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HIGHLIGHTS OF RICHLAND-KENNEWICK-PASCO, WA The National Compensation Survey (NCS) presents straight-time earnings for occupations in establishments employing 50 or more workers in private industry and State and local governments. The survey excludes agricultural establishments, private households, the self-employed, and the Federal Government. This NCS covered 84 firms representing 35,800 workers in the Richland-Kennewick-Pasco metropolitan area, which consists of Benton and Franklin Counties in Washington. Seventy-four percent of those represented worked in private industry. In the Richland-Kennewick-Pasco metropolitan area, average hourly wages were published for 23 detailed occupations. (See table 1.) Among white-collar workers, computer systems analysts and scientists averaged $30.36 per hour; registered nurses, $26.16; and secretaries, $15.54. Blue-collar occupations included electricians earning $29.06; bus drivers $14.13 per hour; and vehicle washers and equipment cleaners at $9.92. In the service occupations, police and detectives, public service averaged $25.20; janitors and cleaners $15.91 per hour; and waiters and waitresses, $7.08. The NCS also provides broad coverage of selected occupational characteristics that may affect individual earnings. (See tables 2 and 3.) For example, full-time employees in the Tri-cities area averaged $22.82 per hour, more than part-time workers who earned $10.35. Membership in a collective bargaining unit can also affect pay levels. Union workers in blue-collar jobs averaged $20.39 per hour, while their non-union counterparts made $11.77. Union workers in service jobs also earned more than non-union employees, averaging $19.69 and $9.78, respectively. All private industry workers at establishments employing 50-99 workers averaged $11.81 per hour, less than those workers in establishments with 500 or more employees who earned an average of $28.41. The NCS is part of a statistical program that integrates three previously separate surveys of wages and benefits into one comprehensive compensation program increasing the amount of data available. Data provided by the NCS may be used by businesses for establishing pay plans, making decisions concerning plant relocation, and in collective bargaining negotiations. Individuals may use such data to help choose potential careers. Average rates of pay are also available for levels of work within an occupation based on knowledge, skill, independent judgment, supervision received and other factors required on the job. 1 Data were collected between June 2003 and October 2003; the average reference month is August 2003. Survey Availability Complete survey results are contained in the Richland-Kennewick-Pasco, WA National Compensation Survey August 2003 (Bulletin 3120-20). While supplies last, single copies of the bulletin are available from the San Francisco Information Office by calling 415-975-4350. In addition, data contained in the bulletin are available on the Internet in both text and PDF formats at http://www.bls.gov/ncs/. Select survey tables can also be obtained from the Bureau's fax-on-demand service in San Francisco by dialing 415-975-4567 and requesting document 9545.For personal assistance or further information on the National Compensation Survey, as well as other Bureau programs, contact the San Francisco Information Office at 415-975-4350 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., pacific time, Monday - Friday. Technical Note Because the NCS is a sample survey, it is subject to sampling errors. Sampling errors occur because observations come only from a sample and not from an entire population. The sample used for this survey is one of a number of possible samples of the same size that could have been selected using the sample design. Estimates derived from the different samples would differ from each other. A measure of the variation among these differing estimates is the standard error. It can be used to measure the precision with which an estimate from a particular sample approximates the expected result of all possible samples. The chances are about 68 out of 100 that an estimate from the survey differs from a complete population figure by less than the standard error. The chances are about 90 out of 100 that this difference would be less than 1.6 times the standard error. The statements of comparisons appearing in this publication are significant at a 1.6 standard error level or better. This means that for differences cited, the estimated difference is greater than 1.6 times the standard error of the difference. Please click here for a text format copy of the tables accompanying this release. This bulletin is also available in its entirety in text or pdf format. __________________________________________________________________
Last Modified Date: January 26, 2004 |
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