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 |
88,110 |
$14.74 |
$30,660 |
| Office and administrative support occupations |
18,370 |
$11.89 |
$24,730 |
| Sales and related occupations |
11,810 |
$11.09 |
$23,060 |
| Transportation and material moving occupations |
9,940 |
$12.91 |
$26,850 |
| Education, training, and library occupations |
8,040 |
$20.33 |
$42,290 |
| Food preparation and serving related occupations |
7,660 |
$8.20 |
$17,050 |
| Personal care and service occupations |
5,730 |
$7.34 |
$15,260 |
| Personal and home care aides |
4,520 |
$6.96 |
$14,470 |
| Cashiers |
3,900 |
$7.68 |
$15,970 |
| Retail salespersons |
3,670 |
$9.06 |
$18,850 |
| Protective service occupations |
3,630 |
$20.27 |
$42,160 |
| Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer |
3,530 |
$16.28 |
$33,850 |
| Construction and extraction occupations |
3,300 |
$13.99 |
$29,100 |
| Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food |
3,200 |
$7.64 |
$15,890 |
| Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations |
3,150 |
$29.33 |
$61,000 |
| Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations |
2,890 |
$13.83 |
$28,780 |
| Management occupations |
2,620 |
$39.95 |
$83,100 |
| Business and financial operations occupations |
2,610 |
$27.18 |
$56,540 |
| Office clerks, general |
2,430 |
$10.23 |
$21,290 |
| Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand |
2,250 |
$8.93 |
$18,570 |
| Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations |
2,150 |
$8.94 |
$18,600 |
| Healthcare support occupations |
1,950 |
$11.24 |
$23,380 |
| Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive |
1,790 |
$10.94 |
$22,760 |
| Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks |
1,640 |
$10.89 |
$22,650 |
| Stock clerks and order fillers |
1,560 |
$8.58 |
$17,850 |
| Customer service representatives |
1,490 |
$10.38 |
$21,590 |
| Teacher assistants |
1,460 |
Not available |
$16,590 |
| Production occupations |
1,390 |
$12.21 |
$25,400 |
| Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks |
1,380 |
$12.28 |
$25,540 |
| Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners |
1,340 |
$8.79 |
$18,280 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers |
1,260 |
$19.58 |
$40,730 |
| Waiters and waitresses |
1,260 |
$7.28 |
$15,130 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers |
1,140 |
$19.59 |
$40,750 |
| Detectives and criminal investigators |
1,130 |
Not available |
Not available |
| General and operations managers |
1,000 |
$46.29 |
$96,290 |
| Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation |
970 |
$26.36 |
$54,820 |
| Registered nurses |
970 |
$28.72 |
$59,730 |
| Industrial truck and tractor operators |
950 |
$9.47 |
$19,710 |
| Security guards |
950 |
$9.60 |
$19,970 |
| Police and sheriff's patrol officers |
810 |
$22.28 |
$46,330 |
| Community and social services occupations |
750 |
$21.59 |
$44,910 |
| Receptionists and information clerks |
680 |
$8.75 |
$18,190 |
| Executive secretaries and administrative assistants |
670 |
$16.83 |
$35,010 |
| Tellers |
670 |
$9.77 |
$20,330 |
| Maintenance and repair workers, general |
660 |
$10.77 |
$22,400 |
| Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products |
620 |
$16.49 |
$34,290 |
| Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants |
600 |
$9.20 |
$19,130 |
| Truck drivers, light or delivery services |
600 |
$11.25 |
$23,400 |
| Child care workers |
550 |
$8.29 |
$17,230 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers |
530 |
$13.13 |
$27,310 |
| Computer and mathematical occupations |
520 |
$22.42 |
$46,630 |
| Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations |
490 |
$18.23 |
$37,930 |
| Architecture and engineering occupations |
480 |
$21.14 |
$43,970 |
| Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance |
480 |
$11.88 |
$24,720 |
| Sales representatives, services, all other |
480 |
$18.20 |
$37,850 |
| Construction laborers |
470 |
$8.98 |
$18,670 |
| Food preparation workers |
470 |
$8.57 |
$17,820 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses |
450 |
$18.61 |
$38,700 |
| Medical assistants |
450 |
$10.69 |
$22,240 |
| Accountants and auditors |
420 |
$26.13 |
$54,350 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics |
420 |
$13.28 |
$27,610 |
