Workers in the Cincinnati-Middletown Metropolitan Statistical Area had an average (mean) hourly wage of $22.23 in May 2014, about 2 percent below the nationwide average of $22.71, 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 higher than their respective national averages in 3 of the 22 major occupational groups. Sixteen groups had significantly lower wages than their respective national averages, including arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media; life, physical, and social science; and computer and mathematical.

When compared to the nationwide distribution, local employment was more highly concentrated in 8 of the 22 occupational groups, including production; healthcare practitioners and technical; and transportation and material moving. Conversely, 10 groups had employment shares significantly below their national representation, including construction and extraction; sales and related; and personal care and service. (See table A and box note at end of release.)

One occupational group—production—was chosen to illustrate the diversity of data available for any of the 22 major occupational categories. Cincinnati-Middletown had 78,970 jobs in production, accounting for 7.8 percent of local area employment, significantly higher than the 6.6-percent share nationally. The average hourly wage for this occupational group locally was $17.72, significantly above the national wage of $17.06.

Some of the largest detailed occupations within the production group included team assemblers (7,520), packaging and filling machine operators and tenders (5,670), and inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers (5,100). Among the higher paying jobs were power distributors and dispatchers; and power plant operators, with mean hourly wages of $37.11 and $33.22, respectively. At the lower end of the wage scale were pressers, textile, garment, and related materials ($10.28) and laundry and dry-cleaning workers ($10.71). (Detailed occupational data for production are presented in table 1; for a complete listing of detailed occupations available go to www.bls.gov/oes/2014/may/oes_17140.htm .)

Location quotients allow us to explore the occupational make-up of a metropolitan area 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 Cincinnati-Middletown Metropolitan Statistical Area, above-average concentrations of employment were found in some of the occupations within the production group. For instance, multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic were employed at 2.1 times the national rate in Cincinnati, and paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders, at 2.1 times the U.S. average. On the other hand, first-line supervisors of production and operating workers had a location quotient of 1.0 in Cincinnati, 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, Ohio Department of Job & Family Services, Indiana Department of Workforce Development, and Kentucky Department of Workforce Investment.

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. 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 weighted sampled employment. The unweighted employment of sampled establishments across all six semiannual panels represents approximately 57.1 percent of total national employment. (Response rates are slightly lower for these estimates due to the federal shutdown in October 2013.) The sample in the Cincinnati-Middletown Metropolitan Statistical Area included 7,471 establishments with a response rate of 76 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 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.

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 Cincinnati-Middletown, Ohio-Ky.-Ind. Metropolitan Statistical Area  includes Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren Counties of Ohio; Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton and Pendleton Counties of Kentucky; and Dearborn, Franklin, and Ohio Counties of Indiana.

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/2014/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: 800-877-8339.

Table 1. Employment and wage data from the Occupational Employment Statistics survey, by occupation, Cincinnati-Middletown Metropolitan Statistical Area, May 2014

