minimum full-time schedule. 3 In this census division, collection was conducted between October 1996 and May

1998. The average reference period was December 1997. 4 A classification system including about 480 individual occupations is used to cover all

workers in the civilian economy. For more information, see Technical Note. 5 The relative standard error (RSE) is the standard error expressed as a percent of the

estimate. It can be used to calculate a "confidence interval" around a sample estimate. For

more information about RSEs, see Technical Note.

NOTE: Dashes indicate that no data were reported or that data did not meet publication

criteria, and n.e.c. means "not elsewhere classified." Overall occupational groups may

include data for categories not shown separately. 

9
Table 4. Selected occupations, East South Central, private industry: Mean hourly earnings1 for full-time and part-time workers,2

National Compensation Survey,3 1997

Occupation4

Total Full time Part time

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

Mean hours

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

All .......................................................................................... $11.34 2.5 38.0 $11.65 2.7 40.2 $6.86 4.4 21.1

All excluding sales ......................................................... 11.69 2.3 38.2 11.96 2.5 40.2 7.01 5.8 20.7

White collar ...................................................................... 14.18 2.8 38.1 14.62 2.7 40.3 8.33 6.7 21.7

White collar excluding sales ...................................... 16.54 2.4 38.9 16.80 2.3 40.5 10.90 7.6 20.9

Professional specialty and technical ......................... 19.15 1.3 38.6 19.31 1.6 40.4 15.68 9.1 19.7

Professional specialty ................................................ 21.61 2.6 38.9 21.71 2.9 40.8 19.14 5.8 18.6

Engineers, architects, and surveyors ..................... 23.21 4.0 40.9 23.21 4.0 40.9 – – –

Electrical and electronic engineers .................... 24.44 6.6 40.3 24.44 6.6 40.3 – – –

Mechanical engineers ........................................ 24.97 3.2 40.1 24.97 3.2 40.1 – – –

Engineers, n.e.c. ................................................ 24.50 5.0 42.1 24.50 5.0 42.1 – – –

Mathematical and computer scientists ................... 22.43 2.8 41.1 22.43 2.8 41.1 – – –

Computer systems analysts and scientists ........ 22.70 2.4 40.8 22.70 2.4 40.8 – – –

Natural scientists ................................................... 23.09 10.7 41.8 23.09 10.7 41.8 – – –

Health related ........................................................ 20.41 3.2 36.2 20.36 3.3 39.9 20.91 13.4 18.8

Physicians .......................................................... 66.23 9.2 36.2 – – – – – –

Registered nurses .............................................. 16.99 1.2 35.9 16.87 1.3 39.4 18.08 4.1 19.9

Pharmacists ....................................................... 26.51 3.4 38.2 26.53 4.0 40.0 – – –

Speech therapists .............................................. 21.22 8.0 40.0 21.22 8.0 40.0 – – –

Teachers, college and university ........................... 22.06 12.2 28.6 22.42 14.1 34.5 18.25 13.6 10.2

Teachers, except college and university ................ 12.87 6.0 35.6 13.66 10.7 39.1 – – –

Elementary school teachers .............................. 15.19 9.5 38.6 15.19 9.5 38.6 – – –

Secondary school teachers ............................... 16.14 11.0 38.3 – – – – – –

Librarians, archivists, and curators ........................ – – – – – – – – –

Social scientists and urban planners ..................... – – – – – – – – –

Social, recreation, and religious workers ............... 12.40 11.4 40.9 12.40 11.4 40.9 – – –

Social workers ................................................... 12.55 13.5 41.2 12.55 13.5 41.2 – – –

Lawyers and judges ............................................... 33.30 5.1 49.1 33.30 5.1 49.1 – – –

Lawyers ............................................................. 33.30 5.1 49.1 33.30 5.1 49.1 – – –

Writers, authors, entertainers, athletes, and

professionals, n.e.c. ............................................. 19.23 3.2 40.7 19.38 2.8 41.6 – – –

Technical writers ................................................ 15.90 3.1 40.0 15.90 3.1 40.0 – – –

Designers ........................................................... 18.90 10.1 41.6 19.30 9.9 42.2 – – –

Editors and reporters ......................................... 25.67 5.7 41.3 25.67 5.7 41.3 – – –

Technical ................................................................... 14.11 2.6 37.9 14.33 2.4 39.5 10.10 3.7 22.0

Clinical laboratory technologists and

technicians ....................................................... 13.08 4.9 38.0 13.17 5.0 39.6 – – –

Radiological technicians .................................... 13.49 4.5 39.4 13.49 4.5 39.4 – – –

Licensed practical nurses .................................. 10.77 2.7 36.5 10.86 2.6 39.5 10.19 5.2 23.9

Health technologists and technicians, n.e.c. ...... 12.23 12.5 36.7 12.44 13.6 40.1 – – –

Electrical and electronic technicians .................. 16.93 5.0 40.6 16.94 5.0 40.6 – – –

Drafters .............................................................. 14.53 6.5 41.9 14.53 6.5 41.9 – – –

Chemical technicians ......................................... 15.19 8.6 40.0 15.19 8.6 40.0 – – –

Computer programmers ..................................... 17.77 6.1 41.2 17.77 6.1 41.2 – – –

Executive, administrative, and managerial ............... 25.61 4.3 41.9 25.62 4.3 41.9 – – –

Executives, administrators, and managers ............ 27.97 4.0 42.6 27.98 4.0 42.6 – – –

Financial managers ........................................... 25.00 1.7 41.6 25.00 1.7 41.6 – – –

Personnel and labor relations managers ........... 20.58 2.8 40.0 20.58 2.8 40.0 – – –

Managers, marketing, advertising, and public

relations ........................................................... 26.64 2.3 42.2 26.64 2.3 42.2 – – –

Administrators, education and related fields ...... 20.03 16.1 38.7 20.03 16.1 38.7 – – –

Managers, medicine and health ......................... 27.47 6.1 40.6 27.47 6.1 40.6 – – –

Managers and administrators, n.e.c. ................. 29.67 5.9 44.6 29.67 5.9 44.6 – – –

Management related .............................................. 20.79 1.9 40.6 20.79 1.9 40.6 – – –

Accountants and auditors .................................. 18.61 5.0 40.7 18.61 5.0 40.7 – – –

Other financial officers ....................................... 18.84 7.8 40.9 18.84 7.8 40.9 – – –

Management analysts ........................................ 24.97 3.3 40.4 24.99 3.4 40.5 – – –

Personnel, training, and labor relations

specialists ........................................................ 24.15 4.8 39.7 24.15 4.8 39.7 – – –

Buyers, wholesale and retail trade, except farm

products ........................................................... 18.14 18.7 43.0 18.14 18.7 43.0 – – –

Purchasing agents and buyers, n.e.c. ............... 15.84 5.6 40.0 15.84 5.6 40.0 – – –

See footnotes at end of table.

10
Table 4. Selected occupations, East South Central, private industry: Mean hourly earnings1 for full-time and part-time workers,2

National Compensation Survey,3 1997–Continued

Occupation4

Total Full time Part time

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

Mean hours

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

White collar –Continued

Executive, administrative, and managerial

–Continued

Management related –Continued

Inspectors and compliance officers, except

construction ..................................................... $17.92 14.6 42.7 $17.92 14.6 42.7 – – –

Sales ............................................................................. 8.91 6.8 36.3 – – – $6.42 1.8 22.4

Supervisors, sales ............................................. 14.24 2.4 41.1 14.41 2.8 41.3 – – –

Sales, other business services .......................... 18.63 3.4 40.4 18.63 3.4 40.4 – – –

Sales representatives, mining, manufacturing,

and wholesale .................................................. 18.58 9.3 40.8 18.58 9.3 40.8 – – –

Sales workers, motor vehicles and boats .......... 14.53 17.9 50.4 14.53 17.9 50.4 – – –

Sales workers, apparel ...................................... 7.47 4.4 26.3 – – – 6.41 .0 23.0

Sales workers, hardware and building supplies – – – 12.16 9.5 40.0 – – –

Sales workers, parts .......................................... 9.73 5.1 35.3 10.20 5.2 40.2 – – –

Sales workers, other commodities ..................... 8.95 5.1 31.2 9.99 7.8 37.0 7.06 2.7 24.2

Sales counter clerks .......................................... 6.17 2.5 28.5 6.61 1.5 38.7 – – –

Cashiers ............................................................. – – – – – – 5.78 1.1 20.8

Sales support, n.e.c. .......................................... 9.13 4.3 40.1 9.13 4.3 40.1 – – –

Administrative support, including clerical ................ 10.93 2.9 37.9 11.06 2.8 39.9 8.88 12.1 21.5

Supervisors, general office ................................ 14.48 4.1 39.7 14.48 4.1 39.7 – – –

Supervisors, financial records processing ......... 17.04 5.6 40.5 17.04 5.6 40.5 – – –

Secretaries ......................................................... 11.13 2.5 37.9 11.24 2.2 39.7 9.02 5.6 19.7

Interviewers ....................................................... 8.54 7.7 34.9 – – – – – –

Hotel clerks ........................................................ 6.60 .0 36.8 – – – – – –

Receptionists ..................................................... 7.74 4.7 38.1 7.74 4.9 39.8 7.67 2.7 21.6

Information clerks, n.e.c. .................................... 8.66 4.3 37.8 8.81 4.6 40.0 – – –

