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Collect data on work environments for analysis by occupational health and safety specialists. Implement and conduct evaluation of programs designed to limit chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic risks to workers.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16,560 | 2.2 % | $25.25 | $52,520 | 0.8 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $14.82 | $18.08 | $23.47 | $30.39 | $38.46 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $30,820 | $37,610 | $48,820 | $63,200 | $79,990 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 2,270 | 0.04 | $23.80 | $49,510 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 1,480 | 0.11 | $24.62 | $51,220 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 1,130 | 0.02 | $23.80 | $49,510 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 800 | 0.03 | $24.55 | $51,060 |
| Support Activities for Mining | 630 | 0.22 | $26.92 | $55,990 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coal Mining | 180 | 0.33 | $29.34 | $61,020 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | 200 | 0.22 | $28.75 | $59,800 |
| Support Activities for Mining | 630 | 0.22 | $26.92 | $55,990 |
| Metal Ore Mining | 60 | 0.16 | $32.52 | $67,640 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 1,480 | 0.11 | $24.62 | $51,220 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 290 | 0.04 | $36.60 | $76,130 |
| Metal Ore Mining | 60 | 0.16 | $32.52 | $67,640 |
| Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | 100 | 0.07 | $30.95 | $64,370 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 300 | 0.08 | $29.65 | $61,670 |
| Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing | (8) | (8) | $29.45 | $61,250 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 3,150 | 0.27 | 2.28 | $24.36 | $50,670 |
| California | 1,290 | 0.08 | 0.68 | $28.32 | $58,910 |
| Ohio | 790 | 0.15 | 1.26 | $23.86 | $49,630 |
| Pennsylvania | 750 | 0.13 | 1.11 | $22.38 | $46,550 |
| New York | 730 | 0.08 | 0.68 | $27.64 | $57,490 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 680 | 0.35 | 2.99 | $25.79 | $53,650 |
| North Dakota | 140 | 0.33 | 2.76 | $25.93 | $53,930 |
| Alaska | 100 | 0.29 | 2.50 | $32.04 | $66,650 |
| Texas | 3,150 | 0.27 | 2.28 | $24.36 | $50,670 |
| Wyoming | 70 | 0.24 | 2.04 | $23.11 | $48,060 |
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 | 50 | 0.08 | 0.66 | $36.34 | $75,590 |
| Alaska | 100 | 0.29 | 2.50 | $32.04 | $66,650 |
| Rhode Island | 50 | 0.11 | 0.90 | $30.88 | $64,240 |
| Illinois | 590 | 0.10 | 0.85 | $30.30 | $63,020 |
| Colorado | 210 | 0.08 | 0.70 | $30.05 | $62,510 |
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 | 1,050 | 0.36 | 3.03 | $26.31 | $54,730 |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 680 | 0.10 | 0.87 | $28.67 | $59,640 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 440 | 1.11 | 9.44 | $28.17 | $58,590 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 430 | 0.18 | 1.50 | $24.45 | $50,850 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 340 | 0.09 | 0.78 | $32.06 | $66,690 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 310 | 0.32 | 2.68 | $20.56 | $42,760 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 240 | 0.06 | 0.48 | $25.39 | $52,820 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 200 | 0.08 | 0.66 | $24.01 | $49,930 |
| Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Division | 200 | 0.20 | 1.70 | $24.79 | $51,550 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 200 | 0.10 | 0.86 | $26.16 | $54,410 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 440 | 1.11 | 9.44 | $28.17 | $58,590 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 100 | 0.59 | 5.01 | $28.61 | $59,520 |
| Midland, TX | 50 | 0.58 | 4.89 | $20.37 | $42,370 |
| Houma-Thibodaux, LA | 40 | 0.49 | 4.19 | $25.11 | $52,230 |
| Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA | 60 | 0.47 | 3.97 | $26.25 | $54,600 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 50 | 0.45 | 3.80 | $41.68 | $86,700 |
| Lubbock, TX | 60 | 0.43 | 3.62 | $22.90 | $47,640 |
| Knoxville, TN | 140 | 0.36 | 3.03 | $32.63 | $67,860 |
| Iowa City, IA | 30 | 0.36 | 3.06 | $23.34 | $48,550 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 1,050 | 0.36 | 3.03 | $26.31 | $54,730 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 50 | 0.45 | 3.80 | $41.68 | $86,700 |
| Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division | 110 | 0.10 | 0.89 | $37.67 | $78,340 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $34.86 | $72,500 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 100 | 0.06 | 0.52 | $34.61 | $71,990 |
| Anchorage, AK | 30 | 0.17 | 1.47 | $34.11 | $70,940 |
| Knoxville, TN | 140 | 0.36 | 3.03 | $32.63 | $67,860 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 70 | 0.35 | 3.01 | $32.14 | $66,840 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 340 | 0.09 | 0.78 | $32.06 | $66,690 |
| Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 90 | 0.06 | 0.49 | $31.21 | $64,920 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | 50 | 0.11 | 0.95 | $30.84 | $64,150 |
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 Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | 90 | 0.61 | 5.20 | $26.46 | $55,030 |
| Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 0.36 | 3.09 | $13.39 | $27,860 |
| North Texas nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.24 | 2.06 | $20.09 | $41,780 |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.58 | 4.90 | $24.37 | $50,700 |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.23 | 1.91 | $22.81 | $47,430 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | 90 | 0.61 | 5.20 | $26.46 | $55,030 |
| Balance of Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.60 | 5.10 | (8) | (8) |
| Far West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.59 | 4.99 | $29.12 | $60,560 |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.58 | 4.90 | $24.37 | $50,700 |
| West Central North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.57 | 4.87 | $28.07 | $58,390 |
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 | 60 | 0.29 | 2.48 | $30.77 | $64,010 |
| Far West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.59 | 4.99 | $29.12 | $60,560 |
| Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.14 | 1.21 | $28.25 | $58,760 |
| West Central North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.57 | 4.87 | $28.07 | $58,390 |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | 90 | 0.61 | 5.20 | $26.46 | $55,030 |
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