U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics|
CONTACT: Media Interviews (415) 625-2270 (415) 625-2282 Internet address: http://www.bls.gov/ro9/news.htm |
BLS 09-132 |
Workers in the Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, Wa. Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) earned an average of $22.43 per hour in August 2009, according to new survey results from the National Compensation Survey (NCS) released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Regional Commissioner Richard J. Holden noted that wages were reported for workers in a wide range of occupational groups, including average hourly earnings of $43.23 for architecture and engineering occupations and $15.82 for transportation and material moving occupations. Another occupational group, food preparation and serving related occupations, had mean hourly wages of $9.72. The NCS data available for the Kennewick-Pasco-Richland area include earnings for 19 major occupational groups with additional detail for selected occupations within those groups. (See table 1.)
Nuclear engineers, part of the architecture and engineering occupational group, earned $48.97 per hour. Within the transportation and material moving occupational group, laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand, averaged $12.46 per hour and cleaners of vehicles and equipment earned $11.95 per hour. Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food, an occupation within the food preparation and serving related occupations group, registered an average hourly rate of $9.08 per hour and waiters and waitresses, earned $8.52 per hour.
Broad coverage of selected occupational characteristics is available from NCS for the local area. Full-time workers averaged $24.55 per hour, while their part-time counterparts earned $12.89. Union workers earned $24.54 and non-union workers earned $21.55. Workers in establishments with 1-99 workers averaged $16.70 per hour, while those in establishments with 100-499 workers earned $21.80, and those in establishments with 500 or more employees earned $33.59.
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 provided in the detailed bulletin covered 145 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 88,300 workers in the Kennewick-Pasco-Richland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) which is comprised of both Benton County and Franklin County in Washington.
Survey Availability
Complete survey results are contained in Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, WA National Compensation Survey, August 2009, 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 Western Information Office by calling (415) 625-2270 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. PT.
Please click here for a text formatted copy of the table issued with this release.
Last Modified Date: December 22, 2009
