Bureau of Labor Statistics
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: FOR RELEASE: Cheryl Abbot, Regional Economist October 1, 2008 (214) 767-6970 http://www.bls.gov/ro6/ HIGHLIGHTS OF HOUSTON-BAYTOWN-HUNTSVILLE, TX NATIONAL COMPENSATION SURVEY JANUARY 2008 Workers in the Houston-Baytown-Huntsville metropolitan area earned an average of $21.84 per hour in January 2008, according to new survey results from the National Compensation Survey (NCS) released by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Regional Commissioner Stanley W. Suchman noted that wage data were reported for workers in a wide range of occupational groups, including average hourly earnings of $33.61 for business and financial operations occupations and $29.46 for healthcare practitioner and technical occupations. Another occupational group, office and administrative support, had a mean hourly wage rate of $15.53. The NCS data available for the Houston-Baytown-Huntsville area include earnings for 20 major occupational groups with additional detail for selected occupations within those groups. (See table 1.) Accountants and auditors, part of the business and financial operations occupational group, earned $32.36 per hour. Within the healthcare practitioner and technical occupational group, registered nurses averaged $31.52 per hour and licensed practical and vocational nurses, $20.49. Financial clerks, an occupation within the office and administrative support group, registered an average hourly rate of $15.35, and receptionists and information clerks earned $12.17 per hour. (See table 1.) Broad coverage of selected occupational characteristics is available from NCS for the local area. Full-time workers averaged $22.94 per hour while their part-time counterparts earned $8.99. Union workers earned $22.17 and non-union workers, $21.82. Workers in establishments with 1-99 workers averaged $18.41 per hour, those in establishments with 100- 499 workers earned $21.17, and those in establishments with 500 or more employees earned $27.01. The occupational wage data available from NCS may be used by businesses for establishing pay plans, making decisions concerning plant relocation, and in collective bargaining negotiations. Individuals may use such data to help choose potential careers. NCS results also include the work level and respective earnings for occupations determined by a point factor leveling process. The four occupational leveling factors are: knowledge, job controls and complexity, contacts, and physical environment. Details on the NCS are available at http://www.bls.gov/ncs/home.htm. The NCS data reported here covered 735 establishments with one or more workers in private industry and State and local governments. Agricultural establishments, private households, the self-employed, and the Federal Government were excluded from the survey. This sample of establishments represented 2,458,300 workers in the Houston-Baytown- Huntsville Combined Statistical Area (CSA) which is comprised of Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Waller, and Walker Counties in Texas. Survey Availability Complete survey results are contained in the Houston-Baytown-Huntsville, TX National Compensation Survey January 2008 which is available on the Internet in both text and PDF formats at http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ocs/compub.htm. For personal assistance or further information on the National Compensation Survey, as well as other Bureau data, contact the Southwest Information Office by calling (214) 767- 6970 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. CT. Table 1. Civilian workers: Mean hourly earnings(1) for full-time and part-time workers(2), Houston-Baytown-Huntsville, TX CSA, January 2008 =========================================================================================================== | | | | Total | Full-time workers | Part-time workers |---------------------|---------------------|---------------------- Occupation(3) | | Relative | | Relative | | Relative | | error(4)| | error(4)| | error(4) | Mean | (percent)| Mean | (percent)| Mean | (percent) =========================================================================================================== All workers............................. $21.84 3.8 $22.94 3.9 $8.99 2.5 Management occupations................ 49.17 7.1 49.17 7.1 – – General and operations managers..... 72.53 26.6 72.53 26.6 – – Marketing and sales managers........ 55.02 12.2 55.02 12.2 – – Marketing managers................ 58.06 8.5 58.06 8.5 – – Administrative services managers.... 31.87 16.0 31.87 16.0 – – Computer and information systems managers........................ 67.22 11.4 67.22 11.4 – – Financial managers.................. 53.55 10.0 53.55 10.0 – – Human resources managers............ 49.04 17.1 49.04 17.1 – – Industrial production managers...... 39.68 16.2 39.68 16.2 – – Construction managers............... 