Order clerks ....................................................... 8.40 3.3 36.7 9.47 4.5 40.0 – – –

Personnel clerks, except payroll and

timekeeping ..................................................... 11.11 1.4 36.0 11.38 2.2 40.0 – – –

File clerks ........................................................... 9.56 10.7 39.6 9.56 10.7 39.6 – – –

Payroll and timekeeping clerks .......................... 10.11 6.0 39.8 10.11 6.0 39.8 – – –

Billing clerks ....................................................... 10.42 2.8 36.8 10.51 3.1 40.0 – – –

Telephone operators .......................................... 10.22 4.5 35.2 10.57 4.4 39.5 7.93 2.5 20.7

Mail clerks, except postal service ...................... 10.20 6.6 36.3 10.74 6.1 40.0 – – –

Dispatchers ........................................................ 12.29 8.3 40.0 12.29 8.3 40.0 – – –

Production coordinators ..................................... 12.54 6.7 40.0 12.54 6.7 40.0 – – –

Traffic, shipping and receiving clerks ................. 13.17 13.4 31.0 14.16 12.8 40.1 – – –

Stock and inventory clerks ................................. 10.22 4.6 37.4 10.28 4.5 39.9 – – –

Material recording, scheduling, and distribution

clerks, n.e.c. ..................................................... 11.00 12.6 39.6 11.60 11.8 39.6 – – –

Insurance adjusters, examiners, and

investigators ..................................................... 15.18 15.7 40.0 15.18 15.7 40.0 – – –

Investigators and adjusters, except insurance ... 10.26 2.4 37.0 10.42 2.6 39.7 8.49 10.0 21.3

General office clerks .......................................... 9.98 4.2 37.1 9.60 3.0 39.9 – – –

Bank tellers ........................................................ 8.11 2.4 36.9 8.17 2.2 39.5 7.47 3.9 22.3

Data entry keyers ............................................... 7.92 3.2 34.5 8.24 2.3 40.4 – – –

Administrative support, n.e.c. ............................ 9.18 7.4 39.7 9.20 7.7 40.2 7.84 2.7 24.4

Blue collar ........................................................................ 11.22 3.8 39.5 11.32 4.0 40.4 7.09 5.9 20.3

Precision production, craft, and repair ...................... 13.73 9.8 40.1 13.76 9.9 40.2 6.35 1.8 23.7

Supervisors, mechanics and repairers .............. 19.95 2.6 40.1 19.95 2.6 40.1 – – –

Automobile mechanics ....................................... 14.49 4.6 40.2 14.49 4.6 40.2 – – –

Bus, truck, and stationary engine mechanics .... 11.68 9.7 40.4 11.68 9.7 40.4 – – –

Industrial machinery repairers ........................... 16.80 2.8 40.1 16.80 2.8 40.1 – – –

Machinery maintenance ..................................... 10.78 4.7 40.1 10.78 4.7 40.1 – – –

Electronic repairers, communications and

industrial equipment ......................................... 15.75 12.5 40.0 15.75 12.5 40.0 – – –

Telephone line installers and repairers .............. 14.88 9.4 40.0 14.88 9.4 40.0 – – –

Mechanics and repairers, n.e.c. ......................... 13.66 4.2 40.5 13.66 4.2 40.5 – – –

See footnotes at end of table.

11
Table 4. Selected occupations, East South Central, private industry: Mean hourly earnings1 for full-time and part-time workers,2

National Compensation Survey,3 1997–Continued

Occupation4

Total Full time Part time

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

Mean hours

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Blue collar –Continued

Precision production, craft, and repair –Continued

Supervisors, construction trades, n.e.c. ............. $18.61 3.2 43.1 $18.61 3.2 43.1 – – –

Carpenters ......................................................... 14.86 7.5 40.0 14.86 7.5 40.0 – – –

Electricians ........................................................ 16.34 5.3 40.0 16.34 5.3 40.0 – – –

Electrical power installers and repairers ............ 17.81 5.9 40.0 17.81 5.9 40.0 – – –

Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters ............... 18.20 7.8 40.0 18.20 7.8 40.0 – – –

Construction trades, n.e.c. ................................. 13.51 7.0 40.0 13.51 7.0 40.0 – – –

Supervisors, production ..................................... 18.00 2.4 41.0 18.00 2.4 41.0 – – –

Butchers and meat cutters ................................. 11.27 7.2 40.0 11.27 7.2 40.0 – – –

Inspectors, testers, and graders ........................ 13.89 3.3 35.7 14.93 3.9 39.6 – – –

Miscellaneous plant and system operators,

n.e.c. ................................................................ 18.12 2.8 40.0 18.12 2.8 40.0 – – –

Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors ..... 10.84 4.0 39.9 10.85 4.0 40.0 $8.56 6.6 28.7

Punching and stamping press operators ........... 9.97 4.9 40.0 9.97 4.9 40.0 – – –

Fabricating machine operators, n.e.c. ............... 9.64 1.8 39.8 9.64 1.8 39.8 – – –

Printing press operators ..................................... – – – 14.62 8.4 39.3 – – –

Textile sewing machine operators ..................... 7.71 12.6 40.0 7.71 12.6 40.0 – – –

Laundering and dry cleaning machine operators 6.57 3.3 37.9 6.61 3.5 39.1 – – –

Mixing and blending machine operators ............ 13.64 4.1 41.1 13.64 4.1 41.1 – – –

Furnace, kiln, and oven operators, except food 11.39 7.9 40.0 11.39 7.9 40.0 – – –

Slicing and cutting machine operators ............... 11.67 15.0 39.9 11.67 15.0 39.9 – – –

Photographic process machine operators ......... 12.95 23.7 40.0 12.95 23.7 40.0 – – –

Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c. .......... 12.98 15.8 40.0 13.00 15.8 40.0 – – –

Welders and cutters ........................................... 12.46 10.5 39.6 12.45 11.0 40.0 – – –

Assemblers ........................................................ 11.22 5.5 39.7 11.30 5.4 40.0 – – –

Miscellaneous hand working, n.e.c. ................... 7.41 6.4 40.0 7.41 6.4 40.0 – – –

Production inspectors, checkers and examiners 8.81 23.4 40.1 8.83 23.6 40.1 – – –

Production testers .............................................. 15.16 8.7 40.1 15.16 8.7 40.1 – – –

Transportation and material moving ......................... 12.68 6.6 42.6 12.74 6.7 43.3 – – –

Truck drivers ...................................................... 12.54 3.6 45.0 12.56 3.7 45.3 – – –

Driver-sales workers .......................................... 11.16 5.7 40.2 11.16 5.7 40.2 – – –

Marine engineers ............................................... 11.68 21.2 57.9 11.68 21.2 57.9 – – –

Industrial truck and tractor equipment operators 9.82 3.0 40.0 9.82 3.0 40.0 – – –

Miscellaneous material moving equipment

operators, n.e.c. ............................................... 11.87 8.1 32.7 12.68 14.9 40.0 – – –

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and

laborers ....................................................................... 8.51 1.1 37.3 8.64 1.2 40.1 6.78 6.1 19.5

Supervisors, handlers, equipment cleaners, and

laborers, n.e.c. ................................................. 13.18 7.7 41.2 13.18 7.7 41.2 – – –

Helpers, mechanics and repairers ..................... 10.37 5.4 40.0 10.37 5.4 40.0 – – –

Helpers, construction trades .............................. 9.68 1.7 40.0 9.68 1.7 40.0 – – –

Construction laborers ......................................... 8.08 3.8 39.7 8.11 3.8 40.0 – – –

Production helpers ............................................. 8.74 12.0 39.6 8.79 12.5 40.0 – – –

Stock handlers and baggers .............................. 7.48 3.4 33.2 7.95 4.2 39.9 5.74 1.9 20.6

Machine feeders and offbearers ........................ 9.70 6.2 39.7 9.73 6.2 40.1 – – –

Freight, stock, and material handlers, n.e.c. ...... 9.65 3.9 36.1 9.75 4.5 40.6 – – –

Vehicle washers and equipment cleaners ......... 7.96 6.6 22.8 9.23 8.9 40.0 – – –

Hand packers and packagers ............................ 7.09 4.7 36.5 7.22 4.9 40.0 5.75 2.6 19.1

Laborers, except construction, n.e.c. ................. 8.12 3.6 39.1 8.15 3.6 40.0 – – –

Service .............................................................................. – – – – – – 5.36 1.2 20.7

Protective service .................................................. – – – – – – 7.88 13.8 21.9

Guards and police, except public service .......... – – – – – – 7.04 13.2 20.9

Food service .......................................................... – – – – – – 5.09 2.1 21.7

Supervisors, food preparation and service ........ 9.17 6.5 39.4 9.24 6.9 41.0 – – –

Bartenders ......................................................... 5.92 10.3 37.1 – – – – – –

Waiters and waitresses ...................................... – – – – – – 2.76 2.0 20.9

Cooks ................................................................. 6.70 3.4 31.9 6.96 3.6 38.6 5.91 5.1 20.9

See footnotes at end of table.

