A new look at occupational wages within individual establishments

Reports that contain the results of occupational wage surveys usually emphasize average earnings of individual jobs. Although such data are useful to those interested in levels of pay and overall relationships among occupational averages, they do not show occupational pay differentials within individual establishments. Data on internal pay alignments are of particular concern to wage and salary administrators, labor-management contract negotiators, and others who develop or analyze internal wage structures. In response to the need for information on internal pay alignments, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports average occupational pay relationships within establishments in its Area Wage Survey publications. An analysis of pay relationships for all metropolitan areas combined and a summary of the within establishment differences among industry divisions, regions, and establishment size groups is presented. Both intra- and inter-establishment pay relationships are established. Occupational earnings differentials were lower among maintenance, toolroom, and power-plant jobs than in the other occupational groups studied.