Nine of Ohio’s 13 metropolitan areas had wages significantly below those of the nation for both registered nurses and for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Charlene Peiffer noted that Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor was the only area to have wages significantly above the national average for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses. Nationwide, the average (mean) wage for registered nurses was $67,930, and for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, $42,400. (See table A. For comprehensive definitions of metropolitan areas in Minnesota, please see Technical Note.)

Of the 13 metropolitan areas located entirely or partially in the state, the Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor area had 27,580 registered nurses and 7,430 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses. The Cincinnati-Middletown metropolitan area, which includes five counties in Ohio, employed 22,440 registered nurses and 6,490 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses. Columbus was the only other area where employment exceeded 19,000 for registered nurses and 6,000 for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses. (See table B.)

Wages for registered nurses in metropolitan areas in Ohio

Annual mean wages for registered nurses were significantly below than the nationwide average of $67,930 in all 13 of Ohio’s metropolitan areas. Sandusky ($50,810), Youngstown-Warren-Boardman ($54,830), and Mansfield ($56,330) were among the lower-paying areas, each averaging more than $11,000 below that for the nation.

Wages for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in metropolitan areas in Ohio

As noted, Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor was the only metropolitan area in the state where wages for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses were significantly higher than the U.S. average. In contrast, nine metropolitan areas had significantly lower wages that the national average for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses. The lower-paying areas included Steubenville-Weirton, Sandusky, and Youngstown-Warren-Boardman.

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 Ohio Department of Job & Family Services, Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Workforce West Virginia, and Kentucky Department for Workforce Investment.

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 are also surveyed, but their data are not included in the national estimates. OES estimates are constructed from a sample of about 1.2 million establishments. Each year, forms are mailed to two semiannual panels of approximately 200,000 establishments in May and the other in November. May 2012 estimates are based on responses from six semiannual panels collected over a 3-year period: May 2012, November 2011, May 2011, November 2010, May 2010, and November 2009. The overall national response rate for the six panels is 76.6 percent based on establishments and 72.9 percent based on employment. For more information about OES concepts and methodology, go to www.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.

With the release of the May 2012 estimates, OES data are based on the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system for the first time. The OES survey provides estimates of employment and hourly and annual wages for wage and salary workers in 22 major occupational groups and more than 800 detailed occupations for the nation, states, metropolitan statistical areas, metropolitan divisions, and nonmetropolitan areas. In addition, employment and wage estimates for 94 minor groups and 458 broad occupations are available in the national data for the first time. Information about the 2010 SOC is available on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/soc.

The May 2012 OES estimates are the first to be produced using the 2012 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Information about the 2012 NAICS is available on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/bls/naics.htm.

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Metropolitan 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.

Akron, Ohio MSA consists of Portage and Summit Counties.

Canton-Massillon, Ohio MSA consists of Carroll and Stark Counties.

Cincinnati-Middletown, Ohio-Ky.-Ind. MSA consists of Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren Counties in Ohio; Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, and Pendleton Counties in Kentucky; Dearborn, Franklin, and Ohio Counties in Indiana.

Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, Ohio MSA consists of Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, and Medina Counties.

Columbus, Ohio MSA consists of Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Morrow, Pickaway, and Union Counties.

Dayton, Ohio MSA consists of Greene, Miami, Montgomery, and Preble Counties.

Lima, Ohio MSA consists of Allen County.

Mansfield, Ohio MSA consists of Richland County.

Sandusky, Ohio MSA consists of Erie.

Springfield, Ohio MSA consists of Clark County.

Steubenville-Weirton, Ohio-W.Va. MSA consists of Jefferson County in Ohio; Brooke and Hancock Counties in Ohio.

Toledo, Ohio MSA consists of Fulton, Lucas, Ottawa, and Wood Counties.

Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio-Pa. MSA consists of Mahoning and Trumbull Counties in Ohio; Mercer County in Pennsylvania.