12
Table 4. Selected occupations, East South Central, private industry: Mean hourly earnings1 for full-time and part-time workers,2

National Compensation Survey,3 1997–Continued

Occupation4

Total Full time Part time

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

Mean hours

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Service –Continued

Food service –Continued

Food counter, fountain, and related ................... $5.58 1.9 26.5 $5.75 4.1 38.6 $5.44 1.9 21.0

Kitchen workers, food preparation ..................... 7.44 4.6 32.3 8.00 4.1 39.3 5.83 3.2 21.4

Waiters’/Waitresses’ assistants ......................... 5.47 4.3 22.4 – – – 5.58 5.6 21.2

Food preparation, n.e.c. ..................................... – – – – – – 5.51 1.3 23.5

Health service ........................................................ 7.01 1.6 36.6 6.97 1.7 39.4 7.57 6.9 18.3

Health aides, except nursing ............................. 8.63 9.3 32.8 8.89 10.2 39.9 7.81 12.5 21.0

Nursing aides, orderlies and attendants ............ 6.71 1.6 37.4 6.69 1.8 39.4 7.28 3.7 15.9

Cleaning and building service ................................ 7.69 3.4 37.6 – – – 6.17 9.9 22.3

Maids and housemen ........................................ 5.81 1.6 38.5 5.81 1.6 38.6 – – –

Janitors and cleaners ......................................... 7.28 1.4 33.4 7.49 4.6 36.8 6.19 10.1 22.3

Personal service .................................................... – – – – – – – – –

Baggage porters and bellhops ........................... 6.62 1.6 31.3 – – – – – –

1 Earnings are the straight-time hourly wages or salaries paid to employees. They

include incentive pay, cost-of-living adjustments, and hazard pay. Excluded are premium

pay for overtime, vacations, and holidays; nonproduction bonuses; and tips. The mean is

computed by totaling the pay of all workers and dividing by the number of workers,

weighted by hours. 2 All workers include full-time and part-time workers. Employees are classified as

working either a full-time or a part-time schedule based on the definition used by each

establishment. Therefore, a worker with a 35-hour-per-week schedule might be considered

a full-time employee in one establishment, but classified as part-time in another firm, where

a 40-hour week is the minimum full-time schedule. 3 In this census division, collection was conducted between October 1996 and May

1998. The average reference period was December 1997. 4 A classification system including about 480 individual occupations is used to cover all

workers in the civilian economy. For more information, see Technical Note. 5 The relative standard error (RSE) is the standard error expressed as a percent of the

estimate. It can be used to calculate a "confidence interval" around a sample estimate. For

more information about RSEs, see Technical Note.

NOTE: Dashes indicate that no data were reported or that data did not meet publication

criteria, and n.e.c. means "not elsewhere classified." Overall occupational groups may

include data for categories not shown separately. 

13
Table 5. Selected occupations, East South Central, State and local government: Mean hourly earnings1 and weekly hours for

full-time and part-time workers,2 National Compensation Survey,3 1997

Occupation4

Total Full time Part time

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

Mean hours

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

All .......................................................................................... $15.22 1.7 36.9 $15.38 1.8 39.1 $11.79 10.0 16.7

All excluding sales ......................................................... 15.26 1.8 36.8 15.42 1.9 39.1 11.88 10.1 16.6

White collar ...................................................................... 17.99 .8 36.7 18.12 1.0 38.8 14.83 11.5 15.7

White collar excluding sales ...................................... 18.08 .9 36.6 18.21 1.1 38.8 15.07 11.6 15.5

Professional specialty and technical ......................... 20.86 1.7 36.2 21.00 1.6 38.4 17.05 14.6 14.3

Professional specialty ................................................ 21.80 1.9 35.9 21.97 1.8 38.3 17.37 15.2 13.7

Engineers, architects, and surveyors ..................... 24.69 1.4 39.8 24.69 1.4 39.8 – – –

Civil engineers ................................................... 22.93 3.5 39.5 22.93 3.5 39.5 – – –

Mathematical and computer scientists ................... 19.89 13.2 38.7 19.89 13.2 38.7 – – –

Natural scientists ................................................... – – – – – – – – –

Health related ........................................................ 18.12 1.4 37.4 18.16 1.3 39.6 17.42 9.6 19.6

Registered nurses .............................................. 17.77 1.2 37.6 17.72 1.2 39.6 18.66 9.8 19.3

Teachers, college and university ........................... 27.87 8.5 33.7 27.46 8.5 38.2 32.20 3.1 14.9

Art, drama, and music teachers ......................... 21.70 11.6 37.2 21.98 12.6 38.7 – – –

Teachers, post secondary, n.e.c. ....................... 22.43 9.4 29.4 – – – – – –

Teachers, except college and university ................ 23.03 1.1 35.9 23.36 1.1 37.8 7.51 4.4 10.4

Elementary school teachers .............................. 23.10 .7 38.1 23.10 .7 38.1 – – –

Secondary school teachers ............................... 23.58 .9 37.4 23.58 .9 37.4 – – –

Teachers, special education .............................. 24.27 2.6 36.6 24.27 2.6 36.6 – – –

Teachers, n.e.c. ................................................. 24.30 6.0 37.2 24.52 5.6 38.0 – – –

Substitute teachers ............................................ 6.47 4.7 9.7 – – – 6.47 4.7 9.7

Vocational and educational counselors ............. 25.09 4.3 38.6 25.16 8.7 38.6 – – –

Librarians, archivists, and curators ........................ 17.38 3.2 36.2 18.01 4.3 38.8 12.64 4.2 24.2

Librarians ........................................................... 18.05 4.5 35.6 18.86 6.2 38.2 – – –

Social scientists and urban planners ..................... – – – – – – – – –

Social, recreation, and religious workers ............... 13.23 2.7 39.1 13.24 2.7 39.2 – – –

Social workers ................................................... 13.27 2.7 39.2 13.27 2.7 39.2 – – –

Lawyers and judges ............................................... 22.48 15.1 18.0 – – – – – –

Lawyers ............................................................. 22.48 15.1 18.0 – – – – – –

Writers, authors, entertainers, athletes, and

professionals, n.e.c. ............................................. 13.68 6.2 38.4 13.66 6.3 38.7 – – –

Professional, n.e.c. ............................................ 14.87 5.2 38.3 14.87 5.2 38.3 – – –

Technical ................................................................... 12.80 4.4 39.0 12.77 4.2 39.7 13.85 12.9 24.4

Clinical laboratory technologists and

technicians ....................................................... 14.78 2.1 36.0 – – – – – –

Radiological technicians .................................... 12.94 8.0 39.8 12.94 8.0 39.8 – – –

Licensed practical nurses .................................. 11.20 3.1 39.5 11.24 3.2 39.8 – – –

Health technologists and technicians, n.e.c. ...... 11.91 11.9 39.3 11.91 11.9 39.5 – – –

Engineering technicians, n.e.c. .......................... 11.33 4.8 38.5 11.33 4.8 38.5 – – –

Executive, administrative, and managerial ............... 21.85 1.5 37.2 21.67 1.3 39.6 27.43 17.4 13.3

Executives, administrators, and managers ............ 23.86 1.8 36.6 23.70 1.7 39.6 27.43 17.4 13.3

Administrators and officials, public

administration .................................................. 20.64 3.6 36.8 20.56 5.1 40.4 – – –

Administrators, education and related fields ...... 27.53 6.6 38.8 27.53 6.6 38.8 – – –

Managers and administrators, n.e.c. ................. 23.08 9.1 40.2 23.08 9.1 40.2 – – –

Management related .............................................. 15.44 2.6 39.5 15.44 2.6 39.5 – – –

Accountants and auditors .................................. 15.71 3.2 39.2 15.71 3.2 39.2 – – –

Inspectors and compliance officers, except

construction ..................................................... 12.99 3.7 39.2 12.99 3.7 39.2 – – –

Management related, n.e.c. ............................... 15.23 7.4 41.2 15.23 7.4 41.2 – – –

Sales ............................................................................. 8.43 2.7 37.6 8.73 2.1 39.4 – – –

Cashiers ............................................................. 7.90 1.8 36.3 8.35 1.5 39.3 – – –

Administrative support, including clerical ................ 9.62 1.9 37.3 9.73 1.9 39.2 7.45 2.2 19.5

Supervisors, general office ................................ 9.64 5.3 40.3 9.64 5.3 40.3 – – –

Secretaries ......................................................... 10.70 2.2 38.9 10.78 2.1 39.5 – – –

Typists ............................................................... 8.40 7.3 39.9 8.40 7.3 39.9 – – –

Library clerks ..................................................... 6.93 3.7 29.8 7.12 3.0 40.0 5.98 4.6 13.0

Records clerks, n.e.c. ........................................ 8.63 2.0 35.8 8.71 3.0 39.9 – – –

Bookkeepers, accounting and auditing clerks ... 9.36 4.2 39.9 9.36 4.2 39.9 – – –

Dispatchers ........................................................ 9.39 7.1 36.1 9.86 5.2 40.0 – – –

See footnotes at end of table.

