Among the 11 metropolitan areas in Virginia, only 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 six metropolitan areas had wages that were significantly below the national average for the three selected occupations. Nationwide, the average (mean) wage for secondary school teachers was $61,420; for middle school teachers, $59,800; and for elementary school teachers, $59,020. (See table A. For comprehensive definitions of metropolitan areas in the Commonwealth of Virginia, please see the Technical Note.)

Table A. Average (mean) annual wages for secondary, middle, and elementary school teachers in the United States, Virginia, and metropolitan areas in Virginia, May 2016

Area	Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education		Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education		Elementary school teachers, except special education
United States	$61,420		$59,800		$59,020
Virginia	68,070	*	65,430	*	66,700	*
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford	53,690	*	52,290	*	53,680	*
Charlottesville	63,880		66,100	*	65,430
Harrisonburg	48,560	*	47,900	*	44,630	*
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol	51,760	*	46,560	*	47,900	*
Lynchburg	51,240	*	49,330	*	50,960	*
Richmond	59,800		57,310		58,640
Roanoke	48,870	*	48,530	*	47,920	*
Staunton-Waynesboro	52,910	*	48,130	*	46,680	*
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News	62,600		61,870		61,740
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	75,460	*	77,000	*	74,320	*
Winchester	--		--		55,150
* 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.

Of the 10 metropolitan areas in the commonwealth for which complete data were available, the Washington area had the largest number of secondary, middle, and elementary teachers, with a combined employment of 58,690. The Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News and Richmond areas had a combined employment of 14,750 and 12,210, respectively. Employment levels in each of the remaining areas were less than 2,600 for the selected teaching occupations. (See table B.)

Table B. Employment for secondary, middle, and elementary school teachers in the United States, Virginia, and metropolitan areas in Virginia, May 2016

Area	Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education	Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education	Elementary school teachers, except special education
United States	1,003,250	626,310	1,392,660
Virginia	26,050	16,180	35,610
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford	370	250	540
Charlottesville	750	500	1,100
Harrisonburg	350	290	590
Lynchburg	800	310	1,450
Richmond	720	430	930
Roanoke	4,270	2,870	5,070
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News	780	340	1,050
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	480	230	430
Winchester	4,360	3,340	7,050
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol	19,560	12,160	26,970
Staunton-Waynesboro	--	--	520
-- Estimate not released.

Wages for secondary school teachers in metropolitan areas in Virginia

Secondary school teachers in the Washington metropolitan area earned an average of $75,460 per year; this was the only metropolitan area in the state with a mean wage significantly above the U.S. average of $61,420 for this occupation. Wages were significantly below average for this occupation in 6 of the 11 metropolitan areas in Virginia: Harrisonburg ($48,560), Roanoke ($48,870), Lynchburg ($51,240), Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol ($51,760), Staunton-Waynesboro ($52,910), and Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford ($53,690).

Wages for middle school teachers in metropolitan areas in Virginia

Middle school teachers in the Washington ($77,000) and Charlottesville ($66,100) areas earned significantly above the U.S. average of $59,800. Six metropolitan areas had median wages significantly below the national average for middle school teachers: Kingsport ($46,560), Harrisonburg ($47,900), Staunton ($48,130), Roanoke ($48,530), Lynchburg ($49,330), and Blacksburg ($52,290).

Wages for elementary school teachers in metropolitan areas in Virginia

Elementary school teachers in the Washington area earned an average of $74,320 per year; this was the only metropolitan area in the state with a mean wage significantly above the U.S. average of $59,020 for this occupation. Six areas had mean wages for elementary school teachers significantly below the national average: Harrisonburg ($44,630), Staunton ($46,680), Kingsport ($47,900), Roanoke ($47,920), Lynchburg ($50,960), and Blacksburg ($53,680).

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 North Carolina Employment Security Commission; 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. The OES program produces employment and wage estimates for over 800 occupations for all industries combined in the nation; the 50 states and the District of Columbia; 432 metropolitan areas and divisions; 167 nonmetropolitan areas; and Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. National estimates are also available by industry for NAICS sectors, 3-, 4-, and selected 5- and 6-digit industries; and by ownership across all industries and for schools and hospitals. OES data are available at www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm.

OES estimates are constructed from a sample of about 1.2 million establishments. Forms are mailed to approximately 200,000 sampled establishments in May and November each year. The May 2016 estimates are based on responses from six semiannual panels collected over a 3-year period: May 2016, November 2015, May 2015, November 2014, May 2014, and November 2013. The overall national response rate for the six panels, based on the 50 states and the District of Columbia, is 73 percent based on establishments and 69 percent based on weighted sampled employment. The unweighted employment of sampled establishments across all six semiannual panels represents approximately 58 percent of total national employment. For more information about OES concepts and methodology, go to www.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.

The May 2016 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.

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, Va. Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) includes Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski Counties and Radford city in Virginia. 

Charlottesville, Va. MSA includes Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, and Nelson Counties and Charlottesville city in Virginia.

Harrisonburg, Va. MSA includes Rockingham County and Harrisonburg city in Virginia.

Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, Tenn.-Va. MSA includes Hawkins and Sullivan Counties in Tennessee and Scott and Washington Counties and Bristol city in Virginia.

Lynchburg, Va. MSA includes Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, and Campbell Counties and Bedford and Lynchburg cities in Virginia.

Richmond, Va. MSA includes Amelia, Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, King William, New Kent, Powhatan, Prince George, and Sussex Counties and Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg, and Richmond cities in Virginia.

Roanoke, Va. MSA includes Botetourt, Craig, Franklin, and Roanoke Counties and Roanoke and Salem cities in Virginia.

Staunton-Waynesboro, Va. MSA includes Augusta County and Staunton and Waynesboro cities in Virginia.

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, Va.-N.C. MSA includes Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, Mathews, Surry, and York Counties and Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg cities in Virginia and Currituck and Gates Counties in North Carolina.

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.Va. MSA includes the District of Columbia; Arlington, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Rappahannock, 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.

Winchester, Va.-W.Va. MSA includes Frederick County and Winchester city in Virginia and Hampshire County in West Virginia.

Additional information

OES data are available on our regional web page at https://www.bls.gov/regions/mid-atlantic. Answers to frequently asked questions about the OES data are available at www.bls.gov/oes/oes_ques.htm. Detailed technical information about the OES survey is available in our Survey Methods and Reliability Statement on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/oes/current/methods_statement.pdf.

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