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167 of the largest counties had over-the-year weekly wage decreases

September 14, 2016

Average weekly wages for the nation decreased to $1,043, a 0.5 percent decrease, during the year ending in the first quarter of 2016. Among the 344 largest counties, 167 had over-the-year decreases in average weekly wages. McLean, Illinois (part of the Bloomington metro area), had the largest percentage wage decrease among the largest U.S. counties (−13.3 percent).

View Chart Data

Percent change in average weekly wage, first quarter 2015 to 2016, 344 largest counties
County	Percent change	Average weekly wage, first quarter 2016	Ranking by percent change
Clayton, GA	15.5%	$1,146	1
King, WA	5.1	1,456	2
San Mateo, CA	4.8	2,195	3
Ventura, CA	4.4	1,083	4
Merrimack, NH	4.3	907	5
Richmond, NY	4.2	865	6
Winnebago, WI	4.2	991	6
Marin, CA	3.8	1,282	8
Multnomah, OR	3.7	1,065	9
Calcasieu, LA	3.6	889	10
Manatee, FL	3.5	749	11
Stearns, MN	3.5	822	11
Shawnee, KS	3.3	844	13
Santa Cruz, CA	3.2	881	14
Washington, AR	3.2	798	14
Galveston, TX	3.0	919	16
Yakima, WA	3.0	680	16
Fulton, GA	2.8	1,562	18
Tulare, CA	2.8	708	18
Macomb, MI	2.7	1,028	20
Bell, TX	2.6	842	21
Queens, NY	2.6	963	21
Bronx, NY	2.5	927	23
Nassau, NY	2.4	1,128	24
New Hanover, NC	2.4	802	24
Polk, FL	2.4	754	24
Thurston, WA	2.4	900	24
Travis, TX	2.4	1,173	24
Collin, TX	2.3	1,272	29
Ocean, NJ	2.3	809	29
Spartanburg, SC	2.3	848	29
Boone, KY	2.2	853	32
Collier, FL	2.2	844	32
Denton, TX	2.1	923	34
Escambia, FL	2.1	783	34
Jackson, MO	2.1	1,030	34
Los Angeles, CA	2.1	1,138	34
Albany, NY	2.0	1,023	38
Knox, TN	2.0	875	38
San Luis Obispo, CA	2.0	821	38
Snohomish, WA	2.0	1,124	38
Honolulu, HI	1.9	935	42
Onondaga, NY	1.9	916	42
Saginaw, MI	1.9	801	42
Santa Clara, CA	1.9	2,210	42
Solano, CA	1.9	1,070	42
Benton, WA	1.8	986	47
Brown, WI	1.8	906	47
Cumberland, NC	1.8	751	47
Davidson, TN	1.8	1,097	47
Elkhart, IN	1.8	849	47
Essex, MA	1.8	1,069	47
McLennan, TX	1.8	804	47
Napa, CA	1.8	957	47
Orange, NY	1.8	826	47
Pasco, FL	1.8	670	47
Plymouth, MA	1.8	916	47
Worcester, MA	1.8	996	47
Buncombe, NC	1.7	738	59
Marion, OR	1.7	784	59
Minnehaha, SD	1.7	881	59
Stanislaus, CA	1.7	840	59
Charleston, SC	1.6	894	63
Kent, MI	1.6	870	63
Lexington, SC	1.6	757	63
Clark, NV	1.5	866	66
DeKalb, GA	1.5	1,085	66
Kings, NY	1.5	825	66
Outagamie, WI	1.5	856	66
Chittenden, VT	1.4	954	70
Marion, FL	1.4	671	70
Alameda, CA	1.3	1,353	72
Hillsborough, NH	1.3	1,085	72
Lee, FL	1.3	771	72
Oneida, NY	1.3	771	72
Passaic, NJ	1.3	981	72
Pima, AZ	1.3	829	72
Weber, UT	1.3	726	72
Clay, MO	1.2	896	79
Merced, CA	1.2	742	79
