Twice a year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics compiles occupational employment and wage estimates by surveying employers nationwide. Current data was released May 1, 2009.
| Occupation |
Total employment |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage |
| All Occupations |
71,990 |
$16.78 |
$34,900 |
| Office and administrative support occupations |
14,250 |
$13.33 |
$27,730 |
| Sales and related occupations |
5,500 |
$13.06 |
$27,160 |
| Food preparation and serving related occupations |
4,770 |
$8.82 |
$18,340 |
| Production occupations |
4,660 |
$13.93 |
$28,970 |
| Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations |
4,440 |
$25.61 |
$53,280 |
| Construction and extraction occupations |
4,310 |
$19.05 |
$39,630 |
| Education, training, and library occupations |
4,200 |
$17.34 |
$36,070 |
| Transportation and material moving occupations |
4,060 |
$12.81 |
$26,640 |
| Business and financial operations occupations |
3,860 |
$23.16 |
$48,160 |
| Management occupations |
3,350 |
$32.93 |
$68,490 |
| Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations |
3,090 |
$17.09 |
$35,540 |
| Protective service occupations |
2,570 |
$15.53 |
$32,300 |
| Healthcare support occupations |
2,400 |
$9.58 |
$19,930 |
| Computer and mathematical occupations |
2,260 |
$26.64 |
$55,410 |
| Cashiers |
2,040 |
$8.19 |
$17,040 |
| Office clerks, general |
1,880 |
$12.52 |
$26,050 |
| Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food |
1,870 |
$7.97 |
$16,580 |
| Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations |
1,850 |
$10.40 |
$21,620 |
| Retail salespersons |
1,600 |
$11.94 |
$24,830 |
| Personal care and service occupations |
1,490 |
$10.98 |
$22,840 |
| Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive |
1,350 |
$13.63 |
$28,360 |
| Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks |
1,340 |
$12.78 |
$26,580 |
| Community and social services occupations |
1,340 |
$17.21 |
$35,790 |
| Registered nurses |
1,260 |
$25.68 |
$53,410 |
| Architecture and engineering occupations |
1,090 |
$27.65 |
$57,510 |
| Executive secretaries and administrative assistants |
1,030 |
$17.19 |
$35,760 |
| Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand |
1,010 |
$10.41 |
$21,650 |
| General and operations managers |
920 |
$36.51 |
$75,950 |
| Accountants and auditors |
890 |
$24.09 |
$50,100 |
| Life, physical, and social science occupations |
880 |
$22.28 |
$46,350 |
| Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants |
880 |
$9.57 |
$19,900 |
| Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners |
840 |
$9.62 |
$20,000 |
| Maintenance and repair workers, general |
790 |
$14.76 |
$30,700 |
| Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations |
770 |
$20.11 |
$41,820 |
| Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer |
770 |
$15.82 |
$32,900 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers |
760 |
$19.27 |
$40,070 |
| Construction laborers |
750 |
$15.69 |
$32,630 |
| Stock clerks and order fillers |
740 |
$9.32 |
$19,380 |
| Team assemblers |
720 |
$13.16 |
$27,360 |
| Order clerks |
700 |
$10.45 |
$21,740 |
| Legal occupations |
680 |
$26.87 |
$55,900 |
| Waiters and waitresses |
680 |
$8.62 |
$17,930 |
| Carpenters |
670 |
$17.92 |
$37,260 |
| Computer programmers |
670 |
$23.88 |
$49,680 |
| Business operations specialists, all other |
660 |
$24.54 |
$51,040 |
| Customer service representatives |
640 |
$12.98 |
$27,000 |
| Teachers and instructors, all other |
630 |
Not available |
$25,850 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses |
580 |
$15.84 |
$32,940 |
| Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education |
560 |
Not available |
$39,830 |
| Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products |
550 |
$19.09 |
$39,710 |
| Industrial truck and tractor operators |
520 |
$13.24 |
$27,530 |
| Computer software engineers, applications |
490 |
$30.31 |
$63,050 |
| Security guards |
450 |
$10.58 |
$22,000 |
| Maids and housekeeping cleaners |
440 |
$8.88 |
$18,470 |
| Elementary school teachers, except special education |
410 |
Not available |
$36,260 |
| Receptionists and information clerks |
410 |
$11.06 |
