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Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May perform time and motion studies on worker operations in a variety of industries for purposes such as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63,220 | 2.3 % | $27.37 | $56,920 | 0.9 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $16.11 | $20.14 | $25.64 | $32.88 | $41.55 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $33,520 | $41,900 | $53,330 | $68,380 | $86,430 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 6,300 | 1.70 | $29.79 | $61,970 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 5,200 | 0.90 | $23.66 | $49,210 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 5,010 | 1.02 | $35.64 | $74,140 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | 3,660 | 0.65 | $23.40 | $48,660 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 3,160 | 0.81 | $28.14 | $58,530 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 6,300 | 1.70 | $29.79 | $61,970 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 3,070 | 1.08 | $29.79 | $61,970 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 5,010 | 1.02 | $35.64 | $74,140 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 5,200 | 0.90 | $23.66 | $49,210 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 3,160 | 0.81 | $28.14 | $58,530 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 260 | 0.07 | $36.80 | $76,550 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | 100 | 0.05 | $36.78 | $76,510 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 220 | 0.20 | $35.94 | $74,750 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 5,010 | 1.02 | $35.64 | $74,140 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 420 | 0.23 | $34.48 | $71,720 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 4,790 | 1.14 | 2.52 | $24.82 | $51,620 |
| Tennessee | 4,380 | 1.51 | 3.36 | $22.31 | $46,400 |
| California | 4,040 | 0.25 | 0.56 | $32.33 | $67,250 |
| Texas | 3,290 | 0.28 | 0.62 | $31.61 | $65,750 |
| Ohio | 3,200 | 0.60 | 1.33 | $25.93 | $53,930 |
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 | 1,260 | 4.14 | 9.19 | (8) | (8) |
| Tennessee | 4,380 | 1.51 | 3.36 | $22.31 | $46,400 |
| Michigan | 4,790 | 1.14 | 2.52 | $24.82 | $51,620 |
| Minnesota | 2,950 | 1.05 | 2.33 | $25.36 | $52,740 |
| Indiana | 2,820 | 0.94 | 2.09 | $24.41 | $50,780 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 70 | 0.21 | 0.46 | $41.40 | $86,120 |
| California | 4,040 | 0.25 | 0.56 | $32.33 | $67,250 |
| Texas | 3,290 | 0.28 | 0.62 | $31.61 | $65,750 |
| Connecticut | 1,040 | 0.63 | 1.39 | $30.69 | $63,840 |
| Kansas | 570 | 0.41 | 0.91 | $30.55 | $63,540 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,120 | 1.11 | 2.46 | $26.34 | $54,790 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 1,730 | 0.89 | 1.98 | $30.23 | $62,880 |
| Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division | 1,450 | 1.21 | 2.68 | $25.01 | $52,020 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 1,190 | 0.49 | 1.09 | $33.10 | $68,850 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 930 | 0.22 | 0.49 | $34.51 | $71,780 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | 800 | 1.44 | 3.21 | $21.90 | $45,550 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division | 760 | 0.42 | 0.94 | $28.21 | $58,680 |
| Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI Metropolitan Division | 750 | 1.05 | 2.33 | $30.68 | $63,800 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 730 | 0.55 | 1.21 | $32.80 | $68,220 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 720 | 0.25 | 0.55 | $29.88 | $62,150 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 160 | 3.29 | 7.31 | $22.72 | $47,250 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 210 | 3.05 | 6.78 | $31.81 | $66,160 |
| Muskegon, MI | 170 | 2.70 | 6.00 | $21.04 | $43,760 |
| Kankakee, IL | 100 | 2.39 | 5.30 | $27.93 | $58,080 |
| Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, MA-NH NECTA Division | 360 | 2.38 | 5.28 | $25.59 | $53,230 |
| Sheboygan, WI | 130 | 2.27 | 5.04 | $23.15 | $48,150 |
| Florence, SC | 180 | 2.20 | 4.89 | $27.33 | $56,840 |
| New Bern, NC | 90 | 2.04 | 4.54 | $28.46 | $59,200 |
| Framingham, MA NECTA Division | 300 | 1.71 | 3.80 | $27.52 | $57,230 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | 800 | 1.44 | 3.21 | $21.90 | $45,550 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | 70 | 0.22 | 0.50 | $43.61 | $90,700 |
| Tacoma-Lakewood, WA Metropolitan Division | 60 | 0.20 | 0.43 | $39.13 | $81,400 |
| Wichita, KS | 250 | 0.85 | 1.90 | $37.36 | $77,700 |
| Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Division | 480 | 0.49 | 1.08 | $36.67 | $76,270 |
| Mobile, AL | 100 | 0.55 | 1.22 | $36.23 | $75,370 |
| Taunton-Middleborough-Norton, MA NECTA Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $35.46 | $73,760 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 570 | 0.54 | 1.21 | $34.97 | $72,730 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 930 | 0.22 | 0.49 | $34.51 | $71,780 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 370 | 0.63 | 1.40 | $33.37 | $69,400 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 1,190 | 0.49 | 1.09 | $33.10 | $68,850 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 710 | 2.53 | 5.62 | $24.69 | $51,360 |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 520 | 2.05 | 4.55 | $24.34 | $50,630 |
| Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | 450 | 2.47 | 5.48 | $26.72 | $55,570 |
| Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 370 | 1.73 | 3.85 | $23.12 | $48,090 |
| Southern Ohio non-metropolitan area | 300 | 1.95 | 4.32 | $33.30 | $69,260 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 710 | 2.53 | 5.62 | $24.69 | $51,360 |
| Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | 450 | 2.47 | 5.48 | $26.72 | $55,570 |
| Upper Savannah South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 200 | 2.46 | 5.47 | $24.14 | $50,210 |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 520 | 2.05 | 4.55 | $24.34 | $50,630 |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | 250 | 1.98 | 4.39 | $28.76 | $59,810 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Texas nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.24 | 0.54 | $35.71 | $74,280 |
| Southern Ohio non-metropolitan area | 300 | 1.95 | 4.32 | $33.30 | $69,260 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 150 | 0.64 | 1.42 | $30.76 | $63,970 |
| Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.18 | 0.40 | $30.20 | $62,820 |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | 250 | 1.98 | 4.39 | $28.76 | $59,810 |
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.
(8) Estimate not released.
(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