Wages by Area and Occupation

NATIONAL WAGE DATA

• For pay-setting purposes - data include information on the level of difficulty and complexity of work.
• For 450 occupations - occupations are classified according to 1990 Occupational Classification System Manual.
• For over 700 occupations - data are classified using the Standard Occupational  Classification (SOC) System.
• For broad occupational groups - occupations are aggregated into major occupational groups (for example, "professional occupations") and further aggregated into three broad occupational groups (white-collar, blue-collar, and service occupations).
• For over 300 industries - occupational wage data for 4- and 5-digit NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) industries.
• Data by occupation and gender - data for men and for women in 200 occupations (from the Current Population Survey) (TXT) (PDF)

REGIONAL WAGE DATA

• For Census divisions - New England, Middle Atlantic, East North Central, West North Central, South Atlantic, East South Central, West South Central, Mountain, and Pacific.

STATE WAGE DATA

• By State - 50 States plus District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands.

METROPOLITAN AREA WAGE DATA

• For pay-setting purposes - data include information on the level of difficulty and complexity of work.
  
• For metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and primary metropolitan statistical areas (PMSAs) - an MSA consists of an urbanized county or group of counties that demonstrate very strong internal economic and social links and close ties to other portions of the larger area; a PMSA is one of a group of contiguous MSAs  whose total population exceeds one million.
• For metropolitan areas, consolidated metropolitan statistical areas (CMSAs), and non-metropolitan counties - CMSAs consist of 2 or more primary metropolitan statistical areas (PMSAs).

BLS wage data by area and occupation are from the National Compensation Survey, Occupational Employment Statistics Survey, or the Current Population Survey.

Additional BLS programs that publish wage data (though not by detailed occupation) are Employment Cost Trends, Current Employment Statistics, and Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages .

Last Modified Date: May 10, 2004

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