Monmouth, NJ	1.2	1,006	79
Muscogee, GA	1.2	851	79
Prince William, VA	1.2	838	79
San Bernardino, CA	1.2	822	79
Suffolk, NY	1.2	1,060	79
Wake, NC	1.2	1,053	79
Washtenaw, MI	1.2	1,047	79
Adams, CO	1.1	941	88
Cumberland, ME	1.1	935	88
Hinds, MS	1.1	850	88
Johnson, IA	1.1	906	88
Lancaster, PA	1.1	823	88
Madison, AL	1.1	1,066	88
Olmsted, MN	1.1	1,162	88
Sarasota, FL	1.1	800	88
Wayne, MI	1.1	1,156	88
Whatcom, WA	1.1	825	88
Hidalgo, TX	1.0	614	98
Placer, CA	1.0	995	98
Pulaski, AR	1.0	896	98
Summit, OH	1.0	946	98
Bibb, GA	0.9	778	102
Champaign, IL	0.9	859	102
Davis, UT	0.9	796	102
Erie, NY	0.9	893	102
Jackson, OR	0.9	751	102
St Clair, IL	0.9	761	102
Fresno, CA	0.8	774	108
Hamilton, TN	0.8	882	108
Kalamazoo, MI	0.8	961	108
Lake, FL	0.8	653	108
Utah, UT	0.8	794	108
York, PA	0.8	862	108
Barnstable, MA	0.7	846	114
Clark, WA	0.7	906	114
Hampden, MA	0.7	921	114
Montgomery, AL	0.7	810	114
New Haven, CT	0.7	1,042	114
Richland, SC	0.7	868	114
Salt Lake, UT	0.7	973	114
San Joaquin, CA	0.7	821	114
Yolo, CA	0.7	1,028	114
Alachua, FL	0.6	807	123
Cobb, GA	0.6	1,128	123
Lancaster, NE	0.6	802	123
Leon, FL	0.6	780	123
Orange, FL	0.6	895	123
Pierce, WA	0.6	895	123
Atlantic, NJ	0.5	838	129
Clackamas, OR	0.5	916	129
Dane, WI	0.5	1,005	129
Horry, SC	0.5	587	129
Jefferson, CO	0.5	1,024	129
Lucas, OH	0.5	886	129
Monterey, CA	0.5	852	129
Tuscaloosa, AL	0.5	800	129
Broome, NY	0.4	758	137
DuPage, IL	0.4	1,204	137
Forsyth, NC	0.4	1,019	137
Hillsborough, FL	0.4	977	137
Norfolk, MA	0.4	1,191	137
Washington, DC	0.4	1,766	137
York, SC	0.4	806	137
Essex, NJ	0.3	1,362	144
Shelby, AL	0.3	991	144
Volusia, FL	0.3	694	144
Broward, FL	0.2	926	147
Camden, NJ	0.2	960	147
Kane, IL	0.2	860	147
Seminole, FL	0.2	833	147
Tippecanoe, IN	0.2	871	147
Warren, OH	0.2	912	147
Washoe, NV	0.2	853	147
Will, IL	0.2	851	147
Bay, FL	0.1	711	155
Butte, CA	0.1	723	155
Chesapeake City, VA	0.1	763	155
Franklin, OH	0.1	1,041	155
Kitsap, WA	0.1	887	155
Santa Barbara, CA	0.1	933	155
Spokane, WA	0.1	852	155
St Charles, MO	0.1	856	155
Westchester, NY	0.1	1,416	155
Westmoreland, PA	0.1	791	155
Baltimore, MD	0.0	993	165
Cameron, TX	0.0	592	165
Delaware, OH	0.0	1,096	165
Ingham, MI	0.0	951	165
Lackawanna, PA	0.0	751	165
Lake, OH	0.0	833	165
Lehigh, PA	0.0	1,004	165
Pinellas, FL	0.0	865	165
Rockingham, NH	0.0	982	165
Saratoga, NY	0.0	881	165
Scott, IA	0.0	793	165
Sonoma, CA	0.0	923	165
Alexandria City, VA	-0.1	1,400	177
Brazos, TX	-0.1	725	177
Bucks, PA	-0.1	929	177
Butler, OH	-0.1	900	177
Erie, PA	-0.1	769	177
Greenville, SC	-0.1	860	177
Lubbock, TX	-0.1	759	177
New London, CT	-0.1	1,033	177
Northampton, PA	-0.1	881	177
