Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts national surveys of wage data by occupation in every state and in all industry divisions. These surveys are conducted through the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program.

The statistics collected for one year are published the next fall. For example, 2021 wage information was published in the spring of 2022.

About 830 occupations are included in the surveys, and these occupations cover the entire U.S. labor market. The surveys ask for reports in a scale of ranges for both hourly wages and annual wages.

In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics for a broad category, be aware that the salary data for a specific career may differ.

For more details about how wage information is collected and calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm.

Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts a national survey of over 400,000 employers in every state and in all industry divisions. This survey is conducted through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program. Every other year the department publishes outlook information based on these surveys.

Each outlook period covers 10 years. For example, in 2003 the outlook information was published for 2004-2014. Employers are asked to report the number of employees in about 770 different occupations that cover the entire U.S. labor market.

From this information, staffing patterns for different industries are established. Industry growth is projected into the future based on past trends and current economic conditions. Industry staffing patterns are then applied to the industry projections to obtain occupational projections.

In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics for a broad category, be aware that the employment data for a specific field may differ.

For more details about how employment information is collected and calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.

What is "Your Projected Growth"?

"Your Projected Growth" uses your Lexile® and Quantile® scores (reported out and linked through the ND A+ Summative Assessment) to estimate where your scores are likely to be by the end of grade 12.

Projected growth is an estimate based on the growth of thousands of students who performed at a similar level to you.

When you look at your chart, you’ll see:

• The middle range of reading or math levels needed to start a particular career. This helps you compare your growth with the skills usually expected when starting in that job.
  
  

• Your projected reading or math level for grade 12 shows where your scores are likely to be if you continue learning at your current pace.

  *If you don't see your projected growth, it’s because there are no Lexile or Quantile measures currently available for you.

Why is this worth your time?

There are a few reasons why paying attention to your projected growth is worth your time:

1. You can see where you're headed
   Your projection is like a roadmap. It answers the question, "If I keep doing what I'm doing, where will I end up?" If that path falls short of your career goals, it's an early signal to push yourself further or look for support so you can stay on track with your goals.
   
   
2. You can connect your growth to your future
   Comparing your projected reading and math scores with the skills needed for a career shows how your learning ties directly to your future plans. It’s not just "study harder" — it's "build the skills that will help you succeed in that career."
   
   
3. You still have time to act
   If your projection is lower than what's expected, there is still plenty of time to improve. You might try reading books or articles that are a bit more advanced, practicing math in new ways, or asking teachers, counselors, or family for help.