$23,000 |
| Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks |
410 |
$15.23 |
$31,670 |
| Cooks, restaurant |
400 |
$9.35 |
$19,450 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics |
370 |
$14.58 |
$30,330 |
| Teacher assistants |
370 |
Not available |
$19,580 |
| Child care workers |
360 |
$11.19 |
$23,270 |
| Computer support specialists |
360 |
$18.85 |
$39,220 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers |
360 |
$14.13 |
$29,380 |
| Public relations specialists |
360 |
$24.61 |
$51,180 |
| Tellers |
360 |
$10.53 |
$21,900 |
| Electricians |
350 |
$25.82 |
$53,690 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters |
350 |
$22.47 |
$46,740 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers |
340 |
$17.85 |
$37,140 |
| Police and sheriff's patrol officers |
340 |
$15.77 |
$32,810 |
| Driver/sales workers |
330 |
$10.98 |
$22,830 |
| Emergency medical technicians and paramedics |
330 |
$15.09 |
$31,390 |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers |
320 |
$11.61 |
$24,150 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers |
310 |
$23.84 |
$49,590 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers |
300 |
$17.18 |
$35,740 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators |
300 |
$24.69 |
$51,360 |
| Court, municipal, and license clerks |
290 |
$11.76 |
$24,470 |
| Environmental scientists and specialists, including health |
290 |
$20.17 |
$41,950 |
| Managers, all other |
290 |
$29.02 |
$60,370 |
| Medical secretaries |
290 |
$12.72 |
$26,460 |
| Administrative services managers |
280 |
$28.05 |
$58,330 |
| Cooks, institution and cafeteria |
280 |
$9.58 |
$19,930 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers |
280 |
$21.08 |
$43,850 |
| Lawyers |
280 |
$39.81 |
$82,810 |
| Counter and rental clerks |
270 |
$10.35 |
$21,540 |
| Dishwashers |
260 |
$8.21 |
$17,070 |
| Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers |
260 |
$16.23 |
$33,750 |
| Personal and home care aides |
260 |
$8.94 |
$18,590 |
| Bus drivers, school |
250 |
$12.06 |
$25,080 |
| Civil engineers |
250 |
$32.56 |
$67,720 |
| Preschool teachers, except special education |
250 |
$10.73 |
$22,320 |
| Chief executives |
240 |
$52.74 |
$109,710 |
| Cleaners of vehicles and equipment |
230 |
$9.46 |
$19,670 |
| Computer systems analysts |
230 |
$31.77 |
$66,080 |
| Management analysts |
230 |
$26.83 |
$55,810 |
| Billing and posting clerks and machine operators |
220 |
$14.51 |
$30,190 |
| Truck drivers, light or delivery services |
220 |
$14.53 |
$30,230 |
| Highway maintenance workers |
210 |
$14.55 |
$30,270 |
| Medical and health services managers |
210 |
$28.72 |
$59,750 |
| Middle school teachers, except special and vocational education |
210 |
Not available |
$39,610 |
| Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists |
200 |
$21.11 |
$43,910 |
| Sheet metal workers |
200 |
$23.28 |
$48,430 |
| Training and development specialists |
200 |
$21.40 |
$44,500 |
| Child, family, and school social workers |
190 |
$16.20 |
$33,690 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers |
190 |
$25.02 |
$52,050 |
| Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors |
190 |
$11.10 |
$23,080 |
| Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations |
180 |
$11.43 |
$23,760 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of police and detectives |
180 |
$32.61 |
$67,820 |
| Food preparation workers |
180 |
$8.33 |
$17,330 |
| Insurance sales agents |
180 |
$20.31 |
$42,250 |
| Legal support workers, all other |
180 |
$16.20 |
$33,700 |
| Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders |
180 |
$11.43 |
$23,770 |
| Postal service mail carriers |
180 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Vocational education teachers, secondary school |
180 |
Not available |
$42,530 |
| Detectives and criminal investigators |
170 |
$20.20 |
$42,020 |
| Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance |
170 |
$15.39 |
$32,010 |
| Loan officers |
170 |
$23.40 |
$48,670 |
| Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation |
160 |
$23.69 |
$49,270 |
| Construction and building inspectors |
160 |
$15.53 |
$32,310 |
| Employment, recruitment, and placement specialists |
