December 29, 1998 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Professional and managerial occupations have higher wages

In 1997, about 80 percent of persons working in managerial occupations had wage rates above $15.75 per hour.  Similarly, more than 75 percent of workers in professional occupations made more than $15.75 per hour.  In comparison, only 37 percent of all workers earned more than $15.75 per hour.

[Chart data—TXT]

About half of workers in sales occupations made above $15.75 per hour; however, more than 27 percent of sales workers earned less than $10.00 per hour.

Among managerial occupations, engineering, mathematical, and natural sciences managers had the highest wages at $32.99 per hour.  For professional occupations, the $48.52 hourly wage rate for physicians was the highest.  In sales occupations, sales agents in securities, commodities, and financial services reported the highest wages at $28.34 per hour.

Data on occupational employment and wages are produced by the BLS Occupational Employment Statistics program.  For additional information, see News Release USDL 98-502, "Occupational Employment and Wages, 1997."