35.59 9.7 35.59 9.7 – – Education administrators............ 31.13 12.0 31.13 12.0 – – Education administrators, elementary & secondary school... 39.77 .3 39.77 .3 – – Education administrators, postsecondary................... 40.79 8.0 40.79 8.0 – – Engineering managers................ 53.49 6.5 53.49 6.5 – – Medical and health services managers........................ 33.38 15.2 33.38 15.2 – – Business and financial operations occupations..................... 33.61 5.6 33.63 5.6 – – Buyers and purchasing agents........ 27.06 19.6 27.06 19.6 – – Cost estimators..................... 25.56 15.9 25.56 15.9 – – Human resources, training, & labor relations specialists........... 28.08 7.2 28.08 7.2 – – Accountants and auditors............ 32.36 3.9 32.42 3.9 – – Loan counselors and officers........ 36.67 19.9 36.67 19.9 – – Loan officers..................... 36.67 19.9 36.67 19.9 – – Computer and mathematical science occupations..................... 39.88 6.4 39.93 6.4 – – Computer programmers................ 31.43 12.3 31.43 12.3 – – Computer software engineers......... 48.34 15.4 48.34 15.4 – – Computer software engineers, systems software................ 44.17 8.9 44.17 8.9 – – Computer support specialists........ 26.50 8.9 26.42 9.2 – – Computer systems analysts........... 47.34 16.6 47.34 16.6 – – Architecture and engineering occupations..................... 40.89 4.3 40.89 4.3 – – Engineers........................... 45.10 4.5 45.10 4.5 – – Mechanical engineers.............. 32.55 12.1 32.55 12.1 – – Drafters............................ 33.91 13.2 33.91 13.2 – – Engineering technicians, except drafters................. 31.60 10.1 31.60 10.1 – – Life, physical, and social science occupations..................... 40.50 9.6 40.50 9.6 – – Physical scientists................. 50.74 5.8 50.74 5.8 – – Environmental scientists and geoscientists................... 52.38 7.5 52.38 7.5 – – Community and social services occupations..................... 21.48 8.3 21.30 9.0 – – Counselors.......................... 28.08 9.0 27.81 9.7 – – Educational, vocational, and school counselors............... 29.65 10.6 29.65 10.6 – – Social workers...................... 19.61 10.8 19.61 10.8 – – Education, training, and library occupations............. 31.23 6.4 32.22 6.0 13.36 13.7 Postsecondary teachers.............. 64.93 16.0 65.89 16.0 – – Physical sciences teachers, postsecondary................... 58.74 24.7 60.84 23.7 – – Health teachers, postsecondary.... 105.32 20.9 105.35 20.8 – – Health specialties teachers, postsecondary................... 106.68 20.8 – – – – Miscellaneous postsecondary teachers........................ 33.82 3.3 34.09 4.0 – – Primary, secondary, and special education school teachers....... 31.64 2.5 31.75 2.4 – – Preschool and kindergarten teachers........................ 25.28 18.6 25.28 18.6 – – Elementary and middle school teachers........................ 31.33 2.3 31.56 1.7 – – Elementary school teachers, except special education........ 31.76 1.1 32.07 .2 – – Middle school teachers, except special & vocational education.. 30.05 7.6 30.05 7.6 – – Secondary school teachers......... 33.33 1.2 33.33 1.2 – – Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education....................... 32.97 1.4 32.97 1.4 – – Special education teachers........ 34.12 3.1 34.12 3.1 – – Other teachers and instructors...... 17.71 18.0 22.20 22.1 13.69 6.6 Adult literacy, remedial education, & GED teachers and instructors..................... 21.29 12.6 23.40 16.8 – – Teacher assistants.................. 11.37 6.2 11.68 5.0 – – Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations........... 26.43 12.0 26.84 12.0 – – Designers........................... 21.40 8.7 21.40 8.7 – – Writers and editors................. 22.26 5.3 – – – – Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations..................... 29.46 4.2 29.45 4.1 29.65 9.5 Pharmacists......................... 49.50 1.5 – – – – Registered nurses................... 31.52 3.9 31.61 4.0 29.97 6.4 Therapists.......................... 36.31 11.9 36.53 12.8 – – Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians................. 19.96 7.6 19.81 7.3 – – Medical and clinical laboratory technologists................... 23.64 8.6 23.65 9.3 – – Medical and clinical laboratory technicians..................... 15.90 11.9 15.90 11.9 – – Diagnostic related technologists and technicians................. 25.74 10.0 25.74 10.0 – – Radiologic technologists and technicians..................... 23.54 7.7 23.54 7.7 – – Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses............... 20.49 3.6 20.49 3.6 – – Healthcare support occupations........ 10.83 1.8 11.29 2.0 7.70 13.8 Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides............... 9.97 2.0 10.54 1.7 6.87 9.5 Home health aides................. 7.89 11.5 – – 6.87 9.5 Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants...................... 10.64 1.7 10.64 1.7 – – Miscellaneous healthcare support occupations..................... 