160 |
$19.00 |
$39,510 |
| Financial managers |
160 |
$47.21 |
$98,190 |
| Health educators |
160 |
$16.33 |
$33,970 |
| Healthcare support workers, all other |
160 |
$12.16 |
$25,300 |
| Bartenders |
150 |
$9.04 |
$18,810 |
| Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers |
150 |
$17.55 |
$36,500 |
| Data entry keyers |
150 |
$10.36 |
$21,540 |
| Eligibility interviewers, government programs |
150 |
$14.97 |
$31,130 |
| Home health aides |
150 |
$10.14 |
$21,100 |
| Interviewers, except eligibility and loan |
150 |
$12.19 |
$25,350 |
| Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service |
150 |
$12.21 |
$25,390 |
| Network and computer systems administrators |
150 |
$24.92 |
$51,840 |
| Physicians and surgeons, all other |
150 |
$80.60 |
$167,650 |
| Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products |
150 |
$22.44 |
$46,680 |
| Recreation workers |
150 |
$10.92 |
$22,720 |
| Roofers |
150 |
$16.05 |
$33,380 |
| Social and community service managers |
150 |
$21.09 |
$43,870 |
| All other information and record clerks |
140 |
$13.07 |
$27,190 |
| Bill and account collectors |
140 |
$11.26 |
$23,420 |
| Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators |
140 |
$19.71 |
$41,000 |
| Cooks, fast food |
140 |
$7.62 |
$15,850 |
| Cost estimators |
140 |
$19.74 |
$41,060 |
| Education, training, and library workers, all other |
140 |
$19.46 |
$40,470 |
| Electrical power-line installers and repairers |
140 |
$20.61 |
$42,860 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists |
140 |
$13.51 |
$28,110 |
| Helpers--production workers |
140 |
$12.48 |
$25,950 |
| Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping |
140 |
$15.06 |
$31,320 |
| Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other |
140 |
$22.69 |
$47,200 |
| Computer and information systems managers |
130 |
$36.27 |
$75,430 |
| Cooks, short order |
130 |
$8.22 |
$17,090 |
| Dental assistants |
130 |
$14.97 |
$31,150 |
| Educational, vocational, and school counselors |
130 |
$19.62 |
$40,810 |
| Medical assistants |
130 |
$11.73 |
$24,390 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians |
130 |
$21.32 |
$44,340 |
| Sales representatives, services, all other |
130 |
$28.29 |
$58,840 |
| Telecommunications line installers and repairers |
130 |
$19.86 |
$41,320 |
| Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop |
120 |
$7.77 |
$16,160 |
| File clerks |
120 |
$10.55 |
$21,950 |
| Rehabilitation counselors |
120 |
$14.97 |
$31,130 |
| Special education teachers, secondary school |
120 |
Not available |
$41,350 |
| Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other |
110 |
$20.55 |
$42,740 |
| Pharmacy technicians |
110 |
$11.62 |
$24,180 |
| Production, planning, and expediting clerks |
110 |
$19.52 |
$40,610 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers |
110 |
$14.97 |
$31,140 |
| Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters |
100 |
$12.69 |
$26,400 |
| Computer software engineers, systems software |
100 |
$47.09 |
$97,950 |
| Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers |
100 |
$8.70 |
$18,100 |
| Education administrators, elementary and secondary school |
100 |
Not available |
$63,950 |
| Environmental engineers |
100 |
$28.90 |
$60,100 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of housekeeping and janitorial workers |
100 |
$11.95 |
$24,850 |
| Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop |
100 |
$8.00 |
$16,650 |
| Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers |
100 |
$18.13 |
$37,710 |
| Machinists |
100 |
$18.06 |
$37,570 |
| Mental health and substance abuse social workers |
100 |
$21.43 |
$44,580 |
| Motor vehicle operators, all other |
100 |
$7.75 |
$16,120 |
| Parts salespersons |
100 |
$15.98 |
$33,240 |
| Payroll and timekeeping clerks |
100 |
$11.91 |
$24,770 |
| Civil engineering technicians |
90 |
$18.46 |
$38,390 |
| Industrial machinery mechanics |
90 |
$18.48 |
$38,440 |
| Laundry and dry-cleaning workers |
90 |
$7.97 |
$16,580 |
| Librarians |
90 |
$20.10 |
$41,810 |
| Loan interviewers and clerks |
90 |
$12.91 |
$26,860 |
| Painters, construction and maintenance |
90 |
$19.93 |
$41,450 |