| Cooks, restaurant |
420 |
$8.93 |
$18,560 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators |
400 |
$17.35 |
$36,090 |
| Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers |
380 |
$7.04 |
$14,650 |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists |
370 |
$14.29 |
$29,720 |
| Maids and housekeeping cleaners |
370 |
$7.38 |
$15,340 |
| Billing and posting clerks and machine operators |
360 |
$12.44 |
$25,880 |
| Legal occupations |
360 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Preschool teachers, except special education |
320 |
$14.83 |
$30,840 |
| Refuse and recyclable material collectors |
320 |
$9.68 |
$20,140 |
| Business operations specialists, all other |
300 |
$26.90 |
$55,960 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers |
300 |
$19.90 |
$41,400 |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers |
300 |
$9.49 |
$19,740 |
| Educational, vocational, and school counselors |
270 |
$27.03 |
$56,230 |
| Cleaners of vehicles and equipment |
250 |
$8.22 |
$17,100 |
| Computer support specialists |
250 |
$17.11 |
$35,600 |
| Cooks, institution and cafeteria |
250 |
$8.54 |
$17,760 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers |
250 |
$21.51 |
$44,740 |
| Life, physical, and social science occupations |
250 |
$23.68 |
$49,250 |
| Counter and rental clerks |
240 |
$9.96 |
$20,720 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand |
240 |
$18.19 |
$37,830 |
| Electricians |
230 |
$13.69 |
$28,470 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators |
230 |
$23.96 |
$49,830 |
| Instructional coordinators |
230 |
$21.86 |
$45,480 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters |
230 |
$16.84 |
$35,030 |
| Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop |
220 |
$7.35 |
$15,290 |
| Driver/sales workers |
220 |
$12.82 |
$26,670 |
| Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop |
210 |
$7.13 |
$14,840 |
| Pharmacy technicians |
210 |
$12.61 |
$26,230 |
| Construction managers |
200 |
$35.47 |
$73,780 |
| Dishwashers |
200 |
$7.39 |
$15,380 |
| Administrative services managers |
190 |
$36.53 |
$75,980 |
| Bill and account collectors |
190 |
$10.76 |
$22,380 |
| Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers |
190 |
$11.68 |
$24,290 |
| Interviewers, except eligibility and loan |
190 |
$12.84 |
$26,710 |
| Lawyers |
190 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists |
180 |
$9.15 |
$19,030 |
| Helpers--electricians |
180 |
$10.85 |
$22,560 |
| Carpenters |
170 |
$14.98 |
$31,170 |
| Couriers and messengers |
170 |
$8.45 |
$17,570 |
| Data entry keyers |
170 |
$9.55 |
$19,870 |
| All other information and record clerks |
160 |
$12.16 |
$25,290 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of police and detectives |
160 |
$36.27 |
$75,450 |
| Legal secretaries |
160 |
$12.61 |
$26,240 |
| Medical records and health information technicians |
160 |
$9.58 |
$19,920 |
| Order clerks |
160 |
$14.04 |
$29,200 |
| Butchers and meat cutters |
150 |
$8.51 |
$17,710 |
| Child, family, and school social workers |
150 |
$17.52 |
$36,430 |
| Loan interviewers and clerks |
150 |
$13.78 |
$28,660 |
| Production, planning, and expediting clerks |
150 |
$13.45 |
$27,970 |
| Public relations specialists |
150 |
$21.31 |
$44,330 |
| Service unit operators, oil, gas, and mining |
150 |
$15.19 |
$31,590 |
| Transportation, storage, and distribution managers |
150 |
$33.96 |
$70,640 |
| Packers and packagers, hand |
140 |
$8.44 |
$17,550 |
| Parts salespersons |
140 |
$11.69 |
$24,320 |
| Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers |
140 |
$26.81 |
$55,760 |
| Loan officers |
130 |
$31.42 |
$65,350 |
| Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators |
130 |
$12.45 |
$25,910 |
| Payroll and timekeeping clerks |
130 |
$13.29 |
$27,640 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of non-retail sales workers |
120 |
$28.26 |
$58,780 |
| Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks |
120 |
$7.57 |
$15,750 |
| Managers, all other |
120 |
$40.52 |
$84,270 |
| Physical therapist assistants |
120 |
$28.17 |
$58,600 |
| Postal service mail carriers |
120 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Real estate sales agents |
120 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Dental assistants |
