The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program produces employment and wage estimates for over 800 occupations. These are estimates of the number of people employed in certain occupations, and estimates of the wages paid to them. Self-employed persons are not included in the estimates. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual States, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas; national occupational estimates for specific industries are also available.

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OES Data Highlights

PAY & BENEFITS, June 2012 volume 1/5

An overview of U.S. occupational employment and wages in 2011

A substantial share of U.S. employment in May 2011 was concentrated in a relatively small number of occupations. Just 10 occupations made up more than 20 percent of total employment, and the 20 largest occupations made up nearly one-third of employment—more than 41 million jobs. Most of these large occupations had below-average wages, as did most of the occupations with the highest job gains and losses between May 2007 and May 2011. Growth in the healthcare industry helped to shape employment gains in individual occupations, while construction and production occupations were concentrated in shrinking industries.

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Occupational Employment and Wages

March 27, 2012

2011 employment levels in retail salespersons (4.3 million) and cashiers (3.3 million) occupations combined for nearly 6 percent of total U.S. employment. The highest paying occupational groups were management, legal, computer and mathematical, and architecture and engineering occupations. More...
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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What does the OES program produce?
  2. What are the OES data used for?
  3. What basic concepts are essential to understanding the OES survey?
  4. What are the differences between the Bureau's Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) wage estimates and National Compensation Survey (NCS) wage estimates?
  5. Does the BLS have OES estimates for specific industries?
  6. Does the BLS have OES estimates for individual States?
  7. Does the BLS have OES estimates for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas?

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OES Special Notices

  • Notice about wage estimates for teaching occupations in New York for November 2003 to May 2006

  • Upcoming Reduction in Sample Size of Occupational Employment Statistics Survey

    Due to budget constraints, Occupational Employment Statistics has reduced the sample size of the May 2008 panel by 20 percent. Because OES estimates are produced from three years of pooled data, this one-time sample reduction will affect estimates for May 2008, May 2009, and May 2010. This reduction is expected to decrease the number of published employment estimates by at least five percent, or about 25,000 estimates, and will decrease the accuracy of the remaining estimates. The number and quality of wage estimates are also expected to decline. These cutbacks are being implemented in response to a reduction in funding to the BLS that resulted from The 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act enacted on December 26, 2007.

  • With the issuance of data for May 2005, the OES program has incorporated redefined metropolitan areas as designated by the Office of Management and Budget. OES data are available for 375 metropolitan statistical areas and 34 metropolitan divisions.

  • Change in Occupational Employment Statistics Publication Schedule
    Due to budget constraints in the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program, beginning with the release of the May 2005 estimates in the Spring of 2006, OES will return to once a year publication. Estimates for November 2005 will not be published.

  • The Bureau of Labor Statistics is able to produce the occupational employment and wage estimates displayed on this website because of the timely co-operation of employers throughout the United States. If your workplace received an Occupational Employment Statistics survey form please complete it and return it to the State employment security agency that sent it to you. If you have returned a completed survey form, Thank you!

 

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Contacts

For additional information concerning the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey, contact an OES staff member at:

  • Email: Contact us
  • Telephone number: 202-691-6569
  • Fax number: 202-691-6444
  • Mail address: Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, Suite 2135, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Washington DC 20212-0001

 

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