For release: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 PLS - 4712
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Highlights of Philadelphia-Camden-Vineland National Compensation Survey – January 2010 (PDF)

Workers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Vineland metropolitan area earned an average of $23.53 per hour in January 2010, according to new survey results from the National Compensation Survey (NCS), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Sheila Watkins, the Bureau’s regional commissioner, noted that wage data were reported for workers in a wide range of occupational groups, including average hourly earnings of $35.06 for healthcare practitioner and technical occupations and $17.73 for sales and related occupations. Another occupational group, office and administrative support occupations, had a mean hourly wage of $17.32. The NCS data available for the Philadelphia area include earnings for 21 major occupational groups with additional detail for selected occupations within those groups. (See table 1.)

Registered nurses, part of the healthcare practitioner and technical group, earned $34.82 per hour, and licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses averaged $23.88. Retail salespersons, an occupation within the sales and related group, earned $12.93 per hour and cashiers, $9.56 per hour. Executive secretaries and administrative assistants, part of the office and administrative support group, earned $23.27 per hour and tellers, $12.79.

Broad coverage of selected occupational characteristics is available from NCS for the local area. Full-time workers averaged $25.34 per hour while their part-time counterparts earned $12.43.  Union workers earned $26.20 and non-union workers, $22.92. Workers in establishments with 1-99 workers averaged $19.44 per hour, those in establishments with 100-499 workers earned $23.04, and those in establishments with 500 or more employees earned $30.84.

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 www.bls.gov/ncs/. 

The NCS data reported here covered 809 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 2,550,400 workers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Vineland Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which is comprised of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania; Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem Counties in New Jersey; New Castle County in Delaware; and Cecil County in Maryland. 

Survey Availability

Complete survey results are contained in the Philadelphia-Camden-Vineland, PA-NJ-DE-MD National Compensation Survey January 2010 which is available on the Internet in both text and PDF formats at www.bls.gov/ncs/ocs/compub.htm. 

For personal assistance or further information on the National Compensation Survey data, as well as other Bureau data, contact the Mid-Atlantic Information Office by calling (215) 597-3282 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET. 

Table 1. Civilian workers: Mean hourly earnings(1) for full-time and part-time workers(2), Philadelphia-Camden-Vineland, PA-NJ-DE-MD CSA, January 2010
Occupation(3) Total Full-time workers Part-time workers
Mean Relative error(4) (percent) Mean Relative error(4) (percent) Mean Relative error(4) (percent)

