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Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers where technical or scientific knowledge is required in such areas as biology, engineering, chemistry, and electronics, normally obtained from at least 2 years of postsecondary education. Excludes “Sales Engineers” (41-9031).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
---|---|---|---|---|
306,980 | 2.2 % | $44.70 | $92,980 | 0.8 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hourly Wage | $19.75 | $27.43 | $38.95 | $56.52 | $76.24 |
Annual Wage (2) | $41,080 | $57,050 | $81,020 | $117,560 | $158,580 |
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | 60,270 | 8.94 | $43.18 | $89,820 |
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) | 36,310 | 9.53 | $47.10 | $97,960 |
Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 26,140 | 1.20 | $47.36 | $98,500 |
Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers | 23,820 | 4.51 | $48.63 | $101,140 |
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | 19,790 | 1.38 | $40.97 | $85,210 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) | 36,310 | 9.53 | $47.10 | $97,960 |
Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | 60,270 | 8.94 | $43.18 | $89,820 |
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 14,580 | 4.91 | $42.35 | $88,090 |
Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers | 23,820 | 4.51 | $48.63 | $101,140 |
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 6,740 | 4.25 | $48.36 | $100,600 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oil and Gas Extraction | 80 | 0.06 | $60.98 | $126,840 |
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | 170 | 0.02 | $60.13 | $125,080 |
Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | 250 | 2.06 | $57.41 | $119,410 |
Other Food Manufacturing | 60 | 0.03 | $54.57 | $113,500 |
Scientific Research and Development Services | 4,990 | 0.71 | $52.42 | $109,030 |
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 | 39,230 | 2.26 | 1.08 | $46.86 | $97,470 |
Texas | 28,850 | 2.32 | 1.11 | $44.83 | $93,250 |
Florida | 20,830 | 2.37 | 1.13 | $42.80 | $89,030 |
Massachusetts | 15,520 | 4.29 | 2.05 | $47.40 | $98,590 |
New York | 15,040 | 1.58 | 0.76 | $54.86 | $114,110 |
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tennessee | 13,020 | 4.33 | 2.07 | $38.72 | $80,540 |
Oklahoma | 6,930 | 4.29 | 2.05 | $39.77 | $82,710 |
Massachusetts | 15,520 | 4.29 | 2.05 | $47.40 | $98,590 |
New Hampshire | 2,590 | 3.92 | 1.88 | $49.78 | $103,540 |
South Dakota | 1,510 | 3.56 | 1.70 | $44.39 | $92,340 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wyoming | 250 | 0.93 | 0.45 | $59.48 | $123,710 |
New York | 15,040 | 1.58 | 0.76 | $54.86 | $114,110 |
Delaware | 880 | 1.95 | 0.93 | $52.95 | $110,130 |
Colorado | 6,170 | 2.30 | 1.10 | $52.91 | $110,050 |
New Mexico | 860 | 1.04 | 0.50 | $51.84 | $107,830 |
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | 14,530 | 5.19 | 2.48 | $47.68 | $99,180 |
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 13,990 | 2.24 | 1.07 | $43.81 | $91,120 |
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 13,920 | 1.44 | 0.69 | $53.68 | $111,650 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 12,590 | 2.69 | 1.29 | $42.47 | $88,330 |
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 7,980 | 2.18 | 1.04 | $40.80 | $84,860 |
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 7,970 | 6.98 | 3.34 | $52.12 | $108,410 |
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 7,880 | 2.58 | 1.24 | $43.26 | $89,980 |
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 7,640 | 2.66 | 1.27 | $37.44 | $77,880 |
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 7,320 | 2.67 | 1.28 | $35.86 | $74,590 |
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 7,280 | 2.75 | 1.32 | $40.66 | $84,580 |
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 7,970 | 6.98 | 3.34 | $52.12 | $108,410 |
Raleigh, NC | 4,140 | 6.36 | 3.04 | $50.28 | $104,570 |
Austin-Round Rock, TX | 6,750 | 6.29 | 3.01 | $49.58 | $103,120 |
Tulsa, OK | 2,680 | 6.03 | 2.89 | $39.42 | $81,990 |
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 5,700 | 5.70 | 2.73 | $41.71 | $86,750 |
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 1,790 | 5.68 | 2.72 | $65.76 | $136,780 |
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | 14,530 | 5.19 | 2.48 | $47.68 | $99,180 |
Oklahoma City, OK | 3,020 | 4.82 | 2.31 | $42.91 | $89,250 |
Glens Falls, NY | 250 | 4.77 | 2.28 | $35.63 | $74,100 |
Knoxville, TN | 1,780 | 4.65 | 2.23 | $38.67 | $80,420 |
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 1,790 | 5.68 | 2.72 | $65.76 | $136,780 |
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | 690 | 1.67 | 0.80 | $61.72 | $128,380 |
Casper, WY | 80 | 1.96 | 0.94 | $60.50 | $125,850 |
Dover, DE | 50 | 0.81 | 0.39 | $59.87 | $124,540 |
Cheyenne, WY | (8) | (8) | (8) | $59.85 | $124,480 |
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 220 | 1.51 | 0.72 | $59.39 | $123,530 |
Battle Creek, MI | (8) | (8) | (8) | $59.36 | $123,480 |
Waco, TX | 60 | 0.50 | 0.24 | $57.48 | $119,550 |
Ames, IA | (8) | (8) | (8) | $56.44 | $117,400 |
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | (8) | (8) | (8) | $56.43 | $117,370 |
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 460 | 3.50 | 1.68 | $36.20 | $75,290 |
West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 370 | 1.84 | 0.88 | $44.72 | $93,020 |
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 370 | 1.43 | 0.68 | $30.45 | $63,340 |
North Northeastern Ohio non-metropolitan area (non-contiguous) | 350 | 1.05 | 0.50 | $38.03 | $79,100 |
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 300 | 1.59 | 0.76 | $35.82 | $74,500 |
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 230 | 3.60 | 1.72 | $33.34 | $69,350 |
East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 460 | 3.50 | 1.68 | $36.20 | $75,290 |
East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 210 | 3.32 | 1.59 | $32.21 | $66,990 |
West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 2.57 | 1.23 | $39.25 | $81,630 |
Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | 250 | 2.56 | 1.22 | $58.23 | $121,120 |
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $64.64 | $134,450 |
Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.31 | 0.15 | $61.66 | $128,250 |
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | 90 | 0.44 | 0.21 | $59.68 | $124,140 |
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 0.81 | 0.39 | $58.86 | $122,440 |
Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | 250 | 2.56 | 1.22 | $58.23 | $121,120 |
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 2019 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2019 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2019 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2019 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: July 6, 2020