Among the 15 metropolitan areas in Georgia, 12 had annual wages that were significantly below the national average for automotive service technicians and mechanics. Eleven areas had below-average wages for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers; and eight had below-average wages for industrial machinery mechanics, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Janet S. Rankin noted that four metropolitan areas had average wages significantly below the U.S. average for all three of the selected occupations. Nationwide, the average (mean) wage for automotive service technicians and mechanics was $39,980; for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers, $46,880; and for industrial machinery mechanics, $50,440. (See table A. For comprehensive definitions of metropolitan areas in Georgia, please see Technical Note.)

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

Area	Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers	Industrial Machinery Mechanics
United States	$39,980	$46,880	$50,440
Georgia	37,790*	43,020*	44,650*
Albany	34,380*	37,770*	39,450*
Athens-Clarke County	35,970*	32,950*	42,810*
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta	40,470	46,420	45,890*
Augusta-Richmond County	37,310*	45,170	49,320
Brunswick	39,110	35,630*	43,560*
Chattanooga	36,280*	39,370*	55,470*
Columbus	34,720*	36,520*	51,070
Dalton	27,270*	33,170*	37,820*
Gainesville	32,900*	47,100	39,240*
Hinesville-Fort Stewart	33,100*	38,860*	(1)
Macon	34,920*	40,380	43,750*
Rome	31,990*	36,310*	50,430
Savannah	43,710*	41,960*	55,390*
Valdosta	34,650*	40,690*	39,460*
Warner Robins	34,110*	37,440*	50,360
Footnotes: (1) Data not available.
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 15 metropolitan areas located entirely or partially in the state, the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta area had the largest employment in the three selected mechanical occupations at 22,150. In each of the remaining metropolitan areas in Georgia, the combined employment in these three occupations was less than 3,000. (See table B.)

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

Area	Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers	Industrial Machinery Mechanics
United States	633,390	261,390	313,880
Georgia	22,010	8,270	10,230
Albany	400	160	320
Athens-Clarke County	350	(1)	110
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta	13,090	5,020	4,040
Augusta-Richmond County	1,040	280	730
Brunswick	210	70	80
Chattanooga	1,090	630	980
Columbus	800	400	450
Dalton	570	40	830
Gainesville	280	110	330
Hinesville-Fort Stewart	90	70	(1)
Macon	400	150	220
Rome	250	60	160
Savannah	980	330	630
Valdosta	300	160	70
Warner Robins	350	90	140
Footnotes: (1) Data not available.
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.

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

Automotive service technicians and mechanics in the Savannah metropolitan area earned $43,710 per year, measurably above the U.S. average of $39,980. Wages were significantly below the national average for this occupation in 12 of the 15 areas in Georgia with Dalton ($27,270), Rome ($31,990), and Gainesville ($32,900) among the lower-paying areas. Two areas had wages that were not measurably different from the national average.

Wages for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in metropolitan areas in Georgia

Eleven metropolitan areas had wages significantly below the U.S. average of $46,880 for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers. The lowest paying areas included Athens-Clarke County ($32,950), Dalton ($33,170), and Brunswick ($35,630). Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in four areas had wages that were not measurably different from the national average for this occupation.

Wages for industrial machinery mechanics in metropolitan areas in Georgia

Two metropolitan areas had average wages for industrial machinery mechanics that were significantly higher than the $50,440 national average: Chattanooga ($55,470), and Savannah ($55,390). Eight localities had wages for industrial machinery mechanics that were measurably below the national average, including Dalton ($37,820), Gainesville ($39,240), and Albany ($39,450). Industrial machinery mechanics in four areas in Georgia 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 Georgia 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.

• Albany, Ga. Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) includes Baker, Dougherty, Lee, Terrell, and Worth Counties in Georgia.
• Athens-Clarke County, Ga. MSA includes Clarke, Madison, Oconee, and Oglethorpe Counties in Georgia.
• Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Ga. MSA includes Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Lamar, Meriwether, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Pike, Rockdale, Spalding, and Walton Counties in Georgia.
• Augusta-Richmond County, Ga.-S.C. MSA includes Aiken and Edgefield Counties in South Carolina, and Burke, Columbia, McDuffie, and Richmond Counties in Georgia.
• Brunswick, Ga. MSA includes Brantley, Glynn, and McIntosh Counties in Georgia.
• Chattanooga, Tenn.-Ga. MSA includes Catoosa, Dade, and Walker Counties in Georgia, and Hamilton, Marion, and Sequatchie Counties in Tennessee.
• Columbus, Ga.-Ala. MSA includes Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, and Muscogee Counties in Georgia, and Russell County in Alabama.
• Dalton, Ga. MSA includes Murray and Whitfield Counties in Georgia.
• Gainesville, Ga. MSA includes Hall County in Georgia.
• Hinesville-Fort Stewart, Ga. MSA includes Liberty and Long Counties in Georgia.
• Macon, Ga. MSA includes Bibb, Crawford, Jones, Monroe, and Twiggs Counties in Georgia.
• Rome, Ga. MSA includes Floyd County in Georgia.
• Savannah, Ga. MSA includes Bryan, Chatham, and Effingham Counties in Georgia.
• Valdosta, Ga. MSA includes Brooks, Echols, Lanier, and Lowndes Counties in Georgia.
• Warner Robins, Ga. MSA includes Houston County in Georgia.

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