Occupational Employment

and Wages, 2010

October 2011 Bulletin 2769

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

U.S. Department of Labor

Occupational Employment and Wages 2010

iii

Occupational Employment

and Wages, 2010

U.S. Department of Labor

Hilda L. Solis, Secretary

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Keith Hall, Commissioner

October 2011

Bulletin 2769
iv

Preface

This chartbook, Occupational Employment 

and Wages, 2010, is a product of the 

Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) 

program of the U.S. Bureau of Labor 

Statistics (BLS). The OES program produces 

employment and wage estimates for nearly 

800 occupations by geographic area and 

industry.

For every occupation, the OES program has data on 

the total U.S. employment and the distribution of wages, 

including the mean wage and the 10th, 25th, 50th 

(median), 75th, and 90th percentiles. Occupational data 

for geographic areas include employment and wages for 

each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto 

Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Local area data 

are available for 380 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), 

34 metropolitan divisions within 11 of the largest MSAs, 

and 174 nonmetropolitan areas. National industry-specific 

estimates are available by industry sector and for 334 

industries.

The OES survey is a cooperative effort between BLS and 

the state workforce agencies. Employment and wage 

data for nearly 800 occupations were collected from a 

sample of 1.2 million business establishments, employing 

more than 80 million workers, in 6 semiannual panels 

between November 2007 and May 2010. Wage data 

for all establishments were updated to the May 2010 

reference period, and employment data were updated 

to the average of the November 2009 and the May 2010 

reference periods. Information on OES sampling and 

estimation methodology is provided in the survey methods 

and reliability statement at www.bls.gov/oes/current/

methods_statement.pdf.

Data users can create customized tables using the OES 

database search tool, or download complete OES data 

in zipped Microsoft Excel format from www.bls.gov/oes/

oes_dl.htm. Material in this publication is in the public 

domain and, with appropriate citation, may be reproduced 

without permission. Questions about OES data can be 

directed to the information phone line at (202) 691-6569 or 

sent to OESinfo@bls.gov.
v
vi

The information in this chart book is possible through the 

cooperation of more than a million business establishments 

that provide information on their workers to their state 

workforce agency and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

(BLS). State workforce agencies within each state collect 

and verify almost all data provided. BLS selects the 

sample, produces the estimates, and provides technical 

procedures and financial support to the states. BLS 

also collects a small portion of the data from employers. 

BLS produced this chartbook with contributions from 

Claudia Calderón, Benjamin Cover, Swati Patel, Laurie 

Salmon, George Stamas, and Audrey Watson. Cover art, 

typesetting, and layout were performed by Bruce Boyd and 

editorial services were provided by Maureen Soyars.

Acknowledgments
vii
viii

Contents

Page Overview

iv Preface

vi Acknowledgments

x Organization of charts and applications of OES data

 xi OES survey coverage, scope, and concept definitions

2 Figure 1 Employment and percent of total employment for the largest and smallest occupational groups, May 2010

3 Figure 2 Annual mean wages for the highest and lowest paying occupational groups, May 2010

4 Figure 3 Distribution of private and public sector employment by selected occupational group, May 2010

6 Figure 4 Employment and annual mean wages for the largest occupations in the private sector, May 2010

7 Figure 5 Employment and annual mean wages for the largest occupations in the public sector, May 2010

8 Figure 6 Employment and annual mean wages for the largest occupations in retail trade, May 2010

Page STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

12 Figure 7 Employment and annual mean wages for the largest STEM occupations, May 2010

13 Figure 8 Industry employment for biomedical engineers, May 2010

14 Figure 9 Employment and annual mean wages for the largest occupations in scientific research and development services, May 2010

15 Figure 10 Employment and annual mean wages for the largest occupations in communications equipment manufacturing, May 2010

16 Figure 11 Annual mean wages for the highest and lowest paying life and physical science occupations, May 2010

17 Figure 12 Annual mean wages for the highest and lowest paying architecture and engineering occupations, May 2010

18 Figure 13 Metropolitan areas with the highest concentrations of biochemists and biophysicists, May 2010

19 Figure 14 Metropolitan areas with the highest concentrations of mechanical engineers, May 2010

20 Figure 15 STEM occupations with the highest location quotients in Framingham, MA, May 2010

Page Healthcare

24 Figure 16 Wages for selected health assistants, May 2010

25 Figure 17 Wages for selected health aides, May 2010

26 Figure 18 Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest occupations in general medical and surgical hospitals, May 2010
ix

Contents

Page Healthcare

27 Figure 19 Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest occupations in the medical and diagnostic laboratories industry, May 2010

28 Figure 20 Employment by occupational group in outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers, May 2010

29 Figure 21 Employment by occupational group in residential mental health and substance abuse facilities, May 2010

30 Figure 22 Employment of selected healthcare workers in non-healthcare related industries, May 2010

31 Figure 23 Location quotient of medical transcriptionists, by area, May 2010

Page Construction

34 Figure 24 Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest construction occupations, May 2010

35 Figure 25 Construction occupations with the highest mean wages, May 2010

36 Figure 26 Employment of the largest occupations in the building construction industry, May 2010

37 Figure 27 Mean hourly wages of the largest occupations in the building construction industry, May 2010

38 Figure 28 Construction occupations with the largest percent decrease in employment between May 2006 and May 2010

39 Figure 29 Construction occupations with an increase in employment between May 2006 and May 2010

40 Figure 30 States with the largest percent decrease in employment of construction occupations from May 2006 to May 2010

41 Figure 31 States with an increase in employment of construction occupations from May 2006 to May 2010

42 Figure 32 Location quotients for construction occupations in Pascagoula, MS, May 2010

43 Figure 33 Construction occupations in the San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA, metropolitan division with mean wages at least 55 percent higher than average, May 2010

Page Manufacturing

46 Figure 34 Employment and annual mean wages for the 10 largest occupations in manufacturing, May 2010

47 Figure 35 Highest paying production occupations in manufacturing, May 2010

48 Figure 36 Location quotient of team assemblers, by state, May 2010

49 Figure 37 Annual mean wage of team assemblers, by state, May 2010

50 Figure 38 Occupations with the largest location quotients in Elkhart-Goshen, IN, May 2010

52 Figure 39 Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest occupations in textile mills, May 2010

53 Figure 40 Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest occupations in chemical manufacturing, May 2010
x

Organization 

of charts and 

applications

of OES data

The presentation of figures in this 

chartbook is intended to demonstrate 

a variety of applications of OES 

data. Figures are organized into 

five sections: the first focuses on 

a general overview of OES data, 

the others highlight occupational, 

geographic, and industry topics in jobs 

related to construction, healthcare, 

manufacturing, and STEM (science, 

technology, engineering, and 

mathematics). The following are

some examples of useful applications 

of OES data:

Detailed occupational data can be used by jobseekers 

or employers to study wages for workers in certain 

occupations and to assess wage variation within and 

across occupations. Wage variation within an occupation 

can result from several factors, including industry, 

geographic location, or a worker’s individual experience 

or qualifications. Useful data for jobseekers include 

information on the industries or geographic areas that have 

the highest employment or the highest average wages 

for an occupation. Career and guidance counselors can 

use OES data to examine information on the possible 

occupational choices of their clients. 

Industry-specific occupational data can be used by human 

resources professionals in salary negotiations or to ensure 

that their wages are competitive with those of other 

businesses in their area or industry. Information on the 

types of jobs within an industry can be used to compare 

average staffing patterns with the staffing pattern of one’s 

own company. Occupational employment by industry may 

be useful in assessing the impact of shifts in technology and 

other macroeconomic trends on the types of jobs available. 

BLS and state government employment projections 

programs use OES data as an input to their employment 

projections, which can be used to predict training and 

education demands. 

Information about geographic areas can be used to assess 

labor market features of a particular area. OES state-level 

data can be used to make assessments about the diversity 

of a state’s economy or to make comparisons among 

states. The occupational composition of employment can 

provide clues to how a state or regional economy can hold 

up in adverse conditions that affect a certain sector of the 

economy. Differences in both occupational composition 

and occupational wage rates also help explain differences 

in average wages across states. For example, states with 

high average wages may have larger employment shares 

of high-paying occupations, higher wages within each 

occupation, or some combination of both factors. 

