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News Release Information

14-763-CHI
Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (312) 353-1138

Occupational Employment and Wages in Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Wis. MSA – May 2013

Workers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis Metropolitan Statistical Area had an average (mean) hourly wage of $22.32 in May 2013, similar to the nationwide average of $22.33, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Regional Commissioner Charlene Peiffer noted that, after testing for statistical significance, wages in the local area were significantly higher than their respective national averages in 7 of the 22 major occupational groups, including construction and extraction; sales and related; and education, training, and library. Nine groups had significantly lower wages than their respective national averages, including legal; architecture and engineering; and arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media.

When compared to the nationwide distribution, local employment was more highly concentrated in 5 of the 22 occupational groups, including production; personal care and service; and business and financial operations. Conversely, 11 groups had employment shares significantly below their national representation, including construction and extraction; food preparation and serving related; and education, training, and library. (See table A and box note at end of release.)

Table A. Occupational employment and wages by major occupational group, United States and the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis Metropolitan Statistical Area, and measures of statistical significance, May 2013
Major occupational groupPercent of total employmentMean hourly wage
United StatesMilwaukeeUnited StatesMilwaukeePercent difference (1)

Total, all occupations

100.0%100.0%$22.33$22.320

Management

4.95.153.1552.39-1

Business and financial operations

5.05.6*34.1430.95*-9

Computer and mathematical

2.82.839.4335.77*-9

Architecture and engineering

1.82.1*38.5133.20*-14

Life, physical, and social science

0.90.5*33.3731.64*-5

Community and social services

1.41.3*21.5021.34-1

Legal

0.80.7*47.8942.32*-12

Education, training, and library

6.35.4*24.7626.70*8

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media

1.31.4*26.7222.63*-15

Healthcare practitioner and technical

5.85.935.9337.384

Healthcare support

3.03.013.6113.832

Protective service

2.51.9*20.9220.25-3

Food preparation and serving related

9.07.8*10.389.81*-5

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance

3.23.0*12.5112.450

Personal care and service

3.04.7*11.8811.31*-5

Sales and related

10.69.8*18.3720.87*14

Office and administrative support

16.216.016.7817.28*3

Farming, fishing, and forestry

0.3(2)*11.7017.27*48

Construction and extraction

3.82.6*21.9425.92*18

Installation, maintenance, and repair

3.93.2*21.3522.80*7

Production

6.610.1*16.7917.68*5

Transportation and material moving

6.87.116.2814.74*-9

Footnotes:
(1) A positive percent difference measures how much the mean wage in Milwaukee is above the national mean wage, while a negative difference reflects a lower wage.
(2) Indicates a value of less than 0.05 percent
* The percent share of employment or mean hourly wage for this area is significantly different from the national average of all areas at the 90-percent confidence level.
 

One occupational group—production—was chosen to illustrate the diversity of data available for any of the 22 major occupational categories. Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis had 82,450 jobs in production, accounting for 10.1 percent of local area employment, significantly higher than the 6.6-percent share nationally. The average hourly wage for this occupational group locally was $17.68, measurably above the national wage of $16.79.

With employment of 8,890, team assemblers was the largest occupation within the production group, followed by machinists (5,380) and first-line supervisors of production and operating workers (5,350). Among the higher paying jobs were power distributors and dispatchers and power plant operators, with mean hourly wages of $38.93 and $34.57, respectively. At the lower end of the wage scale were laundry and dry-cleaning workers ($10.57) and pressers, textile, garment, and related materials ($10.99).(Detailed occupational data for production are presented in table 1; for a complete listing of detailed occupations available go to www.bls.gov/oes/2013/may/oes_33340.htm.)

Location quotients allow for the exploration of an area’s occupational make-up by comparing the composition of jobs in an area relative to the national average. (See table 1.) For example, a location quotient of 2.0 indicates that an occupation accounts for twice the share of employment in the area than it does nationally. In the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis Metropolitan Statistical Area, above average concentrations of employment were found in many of the occupations within the production group. For instance, foundry mold and coremakers were employed at 5.6 times the national rate in Milwaukee, and computer-controlled machine tool operators, metal and plastic, at 4.5 times the U.S. average. On the other hand, helpers--production workers had a location quotient of 1.1 in Milwaukee, indicating that this particular occupation’s local and national employment shares were similar.

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 Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

OES wage and employment data for the 22 major occupational groups in the Milwaukee Metropolitan Statistical Area were compared to their respective national averages based on statistical significance testing. Only those occupations with wages or employment shares above or below the national wage or share after testing for significance at the 90-percent confidence level meet the criteria.

Note: A value that is statistically different from another does not necessarily mean that the difference has economic or practical significance. Statistical significance is concerned with the ability to make confident statements about a universe based on a sample. It is entirely possible that a large difference between two values is not significantly different statistically, while a small difference is, since both the size and heterogeneity of the sample affect the relative error of the data being tested.