110 |
$11.97 |
$24,900 |
| File clerks |
110 |
$9.09 |
$18,910 |
| Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters |
110 |
$9.81 |
$20,410 |
| Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping |
110 |
$13.61 |
$28,320 |
| Librarians |
110 |
$28.24 |
$58,730 |
| Pharmacists |
110 |
$57.75 |
$120,130 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians |
110 |
$20.25 |
$42,120 |
| Sales managers |
110 |
$37.10 |
$77,170 |
| Business teachers, postsecondary |
100 |
Not available |
$81,480 |
| Financial managers |
100 |
$46.07 |
$95,830 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers |
100 |
$18.51 |
$38,500 |
| Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers |
100 |
$8.79 |
$18,290 |
| Insurance sales agents |
100 |
$18.91 |
$39,340 |
| Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders |
100 |
$7.52 |
$15,650 |
| Speech-language pathologists |
100 |
$37.08 |
$77,140 |
| Bakers |
90 |
$8.50 |
$17,670 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of housekeeping and janitorial workers |
90 |
$13.73 |
$28,560 |
| Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors |
90 |
$9.51 |
$19,780 |
| Food service managers |
90 |
$22.20 |
$46,170 |
| Network and computer systems administrators |
90 |
$21.84 |
$45,420 |
| Recreation workers |
90 |
$9.50 |
$19,760 |
| Civil engineering technicians |
80 |
$17.25 |
$35,880 |
| Correctional officers and jailers |
80 |
$15.51 |
$32,250 |
| Credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks |
80 |
$11.92 |
$24,800 |
| Family and general practitioners |
80 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Switchboard operators, including answering service |
80 |
$8.90 |
$18,520 |
| Taxi drivers and chauffeurs |
80 |
$7.83 |
$16,290 |
| Wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products |
80 |
$23.30 |
$48,460 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers |
70 |
$11.13 |
$23,160 |
| Civil engineers |
70 |
$31.57 |
$65,660 |
| Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers |
70 |
$15.24 |
$31,710 |
| Cost estimators |
70 |
$21.83 |
$45,410 |
| English language and literature teachers, postsecondary |
70 |
Not available |
$61,750 |
| Laundry and dry-cleaning workers |
70 |
$8.48 |
$17,640 |
| Library technicians |
70 |
$10.40 |
$21,630 |
| Medical and clinical laboratory technologists |
70 |
$20.69 |
$43,030 |
| Medical and health services managers |
70 |
$37.09 |
$77,140 |
| Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines |
70 |
$12.37 |
$25,730 |
| Occupational therapists |
70 |
$40.40 |
$84,030 |
| Paralegals and legal assistants |
70 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Physical therapists |
70 |
$51.67 |
$107,480 |
| Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers |
70 |
$14.20 |
$29,540 |
| Architectural and civil drafters |
60 |
$12.85 |
$26,720 |
| Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters |
60 |
$7.79 |
$16,210 |
| Chief executives |
60 |
$66.65 |
$138,640 |
| Cooks, short order |
60 |
$7.88 |
$16,390 |
| Eligibility interviewers, government programs |
60 |
$17.50 |
$36,410 |
| Entertainment attendants and related workers, all other |
60 |
$7.53 |
$15,670 |
| Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers |
60 |
$10.74 |
$22,330 |
| Market research analysts |
60 |
$23.86 |
$49,640 |
| Merchandise displayers and window trimmers |
60 |
$8.86 |
$18,420 |
| Office and administrative support workers, all other |
60 |
$15.06 |
$31,320 |
| Physicians and surgeons, all other |
60 |
$104.65 |
$217,680 |
| Pipelayers |
60 |
$10.62 |
$22,090 |
| Property, real estate, and community association managers |
60 |
$24.16 |
$50,250 |
| Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products |
60 |
$21.60 |
$44,920 |
| Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents |
60 |
$19.43 |
$40,410 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers |
60 |
$11.92 |
$24,790 |
| Advertising sales agents |
50 |
$13.36 |
$27,800 |
| Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary |
50 |
Not available |
$62,540 |
| Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers |
50 |
$10.74 |
$22,340 |
| Computer programmers |
50 |
$27.12 |
$56,410 |
| Computer science teachers, postsecondary |
50 |
Not available |
$69,740 |