All workers

 $23.53 3.0 $25.34 3.1 $12.43 4.2

Management occupations

 50.76 7.8 50.79 7.9 – –

General and operations managers

 61.54 15.0 61.54 15.0 – –

Marketing and sales managers

 74.77 17.5 74.77 17.5 – –

Computer and information systems managers

 55.59 4.8 55.59 4.8 – –

Financial managers

 57.57 10.5 57.57 10.5 – –

Human resources managers

 50.69 8.3 50.78 8.9 – –

Education administrators

 35.94 6.9 35.94 6.9 – –

Education administrators, elementary and secondary school

 42.46 15.2 42.46 15.2 – –

Education administrators, postsecondary

 31.74 6.9 31.74 6.9 – –

Business and financial operations occupations

 32.56 4.0 32.62 4.1 – –

Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators

 25.86 12.0 25.86 12.0 – –

Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

 25.86 12.0 25.86 12.0 – –

Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation

 33.89 17.4 33.89 17.4 – –

Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists

 38.53 9.2 38.53 9.2 – –

Management analysts

 39.36 17.6 39.36 17.6 – –

Accountants and auditors

 28.73 5.5 28.10 5.4 – –

Financial analysts and advisors

 31.13 5.9 31.13 5.9 – –

Financial analysts

 36.85 12.6 36.85 12.6 – –

Computer and mathematical science occupations

 36.53 3.5 36.97 3.1 – –

Computer software engineers

 47.23 7.6 47.23 7.6 – –

Computer software engineers, applications

 45.13 12.9 45.13 12.9 – –

Computer software engineers, systems software

 49.79 7.4 49.79 7.4 – –

Computer support specialists

 25.93 8.3 25.93 8.3 – –

Computer systems analysts

 39.64 6.0 39.64 6.0 – –

Network and computer systems administrators

 40.92 14.4 40.92 14.4 – –

Architecture and engineering occupations

 32.95 13.0 32.95 13.0 – –

Engineers

 37.75 10.7 37.75 10.7 – –

Electrical and electronics engineers

 36.64 23.4 36.64 23.4 – –

Electrical engineers

 35.88 24.8 35.88 24.8 – –

Mechanical engineers

 36.93 10.6 36.93 10.6 – –

Engineering technicians, except drafters

 22.85 13.3 22.85 13.3 – –

Life, physical, and social science occupations

 33.50 9.7 33.52 9.7 – –

Life scientists

 48.97 13.9 49.11 14.1 – –

Biological scientists

 42.58 8.1 42.58 8.1 – –

Medical scientists

 55.31 25.9 55.76 26.5 – –

Physical scientists

 35.57 19.6 35.57 19.6 – –

Community and social services occupations

 19.68 11.3 21.28 8.8 – –

Counselors

 21.02 15.4 21.51 16.6 – –

Social workers

 21.09 5.2 20.75 6.0 – –

Miscellaneous community and social service specialists

 – – 22.41 18.5 – –

Legal occupations

 41.79 24.1 41.54 25.1 – –

Lawyers

 54.97 25.7 54.90 26.5 – –

Paralegals and legal assistants

 22.36 15.1 22.36 15.1 – –

Education, training, and library occupations

 35.34 5.9 36.07 5.9 20.16 12.8

Postsecondary teachers

 45.68 4.9 45.65 5.3 46.57 13.6

Health teachers, postsecondary

 44.92 9.7 – – – –

Arts, communications, and humanities teachers, postsecondary

 43.90 9.6 – – – –

Miscellaneous postsecondary teachers

 36.38 10.3 35.64 10.1 – –

Primary, secondary, and special education school teachers

 39.22 5.6 39.31 5.6 – –

Preschool and kindergarten teachers

 22.02 18.5 22.02 18.5 – –

Elementary and middle school teachers

 40.88 8.0 41.06 8.2 – –

Elementary school teachers, except special education

 39.48 9.3 39.68 9.5 – –

Middle school teachers, except special and vocational education