12.11 4.0 12.32 4.3 – – Medical assistants................ 12.28 6.3 12.30 6.9 – – Protective service occupations........ 20.22 3.0 20.46 2.9 – – Fire fighters....................... 19.10 5.2 – – – – Bailiffs, correctional officers, and jailers..................... 15.14 4.8 15.14 4.8 – – Correctional officers and jailers. 15.14 4.8 15.14 4.8 – – Police officers..................... 23.52 2.7 23.68 3.1 – – Police and sheriff's patrol officers........................ 23.52 2.7 23.68 3.1 – – Food preparation and serving related occupations..................... 6.30 2.3 6.66 3.1 5.28 4.3 First-line supervisors/managers, food preparation and serving workers......................... 13.37 11.0 15.04 12.5 – – First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers......................... 13.37 11.0 15.04 12.5 – – Cooks............................... 8.09 8.3 8.30 10.3 – – Cooks, institution and cafeteria.. 9.80 10.7 10.11 12.3 – – Cooks, restaurant................. 9.41 4.7 9.31 6.4 – – Cooks, short order................ 8.27 8.2 8.27 8.2 – – Food preparation workers............ 9.12 3.7 9.81 5.2 8.27 .5 Food service, tipped................ 3.76 6.8 3.95 11.2 3.28 10.6 Bartenders........................ 4.23 6.7 – – – – Waiters and waitresses............ 2.67 5.2 2.74 15.1 2.53 17.5 Dining room and cafeteria attendants & bartender helpers.. 5.80 15.4 5.94 16.5 – – Fast food and counter workers....... 7.34 4.5 7.71 4.9 6.57 4.8 Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food....................... 7.34 5.6 7.84 7.0 – – Food servers, nonrestaurant......... 8.81 14.2 – – – – Dishwashers......................... 7.14 .3 – – – – Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations......... 8.28 6.0 8.58 6.9 – – Building cleaning workers........... 7.89 4.2 8.13 4.9 – – Janitors and cleaners, except maids & housekeeping cleaners... 8.07 5.8 8.61 9.1 – – Maids and housekeeping cleaners... 7.60 4.3 7.60 4.3 – – Personal care and service occupations. 13.08 13.2 13.72 10.0 10.34 35.8 Child care workers.................. 8.21 10.8 8.70 11.4 – – Sales and related occupations......... 19.80 7.8 22.61 8.6 7.76 2.3 First-line supervisors/managers, sales workers................... 22.48 9.1 22.48 9.1 – – First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers......... 16.76 3.4 16.76 3.4 – – Retail sales workers................ 10.81 15.0 12.42 19.4 7.78 2.9 Cashiers, all workers............. 7.69 9.4 7.77 15.5 7.59 2.2 Cashiers........................ 7.69 9.4 7.77 15.5 7.59 2.2 Counter and rental clerks and parts salespersons.............. 12.29 17.4 14.37 22.9 – – Counter and rental clerks....... 12.74 26.8 – – – – Parts salespersons.............. 11.62 .0 – – – – Retail salespersons............... 13.05 9.0 14.92 14.5 8.23 1.2 Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents.......................... 43.46 2.5 43.46 2.5 – – Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing............... 34.61 14.7 34.61 14.7 – – Sales representatives, wholesale & manufacturing, technical and.. scientific products............. 36.36 11.9 36.36 11.9 – – Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products........................ 34.13 18.1 34.13 18.1 – – Office and administrative support occupations..................... 15.53 2.5 15.88 2.6 11.45 5.8 First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers................. 25.19 7.8 25.19 7.8 – – Financial clerks.................... 15.35 3.7 15.82 3.7 12.66 9.0 Bill and account collectors....... 15.71 11.2 16.15 15.0 – – Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks................. 15.98 4.0 16.27 3.7 – – Tellers........................... 11.82 5.2 12.48 7.3 – – Customer service representatives.... 17.73 7.9 17.92 8.2 – – Receptionists & information clerks.. 12.17 3.9 12.25 4.0 – – Reservation and transportation ticket agents & travel clerks... 13.06 .6 – – – – Dispatchers......................... 15.96 13.3 16.36 14.4 – – Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance................... 15.47 19.3 15.99 21.9 – – Production, planning, & expediting clerks.......................... 13.24 19.0 14.05 16.4 – – Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks.......................... 14.60 7.2 14.60 7.2 – – Stock clerks and order fillers...... 11.47 6.0 12.24 7.7 7.76 2.3 Secretaries and administrative assistants...................... 18.63 2.7 18.68 2.7 – – Executive secretaries and administrative assistants....... 20.56 5.0 20.77 5.1 – – Medical secretaries............... 16.19 12.7 16.19 12.7 – – Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive.......... 18.58 6.0 18.58 6.0 – – Data entry and information processing workers.............. 11.99 3.7 12.29 3.9 – – Data entry keyers................. 12.09 3.3 – – – – Office clerks, general.............. 12.56 3.8 12.78 4.2 – – Construction and extraction occupations..................... 