Like state data, metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area data 

can be used to study the diversity of local area economies. 

Businesses can use data to see whether it might be 

beneficial to relocate to a particular area. OES wage data 

can be used to compare wages across alternative areas 

as part of an analysis of labor costs. OES occupational 

employment data may indicate whether workers are 

available in occupations that the business will need. For 

example, businesses that require computer specialists or 

skilled production workers may want to identify areas that 

have high employment in these occupations.
xi

OES survey 

coverage, scope, 

and concept 

definitions

The OES survey covers all full- and 

part-time wage and salary workers in 

nonfarm industries. The survey does 

not include the self-employed, owners 

and partners in unincorporated firms, 

workers in private households, or 

unpaid family workers.

An occupation is a set of activities or tasks that employees are 

paid to perform. Employees who perform essentially the same 

tasks are in the same occupation, whether or not they are in 

the same industry. Workers who may be classified in more than 

one occupation are classified in the occupation that requires the 

highest level of skill. If there is no measurable difference in skill 

requirements, workers are included in the occupation in which 

they spend the most time. Most occupations are classified by 

the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. 

An industry is a group of establishments that have similar 

production processes or provide similar services. For example, 

all establishments that manufacture automobiles are in the same 

industry. A given industry, or even a particular establishment 

in that industry, might have employees in many different 

occupations. The North American Industry Classification System 

(NAICS) groups similar establishments into industries. 

The employment shown is the average employment for 

the most recent May and November (in this chartbook, 

May 2010 and November 2009). Employment is defined 

as the number of workers who can be classified as full- or 

part-time employees, including workers on paid vacations 

or other types of paid leave; workers on unpaid short-term 

absences; salaried officers, executives, and staff members 

of incorporated firms; employees temporarily assigned to 

other units; and employees whose reporting unit is their 

permanent duty station, regardless of whether that unit 

prepares their paycheck. 

Wages for the OES survey are straight-time gross pay, 

exclusive of premium pay. Included are base rate; costof-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty 

pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production 

bonuses; and tips. Excluded are back pay, jury duty pay, 

overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary 

benefits, and tuition reimbursements. 

Respondents are asked to report the number of employees 

paid within specific wage intervals, regardless of whether 

the employees work part time or full time. The responding 

establishment can reference either the hourly or the annual 

rate for full-time workers but are instructed to report the 

hourly rate for part-time workers. Intervals are defined both 

as hourly rates and the corresponding annual rates, where 

the annual rate for an occupation is calculated by multiplying 

the hourly wage rate by a typical work year of 2,080 hours. 

Geographic areas are defined by the Office of Management 

and Budget. Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin 

Islands are also surveyed; their data are not included in 

this publication, but are published on the OES website. 

The nationwide response rate for the May 2010 survey was 

78.2 percent based on establishments and 74.4 percent 

based on employment. More information on sampling 

and estimation methodology can be found in the survey 

methods and reliability statement on website at www.bls.

gov/oes/current/methods_statement.pdf.
xii
Occupational Employment and Wages 2010

1

Overview
2

OVERVIEW Office and administrative support occupations made up more than one out of every six jobs 

in the United States.

Employment and percent of total employment for the largest 

and smallest occupational groups, May 2010

Excludes farming, fishing, and forestry occupations because OES does not cover the majority of the agricultural sector.

Office and administrative 

support

Sales and related

Food preparation and 

serving related

Transportation and material 

moving

Education, training, and 

library

Production

Protective service

Architecture and 

engineering

Community and social 

service

Arts, design, entertainment, 

sports, and media

Life, physical, and social 

science

Legal

Figure 1

z Office and administrative support 

was the largest occupational group 

in the United States, making up 17 

percent of employment. Three of 

the 10 largest occupations were in 

this group: general office clerks; 

customer service representatives; 

and secretaries and administrative 

assistants, except legal, medical, 

and executive. Sales and related 

occupations was the second largest 

occupational group, and included the 

two largest individual occupations, 

retail salespersons and cashiers.

z The smallest occupational groups 

each made up 3 percent or less 

of U.S. employment. Several of 

these groups consisted primarily of 

occupations requiring postsecondary 

education, such as architects, social 

workers, and scientists.

z Four of the six smallest 

occupational groups had annual 

mean wages above the U.S. alloccupations average of $44,410; 

all of the largest occupational 

groups, except the education, 

training, and library group, had 

below-average wages.

Occupational group

16.9

10.6

8.7

6.7

6.7

6.5

2.5

1.8

1.5

1.4

0.8

0.8

Employment (millions)

0 5 10 15 20 25

 Largest occupational groups

 Smallest occupational groups

Percent of total 

employment
3

OVERVIEW The average wage for the highest paying occupational group was nearly five 

times that of the lowest paying group.

Annual mean wages for the highest and lowest paying 

occupational groups, May 2010 

Figure 2

z Annual mean wages by 

occupational group ranged from 

$21,240 for food preparation 

and serving related occupations 

to $105,440 for management 

occupations. Nearly every 

management occupation had an 

average wage above the U.S. alloccupations mean of $44,410, while 

nearly all food preparation and 

serving related occupations had 

an annual mean wage of less than 

$25,000.

z Although healthcare practitioners 

and technical occupations included 

some of the highest paying 

individual occupations, this group 

also included occupations with 

more moderate wages, such as 

dietetic technicians ($28,820).

z Among the low-paying 

occupational groups, transportation 

and material moving had 

the highest paying individual 

occupations, including air traffic 

controllers ($110,280). However, the 

largest occupation in this group—

laborers and hand freight, stock, 

and material movers—had an 

average wage of $25,710. 

Occupational group

$105,440

$96,940

$77,230

$75,550

$71,280

$67,690

$44,410

$32,660

$26,920

$25,300

$24,590

$24,330

$21,240

Annual mean wage

$0 $25,000 $50,000 $75,000 $100,000 $125,000

 Highest paying groups

 U.S. all-occupations mean

 Lowest paying groups

Management

Legal

Computer and mathematical

Architecture and engineering

Healthcare practitioners and 

technical

Business and financial 

operations

U.S. all-occupations mean

Transportation and material 

moving

Healthcare support

Building and grounds cleaning 

and maintenance

Personal care and service

Farming, fishing, and forestry

Food preparation and serving 

related
4

OVERVIEW The types of jobs found in the private sector were different from those found in the public sector.

Distribution of private and public sector employment by 

selected occupational group, May 2010

Figure 3

z Occupational groups with belowaverage wages made up more 

than two-thirds of private sector 

employment, but less than onethird of public sector employment.

z Sales and related occupations 

was the second-largest 

occupational group in the private 

sector, but it was one of the 

smallest occupational groups in the 

public sector. The private sector 

also had higher employment shares 

of most other occupational groups 

that had below-average wages, 

including food preparation and 

serving related occupations and 

production occupations. 

z Education, training, and library 

was the largest occupational 

group in the public sector, 

making up 30 percent of public 

sector employment, but less 

than 2 percent of private sector 

employment.

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Percent of sector 

employment

Private Public

 Life, physical, and social science

 Community and social service

 Education, training, and library

 Healthcare support

 Protective service

 Food preparation and serving related

 Sales and related

 Office and administrative support

 Production

 Transportation and material moving

 Other
5

Occupational Employment and Wages 2010
6

OVERVIEW Ten occupations made up nearly a quarter of private sector employment.

Employment and annual mean wages for the largest 

occupations in the private sector, May 2010

Figure 4

z Retail salespersons and cashiers 

were the two largest private sector 

occupations, making up about 7 

percent of private sector employment. 

z Ninety-four percent of 

employment in the 10 occupations 

shown in figure 4 was in the private 

sector. Among the individual 

occupations shown, private sector 

employment ranged from 79 percent 

of general office clerks to nearly 100 

percent of retail salespersons and 

waiters and waitresses.

z All of the 10 largest private 

sector occupations also were 

among the 10 largest occupations 

overall, except for stock clerks 

and order fillers and general and 

operations managers, which 

were the 11th and 12th largest 

occupations overall. 

z Most of the largest private sector 

occupations were relatively low 

paying. Of the 10 largest private 

sector occupations, only general 

and operations managers and 

registered nurses had annual 

mean wages above the U.S. alloccupations average of $44,410. 