 45.32 4.3 45.42 4.0 – –

Secondary school teachers

 43.58 7.5 43.67 7.8 – –

Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education

 43.30 8.7 43.40 9.1 – –

Special education teachers

 43.08 6.8 43.08 6.8 – –

Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school

 45.59 4.6 45.59 4.6 – –

Librarians

 34.40 16.0 34.40 16.0 – –

Teacher assistants

 13.45 13.4 13.65 13.8 12.11 14.1

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations

 31.62 19.0 34.46 19.3 12.89 29.5

Designers

 21.65 3.8 22.56 5.7 – –

Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations

 35.06 4.8 36.00 6.7 31.1 7.6

Pharmacists

 49.44 15.5 – – – –

Physicians and surgeons

 75.51 7.2 75.51 7.2 – –

Registered nurses

 34.82 2.5 34.32 2.8 36.52 4.2

Therapists

 30.99 6.7 32.80 4.3 – –

Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians

 22.74 4.7 22.63 4.7 – –

Diagnostic related technologists and technicians

 29.33 8.4 28.82 10.3 – –

Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

 23.88 1.5 23.60 1.9 – –

Medical records and health information technicians

 12.95 5.5 12.95 5.5 – –

Healthcare support occupations

 14.15 3.5 14.70 4.1 12.07 3.8

Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides

 13.51 3.6 13.81 4.0 12.04 1.8

Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants

 13.24 2.5 13.23 2.6 13.33 5.5

Miscellaneous healthcare support occupations

 14.94 5.0 15.89 5.6 11.99 7.9

Dental assistants

 16.69 1.2 – – – –

Medical assistants

 15.95 10.9 16.56 9.8 – –

Protective service occupations

 23.93 4.6 25.09 2.9 10.14 6.4

Bailiffs, correctional officers, and jailers

 24.26 5.4 24.26 5.4 – –

Correctional officers and jailers

 24.26 5.4 24.26 5.4 – –

Police officers

 29.00 1.7 29.21 1.5 – –

Police and sheriff's patrol officers

 29.00 1.7 29.21 1.5 – –

Security guards and gaming surveillance officers

 12.52 9.2 13.19 8.1 – –

Security guards

 12.52 9.2 13.19 8.1 – –

Miscellaneous protective service workers

 11.90 2.7 – – 11.9 2.7

Food preparation and serving related occupations

 8.75 4.3 11.13 6.0 6.64 3.7

First-line supervisors/managers, food preparation and serving workers

 19.02 7.5 19.07 7.5 – –

First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers

 19.02 7.5 19.07 7.5 – –

Cooks

 11.27 2.8 12.28 2.6 9.57 6.2

Cooks, institution and cafeteria

 12.86 6.3 13.41 5.7 – –

Cooks, restaurant

 11.92 6.9 12.24 5.6 – –

Cooks, short order

 9.55 1.7 – – – –

Food preparation workers

 10.91 8.4 11.63 13.9 9.73 7.1

Food service, tipped

 4.48 5.2 5.28 9.1 4.14 4.2

Bartenders

 4.26 10.5 – – – –

Waiters and waitresses

 3.62 3.5 4.21 3.8 3.37 5.2

Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

 8.12 19.5 13.85 11.8 6.52 22.9

Fast food and counter workers

 9.15 4.8 10.57 12.2 8.30 3.6

Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food

 8.72 6.1 9.74 15.7 8.31 4.3

Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop

 10.42 9.2 – – – –

Food servers, nonrestaurant

 10.04 4.5 – – 9.78 10.9

Dishwashers

 8.26 3.4 – – 7.92 0.6

Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop

 10.78 9.1 – – – –

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations

 13.33 4.1 14.43 2.6 9.63 4.5

First-line supervisors/managers, building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers

