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Modeled Wage Estimates

Average hourly wages for blue collar occupations across levels, worker characteristics, and geographic location

The Modeled Wage Estimates (MWE) allows for comparison of average hourly wages across occupations among geographic area and bargaining status (union and nonunion) by work level (entry, intermediate, experienced, 1-15 and unable to be leveled). The MWE uses the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system and includes average hourly wages for a variety of occupational groups and occupations. Chart 1 includes the national average hourly wages per level for the following major occupational groups:

  • construction and extraction

  • installation, maintenance, and repair

  • production

  • transportation and material moving

Within each of these major occupational groups are smaller groups and specific occupations. For example, construction and extraction occupations include supervisors of construction and extraction workers, construction trades workers, helpers in construction trades, other construction and related workers, and extraction workers. Within these subgroups are additional occupations. The MWE provides average hourly wages for both major occupational groups and the occupations within these groups.

Average hourly wages per occupational group by work level, 2023
Table 1. Average hourly wages per occupational group by work level, 2023
Occupation Text Level 01 Level 02 Level 03 Level 04 Level 05 Level 06 Level 07 Level 08

Construction and extraction occupations

$18.93 $18.97 $22.84 $22.98 $28.66 $33.70 $39.76 $45.02

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

$13.72 $16.28 $18.05 $21.58 $25.70 $31.42 $37.49 $43.64

Production occupations

$15.90 $16.65 $19.27 $22.10 $24.31 $29.50 $35.40 $46.58

Transportation and material moving occupations

$17.04 $17.39 $20.18 $26.72 $28.48 $32.03 $42.08 $-

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Modeled Wage Estimates

In 2023, the average hourly wage for construction and extraction occupations in the U.S. was $22.98 for level 4 and $39.76 for level 7. The average hourly wage in Florida was $21.35 for level 4 and $38.27 for level 7. In California, the average hourly wage was $26.30 for level 4 and $47.46 for level 7 (See Chart 2).

Average hourly wages for construction and extraction workers by state, 2023
Table 2. Average hourly wages for construction and extraction occupations by state, 2023
Level National Texas Ohio Florida New York California

Level 03

$22.84 $19.66 $22.38 $20.28 $28.89 $26.59

Level 04

$22.98 $21.03 $23.50 $21.35 $24.57 $26.30

Level 05

$28.66 $25.60 $28.59 $24.96 $32.42 $33.13

Level 06

$33.70 $29.72 $34.11 $29.38 $38.70 $38.26

Level 07

$39.76 $33.97 $36.63 $38.27 $39.85 $47.46

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Modeled Wage Estimates

In 2023, the average hourly wage for installation, maintenance, and repair occupations in the U.S. was $21.58 for level 4 and $31.42 for level 6. The average hourly wage in Ohio was $21.59 for level 4 and $29.77 for level 6. In California, the average hourly wage was $24.79 for level 4 and $35.06 for level 6 (See Chart 3).

Average hourly wages per installation, maintenance and repair occupations by state, 2023
Table 3. Average hourly wages for installation, maintenance, and repair occupations by state, 2023
Level National Florida Ohio Texas New York California

Level 04

$21.58 $20.58 $21.59 $19.40 $21.65 $24.79

Level 05

$25.70 $23.34 $26.10 $24.57 $28.75 $27.45

Level 06

$31.42 $29.57 $29.77 $30.12 $32.96 $35.06

Level 07

$37.49 $33.04 $33.12 $35.00 $42.23 $43.43

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Modeled Wage Estimates

In 2023, the average hourly wage for production occupations in the U.S. was $16.65 for level 2 and $29.50 for level 6. The average hourly wage in Florida was $15.85 for level 2 and $27.54 for level 6. In California, the average hourly wage was $18.42 for level 2 and $32.95 for level 6 (See Chart 4).

Average hourly wages for production occupations by state, 2023
Table 4. Average hourly wages for production occupations by state, 2023
Level National Ohio Texas Florida New York California

Level 02

$16.65 $16.69 $14.59 $15.85 $17.59 $18.42

Level 03

$19.27 $19.62 $17.34 $17.98 $19.49 $20.19

Level 04

$22.10 $21.82 $20.05 $20.34 $23.34 $22.02

Level 05

$24.31 $23.46 $23.03 $24.15 $25.35 $24.98

Level 06

$29.50 $29.27 $27.69 $27.54 $28.90 $32.95

Level 07

$35.40 $33.68 $35.39 $35.87 $37.63 $38.74

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Modeled Wage Estimates

In 2023, the average hourly wage for transportation and material occupations in the U.S. was $17.04 for level 1 and $28.48 for level 5. The average hourly wage in Texas was $15.04 for level 1 and $28.52 for level 5. In New York, the average hourly wage was $19.83 for level 1 and $34.77 for level 5 (See Chart 5).

Average hourly wages for transportation and material moving by state, 2023
Table 5. Average hourly wages for transportation and material moving occupations by state, 2023
Level National Florida California Texas Illinois New York

Level 01

$17.04 $15.88 $19.34 $15.04 $18.67 $19.83

Level 02

$17.39 $16.03 $19.69 $16.01 $17.40 $18.07

Level 03

$20.18 $19.04 $21.64 $18.34 $20.42 $22.93

Level 04

$26.72 $25.29 $26.33 $25.81 $27.90 $30.21

Level 05

$28.48 $26.63 $28.20 $28.52 $29.74 $34.77

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Modeled Wage Estimates

In 2023, the average hourly wage among construction and extraction occupations in the U.S. was $26.93 for nonunion and $38.69 for union workers. The average hourly wage for installation, maintenance, and repair occupations was $26.12 for nonunion and $38.44 for union workers. The average hourly wage for production occupations was $22.05 for nonunion and $27.07 for union workers. The average hourly wage for transportation and material moving occupations was $20.60 for nonunion and $28.38 for union workers (See Chart 6).

