News Release Information
12-1287-ATL
Thursday, June 28, 2012
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Occupational Employment and Wages in Memphis,
May 2011
Workers in the Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area had an average (mean) hourly wage of $19.55 in May 2011, about 10 percent below the nationwide average of $21.74, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Regional Commissioner Janet S. Rankin noted that, after testing for statistical significance, wages in the local area were significantly lower than their respective national averages in 17 of the 22 major occupational groups, including construction and extraction, protective service, and management.
When compared to the nationwide distribution, local employment was more highly concentrated in 4 of the 22 occupational groups, including transportation and material moving, and healthcare practitioners and technical. Conversely, 13 groups had employment shares significantly below their national representation, including construction and extraction, business and financial operations, and healthcare support. (See table A and box note at end of release.)
One occupational group—transportation and material moving—was chosen to illustrate the diversity of data available for any of the 22 major occupational categories. Memphis had 76,220 jobs in transportation and material moving, accounting for 13.1 percent of local area employment, significantly higher than the 6.7-percent share nationally. The average hourly wage for this occupational group locally was $15.74, compared to the national wage of $15.96.
With employment of 27,630, hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers was the largest occupation within the transportation and material moving group, followed by heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (13,860) and industrial truck and tractor operators (5,400). Among the higher paying jobs were first-line supervisors of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators, and heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, with mean hourly wages of $25.90 and $20.37, respectively. At the lower end of the wage scale were cleaners of vehicles and equipment ($10.73) and hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers ($12.10). (Detailed occupational data for transportation and material moving are presented in table 1; for a complete listing of detailed occupations available go to www.bls.gov/oes/2011/may/oes_32820.htm.)
Major occupational group | Percent of total employment | Mean hourly wage | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
United States | Memphis | United States | Memphis | Percent difference (1) | |
Total, all occupations |
100.0% | 100.0% | $21.74 | $19.55* | -10 |
Management |
4.8 | 5.2* | 51.64 | 45.07* | -13 |
Business and financial operations |
4.8 | 3.9* | 33.05 | 30.94* | -6 |
Computer and mathematical |
2.7 | 1.7* | 37.85 | 33.00* | -13 |
Architecture and engineering |
1.8 | 1.1* | 37.08 | 35.73 | -4 |
Life, physical, and social science |
0.8 | 0.4* | 32.44 | 27.50* | -15 |
Community and social services |
1.5 | 1.1* | 21.07 | 19.19* | -9 |
Legal |
0.8 | 0.6* | 47.30 | 40.69* | -14 |
Education, training, and library |
6.6 | 5.7* | 24.46 | 21.54* | -12 |
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media |
1.3 | 0.7* | 25.89 | 20.19* | -22 |
Healthcare practitioner and technical |
5.9 | 6.4* | 34.97 | 32.02* | -8 |
Healthcare support |
3.1 | 2.3* | 13.16 | 12.82 | -3 |
Protective service |
2.5 | 3.4* | 20.54 | 16.90* | -18 |
Food preparation and serving related |
8.7 | 8.1* | 10.30 | 9.44* | -8 |
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance |
3.3 | 3.3 | 12.29 | 11.40* | -7 |
Personal care and service |
2.8 | 2.7 | 11.84 | 10.63* | -10 |
Sales and related |
10.6 | 10.1* | 18.04 | 16.73* | -7 |
Office and administrative support |
16.7 | 17.0 | 16.40 | 15.79* | -4 |
Farming, fishing, and forestry |
0.3 | 0.1* | 11.68 | 12.55* | 7 |
Construction and extraction |
3.9 | 2.9* | 21.46 | 17.31* | -19 |
Installation, maintenance, and repair |
3.9 | 4.1 | 20.86 | 20.99 | 1 |
Production |
6.5 | 6.1 | 16.45 | 15.47* | -6 |
Transportation and material moving |
6.7 | 13.1* | 15.96 | 15.74 | -1 |
Footnotes: |
Location quotients 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. (See table 1 .) 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 the Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area, above average concentrations of employment were found in many of the occupations within the transportation and material moving group. For instance, hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers were employed at 3.0 times the national rate in Memphis, and airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers, at 2.9 times the U.S. average. On the other hand, school or special client bus drivers had a location quotient of 1.1 in Memphis, indicating that this particular occupation's local and national employment shares were similar.
