New data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals trends in total compensation (wages, salaries and benefit costs) in private industry going back to the first quarter of 2004, by U.S. Census region.
For the first time, the data include information for 15 metro areas and combined statistical areas (CSAs), ranging from $38.62 per hour worked for the Boston-Worcester-Manchester, Mass.-N.H. CSA, and $38.52 for the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, Calif. CSA, to $24.00 in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Fla. MSA.
Health insurance benefit costs increased, both in average hourly dollar amount and as a proportion of total compensation, with establishment size. Establishments with fewer than 50 workers averaged $1.34 (6.0 percent); those with 50-99 workers averaged $1.82 (7.2 percent); those with 100-499 employees averaged $2.36 (8.3 percent); and those with 500 or more employees averaged $3.38 (8.5 percent).
Also of note: The first quarter of 2004 saw a 3.8-percent rise in total compensation costs over the previous year’s first quarter. The percent rise in the first quarter of 2010 was 1.6 percent, up from 1.2 percent in each of the previous two quarters.
