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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2016

17-0000 Architecture and Engineering Occupations (Major Group)

This major group comprises the following occupations: Architects, Except Landscape and Naval ; Landscape Architects ; Cartographers and Photogrammetrists ; Surveyors ; Aerospace Engineers ; Agricultural Engineers ; Biomedical Engineers ; Chemical Engineers ; Civil Engineers ; Computer Hardware Engineers ; Electrical Engineers ; Electronics Engineers, Except Computer ; Environmental Engineers ; Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors ; Industrial Engineers ; Marine Engineers and Naval Architects ; Materials Engineers ; Mechanical Engineers ; Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers ; Nuclear Engineers ; Petroleum Engineers ; Engineers, All Other ; Architectural and Civil Drafters ; Electrical and Electronics Drafters ; Mechanical Drafters ; Drafters, All Other ; Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians ; Civil Engineering Technicians ; Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technicians ; Electro-Mechanical Technicians ; Environmental Engineering Technicians ; Industrial Engineering Technicians ; Mechanical Engineering Technicians ; Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other ; Surveying and Mapping Technicians


National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this major group:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
2,499,050 0.6 % $40.53 $84,300 0.3 %

Percentile wage estimates for this major group:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $20.46 $27.66 $37.45 $50.06 $64.15
Annual Wage (2) $42,550 $57,540 $77,900 $104,130 $133,440


Industry profile for this occupation: Top

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)
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 698,690 49.91 $37.85 $78,730
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 124,210 6.14 $47.82 $99,460
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 102,360 20.85 $48.27 $100,390
Scientific Research and Development Services 102,270 15.21 $48.64 $101,160
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing 95,730 25.90 $43.68 $90,860

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 698,690 49.91 $37.85 $78,730
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing 95,730 25.90 $43.68 $90,860
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing 84,060 21.49 $43.92 $91,350
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 102,360 20.85 $48.27 $100,390
Communications Equipment Manufacturing 16,920 19.39 $43.38 $90,230

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Oil and Gas Extraction 22,970 12.66 $61.45 $127,820
Depository Credit Intermediation 100 0.01 $56.15 $116,790
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil 1,990 18.52 $54.91 $114,220
Other Information Services 420 0.16 $54.20 $112,740
Grantmaking and Giving Services 40 0.03 $53.81 $111,930


Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

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 326,770 20.47 1.15 $47.29 $98,370
Texas 237,260 20.20 1.13 $44.51 $92,580
Michigan 135,060 32.07 1.80 $38.59 $80,270
New York 112,600 12.38 0.70 $39.85 $82,900
Florida 101,260 12.32 0.69 $35.39 $73,600




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)
Michigan 135,060 32.07 1.80 $38.59 $80,270
New Mexico 21,250 26.38 1.48 $43.28 $90,030
Washington 77,830 25.37 1.43 $44.31 $92,170
Colorado 61,700 24.60 1.38 $43.07 $89,580
Alaska 7,710 23.83 1.34 $50.74 $105,530




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 11,520 16.40 0.92 $51.25 $106,590
Alaska 7,710 23.83 1.34 $50.74 $105,530
California 326,770 20.47 1.15 $47.29 $98,370
Maryland 58,330 22.09 1.24 $45.35 $94,330
Texas 237,260 20.20 1.13 $44.51 $92,580





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)
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 87,500 29.81 1.68 $50.31 $104,640
New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 64,400 9.78 0.55 $41.70 $86,730
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 62,890 14.90 0.84 $46.85 $97,450
Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division 60,120 49.83 2.80 $39.98 $83,150
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 56,740 54.28 3.05 $55.29 $115,010
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division 52,790 14.51 0.82 $39.23 $81,600
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 51,860 32.65 1.83 $46.28 $96,250
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 49,710 20.46 1.15 $43.53 $90,550
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 49,000 19.67 1.11 $48.84 $101,580
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division 44,700 24.79 1.39 $44.66 $92,900




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)
California-Lexington Park, MD 5,240 119.14 6.69 $49.92 $103,840
Huntsville, AL 18,130 83.07 4.67 $48.45 $100,770
Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI 7,170 56.44 3.17 $39.46 $82,080
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 56,740 54.28 3.05 $55.29 $115,010
Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division 60,120 49.83 2.80 $39.98 $83,150
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA 4,180 49.82 2.80 $40.25 $83,720
Kennewick-Richland, WA 5,070 47.27 2.66 $49.07 $102,070
Framingham, MA NECTA Division 7,810 44.79 2.52 $46.75 $97,240
Boulder, CO 7,430 42.13 2.37 $46.71 $97,150
Jackson, MI 2,480 41.99 2.36 $39.64 $82,450




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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 56,740 54.28 3.05 $55.29 $115,010
Midland, TX 2,870 33.24 1.87 $53.41 $111,090
Anchorage, AK 5,070 28.80 1.62 $52.35 $108,890
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 87,500 29.81 1.68 $50.31 $104,640
San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division 22,450 21.04 1.18 $50.29 $104,590
California-Lexington Park, MD 5,240 119.14 6.69 $49.92 $103,840
Kennewick-Richland, WA 5,070 47.27 2.66 $49.07 $102,070
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 49,000 19.67 1.11 $48.84 $101,580
Huntsville, AL 18,130 83.07 4.67 $48.45 $100,770
Bakersfield, CA 7,750 26.35 1.48 $48.45 $100,770

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)
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 5,830 23.07 1.30 $32.34 $67,260
Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 5,410 19.41 1.09 $32.82 $68,260
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 5,000 26.72 1.50 $35.30 $73,430
North Northeastern Ohio non-metropolitan area (non-contiguous) 4,820 14.60 0.82 $32.87 $68,370
Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area 4,140 22.61 1.27 $36.66 $76,250

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)
Los Alamos County, New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 2,480 163.95 9.21 $54.11 $112,550
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area 2,870 58.11 3.26 $48.09 $100,020
Upper Savannah South Carolina nonmetropolitan area 2,270 28.48 1.60 $34.61 $71,980
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 5,000 26.72 1.50 $35.30 $73,430
Southwest Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 1,520 25.03 1.41 $41.74 $86,820

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)
Los Alamos County, New Mexico nonmetropolitan area 2,480 163.95 9.21 $54.11 $112,550
Balance of Alaska nonmetropolitan area 1,250 16.92 0.95 $52.39 $108,970
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area 2,870 58.11 3.26 $48.09 $100,020
Southeast Alaska nonmetropolitan area 510 14.48 0.81 $42.24 $87,870
Eastern Sierra Region of California nonmetropolitan area 110 8.12 0.46 $42.21 $87,800


About May 2016 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

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 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

May 2016 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2017