Occupation (1)	Employment		Mean wages
	Level (2)	Location quotient (3)	Hourly	Annual (4)
Production Occupations	78,970	1.2	$17.72	$36,850
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers	4,630	1.0	28.25	58,770
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers	50	0.2	20.25	42,130
Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers	280	2.5	20.30	42,220
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers	1,360	0.9	15.46	32,160
Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers	340	1.0	18.21	37,870
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers	340	1.2	24.23	50,400
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters	490	0.8	16.89	35,140
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators	60	0.4	14.43	30,010
Team Assemblers	7,520	0.9	16.15	33,600
Assemblers and Fabricators, All Other	3,320	1.9	13.46	28,000
Bakers	1,100	0.9	14.18	29,490
Butchers and Meat Cutters	1,180	1.2	15.16	31,540
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers	600	0.5	11.36	23,620
Slaughterers and Meat Packers	370	0.6	11.33	23,560
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders	(5)	(5)	13.82	28,740
Food Batchmakers	870	1.0	14.50	30,150
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders	200	0.7	14.37	29,890
Food Processing Workers, All Other	170	0.5	13.86	28,820
Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic	2,250	2.0	17.62	36,640
Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Programmers, Metal and Plastic	190	1.0	24.59	51,150
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	880	1.6	16.74	34,810
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	(5)	(5)	18.50	38,470
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	(5)	(5)	21.64	45,000
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	1,660	1.2	15.47	32,180
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	110	0.9	17.48	36,360
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	550	1.0	17.90	37,240
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	510	1.6	19.33	40,200
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	240	1.5	18.48	38,440
Machinists	4,590	1.6	21.17	44,040
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders	(5)	(5)	17.53	36,450
Pourers and Casters, Metal	40	0.5	17.08	35,520
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic	120	2.5	24.27	50,480
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic	(5)	(5)	20.13	41,870
Foundry Mold and Coremakers	110	1.3	14.99	31,170
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	1,880	2.0	16.33	33,970
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	1,520	2.1	17.40	36,190
Tool and Die Makers	630	1.1	24.62	51,200
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers	2,460	0.9	18.78	39,070
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	580	1.4	15.52	32,290
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	150	1.0	23.38	48,630
Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	380	1.4	16.20	33,690
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners	60	0.8	17.97	37,390
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other	90	0.6	16.70	34,740
Prepress Technicians and Workers	510	1.9	19.09	39,700
Printing Press Operators	2,470	2.0	17.73	36,880
Print Binding and Finishing Workers	530	1.4	15.38	31,990
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers	1,300	0.9	10.71	22,270
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials	730	2.0	10.28	21,380
Sewing Machine Operators	750	0.7	12.93	26,900
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers	40	0.6	10.86	22,600
Sewers, Hand	(5)	(5)	12.54	26,090
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers	(5)	(5)	12.73	26,490
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers	130	0.9	16.16	33,610
Upholsterers	80	0.3	14.81	30,810
Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other	60	0.5	13.98	29,080
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters	480	0.7	17.08	35,530
Furniture Finishers	40	0.3	14.92	31,040
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood	160	0.5	13.12	27,300
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing	280	0.5	13.06	27,160
Woodworkers, All Other	70	1.3	13.39	27,860
Power Distributors and Dispatchers	130	1.5	37.11	77,190
Power Plant Operators	540	1.8	33.22	69,090
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators	320	1.1	25.24	52,510
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators	490	0.6	21.50	44,710
Chemical Plant and System Operators	460	1.6	22.49	46,780
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers	190	0.6	28.56	59,390
Plant and System Operators, All Other	(5)	(5)	28.10	58,440
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders	760	1.6	23.99	49,900
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	(5)	(5)	19.46	40,470
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	(5)	(5)	15.81	32,890
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand	160	0.7	15.98	33,230
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	1,780	1.9	19.52	40,610
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand	80	0.7	13.19	27,430
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	(5)	(5)	17.01	35,380
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	280	0.6	18.31	38,080
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders	100	0.6	16.84	35,030
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers	5,100	1.4	19.63	40,840
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers	150	0.8	16.47	34,260
Dental Laboratory Technicians	240	0.9	20.23	42,080
Medical Appliance Technicians	50	0.5	24.10	50,120
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians	(5)	(5)	14.55	30,270
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders	5,670	2.0	15.78	32,820
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	800	1.2	17.12	35,600
Painters, Transportation Equipment	190	0.5	20.65	42,960
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators	(5)	(5)	13.84	28,790
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders	210	1.5	14.16	29,450
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders	150	1.1	14.64	30,440
Etchers and Engravers	40	0.6	15.45	32,140
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic	120	0.5	17.65	36,710
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	1,410	2.1	16.24	33,770
Tire Builders	100	0.8	15.32	31,870
Helpers--Production Workers	3,820	1.2	12.18	25,330
Production Workers, All Other	1,830	1.1	15.96	33,200
Footnotes: (1) For a complete listing of all detailed occupations in Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN, see www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_17140.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.