Bureau of Labor Statistics
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CONTACT: Media Interviews (415) 975-4373 (415) 975-4403 Public Information Line (415) 625-2270 Internet address: http://www.bls.gov/ro9/news.htm Fax on demand (415) 975-4567 -- Document 9570 |
BLS 05-88 |
HIGHLIGHTS OF SAN FRANCISCO-OAKLAND-SAN JOSE, CA
NATIONAL COMPENSATION SURVEY MARCH 2005
Workers in the San Francisco–Oakland–San Jose, CA metropolitan area averaged $27.08 per hour during March 2005, according to a new survey released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. Regional Commissioner Richard J. Holden reported that white collar workers averaged $32.65 per hour and accounted for 62 percent of the workers in the area. Blue collar employees averaged $20.17 per hour and represented 19 percent of the workforce, while the remaining employees worked in service occupations and earned $15.37 per hour.
The National Compensation Survey (NCS) presents straight-time earnings for occupations in establishments employing 50 or more workers in private industry and State and local governments. The survey excludes agricultural establishments, private households, the self-employed, and the Federal Government. This NCS covered 607 firms representing 1,561,600 workers in the San Francisco–Oakland–San Jose, CA metropolitan area, which consists of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma Counties. Within this survey, 80 percent of these employees worked in private industry.
In the San Francisco–Oakland–San Jose, CA metropolitan area, average hourly wages were published for 106 detailed occupations. Among white collar workers, lawyers averaged $71.12 per hour; computer systems analysts and scientists $45.09; and transportation ticket and reservation agents $14.04. Blue collar occupations included carpenters earning $33.07 per hour, and construction laborers earning $21.54. In service occupations, correctional institution officers averaged $29.43 per hour and cooks earned $12.21.
The NCS also provides broad coverage of selected occupational characteristics. For example, full-time employees in the San Francisco–Oakland–San Jose, CA area averaged $28.31 per hour and part-time employees averaged $17.31. Union workers averaged $26.24 per hour, while their nonunion counterparts made $27.54. Union workers in service jobs earned $18.83 per hour compared to nonunion workers who averaged $11.84. Private industry workers at establishments employing 50-99 workers averaged $22.40 per hour and those in establishments with 500 or more employees earned $33.41.
The NCS is part of a statistical program that integrates three previously separate surveys of wages and benefits into one comprehensive compensation program increasing the amount of data available. Data provided by the NCS may be used by businesses for establishing pay plans, making decisions concerning plant relocation, and in collective bargaining negotiations. Individuals may use the data to help choose potential careers. Average rates of pay are also available for levels of work within an occupation based on knowledge, skill, independent judgment, supervision received and other factors required on the job.
Survey Availability
Complete survey results are contained in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA, National Compensation Survey March 2005 (Bulletin 3130-21). While supplies last, single copies of the bulletin are available from the San Francisco Information Office by calling 415-975-4350. In addition, data contained in the bulletin are available on the Internet in both text and PDF formats at http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ocs/compub.htm. Select survey tables can also be obtained from the Bureau's fax-on-demand service in San Francisco by dialing 415-975-4567 and requesting document 9570.
For personal assistance or further information on the National Compensation Survey, as well as other Bureau programs, contact the San Francisco Information Office at 415-975-4350 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.
Technical Note
Because the NCS is a sample survey, it is subject to sampling errors. Sampling errors occur because observations come only from a sample and not from an entire population. The sample used for this survey is one of a number of possible samples of the same size that could have been selected using the sample design. Estimates derived from the different samples would differ from each other. A measure of the variation among these differing estimates is the standard error. It can be used to measure the precision with which an estimate from a particular sample approximates the expected result of all possible samples. The chances are about 68 out of 100 that an estimate from the survey differs from a complete population figure by less than the standard error. The chances are about 90 out of 100 that this difference would be less than 1.6 times the standard error. The statements of comparisons appearing in this publication are significant at a 1.6 standard error level or better. This means that for differences cited, the estimated difference is greater than 1.6 times the standard error of the difference.
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This bulletin is also available in its entirety in text or pdf format.
Last Modified Date: December 22, 2005