Retail salespersons

Cashiers

Combined food preparation and 

serving workers, including fast food

Waiters and waitresses

Office clerks, general

Registered nurses

Customer service 

representatives

Laborers and freight, stock, and 

material movers, hand

Stock clerks and order fillers

General and operations 

managers

Occupation

Private sector employment (thousands)

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000

Annual

mean

wage

$19,710

$24,990

$18,400

$20,790

$27,790

$67,870

$32,720

$25,600

$23,520

$114,430
7

OVERVIEW Different types of teachers and teacher assistants made up 5 of the 10 largest 

public sector occupations.

Employment and annual mean wages for the largest 

occupations in the public sector, May 2010

Figure 5

z Teacher assistants and 

elementary, secondary, and middle 

school teachers, except special and 

career/technical education made 

up about 18 percent of public sector 

employment. These occupations were 

found primarily in local government, 

where they made up over one-quarter 

of total employment.

z Police and sheriff’s patrol 

officers, general office clerks, and 

janitors were among the largest 

occupations in both state and local 

government, and registered nurses 

was among the largest occupations 

at all levels of government. 

z In addition to the occupations 

shown in the chart, the largest 

occupations in local government 

included firefighters and school or 

special client bus drivers. Correctional 

officers was the largest individual 

occupation in state government. Four 

occupations specific to the U.S. Postal 

Service made up about 21 percent 

of federal government employment; 

compliance officers and management 

analysts also were among the largest 

federal government occupations. 

Elementary school teachers,

except special education

Teacher assistants

Secondary school teachers, except

special and career/technical

education

Police and sheriff’s patrol officers

Middle school teachers, except 

special and career/technical 

education

Office clerks, general

Teachers and instructors, all other

Janitors and cleaners, except 

maids and housekeeping cleaners

Secretaries and administrative 

assistants, except legal,

medical, and executive

Registered nurses

Occupation

Public sector employment (thousands)

0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400

Annual

mean

wage

$25,330

$55,350

$56,600

$55,670

$55,510

$25,990

$37,220

$28,930

$34,320

$67,040
8

OVERVIEW

Employment and annual mean wages for the largest 

occupations in retail trade, May 2010

Figure 6

z Jobs in retail trade businesses 

accounted for nearly 12 percent 

of U.S. jobs, making it one of 

the largest industry sectors, 

along with healthcare and social 

assistance, educational services, 

manufacturing, and accommodation 

and food services.

z More than 60 percent of 

retail trade jobs were in just four 

occupations: retail salespersons, 

cashiers, stock clerks and order 

fillers, and first-line supervisors of 

retail sales workers.

z All of the 10 largest retail 

trade occupations had annual 

mean wages below the U.S. alloccupations average of $44,410. 

The high share of lower paying jobs 

in retail trade helped account for 

this sector’s relatively low overall 

average wage of $28,980.

Four occupations made up over 60 percent of retail trade employment.

Retail salespersons

Cashiers

Stock clerks and

order fillers

First-line supervisors of 

retail sales workers

Laborers and freight,

stock, and material

movers, hand

Automotive service 

technicians and

mechanics

Pharmacy technicians

Customer service 

representatives

Packers and

packagers, hand

Combined food preparation 

and serving workers,

including fast food

Occupation

$19,780

$24,800

$21,670

$39,580

$22,350

$38,960

$27,800

$26,350

$19,580

$20,940

Employment (millions)

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

Annual

mean

wage
9

Occupational Employment and Wages 2010
10
Occupational Employment and Wages 2010

11

STEM

(science, technology, 

engineering, and 

mathematics)

STEM occupations are technical jobs in science, technology, 

engineering, and mathematics. Although many possible definitions 

exist, the STEM group is defined here to include computer and 

mathematical, architecture and engineering, and life and physical 

science occupations, as well as managerial and postsecondary 

teaching occupations related to these functional areas, and sales 

occupations requiring scientific or technical knowledge at the 

postsecondary level. For more information on STEM occupations, 

see “Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) 

occupations: a visual essay” in the May 2011 issue of Monthly 

Labor Review, available online at www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2011/05/

art1full.pdf.
12

STEM Most of the largest STEM occupations were related to computers.

Employment and annual mean wages for the largest

STEM occupations, May 2010

Figure 7

z Eight of the 10 largest STEM 

occupations were related to 

computers and information 

technology, including computer 

support specialists, applications 

software developers, and computer 

systems analysts. 

z Each of the 10 largest STEM 

occupations had employment of 

between 200,000 and 600,000. By 

comparison, the largest occupation 

overall, retail salespersons, had 

employment of nearly 4.2 million—

more than the 10 largest STEM 

occupations combined. 

z At the other end of the spectrum, 

the smallest STEM occupations 

included astronomers, with 

employment of 1,840; animal 

scientists (2,440); and agricultural 

engineers (2,520).

z STEM occupations were typically 

high paying. All of the 10 largest 

STEM occupations had annual 

mean wages above the U.S. alloccupations mean of $44,410. The 

largest STEM occupation shown, 

computer support specialists, was 

also the lowest paying, with an 

annual mean wage of $49,930. 

Computer support specialists

Software developers, applications

Computer systems analysts

Sales representatives, wholesale 

and manufacturing, technical and 

scientific products

Software developers, systems 

software

Computer programmers

Network and computer systems 

administrators

Computer and information 

systems managers

Civil engineers

Information security analysts, 

web developers, and computer 

network architects

Occupation

Employment

0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 600,000

Annual

mean

wage

$90,410

$49,930

$81,250

$84,360

$97,960

$74,900

$72,200

$123,280

$82,280

$79,370
13

STEM Nearly half of the 15,280 biomedical engineers in the United States were 

employed in three manufacturing industries.

Industry employment for biomedical engineers, May 2010

Figure 8

z Twenty-five percent of 

employment was in medical 

equipment and supplies 

manufacturing, and an additional 

15 percent was in pharmaceutical 

and medicine manufacturing.

z The average wage for 

biomedical engineers in May 2010 

was $84,780.

z Out of the six major 

industries that employed 

biomedical engineers, two of the 

industries—scientific research 

and development services 

and navigational, measuring, 

electromedical, and control 

instruments manufacturing—had 

above-average wages for the 

occupation, while the remaining 

four had below-average wages.

 Medical equipment and

supplies manufacturing

 Pharmaceutical and

medicine manufacturing

 Navigational, measuring,

electromedical, and control

instruments manufacturing

 Scientific research and

development services

 Colleges, universities, and

professional schools

 General medical and

surgical hospitals

 All other industries

19%

24%

15%

7% 19%

9%

7%
14

STEM Nearly two out of every five medical scientists were employed in scientific research and 

development services.

Employment and annual mean wages for the largest 

occupations in scientific research and

development services, May 2010

Figure 9

z Medical scientists, except 

epidemiologists, was the largest 

occupation in scientific research 

and development services, making 

up about 6 percent of industry 

employment. In contrast, this 

occupation made up less than 0.1 

percent of overall employment. 

Thirty-seven percent of medical 

scientists were employed in the 

scientific research and development 

services industry.

z Other large STEM occupations 

in this industry included a mix of 

computer-related occupations, such 

as software developers; engineering 

occupations, such as mechanical 

engineers; and life and physical 

science occupations, such as 

chemists and biological technicians.

z The average wage in scientific 

research and development services 

was $81,350, reflecting both the 

high concentration of high-paying 

occupations in this industry and 

above-average wages for specific 

occupations. This industry had 

higher-than-average wages for each 

of the individual occupations in the 

chart, including those that were not 

STEM occupations.

Medical scientists, except 

epidemiologists

Biological technicians

Software developers, systems 

software

Executive secretaries and 

executive administrative 

assistants

Business operations specialists, 

all other

Chemists

Mechanical engineers

General and operations 

managers

Software developers, 

applications

Biochemists and biophysicists

Occupation

Employment

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000

$44,760

$44,760

$101,960

$53,300

$78,280

$81,490

$90,590

$159,960

$92,890

$90,810

Annual

mean

wage

 STEM occupations

 Non-STEM occupations
15

STEM STEM occupations were among the largest occupations in communications 

equipment manufacturing.