15.79 4.8 15.79 4.8 – – First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers.............. 21.06 12.1 21.06 12.1 – – Carpenters.......................... 15.60 18.1 15.60 18.1 – – Construction laborers............... 12.10 4.2 12.10 4.2 – – Construction equipment operators.... 16.32 5.2 16.32 5.2 – – Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators....................... 16.52 5.1 16.52 5.1 – – Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters................ 17.68 5.6 17.68 5.6 – – Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters.................... 17.86 7.7 17.86 7.7 – – Helpers, construction trades........ 12.98 3.4 12.98 3.4 – – Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations..................... 19.60 5.6 19.71 5.6 – – First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers....................... 28.41 17.4 28.41 17.4 – – Automotive technicians & repairers.. 19.46 4.2 19.46 4.2 – – Automotive service technicians and mechanics................... 19.49 4.5 19.49 4.5 – – Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists.............. 20.21 6.1 20.21 6.1 – – Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics....................... 19.26 6.4 19.26 6.4 – – Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers...................... 21.04 16.4 21.04 16.4 – – Industrial machinery installation, repair, & maintenance workers... 16.43 18.7 16.84 19.7 – – Industrial machinery mechanics.... 22.76 4.8 22.76 4.8 – – Maintenance and repair workers, general......................... 11.21 22.5 11.44 24.7 – – Line installers and repairers....... 25.34 1.7 25.34 1.7 – – Miscellaneous installation, maintenance, & repair workers... 13.18 6.4 13.18 6.4 – – Helpers--installation, maintenance, & repair workers... 10.83 5.3 10.83 5.3 – – Production occupations................ 16.01 3.8 16.14 3.4 11.10 7.5 First-line supervisors/managers of production & operating workers.. 24.19 12.7 24.19 12.7 – – Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators..................... 11.35 5.7 11.35 5.8 – – Machine tool cutting setters, operators, & tenders, metal and plastic......................... 12.32 9.0 12.32 9.0 – – Machinists.......................... 17.35 3.3 17.35 3.3 – – Welding, soldering, and brazing workers......................... 16.07 13.7 16.07 13.7 – – Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers......................... 16.22 12.8 16.22 12.8 – – Miscellaneous plant and system operators....................... 25.70 18.9 25.70 18.9 – – Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers.......... 17.33 8.2 17.29 8.3 – – Miscellaneous production workers.... 14.04 9.2 14.19 8.7 – – Helpers--production workers....... 11.97 2.3 12.20 3.6 – – Transportation and material moving occupations..................... 14.24 3.6 14.89 3.9 8.70 5.0 Bus drivers......................... 16.38 5.2 17.24 5.3 14.03 4.8 Bus drivers, school............... 14.31 .1 14.21 5.5 14.43 4.6 Driver/sales workers and truck drivers......................... 16.14 7.9 16.63 8.3 – – Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer................. 19.46 10.1 19.46 10.1 – – Truck drivers, light or delivery services........................ 13.89 15.9 13.89 15.9 – – Industrial truck and tractor operators....................... 12.52 5.2 12.52 5.2 – – Laborers and material movers, hand.. 9.91 5.3 10.50 5.7 8.37 7.7 Cleaners of vehicles & equipment.. 9.48 10.3 10.27 10.2 – – Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand........... 10.94 3.8 11.09 4.8 10.53 8.4 Packers and packagers, hand....... 7.69 16.3 – – – – =========================================================================================================== (1) Earnings are the straight-time hourly wages or salaries paid to employees. They include incentive pay, cost-of-living adjustments, and hazard pay. Excluded are premium pay for overtime, vacations, holidays, nonproduction bonuses, and tips. The mean is computed by totaling the pay of all workers and dividing by the number of workers, weighted by hours. For more information see Bulletin 3140-18. (2) Employees are classified as working either a full-time or a part-time schedule based on the definition used by each establishment. Therefore, a worker with a 35-hour-per-week schedule might be considered a full-time employee in one establishment, but classified as part-time in another firm, where a 40-hour week is the minimum full-time schedule. (3) Workers are classified by occupation using the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. (4) The relative standard error (RSE) is the standard error expressed as a percent of the estimate. It can be used to calculate a "confidence interval" around a sample estimate. NOTE: Dashes indicate that no data were reported or that data did not meet publication criteria. Overall occupational groups may include data for categories not shown separately. SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey.
Last Modified Date: October 1, 2008