Oakland, MI	-0.1	1,147	177
Arapahoe, CO	-0.2	1,248	187
Arlington, VA	-0.2	1,734	187
Cook, IL	-0.2	1,278	187
Duval, FL	-0.2	991	187
Bergen, NJ	-0.3	1,227	191
Bexar, TX	-0.3	934	191
Boone, MO	-0.3	770	191
Cleveland, OK	-0.3	700	191
El Paso, TX	-0.3	691	191
Jefferson, KY	-0.3	1,013	191
Kanawha, WV	-0.3	855	191
Miami-Dade, FL	-0.3	972	191
Montgomery, PA	-0.3	1,371	191
Sacramento, CA	-0.3	1,102	191
Bernalillo, NM	-0.4	841	201
Brazoria, TX	-0.4	1,065	201
Hamilton, IN	-0.4	1,027	201
Howard, MD	-0.4	1,233	201
Marion, IN	-0.4	1,069	201
Richmond, GA	-0.4	825	201
Anne Arundel, MD	-0.5	1,068	207
Berks, PA	-0.5	878	207
McHenry, IL	-0.5	805	207
Rockland, NY	-0.5	1,007	207
Dutchess, NY	-0.6	954	211
Jefferson, TX	-0.6	1,080	211
Montgomery, MD	-0.6	1,403	211
Palm Beach, FL	-0.6	995	211
Smith, TX	-0.6	794	211
Allen, IN	-0.7	835	216
Cumberland, PA	-0.7	907	216
Osceola, FL	-0.7	665	216
El Paso, CO	-0.8	877	219
Gwinnett, GA	-0.9	989	220
Lane, OR	-0.9	749	220
Jefferson, LA	-1.0	875	222
Larimer, CO	-1.0	897	222
Hamilton, OH	-1.1	1,106	224
Harrison, MS	-1.1	702	224
Loudoun, VA	-1.1	1,193	224
Monroe, NY	-1.1	923	224
Okaloosa, FL	-1.1	795	224
Potter, TX	-1.1	787	224
Rutherford, TN	-1.1	848	224
Sangamon, IL	-1.1	988	224
St Joseph, IN	-1.1	781	224
Anoka, MN	-1.2	901	233
Catawba, NC	-1.2	748	233
Contra Costa, CA	-1.2	1,285	233
Dallas, TX	-1.2	1,291	233
Gloucester, NJ	-1.2	840	233
Suffolk, MA	-1.2	1,890	233
Delaware, PA	-1.3	1,117	239
Montgomery, OH	-1.3	843	239
Polk, IA	-1.3	1,058	239
Virginia Beach City, VA	-1.3	765	239
Hudson, NJ	-1.4	1,523	243
Waukesha, WI	-1.4	1,022	243
Winnebago, IL	-1.4	832	243
Yellowstone, MT	-1.4	822	243
Douglas, NE	-1.5	947	247
East Baton Rouge, LA	-1.5	930	247
Maricopa, AZ	-1.5	972	247
Boulder, CO	-1.6	1,176	250
Brevard, FL	-1.6	846	250
Hall, GA	-1.6	810	250
Tarrant, TX	-1.6	1,005	250
Dakota, MN	-1.7	997	254
Fairfield, CT	-1.7	1,899	254
Mobile, AL	-1.7	819	254
Philadelphia, PA	-1.7	1,206	254
Shelby, TN	-1.7	991	254
Washington, MN	-1.7	856	254
Butler, PA	-1.8	902	260
Fairfax, VA	-1.8	1,622	260
Genesee, MI	-1.8	808	260
Mecklenburg, NC	-1.8	1,365	260
Chatham, GA	-1.9	833	264
Greene, MO	-1.9	740	264
Hennepin, MN	-1.9	1,361	264
New York, NY	-1.9	2,783	264
Prince George's, MD	-1.9	1,022	264
Wyandotte, KS	-1.9	951	264
Caddo, LA	-2.0	776	270
Cuyahoga, OH	-2.0	1,048	270
Milwaukee, WI	-2.0	997	270
Norfolk City, VA	-2.0	987	270
Orleans, LA	-2.0	981	270
San Diego, CA	-2.0	1,108	270
Webb, TX	-2.0	650	270
Douglas, CO	-2.1	1,195	277
Harford, MD	-2.1	961	277
Madison, IL	-2.1	782	277
Middlesex, NJ	-2.1	1,299	277
San Francisco, CA	-2.1	2,054	277
