The six metropolitan areas in Connecticut had annual wages significantly above the national average for secondary, middle, and elementary school teachers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Deborah A. Brown noted that Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk was the highest-paying metropolitan area in the state for secondary and middle school teachers. Nationwide, the average (mean) annual wage was $58,260 for secondary school teachers, $56,630 for middle school teachers, and $56,320 for elementary school teachers. (See table A. For comprehensive definitions of metropolitan areas in Connecticut, please see Technical Note.)

The Hartford and Bridgeport areas each had an employment level of more than 10,000 in the three selected teaching occupations combined. New Haven was the only other metropolitan area in the state where combined employment in the three occupations exceeded 5,000. (See table B.)

Table B. Employment for secondary, middle, and elementary school teachers in the United States and metropolitan areas in Connecticut, May 2013

Area	Secondary School	Middle School	Elementary School
United States	946,730	621,970	1,344,240
Connecticut	14,310	9,900	15,940
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk	3,910	2,560	4,460
Danbury	480	430	750
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford	4,420	2,720	5,200
New Haven	2,350	1,750	2,070
Norwich-New London	940	670	1,230
Waterbury	820	580	890

Wages for secondary school teachers in metropolitan areas in Connecticut

As noted, Bridgeport, at $72,340, was the highest-paying area in Connecticut for secondary school teachers. New Haven and Hartford were also among the higher-paying areas for secondary school teachers at $69,380 and $69,160, respectively. Wages in the state’s three other metropolitan areas ranged from $68,510 to $66,600.

Wages for middle school teachers in metropolitan areas in Connecticut

All six metropolitan areas in Connecticut had wages for middle school teachers that exceeded the national average by more than $10,000. Bridgeport ($72,690) was the highest-paying metropolitan area in the state for this occupation. Wages in the state’s five other metropolitan areas ranged from $70,090 in Danbury to $67,700 in Waterbury.

Wages for elementary school teachers in metropolitan areas in Connecticut

Bridgeport ($70,750) and Hartford ($69,440) were among the higher-paying areas for elementary school teachers in the state. Wages in the state’s four remaining metropolitan areas ranged from $68,800  to $60,800. 

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 Connecticut Department of Labor.

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 2013 estimates are based on responses from six semiannual panels collected over a 3-year period: 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. 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.

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.

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.

TheBridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Conn. Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) includes Ansonia city, Bridgeport city, Darien town, Derby city, Easton town, Fairfield town, Greenwich town, Milford city, Monroe town, New Canaan town, Newtown town, Norwalk city, Oxford town, Redding town, Ridgefield town, Seymour town, Shelton city, Southbury town, Stamford city, Stratford town, Trumbull town, Weston town, Westport town, Wilton town, and Woodbridge town.

TheDanbury, Conn. MSA includes Bethel town, Bridgewater town, Brookfield town, Danbury city, New Fairfield town, New Milford town, and Sherman town.

The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, Conn. MSA includes Andover town, Ashford town, Avon town, Barkhamsted town, Berlin town, Bloomfield town, Bolton town, Bristol city, Burlington town, Canton town, Colchester town, Columbia town, Coventry town, Cromwell town, East Granby town, East Haddam town, East Hampton town, East Hartford town, Ellington town, Farmington town, Glastonbury town, Granby town, Haddam town, Hartford city, Hartland town, Harwinton town, Hebron town, Lebanon town, Manchester town, Mansfield town, Marlborough town, Middlefield town, Middletown city, New Britain city, New Hartford town, Newington town, Plainville town, Plymouth town, Portland town, Rocky Hill town, Simsbury town, South Windsor town, Southington town, Stafford town, Thomaston town, Tolland town, Union town, Vernon town, West Hartford town, Wethersfield town, Willington town, and Windsor town.

The New Haven, Conn. MSA includes Bethany town, Branford town, Cheshire town, Chester town, Clinton town, Deep River town, Durham town, East Haven town, Essex town, Guilford town, Hamden town, Killingworth town, Madison town, Meriden city, New Haven city, North Branford town, North Haven town, Old Saybrook town, Orange town, Wallingford town, West Haven city, and Westbrook town.

TheNorwich-New London, Conn.-R.I. MSA includes Bozrah town, Canterbury town, East Lyme town, Franklin town, Griswold town, Groton town, Ledyard town, Lisbon town, Lyme town, Montville town, New London city, North Stonington town, Norwich city, Old Lyme town, Preston town, Salem town, Sprague town, Stonington town, Voluntown town, Waterford town, CT; and Westerly town in Rhode Island.

The Waterbury, Conn. MSA includes Beacon Falls town, Middlebury town, Naugatuck borough, Prospect town, Waterbury city, Watertown town, and Wolcott town.