How much do we earn?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average worker in the Chico Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Butte County, earned $20.12 per hour in May 2011, about 7 percent below the U.S. average of $21.74 per hour.

Additional employment and wage data showed that:

• Management occupations were highest paid, at $43.86 per hour, followed by legal occupations at $40.03 per hour (both were 15 percent under the national average, however).

• Health-care support occupations such as dental assistants and pharmacy aides accounted for 5 percent of local employment, compared to 3.1 percent nationally.

• Home health aides averaged $9.31 per hour and had a total employment count of 800.

• Office and administrative support occupations had the largest share of employment, at 17.5 percent.

A final note: CN&R employees were not surprised to learn that their category—arts, design, entertainment, sports and media—averaged $19.45 per hour, a full 25 percent less than the national average of $25.89 per hour.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_17020.htm