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 |
64,800 |
$18.80 |
$39,100 |
| Office and administrative support occupations |
11,650 |
$14.76 |
$30,700 |
| Sales and related occupations |
7,460 |
$14.40 |
$29,950 |
| Food preparation and serving related occupations |
7,050 |
$9.68 |
$20,130 |
| Transportation and material moving occupations |
4,760 |
$16.88 |
$35,110 |
| Education, training, and library occupations |
4,300 |
$24.11 |
$50,140 |
| Construction and extraction occupations |
3,420 |
$22.20 |
$46,170 |
| Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations |
2,930 |
$32.98 |
$68,600 |
| Management occupations |
2,880 |
$41.35 |
$86,000 |
| Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations |
2,630 |
$20.49 |
$42,620 |
| Retail salespersons |
2,610 |
$11.73 |
$24,390 |
| Healthcare support occupations |
2,590 |
$12.84 |
$26,700 |
| Business and financial operations occupations |
2,480 |
$26.99 |
$56,130 |
| Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations |
2,360 |
$12.10 |
$25,180 |
| Cashiers |
2,170 |
$10.86 |
$22,590 |
| Production occupations |
1,990 |
$17.24 |
$35,860 |
| Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food |
1,740 |
$8.91 |
$18,530 |
| Personal care and service occupations |
1,740 |
$11.43 |
$23,780 |
| Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer |
1,660 |
$18.54 |
$38,560 |
| Protective service occupations |
1,480 |
$22.33 |
$46,450 |
| Office clerks, general |
1,460 |
$12.63 |
$26,280 |
| Waiters and waitresses |
1,290 |
$8.74 |
$18,190 |
| Teacher assistants |
1,230 |
Not available |
$24,870 |
| Community and social services occupations |
1,220 |
$19.71 |
$41,000 |
| Stock clerks and order fillers |
1,090 |
$11.16 |
$23,220 |
| Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners |
1,060 |
$11.32 |
$23,540 |
| Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks |
1,000 |
$15.71 |
$32,670 |
| Elementary school teachers, except special education |
980 |
Not available |
$56,690 |
| Architecture and engineering occupations |
970 |
$33.05 |
$68,750 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers |
920 |
$21.00 |
$43,680 |
| General and operations managers |
910 |
$45.88 |
$95,430 |
| Business operations specialists, all other |
870 |
$24.84 |
$51,660 |
| Executive secretaries and administrative assistants |
870 |
$17.68 |
$36,770 |
| Life, physical, and social science occupations |
830 |
$26.49 |
$55,090 |
| Cooks, fast food |
810 |
$9.10 |
$18,920 |
| Registered nurses |
760 |
$36.55 |
$76,020 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers |
750 |
$17.73 |
$36,880 |
| Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand |
730 |
$11.52 |
$23,960 |
| Child care workers |
660 |
$11.05 |
$22,980 |
| Customer service representatives |
660 |
$14.93 |
$31,060 |
| Home health aides |
640 |
$9.95 |
$20,690 |
| Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations |
620 |
$16.94 |
$35,240 |
| Computer and mathematical occupations |
610 |
$27.06 |
$56,290 |
| Cooks, restaurant |
610 |
$11.42 |
$23,740 |
| Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive |
570 |
$13.79 |
$28,690 |
| Construction laborers |
560 |
$17.09 |
$35,550 |
| Industrial truck and tractor operators |
550 |
$20.65 |
$42,960 |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers |
550 |
$13.72 |
$28,540 |
| Maintenance and repair workers, general |
550 |
$16.36 |
$34,030 |
| Carpenters |
540 |
$21.88 |
$45,500 |
| Medical assistants |
520 |
$13.54 |
$28,160 |
| Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants |
520 |
$13.04 |
$27,120 |
| Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations |
510 |
$19.13 |
$39,800 |
| Middle school teachers, except special and vocational education |
490 |
Not available |
$54,240 |
| Medical secretaries |
480 |
$13.15 |
$27,350 |
| Maids and housekeeping cleaners |
470 |
$9.37 |
$19,490 |
| Truck drivers, light or delivery services |
470 |
$15.11 |
$31,430 |
| Receptionists and information clerks |
460 |
$11.80 |
$24,550 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers |
450 |
$13.67 |
