Among the 12 metropolitan areas in Alabama, 8 had annual wages that were significantly below the national average for automotive service technicians and mechanics. Ten areas had below-average wages for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Janet S. Rankin noted that for industrial machinery mechanics, five areas had below-average wages and four areas had above-average wages. This was the only one of the three selected occupations for which any of the metropolitan areas in Alabama had above-average wages. Nationwide, the average (mean) wage for automotive service technicians and mechanics was $39,980; for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, $45,160; and for industrial machinery mechanics, $50,440. (See table A. For comprehensive definitions of metropolitan areas in Alabama, please see Technical Note.)

Table A. Average (mean) annual wages for selected mechanical occupations in the United States, Alabama, and metropolitan areas in Alabama, May 2014

Area	Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists	Industrial Machinery Mechanics
United States	$39,980	$45,160	$50,440
Alabama	37,140*	39,770*	49,460
Anniston-Oxford	37,000*	32,530*	49,240
Auburn-Opelika	40,010	44,580	42,400*
Birmingham-Hoover	39,420	44,430	46,550*
Columbus	34,720*	34,710*	51,070
Decatur	36,690*	42,990*	58,350*
Dothan	36,560*	38,960*	37,870*
Florence-Muscle Shoals	35,100*	37,870*	51,790
Gadsden	32,260*	36,910*	46,760*
Huntsville	35,370*	39,930*	47,450*
Mobile	41,820	38,990*	55,170*
Montgomery	41,550	40,630*	53,890*
Tuscaloosa	36,880*	40,290*	60,150*
Note: An asterisk indicates that the mean annual wage for this area is significantly different from the national average of all areas at the 90-percent confidence level.

Of the 12 metropolitan areas located entirely or partially in the state, the Birmingham-Hoover area had the largest employment in the three selected mechanical occupations at 5,290. In each of the remaining metropolitan areas in Alabama, combined employment in the three selected occupations was less than 2,200. (See table B.)

Table B. Employment of selected mechanical occupations in the United States, Alabama, and metropolitan areas in Alabama, May 2014

Area	Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists	Industrial Machinery Mechanics
United States	633,390	243,080	313,880
Alabama	9,160	4,150	9,470
Anniston-Oxford	160	40	210
Auburn-Opelika	310	60	180
Birmingham-Hoover	2,520	1,200	1,570
Columbus	800	120	450
Decatur	250	130	590
Dothan	340	170	230
Florence-Muscle Shoals	220	90	310
Gadsden	190	50	220
Huntsville	850	170	620
Mobile	770	590	830
Montgomery	620	200	670
Tuscaloosa	390	150	760

Wages for automotive service technicians and mechanics in metropolitan areas in Alabama

Wages were significantly below the national average of $39,980 for automotive service technicians and mechanics in 8 of the 12 areas in Alabama. Gadsden ($32,260), Columbus ($34,720), and Florence-Muscle Shoals ($35,100) were among the lower-paying areas. Four areas had wages that were not measurably different from the U.S. average: Mobile ($41,820), Montgomery ($41,550), Auburn-Opelika ($40,010), and Birmingham ($39,420).

Wages for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in metropolitan areas in Alabama

Ten metropolitan areas had wages significantly lower than the national average of $45,160 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists. Anniston-Oxford ($32,530), Columbus ($34,710), and Gadsden ($36,910) were among the lower-paying areas. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in Auburn-Opleika and Birmingham-Hoover earned wages that were not measurably different from the national average for this occupation.

Wages for industrial machinery mechanics in metropolitan areas in Alabama

Four metropolitan areas had average wages for industrial machinery mechanics that were significantly higher than the $50,440 national average: Tuscaloosa ($60,150), Decatur ($58,350), Mobile ($55,170), and Montgomery ($53,890). Five localities had wages for industrial machinery mechanics that were measurably below the national average, including Dothan ($37,870), Auburn-Opelika ($42,400), and Birmingham-Hoover ($46,550). Industrial machinery mechanics in the remaining three areas in Alabama earned wages that were not measurably different from the U.S. average.

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 Alabama 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. 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.) 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.

• Anniston-Oxford, Ala. Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) includes Calhoun County in Alabama.
• Auburn-Opelika, Ala. MSA includes Lee County in Alabama.
• Birmingham-Hoover, Ala. MSA includes Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, and Walker Counties in Alabama.
• Columbus, Ga.-Ala. MSA includes Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, and Muscogee Counties in Georgia, and Russell County in Alabama.
• Decatur, Ala. MSA includes Lawrence and Morgan Counties in Alabama.
• Dothan, Ala. MSA includes Geneva, Henry, and Houston Counties in Alabama.
• Florence-Muscle Shoals, Ala. MSA includes Colbert and Lauderdale Counties in Alabama.
• Gadsden, Ala. MSA includes Etowah County in Alabama.
• Huntsville, Ala. MSA includes Limestone and Madison Counties in Alabama.
• Mobile, Ala. MSA includes Mobile County in Alabama.
• Montgomery, Ala. MSA includes Autauga, Elmore, Lowndes, and Montgomery Counties in Alabama.
• Tuscaloosa, Ala. MSA includes Greene, Hale, and Tuscaloosa Counties in Alabama.

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