Employment and annual mean wages for the largest 

occupations in communications equipment

manufacturing, May 2010

Figure 10

z The largest STEM occupations 

in communications equipment 

manufacturing were related 

to electronics or information 

technology and included such 

occupations as systems software 

developers and electrical engineers. 

The largest occupations in this 

industry also included general and 

operations managers and several 

production occupations.

z The six STEM occupations 

shown in figure 10 made up 

about 21 percent of employment 

in communications equipment 

manufacturing. However, because 

of its low overall employment, 

communications equipment 

manufacturing accounted for a 

relatively low share of jobs in these 

occupations. For example, only 

1.4 percent of systems software 

developers were employed in this 

industry.

z Although wages among the 

largest individual occupations 

varied widely, communications 

equipment manufacturing was a 

high-paying industry overall, with 

an annual mean wage of $68,900 

across all occupations.

Electrical and electronic 

equipment assemblers

Software developers, systems 

software

Electrical engineers

Electrical and electronics 

engineering technicians

Electronics engineers, except 

computer

Team assemblers

Architectural and engineering 

managers

Inspectors, testers, sorters, 

samplers, and weighers

General and operations 

managers

Software developers, 

applications

Occupation

Employment

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000

$94,650

$31,050

$87,090

$52,730

$94,070

$29,330

$139,430

$37,060

$146,710

$95,420

Annual

mean

wage

 STEM occupations

 Non-STEM occupations
16

STEM The highest paying life and physical science occupations had mean wages 

more than double the U.S. average.

Annual mean wages for the highest and lowest paying life 

and physical science occupations, May 2010

Figure 11

z Twenty-five out of 30 life and 

physical science occupations had 

mean wages significantly above the 

U.S. all-occupations average.

z The highest paying life and 

physical science occupations 

included physicists, with an 

annual mean wage of $112,020; 

geoscientists ($93,380); and 

astronomers ($93,340). These 

occupations typically required 

postsecondary education ranging 

from a bachelor’s degree to a 

doctoral degree.

z Technician occupations tended 

to be lower paying. The lowest 

paying life and physical science 

occupations included chemical 

technicians, biological technicians, 

forest and conservation technicians, 

and agricultural and food science 

technicians, all of which had mean 

wages similar to or below the U.S. 

average.

Physicists

Physical scientists, all other

Geoscientists, except 

hydrologists and geographers

Astronomers

Atmospheric and space 

scientists

Medical scientists, except 

epidemiologists

Life, physical, and social 

science technicians, all other

Environmental science and 

protection technicians, inc. health

U.S. all-occupations mean

Chemical technicians

Biological technicians

Forest and conservation 

technicians

Agricultural and food science 

technicians

Occupation

Annual mean wage

$0 $20,000 $40,000 $60,000 $80,000 $100,000 $120,000

$95,780

$112,020

$93,380

$93,340

$88,010

$86,710

$45,980

$44,440

$44,410

$44,200

$41,740

$36,860

$35,140

 Highest paying occupations

 Lowest paying occupations

 U.S. all-occupations mean

Annual

mean

wage
17

STEM Only one architecture and engineering occupation had below-average wages.

Annual mean wages for the highest and lowest paying 

architecture and engineering occupations, May 2010

Figure 12

z Surveying and mapping 

technicians was the only 

architecture and engineering 

occupation with a mean wage 

below the U.S. all-occupations 

average. More than half of 

architecture and engineering 

occupations had annual mean 

wages of $75,000 or more. 

z The highest paying architecture 

and engineering occupations 

included petroleum engineers, 

computer hardware engineers, and 

nuclear engineers, all with annual 

mean wages of over $100,000. A 

bachelor’s degree was the most 

common level of education for 

these occupations.

z In addition to surveying and 

mapping technicians, the lowest 

paying architecture and engineering 

occupations included several 

drafter and technician occupations, 

such as environmental engineering 

technicians, civil engineering 

technicians, and architecture 

and civil drafters. Workers in 

these occupations typically had a 

postsecondary vocational award or 

an associate’s degree.

$101,600

$101,500

$99,000

$94,590

$92,730

$50,540

$48,740

$48,190

$47,940

$46,820

$44,410

$40,370

$127,970

 Highest paying occupations

 Lowest paying occupations

 U.S. all-occupations mean

Petroleum engineers

Computer hardware engineers

Nuclear engineers

Aerospace engineers

Chemical engineers

Electronics engineers, except 

computer

Industrial engineering 

technicians

Architectural and civil drafters

Drafters, all other

Civil engineering technicians

Environmental engineering 

technicians

U.S. all-occupations mean

Surveying and mapping 

technicians

Occupation

Annual mean wage

$0 $20,000 $40,000 $60,000 $80,000 $100,000 $120,000 $140,000
18

STEM The employment share of biochemists and biophysicists in Durham, NC, 

was nearly 10 times the U.S. average.

Metropolitan areas with the highest concentrations of 

biochemists and biophysicists, May 2010

Figure 13

z Biochemists and biophysicists 

had a location quotient of 9 in 

Framingham, MA, and nearly 

10 in Durham, NC. Location 

quotients represent the ratio of 

an occupation’s share of area 

employment relative to its share 

of national employment; a location 

quotient greater than one indicates 

that the occupation makes up 

an above-average share of local 

employment.

z Even in areas with high 

location quotients, this occupation 

made up a relatively small share 

of employment. For example, 

biochemists and biophysicists 

made up about 1.7 jobs per 1,000 in 

Durham, compared with about 0.2 

jobs per 1,000 in the United States 

as a whole.

z The U.S. mean wage for 

biochemists and biophysicists was 

$86,580 per year. Among the areas 

shown, wages ranged from $83,300 

in San Francisco-San MateoRedwood County, CA, to $110,090 

in Durham, NC.

Location quotient

Annual mean wage

$80,000 $85,000 $90,000 $95,000 $100,000 $105,000 $110,000 $115,000

Note: Bubble size illustrates employment size comparisons. NECTAs represent New England City and Town Areas.

10.0

9.5

9.0

8.5

8.0

7.5

7.0

6.5

6.0

Durham, NC

Framingham, MA NECTA Division

Edison-New Brunswick, NJ Metropolitan Division

Newark-Union, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division

San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA Metropolitan Division

San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division
19

STEM Three of the areas with the highest concentrations of mechanical engineers 

were in Michigan.

Metropolitan areas with the highest concentrations of 

mechanical engineers, May 2010

Figure 14

z The Warren-Troy-Farmington 

Hills, MI, metropolitan division 

had both the largest number of 

mechanical engineering jobs—

14,680—and the highest location 

quotient for this occupation.

z High concentrations of 

mechanical engineers did not 

necessarily translate into high 

employment for this occupation. 

Excluding Warren-Troy-Farmington 

Hills, employment of mechanical 

engineers in the areas shown 

ranged from 740 in Niles-Benton 

Harbor, MI, to 2,050 in GreenvilleMauldin-Easley, SC. In comparison, 

the Los Angeles-Long BeachGlendale, CA, metropolitan division 

had 5,770 mechanical engineering 

jobs, although the location quotient 

for this occupation was below 1 in 

this area.

z Of the six areas shown in figure 

14, only Warren-Troy-Farmington 

Hills, MI, and Huntsville, AL, 

had above-average wages for 

mechanical engineers. Wages in 

the remaining areas were below or 

similar to the U.S. annual mean of 

$82,480 for this occupation.

Location quotient

Annual mean wage

$70,000 $75,000 $80,000 $85,000 $90,000 $95,000

Note: Bubble size illustrates employment size comparisons.

10.0

9.0

8.0

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division 

Kalamazoo-Portage, MI

Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL

Niles-Benton Harbor, MI 

Huntsville, AL

Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, SC
20

STEM Framingham, MA, had one of the highest concentrations of STEM occupations in May 2010.

STEM occupations with the highest location quotients

in Framingham, MA, May 2010

Figure 15

z All of the occupations in figure 

15, with the exception of biological 

technicians, had higher wages in 

Framingham than in the United 

States as a whole.

z There were 1.6 biochemists 

and biophysicists per 1,000 jobs 

in Framingham compared with 

0.2 per 1,000 jobs in the nation. 

