One of the five metropolitan areas in Maryland—Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.Va.—had wages significantly above the national average for secondary, middle, and elementary school teachers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Sheila Watkins, the Bureau’s regional commissioner, noted that except for secondary school teachers in Salisbury, no metropolitan area in Maryland had a wage that was significantly below that for the nation in the three selected occupations. Nationwide, the average (mean) wage was $59,330 for secondary school teachers, $57,620 for middle school teachers, and $56,830 for elementary school teachers. (See table A. For comprehensive definitions of metropolitan areas in Maryland, please see Technical Note.)

Of the five metropolitan areas in the state, the Washington area had the largest number of teaching jobs, with employment of 58,720 in the three teaching occupations combined. The Baltimore-Towson, Md. area reported the second-most teaching jobs, totaling 30,460. (See table B.)

Table A. Average (mean) annual wages for secondary, middle, and elementary school teachers in the United States and metropolitan areas in Maryland, May 2014

Area	Secondary School	Middle School	Elementary School
United States	$59,330	$57,620	$56,830
Maryland	63,400*	65,270*	63,050*
Baltimore-Towson	60,870*	59,300	60,670*
Cumberland	--	--	61,360
Hagerstown-Martinsburg	63,230	61,230	70,860*
Salisbury	52,120*	61,700	58,370
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	70,240*	70,650*	68,700*
* The mean annual wage for this area is significantly different from the national average of all areas at the 90-percent confidence level.
-- Estimate not released.

Table B. Employment for secondary, middle, and elementary school teachers in the United States and metropolitan areas in Maryland, May 2014

Area	Secondary School	Middle School	Elementary School
United States	960,380	630,620	1,353,020
Maryland	19,660	14,130	26,940
Baltimore-Towson	11,170	6,780	12,510
Cumberland	--	--	600
Hagerstown-Martinsburg	870	470	1,390
Salisbury	240	340	530
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	18,140	12,820	27,760
-- Estimate not released

Wages for secondary school teachers in metropolitan areas in Maryland

Two metropolitan areas in the state—Washington and Baltimore—had wages for secondary school teachers that were significantly higher the national average. The Washington area’s annual wage for secondary school teachers was $70,240 per year, more than $10,000 above the U.S. average. Salisbury was the only area in Maryland that had wages for this occupation measurably below the national average ($52,120).

Wages for middle school teachers in metropolitan areas in Maryland

Only the Washington area paid wages for middle school teachers that were significantly higher than the national average. At $70,650, the wages for middle school teachers in Washington were over $13,000 higher than the U.S. average.

Wages for elementary school teachers in metropolitan areas in Maryland

Three metropolitan areas in Maryland paid wages for elementary school teachers significantly greater than the national average. Hagerstown and Washington were among the highest paid areas in Maryland for elementary school teachers, with average annual wages of $70,860 and $68,700, respectively.

These statistics are from the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey, a federal-state cooperative program between BLS and State Workforce Agencies, in this case the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services; the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation; the Virginia Employment Commission; and WorkForce West Virginia. The OES survey provides estimates of employment and hourly and annual wages for wage and salary workers in 22 major occupational groups and about 800 detailed occupations for the nation, states, metropolitan statistical areas, metropolitan divisions, and nonmetropolitan areas.

Technical Note

The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey is a semiannual mail survey measuring occupational employment and wage rates for wage and salary workers in nonfarm establishments in the United States. Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands are also surveyed, but their data are not included in the national estimates. OES estimates are constructed from a sample of about 1.2 million establishments. Each year, forms are mailed to two semiannual panels of approximately 200,000 sampled establishments, one panel in May and the other in November. May 2014 estimates are based on responses from six semiannual panels collected over a 3-year period: May 2014, November 2013, May 2013, November 2012, May 2012, and November 2011. The overall national response rate for the six panels is 74.3 percent based on establishments and 70.5 percent based on employment. For more information about OES concepts and methodology, go to www.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.

The OES survey provides estimates of employment and hourly and annual wages for wage and salary workers in 22 major occupational groups and 821 detailed occupations for the nation, states, metropolitan statistical areas, metropolitan divisions, and nonmetropolitan areas. In addition, employment and wage estimates for 94 minor groups and 458 broad occupations are available in the national data. OES data by state and metropolitan/nonmetropolitan area are available from www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcst.htm and www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm, respectively.

The May 2014 OES estimates are based on the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system and the 2012 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Information about the 2010 SOC is available on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/soc and information about the 2012 NAICS is available at www.bls.gov/bls/naics.htm.

Metropolitan area definitions

The substate area data published in this release reflect the standards and definitions established by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

Baltimore-Towson, Md. Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) includes Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Howard, and Queen Anne’s Counties and Baltimore City in Maryland.

Cumberland, Md.-W.Va. MSA includes Allegany County in Maryland and Mineral County in West Virginia.

Hagerstown-Martinsburg, Md.-W.Va. MSA includes Washington County in Maryland and Berkeley and Morgan Counties in West Virginia.

Salisbury, Md. MSA includes Somerset and Wicomico Counties in Maryland.

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.Va. MSA includes the District of Columbia; Arlington, Clarke, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Warren Counties and Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, and Manassas Park cities in Virginia; Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland; and Jefferson County in West Virginia. 

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