| Computer systems analysts |
50 |
$27.87 |
$57,980 |
| Healthcare support workers, all other |
50 |
$13.74 |
$28,580 |
| Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary |
50 |
Not available |
$79,090 |
| Parking lot attendants |
50 |
$8.39 |
$17,440 |
| Physical therapist aides |
50 |
$8.49 |
$17,660 |
| Protective service workers, all other |
50 |
$12.47 |
$25,940 |
| Psychology teachers, postsecondary |
50 |
Not available |
$71,580 |
| Social and human service assistants |
50 |
$12.69 |
$26,400 |
| Training and development specialists |
50 |
$15.98 |
$33,240 |
| Biological science teachers, postsecondary |
40 |
Not available |
$86,320 |
| Coaches and scouts |
40 |
Not available |
$50,680 |
| Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists |
40 |
$21.60 |
$44,930 |
| Employment, recruitment, and placement specialists |
40 |
$17.34 |
$36,060 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of personal service workers |
40 |
$15.06 |
$31,320 |
| Food servers, nonrestaurant |
40 |
$7.80 |
$16,220 |
| Gaming and sports book writers and runners |
40 |
$9.17 |
$19,070 |
| Health educators |
40 |
$12.64 |
$26,280 |
| Industrial machinery mechanics |
40 |
$14.55 |
$30,270 |
| Library assistants, clerical |
40 |
$11.82 |
$24,590 |
| Loan counselors |
40 |
$17.47 |
$36,330 |
| Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary |
40 |
Not available |
$61,110 |
| Occupational therapist assistants |
40 |
$22.34 |
$46,460 |
| Personal financial advisors |
40 |
$37.46 |
$77,920 |
| Social and community service managers |
40 |
$23.15 |
$48,160 |
| Sociology teachers, postsecondary |
40 |
Not available |
$65,350 |
| Surveying and mapping technicians |
40 |
$14.79 |
$30,760 |
| Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping |
40 |
$9.50 |
$19,770 |
| Assemblers and fabricators, all other |
30 |
$8.95 |
$18,620 |
| Chemistry teachers, postsecondary |
30 |
Not available |
$71,140 |
| Computer operators |
30 |
$12.73 |
$26,470 |
| Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other |
30 |
$24.76 |
$51,510 |
| Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service |
30 |
$9.75 |
$20,280 |
| Obstetricians and gynecologists |
30 |
$99.01 |
$205,930 |
| Pest control workers |
30 |
$8.54 |
$17,770 |
| Photographic processing machine operators |
30 |
$8.09 |
$16,820 |
| Transportation inspectors |
30 |
$19.95 |
$41,490 |
| Automotive body and related repairers |
Not available |
$15.95 |
$33,180 |
| Bus drivers, transit and intercity |
Not available |
$14.01 |
$29,140 |
| Cargo and freight agents |
Not available |
$14.13 |
$29,390 |
| Cooks, fast food |
Not available |
$6.86 |
$14,280 |
| Education administrators, preschool and child care center/program |
Not available |
$19.05 |
$39,620 |
| Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles |
Not available |
$10.92 |
$22,710 |
| Emergency medical technicians and paramedics |
Not available |
$13.66 |
$28,420 |
| Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators |
Not available |
$13.02 |
$27,090 |
| Helpers--production workers |
Not available |
$7.58 |
$15,760 |
| Home health aides |
Not available |
$8.35 |
$17,370 |
| Logisticians |
Not available |
$29.40 |
$61,140 |
| Maintenance workers, machinery |
Not available |
$13.50 |
$28,090 |
| Management analysts |
Not available |
$53.34 |
$110,950 |
| Medical equipment repairers |
Not available |
$19.18 |
$39,900 |
| Medical secretaries |
Not available |
$11.41 |
$23,740 |
| Medical transcriptionists |
Not available |
$12.05 |
$25,060 |
| Office machine operators, except computer |
Not available |
$11.31 |
$23,530 |
| Opticians, dispensing |
Not available |
$9.33 |
$19,410 |
| Roofers |
Not available |
$8.05 |
$16,750 |
| Roustabouts, oil and gas |
Not available |
$13.37 |
$27,820 |
| Sales and related workers, all other |
Not available |
$14.50 |
$30,170 |
| Security and fire alarm systems installers |
Not available |
$15.40 |
$32,030 |
| Service station attendants |
Not available |
$8.58 |
$17,850 |
| Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors |
Not available |
$15.84 |
$32,940 |
| Teachers and instructors, all other |
Not available |
Not available |
$17,310 |
| Telemarketers |
Not available |
$9.65 |
$20,060 |
| Tire repairers and changers |
Not available |
$10.90 |
$22,660 |
