Montana 2002 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) wage survey is an annual mail survey that measures occupational employment and wage rates for wage and salary workers in nonfarm establishments covered by unemployment insurance. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) provide funding for the survey.

BLS provides the procedures and technical support, while the State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs) collect the data. The survey is conducted to help meet the need for standard local and national wage information.

Occupational wage information is useful in business, educational and personal career planning:

* Montana employers use the information to determine wages and benefits they offer their employees.

* Out-of-state firms need to know what they need to pay employees if they relocate to Montana.

* Educational planners use the information for planning curriculums.

* School counselors use the information in career counseling.

* Individuals want to know what they should expect to be paid for work in a specific occupation.

These occupational employment and wage estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas in Montana.

# This information is an estimate only. Final Montana wage rates for 2002 will be available early 2004.

http://stats.bls.gov/oes/2002/oes_mt.htm#b15-0000

(Many thanks to economists Larry Swanson at the Center for the Rocky Mountain West http://crmw.org/ and Phil Brooks of the State of Montana Research and Analysis Bureau http://rad.dli.state.mt.us/ for pointing me to this site in response to a question from a Roundtable member. Hopefully this is of value to Montana employers and employees. – Russ)