Only Durham, NC, had a higher 

concentration of biochemists and 

biophysicists at 1.7 per 1,000 jobs.

z Four of the occupations with 

the highest location quotients 

in Framingham were from the 

life, physical, and social science 

occupational group, which had 

an overall location quotient of 

2.3. However, the computer and 

mathematical occupational group 

had a higher location quotient at 3.0.

Life scientists, all other

Biological technicians

Software developers, 

applications

Technical writers

Medical scientists, except 

epidemiologists

Chemical engineers

Computer hardware engineers

Software developers, systems 

software

Electro-mechanical technicians

Biochemists and biophysicists

Occupation

Location quotient

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
21

Occupational Employment and Wages 2010
22
Occupational Employment and Wages 2010

23

Healthcare
24

HEALTHCARE

Wages for selected health assistants, May 2010

Mean wages for selected health assistants varied more than mean wages for health aides.

Figure 16

z Wages for different types of 

health assistants varied greatly, 

with mean wages for occupational 

therapy assistants ($51,300) more 

than double the mean wages of 

veterinary assistants and laboratory 

animal caretakers ($23,660). 

z Wages within occupations 

also varied significantly for health 

assistants. For example, the 

10th percentile wage for physical 

therapist assistants was $31,070 

and the 90th percentile was 

$68,820.

z Health assistants typically have 

higher educational requirements 

than health aides, a difference that 

is reflected in their relative wages. 

The median wage for occupational 

therapy assistants was $23,580 

more than that for occupational 

therapy aides.

Annual mean wage

Occupation

Veterinary assistants

and animal caretakers

Medical assistants Dental assistants Physical therapist

assistants

Occupational therapy

assistants

$80,000

$70,000

$60,000

$50,000

$40,000

$30,000

$20,000

$10,000

$0

—90th percentile

—75th percentile

—Median

—25th percentile

—10th percentile

Mean
25

HEALTHCARE

Wages for selected health aides, May 2010

Figure 17

z Annual mean wages among 

different types of health aides, 

who generally work under close 

supervision of a health professional, 

did not diverge as much as among 

different types of health assistants. 

The mean wage for the highest 

paying aide occupation shown, 

occupational therapy aides, was 

less than 50 percent more than the 

mean wage for home health aides. 

z Wages for an occupation vary by 

industry and geographic location. 

While wages for home health 

aides were $21,760 on average, 

mean wages ranged from $20,380 

in individual and family services 

to $34,970 in psychiatric and 

substance abuse hospitals.

z Wages within an occupation 

varied significantly for occupational 

therapy aides. For example, 

the 10th percentile wage for 

occupational therapy aides was 

$17,440 and the 90th percentile was 

$52,750.

Annual mean wage

Occupation

Home health aides Pharmacy aides Physical therapist Nursing aides, Psychiatric aides Occupational therapy

 aides orderlies, and attendants aides

$80,000

$70,000

$60,000

$50,000

$40,000

$30,000

$20,000

$10,000

$0

—90th percentile

—75th percentile

—Median

—25th percentile

—10th percentile

Mean
26

HEALTHCARE Healthcare occupations accounted for 66 percent of employment in general medical 

and surgical hospitals.

Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest

occupations in general medical and

surgical hospitals, May 2010

Figure 18

z Registered nurses accounted 

for 29.5 percent of all employment 

in general medical and surgical 

hospitals and accounted for more 

employment than the industry’s next 

nine largest occupations combined.

z The next two largest occupations 

in general medical and surgical 

hospitals were nursing aides, 

orderlies, and attendants and licensed 

practical and licensed vocational 

nurses. However, nursing care 

facilities employed more workers in 

these two occupations than general 

medical and surgical hospitals.

z Non-healthcare occupations 

accounted for 34 percent of hospital 

employment and included maids 

and housekeeping cleaners; general 

office clerks; and interviewers, 

except eligibility and loan.

z With the exception of nursing 

aides, orderlies, and attendants, 

whose mean wages were $12.87, 

mean wages for the largest 

healthcare occupations were higher 

than those for the largest nonhealthcare occupations.

Employment

Percent of industry

employment

Occupation

Registered

nurses

Nursing

aides,

orderlies,

and

attendants

Licensed

practical

and licensed

vocational

nurses

Radiologic

technologists

and

technicians

Medical

secretaries

Maids and

housekeeping

cleaners

Medical

and health

services

managers

Office clerks,

general

Medical and

clinical

laboratory

technologists

Interviewers,

except

eligibility

and loan

1,600,000

1,400,000

1,200,000

1,000,000

800,000

600,000

400,000

200,000

0

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

$32.99 Hourly mean wage

$12.87

$19.35 $26.87 $15.29 $11.13 $47.87 $14.37 $27.55 $14.60

█ Employment

 Percent of industry

employment
27

HEALTHCARE Medical and diagnostic laboratories had 44 percent of its total industry 

employment concentrated in its four largest occupations.

Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest

occupations in the medical and diagnostic

laboratories industry, May 2010

Figure 19

z Non-healthcare occupations, 

such as couriers and messengers, 

customer service representatives, 

receptionists and information clerks, 

and billing and posting clerks, made 

up 45 percent of total industry 

employment. 

z Three of the 10 occupations 

shown had hourly mean wages 

above the average for all 

occupations in this industry 

($24.50): medical and clinical 

laboratory technologists, radiologic 

technologists and technicians, and 

diagnostic medical sonographers.

z Among the largest occupations, 

all other healthcare support 

workers, including phlebotomists, 

had a mean wage of $15.18 and 

accounted for 12.3 percent of the 

industry employment.

Employment

Percent of industry

employment

Occupation

Healthcare

support

workers, all

other, including

phlebotomists

Medical and

clinical

laboratory

technicians

Medical

and clinical

laboratory

technologists

Radiologic

technologists

and

technicians

Couriers and

messengers

Customer

service

representatives

Medical

secretaries

Receptionists

and

information

clerks

Billing and

posting clerks

Diagnostic

medical

sonographers

35,000

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

0

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

Hourly mean wage

$15.18

$17.42 $27.31

$28.00

$12.88

$15.85

$15.49 $13.45 $15.92 $29.88

█ Employment

 Percent of industry

employment
28

HEALTHCARE Mental health and substance abuse social workers made up 12 percent of employment in outpatient 

mental health and substance abuse centers, but only 6 percent in residential mental health and 

substance abuse facilities.

Employment by occupational group in outpatient mental

health and substance abuse centers, May 2010

Figure 20

z Five of the largest occupations 

found in both outpatient mental 

health and substance abuse 

centers and residential mental 

health and substance abuse 

facilities had larger annual mean 

wages in the outpatient centers. 

The annual mean wage was 

$43,040 for all occupations in 

outpatient mental health and 

substance abuse centers and it 

was $33,390 for residential mental 

health and substance abuse 

facilities. 

z Community and social service 

occupations, including mental 

health and substance abuse 

social workers, mental health 

counselors, and substance 

abuse and behavioral disorder 

counselors, accounted for over 

half of employment in outpatient 

mental health and substance 

abuse centers and over a third 

of employment in residential 

mental health and substance 

abuse facilities. These industries 

had similar shares of healthcare 

practitioner occupations, the largest 

of which was registered nurses. 

Community and social 

service occupations 

(90,670)

Other (8,210)

Business and financial operations occupations (2,800)

Personal care and service occupations (3,900)

Life, physical, and social science occupations (4,040)

Healthcare support occupations (5,470)

Management occupations (10,780)

Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (19,010)

Office and administrative support occupations (29,960)

Largest occupations in outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers

Occupation Employment Percent of industry employment Annual mean wage

Mental health and substance abuse social workers 21,720 12.4 $39,520

Mental health counselors 19,700 11.3 41,030

Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors 15,710 9.0 37,730

Social and human service assistants 13,970 8.0 27,120

Registered nurses 7,610 4.4 61,660

Office clerks, general 5,890 3.4 25,990

Child, family, and school social workers 5,110 2.9 37,220

Secretaries and administrative assistants,

except legal, medical, and executive 4,750 2.7 29,590

Medical and health services managers 4,180 2.4 81,140

Rehabilitation counselors 4,050 2.3 33,420
29

HEALTHCARE

Employment by occupational group in residential mental

health and substance abuse facilities, May 2010

Figure 21

z Total employment in residential 

mental health and substance abuse 

facilities was 186,970, similar 

to the employment in outpatient 

mental health and substance abuse 

centers, which was 174,890.

z Residential mental health 

and substance abuse facilities 

employed at least five times as 

many workers in personal care and 

service occupations and healthcare 

support occupations as outpatient 

mental health and substance abuse 

centers. In residential facilities, the 

largest personal care and service 

occupation was childcare workers 

and the largest healthcare support 

occupation was home health aides.

