Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
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Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2018
17-0000 Architecture and Engineering Occupations (Major Group)
This major group comprises the following occupations:
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval ;
Landscape Architects ;
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists ;
Surveyors ;
Aerospace Engineers ;
Agricultural Engineers ;
Biomedical Engineers ;
Chemical Engineers ;
Civil Engineers ;
Computer Hardware Engineers ;
Electrical Engineers ;
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer ;
Environmental Engineers ;
Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors ;
Industrial Engineers ;
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects ;
Materials Engineers ;
Mechanical Engineers ;
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers ;
Nuclear Engineers ;
Petroleum Engineers ;
Engineers, All Other ;
Architectural and Civil Drafters ;
Electrical and Electronics Drafters ;
Mechanical Drafters ;
Drafters, All Other ;
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians ;
Civil Engineering Technicians ;
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technicians ;
Electro-Mechanical Technicians ;
Environmental Engineering Technicians ;
Industrial Engineering Technicians ;
Mechanical Engineering Technicians ;
Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other ;
Surveying and Mapping Technicians
National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation
National estimates for this occupation: Top
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this major group:
| Employment (1) |
Employment
RSE (3) |
Mean hourly
wage |
Mean annual
wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
| 2,556,220 |
0.5 % |
$42.01 |
$87,370 |
0.3 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this major group:
| Percentile |
10% |
25% |
50%
(Median) |
75% |
90% |
| Hourly Wage |
$21.33 |
$28.72 |
$38.55 |
$51.81 |
$66.98 |
| Annual Wage (2) |
$44,360 |
$59,750 |
$80,170 |
$107,760 |
$139,320 |
Industry profile for this occupation: Top
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) |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services |
717,790 |
49.51 |
$39.49 |
$82,150 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) |
123,470 |
6.16 |
$49.66 |
$103,300 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing |
101,620 |
20.92 |
$49.80 |
$103,580 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services |
101,590 |
15.07 |
$50.83 |
$105,730 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing |
93,780 |
25.61 |
$44.08 |
$91,690 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry |
Employment (1) |
Percent of industry employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services |
717,790 |
49.51 |
$39.49 |
$82,150 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing |
93,780 |
25.61 |
$44.08 |
$91,690 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing |
86,500 |
21.35 |
$45.61 |
$94,870 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing |
101,620 |
20.92 |
$49.80 |
$103,580 |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing |
15,620 |
18.91 |
$43.86 |
$91,230 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
Geographic profile for this occupation: Top
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) |
| California |
337,180 |
19.83 |
1.12 |
$48.46 |
$100,800 |
| Texas |
234,930 |
19.39 |
1.10 |
$47.35 |
$98,500 |
| Michigan |
139,590 |
32.33 |
1.83 |
$40.30 |
$83,820 |
| New York |
112,120 |
11.95 |
0.68 |
$43.06 |
$89,560 |
| Florida |
106,320 |
12.35 |
0.70 |
$36.23 |
$75,360 |
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) |
| Michigan |
139,590 |
32.33 |
1.83 |
$40.30 |
$83,820 |
| Alaska |
7,930 |
25.16 |
1.42 |
$50.96 |
$106,000 |
| New Mexico |
19,880 |
24.49 |
1.39 |
$45.72 |
$95,110 |
| Colorado |
61,970 |
23.65 |
1.34 |
$43.80 |
$91,090 |
| Washington |
75,110 |
23.04 |
1.30 |
$45.99 |
$95,660 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| District of Columbia |
11,930 |
16.75 |
0.95 |
$52.98 |
$110,200 |
| Alaska |
7,930 |
25.16 |
1.42 |
$50.96 |
$106,000 |
| California |
337,180 |
19.83 |
1.12 |
$48.46 |
$100,800 |
| Texas |
234,930 |
19.39 |
1.10 |
$47.35 |
$98,500 |
| Maryland |
60,480 |
22.53 |
1.28 |
$47.23 |
$98,250 |
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) |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA |
107,920 |
17.64 |
1.00 |
$47.46 |
$98,710 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA |
98,040 |
10.32 |
0.58 |
$45.90 |
$95,470 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI |
91,540 |
46.42 |
2.63 |
$42.37 |
$88,140 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX |
81,410 |
27.30 |
1.55 |
$53.81 |
$111,920 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH |
67,800 |
24.58 |
1.39 |
$45.76 |
$95,180 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI |
66,290 |
14.28 |
0.81 |
$40.45 |
$84,130 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV |
64,140 |
20.46 |
1.16 |
$50.30 |
$104,620 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX |
64,110 |
17.97 |
1.02 |
$46.52 |
$96,760 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA |
54,950 |
22.71 |
1.29 |
$49.78 |
$103,540 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA |
51,670 |
46.16 |
2.61 |
$56.26 |
$117,010 |
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) |
| California-Lexington Park, MD |
6,170 |
132.13 |
7.48 |
$52.46 |
$109,120 |
| Huntsville, AL |
18,560 |
82.00 |
4.64 |
$47.82 |
$99,470 |
| Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI |
7,610 |
63.83 |
3.61 |
$43.80 |
$91,110 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale, WA |
4,440 |
50.14 |
2.84 |
$42.06 |
$87,480 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI |
91,540 |
46.42 |
2.63 |
$42.37 |
$88,140 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA |
51,670 |
46.16 |
2.61 |
$56.26 |
$117,010 |
| Boulder, CO |
8,150 |
44.75 |
2.53 |
$48.41 |
$100,690 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL |
9,360 |
43.75 |
2.48 |
$42.62 |
$88,640 |
| Warner Robins, GA |
3,050 |
42.51 |
2.41 |
$39.54 |
$82,250 |
| Jackson, MI |
2,320 |
40.62 |
2.30 |
$38.22 |
$79,500 |
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) |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA |
51,670 |
46.16 |
2.61 |
$56.26 |
$117,010 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX |
81,410 |
27.30 |
1.55 |
$53.81 |
$111,920 |
| California-Lexington Park, MD |
6,170 |
132.13 |
7.48 |
$52.46 |
$109,120 |
| Anchorage, AK |
4,610 |
26.86 |
1.52 |
$52.16 |
$108,490 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA |
4,590 |
40.22 |
2.28 |
$51.22 |
$106,550 |
| Midland, TX |
3,870 |
38.08 |
2.16 |
$50.68 |
$105,420 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV |
64,140 |
20.46 |
1.16 |
$50.30 |
$104,620 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA |
54,950 |
22.71 |
1.29 |
$49.78 |
$103,540 |
| Bakersfield, CA |
7,520 |
24.49 |
1.39 |
$49.05 |
$102,010 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA |
4,450 |
23.77 |
1.35 |
$48.75 |
$101,390 |
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) |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area |
5,970 |
23.20 |
1.31 |
$33.38 |
$69,420 |
| Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area |
5,190 |
27.61 |
1.56 |
$36.62 |
$76,180 |
| North Northeastern Ohio non-metropolitan area (non-contiguous) |
4,570 |
13.64 |
0.77 |
$33.34 |
$69,350 |
| Kansas nonmetropolitan area |
4,100 |
10.44 |
0.59 |
$32.37 |
$67,320 |
| Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area |
4,080 |
15.00 |
0.85 |
$34.87 |
$72,530 |
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) |
| Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area |
3,030 |
61.37 |
3.47 |
$50.86 |
$105,790 |
| Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area |
3,020 |
37.76 |
2.14 |
$52.86 |
$109,940 |
| Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area |
5,190 |
27.61 |
1.56 |
$36.62 |
$76,180 |
| Upper Savannah South Carolina nonmetropolitan area |
2,190 |
26.89 |
1.52 |
$36.72 |
$76,380 |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area |
5,970 |
23.20 |
1.31 |
$33.38 |
$69,420 |
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) |
| Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area |
3,020 |
37.76 |
2.14 |
$52.86 |
$109,940 |
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area |
2,410 |
22.72 |
1.29 |
$51.12 |
$106,320 |
| Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area |
3,030 |
61.37 |
3.47 |
$50.86 |
$105,790 |
| West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area |
3,250 |
16.72 |
0.95 |
$45.81 |
$95,290 |
| Southwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area |
1,390 |
19.39 |
1.10 |
$41.03 |
$85,330 |
About May 2018 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
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 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 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.
(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 2018 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2018 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2018 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2018 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2018 Occupation Profiles
Technical Notes
Last Modified Date: March 29, 2019
United States Department of Labor
