Nevada Wage Survey released

Thursday, Dec. 18, 1997 | 10:18 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- If you're looking for a good paying career, you might try becoming a purchasing agent and buyer of farm products.

Or you might think about a job as an engineering manager or a veterinarian.

Those are the highest paid jobs listed in the 1996 Nevada Wage Survey, released today by the state Division of Employment Security.

"Generally speaking, Nevada paid a little big higher than the national average," says Muhammed A. Quddus, economist for the Bureau of Research and Analysis that compiled the information.

Zina Turney, chief of the bureau, said 70 percent of the 3,000 employers contacted responded to the annual survey. This year the state sampled businesses with as low a work force as five employees, compared to the past when only those companies with 30 employees or more were questioned.

This survey is different than in past years when the highest paid industries were singled out. This time there were 250 occupations compared. And there's no comparison in pay in private employment between Clark, Washoe and the rural counties.

The report showed blackjack dealers, waiters and waitresses are among the lowest paid. But the survey does not take into account the tips they earn.

For instance, the median pay for a blackjack dealer is $5.50 per hour, with dice dealers earning about 10 cents more an hour. The survey showed waiters and waitresses were paid an average of $5.63 an hour; food service workers got $5.53 an hour; and car washers earned $5.64 an hour.

At the other end of the scale were the purchasing agents and buyers of farm products who were listed as earning a median of $41.99 an hour; veterinarians at $36.88 an hour; and engineering, mathematical and natural sciences managers at $36.92 an hour.

This survey is useful, Quddus said, because the "private sector likes to know where they stand in relation to the nation as a whole."

In the majority of cases, Nevada workers earn slightly more than their counterparts in other states.

For example, general managers and top executives pull down $30.25 an hour in Nevada compared to $28.27 nationally. Guest room attendants earn an average of $7.98 an hour in Nevada compared to $6.85 nationally.

But many in clerical work in Nevada make less than the national average. A payroll and timekeeping clerk earns $9.80 an hour compared to $11.26 nationally, while mail clerks pull down $7.86 compared to $8.22 nationally.

Police, fire and ambulance dispatchers earn $14.38 cents an hour compared to $10.63 nationally.

A breakdown of the jobs in the gaming industry show they range from $5.50 an hour for a 21 dealers up to $44.40 for a general manager of casino. Race and sports book writers earn $9 an hour but the managers of these books take home an average of $15.80.

The median pay for casino change persons is $8.20 an hour; cage cashiers $9.20; gaming supervisors or pit bosses, $17.20; keno writers, $7.40, and keno runners, $6.40.

In comparing wages earned by state and local government employees, the survey shows that cities and counties generally pay more than the state.

A budget analyst for local government earns an average of $25 an hour compared to $21.40 for the state; general managers and top executives in cities and counties earn $32.10 an hour compared to $26.55 paid for comparable positions in state government; and correction officers and jailers for local governments get an average of $17.61 per hour compared to $14.22 for the state.

Turney said that 3,000 new employers will be contacted for the next survey to be completed a year from now.