Community and social 

service occupations 

(68,380)

Other (15,460)

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (3,860)

Food preparation and serving related occupations (5,640)

Management occupations (10,010)

Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (14,120)

Office and administrative support occupations (14,410)

Personal care and service occupations (21,120)

Healthcare support occupations (33,940)

Largest occupations in residential mental health and substance abuse facilities

Occupation Employment Percent of industry employment Annual mean wage

Home health aides 21,450 11.5 $21,840

Social and human service assistants 18,650 10.0 25,420

Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors 13,890 7.4 35,240

Mental health counselors 11,560 6.2 35,110

Childcare workers 10,890 5.8 24,140

Mental health and substance abuse social workers 10,490 5.6 35,750

Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants 5,660 3.0 25,070

Psychiatric aides 4,980 2.7 23,160

Residential advisors 4,910 2.6 25,470

Rehabilitation counselors 4,730 2.5 30,190
30

HEALTHCARE Non-healthcare related industries employed over 2 million healthcare workers, accounting for 22 

percent of all healthcare practitioners and technical occupations and 12 percent of healthcare 

support occupations.

Employment of selected healthcare workers in non-healthcare

related industries, May 2010

Figure 22

z Government and retail trade 

were the largest providers of 

healthcare jobs outside of the 

healthcare industry. In government, 

the largest healthcare occupations 

were registered nurses (152,150); 

emergency medical technicians and 

paramedics (66,790); and nursing 

aides, orderlies, and attendants 

(63,160). In retail trade, the largest 

healthcare occupations were 

pharmacy technicians (247,690), 

pharmacists (175,260), and 

pharmacy aides (44,730).

z Retail trade was one of the 

largest non-healthcare employers 

of healthcare practitioners and 

technical occupations and the 

fourth largest non-healthcare 

employer of healthcare support 

occupations.

z Within the administrative and 

waste services sector, 84 percent 

of healthcare workers were in 

employment services, such as 

employment placement agencies 

and temporary help services. 

Employment

Industry

Federal, state, and

local government

Retail trade Educational services Administrative and

waste services

Professional, scientific,

and technical services

700,000

600,000

500,000

400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000

0

Excludes state and local government schools and hospitals

138,980

463,840 462,460

253,140

157,620 160,910

54,720

38,340

97,600 68,870

 Healthcare support occupations

 Healthcare practitioners and

technical occupations
31

HEALTHCARE Many of the metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas with the highest 

concentration of medical transcriptionists were in the Midwest.

Location quotient of medical transcriptionists, by area, May 2010

Figure 23

z Medical transcriptionists 

accounted for less than 1 in 1,000 

jobs nationally, but they accounted 

for at least four times that share in 

Rochester, MN; Bangor, ME; Rapid 

City, SD; west-central Wisconsin; 

and central South Dakota.

z Wages for medical 

transcriptionists were highest 

in several high-paying states, 

including California, Alaska, New 

Jersey, Massachusetts, and the 

Washington, DC, area.

z The Bethesda-FrederickGaithersburg, MD, metropolitan 

division was one of the top paying 

metropolitan areas with $51,230, 

and Railbelt/Southwest Alaska 

nonmetropolitan area was the top 

paying nonmetropolitan area with 

$43,680.

Note: Blank areas indicate data not available.

Location quotient

 0.22 – 0.68

 0.69 – 0.92

 0.93 – 1.17

 1.18 – 1.44

 1.45 – 1.81

 1.82 – 6.94
32
Occupational Employment and Wages 2010

33

Construction
34

CONSTRUCTION Most of the largest construction occupations were the construction trades occupations.

Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest 

construction occupations, May 2010

Figure 24

z The largest occupation, 

construction laborers, had 

the lowest wage among the 

occupations shown.

z The six occupations shown 

accounted for over 63 percent of 

employment in construction and 

extraction occupations.

z Of the largest construction 

occupations, the occupation with 

the highest mean wage was firstline supervisors of construction and 

extraction workers.

Employment

Occupation

Construction

laborers

Carpenters Electricians First-line supervisors

of construction

trades and extraction

workers

Plumbers,

pipefitters, and

steamfitters

Operating engineers

and other

construction

equipment operators

900,000

800,000

700,000

600,000

500,000

400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000

0

$16.15

$21.10

$24.91

$29.93

$24.21 $21.55

Hourly mean wage
35

CONSTRUCTION The highest paid construction occupations were specialized construction trades 

workers or their supervisors.

Construction occupations with the highest

mean wages, May 2010

Figure 25

z Construction and extraction 

workers earned an average of 

$21.09 in May 2010.

z Electricians was the largest highpaying construction occupation, 

with more than half a million 

workers. Pile driver operators was 

the smallest of the high-paying 

construction occupations, with only 

4,230 workers.

z Three of the occupations in 

figure 25 were also among the 

largest construction occupations—

first-line supervisors of construction 

trades and extraction workers; 

electricians; and plumbers, 

pipefitters, and steamfitters.

Mean wage

Occupation

Elevator

installers and

repairers

First-line

supervisors

of construction

trades and

extraction

workers

Boilermakers Construction

and building

inspectors

Pile-driver

operators

Electricians Plumbers,

pipefitters, and

steamfitters

Brickmasons and

blockmasons

$40.00

$35.00

$30.00

$25.00

$20.00

$15.00

$10.00

$5.00

$0
36

CONSTRUCTION Employment for the largest occupations in the building construction industry was distributed 

differently between nonresidential and residential building construction.

Employment of the largest occupations in the building

construction industry, May 2010

Figure 26

z Construction occupations 

accounted for 64 percent of 

employment in residential building 

construction and 62 percent of 

employment in nonresidential 

building construction.

z Carpenters made up almost half 

of the employment for construction 

occupations in residential building 

construction, but accounted for 

less than a third in nonresidential 

building construction.

z First-line supervisors of 

construction trades and extraction 

workers and construction 

managers were more prevalent in 

nonresidential building construction, 

accounting for about 4 percentage 

points more of the employment for 

construction occupations than in 

residential building construction.

Employment

Occupation

200,000

180,000

160,000

140,000

120,000

100,000

80,000

60,000

40,000

20,000

0

Carpenters Construction

laborers

First-line

supervisors

of construction

trades and

extraction

workers

Construction

managers

Office clerks,

general

Secretaries and

administrative

assistants,

except legal,

medical, and

executive

Cost

estimators

Bookkeeping,

accounting,

and auditing

clerks

 Residential building construction

 Nonresidential building

construction
37

CONSTRUCTION Mean wages were consistently higher in nonresidential building construction than 

residential building construction.

Mean hourly wages of the largest occupations in the building 

construction industry, May 2010

Figure 27

z The mean wage for construction 

occupations was $19.55 in 

residential building construction, 

compared with $22.64 in 

nonresidential building construction.

z Cost estimators had the largest 

nominal difference in mean wages, 

with a $4.74 spread between 

nonresidential and residential 

building construction.

z Carpenters had the largest 

percent difference in mean wages 

between nonresidential and 

residential building construction at 

17.6 percent.

Mean wage

Occupation

$50.00

$45.00

$40.00

$35.00

$30.00

$25.00

$20.00

$15.00

$10.00

$5.00

$0

Carpenters Construction

laborers

First-line

supervisors

of construction

trades and

extraction

workers

Construction

managers

Office clerks,

general

Secretaries and

administrative

assistants,

except legal,

medical, and

executive

Cost

estimators

Bookkeeping,

accounting,

and auditing

clerks

 Residential building construction

 Nonresidential building

construction
38

CONSTRUCTION Employment decreased in 40 of the 46 construction occupations between May 2006 and May 2010.

