U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsAssist scientists or engineers in the use of electronic, sonic, or nuclear measuring instruments in both laboratory and production activities to obtain data indicating potential resources such as metallic ore, minerals, gas, coal, or petroleum. Analyze mud and drill cuttings. Chart pressure, temperature, and other characteristics of wells or bore holes. Investigate and collect information leading to the possible discovery of new metallic ore, minerals, gas, coal, or petroleum deposits.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15,360 | 5.7 % | $28.79 | $59,880 | 3.0 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $12.95 | $17.18 | $25.34 | $37.20 | $47.74 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $26,940 | $35,730 | $52,700 | $77,370 | $99,300 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Activities for Mining | 4,660 | 1.23 | $26.23 | $54,560 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 3,290 | 0.25 | $22.54 | $46,890 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 2,960 | 1.63 | $34.04 | $70,800 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 1,160 | 1.04 | $46.82 | $97,390 |
| Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers | 740 | 0.59 | $31.53 | $65,580 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 2,960 | 1.63 | $34.04 | $70,800 |
| Support Activities for Mining | 4,660 | 1.23 | $26.23 | $54,560 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 1,160 | 1.04 | $46.82 | $97,390 |
| Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers | 740 | 0.59 | $31.53 | $65,580 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | 130 | 0.48 | $27.63 | $57,460 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 1,160 | 1.04 | $46.82 | $97,390 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 210 | 0.01 | $34.46 | $71,670 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 2,960 | 1.63 | $34.04 | $70,800 |
| Basic Chemical Manufacturing | 80 | 0.05 | $32.86 | $68,340 |
| Other Pipeline Transportation | 30 | 0.46 | $31.86 | $66,270 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 6,920 | 0.65 | 5.55 | $27.66 | $57,540 |
| California | 1,850 | 0.13 | 1.10 | $38.70 | $80,490 |
| Louisiana | 1,080 | 0.58 | 4.90 | $29.93 | $62,260 |
| Oklahoma | 730 | 0.48 | 4.04 | $30.98 | $64,440 |
| Colorado | 470 | 0.21 | 1.80 | $28.90 | $60,110 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 270 | 0.85 | 7.18 | $28.62 | $59,540 |
| Wyoming | 230 | 0.82 | 6.95 | $27.29 | $56,760 |
| Texas | 6,920 | 0.65 | 5.55 | $27.66 | $57,540 |
| Louisiana | 1,080 | 0.58 | 4.90 | $29.93 | $62,260 |
| Oklahoma | 730 | 0.48 | 4.04 | $30.98 | $64,440 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,850 | 0.13 | 1.10 | $38.70 | $80,490 |
| New York | 180 | 0.02 | 0.17 | $33.55 | $69,780 |
| Indiana | (8) | (8) | (8) | $31.07 | $64,620 |
| Oklahoma | 730 | 0.48 | 4.04 | $30.98 | $64,440 |
| New Mexico | 110 | 0.14 | 1.22 | $30.69 | $63,840 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX | 3,550 | 1.34 | 11.39 | $29.54 | $61,440 |
| Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,090 | 1.12 | 9.52 | $44.44 | $92,430 |
| Midland, TX | 650 | 8.51 | 72.15 | $21.54 | $44,800 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 500 | 0.24 | 2.03 | $28.75 | $59,800 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 360 | 0.62 | 5.28 | $34.47 | $71,690 |
| Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Division | 330 | 0.38 | 3.23 | $27.36 | $56,910 |
| Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO | 300 | 0.25 | 2.09 | $32.99 | $68,610 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 210 | 0.26 | 2.21 | $18.88 | $39,280 |
| New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA | 180 | 0.36 | 3.02 | $27.35 | $56,880 |
| Tulsa, OK | 150 | 0.37 | 3.12 | $28.69 | $59,670 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | 650 | 8.51 | 72.15 | $21.54 | $44,800 |
| Pascagoula, MS | 150 | 2.76 | 23.44 | $33.59 | $69,870 |
| Casper, WY | 60 | 1.35 | 11.41 | $30.24 | $62,900 |
| Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX | 3,550 | 1.34 | 11.39 | $29.54 | $61,440 |
| Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,090 | 1.12 | 9.52 | $44.44 | $92,430 |
| Odessa, TX | 60 | 0.95 | 8.02 | $29.58 | $61,520 |
| Fairbanks, AK | 30 | 0.95 | 8.07 | $24.30 | $50,540 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 360 | 0.62 | 5.28 | $34.47 | $71,690 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 150 | 0.54 | 4.62 | $28.23 | $58,710 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 30 | 0.52 | 4.45 | $23.01 | $47,870 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $50.99 | $106,060 |
| Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,090 | 1.12 | 9.52 | $44.44 | $92,430 |
| Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 80 | 0.06 | 0.49 | $38.73 | $80,550 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 60 | 0.14 | 1.23 | $38.70 | $80,500 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 360 | 0.62 | 5.28 | $34.47 | $71,690 |
| Pascagoula, MS | 150 | 2.76 | 23.44 | $33.59 | $69,870 |
| Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO | 300 | 0.25 | 2.09 | $32.99 | $68,610 |
| Anchorage, AK | 90 | 0.49 | 4.19 | $31.40 | $65,300 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | (8) | (8) | (8) | $31.39 | $65,280 |
| Casper, WY | 60 | 1.35 | 11.41 | $30.24 | $62,900 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Texas nonmetropolitan area | 500 | 1.99 | 16.84 | $30.12 | $62,640 |
| New Iberia nonmetropolitan area | 210 | 1.53 | 12.95 | $38.06 | $79,170 |
| Railbelt / Southwest Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 140 | 1.91 | 16.23 | $28.19 | $58,640 |
| North Central West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 0.59 | 4.98 | $21.45 | $44,610 |
| Southwestern Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 1.04 | 8.84 | $24.94 | $51,880 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Texas nonmetropolitan area | 500 | 1.99 | 16.84 | $30.12 | $62,640 |
| Railbelt / Southwest Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 140 | 1.91 | 16.23 | $28.19 | $58,640 |
| New Iberia nonmetropolitan area | 210 | 1.53 | 12.95 | $38.06 | $79,170 |
| Northwestern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 1.47 | 12.46 | $24.21 | $50,360 |
| Eastern Utah nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 1.36 | 11.53 | $23.74 | $49,370 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Iberia nonmetropolitan area | 210 | 1.53 | 12.95 | $38.06 | $79,170 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.40 | 3.37 | $34.74 | $72,260 |
| Southeastern Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $33.30 | $69,270 |
| Southwestern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 1.19 | 10.08 | $31.74 | $66,020 |
| Northwestern Texas nonmetropolitan area | 500 | 1.99 | 16.84 | $30.12 | $62,640 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) 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.
(2) 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.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) 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.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2012 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 29, 2013
