Table 4. Employment and mean wages for the largest occupations in the public sector, May 2010
Occupation Employment, public sector Hourly mean wage, public sector Annual mean wage, public sector

Elementary school teachers, except special education

 1,355,990 (1) $55,350

Teacher assistants

 992,730 (1) 25,330

Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

 951,690 (1) 56,600

Police and sheriff's patrol officers

 639,520 26.77 55,670

Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education

 602,480 (1) 55,510

Office clerks, general

 574,120 14.42 29,990

Teachers and instructors, all other

 542,490 (1) 37,200

Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

 533,980 13.91 28,930

Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical and executive

 474,760 16.50 34,320

Registered nurses

 471,610 32.23 67,040
(1) Wages for some occupations that do not generally work year-round, full time, are reported either as hourly wages or annual salaries, depending on how they are typically paid.

 

Last Modified Date: June 20, 2011