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 |
40,900 |
$17.06 |
$35,490 |
| Office and administrative support occupations |
8,390 |
$12.94 |
$26,910 |
| Sales and related occupations |
6,050 |
$14.12 |
$29,370 |
| Food preparation and serving related occupations |
4,520 |
$9.72 |
$20,210 |
| Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations |
3,800 |
$29.48 |
$61,320 |
| Construction and extraction occupations |
3,110 |
$16.54 |
$34,400 |
| Retail salespersons |
2,370 |
$12.50 |
$25,990 |
| Education, training, and library occupations |
1,930 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Cashiers |
1,810 |
$8.75 |
$18,200 |
| Transportation and material moving occupations |
1,740 |
$13.96 |
$29,040 |
| Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations |
1,730 |
$11.68 |
$24,290 |
| Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations |
1,680 |
$16.34 |
$33,980 |
| Healthcare support occupations |
1,520 |
$12.21 |
$25,400 |
| Registered nurses |
1,430 |
$21.79 |
$45,330 |
| Business and financial operations occupations |
1,370 |
$28.66 |
$59,610 |
| Stock clerks and order fillers |
1,260 |
$9.83 |
$20,440 |
| Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive |
1,220 |
$12.75 |
$26,520 |
| Waiters and waitresses |
1,130 |
$10.01 |
$20,810 |
| Protective service occupations |
1,000 |
$18.48 |
$38,440 |
| Personal care and service occupations |
940 |
$10.55 |
$21,950 |
| Management occupations |
850 |
$42.61 |
$88,630 |
| Carpenters |
840 |
$14.66 |
$30,490 |
| Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food |
770 |
$8.27 |
$17,210 |
| Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants |
770 |
$11.43 |
$23,770 |
| Office clerks, general |
770 |
$10.74 |
$22,350 |
| Production occupations |
770 |
$13.58 |
$28,240 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers |
620 |
$19.59 |
$40,740 |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers |
620 |
$12.15 |
$25,270 |
| Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks |
560 |
$13.35 |
$27,770 |
| Customer service representatives |
500 |
$11.86 |
$24,670 |
| Receptionists and information clerks |
490 |
$11.03 |
$22,950 |
| Executive secretaries and administrative assistants |
460 |
$17.29 |
$35,960 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers |
450 |
$18.39 |
$38,250 |
| Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners |
450 |
$10.24 |
$21,300 |
| Construction laborers |
440 |
$11.67 |
$24,270 |
| Food preparation workers |
420 |
$9.96 |
$20,720 |
| Cooks, restaurant |
410 |
$10.33 |
$21,480 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses |
400 |
$17.95 |
$37,330 |
| Maids and housekeeping cleaners |
400 |
$8.53 |
$17,740 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics |
390 |
$14.01 |
$29,150 |
| Tellers |
370 |
$12.14 |
$25,250 |
| Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand |
340 |
$11.27 |
$23,440 |
| Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers |
330 |
$7.94 |
$16,520 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers |
330 |
$28.38 |
$59,020 |
| Truck drivers, light or delivery services |
330 |
$14.99 |
$31,190 |
| Architecture and engineering occupations |
320 |
$32.43 |
$67,460 |
| Maintenance and repair workers, general |
320 |
$13.28 |
$27,620 |
| Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer |
320 |
$18.27 |
$37,990 |
| Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks |
310 |
$10.86 |
$22,590 |
| Dishwashers |
300 |
$8.26 |
$17,190 |
| Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations |
290 |
$17.89 |
$37,210 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers |
280 |
$17.69 |
$36,790 |
| Community and social services occupations |
280 |
$22.17 |
$46,110 |
| Accountants and auditors |
260 |
$23.06 |
$47,970 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers |
260 |
$15.70 |
$32,650 |
| General and operations managers |
250 |
$42.82 |
$89,060 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists |
230 |
$9.91 |
$20,620 |
| Legal occupations |
230 |
$33.04 |
$68,710 |
| Sales representatives, services, all other |
230 |
$26.92 |
$55,990 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians |
210 |
$27.02 |
$56,200 |
| Bill and account collectors |
200 |
$16.14 |
$33,570 |
