Among the 10 metropolitan areas located entirely or partially in Tennessee, 4 had annual wages that were significantly below the national average for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. One area had below-average wages for light truck or delivery services drivers, and eight areas had below-average wages for industrial truck and tractor operators. Regional Commissioner Janet S. Rankin noted that none of the areas had annual wages significantly above the U.S. average for the three selected truck driver occupations. Nationwide, the average (mean) wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $43,590; for light truck or delivery services drivers, $34,790; and for industrial truck and tractor operators, $34,260. (See table A. For comprehensive definitions of metropolitan areas in Tennessee, please see Technical Note.)

 

Table A. Average (mean) annual wages for selected truck driver occupations in the United States, Tennessee, and metropolitan areas in Tennessee, May 2016

Area	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers	Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
United States	$43,590	$34,790	$34,260
Tennessee	41,680*	34,450	30,680*
Chattanooga	37,660*	31,700	32,160*
Clarksville	34,860*	29,670*	35,310
Cleveland	48,850	(1)	28,930*
Jackson	37,280*	29,170	27,620*
Johnson City	33,740*	34,760	31,610*
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol	44,290	30,970	34,780
Knoxville	43,020	37,260	29,020*
Memphis	43,410	36,420	29,240*
Morristown	47,200	34,130	29,960*
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin	44,510	34,290	32,100*
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 10 metropolitan areas located entirely or partially in Tennessee, the Nashville–Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin area had the largest employment in the three selected truck driver occupations at 26,700 followed by Memphis at 25,210. Employment in these three occupations combined was less than 11,200 in each of the remaining metropolitan areas for which data were available. (See table B.) 

Table B. Employment of selected truck driver occupations in the United States, Tennessee, and metropolitan areas in Tennessee, May 2016

Area	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers	Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
United States	1,704,520	858,710	542,750
Tennessee	58,120	18,810	17,730
Chattanooga	6,760	1,780	1,220
Clarksville	820	370	270
Cleveland	820	(1)	470
Jackson	1,120	500	230
Johnson City	720	340	320
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol	1,730	870	400
Knoxville	8,110	1,770	1,220
Memphis	14,420	4,950	5,840
Morristown	1,450	190	180
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin	16,160	5,880	4,660
Footnotes: (1) Data not available.

Location quotients (LQs) 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. 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 Tennessee, above-average concentrations of employment were found in 6 of the 10 areas for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers. For example, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers were employed at 2.8 times the national rate in the Morristown area, and 2.3 times the U.S. average in Chattanooga. LQs for the four remaining areas ranged from 1.9 to 1.5. Industrial truck and tractor operators had above-average concentrations of employment in Cleveland and Memphis, with LQs of 2.6 and 2.4, respectively. (See table C.)

Table C. Location quotients of selected truck driver occupations in the United States, Tennessee, and metropolitan areas in Tennessee, May 2016

Area	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers	Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
United States	1.0	1.0	1.0
Tennessee	1.7	1.1	1.6
Chattanooga	2.3	1.2	1.3
Clarksville	0.8	0.7	0.8
Cleveland	1.5	(1)	2.6
Jackson	1.4	1.3	0.9
Johnson City	0.8	0.7	1.1
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol	1.2	1.2	0.9
Knoxville	1.8	0.8	0.8
Memphis	1.9	1.3	2.4
Morristown	2.8	0.7	1.1
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin	1.5	1.1	1.3
Footnotes: (1) Data not available.

Wages for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in metropolitan areas in Tennessee

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in 4 of the 10 metropolitan areas in Tennessee had wages significantly below the U.S. annual average of $43,590: Johnson City ($33,740), Clarksville ($34,860), Jackson ($37,280), and Chattanooga ($37,660). The remaining six metropolitan areas had wages that were not measurably different from the national average for this occupation.

Wages for light truck or delivery drivers in metropolitan areas in Tennessee

The Clarksville area had a mean annual wage of $29,670 for light truck or delivery drivers, significantly below the U.S. average of $34,790. Light truck or delivery drivers in the remaining areas for which data were available in Tennessee, earned wages that were not significantly different from the national average for this occupation.

Wages for industrial truck and tractor operators in metropolitan areas in Tennessee

Eight areas had annual wages for industrial truck and tractor operators that were significantly below the national average of $34,260. The lower paying areas included Jackson ($27,620), Cleveland ($28,930), and Knoxville ($29,020). Industrial truck and tractor operators in Clarksville and Kingsport–Bristol–Bristol 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 Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Technical Note

The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey is a semiannual survey measuring occupational employment and wage rates for wage and salary workers in nonfarm establishments in the United States. The OES data available from BLS include cross-industry occupational employment and wage estimates for the nation; over 650 areas, including states and the District of Columbia, metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), metropolitan divisions, nonmetropolitan areas, and territories; national industry-specific estimates at the NAICS sector, 3-, 4-, and selected 5- and 6-digit industry levels, and national estimates by ownership across all industries and for schools and hospitals. OES data are available at www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm.

OES estimates are constructed from a sample of about 1.2 million establishments. Each year, two semiannual panels of approximately 200,000 sampled establishments are contacted, one panel in May and the other in November. Responses are obtained by mail, Internet or other electronic means, email, telephone, or personal visit. The May 2016 estimates are based on responses from six semiannual panels collected over a 3-year period: May 2016, November 2015, May 2015, November 2014, May 2014, and November 2013. The overall national response rate for the six panels, based on the 50 states and the District of Columbia, is 73 percent based on establishments and 69 percent based on weighted sampled employment. The unweighted employment of sampled establishments across all six semiannual panels represents approximately 58 percent of total national employment. For more information about OES concepts and methodology, go to www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_tec.htm.

The May 2016 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.

• Chattanooga, Tenn.-Ga. Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) includes Catoosa, Dade, and Walker Counties in Georgia; Hamilton, Marion, and Sequatchie Counties in Tennessee.
• Clarksville, Tenn.-Ky. MSA includes Christian and Trigg Counties in Kentucky; Montgomery County in Tennessee.
• Cleveland, Tenn. MSA includes Bradley and Polk Counties in Tennessee.
• Jackson, Tenn. MSA includes Chester, Crockett, and Madison Counties in Tennessee.
• Johnson City, Tenn. MSA includes Carter, Unicoi, and Washington Counties in Tennessee.
• Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, Tenn.-Va. MSA includes Hawkins and Sullivan Counties in Tennessee; Scott and Washington Counties, and Bristol City in Virginia.
• Knoxville, Tenn. MSA includes Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Grainger, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, and Union Counties in Tennessee.
• Memphis, Tenn.-Miss.-Ark. includes Benton, DeSoto, Marshall, Tate, and Tunica Counties in Mississippi; Crittenden County in Arkansas; Fayette, Shelby, and Tipton Counties in Tennessee.
• Morristown, Tenn. MSA includes Hamblen and Jefferson Counties in Tennessee.
• Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, Tenn. MSA includes Cannon, Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Hickman, Macon, Maury, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, and Wilson Counties in Tennessee.

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