Average hourly wages per occupational group and work characteristic, 2023
Table 6. Average hourly wages per occupation group and worker characteristic, 2023
Occupation Text Nonunion Union

Construction and extraction occupations

$26.93 $38.69

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

$26.12 $38.44

Production occupations

$22.05 $27.07

Transportation and material moving occupations

$20.60 $28.38

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Modeled Wage Estimates

Among construction and extraction workers in 2023, the average hourly wage was $38.69 for union and $26.93 for nonunion workers in the U.S. The average hourly wage was $31.26 for union workers and $25.13 for nonunion workers in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX. The average hourly wage was $45.76 for union and $33.19 for nonunion workers in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA.

Among installation, maintenance, and repair occupations in 2023, the average hourly wage was $38.44 for union and $26.12 for nonunion workers in the U.S. The average hourly wage was $37.40 for union and 26.09 for nonunion workers in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI. The average hourly wage was $39.82 for union and $29.32 for nonunion workers in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA.

Among production occupations in 2023, the average hourly wage was $27.07 for union workers and $22.05 for nonunion workers in the U.S. The average hourly wage was $26.50 for union and $22.46 for nonunion workers in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI. The average hourly wage was $28.97 for union and $23.14 for nonunion workers in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA.

Among transportation and material moving occupations in 2023, the average hourly wage $28.38 for union and $20.60 nonunion workers in the U.S. The average hourly was $27.37 for union and $21.36 for nonunion workers in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX. The average hourly wage was $30.18 for union and $22.71 for nonunion workers in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA (See Chart 7).

Average hourly wages blue collar occupations by metropolitan area and worker characteristic, 2023
Table 7. Average hourly wages for union and nonunion blue collar occupations by metropolitan area and worker characteristic, 2023
Occupation Metropolitan area Nonunion Union

Construction and extraction occupations

National $26.93 $38.69
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $25.13 $31.26
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $26.76 $37.13
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA $33.19 $45.76

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

National $26.12 $38.44
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $26.25 $41.54
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $26.09 $37.40
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA $29.32 $39.82

Production occupations

National $22.05 $27.07
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $20.95 $29.27
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $22.46 $26.50
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA $23.14 $28.97

Transportation and material moving occupations

National $20.60 $28.38
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $21.36 $27.37
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $21.30 $27.85
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA $22.71 $30.18

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Modeled Wage Estimates

In 2023, the average hourly wage among construction and extraction occupations in the U.S. was $23.86 for part-time and $29.72 for full-time workers. The average hourly wage for installation, maintenance, and repair occupations was $18.79 for part-time and $28.62 for full-time workers. The average hourly wage for production occupations was $16.85 for part-time and $23.27 for full-time workers. The average hourly wage for transportation and material moving occupations was $17.78 for part-time and $24.10 for full-time workers (See Chart 8).

Average hourly wages per occupational group and worker characteristic, 2023
Table 8. Average hourly wages per occupation group and worker characteristic, 2023
Occupation Part-time Full-time

Construction and extraction occupations

$23.86 $29.72

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

$18.79 $28.62

Production occupations

$16.85 $23.27

Transportation and material moving occupations

$17.78 $24.10

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Modeled Wage Estimates

In 2023, the average hourly wage for construction and extraction occupations in the U.S. was $23.86 for part-time and $29.72 for full-time workers. The average hourly wage was $22.47 for part-time and $24.19 for full-time workers in Jacksonville, FL . The average hourly wage was $25.55 for part-time and $30.97 for full-time workers in Columbus, OH.

Among installation, maintenance, and repair occupations, the average hourly wage in the U.S. was $18.79 for part-time and $28.62 for full-time workers. The average hourly wage was $15.85 for part-time and $26.34 for full-time workers in Jacksonville, FL. The average hourly wage was $18.57 for part-time and $28.33 for full-time workers in Columbus, OH.

Among production occupations, the average hourly wage in the U.S. was $16.85 for part-time and $23.27 for full-time workers. The average hourly wage was $16.24 for part-time and $22.05 for full-time workers in Jacksonville, FL. The average hourly wage was $15.50 for part-time and $22.80 for full-time workers in Columbus, OH.

Among transportation and material moving occupations, the average hourly wage in the U.S. was $17.78 for part-time and $24.10 for full-time workers. The average hourly wage was $17.31 for part-time and $22.39 for full-time workers in Jacksonville, FL. The average hourly wage was $16.88 for part-time and $23.31 for full-time workers in Columbus, OH (See Chart 9).

Average hourly wages for blue collar occupations by metropolitan area and worker characteristic, 2023
Table 9. Average hourly wages for blue collar occupations by metropolitan area and worker characteristic, 2023
Occupation Metropolitan area Part-time Full-time

Construction and extraction occupations

National $23.86 $29.72
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $23.91 $25.41
Columbus, OH $25.55 $30.97
Jacksonville, FL $22.47 $24.19
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $31.22 $36.11

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

National $18.79 $28.62
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $16.46 $28.32
Columbus, OH $18.57 $28.33
Jacksonville, FL $15.85 $26.34
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $24.00 $31.34

Production occupations

National $16.85 $23.27
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $18.66 $22.62
Columbus, OH $15.50 $22.80
Jacksonville, FL $16.24 $22.05
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $18.43 $25.10

Transportation and material moving occupations

National $17.78 $24.10
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $16.49 $23.44
Columbus, OH $16.88 $23.31
Jacksonville, FL $17.31 $22.39
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $20.58 $24.53

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Modeled Wage Estimates

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Last Modified Date: August 22, 2024