| Child care workers |
200 |
$8.28 |
$17,230 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators |
200 |
$17.96 |
$37,350 |
| Business operations specialists, all other |
190 |
$26.08 |
$54,250 |
| Home health aides |
190 |
$9.44 |
$19,640 |
| Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop |
190 |
$9.21 |
$19,150 |
| Pharmacy technicians |
190 |
$12.62 |
$26,240 |
| Postal service mail carriers |
190 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products |
190 |
$24.93 |
$51,860 |
| Bartenders |
180 |
$9.54 |
$19,850 |
| Physicians and surgeons, all other |
170 |
$94.73 |
$197,030 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers |
160 |
$23.90 |
$49,720 |
| Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers |
160 |
$16.70 |
$34,740 |
| Insurance sales agents |
160 |
$26.53 |
$55,180 |
| Management analysts |
160 |
$54.36 |
$113,080 |
| Computer and mathematical occupations |
150 |
$24.51 |
$50,980 |
| Pharmacists |
150 |
$50.46 |
$104,960 |
| Security guards |
150 |
$10.82 |
$22,510 |
| Lawyers |
140 |
$41.34 |
$85,990 |
| Medical assistants |
140 |
$13.51 |
$28,090 |
| Cooks, institution and cafeteria |
130 |
$11.52 |
$23,950 |
| Counter and rental clerks |
130 |
$10.60 |
$22,050 |
| Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop |
130 |
$9.29 |
$19,330 |
| Dental assistants |
130 |
$16.19 |
$33,660 |
| Loan officers |
120 |
$28.15 |
$58,550 |
| Medical records and health information technicians |
120 |
$13.44 |
$27,960 |
| Order clerks |
120 |
$10.30 |
$21,420 |
| Cleaners of vehicles and equipment |
110 |
$9.46 |
$19,680 |
| Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors |
110 |
$16.17 |
$33,630 |
| Pest control workers |
110 |
$18.22 |
$37,900 |
| Recreation workers |
110 |
$12.04 |
$25,050 |
| Amusement and recreation attendants |
100 |
$8.26 |
$17,190 |
| Dentists, general |
100 |
More than $70 |
More than $145,600 |
| Industrial truck and tractor operators |
100 |
$13.25 |
$27,570 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters |
100 |
$20.04 |
$41,680 |
| Advertising sales agents |
90 |
$20.81 |
$43,270 |
| Billing and posting clerks and machine operators |
90 |
$13.78 |
$28,660 |
| Cost estimators |
90 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Manicurists and pedicurists |
90 |
$10.90 |
$22,670 |
| Physical therapists |
90 |
$38.82 |
$80,740 |
| Civil engineers |
80 |
$60.38 |
$125,580 |
| Construction and building inspectors |
80 |
$23.72 |
$49,350 |
| Dental hygienists |
80 |
$30.61 |
$63,670 |
| Emergency medical technicians and paramedics |
80 |
$13.70 |
$28,490 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers |
80 |
$21.21 |
$44,120 |
| Medical and clinical laboratory technologists |
80 |
$25.58 |
$53,210 |
| Respiratory therapists |
80 |
$23.87 |
$49,640 |
| Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters |
70 |
$14.14 |
$29,400 |
| Healthcare support workers, all other |
70 |
$14.86 |
$30,900 |
| Painters, construction and maintenance |
70 |
$15.97 |
$33,210 |
| Parts salespersons |
70 |
$12.87 |
$26,780 |
| Property, real estate, and community association managers |
70 |
$29.48 |
$61,310 |
| Roofers |
70 |
$13.79 |
$28,690 |
| Administrative services managers |
60 |
$37.58 |
$78,170 |
| Architectural and civil drafters |
60 |
$17.91 |
$37,250 |
| Financial managers |
60 |
$36.57 |
$76,070 |
| Food servers, nonrestaurant |
60 |
$9.16 |
$19,060 |
| Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks |
60 |
$9.72 |
$20,210 |
| Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other |
60 |
$26.21 |
$54,520 |
| Industrial machinery mechanics |
60 |
$16.98 |
$35,330 |
| Laundry and dry-cleaning workers |
60 |
$8.41 |
$17,500 |
| Medical and health services managers |
60 |
$36.62 |
$76,170 |
| Opticians, dispensing |
60 |
$24.59 |
$51,150 |
| Paralegals and legal assistants |
60 |
$16.67 |
$34,680 |
| Personal financial advisors |
60 |
$34.97 |
$72,740 |
| Taxi drivers and chauffeurs |
60 |
$11.86 |
$24,670 |
| Veterinary technologists and technicians |
60 |
$13.77 |
$28,640 |
| Computer support specialists |
50 |
$17.37 |
$36,130 |
| Construction managers |
50 |
$75.48 |
$157,010 |
| Data entry keyers |
50 |
$12.59 |
$26,190 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of housekeeping and janitorial workers |