Construction occupations with the largest percent decrease 

in employment between May 2006 and May 2010

Figure 28

z Four of the construction 

occupations with the largest 

percent decrease in employment 

between May 2006 and May 2010 

were different types of helpers of 

construction trade workers.

z Overall, employment for 

construction occupations decreased 

25 percent between May 2006 and 

May 2010.

z Employment for tapers and 

carpenter helpers fell by over 50 

percent. Employment declined by 

22,400 for tapers and 57,290 for 

carpenter helpers.

z With a 37 percent decrease in 

employment, carpenters did not 

have as large of a percent decrease 

as the occupations shown, but did 

have the largest overall decrease in 

employment, declining by 365,580.

z Wages for the occupations 

shown grew near the average 

wage growth for construction 

occupations. Wages for 

construction occupations grew 11 

percent between 2006 and 2010, 

slightly lower than the average 

occupational growth of 13 percent. 

Percent change

Occupation

30.0

20.0

10.0

0

–10.0

–20.0

–30.0

–40.0

–50.0

–60.0

Tapers Helpers—

carpenters

Helpers—

brickmasons,

blockmasons,

stonemasons,

and tile and

marble setters

Plasterers and

stucco masons

Helpers—

painters,

paperhangers,

plasterers, and

stucco masons

Helpers,

construction

trades, all other

Terrazzo

workers and

finishers

 Percent change in employment

 Percent change in mean wage
39

CONSTRUCTION The construction occupations that grew between May 2006 and May 2010 tended to be 

smaller occupations and were not related to new building construction.

Construction occupations with an increase in employment 

between May 2006 and May 2010

Figure 29

z Employment for septic tank 

servicers and sewer pipe cleaners 

increased from 22,090 in May 2006 

to 24,350 in May 2010. 

z Wage growth for most of the 

occupations in figure 29 ranged 

from 2.1 percent for mechanical 

insulation workers to 16.6 

percent for rail-track laying and 

maintenance equipment operators. 

Employment change

Occupation

4,500

4,000

3,500

3,000

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

Highway

maintenance

workers

Septic tank

servicers and

sewer pipe

cleaners

Rail-track laying

and maintenance

equipment

operators

Boilermakers Segmental

pavers

Insulation workers,

mechanical
40

CONSTRUCTION Nevada had the largest percent decrease in employment of construction and extraction occupations from 

May 2006 to May 2010, and also had the largest increase in mean wages for them.

States with the largest percent decrease in employment of 

construction occupations from May 2006 to May 2010

Figure 30

z In Nevada, mean wages for 

construction occupations had an 

increase of 27.8% or an annual 

average increase of 6.3 percent 

from May 2006 to May 2010.

z California had the largest 

absolute decrease in employment of 

construction occupations between 

May 2006 and May 2010, falling 

from 815,510 to 485,120.

z Carpenter helpers was one of 

the occupations with the largest 

declines in employment in all 10 of 

the states highlighted in figure 30.

Percent change

State

40.0

30.0

20.0

10.0

0

–10.0

–20.0

–30.0

–40.0

–50.0

–60.0

Nevada Arizona Florida California Delaware Rhode

Island

Michigan South

Carolina

Minnesota Idaho

 Percent change in employment

 Percent change in mean wage
41

CONSTRUCTION

States with an increase in employment of construction 

occupations from May 2006 to May 2010

Two states—North Dakota and Wyoming—had an increase in employment of 

construction occupations, attributable to increases in varying occupations.

Figure 31

z In North Dakota, two 

occupations in particular 

contributed to increased 

employment of construction 

occupations. Employment for 

highway maintenance workers 

increased over 65 percent. The 

occupation with the largest absolute 

increase in employment was firstline supervisors of construction 

trades and extraction workers.

z Operating engineers and other 

construction equipment operators 

and electricians contributed to 

the increase in employment for 

Wyoming.

Percent change

State

20

18

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

Wyoming North Dakota

 Percent change in employment

 Percent change in wage
42

CONSTRUCTION Pascagoula, MS, had a larger share of its employment in construction occupations than any other 

metropolitan area, with over three times the national average.

Location quotients

 for construction occupations in 

Pascagoula, MS, May 2010

Figure 32

z The concentration of 

employment for every construction 

occupation in Pascagoula, MS, 

was higher than the U.S. average, 

with the exception of highway 

maintenance workers. 

z At $19.07, the mean wage 

for construction occupations in 

Pascagoula, MS, was below the 

U.S. average of $21.09.

z Of the occupations in figure 

32, only one occupation had a 

higher-than-average mean wage: 

helpers—pipelayers, plumbers, 

pipefitters, and steamfitters.

Location quotient

Occupation

25

20

15

10

5

0

Insulation

workers,

floor, ceiling,

and wall

Insulation

workers,

mechanical

Structural iron

and steel

workers

Pipelayers Hazardous

materials

removal workers

First-line

supervisors of

construction

trades and

extraction

workers

Helpers—

pipelayers,

plumbers,

pipefitters, and

steamfitters

The location quotient is the ratio of the area's share of employment in an occupational group to the national average share.
43

CONSTRUCTION San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA, had the highest mean wage ($30.13) 

in May 2010 for construction and extraction workers.

Construction occupations in the San Francisco-San MateoRedwood City, CA, metropolitan division with mean wages

at least 55 percent higher than average, May 2010

Figure 33

z Carpenter helpers and floor 

sanders and finishers in San 

Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood 

City earned almost twice the 

national average wage for their 

occupation.

z Most occupations with the 

highest wage premiums were 

construction trades occupations. 

With the exception of carpenter 

helpers, most helper occupations 

had a below average premium.

z Although wages for construction 

occupations were higher, on 

average, in the San FranciscoSan Mateo-Redwood City, CA, 

metropolitan division, employment 

in construction occupations was 

below average. Nationwide, 

construction occupations 

accounted for 4 percent of 

employment, compared with 3 

percent in San Francisco-San 

Mateo-Redwood City.

Percent higher wage 

than the nation

Occupation

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Floor sanders

and finishers

Helpers—

carpenters

Sheet metal

workers

Highway

maintenance

workers

Pipelayers Paperhangers Operating

engineers and

other construction

equipment

operators
44
Occupational Employment and Wages 2010

45

Manufacturing
46

MANUFACTURING The 10 largest occupations in manufacturing made up about 26 percent of the total 

employment in the industry.

Employment and annual mean wages for the 10 largest 

occupations in manufacturing, May 2010

Figure 34

z Team assemblers was 

the largest occupation in the 

manufacturing industry, making up 

6 percent of employment. Firstline supervisors of production and 

operating workers had the second 

highest employment, making up 

3.5 percent.

z Team assemblers had an annual 

mean wage of $30,620.

z Only 2 of the 10 largest 

occupations had wages that were 

above the national mean wage 

($44,410). These two occupations, 

sales representatives, wholesale 

and manufacturing, except technical 

and scientific products ($65,720) 

and first-line supervisors of 

production and operating workers 

($56,140), were also not traditional 

production occupations.

z Beyond the occupations 

shown, the largest occupations in 

manufacturing were production 

workers or transportation and 

material moving workers.

Team assemblers

First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

Machinists

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

Helpers-production workers

Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders

Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing,

except technical and scientific products 

Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

Maintenance and repair workers, general

Occupation

Employment

0 200,000 400,000 600,000 800,000

$56,140

$30,620

$35,830

$39,820

$27,750

$25,140

$28,920

$65,720

$35,490

$41,720

Annual

mean

wage
47

MANUFACTURING Overall, the highest paying production occupations in manufacturing were 

mostly intermediary occupations, not those occupations handling raw 

materials or final products.

Highest paying production occupations in manufacturing, May 2010

Figure 35

z Production occupations made 

up nearly 51 percent of the total 

employment in the manufacturing 

industry. 

z Nine of the 14 highest paying 

occupations together accounted for 

just 2 percent of industry employment. 