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. Forms are mailed to approximately 200,000 sampled establishments in May and November each year for a 3-year period. May 2013 estimates are based on responses from six semiannual panels collected in May 2013, November 2012, May 2012, November 2011, May 2011, and November 2010. The overall national response rate for the six panels is 75.3 percent based on establishments and 71.6 percent based on employment. The sample in the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis Metropolitan Statistical Area included 5,153 establishments with a response rate of 74 percent. 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 2013 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 .

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.

The Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Wis. Metropolitan Statistical Area includes Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha Counties.

Additional information

OES data are available on our regional web page at www.bls.gov/regions/midwest. 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/2013/may/methods_statement.pdf. Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request – Voice phone: 202-691-5200; Federal Relay Service: 1-800-877-8339.

Table 1. Employment and wage data from the Occupational Employment Statistics survey, by occupation, Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis Metropolitan Statistical Area, May 2013
Occupation (1)EmploymentMean wages
Level (2)Location quotient (3)HourlyAnnual(4)

Production Occupations

82,4501.5$17.68$36,770

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers

5,3501.529.0960,500

Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers

2502.818.8939,280

Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers

2,1301.716.2533,800

Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers

5201.716.3333,970

Engine and Other Machine Assemblers

(5)(5)18.3938,250

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

8101.720.2042,010

Team Assemblers

8,8901.415.4832,200

Assemblers and Fabricators, All Other

2,3601.513.4327,930

Bakers

9000.911.9224,790

Butchers and Meat Cutters

7200.915.2731,760

Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers

3600.411.9924,930

Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders

(5)(5)14.3029,740

Food Batchmakers

8901.314.4229,990

Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders

2001.015.8833,020

Food Processing Workers, All Other

1800.713.2027,460

Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic

3,8304.518.9739,460

Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Programmers, Metal and Plastic

6604.425.2652,550

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

3400.815.7232,700

Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

900.718.1437,740

Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

1600.816.3333,970

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

2,8602.516.3934,100

Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

2902.320.1441,900

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

9602.217.1935,750

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

8003.118.4738,420

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

1901.323.4848,840

Machinists

5,3802.220.6042,850

Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

3002.318.4838,440

Pourers and Casters, Metal

1101.819.3340,200

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

1002.724.8551,680

Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

1003.721.1143,900

Foundry Mold and Coremakers

4505.613.0427,120

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

2,0402.714.9831,170

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

1,4702.617.8737,170

Tool and Die Makers

1,5203.223.7049,290

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

3,0601.420.5442,720

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

9202.920.6042,840

Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

2702.117.7536,930

Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic

400.421.4844,680

Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

7103.214.8330,840

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

1902.716.4734,260

Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other

1801.314.2429,630

Prepress Technicians and Workers

5802.518.9139,320

Printing Press Operators

2,7602.717.7236,850

Print Binding and Finishing Workers

9703.016.8535,050

Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

1,0400.910.5721,980

Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials

2100.710.9922,860

Sewing Machine Operators

6000.712.5326,050

Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

1704.412.8026,630

Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers

1200.912.4725,930

Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers

(5)(5)12.2225,420

Upholsterers

(5)(5)15.8933,060

Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other

(5)(5)9.3019,340

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

3200.618.9239,360

Furniture Finishers

(5)(5)16.1733,630

Patternmakers, Wood

(5)(5)22.1145,980

Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood

(5)(5)14.2629,660

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing

2200.613.6028,280

Power Distributors and Dispatchers

801.138.9380,980

Power Plant Operators

3501.434.5771,900

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators

1300.624.9851,960

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

4800.722.2646,290

Chemical Plant and System Operators

(5)(5)21.7845,310

Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders

1800.518.5538,570

Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

3801.516.1533,590

Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

2401.316.4434,200

Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

4702.515.6032,440

Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

6000.820.0441,680

Cutters and Trimmers, Hand

700.911.1623,210

Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

3801.015.8833,030

Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

5601.313.6328,350

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

1401.119.7441,060

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers

4,0101.418.0537,540

Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers

1100.818.0337,510

Dental Laboratory Technicians

3001.319.1939,920

Medical Appliance Technicians

(5)(5)13.3327,730

Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians

1701.014.8630,900

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

5,2302.314.4930,140

Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

1,2402.316.9535,250

Painters, Transportation Equipment

2300.823.6449,160

Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers

(5)(5)13.0127,060

Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators

2501.113.4728,030

Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders

700.713.5428,160

Etchers and Engravers

701.215.8432,950

Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

1000.517.3936,160

Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

8801.516.9335,220

Helpers--Production Workers

2,8901.112.4725,940

Production Workers, All Other

2,0001.614.9431,080

Footnotes:
(1) For a complete listing of all detailed occupations in Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI, see www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_33340.htm.
(2) 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.
(3) 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.
(4) 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 mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(5) Estimate not released.
 

 

Last Modified Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2014