50 |
$14.48 |
$30,120 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators |
50 |
$28.51 |
$59,290 |
| Graphic designers |
50 |
$17.89 |
$37,220 |
| Helpers, construction trades, all other |
50 |
$13.54 |
$28,170 |
| Legal secretaries |
50 |
$17.45 |
$36,290 |
| New accounts clerks |
50 |
$14.48 |
$30,110 |
| Nuclear medicine technologists |
50 |
$31.87 |
$66,280 |
| Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics |
50 |
$14.31 |
$29,760 |
| Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products |
50 |
$20.75 |
$43,170 |
| Sales managers |
50 |
$56.47 |
$117,460 |
| Tax preparers |
50 |
$13.60 |
$28,280 |
| Training and development specialists |
50 |
$19.37 |
$40,290 |
| Automotive body and related repairers |
40 |
$23.86 |
$49,620 |
| Chief executives |
40 |
$61.78 |
$128,500 |
| Child, family, and school social workers |
40 |
$23.58 |
$49,040 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers |
40 |
$23.37 |
$48,620 |
| Food service managers |
40 |
$28.85 |
$60,010 |
| Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers |
40 |
$8.53 |
$17,750 |
| Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping |
40 |
$16.34 |
$33,980 |
| Librarians |
40 |
$32.57 |
$67,740 |
| Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers |
40 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Loan interviewers and clerks |
40 |
$15.17 |
$31,560 |
| Occupational therapists |
40 |
$37.08 |
$77,120 |
| Payroll and timekeeping clerks |
40 |
$14.78 |
$30,750 |
| Protective service workers, all other |
40 |
$11.89 |
$24,730 |
| Public relations specialists |
40 |
$21.61 |
$44,960 |
| Surveying and mapping technicians |
40 |
$16.08 |
$33,450 |
| Switchboard operators, including answering service |
40 |
$10.55 |
$21,940 |
| Veterinarians |
40 |
$46.43 |
$96,580 |
| Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers |
40 |
$9.75 |
$20,280 |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists |
30 |
$19.08 |
$39,690 |
| Community and social service specialists, all other |
30 |
$18.12 |
$37,680 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of non-retail sales workers |
30 |
$29.97 |
$62,330 |
| Motorcycle mechanics |
30 |
$18.37 |
$38,210 |
| Physical therapist assistants |
30 |
$20.39 |
$42,410 |
| Postal service clerks |
30 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products |
30 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Assemblers and fabricators, all other |
Not available |
$10.53 |
$21,900 |
| Cardiovascular technologists and technicians |
Not available |
$23.06 |
$47,970 |
| Cooks, fast food |
Not available |
$7.76 |
$16,130 |
| Court, municipal, and license clerks |
Not available |
$15.33 |
$31,880 |
| Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance |
Not available |
$15.33 |
$31,880 |
| Driver/sales workers |
Not available |
$11.44 |
$23,790 |
| Editors |
Not available |
$24.37 |
$50,690 |
| Electricians |
Not available |
$17.29 |
$35,950 |
| Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations |
Not available |
$13.76 |
$28,620 |
| File clerks |
Not available |
$10.74 |
$22,340 |
| Financial specialists, all other |
Not available |
$37.07 |
$77,100 |
| Helpers--carpenters |
Not available |
$9.78 |
$20,340 |
| Helpers--electricians |
Not available |
$10.21 |
$21,230 |
| Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other |
Not available |
$11.44 |
$23,790 |
| Interviewers, except eligibility and loan |
Not available |
$15.18 |
$31,560 |
| Life, physical, and social science occupations |
Not available |
$20.74 |
$43,140 |
| Medical secretaries |
Not available |
$12.36 |
$25,720 |
| Medical transcriptionists |
Not available |
$14.36 |
$29,860 |
| Pharmacy aides |
Not available |
$9.13 |
$19,000 |
| Photographic processing machine operators |
Not available |
$9.55 |
$19,860 |
| Real estate sales agents |
Not available |
$15.38 |
$31,980 |
| Sales and related workers, all other |
Not available |
$8.64 |
$17,970 |
| Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents |
Not available |
$41.08 |
$85,440 |
| Self-enrichment education teachers |
Not available |
$20.76 |
$43,170 |
| Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers |
Not available |
$25.84 |
$53,760 |
| Therapists, all other |
Not available |
$23.80 |
$49,510 |
