Mid-Columbians in lower-paying jobs tend to earn less than their counterparts across Washington.

That’s what a breakdown of figures show in a state Employment Security Department report on employment and wages released in September.

The report’s statistics came from statewide surveys with a 66 percent return rate, said Asja Suljic, a Kennewick-based regional labor economist for the Employment Security Department.

A second state wage study showed a significant difference in Washington’s median hourly wages between rural and urban counties. Eight counties fit the department’s definition of urban. The remaining 31, including Benton and Franklin counties, are considered rural.

The second study showed the median hourly wage for rural counties dropping slightly from $18.05 to $18.04, from 2011-15. In the same period, the state’s urban median hourly wages grew from $24.39 to $24.87 in the same timeframe. “Median” means 50 percent of the hourly wages are above that figure and 50 percent are below it.

Here are a few average-hourly-wage snapshots of the September report’s findings. Overall, there are more than 400 job categories in the report. For the full list, go to bit.ly/WAwagesurvey.

• Accountants and auditors

  The overall state tallied 27,372 people in this profession with an average hourly wage of $35.33. Benton and Franklin counties: 712 people averaging $34.48 an hour.

• Architects

  Washington had 3,519 architects averaging $37.53 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 41 averaging $44.57 an hour.

• Architectural, engineering managers

  Washington had 4,457 averaging $37.53 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 41 averaging $75.13 an hour.

• Auto mechanics

  Washington had 13,012 averaging $22.69 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 500 averaging $21.54 an hour.

• Bartenders

  Washington had 13,522 averaging $15.36 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 378 averaging $11.97 an hour.

• Bookkeeping, accounting clerks

  Washington had 35,626 averaging $21.17 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 1,212 averaging $20.67 an hour.

• School bus drivers

  Washington had 12,034 averaging $18.62 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 468 averaging $17.46 an hour.

• Carpenters

  Washington had 24,175, earning an average of $27.48 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 771 averaging $20.35 an hour.

• Cashiers

  Washington had 65,354 averaging $13.09 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 2,352 averaging $12.08 an hour.

• Child care workers

  Washington had 8,425 averaging $12.64 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: The total number of workers was not listed, but the average hourly wage was $11.27.

• Civil engineers

  Washington had 11,268 averaging $43.74 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: The number of civil engineers was not listed, but the average hourly wage was $52.

• Computer, information system managers

  Washington had 11,785 averaging $73.39 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 134 averaging $69.79 an hour.

• Construction laborers

  Washington had 21,914 averaging $22.42 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 1,215 averaging $22.06 an hour.

• Non-fast food restaurant cooks

  The state had 28,822 averaging $13.94 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 756 averaging $12.66 an hour.

• Retail clerks

  Washington had 11,309 averaging $15.39 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 390 averaging $14.01 an hour.

• Customer service representatives

  Washington had 55,681 averaging $18.86 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 1,986 averaging $18.23 an hour.

• Electrical engineers

  Washington had 5,535 averaging $51.88 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 253 averaging $51.20 an hour.

• Electricians

  Washington had 15,165 averaging $31.97 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 728 averaging $38.40 an hour.

• Environmental scientists

  Washington had 3,337 averaging $37.23. Benton and Franklin counties: 254 averaging $44.48 an hour.

• Firefighters

  Washington had 8,087 averaging $34.04 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 230 averaging $33.48 an hour.

• Hairdressers

  Washington had 9,162 averaging $18.84 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 412 averaging $15.27 an hour.

• High school teachers

  Washington had 14,138 averaging $63,158 a year in base salary. Benton and Franklin counties: 679 averaging $61,305 a year.

• Insurance sales agents

  Washington had 8,303 averaging $29.33. Benton and Franklin counties: 229 averaging $29.27 an hour.

• Janitors

  Washington had 42,889 averaging $15.52 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 1,439 averaging $15.53 an hour.

• Maids, housekeepers

  Washington had 17,583 averaging $12.62 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 518 averaging $12.21 an hour.

• Nuclear engineers

  Washington had 1,423 averaging $47.11 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 540 averaging $54.64 an hour.

• Licensed practical, vocational nurses

  Washington had 7,252 averaging $24.70 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 198 averaging $23.88 an hour.

• Nursing assistants

  Washington had 26,534 averging $14.89 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 682 averaging $14.55 an hour.

• Nurse practitioners

  Washington had 2,663 averaging $52.29 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 94 averaging $53.90 an hour.

• Office clerks

  Washington had 61,808 averaging $17.86 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 2,564 averaging $17.75 an hour.

• Police, sheriff’s patrol officers

  Washington had 9,208 averaging $37.70 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 507 averaging $38.38 an hour, or $79,841 a year.

• Receptionists

  Washington had 22,587 averaging $15.75 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 681 averaging $14.55 an hour.

• Stock clerks

  Washington had 35,820 averaging $16.11 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 1,389 averaging $15 an hour.

• Semi-truck drivers

  Washington had 31,085 averaging $22.81 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 1,254 averaging $23.01 an hour.

• Substitute teachers

  Washington had 15,547 averaging $18.30 an hour. Benton and Franklin counties: 626 averaging $17.21 an hour.