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Handbook of Methods Modeled Wage Estimates History

Modeled Wage Estimates: History

In August 2013, an experimental set of modeled wage estimates were published and provided an initial introduction to the benefits of combining data from the Occupational Employment Statistics (OEWS) and National Compensation Survey (NCS) programs. Since then, the OEWS and NCS programs have collaborated to produce annual estimates and introduce incremental improvements to increase the number of publishable estimates along with measures of reliability.

Timeline

Hover over the red dot to see historical information.

Timeline of events:

  • 2005: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) evaluated scope and methodological differences between the Occupational Employment [Wage] Statistics (OEWS) and National Compensation Survey (NCS).

  • 2010: BLS developed an estimation approach to combine wages from the OEWS with job characteristics from the NCS.

  • August 2013: Published Wage estimates by job characteristic: NCS and OEWS program data article, explaining the MWE methodology.

  • May 26, 2016: The first set of estimates were published for the 2014 and 2015 reference periods.

  • May 25, 2017: Introduced methodological changes to increase number of published estimates, see Calculation section.

  • August 30, 2018: Published relative standard errors for national, state, metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.

  • August 25, 2022: Published 2021 reference period estimates without relative standard errors. Incorporated OEWS model-based estimates methodology and SOC 2018.⁠[1]

Notes

[1] Prior to implementation of the model-based estimation methodology (MB3), the OEWS program used data from the NCS to calculate mean wage rates for these intervals and produce estimates for the mean hourly wage. See the wage rate estimation section of the OEWS’ Handbook of Methods, for an explanation of how the OEWS uses data from the NCS to calculate mean wage rates for each interval. See Model-Based Estimates for the Occupational Employment Statistics Program for more information on the MB3.

Last Modified Date: October 05, 2022