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 & Workforce Development. The OES survey provides estimates of employment and hourly and annual wages for wage and salary workers in 22 major occupational groups and nearly 800 non-military detailed occupations for the nation, states, metropolitan statistical areas, metropolitan divisions, and nonmetropolitan areas.
OES wage and employment data for the 22 major occupational groups in the Memphis metropolitan statistical area were compared to their respective national averages based on statistical significance testing. Only those occupations with wages or employment shares above or below the national wage or share after testing for significance at the 90-percent confidence level meet the criteria. NOTE: A value that is statistically different from another does not necessarily mean that the difference has economic or practical significance. Statistical significance is concerned with the ability to make confident statements about a universe based on a sample. It is entirely possible that a large difference between two values is not significantly different statistically, while a small difference is, since both the size and heterogeneity of the sample affect the relative error of the data being tested. |
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 also are surveyed, but their data are not included in this release. OES estimates are constructed from a sample of about 1.2 million establishments. Forms are mailed to approximately 200,000 establishments in May and November of each year for a 3-year period. The nationwide response rate for the May 2011 survey was 77.3 percent based on establishments and 73.3 percent based on employment. May 2011 estimates are based on responses from six semiannual panels collected over a 3-year period: May 2011, November 2010, May 2010, November 2009, May 2009, and November 2008. The sample in the Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area included 4,480 establishments with a response rate of 80 percent. For more information about OES concepts and methodology, go to www.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.
The May 2011 OES estimates mark the first set of estimates based in part on data collected using the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. Nearly all the occupations in this release are 2010 SOC occupations; however, some are not. The May 2012 OES data will reflect the full set of detailed occupations in the 2010 SOC. For a list of all occupations, including 2010 SOC occupations, and how data collected on two structures were combined, see the OES Frequently Asked Questions online at www.bls.gov/oes/oes_ques.htm#Ques41.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral phone number: 1-800-877-8339.
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.
The Memphis, Tenn. Metropolitan Statistical Area includes Crittenden County, Arkansas; DeSoto, Marshall, Tate, and Tunica Counties of Mississippi, and Fayette, Shelby, and Tipton Counties of Tennessee.
OOH Earnings Table Extraction Wizard - output frame
Table 1. Employment and wage data from the Occupational Employment Statistics survey, by occupation, Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area, May 2011
Occupation (1)
Employment
Mean wages
Level (2)
Location quotient (3)
Hourly Annual (4)
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
76,220 1.9 $15.74 $32,750 Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
350 11.4 31.18 64,860 First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
1,730 2.3 22.33 46,440 First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators
1,290 1.4 25.90 53,860 Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
900 2.9 (5) 96,400 Commercial Pilots
190 1.3 (5) 72,530 Air Traffic Controllers
(5) (5) 60.44 125,710 Flight Attendants
780 2.0 (5) 34,240 Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
50 0.6 12.25 25,480 Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
(5) (5) 22.46 46,730 Bus Drivers, School or Special Client
2,310 1.1 11.27 23,440 Driver/Sales Workers
2,580 1.5 11.03 22,930 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
13,860 2.0 20.37 42,370 Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers
4,970 1.4 16.03 33,340 Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs
580 0.8 11.54 24,000 Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other
180 0.6 10.42 21,680 Sailors and Marine Oilers
280 2.0 17.09 35,540 Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
230 1.7 41.14 85,580 Parking Lot Attendants
360 0.6 9.20 19,140 Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants
250 0.5 10.64 22,130 Traffic Technicians
(5) (5) 16.14 33,580 Transportation Inspectors
130 1.2 38.67 80,440 Transportation Workers, All Other
380 2.8 19.43 40,410 Crane and Tower Operators
280 1.5 18.88 39,280 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators
250 1.1 15.70 32,650 Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
5,400 2.4 14.22 29,580 Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
890 0.7 10.73 22,320 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
27,630 3.0 12.10 25,170 Machine Feeders and Offbearers
520 1.0 14.25 29,640 Packers and Packagers, Hand
4,270 1.4 10.98 22,840 Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
50 0.9 22.30 46,380 Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
1,270 2.3 16.10 33,500 Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
60 1.2 16.49 34,290 Material Moving Workers, All Other
210 1.6 15.08 31,370 Footnotes:
(1) For a complete listing of all detailed occupations in Memphis, TN-MS-AR, see www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_32820.htm.