Burlington, NJ	-2.2	1,035	282
Cass, ND	-2.2	895	282
Chesterfield, VA	-2.3	840	284
St Louis, MO	-2.3	1,074	284
Washington, OR	-2.3	1,247	284
Fayette, KY	-2.4	861	287
Kern, CA	-2.4	847	287
Luzerne, PA	-2.4	772	287
Newport News City, VA	-2.4	1,016	287
Ottawa, MI	-2.4	816	287
St Louis City, MO	-2.4	1,147	287
Chester, PA	-2.5	1,343	293
Frederick, MD	-2.5	940	293
Baltimore City, MD	-2.6	1,210	295
Mahoning, OH	-2.6	683	295
Lorain, OH	-2.7	782	297
Benton, AR	-2.8	1,266	298
Montgomery, TX	-2.8	1,025	298
Anchorage Borough, AK	-2.9	1,065	300
Denver, CO	-3.0	1,312	301
Richmond City, VA	-3.0	1,173	301
St Tammany, LA	-3.0	852	301
Vanderburgh, IN	-3.0	799	301
Hartford, CT	-3.1	1,363	305
Ramsey, MN	-3.1	1,215	305
Lake, IL	-3.2	1,532	307
Peoria, IL	-3.2	1,035	307
Providence, RI	-3.2	1,038	307
Guilford, NC	-3.4	871	310
Jefferson, AL	-3.5	1,030	311
Middlesex, MA	-3.5	1,568	311
Nueces, TX	-3.6	846	313
Durham, NC	-3.7	1,315	314
New Castle, DE	-3.7	1,224	314
Weld, CO	-3.8	895	316
Ada, ID	-3.9	839	317
Fort Bend, TX	-3.9	982	317
Lake, IN	-4.2	850	319
Morris, NJ	-4.2	1,696	319
Sedgwick, KS	-4.2	871	319
Bristol, MA	-4.3	896	322
Johnson, KS	-4.3	1,041	322
Somerset, NJ	-4.4	2,022	324
Henrico, VA	-4.5	1,028	325
Riverside, CA	-4.5	823	325
Stark, OH	-4.5	726	325
Linn, IA	-4.6	954	328
Dauphin, PA	-4.7	984	329
Williamson, TN	-4.9	1,198	330
Harris, TX	-5.1	1,381	331
Oklahoma, OK	-5.2	951	332
Midland, TX	-5.7	1,261	333
St Louis, MN	-5.8	786	334
Gregg, TX	-5.9	829	335
Tulsa, OK	-5.9	921	335
Allegheny, PA	-6.2	1,128	337
Orange, CA	-6.4	1,143	338
Williamson, TX	-7.8	1,009	339
Mercer, NJ	-8.5	1,395	340
Lafayette, LA	-10.3	857	341
Washington, PA	-12.0	1,066	342
McLean, IL	-13.3	893	343

Of the 344 largest counties, 164 experienced over-the-year increases in average weekly wages. Clayton, Georgia, (part of the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metro area), had the largest percentage increase in average weekly wages (15.5 percent), followed by King, Washington; San Mateo, California; Ventura, California; and Merrimack, New Hampshire.

These data are from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. To learn more, see "County Employment and Wages: First Quarter 2016" (HTML) (PDF). Data for 2016 are preliminary and subject to revision.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, 167 of the largest counties had over-the-year weekly wage decreases at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2016/167-of-the-largest-counties-had-over-the-year-weekly-wage-decreases.htm (visited December 01, 2023).

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