Workers in the Detroit-Warren-Flint Combined Statistical Area earned an average of $23.15 per hour in May 2007, according to new survey results from the National Compensation Survey (NCS) released by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Regional Commissioner Jay A. Mousa noted that wage data were reported for workers in a wide range of occupational groups, including average hourly earnings of $34.83 for architecture and engineering occupations and $21.21 for installation, maintenance, and repair. Another occupational group, protective service, had a mean hourly wage rate of $19.43. The NCS data available for the Detroit area include earnings for 21 major occupational groups with additional detail for selected occupations within those groups. (See bulletin table 2, link to the full bulletin is provided at the end of this release.)

Mechanical engineers, part of the architecture and engineering occupational group, earned $34.46 per hour. Within the installation, maintenance, and repair group, industrial machinery mechanics averaged $28.98 per hour. Correctional officers and jailers, an occupation within the protective service group, registered an average hourly rate of $22.14. (See bulletin table 2.)

Broad coverage of selected occupational characteristics is available from NCS for the local area. Full-time workers averaged $24.52 per hour while their part-time counterparts earned $13.87. Union workers earned $25.64 and non-union workers, $22.16. Workers in establishments with 1-99 workers averaged $18.85 per hour, those in establishments with 100-499 workers earned $18.95, and those in establishments with 500 or more employees earned $30.09.

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 www.bls.gov/ncs/home.htm.

The NCS data provided in the detailed bulletin covered 732 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 732 establishments represented 2,162,200 workers in the Detroit-Warren-Flint Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which is comprised of Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties in Michigan.

Complete survey results are contained in the Detroit-Warren-Flint, MI National Compensation Survey May 2007. The bulletin is available on the Internet in both text and PDF formats at www.bls.gov/ncs/ocs/compub.htm.

For additional information, please contact the Bureau of Labor Statistics Midwest Information Office in Chicago at (312) 353-1880 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

                                                    # # #

Bulletin tables - PDF format
                        - Text format