$28,430 |
| Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products |
450 |
$22.42 |
$46,620 |
| Tellers |
430 |
$11.12 |
$23,130 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics |
410 |
$18.54 |
$38,570 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators |
410 |
$25.68 |
$53,400 |
| Counter and rental clerks |
400 |
$12.12 |
$25,200 |
| Accountants and auditors |
370 |
$32.26 |
$67,110 |
| Security guards |
370 |
$12.57 |
$26,140 |
| Logging equipment operators |
360 |
$17.10 |
$35,570 |
| Dishwashers |
350 |
$8.75 |
$18,210 |
| Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks |
350 |
$11.96 |
$24,870 |
| Cooks, institution and cafeteria |
340 |
$13.02 |
$27,080 |
| Civil engineers |
300 |
$39.35 |
$81,840 |
| Legal occupations |
300 |
$37.34 |
$77,670 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers |
290 |
$21.12 |
$43,930 |
| Food preparation workers |
290 |
$9.93 |
$20,650 |
| Healthcare support workers, all other |
290 |
$14.56 |
$30,290 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses |
290 |
$22.28 |
$46,340 |
| Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers |
280 |
$8.77 |
$18,240 |
| Fire fighters |
280 |
$15.90 |
$33,070 |
| Bartenders |
270 |
$8.58 |
$17,850 |
| Billing and posting clerks and machine operators |
270 |
$15.50 |
$32,240 |
| Teachers and instructors, all other |
270 |
Not available |
$29,840 |
| Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop |
260 |
$9.38 |
$19,510 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers |
260 |
$31.71 |
$65,970 |
| Forest and conservation technicians |
260 |
$17.89 |
$37,220 |
| Dental assistants |
250 |
$14.78 |
$30,740 |
| Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop |
240 |
$8.71 |
$18,120 |
| Recreation workers |
240 |
$10.71 |
$22,280 |
| Parts salespersons |
230 |
$14.43 |
$30,010 |
| Electricians |
220 |
$26.79 |
$55,720 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers |
210 |
$28.44 |
$59,160 |
| Insurance claims and policy processing clerks |
210 |
$15.14 |
$31,480 |
| Managers, all other |
210 |
$49.54 |
$103,040 |
| Pharmacy technicians |
210 |
$16.28 |
$33,860 |
| Management analysts |
200 |
$29.42 |
$61,190 |
| Medical and health services managers |
200 |
$34.70 |
$72,180 |
| Sales managers |
200 |
$32.88 |
$68,390 |
| All other information and record clerks |
190 |
$15.44 |
$32,110 |
| Cost estimators |
190 |
$26.68 |
$55,490 |
| Sales representatives, services, all other |
190 |
$26.38 |
$54,870 |
| Amusement and recreation attendants |
180 |
$9.00 |
$18,730 |
| Bus drivers, school |
180 |
$15.15 |
$31,510 |
| Lawyers |
170 |
$42.70 |
$88,810 |
| Packers and packagers, hand |
170 |
$9.74 |
$20,260 |
| Painters, construction and maintenance |
170 |
$19.72 |
$41,020 |
| Personal and home care aides |
170 |
$10.67 |
$22,200 |
| Cleaners of vehicles and equipment |
160 |
$9.17 |
$19,080 |
| Computer support specialists |
160 |
$22.44 |
$46,680 |
| Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks |
160 |
$10.00 |
$20,800 |
| Insurance sales agents |
160 |
$21.11 |
$43,910 |
| Financial managers |
150 |
$44.11 |
$91,750 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand |
150 |
$21.66 |
$45,050 |
| Interviewers, except eligibility and loan |
150 |
$12.87 |
$26,770 |
| Postal service mail carriers |
150 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Preschool teachers, except special education |
150 |
$12.95 |
$26,940 |
| Social and human service assistants |
150 |
$14.69 |
$30,550 |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists |
140 |
$19.52 |
$40,610 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers |
140 |
$26.41 |
$54,930 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators |
140 |
$29.95 |
$62,300 |
| Food service managers |
140 |
$23.41 |
$48,700 |
| Kindergarten teachers, except special education |
140 |
Not available |
$55,720 |
| Child, family, and school social workers |
130 |
$21.16 |
$44,010 |
| File clerks |
130 |
$10.75 |
$22,360 |
| Machine feeders and offbearers |
130 |
$12.40 |
$25,780 |
| Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood |
130 |
$19.16 |
$39,850 |
| Bill and account collectors |
120 |
$13.82 |
$28,740 |
| Education administrators, elementary and secondary school |
120 |
Not available |
$90,260 |
| Educational, vocational, and school counselors |
120 |
$22.44 |
$46,680 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of housekeeping and janitorial workers |
120 |
$16.03 |
$33,330 |
| Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors |
120 |
$18.71 |
$38,920 |
| Helpers--production workers |
120 |
$10.81 |
$22,470 |
| Legal secretaries |
120 |
$14.97 |
$31,140 |
| Medical records and health information technicians |
120 |
$14.94 |
$31,070 |
| Payroll and timekeeping clerks |
120 |
$16.10 |
$33,490 |
| Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators |
120 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers |
110 |
$19.48 |
$40,520 |
| Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping |
110 |
$17.59 |
$36,580 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians |
110 |
$23.84 |
$49,590 |
| Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters |
100 |
$13.88 |
$28,870 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of non-retail sales workers |
100 |
$23.83 |
$49,570 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists |
100 |
$9.32 |
$19,380 |
| Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other |
100 |
$25.97 |
$54,010 |
| Medical and clinical laboratory technicians |
100 |
$16.44 |
$34,200 |
| Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders |
100 |
$13.80 |
$28,700 |
| Pharmacists |
100 |
$48.43 |
$100,730 |
| Production, planning, and expediting clerks |
100 |
$18.34 |
$38,150 |
| Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products |
100 |
$38.79 |
$80,670 |
| Surveyors |
100 |
$30.76 |
$63,980 |
| Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers |
100 |
$28.31 |
$58,890 |
| Telemarketers |
100 |
$9.73 |
$20,240 |
| Administrative services managers |
90 |
$30.20 |
$62,820 |
| Chief executives |
90 |
$74.06 |
$154,030 |
| Civil engineering technicians |
90 |
$26.08 |
$54,240 |
| Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators |
90 |
$27.09 |
$56,340 |
| Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation |
90 |
$25.12 |
$52,240 |
| Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers |
90 |
$19.26 |
$40,070 |
| Data entry keyers |
90 |
$10.92 |
$22,710 |
| Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance |
90 |
$17.19 |
$35,750 |
| Driver/sales workers |
90 |
$16.67 |
$34,670 |
| Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines |
90 |
$24.52 |
$50,990 |
| Nonfarm animal caretakers |
90 |
$12.14 |
$25,240 |
| Public relations specialists |
90 |
$21.03 |
$43,750 |
| Tire repairers and changers |
90 |
$13.10 |
$27,260 |
| Veterinary technologists and technicians |
90 |
$12.10 |
$25,170 |
| Word processors and typists |
90 |
$15.47 |
$32,180 |
| Butchers and meat cutters |
80 |
$14.51 |
$30,180 |
| Computer software engineers, applications |
80 |
$21.61 |
$44,960 |
| Computer systems analysts |
80 |
$27.90 |
$58,020 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of fire fighting and prevention workers |
80 |
$29.09 |
$60,520 |
| Graphic designers |
80 |
$22.60 |
$47,010 |
| Industrial machinery mechanics |
80 |
$26.63 |
$55,400 |
| Machinists |
80 |
$18.16 |
$37,780 |
| Network and computer systems administrators |
80 |
$27.72 |
$57,670 |
| Order clerks |
80 |
$14.27 |
$29,690 |
| Pest control workers |
80 |
$15.54 |
$32,320 |
| Pharmacy aides |
80 |
$11.28 |
$23,460 |
| Protective service workers, all other |
80 |
$16.84 |
$35,030 |
| Refuse and recyclable material collectors |
80 |
$20.02 |
$41,630 |
| Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education |
80 |
Not available |
$51,860 |
| Social and community service managers |
80 |
$35.37 |
$73,570 |
| Telecommunications line installers and repairers |
80 |
$16.16 |
$33,610 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers |
80 |
$16.75 |
$34,850 |
| Automotive body and related repairers |
70 |
$23.19 |
$48,240 |
