Earnings at the National Level

• The United States Bureau of Labor Statistic states that the national mean annual rate for these professionals was $93,670 and $45.03 per hour in 2010. Those in the 90th percentile earned at or above $144,880 and $69.95 per hour, while those in the 50th percentile earned at or below $84,270 and $40.52 per hour. Those in the 10th percentile earned at or below $51,280 and $24.65 per hour in 2010.
  
  

Earnings by Industry

• The top pay industry was other information services offering a mean annual rate of $151,940 and $73.05 per hour in 2010. Scientific research and development services paid the second highest mean annual pay of $138,420 and $66.55 per hour. Medical equipment and supplies manufacturers paid the third highest mean annual wages of $164,460 and $64.64 per hour. Electronic shopping and mail order houses paid the fourth highest mean annual rate of $126,710 and $60.66 per hour in 2010.
  
  

Earnings by State

• The state of Massachusetts paid the highest mean yearly compensation at $112,670 and $54.17 per hour in 2010. Washington paid the second highest mean yearly salary of $109,670 and $52.73 per hour, while Rhode Island paid the third highest at $109,580 and $52.68 per hour. New York paid the fourth highest mean annual wage at $108,090 and 51.97 per hour in 2010.
  
  

Earnings by Metropolitan Area

• The area including Boston, Cambridge and Quincy in Massachusetts had one of the highest mean annual pay rates at $120,670 and an hourly rate of $58.02 in 2010. New York, White Plains and Wayne in New York and New Jersey offered a mean annual rate of $115,160 and $55.37 per hour. Los Angeles, Long Beach and Glendale, California paid the third highest mean annual rate of $ 104,120 and an hourly rate of $50.06 in 2010.