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Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere. Excludes "Financial Examiners" (13-2061), "Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents" (13-2081), "Occupational Health and Safety Specialists" (29-9011), "Occupational Health and Safety Technicians" (29-9012), Transportation Security Screeners (33-9093), "Agricultural Inspectors" (45-2011), "Construction and Building Inspectors" (47-4011), and "Transportation Inspectors" (53-6051).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 273,910 | 0.7 % | $33.77 | $70,250 | 0.5 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $18.09 | $23.64 | $31.99 | $41.64 | $50.61 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $37,630 | $49,160 | $66,540 | $86,620 | $105,260 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 55,040 | 2.72 | $37.55 | $78,100 |
| State Government (OES Designation) | 35,830 | 1.64 | $25.70 | $53,450 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 28,210 | 0.52 | $28.69 | $59,680 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 16,830 | 0.73 | $36.23 | $75,370 |
| Insurance Carriers | 8,560 | 0.73 | $33.84 | $70,390 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Securities and Commodity Exchanges | 190 | 4.18 | $57.37 | $119,320 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 55,040 | 2.72 | $37.55 | $78,100 |
| State Government (OES Designation) | 35,830 | 1.64 | $25.70 | $53,450 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) | 330 | 1.42 | $28.84 | $59,990 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 3,460 | 1.22 | $39.20 | $81,530 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Securities and Commodity Exchanges | 190 | 4.18 | $57.37 | $119,320 |
| Other Financial Investment Activities | 3,580 | 0.78 | $47.87 | $99,560 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | 1,000 | 0.89 | $43.24 | $89,940 |
| Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage | 2,690 | 0.60 | $42.27 | $87,920 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 230 | 0.06 | $42.12 | $87,610 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 34,290 | 2.15 | 1.10 | $38.14 | $79,340 |
| Texas | 23,760 | 2.02 | 1.04 | $35.18 | $73,170 |
| New York | 21,130 | 2.32 | 1.19 | $36.98 | $76,930 |
| Florida | 16,260 | 1.98 | 1.01 | $29.44 | $61,230 |
| Pennsylvania | 11,360 | 1.98 | 1.01 | $32.40 | $67,390 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 2,200 | 7.21 | 3.69 | $31.70 | $65,940 |
| District of Columbia | 4,520 | 6.44 | 3.30 | $43.55 | $90,590 |
| Nebraska | 2,900 | 3.00 | 1.54 | $31.19 | $64,880 |
| North Dakota | 1,110 | 2.61 | 1.34 | $29.54 | $61,440 |
| Washington | 7,950 | 2.59 | 1.33 | $39.93 | $83,060 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 4,520 | 6.44 | 3.30 | $43.55 | $90,590 |
| Washington | 7,950 | 2.59 | 1.33 | $39.93 | $83,060 |
| Massachusetts | 7,070 | 2.04 | 1.05 | $39.92 | $83,030 |
| Connecticut | 3,750 | 2.25 | 1.15 | $39.72 | $82,610 |
| New Jersey | 9,600 | 2.43 | 1.24 | $38.40 | $79,860 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 14,380 | 2.18 | 1.12 | $40.17 | $83,550 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 8,890 | 3.57 | 1.83 | $41.76 | $86,870 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 8,650 | 2.05 | 1.05 | $36.95 | $76,860 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 6,020 | 2.05 | 1.05 | $38.82 | $80,750 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 5,570 | 1.53 | 0.78 | $36.28 | $75,450 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 5,080 | 1.99 | 1.02 | $29.93 | $62,250 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 4,880 | 2.01 | 1.03 | $37.20 | $77,380 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 4,600 | 2.89 | 1.48 | $45.25 | $94,120 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division | 4,460 | 2.47 | 1.27 | $42.28 | $87,930 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 4,320 | 3.11 | 1.60 | $37.81 | $78,650 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 1,560 | 12.66 | 6.49 | $32.45 | $67,490 |
| Brunswick, GA | 490 | 12.39 | 6.35 | $41.29 | $85,870 |
| El Centro, CA | 620 | 11.53 | 5.91 | $36.57 | $76,070 |
| Laredo, TX | 980 | 10.08 | 5.17 | $32.53 | $67,660 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 1,400 | 8.54 | 4.38 | $17.90 | $37,220 |
| Bellingham, WA | 570 | 6.93 | 3.55 | $36.07 | $75,030 |
| Trenton, NJ | 1,480 | 6.57 | 3.37 | $39.94 | $83,070 |
| Lincoln, NE | 1,150 | 6.56 | 3.36 | $31.33 | $65,170 |
| Olympia-Tumwater, WA | 640 | 6.19 | 3.17 | $29.30 | $60,950 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 800 | 5.81 | 2.98 | $35.45 | $73,740 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Rafael, CA Metropolitan Division | 230 | 2.09 | 1.07 | $47.77 | $99,350 |
| California-Lexington Park, MD | 50 | 1.10 | 0.56 | $46.50 | $96,710 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,540 | 1.47 | 0.76 | $45.40 | $94,430 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 4,600 | 2.89 | 1.48 | $45.25 | $94,120 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | 980 | 2.35 | 1.20 | $43.56 | $90,600 |
| Yuba City, CA | 50 | 1.12 | 0.57 | $42.43 | $88,260 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division | 4,460 | 2.47 | 1.27 | $42.28 | $87,930 |
| Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division | 3,030 | 2.79 | 1.43 | $42.01 | $87,390 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 8,890 | 3.57 | 1.83 | $41.76 | $86,870 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 180 | 1.39 | 0.71 | $41.68 | $86,680 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | 630 | 4.39 | 2.25 | $33.21 | $69,080 |
| Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | 450 | 6.49 | 3.33 | $30.23 | $62,870 |
| Arizona nonmetropolitan area | 420 | 4.64 | 2.38 | $32.70 | $68,010 |
| Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 420 | 2.48 | 1.27 | $21.58 | $44,880 |
| Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 400 | 6.93 | 3.55 | $34.54 | $71,850 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 400 | 6.93 | 3.55 | $34.54 | $71,850 |
| Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | 450 | 6.49 | 3.33 | $30.23 | $62,870 |
| Far East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 130 | 5.36 | 2.75 | $34.48 | $71,720 |
| West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 320 | 5.32 | 2.72 | $24.33 | $50,600 |
| Arizona nonmetropolitan area | 420 | 4.64 | 2.38 | $32.70 | $68,010 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 1.07 | 0.55 | $37.17 | $77,310 |
| Balance of Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 1.56 | 0.80 | $36.74 | $76,420 |
| Northwest Washington nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 1.40 | 0.72 | $36.43 | $75,780 |
| West Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.63 | 0.32 | $36.36 | $75,620 |
| Southeast Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 90 | 2.67 | 1.37 | $36.15 | $75,200 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2016 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2017