| Construction managers |
70 |
$50.46 |
$104,960 |
| Dental hygienists |
70 |
$38.67 |
$80,430 |
| Environmental scientists and specialists, including health |
70 |
$33.19 |
$69,040 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of personal service workers |
70 |
$15.50 |
$32,240 |
| Highway maintenance workers |
70 |
$20.04 |
$41,690 |
| Library technicians |
70 |
$15.23 |
$31,670 |
| Network systems and data communications analysts |
70 |
$31.16 |
$64,810 |
| Physical therapist aides |
70 |
$12.22 |
$25,420 |
| Power plant operators |
70 |
$32.84 |
$68,300 |
| Property, real estate, and community association managers |
70 |
$16.61 |
$34,550 |
| Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents |
70 |
$38.93 |
$80,970 |
| Sewing machine operators |
70 |
$9.87 |
$20,540 |
| Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors |
70 |
$19.03 |
$39,570 |
| Training and development specialists |
70 |
$20.69 |
$43,030 |
| Vocational education teachers, postsecondary |
70 |
$38.20 |
$79,460 |
| Aircraft mechanics and service technicians |
60 |
$18.54 |
$38,570 |
| Electrical and electronic engineering technicians |
60 |
$30.50 |
$63,450 |
| Electrical engineers |
60 |
$37.55 |
$78,100 |
| Family and general practitioners |
60 |
$71.47 |
$148,670 |
| Foresters |
60 |
$32.60 |
$67,810 |
| Industrial production managers |
60 |
$45.58 |
$94,810 |
| Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers |
60 |
$14.20 |
$29,530 |
| Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other |
60 |
$18.25 |
$37,960 |
| Laundry and dry-cleaning workers |
60 |
$9.89 |
$20,580 |
| Loan officers |
60 |
$35.27 |
$73,360 |
| Mental health and substance abuse social workers |
60 |
$19.65 |
$40,870 |
| Office and administrative support workers, all other |
60 |
$11.67 |
$24,270 |
| Postal service clerks |
60 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials |
60 |
$9.84 |
$20,460 |
| Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products |
60 |
$23.89 |
$49,690 |
| Rehabilitation counselors |
60 |
$12.03 |
$25,020 |
| Roofers |
60 |
$21.00 |
$43,680 |
| Switchboard operators, including answering service |
60 |
$11.89 |
$24,730 |
| Transportation, storage, and distribution managers |
60 |
$36.31 |
$75,530 |
| Urban and regional planners |
60 |
$29.97 |
$62,340 |
| Water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators |
60 |
$21.89 |
$45,530 |
| Assemblers and fabricators, all other |
50 |
$12.85 |
$26,730 |
| Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists |
50 |
$34.47 |
$71,710 |
| Construction and building inspectors |
50 |
$27.10 |
$56,370 |
| Database administrators |
50 |
$27.29 |
$56,760 |
| Engineering technicians, except drafters, all other |
50 |
$25.34 |
$52,710 |
| First-line supervisors/managers of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers |
50 |
$18.09 |
$37,630 |
| Food preparation and serving related workers, all other |
50 |
$8.51 |
$17,700 |
| Loan interviewers and clerks |
50 |
$16.22 |
$33,730 |
| Marriage and family therapists |
50 |
$23.66 |
$49,210 |
| Massage therapists |
50 |
$18.78 |
$39,070 |
| Medical and public health social workers |
50 |
$21.57 |
$44,860 |
| Medical equipment preparers |
50 |
$13.51 |
$28,090 |
| Merchandise displayers and window trimmers |
50 |
$12.70 |
$26,410 |
| Metal workers and plastic workers, all other |
50 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Physical therapists |
50 |
$40.77 |
$84,810 |
| Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers |
50 |
$18.76 |
$39,020 |
| Respiratory therapists |
50 |
$25.14 |
$52,300 |
| Security and fire alarm systems installers |
50 |
$20.10 |
$41,810 |
| Special education teachers, middle school |
50 |
Not available |
$55,630 |
| Speech-language pathologists |
50 |
$33.04 |
$68,720 |
| Tapers |
50 |
$23.11 |
$48,070 |
| Tile and marble setters |
50 |
$22.23 |
$46,230 |
| Veterinarians |
50 |
$47.53 |
$98,860 |
| Zoologists and wildlife biologists |
50 |
$37.03 |
$77,030 |
| Appraisers and assessors of real estate |
40 |
$27.74 |
$57,690 |
| Bakers |
40 |
$13.47 |
$28,020 |