The largest of the higher paying 

production occupations, first-line 

supervisors of production and 

operating workers, accounted for an 

additional 3.5 percent of employment. 

z Of these occupations, fabric and 

apparel patternmakers; metal and 

plastic model makers; and aircraft 

structure, surfaces, rigging, and 

systems assemblers had wages 

that were below the manufacturing 

industry annual mean wage 

($45,680). 

z Of the highest paying occupations, 

five were related to power and energy 

distribution, three occupations were 

related to designing a tool or pattern, 

and two occupations were related to 

chemical processing. The remaining 

four occupations were a supervisory 

occupation, a production operator, an 

assembler, and a tool programmer. 

Petroleum pump system operators,

refinery operators, and gaugers

Gas plant operators

Power distributors and dispatchers

First-line supervisors of production and

operating workers

Power plant operators

Chemical plant and system operators

Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Tool and die makers 

Computer numerically controlled machine tool

programmers, metal and plastic

Plant and system operators, all other

Chemical equipment operators and tenders

Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and

systems assemblers

Model makers, metal and plastic

Fabric and apparel patternmakers

Occupation

Annual mean wages

$0 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000

$58,980

$56,950

$56,140

$55,120

$54,700

$48,760

$48,720

$48,500

$47,120

$45,890

$45,470

$44,080

$42,010

$62,380
48

MANUFACTURING States with higher employment concentrations of team assemblers were in the Midwest and 

South along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.

Location quotient of team assemblers, by state, May 2010

Figure 36

z Indiana had the highest location 

quotient (2.8) for team assemblers. 

A location quotient represents the 

ratio of an occupation’s share of 

area employment relative to its 

share of national employment; a 

location quotient greater than one 

indicates that the occupation makes 

up an above-average share of local 

employment. 

z Although team assemblers was 

the largest production occupation, 

it made up 2 percent or less of the 

total employment of any state. 

z In 16 states, team assemblers 

accounted for at least 1 percent 

of the total state employment. 

Indiana had the highest percentage 

of total state employment for 

this occupation at 2 percent. 

In contrast, Wyoming had the 

lowest percentage of total state 

employment at 0.1 percent.

Location quotient

 0.08 – 0.38

 0.41 – 0.52

 0.54 – 0.93

 1.96 – 1.29

 1.36 – 1.54

 1.73 – 2.75

WA

OR

CA

AZ

NV

UT

ID

MT

WY

CO

NM

TX

OK

KS

NE

SD

ND

MN

WI

MI

IA

MO

IL

KY

VA WV

PA

NY

VT

NH

MA

RI

CT

NJ

DE

MD

ME

IN OH

AR

LA

MS AL

TN

NC

GA

SC

FL

AK

HI
49

MANUFACTURING Team assemblers earned an annual mean wage of $29,220 nationally, but state 

average wages ranged from $23,900 in Alaska to $36,120 in Alabama.

Annual mean wage of team assemblers, by state, May 2010

Figure 37

z States with the highest 

concentrations of this occupation 

tended to have higher mean wages 

for them. Eight out of nine states 

with high concentrations had at 

least an annual mean wage of 

$29,800. 

z States with above-average 

concentrations and below-average 

wages were often in the South, 

including Arkansas, North Carolina, 

Oklahoma, and Georgia. 

Annual mean wage

 $19,230 – $25,900

 $25,940 – $27,270

 $27,350 – $28,580

 $28,610 – $29,740

 $29,800 – $30,810

 $30,910 – $36,120

WA

OR

CA

AZ

NV

UT

ID

MT

WY

CO

NM

TX

OK

KS

NE

SD

ND

MN

WI

MI

IA

MO

IL

KY

VA WV

PA

NY

VT

NH

MA

RI

CT

NJ

DE

MD

ME

IN OH

AR

LA

MS AL

TN

NC

GA

SC

FL

AK

HI
50

MANUFACTURING With over 30 percent of its employment in production occupations, Elkhart-Goshen, IN, was the 

area with the highest share of its employment in production occupations.

Occupations with the largest location quotients in

Elkhart-Goshen, IN, May 2010

Figure 38

z Nationally, 6.5 percent of 

employment was in production 

occupations, giving production 

occupations a location quotient of 

4.7 in the Elkhart-Goshen area. 

z The occupation with the highest 

concentration relative to the U.S. 

average in the Elkhart-Goshen 

area was fiberglass laminators and 

fabricators. It had a location quotient of 

72, and accounted for over 1 percent 

of the area’s employment (99,370).

z Furniture finishers had the 

second highest location quotient, at 

28, and accounted for 340 jobs. 

z The 10 occupations with the 

largest location quotients in ElkhartGoshen, IN, were all production 

occupations. Of these, three 

occupations were assemblers 

and fabricators and another 

three occupations were related to 

woodworking.

z All of the occupations in figure 38 

had wages below the hourly mean 

wage for the metropolitan statistical 

area ($17.75), except for transportation 

equipment painters ($20.40). 

Fiberglass laminators and fabricators

Furniture finishers

Woodworking machine setters, 

operators, and tenders, except sawing

Upholsterers

Adhesive bonding machine operators 

and tenders

Painters, transportation equipment

Welding, soldering, and brazing machine 

setters, operators, and tenders

Team assemblers 

Assemblers and fabricators, all other

Sawing machine setters, operators, and 

tenders, wood

Occupation

Location quotient

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
51

MANUFACTURING

Occupational Employment and Wages 2010
52

MANUFACTURING The largest occupation in the textile mills industry was textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine 

setters, operators, and tenders, which accounted for 15 percent of employment in the industry.

Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest 

occupations in textile mills, May 2010

Figure 39

z The 10 largest occupations 

in textile mills accounted for 57 

percent of employment in this 

industry. The second largest 

occupation was textile knitting and 

weaving machine setters, operators, 

and tenders, which made up over 

11 percent of industry employment. 

z The two largest occupations 

in the industry, textile winding, 

twisting, and drawing out machine 

setters, operators, and tenders and 

textile knitting and weaving machine 

setters, operators, and tenders, 

were highly concentrated in the 

Southeast region of the country, 

particularly North Carolina, South 

Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. 

z Of the 10 largest occupations, 

the highest paying occupations 

included first-line supervisors of 

production and operating workers 

($23.10) and 2 repair occupations, 

industrial machinery mechanics 

($17.42) and general maintenance 

and repair workers ($17.25). 

Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out 

machine setters, operators, and tenders

Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, 

operators, and tenders

Textile bleaching and dyeing machine 

operators and tenders

Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and 

weighers

First-line supervisors of production and 

operating workers

Industrial machinery mechanics

Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, 

and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers

Helpers-production workers

Maintenance and repair workers, general

Laborers and freight, stock, and material 

movers, hand

Occupation

Employment

0 4,000 8,000 12,000 16,000 20,000

$12.98

$12.28

$11.73

$13.30

$23.10

$17.42

$15.65

$10.99

$17.25

$11.51

Hourly

mean

wage
53

MANUFACTURING The largest occupations in the chemical manufacturing industry were a mix of higher 

and lower paying production occupations and chemists and chemical technicians.

Employment and hourly mean wages for the largest 

occupations in chemical manufacturing, May 2010

Figure 40

z Four of the largest occupations 

in the chemical manufacturing 

industry were also among the 

largest occupations in the textile 

mills industry: first-line supervisors 

of production and operating 

workers; general maintenance 

and repair workers; inspectors, 

testers, sorters, samplers, and 

weighers; and industrial machinery 

mechanics. However, the hourly 

mean wages were all higher for 

these occupations in the chemical 

manufacturing industry than in the 

textile mills industry.

z The third largest occupation, 

chemical plant and system 

operators, was highly concentrated 

along the Gulf Coast states. 

Location quotients for this 

occupation were highest in 

Wyoming (6.7), Louisiana (6.5), 

South Carolina (3.3), and Texas 

(2.9). However, the highest paying 

states included Montana ($32.56), 

Wyoming ($30.58), Texas ($30.24), 

and Washington ($29.55).

Mixing and blending machine setters,

operators, and tenders

Packaging and filling machine operators

and tenders

Chemical plant and system operators

Chemical equipment operators and tenders

First-line supervisors of production and

operating workers

Chemists

Chemical technicians

Maintenance and repair workers, general

Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

Industrial machinery mechanics

Occupation

Employment

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000

$14.03

$16.63

$26.18

$22.09

$30.64

$34.60

$22.77

$22.05

$18.20

$24.38

Hourly

mean

wage


U.S. Department of Labor U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics