Occupational Employment and Wages Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Friday, May 15, 2026 			               USDL-26-0725

Technical information:  (202) 691-6569  *  oewsinfo@bls.gov  *  www.bls.gov/oes
Media contact:          (202) 691-5902  *  PressOffice@bls.gov


                      OCCUPATIONAL EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES -- MAY 2025


Construction and extraction occupations had employment of 6.4 million in May 2025, representing
4.1 percent of total national employment, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
The largest construction and extraction occupations were construction laborers (1.1 million)
and first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers (812,210). The annual
mean wage across all construction and extraction occupations was $65,360, less than the U.S.
average wage of $69,770.

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program provides employment and wage
estimates for about 830 occupations in the nation, states, and approximately 530 areas.
National data are available by industry for approximately 410 industry classifications and by
ownership across all industries and for the educational services and hospitals industries. This
news release features construction and extraction, educational instruction and library, and
healthcare practitioners and technical occupations, in addition to largest occupations and
public sector occupations. National employment and wage information for all occupations is
shown in table 1.

 ____________________________________________________________________________________________
|											     |
|                                 Federal Government Shutdown				     |
|											     |
| Because of the lapse in federal appropriations from October 1 through November 12, 2025,   |
| additional collection and processing time were required for the May 2025 OEWS survey	     |
| panel once appropriations resumed. The response rate for the May 2025 survey panel was     |
| within the normal range and no additional modifications to the OEWS methodology and	     |
| procedures were necessary as a result of the shutdown.				     |
|____________________________________________________________________________________________|


Construction and extraction occupations

 --The largest construction and extraction occupations were construction laborers (1.1
   million), first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers (812,210),
   electricians (757,220), and carpenters (670,090). (See table 1.)

 --The highest paying construction and extraction occupations included elevator and escalator
   installers and repairers ($109,820), first-line supervisors of construction trades and
   extraction workers ($86,450), and terrazzo workers and finishers ($84,920). (See table 1.)

 --The lowest paying construction and extraction occupations included helpers of painters,
   paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons ($42,440) and helpers of pipelayers, plumbers,
   pipefitters, and steamfitters ($43,730). (See table 1.) 

 --The states with the highest concentrations of construction and extraction occupations were
   Wyoming (9.1 percent of state employment) and North Dakota (8.1 percent).

 --Metropolitan areas with the highest concentrations of construction and extraction
   occupations were Midland, TX (14.8 percent of area employment); Odessa, TX (12.8 percent);
   and Farmington, NM (12.3 percent).

 --Industries with the highest employment of construction and extraction occupations were
   building equipment contractors (1.3 million); foundation, structure, and building exterior
   contractors (709,410); and building finishing contractors (583,790). Outside of the
   construction sector, industries with the highest employment of this occupational group
   included local government, excluding schools and hospitals (369,310) and support activities
   for mining (127,390).

State data are available at www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcst.htm; metropolitan area data are
available at www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm.

National industry-specific data are available at www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrci.htm.

Educational instruction and library occupations

 --Educational instruction and library occupations had employment of 9.1 million and an annual
   mean wage of $67,540. (See table 1.)

 --The largest educational instruction and library occupations were teaching assistants, except
   postsecondary (1.4 million) and elementary school teachers, except special education (1.4
   million). (See table 1.)

 --The highest paying educational instruction and library occupations were postsecondary health
   specialties teachers ($147,570) and postsecondary law teachers ($144,770). (See table 1.)

 --The lowest paying occupations in this group were teaching assistants, except postsecondary
   ($38,290) and preschool teachers, except special education ($43,030). (See table 1.)

 --Elementary school teachers, except special education had an annual mean wage of $72,650
   nationally. The highest paying states for this occupation included Washington ($97,970) and
   California ($95,670). The lowest paying states included Mississippi ($52,300) and Oklahoma
   ($52,320).

 --Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ($106,760), and El Centro, CA ($105,390), were among the highest
   paying metropolitan areas for elementary school teachers, except special education. The
   lowest paying areas for this occupation included Enid, OK ($48,500), and Lake Havasu City-
   Kingman, AZ ($49,230).

Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations

 --Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations, the larger of the two healthcare
   occupational groups, had employment of 9.8 million and an annual mean wage of $108,700.
   (See table 1.)

 --The largest healthcare practitioners and technical occupations were registered nurses (3.4
   million), licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (648,410), and pharmacy
   technicians (471,680). (See table 1.)

 --The highest paying healthcare practitioners and technical occupations were pediatric
   surgeons ($502,050) and cardiologists ($454,940). These were also the two highest paying
   occupations overall. Nurse anesthetists ($248,320) was the highest paying occupation in this
   group that was not a physician, surgeon, or dentist occupation. (See table 1.)

 --The lowest paying healthcare practitioners and technical occupations included dietetic
   technicians ($40,630) and psychiatric technicians ($46,610). (See table 1.)

 --Registered nurses, the largest healthcare practitioners and technical occupation, had an
   annual mean wage of $101,420 nationally. Annual mean wages for this occupation varied by
   state from approximately $77,000 in both Alabama and South Dakota to $150,280 in California.

 --Most registered nurses were employed in general medical and surgical hospitals. This
   industry accounted for 56 percent of employment in this occupation, or about 1.9 million
   jobs. After general medical and surgical hospitals, the industries with the highest
   employment of registered nurses were offices of physicians (232,420) and home health care
   services (198,180).

Largest occupations

 --The largest occupation overall was home health and personal care aides, with employment of
   4.3 million, followed by retail salespersons and fast food and counter workers (each 3.9
   million). (See table 1.) 

 --Eight of the 10 largest occupations had below-average wages, ranging from $32,150 for fast
   food and counter workers to $46,590 for customer service representatives. (See table 1.) 

 --Of the 10 largest occupations, only registered nurses ($101,420) and general and operations
   managers ($134,940) had above-average wages. (See table 1.)

Public sector occupations

 --The public sector made up 14.6 percent of employment and had a different occupational mix
   from the private sector. 

 --Several of the largest public sector occupations were related to education. These
   occupations included elementary school teachers, except special education (public sector
   employment of 1.2 million); teaching assistants, except postsecondary (1.1 million);
   secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education (910,670); and
   middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education (548,550).

 --Outside of the educational instruction and library group, the occupations with the highest
   public sector employment were police and sheriff’s patrol officers (663,800), registered
   nurses (537,990), and janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
   (502,420).

Public/private sector ownership data are available at www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrci.htm.