| Computer and information systems managers |
40 |
$38.68 |
$80,460 |
| Cooks, short order |
40 |
$9.59 |
$19,960 |
| Dietitians and nutritionists |
40 |
$30.03 |
$62,470 |
| Education administrators, postsecondary |
40 |
$49.65 |
$103,260 |
| Engineering managers |
40 |
$45.13 |
$93,870 |
| Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers |
40 |
$11.29 |
$23,480 |
| Helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons |
40 |
$12.30 |
$25,580 |
| Human resources managers, all other |
40 |
$38.59 |
$80,270 |
| Medical and clinical laboratory technologists |
40 |
$35.84 |
$74,540 |
| Natural sciences managers |
40 |
$49.07 |
$102,070 |
| Office machine operators, except computer |
40 |
$10.47 |
$21,780 |
| Painters, transportation equipment |
40 |
$24.18 |
$50,300 |
| Paralegals and legal assistants |
40 |
$25.59 |
$53,220 |
| Physicians and surgeons, all other |
40 |
$97.97 |
$203,780 |
| Self-enrichment education teachers |
40 |
$16.00 |
$33,280 |
| Surveying and mapping technicians |
40 |
$23.35 |
$48,570 |
| Team assemblers |
40 |
$13.33 |
$27,730 |
| Transportation workers, all other |
40 |
Not available |
Not available |
| Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers |
40 |
$9.63 |
$20,030 |
| Biological technicians |
30 |
$24.80 |
$51,590 |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons |
30 |
$29.91 |
$62,200 |
| Coaches and scouts |
30 |
Not available |
$33,180 |
| Floral designers |
30 |
$13.12 |
$27,300 |
| Helpers--brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, and tile and marble setters |
30 |
$14.78 |
$30,740 |
| Librarians |
30 |
$21.76 |
$45,250 |
| Library assistants, clerical |
30 |
$13.72 |
$28,530 |
| Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service |
30 |
$11.24 |
$23,370 |
| Marketing managers |
30 |
$51.82 |
$107,780 |
| Opticians, dispensing |
30 |
$16.68 |
$34,700 |
| Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators |
30 |
$32.14 |
$66,850 |
| Sales and related workers, all other |
30 |
$18.26 |
$37,980 |
| Tax preparers |
30 |
$16.76 |
$34,860 |
| Wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products |
30 |
$23.92 |
$49,750 |
| Clergy |
Not available |
$17.14 |
$35,640 |
| Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists |
Not available |
$26.23 |
$54,550 |
| Computer programmers |
Not available |
$33.46 |
$69,600 |
| Couriers and messengers |
Not available |
$12.16 |
$25,300 |
| Dietetic technicians |
Not available |
$13.34 |
$27,750 |
| Education administrators, preschool and child care center/program |
Not available |
$21.37 |
$44,460 |
| Employment, recruitment, and placement specialists |
Not available |
$26.29 |
$54,670 |
| Glaziers |
Not available |
$15.66 |
$32,580 |
| Health technologists and technicians, all other |
Not available |
$25.80 |
$53,660 |
| Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers |
Not available |
$21.20 |
$44,100 |
| Helpers--carpenters |
Not available |
$12.06 |
$25,070 |
| Mechanical engineers |
Not available |
$31.81 |
$66,160 |
| Mental health counselors |
Not available |
$15.60 |
$32,450 |
| New accounts clerks |
Not available |
$13.08 |
$27,200 |
| Occupational therapists |
Not available |
$36.53 |
$75,990 |
| Physician assistants |
Not available |
$41.87 |
$87,080 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters |
Not available |
$30.97 |
$64,410 |
| Real estate sales agents |
Not available |
$39.97 |
$83,140 |
| Recreational vehicle service technicians |
Not available |
$18.16 |
$37,770 |
| Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks |
Not available |
$12.22 |
$25,420 |
| Sheet metal workers |
Not available |
$15.51 |
$32,260 |
| Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school |
Not available |
Not available |
$55,430 |
| Structural metal fabricators and fitters |
Not available |
$20.13 |
$41,860 |
| Taxi drivers and chauffeurs |
Not available |
$9.68 |
$20,140 |
| Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers |
Not available |
$9.37 |
$19,490 |
| Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing |
Not available |
$16.21 |
$33,720 |