| Paralegals and legal assistants |
90 |
$15.80 |
$32,860 |
| Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school |
90 |
Not available |
$37,080 |
| Tire repairers and changers |
90 |
$9.84 |
$20,480 |
| Architectural and civil drafters |
80 |
$15.52 |
$32,270 |
| Automotive body and related repairers |
80 |
$15.67 |
$32,590 |
| Butchers and meat cutters |
80 |
$13.06 |
$27,170 |
| Family and general practitioners |
80 |
$82.96 |
$172,550 |
| Financial analysts |
80 |
$29.12 |
$60,570 |
| Network systems and data communications analysts |
80 |
$27.60 |
$57,410 |
| Pharmacists |
80 |
$50.97 |
$106,020 |
| Social and human service assistants |
80 |
$11.79 |
$24,520 |
| Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping |
80 |
$10.62 |
$22,090 |
| Wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products |
80 |
$18.99 |
$39,500 |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons |
70 |
$21.99 |
$45,740 |
| Budget analysts |
70 |
$22.46 |
$46,720 |
| Computer operators |
70 |
$14.95 |
$31,100 |
| Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders |
70 |
$14.54 |
$30,240 |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers |
70 |
$19.29 |
$40,130 |
| Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders |
70 |
$13.67 |
$28,440 |
| Farmworkers, farm and ranch animals |
70 |
$9.27 |
$19,280 |
| Legal secretaries |
70 |
$14.77 |
$30,720 |
| Medical and public health social workers |
70 |
$13.51 |
$28,090 |
| Mental health counselors |
70 |
$19.79 |
$41,170 |
| Natural sciences managers |
70 |
$29.29 |
$60,930 |
| Office and administrative support workers, all other |
70 |
$15.11 |
$31,440 |
| Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers |
70 |
$13.53 |
$28,150 |
| Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents |
70 |
$41.09 |
$85,470 |
| Self-enrichment education teachers |
70 |
$15.10 |
$31,420 |
| Special education teachers, middle school |
70 |
Not available |
$39,420 |
| Vocational education teachers, postsecondary |
70 |
$20.07 |
$41,740 |
| Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists |
60 |
$20.83 |
$43,330 |
| Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators |
60 |
$25.15 |
$52,320 |
| Financial specialists, all other |
60 |
$23.46 |
$48,800 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of personal service workers |
60 |
$15.58 |
$32,400 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators |
60 |
$23.08 |
$48,010 |
| Graphic designers |
60 |
$14.43 |
$30,020 |
| Industrial engineers |
60 |
$28.27 |
$58,800 |
| Insurance claims and policy processing clerks |
60 |
$14.36 |
$29,870 |
| Kindergarten teachers, except special education |
60 |
Not available |
$39,980 |
| Library assistants, clerical |
60 |
$10.00 |
$20,800 |
| Medical records and health information technicians |
60 |
$17.53 |
$36,470 |
| Occupational health and safety specialists |
60 |
$23.52 |
$48,920 |
| Opticians, dispensing |
60 |
$12.69 |
$26,400 |
| Residential advisors |
60 |
$13.17 |
$27,390 |
| Stationary engineers and boiler operators |
60 |
$12.29 |
$25,570 |
| Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers |
60 |
$20.07 |
$41,740 |
| Veterinary technologists and technicians |
60 |
$18.77 |
$39,050 |
| Bakers |
50 |
$10.01 |
$20,820 |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists |
50 |
$14.73 |
$30,630 |
| Database administrators |
50 |
$28.70 |
$59,700 |
| Electronic home entertainment equipment installers and repairers |
50 |
$16.52 |
$34,360 |
| Floral designers |
50 |
$10.86 |
$22,590 |
| Helpers--brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, and tile and marble setters |
50 |
$13.52 |
$28,120 |
| Human resources managers, all other |
50 |
$30.95 |
$64,370 |
| Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines |
50 |
$16.48 |
$34,280 |
| Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic |
50 |
$16.39 |
$34,090 |
| Nonfarm animal caretakers |
50 |
$8.05 |
$16,740 |
| Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary |
50 |
Not available |
$47,910 |
| Office machine operators, except computer |
50 |
$11.12 |
$23,120 |
| Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators |
50 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Prepress technicians and workers |
50 |
$14.74 |
$30,660 |
| Procurement clerks |
50 |
$15.17 |
$31,550 |
| Reporters and correspondents |
50 |
$15.89 |
$33,040 |
| Sales and related workers, all other |
50 |
$14.66 |
$30,480 |
| Sales managers |
50 |
$46.28 |
$96,270 |
| Surveying and mapping technicians |
50 |
$18.21 |
$37,890 |
| Tapers |
50 |
$19.99 |
$41,590 |
| Boilermakers |
40 |
$11.43 |
$23,770 |
| Coaches and scouts |
40 |
Not available |
$34,230 |
| Computer specialists, all other |
40 |
$34.75 |
$72,290 |
| Conservation scientists |
40 |
$26.52 |
$55,170 |
| Couriers and messengers |
40 |
$11.63 |
$24,200 |
| Editors |
40 |
$19.97 |
$41,530 |
| Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment |
40 |
$22.44 |
$46,680 |
| Helpers, construction trades, all other |
40 |
$12.16 |
$25,300 |
| Industrial production managers |
40 |
$39.71 |
$82,600 |
| Insurance underwriters |
40 |
$24.40 |
$50,760 |
| Mechanical drafters |
40 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Personal financial advisors |
40 |
$47.51 |
$98,830 |
| Photographers |
40 |
$11.35 |
$23,610 |
| Protective service workers, all other |
40 |
$12.45 |
$25,900 |
| Public relations managers |
40 |
$33.63 |
$69,940 |
| Recreational therapists |
40 |
$11.54 |
$24,010 |
| Speech-language pathologists |
40 |
$21.96 |
$45,680 |
| Switchboard operators, including answering service |
40 |
$10.68 |
$22,210 |
| Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers |
40 |
$10.69 |
$22,240 |
| Advertising sales agents |
30 |
$19.42 |
$40,400 |
| Dietitians and nutritionists |
30 |
$18.30 |
$38,060 |
| Education administrators, postsecondary |
30 |
$32.95 |
$68,530 |
| Engineering managers |
30 |
$38.00 |
$79,040 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand |
30 |
$22.79 |
$47,390 |
| Food service managers |
30 |
$29.26 |
$60,870 |
| Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic |
30 |
$11.88 |
$24,720 |
| Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary |
30 |
Not available |
$46,150 |
| Medical transcriptionists |
30 |
$14.17 |
$29,470 |
| Postmasters and mail superintendents |
30 |
$25.32 |
$52,660 |
| Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products |
30 |
$38.73 |
$80,550 |
| Transportation, storage, and distribution managers |
30 |
$26.14 |
$54,370 |
| Veterinarians |
30 |
$32.38 |
$67,360 |
| Amusement and recreation attendants |
Not available |
$9.31 |
$19,370 |
| Assemblers and fabricators, all other |
Not available |
$11.15 |
$23,200 |
| Business teachers, postsecondary |
Not available |
Not available |
$51,810 |
| Construction managers |
Not available |
$27.37 |
$56,930 |
| Electrical engineers |
Not available |
$33.70 |
$70,090 |
| Engineering technicians, except drafters, all other |
Not available |
$21.91 |
$45,580 |
| Engineers, all other |
Not available |
$36.82 |
$76,580 |
| Forest and conservation technicians |
Not available |
$14.00 |
$29,110 |
| Funeral attendants |
Not available |
$9.73 |
$20,240 |
| Health specialties teachers, postsecondary |
Not available |
Not available |
$47,000 |
| Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers |
Not available |
$10.55 |
$21,940 |
| Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks |
Not available |
$9.33 |
$19,410 |
| Instructional coordinators |
Not available |
$25.21 |
$52,430 |
| Library technicians |
Not available |
$14.12 |
$29,370 |
| Machine feeders and offbearers |
Not available |
$11.93 |
$24,820 |
| Meter readers, utilities |
Not available |
$11.52 |
$23,960 |
| Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders |
Not available |
$16.49 |
$34,310 |
| Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics |
Not available |
$11.05 |
$22,980 |
| Packers and packagers, hand |
Not available |
$10.19 |
$21,200 |
| Power plant operators |
Not available |
$19.35 |
$40,250 |
| Printing machine operators |
Not available |
$15.66 |
$32,570 |
| Property, real estate, and community association managers |
Not available |
$11.73 |
$24,400 |
| Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue agents |
Not available |
$14.88 |
$30,960 |
| Word processors and typists |
Not available |
$11.52 |
$23,970 |