14
Table 5. Selected occupations, East South Central, State and local government: Mean hourly earnings1 and weekly hours for

full-time and part-time workers,2 National Compensation Survey,3 1997–Continued

Occupation4

Total Full time Part time

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

Mean hours

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

White collar –Continued

Administrative support, including clerical

–Continued

Eligibility clerks, social welfare ........................... $11.20 2.9 38.9 $11.20 2.9 38.9 – – –

General office clerks .......................................... 8.86 .8 38.7 8.89 .9 39.4 – – –

Teachers’ aides ................................................. 7.89 3.2 33.9 7.91 3.8 37.5 $7.78 0.4 20.6

Administrative support, n.e.c. ............................ 11.68 6.7 39.3 11.68 6.7 39.3 – – –

Blue collar ........................................................................ 11.19 3.9 36.9 11.28 3.9 39.0 9.64 4.4 19.3

Precision production, craft, and repair ...................... 13.23 4.0 39.1 13.20 4.1 39.9 – – –

Mechanics and repairers, n.e.c. ......................... 10.31 5.9 39.5 10.31 5.9 39.5 – – –

Supervisors, electricians and power

transmission installers ..................................... 23.15 2.6 40.1 23.15 2.6 40.1 – – –

Supervisors, construction trades, n.e.c. ............. 13.86 5.7 40.0 13.86 5.7 40.0 – – –

Electrical power installers and repairers ............ 16.12 8.7 40.0 16.12 8.7 40.0 – – –

Water and sewer treatment plant operators ...... 11.15 10.6 40.0 11.15 10.6 40.0 – – –

Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors ..... 12.40 11.7 37.4 – – – – – –

Transportation and material moving ......................... 9.93 2.4 30.0 10.22 3.0 35.4 8.95 5.9 19.8

Truck drivers ...................................................... 9.02 5.6 39.9 9.02 5.6 39.9 – – –

Bus drivers ......................................................... 9.13 5.7 21.9 9.36 14.1 25.3 8.95 5.9 19.8

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and

laborers ....................................................................... 9.15 3.6 39.9 9.15 3.6 40.0 – – –

Groundskeepers and gardeners, except farm ... 9.25 7.3 40.1 9.25 7.3 40.1 – – –

Construction laborers ......................................... 8.95 17.9 39.5 – – – – – –

Laborers, except construction, n.e.c. ................. 8.46 6.0 40.0 8.46 6.0 40.0 – – –

Service .............................................................................. 9.83 4.9 37.4 9.99 5.2 39.9 6.99 4.2 17.8

Protective service .................................................. 12.28 3.3 41.7 12.34 3.2 42.6 7.20 3.8 13.9

Supervisors, firefighters and fire prevention ...... 14.18 6.5 52.4 14.18 6.5 52.4 – – –

Supervisors, police and detectives .................... 17.24 6.3 40.2 17.24 6.3 40.2 – – –

Firefighting ......................................................... 10.02 2.2 52.0 10.06 2.2 52.6 – – –

Police and detectives, public service ................. 13.89 3.8 38.3 13.92 3.6 39.8 – – –

Sheriffs, bailiffs, and other law enforcement

officers ............................................................. 11.92 1.9 39.6 11.98 1.9 40.2 – – –

Correctional institution officers ........................... 10.47 3.2 39.8 10.47 3.2 39.8 – – –

Guards and police, except public service .......... 10.09 3.7 32.9 10.26 4.6 40.0 – – –

Protective service, n.e.c. .................................... 9.45 3.3 37.0 9.55 3.7 39.1 – – –

Food service .......................................................... 7.41 5.6 33.6 7.58 6.3 36.0 6.47 6.0 24.5

Cooks ................................................................. 7.79 5.2 34.4 8.13 3.1 34.5 – – –

Kitchen workers, food preparation ..................... 7.30 7.6 35.6 7.34 8.9 37.1 – – –

Food preparation, n.e.c. ..................................... 6.58 2.5 28.3 – – – – – –

Health service ........................................................ 7.69 3.6 37.6 7.72 3.8 39.6 – – –

Health aides, except nursing ............................. 8.17 2.3 38.6 8.17 2.3 38.6 – – –

Nursing aides, orderlies and attendants ............ 7.58 4.3 37.3 7.61 4.6 39.8 – – –

See footnotes at end of table.

15
Table 5. Selected occupations, East South Central, State and local government: Mean hourly earnings1 and weekly hours for

full-time and part-time workers,2 National Compensation Survey,3 1997–Continued

Occupation4

Total Full time Part time

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

Mean hours

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Service –Continued

Cleaning and building service ................................ $8.43 1.7 37.7 $8.44 2.5 39.2 – – –

Supervisors, cleaning and building service

workers ............................................................ 10.70 5.5 39.6 10.70 5.5 39.6 – – –

Janitors and cleaners ......................................... 7.91 2.3 37.2 7.89 2.7 39.1 – – –

Personal service .................................................... 7.55 2.9 29.4 7.63 4.0 36.0 $6.85 2.2 11.7

Early childhood teachers’ assistants .................. 7.78 4.7 35.7 7.79 4.8 36.0 – – –

Child care workers, n.e.c. .................................. 7.17 1.2 31.7 – – – – – –

1 Earnings are the straight-time hourly wages or salaries paid to employees. They

include incentive pay, cost-of-living adjustments, and hazard pay. Excluded are premium

pay for overtime, vacations, and holidays; nonproduction bonuses; and tips. The mean is

computed by totaling the pay of all workers and dividing by the number of workers,

weighted by hours. 2 All workers include full-time and part-time workers. Employees are classified as

working either a full-time or a part-time schedule based on the definition used by each

establishment. Therefore, a worker with a 35-hour-per-week schedule might be considered

a full-time employee in one establishment, but classified as part-time in another firm, where

a 40-hour week is the minimum full-time schedule. 3 In this census division, collection was conducted between October 1996 and May

1998. The average reference period was December 1997. 4 A classification system including about 480 individual occupations is used to cover all

workers in the civilian economy. For more information, see Technical Note. 5 The relative standard error (RSE) is the standard error expressed as a percent of the

estimate. It can be used to calculate a "confidence interval" around a sample estimate. For

more information about RSEs, see Technical Note.

NOTE: Dashes indicate that no data were reported or that data did not meet publication

criteria, and n.e.c. means "not elsewhere classified." Overall occupational groups may

include data for categories not shown separately. 

16
Table 6. Occupational groups1 and levels,2 East South Central: Mean hourly earnings3 and weekly hours, private industry and State

and local government, National Compensation Survey,4 1997

Occupational group and level

Total Private industry State and local government

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

Mean hours

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

All .......................................................................................... $11.88 2.3 37.8 $11.34 2.5 38.0 $15.22 1.7 36.9

All excluding sales ......................................................... 12.24 2.2 38.0 11.69 2.3 38.2 15.26 1.8 36.8

White collar ...................................................................... 14.97 1.9 37.8 14.18 2.8 38.1 17.99 .8 36.7

1 ..................................................................... 6.10 1.2 28.8 5.97 1.7 28.5 7.30 2.5 31.5

2 ..................................................................... 7.48 4.1 30.8 7.48 4.7 30.6 7.45 .9 31.9

3 ..................................................................... – – – – – – 8.38 2.4 31.3

4 ..................................................................... 10.07 3.1 38.0 10.17 3.6 38.0 9.50 2.4 38.5

5 ..................................................................... 12.52 2.4 39.2 12.54 1.6 39.7 12.43 6.8 37.0

6 ..................................................................... 14.14 1.8 39.6 14.46 2.1 39.8 12.99 1.9 38.8

7 ..................................................................... 18.26 2.4 38.7 17.25 1.1 39.5 20.01 3.7 37.5

8 ..................................................................... 19.65 1.4 38.6 18.66 3.1 38.9 20.74 1.5 38.3

9 ..................................................................... 22.30 1.4 39.4 22.40 1.6 40.3 22.09 1.3 37.7

10 ................................................................... 25.32 1.2 40.5 25.15 1.2 41.4 25.68 3.6 38.7

11 ................................................................... 29.09 3.0 38.9 31.26 2.9 41.0 24.45 1.7 35.1

12 ................................................................... 32.33 3.9 41.8 32.45 4.7 43.2 31.35 .8 33.2

13 ................................................................... 39.93 4.0 38.9 41.42 4.8 40.9 37.56 .5 36.1

14 ................................................................... 68.37 13.8 36.6 68.50 13.8 36.6 – – –

Not able to be leveled .................................... 20.21 19.3 31.8 21.75 25.2 38.4 17.19 12.2 23.8

White collar excluding sales ...................................... 16.96 1.5 38.3 16.54 2.4 38.9 18.08 .9 36.6

1 ..................................................................... 6.76 4.4 32.6 6.63 5.8 33.0 7.27 2.5 30.9

2 ..................................................................... 7.83 4.0 31.8 7.90 4.7 31.8 7.49 .8 31.9

3 ..................................................................... 8.33 1.8 36.2 8.30 1.9 38.2 8.42 2.1 30.6

4 ..................................................................... 10.24 3.2 38.7 10.38 3.7 38.8 9.50 2.4 38.5

5 ..................................................................... 12.39 2.6 38.9 12.38 1.8 39.4 12.42 7.0 37.0

6 ..................................................................... 13.58 2.0 39.3 13.77 2.1 39.5 12.99 1.9 38.8

7 ..................................................................... 18.42 2.3 38.6 17.44 1.2 39.2 20.01 3.7 37.5

8 ..................................................................... 19.69 1.5 38.6 18.69 3.3 38.9 20.74 1.5 38.3

9 ..................................................................... 22.33 1.4 39.3 22.44 1.6 40.2 22.09 1.3 37.7

10 ................................................................... 25.38 1.3 40.5 25.22 1.3 41.5 25.68 3.6 38.7

11 ................................................................... 27.68 2.1 38.8 29.31 1.9 41.0 24.45 1.7 35.1

12 ................................................................... 32.33 4.0 41.8 32.46 4.7 43.2 31.35 .8 33.2

13 ................................................................... 39.93 4.0 38.9 41.42 4.8 40.9 37.56 .5 36.1

14 ................................................................... 68.37 13.8 36.6 68.50 13.8 36.6 – – –

Not able to be leveled .................................... 20.83 21.3 31.0 23.05 27.2 38.1 17.19 12.2 23.8

Professional specialty and technical ......................... 19.91 1.0 37.5 19.15 1.3 38.6 20.86 1.7 36.2

Professional specialty ................................................ 21.71 1.5 37.3 21.61 2.6 38.9 21.80 1.9 35.9

3 ..................................................................... 6.93 5.3 8.6 – – – 7.11 5.2 7.5

5 ..................................................................... 12.84 5.7 36.5 12.13 2.0 39.0 13.68 13.3 33.9

6 ..................................................................... 16.48 2.9 39.0 17.45 5.8 39.6 14.33 5.7 37.8

7 ..................................................................... 19.83 2.3 37.6 17.34 2.5 38.0 21.32 3.3 37.4

8 ..................................................................... 20.62 1.8 38.0 18.65 5.3 37.6 21.75 .7 38.2

9 ..................................................................... 21.77 1.2 38.3 21.44 1.5 39.0 22.22 1.4 37.4

10 ................................................................... 24.65 1.5 41.0 24.14 2.1 42.4 25.77 2.5 38.2

11 ................................................................... 25.61 1.9 36.7 28.17 1.3 39.4 23.24 1.7 34.5

12 ................................................................... 37.78 4.1 38.4 40.74 9.1 46.0 30.46 2.6 27.2

13 ................................................................... 37.04 1.1 37.3 – – – – – –

Not able to be leveled .................................... 29.35 35.2 36.8 32.36 38.5 36.5 – – –

Engineers, architects, and surveyors ..................... 23.29 3.9 40.8 23.21 4.0 40.9 24.69 1.4 39.8

7 ..................................................................... 17.44 3.8 41.5 17.47 5.1 42.0 – – –

8 ..................................................................... 20.80 6.5 40.8 21.18 7.1 41.3 – – –

10 ................................................................... 24.06 3.2 45.3 24.06 3.2 45.3 – – –

11 ................................................................... 28.27 2.3 40.6 28.45 3.0 40.8 – – –

12 ................................................................... 31.75 3.9 40.8 30.79 2.9 40.9 – – –

Mathematical and computer scientists ................... 22.31 2.3 40.9 22.43 2.8 41.1 19.89 13.2 38.7

7 ..................................................................... 17.46 3.4 39.5 17.63 3.9 39.7 – – –

8 ..................................................................... 23.60 2.0 41.3 23.57 2.1 41.4 – – –

9 ..................................................................... 22.70 4.2 42.3 22.78 4.4 42.4 – – –

10 ................................................................... 26.63 2.2 40.1 26.63 2.2 40.1 – – –

11 ................................................................... 28.82 1.7 40.2 – – – – – –

Natural scientists ................................................... 22.74 8.2 41.3 23.09 10.7 41.8 – – –

Health related ........................................................ 19.74 2.5 36.5 20.41 3.2 36.2 18.12 1.4 37.4

5 ..................................................................... 11.67 12.4 31.2 – – – – – –

6 ..................................................................... 16.38 2.3 38.5 14.80 4.4 37.7 – – –

See footnotes at end of table.

17
Table 6. Occupational groups1 and levels,2 East South Central: Mean hourly earnings3 and weekly hours, private industry and State

and local government, National Compensation Survey,4 1997–Continued

Occupational group and level

Total Private industry State and local government

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

Mean hours

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

White collar –Continued

Professional specialty and technical –Continued

Professional specialty –Continued

Health related –Continued

7 ..................................................................... $16.43 0.6 36.9 $16.47 0.8 37.1 $16.26 0.8 36.1

8 ..................................................................... 17.60 2.5 35.8 17.46 3.3 35.4 18.00 2.1 36.8

9 ..................................................................... 19.14 1.2 36.9 20.26 1.9 36.0 17.60 3.4 38.3

10 ................................................................... 23.49 3.6 39.8 23.12 5.1 40.0 – – –

11 ................................................................... 25.16 3.9 40.0 – – – – – –

12 ................................................................... 60.86 17.3 50.6 – – – – – –

Teachers, college and university ........................... 26.70 6.4 32.5 22.06 12.2 28.6 27.87 8.5 33.7

7 ..................................................................... 21.78 6.9 31.8 – – – 22.91 5.4 35.8

8 ..................................................................... 22.49 6.7 37.2 – – – – – –

9 ..................................................................... 22.69 4.2 33.3 20.39 2.6 31.7 25.80 .5 35.7

10 ................................................................... – – – – – – 27.51 7.8 37.8

11 ................................................................... 24.63 1.9 35.3 – – – 24.34 .4 39.5

12 ................................................................... 30.46 6.8 24.1 – – – – – –

Teachers, except college and university ................ 22.66 .9 35.8 12.87 6.0 35.6 23.03 1.1 35.9

3 ..................................................................... 7.11 5.2 7.5 – – – 7.11 5.2 7.5

5 ..................................................................... 13.27 17.7 31.1 9.42 2.9 31.5 14.66 22.1 30.9

7 ..................................................................... 23.50 3.6 37.5 12.80 11.5 37.8 23.61 3.6 37.5

8 ..................................................................... 22.52 1.7 38.4 – – – 22.83 1.4 38.4

9 ..................................................................... 24.54 1.6 36.9 – – – 24.77 2.0 36.8

Librarians, archivists, and curators ........................ 17.64 3.0 36.4 – – – 17.38 3.2 36.2

7 ..................................................................... 13.49 1.3 33.7 – – – 13.18 2.2 33.2

8 ..................................................................... 19.52 5.8 37.5 – – – 19.52 5.8 37.5

Social scientists and urban planners ..................... 17.92 10.3 41.2 – – – – – –

Social, religious, and recreation workers ............... 13.00 4.7 39.6 12.40 11.4 40.9 13.23 2.7 39.1

5 ..................................................................... 11.48 1.9 39.9 11.26 2.6 40.0 11.64 2.7 39.8

6 ..................................................................... 13.75 2.8 39.8 – – – 13.42 3.3 38.7

7 ..................................................................... 13.95 6.7 39.0 – – – 13.88 6.4 38.8

Lawyers and judges ............................................... 31.74 4.3 39.3 33.30 5.1 49.1 22.48 15.1 18.0

Writers, authors, entertainers, athletes, and

professionals, n.e.c. ............................................. 18.34 .7 40.3 19.23 3.2 40.7 13.68 6.2 38.4

5 ..................................................................... 12.78 .2 42.9 – – – – – –

6 ..................................................................... 11.91 5.5 39.7 – – – – – –

7 ..................................................................... 18.26 4.6 40.3 19.45 1.0 41.1 15.06 5.7 38.3

Not able to be leveled .................................... 15.61 14.5 34.1 15.58 14.4 34.4 – – –

Technical ................................................................... 13.85 3.0 38.2 14.11 2.6 37.9 12.80 4.4 39.0

2 ..................................................................... 7.31 8.4 38.3 7.88 14.1 36.8 – – –

3 ..................................................................... 7.27 5.6 36.2 7.27 5.6 36.2 – – –

4 ..................................................................... 9.92 3.7 35.5 10.14 4.5 34.4 9.30 1.4 39.3

5 ..................................................................... 12.24 3.3 39.6 12.46 3.2 39.8 11.10 3.5 38.8

6 ..................................................................... 12.71 4.3 38.9 12.73 5.1 38.9 12.60 2.3 39.4

7 ..................................................................... 15.17 2.9 39.1 14.78 1.9 38.8 16.44 7.0 40.0

8 ..................................................................... 16.07 2.6 38.7 17.40 5.5 38.4 13.60 2.8 39.3

9 ..................................................................... 21.00 2.2 35.3 21.75 2.7 36.0 – – –

Executive, administrative, and managerial ............... 24.91 3.5 41.0 25.61 4.3 41.9 21.85 1.5 37.2

5 ..................................................................... 11.94 1.6 43.6 11.83 1.2 44.2 – – –

6 ..................................................................... 13.25 1.4 39.7 13.27 1.6 39.6 13.23 4.2 39.9

7 ..................................................................... 18.33 2.8 39.1 19.37 2.0 39.9 15.11 9.2 36.8

8 ..................................................................... 19.02 3.3 39.8 19.14 3.6 40.3 18.61 3.0 38.1

9 ..................................................................... 23.43 2.4 42.0 23.71 2.6 42.5 22.05 1.4 40.0

10 ................................................................... 26.51 3.0 40.1 26.96 1.9 40.8 25.84 9.1 39.1

11 ................................................................... 29.50 1.5 41.3 29.91 1.8 42.4 27.65 1.9 36.8

12 ................................................................... 31.12 2.7 42.6 31.04 2.8 42.8 32.10 2.3 40.8

13 ................................................................... 40.44 1.9 42.6 41.93 2.9 43.3 – – –

14 ................................................................... 73.35 15.8 44.3 73.35 15.8 44.3 – – –

Not able to be leveled .................................... 29.98 13.6 19.3 – – – 32.47 26.8 11.5

Executives, administrators, and managers ............ 27.12 3.7 41.2 27.97 4.0 42.6 23.86 1.8 36.6

5 ..................................................................... 10.80 2.6 47.5 10.68 3.6 48.2 – – –

6 ..................................................................... 12.41 6.5 39.3 – – – – – –

See footnotes at end of table.

18
Table 6. Occupational groups1 and levels,2 East South Central: Mean hourly earnings3 and weekly hours, private industry and State

and local government, National Compensation Survey,4 1997–Continued

Occupational group and level

Total Private industry State and local government

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

Mean hours

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

White collar –Continued

Executive, administrative, and managerial

–Continued

Executives, administrators, and managers

–Continued

7 ..................................................................... $15.78 7.1 37.8 $15.82 1.4 39.6 $15.73 15.0 36.0

8 ..................................................................... 18.48 1.9 39.2 17.62 2.4 40.2 19.66 3.4 37.9

9 ..................................................................... 22.76 3.1 42.6 22.63 3.8 43.2 23.38 1.3 39.6

10 ................................................................... 26.39 4.6 40.0 26.89 2.6 41.0 25.84 9.2 39.0

11 ................................................................... 29.57 1.2 41.4 30.04 1.3 42.7 27.65 1.9 36.8

12 ................................................................... 31.14 2.8 42.7 31.06 2.9 42.8 32.10 2.3 40.8

13 ................................................................... 40.68 2.1 42.2 42.41 3.5 42.9 – – –

14 ................................................................... 73.35 15.8 44.3 73.35 15.8 44.3 – – –

Not able to be leveled .................................... 31.30 15.8 18.4 – – – 36.57 36.1 9.7

Management related .............................................. 20.02 1.5 40.4 20.79 1.9 40.6 15.44 2.6 39.5

5 ..................................................................... 12.58 .6 41.7 12.55 .6 42.0 – – –

6 ..................................................................... 13.90 5.3 40.0 14.29 2.6 40.0 – – –

7 ..................................................................... 19.58 9.9 39.8 – – – 14.07 2.1 38.4

8 ..................................................................... 19.38 5.0 40.2 19.80 5.2 40.3 15.62 6.1 38.7

9 ..................................................................... 24.85 3.1 40.9 26.06 2.8 40.9 19.52 4.8 40.7

10 ................................................................... 27.15 4.9 40.2 27.18 4.9 40.1 – – –

11 ................................................................... 28.52 7.6 40.1 28.52 7.6 40.1 – – –

Sales ............................................................................. 8.91 6.8 36.3 8.91 6.8 36.3 8.43 2.7 37.6

1 ..................................................................... 5.66 1.1 26.7 5.60 1.0 26.5 – – –

2 ..................................................................... 6.47 .7 28.2 6.47 .7 28.1 – – –

3 ..................................................................... – – – – – – 7.98 6.0 39.7

4 ..................................................................... 8.43 2.3 32.4 8.43 2.3 32.4 – – –

5 ..................................................................... 13.49 1.5 41.4 13.51 1.4 41.5 – – –

6 ..................................................................... 18.22 2.3 41.6 18.22 2.3 41.6 – – –

7 ..................................................................... 14.57 6.3 43.2 14.57 6.3 43.2 – – –

8 ..................................................................... 18.04 1.1 40.0 18.04 1.1 40.0 – – –

10 ................................................................... 24.49 2.4 40.0 24.49 2.4 40.0 – – –

11 ................................................................... 53.38 21.7 40.7 53.38 21.7 40.7 – – –

Administrative support, including clerical ................ 10.71 2.3 37.8 10.93 2.9 37.9 9.62 1.9 37.3

1 ..................................................................... 6.76 4.4 32.6 6.63 5.8 33.0 7.27 2.5 30.9

2 ..................................................................... 7.84 4.0 32.1 7.90 4.7 31.8 7.56 .7 34.1

3 ..................................................................... 8.41 2.4 38.2 8.38 2.6 38.5 8.49 2.1 37.1

4 ..................................................................... 10.27 3.3 39.0 10.41 5.0 39.0 9.51 2.8 38.6

5 ..................................................................... 12.42 2.6 38.4 12.55 2.7 38.3 11.62 3.2 39.6

6 ..................................................................... 12.96 1.6 39.5 13.17 1.6 39.8 12.33 .4 38.7

7 ..................................................................... 16.90 1.5 40.0 17.18 1.3 40.0 12.22 9.1 39.5

8 ..................................................................... 19.21 12.6 42.1 19.21 12.6 42.1 – – –

Not able to be leveled .................................... 11.07 16.6 34.4 – – – – – –

Blue collar ........................................................................ 11.21 3.7 39.4 11.22 3.8 39.5 11.19 3.9 36.9

1 ..................................................................... 8.26 5.0 36.9 8.28 5.0 36.9 7.43 8.4 39.2

2 ..................................................................... 8.02 1.1 39.2 8.01 1.2 39.5 8.41 3.0 32.2

3 ..................................................................... 9.65 1.9 39.8 9.68 8.3 39.9 8.85 2.1 35.7

4 ..................................................................... 10.86 1.2 40.5 10.99 2.2 41.1 9.92 2.5 36.9

5 ..................................................................... 12.98 2.1 40.2 13.11 2.2 40.5 11.07 1.7 35.8

6 ..................................................................... 14.63 1.3 40.9 14.90 1.1 41.3 12.53 4.3 38.4

7 ..................................................................... 16.09 2.3 40.4 16.14 2.3 40.5 15.62 5.2 40.0

8 ..................................................................... 19.62 2.4 41.1 19.63 2.5 41.1 – – –

9 ..................................................................... 21.42 3.8 41.4 21.36 4.0 41.4 23.98 2.5 40.2

Precision production, craft, and repair ...................... 13.69 9.0 40.0 13.73 9.8 40.1 13.23 4.0 39.1

2 ..................................................................... 8.62 2.6 39.4 8.44 3.7 39.3 – – –

3 ..................................................................... 10.38 2.8 38.7 10.45 3.2 38.6 – – –

4 ..................................................................... 10.92 2.0 39.3 11.32 2.0 40.0 10.02 1.9 37.9

5 ..................................................................... 12.94 3.2 40.0 13.14 3.1 40.0 11.10 4.6 39.7

6 ..................................................................... 14.51 4.9 39.8 14.93 4.3 40.1 12.17 6.5 38.1

See footnotes at end of table.

19
Table 6. Occupational groups1 and levels,2 East South Central: Mean hourly earnings3 and weekly hours, private industry and State

and local government, National Compensation Survey,4 1997–Continued

Occupational group and level

Total Private industry State and local government

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

Mean hours

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Blue collar –Continued

Precision production, craft, and repair –Continued

7 ..................................................................... $16.13 2.2 40.2 $16.15 2.1 40.2 $15.91 5.6 39.9

8 ..................................................................... 20.12 4.5 40.9 20.16 4.5 40.9 – – –

9 ..................................................................... 21.64 1.8 40.1 21.55 2.0 40.1 23.98 2.5 40.2

Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors ..... 10.84 4.0 39.9 10.84 4.0 39.9 12.40 11.7 37.4

1 ..................................................................... 7.77 8.8 39.6 7.77 8.8 39.6 – – –

2 ..................................................................... 8.03 5.5 39.9 8.03 5.5 39.9 – – –

3 ..................................................................... 9.66 12.8 40.0 9.66 12.8 40.0 – – –

4 ..................................................................... 11.34 6.1 40.3 11.36 6.1 40.3 – – –

5 ..................................................................... 13.57 3.0 39.9 13.57 3.0 39.9 – – –

6 ..................................................................... 15.13 7.2 39.7 15.18 7.5 39.7 – – –

7 ..................................................................... 16.32 1.8 39.5 16.28 1.7 39.5 – – –

Transportation and material moving ......................... 12.42 6.0 41.0 12.68 6.6 42.6 9.93 2.4 30.0

2 ..................................................................... 8.64 4.4 36.6 8.75 4.7 39.0 7.95 7.8 26.0

3 ..................................................................... 10.08 5.9 39.0 10.12 6.1 40.3 9.30 9.2 23.3

4 ..................................................................... 10.61 5.1 42.1 10.84 5.3 44.1 9.43 7.1 34.0

5 ..................................................................... 13.13 1.6 41.3 13.27 1.8 43.4 – – –

6 ..................................................................... 14.41 7.5 44.5 14.61 8.1 45.5 12.77 4.2 37.7

7 ..................................................................... 16.06 8.1 43.2 – – – – – –

8 ..................................................................... 17.19 16.9 56.3 17.19 16.9 56.3 – – –

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and

laborers ....................................................................... 8.55 1.1 37.5 8.51 1.1 37.3 9.15 3.6 39.9

1 ..................................................................... 7.93 5.3 32.9 7.97 5.7 32.5 7.41 8.7 39.8

2 ..................................................................... 7.86 .7 39.4 7.84 .6 39.4 8.53 .9 39.8

3 ..................................................................... 9.32 3.6 39.9 9.38 5.5 39.9 8.50 2.9 40.0

4 ..................................................................... 9.90 4.3 40.2 9.81 5.0 40.3 10.49 5.6 40.0

5 ..................................................................... 10.86 6.9 40.4 10.80 8.3 40.5 11.11 2.2 39.7

6 ..................................................................... 14.49 4.3 41.0 14.66 6.3 41.0 – – –

7 ..................................................................... 13.01 8.3 41.3 13.33 8.6 41.6 – – –

Service .............................................................................. 7.57 .7 36.3 – – – 9.83 4.9 37.4

1 ..................................................................... 5.75 .6 34.9 5.69 .6 35.2 7.00 1.6 28.9

2 ..................................................................... – – – – – – 7.25 5.4 37.0

3 ..................................................................... 8.00 1.6 36.9 8.01 7.6 37.3 7.90 4.9 34.5

4 ..................................................................... 8.32 .9 38.2 – – – 9.08 4.2 36.3

5 ..................................................................... 10.85 1.7 39.3 9.43 4.9 38.5 11.81 4.4 39.9

6 ..................................................................... 11.83 2.6 42.9 13.36 5.9 39.5 11.70 2.5 43.2

7 ..................................................................... – – – – – – 13.10 5.6 43.1

8 ..................................................................... 15.50 4.4 45.1 – – – 14.53 3.9 46.1

Protective service .................................................. 10.31 2.9 40.3 – – – 12.28 3.3 41.7

1 ..................................................................... 5.86 4.1 37.4 5.86 4.1 37.4 – – –

3 ..................................................................... – – – – – – 9.09 5.7 34.8

4 ..................................................................... 10.39 2.8 37.2 – – – 10.51 3.5 37.9

5 ..................................................................... 10.98 2.0 40.2 – – – 11.90 6.1 40.5

6 ..................................................................... 11.70 2.5 43.2 – – – 11.71 2.5 43.3

7 ..................................................................... 13.12 5.6 42.9 – – – 13.10 5.6 43.1

8 ..................................................................... 14.53 3.9 46.1 – – – 14.53 3.9 46.1

Food service ......................................................... 5.76 1.7 36.1 – – – 7.41 5.6 33.6

1 ..................................................................... 5.86 1.6 34.7 – – – 6.90 5.2 31.8

2 ..................................................................... – – – – – – 6.86 7.7 34.3

3 ..................................................................... 6.28 3.7 33.6 6.06 3.1 33.8 7.59 8.1 32.4

4 ..................................................................... 8.44 1.1 36.4 8.52 1.0 36.6 8.22 2.6 35.9

5 ..................................................................... 10.34 4.2 39.3 10.12 4.1 40.0 – – –

Health service ....................................................... 7.12 1.9 36.7 7.01 1.6 36.6 7.69 3.6 37.6

1 ..................................................................... 6.00 7.6 38.1 5.78 7.6 37.9 – – –

2 ..................................................................... 6.57 2.3 37.4 6.37 1.5 37.1 7.94 8.9 40.0

3 ..................................................................... 6.95 2.3 36.0 6.87 2.6 35.4 7.41 6.0 39.9

4 ..................................................................... 7.82 2.3 36.1 7.80 5.1 37.6 7.84 1.9 33.7

5 ..................................................................... 11.27 12.8 33.8 11.27 12.8 33.8 – – –

See footnotes at end of table.

20
Table 6. Occupational groups1 and levels,2 East South Central: Mean hourly earnings3 and weekly hours, private industry and State

and local government, National Compensation Survey,4 1997–Continued

Occupational group and level

Total Private industry State and local government

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

hours

Hourly earnings

Mean

weekly

Mean hours

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Mean

Relative

error5

(percent)

Service –Continued

Cleaning and building service ................................ $7.83 1.2 37.6 $7.69 3.4 37.6 $8.43 1.7 37.7

1 ..................................................................... 6.58 2.7 34.7 6.42 3.5 34.5 7.26 1.2 35.5

2 ..................................................................... 7.22 3.2 35.5 7.08 2.9 33.0 7.40 5.1 39.3

3 ..................................................................... 8.81 2.5 37.6 9.22 2.2 38.9 8.43 3.4 36.5

5 ..................................................................... 11.89 2.7 40.0 – – – 12.23 4.4 40.0

Personal service .................................................... – – – – – – 7.55 2.9 29.4

1 ..................................................................... – – – – – – 6.12 3.7 13.0

2 ..................................................................... – – – – – – 6.47 5.4 32.8

3 ..................................................................... 7.57 4.6 32.5 7.63 6.8 33.2 7.51 3.7 31.9

4 ..................................................................... 7.90 2.4 34.5 8.04 2.8 34.0 7.71 4.9 35.3

1 A classification system including about 480 individual occupations is used to cover all

workers in the civilian economy. For more information, see Technical Note. 2 Each occupation for which data are collected in an establishment is evaluated based

on 10 factors, including knowledge, complexity, work environment, etc. Points are assigned

based on the occupation’s rank within each factor. The points are summed to determine the

overall level of the occupation. See the Technical Note for more information. 3 Earnings are the straight-time hourly wages or salaries paid to employees. They

include incentive pay, cost-of-living adjustments, and hazard pay. Excluded are premium

pay for overtime, vacations, and holidays; nonproduction bonuses; and tips. The mean is

computed by totaling the pay of all workers and dividing by the number of workers,

weighted by hours. 4 In this census division, collection was conducted between October 1996 and May

1998. The average reference period was December 1997. 5 The relative standard error (RSE) is the standard error expressed as a percent of the

estimate. It can be used to calculate a "confidence interval" around a sample estimate. For

more information about RSEs, see Technical Note.

NOTE: Dashes indicate that no data were reported or that data did not meet publication

criteria. Occupational groups may include data for levels not shown separately.

21
22

Technical Note

The data in this report are based on the National Compensation Survey (NCS) conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics throughout the year. The surveys are locality-based and

cover establishments in private industry and State and local

governments. Bulletins are issued for individual localities

when sufficient data meet publication standards. Agriculture,

private households, and the Federal Government are excluded

from the scope of the survey.

Survey scope. In the East South Central census division, the

NCS studied 693 establishments with 50 or more workers,1

representing about 19,200 establishments within the scope

of the survey. (See table A.) The number of workers represented by the survey is shown in table B. For purposes of

this survey, an establishment is an economic unit that produces goods or services, a central administrative office, or

an auxiliary unit providing support services to a company.

For private industry, an establishment is usually at a single

physical location. For State and local government, an establishment is defined as all locations of a government entity.

Sampling frame. The list of establishments from which the

survey sample was selected (sampling frame) was developed

from the State unemployment insurance reports. The reference month for the public sector is June 1994. Due to the

volatility of industries within the private sector, sampling

frames were developed using the most recent month of reference available at the time the sample was selected. The

reference month for the private sector is March 1996. The

sampling frame was reviewed prior to the survey and, when

necessary, missing establishments were added, out-of-business and out-of-scope establishments were removed, and

addresses, employment levels, industry classification, and

other information were updated.

Sample design and data collection. The sample for this survey was selected using a three stage design. The first stage

consists of the selection of areas. The nationwide NCS sample

includes 149 metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas that

represent the Nation’s 326 metropolitan statistical areas (as

defined by the Office of Management and Budget) and the

remaining portions of the 48 contiguous States. Metropolitan areas are designated Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA)

or Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas (CMSA), as

defined in 1994 by the Office of Management and Budget.

Nonmetropolitan areas are counties that do not fit the metropolitan area definition.

The NCS locality areas that contribute to the East South

Central census division are:

Birmingham, AL MSA

Bradley County, TN

Choctaw County, AL

Harrison County, KY

Henry County, AL

Huntsville, AL MSA

Knoxville, TN MSA

Lee County, MS

Louisville, KY-IN MSA

Memphis, TN-AR-MS MSA

Mobile, AL MSA

Taylor County, KY

Tunica County, MS

Wayne County, TN

Winston County, MS

In the second stage, the sample of establishments is drawn

by first stratifying the sampling frame by industry and ownership. The number of sample establishments allocated to

each stratum is approximately proportional to the stratum

employment. Each sampled establishment is selected within

a stratum with a probability proportional to its employment.

Use of this technique means that the larger an establishment’s

employment, the greater its chance of selection. Weights are

applied to each establishment when the data are tabulated so

that the establishment represents similar units (by industry

and employment size) in the economy that are not selected

for collection.

The third stage of sample selection is a probability sample

of occupations within a sampled establishment. In the East

South Central region, collection was conducted between October 1996 and May 1998 with an average reference period

of December 1997. The combined average payroll reference

month for all surveys that contributed to the national estimates is August 1997. Additional information about the area

sample and method of estimation is available in the BLS

publication, National Compensation Survey: Occupational

Wages in the United States, 1997, Bulletin 2519.

Occupational selection and classification. Identification of

the occupations for which wage data are collected is a fourstep process:

1. Probability-proportional-to-size selection of establishment jobs

2. Classification of jobs into occupations based on the

Census of Population system

3. Characterization of jobs as full time v. part time, union

v. nonunion, and time v. incentive

 1 Establishments classified as employing between 50 and 99 workers

may include establishments with fewer than 50 workers because staff reductions may have taken place between the time of sampling and the time

of data collection.
23

4. Determination of the level of work of each job

For each occupation, wage data are collected for those

workers who meet all the criteria identified in the last three

steps. Special procedures are developed for jobs for which a

correct classification or level can not be determined.

In step one, the jobs to be sampled are selected at each

establishment by the BLS field economist during a personal

visit. A complete list of employees is used for sampling, with

each selected worker representing a job within the establishment. As with the selection of establishments, the selection

of a job is based on probability proportional to its size in the

establishment. The greater the number of people working in

a job in the establishment, the greater its chance of selection.

The second step of the process entails classifying the selected jobs into occupations based on their duties. The National Compensation Survey occupational classification system is based on the 1990 Census of Population. A selected

job may fall into any one of about 480 occupational classifications, from accountant to wood lathe operator. In cases

where a job’s duties overlap two or more census classification codes, the duties used to set the wage level are used to

classify the job. Classification by primary duties is the

fallback.

In step three, certain other job characteristics of the chosen workers are identified. First, the worker is identified as

holding either a full- or part-time job, based on the

establishment’s definition of those terms. Then the worker is

classified as having a time versus incentive job, depending

on whether any part of pay is directly based on the actual

production of the workers, rather than solely on hours worked.

Finally, the worker is identified as being in a union job or a

nonunion job.

The fourth step in the job classification procedure is to

determine the work level of each of the establishment’s selected jobs, using a “generic leveling” process. This process, involving discussions between the Bureau’s field economist and the respondent, ranks and compares all selected

establishment occupations using 10 leveling factors. For more

information on generic leveling and an example of using the

criteria for leveling a job, see appendixes C and D at

www.bls.gov/compub.htm or any of our published NCS

bulletins. This web site also has a link to the NCS job descriptions.

Data reliability. The data in this summary are estimates from

a scientifically selected probability sample. There are two

types of errors possible in an estimate based on a sample

survey, sampling and nonsampling.

Sampling errors occur because observations come only

from a sample and not from an entire population. The sample

used for this survey is one of a number of possible samples

of the same size that could have been selected using the

sample design. Estimates derived from the different samples

would differ from each other.

A measure of the variation among these differing estimates is called the standard error or sampling error. It indicates the precision with which an estimate from a particular

sample approximates the average result of all possible

samples. The relative standard error (RSE) is the standard

error divided by the estimate. Tables in this report provide

RSE data for indicated series.

The standard error can be used to calculate a “confidence

interval” around a sample estimate. As an example, suppose

the mean hourly earnings for all workers is $15.09 per hour

with a relative standard error of 0.6 percent for this estimate.

At the 90-percent level, the confidence interval for this estimate is $15.24 to $14.94 ($15.09 x 1.645 x 0.006 = $0.149,

round to $0.15); ($15.09 + .15 = $15.24; $15.09 - .15 =

$14.94). If all possible samples were selected to estimate

the population value, the interval from each sample would

include the true population value approximately 90 percent

of the time.

Nonsampling errors also affect survey results. They can

stem from many sources, such as inability to obtain information for some establishments, difficulties with survey definitions, inability of the respondents to provide correct information, or mistakes in recording or coding the data obtained.

A Technical Reinterview Program conducted in all survey

areas will be used to develop a formal quality assessment

process to help compute nonsampling error. Although they

also are not specifically measured, efforts are made to minimize nonsampling errors by the extensive training of field

economists who gather survey data, edit the data by computer, and provide a detailed review of the data.

Census area divisions. Census divisions providing data are

defined as follows: New England—Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island;

Middle Atlantic—New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania; East North Central—Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio,

and Wisconsin; West North Central—Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska;

South Atlantic—Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida,

Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia,

and West Virginia; East South Central—Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee; West South Central—

Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; Mountain—

Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona,

Utah, and Nevada; and Pacific—Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, and Alaska.2 Some census divisions include

Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas (CMSAs) and

Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) that cross State lines.

Additional information about the National Compensation

Survey, including a list of occupational classifications, is

available by calling (202) 691-6199. You may also write to

the Bureau of Labor Statistics at: Division of Compensation

Data Analysis and Planning, 2 Massachusetts Ave., NE,

2

 Although Alaska and Hawaii are included in the Pacific Census Division, the 1997 NCS excluded these States.
24

Room 4175, Washington, DC 20212-0001, or send e-mail

to OCLTINFO@bls.gov.

The data contained in this summary are also available on

the Internet through the BLS site http://stats.bls.gov/

comhome.htm. Data are in three formats: An ASCII file

containing the published table formats; an ASCII file containing positional columns of data for manipulation as a data

base or spreadsheet; and a Portable Document Format (PDF)

containing the entire summary.

Material in this summary is in the public domain and,

with appropriate credit, may be reproduced without permission. This information is available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Information Relay Service: 1-800-877-8339.
Table A. Number of establishments represented by the survey and number studied by industry group and establishment

employment size, East South Central, National Compensation Survey, 1997

Industry division

Number of

establishments represented1

Number of establishments studied

Total 50 - 99

workers

100 - 499

workers

500 - 999

workers

1000 -

2,499

workers

2,500 -

4,999

workers

5,000 or

more

workers

All .................................................................................................... 19,200 693 207 309 76 60 28 13

Private Industry .......................................................................... 17,100 559 186 261 57 35 15 5

Goods-producing industries ..................................................... 5,100 183 51 85 27 13 5 2

Mining .................................................................................. 2 () 2 1 1 – – – –

Construction ......................................................................... 900 23 10 12 1 – – –

Manufacturing ...................................................................... 4,100 158 40 72 26 13 5 2

Durable goods ................................................................. 2,100 102 29 45 14752

Fabricated metal products, except machinery and

transportation equipment ....................................... 600 17 4 11 1 – – 1

Industrial and commercial machinery and computer

equipment .............................................................. 200 13 4 4 2 1 2–

Electronic and electrical equipment ............................. 500 22 7 10 3 1 – 1

Transportation equipment ............................................ 200 18 3 6 4 2 3–

Measuring, analyzing, and controlling instruments ...... 2 () 4 2 2 – – – –

Nondurable goods ........................................................... 2,000 56 11 27 12 6 – –

Food and kindred products .......................................... 100 12 – 9 2 1 – –

Printing, publishing, and allied industries ..................... 100 5 1 1 2 1– –

Chemicals and allied products ..................................... 300 10 3 4 3 – – –

Service-producing industries ................................................... 12,000 376 135 176 30 22 10 3

Transportation and utilities ................................................... 1,100 46 18 193312

Wholesale trade ................................................................... 1,100 24 14 8 2 – – –

Retail trade .......................................................................... 4,300 95 46 38 6 3 2–

Finance, insurance and real estate ...................................... 600 31 12 13 4 – 2 –

Depository institutions ...................................................... 200 15 3 7 3 – 2 –

Insurance carriers ............................................................ 100 5 3 2 ––––

Services ............................................................................... 4,800 180 45 98 15 16 5 1

Business services ............................................................ 900 38 8 24 4 2 – –

Educational services ........................................................ 100 14 6 8 ––––

Health services ................................................................ 1,600 73 10 36 8 13 5 1

Hospitals ...................................................................... 300 36 – 13 5 12 5 1

Engineering, accounting, research, management, and

related services .......................................................... 100 19 4 12 3 – – –

State and local government ...................................................... 2,100 134 21 48 19 25 13 8

Health services ................................................................ 200 22 3 7 5 5 2–

Hospitals ...................................................................... 100 13 – 2 4 5 2–

1 Number of establishments represented by the survey rounded to the nearest 100. 2 Number of establishments represented by the survey is fewer than 50.

NOTE: Dashes indicate that no data were reported. Overall industry and industry groups

may include data for categories not shown separately.

25
Table B. Number of workers1 represented by the survey, by occupational group,2 East South

Central, National Compensation Survey,3 1997

Occupational group All industries Private industry State and local

government

All ............................................................................................. 5,046,800 4,233,100 813,700

All excluding sales ................................................................ 4,493,200 3,684,100 809,200

White collar ......................................................................... 2,213,400 1,684,000 529,400

White collar excluding sales ............................................. 1,659,900 1,135,000 524,900

Professional specialty and technical ................................. 664,700 328,700 336,000

Professional specialty occupations ............................... 529,600 220,500 309,200

Technical occupations .................................................. 135,100 108,300 26,800

Executive, administrative, and managerial ....................... 297,300 233,500 63,700

Sales ................................................................................. 553,500 549,000 4,500

Administrative support, including clerical .......................... 697,900 572,700 125,200

Blue collar ........................................................................... 1,468,200 1,377,900 90,300

Precision production, craft, and repair .............................. 404,100 369,100 35,000

Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors .............. 465,200 463,100 2,200

Transportation and material moving ................................. 180,800 153,600 27,200

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers ...... 418,100 392,100 26,000

Service ................................................................................. 1,365,100 – 193,900

1 Number of workers represented by the survey are rounded

to the nearest 100. Estimates of the number of workers provide a

description of size and composition of the labor force included in

the survey. Estimates are not intended, however, for comparison

with other statistical series to measure employment trends or

levels. Both full-time and part-time workers were included in the

survey. 2 A classification system including about 480 individual

occupations is used to cover all workers in the civilian economy.

For more information, see Technical Note. 3 In this census division, collection was conducted between

October 1996 and May 1998. The average reference period was

December 1997.

NOTE: Dashes indicate that no data were reported or that data

did not meet publication criteria. 

26