(2) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(3) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
(4) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a 'year-round, full-time' hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(5) Estimate not released.
Last Modified Date: June 28, 2012
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 also are surveyed, but their data are not included in this release. OES estimates are constructed from a sample of about 1.2 million establishments. Forms are mailed to approximately 200,000 establishments in May and November of each year for a 3-year period. The nationwide response rate for the May 2011 survey was 77.3 percent based on establishments and 73.3 percent based on employment. May 2011 estimates are based on responses from six semiannual panels collected over a 3-year period: May 2011, November 2010, May 2010, November 2009, May 2009, and November 2008. The sample in the Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area included 4,480 establishments with a response rate of 80 percent. For more information about OES concepts and methodology, go to www.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.
The May 2011 OES estimates mark the first set of estimates based in part on data collected using the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. Nearly all the occupations in this release are 2010 SOC occupations; however, some are not. The May 2012 OES data will reflect the full set of detailed occupations in the 2010 SOC. For a list of all occupations, including 2010 SOC occupations, and how data collected on two structures were combined, see the OES Frequently Asked Questions online at www.bls.gov/oes/oes_ques.htm#Ques41.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral phone number: 1-800-877-8339.
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.
The Memphis, Tenn. Metropolitan Statistical Area includes Crittenden County, Arkansas; DeSoto, Marshall, Tate, and Tunica Counties of Mississippi, and Fayette, Shelby, and Tipton Counties of Tennessee.
Occupation (1) | Employment | Mean wages | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Level (2) | Location quotient (3) | Hourly | Annual (4) | |
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 76,220 | 1.9 | $15.74 | $32,750 |
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | 350 | 11.4 | 31.18 | 64,860 |
First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand | 1,730 | 2.3 | 22.33 | 46,440 |
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators | 1,290 | 1.4 | 25.90 | 53,860 |
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 900 | 2.9 | (5) | 96,400 |
Commercial Pilots | 190 | 1.3 | (5) | 72,530 |
Air Traffic Controllers | (5) | (5) | 60.44 | 125,710 |
Flight Attendants | 780 | 2.0 | (5) | 34,240 |
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | 50 | 0.6 | 12.25 | 25,480 |
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | (5) | (5) | 22.46 | 46,730 |
Bus Drivers, School or Special Client | 2,310 | 1.1 | 11.27 | 23,440 |
Driver/Sales Workers | 2,580 | 1.5 | 11.03 | 22,930 |
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 13,860 | 2.0 | 20.37 | 42,370 |
Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers | 4,970 | 1.4 | 16.03 | 33,340 |
Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs | 580 | 0.8 | 11.54 | 24,000 |
Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | 180 | 0.6 | 10.42 | 21,680 |
Sailors and Marine Oilers | 280 | 2.0 | 17.09 | 35,540 |
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | 230 | 1.7 | 41.14 | 85,580 |
Parking Lot Attendants | 360 | 0.6 | 9.20 | 19,140 |
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | 250 | 0.5 | 10.64 | 22,130 |
Traffic Technicians | (5) | (5) | 16.14 | 33,580 |
Transportation Inspectors | 130 | 1.2 | 38.67 | 80,440 |
Transportation Workers, All Other | 380 | 2.8 | 19.43 | 40,410 |
Crane and Tower Operators | 280 | 1.5 | 18.88 | 39,280 |
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators | 250 | 1.1 | 15.70 | 32,650 |
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | 5,400 | 2.4 | 14.22 | 29,580 |
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | 890 | 0.7 | 10.73 | 22,320 |
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 27,630 | 3.0 | 12.10 | 25,170 |
Machine Feeders and Offbearers | 520 | 1.0 | 14.25 | 29,640 |
Packers and Packagers, Hand | 4,270 | 1.4 | 10.98 | 22,840 |
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | 50 | 0.9 | 22.30 | 46,380 |
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | 1,270 | 2.3 | 16.10 | 33,500 |
Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | 60 | 1.2 | 16.49 | 34,290 |
Material Moving Workers, All Other | 210 | 1.6 | 15.08 | 31,370 |
Footnotes: |
Last Modified Date: June 28, 2012
calculators
- Inflation
- Location Quotient
- Injury And Illness