 23.37 18.5 23.37 18.5 – –

Building cleaning workers

 12.87 3.5 14.06 2.4 9.67 4.7

Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

 13.08 4.1 14.42 2.8 9.27 4.7

Maids and housekeeping cleaners

 11.71 2.8 11.92 3.5 – –

Grounds maintenance workers

 13.49 8.0 13.92 4.9 – –

Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

 12.64 6.8 13.00 3.7 – –

Personal care and service occupations

 13.03 5.6 15.80 8.2 9.88 10.8

Gaming services workers

 7.14 2.7 7.51 0.7 – –

Gaming dealers

 6.99 0.0 7.51 0.7 – –

Child care workers

 10.41 6.1 10.45 8.4 – –

Recreation and fitness workers

 13.80 12.1 – – – –

Recreation workers

 12.48 11.9 – – – –

Sales and related occupations

 17.73 7.9 21.45 8.3 9.05 1.8

First-line supervisors/managers, sales workers

 24.72 19.2 24.72 19.2 – –

First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers

 22.11 22.8 22.11 22.8 – –

Retail sales workers

 11.62 2.6 13.86 3.9 9.04 1.8

Cashiers, all workers

 9.56 3.3 10.63 8.3 8.87 1.4

Cashiers

 9.56 3.3 10.63 8.3 8.87 1.4

Counter and rental clerks and parts salespersons

 14.66 9.8 16.80 5.9 – –

Retail salespersons

 12.93 6.7 15.13 11.5 8.95 2.8

Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents

 25.49 26.2 25.49 26.2 – –

Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing

 28.70 3.7 28.70 3.7 – –

Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific

 31.09 10.5 31.09 10.5 – –

Miscellaneous sales and related workers

 21.69 5.8 – – – –

Office and administrative support occupations

 17.32 2.9 17.82 2.6 12.62 6.9

First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers

 24.37 4.9 24.37 4.9 – –

Financial clerks

 18.60 8.0 18.90 8.0 13.86 4.8

Billing and posting clerks and machine operators

 16.64 3.8 16.64 3.8 – –

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks

 17.69 6.5 17.72 6.6 – –

Payroll and timekeeping clerks

 18.80 11.6 18.81 12.2 – –

Tellers

 12.79 3.6 12.71 4.8 – –

Court, municipal, and license clerks

 15.90 11.0 15.90 11.0 – –

Customer service representatives

 15.47 4.9 16.09 5.3 12.44 5.1

Interviewers, except eligibility and loan

 15.68 1.9 15.86 2.7 – –

Order clerks

 15.92 8.3 16.03 8.3 – –

Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

 20.70 15.3 20.70 15.3 – –

Receptionists and information clerks

 16.08 10.8 16.53 11.9 13.58 12.6

Dispatchers

 16.61 8.3 16.61 8.3 – –

Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks

 13.07 9.5 13.18 9.6 – –

Stock clerks and order fillers

 11.36 6.9 13.41 6.4 8.72 1.0

Secretaries and administrative assistants

 20.44 3.7 20.64 3.0 – –

Executive secretaries and administrative assistants

 23.27 1.9 23.57 2.2 – –

Legal secretaries

 23.32 7.6 23.32 7.6 – –

Medical secretaries

 17.48 4.5 17.61 1.6 – –

Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive

 17.80 5.6 17.80 5.6 – –

Data entry and information processing workers

 16.74 3.6 17.15 4.7 – –

Data entry keyers

 16.20 6.8 16.82 8.9 – –

Insurance claims and policy processing clerks

 17.87 3.7 17.87 3.7 – –

Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service

 13.64 5.2 13.58 7.0 – –

Office clerks, general

 16.00 9.4 16.24 9.9 13.05 17.4

Construction and extraction occupations

 22.23 14.9 22.38 15.1 – –

Carpenters

 18.67 7.9 – – – –

Construction laborers

 23.88 5.6 23.88 5.6 – –

Electricians

 27.62 21.7 27.62 21.7 – –

Helpers, construction trades

 13.75 5.8 13.75 5.8 – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

 23.99 5.3 24.07 5.2 – –

First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers

 35.13 7.3 35.13 7.3 – –

Miscellaneous electrical and electronic equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers

 27.04 11.7 27.04 11.7 – –

Automotive technicians and repairers

 18.93 5.6 18.93 5.6 – –

Automotive service technicians and mechanics

 18.66 5.5 18.66 5.5 – –

Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

 23.55 7.9 23.55 7.9 – –

Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

 24.86 13.0 24.86 13.0 – –

Industrial machinery installation, repair, and maintenance workers

 21.51 4.3 21.51 4.3 – –

Maintenance and repair workers, general

 20.72 6.2 20.72 6.2 – –

Line installers and repairers

 35.86 4.4 35.86 4.4 – –

Electrical power-line installers and repairers

 37.36 2.4 37.36 2.4 – –

Production occupations

 16.90 3.4 17.05 3.5 11.86 14.4

First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers

 24.43 14.3 24.43 14.3 – –

Electrical, electronics, and electromechanical assemblers

 18.59 10.6 18.59 10.6 – –

Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators

 16.92 7.2 16.92 7.2 – –

Machine tool cutting setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

 15.78 4.6 15.78 4.6 – –

Welding, soldering, and brazing workers

 17.08 6.7 17.08 6.7 – –

Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

 19.67 17.5 19.67 17.5 – –

Miscellaneous production workers

 14.46 2.9 14.47 3.0 – –

Transportation and material moving occupations

 17.55 3.0 18.33 3.1 11.68 10.6

First-line supervisors/managers of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand

 23.48 9.1 – – – –

Bus drivers

 19.00 7.2 20.38 5.2 – –

Bus drivers, school

 17.58 6.1 18.87 3.9 – –

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers

 19.81 6.1 19.95 6.3 – –

Driver/sales workers

 16.17 16.4 – – – –

Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer

 20.98 4.6 21.05 5.0 – –

Industrial truck and tractor operators

 16.21 8.3 16.21 8.3 – –

Laborers and material movers, hand

 11.99 6.0 12.83 5.8 9.72 6.8

Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

 11.33 10.8 – – – –

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

 12.63 7.4 14.23 8.0 9.69 7.1

Packers and packagers, hand

 10.77 9.0 10.88 8.6 – –

Footnotes:
(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.
(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.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey.
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.

 

Last Modified Date: October 12, 2010