Employment rose in all 28 of California’s largest counties from December 2020 to December 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2020.) Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that San Francisco County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 9.1 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

National employment increased 5.2 percent over the year, with 334 of the 343 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Clark, NV, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment with a gain of 13.3 percent. Hinds, MS, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment with a loss of 0.9 percent.

Among the 28 largest counties in California, employment was highest in Los Angeles County (4,451,300) in December 2021. Within Los Angeles County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 28 largest California counties accounted for 93.4 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 343 largest counties made up 72.4 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 30 counties in California with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all 30 of the smaller counties were below the national average of $1,418 in the fourth quarter of 2021. (See table 2).

Large county wage changes

Among the 28 large California counties, 27 reported average weekly wage gains from the fourth quarter of 2020 to the fourth quarter of 2021. (See chart 2.) One county, Santa Clara County (+8.7 percent), had a rate of wage gain that was above the national rate of 5.9 percent. Over-the-year wage gains among California’s other 27 large counties ranged from 5.9 percent to 0.0 percent.

Among the 343 largest counties in the United States, 334 had over-the-year wage increases. Palm Beach, FL, had the largest percentage wage increase (+15.6 percent). Kitsap, WA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-5.5 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Weekly wages in the 12 of the 28 largest counties in California were above the national average of $1,418 in the fourth quarter of 2021. Average weekly wages in three of these counties were the top 3 nationwide: Santa Clara ($4,005, 1^st), San Francisco ($3,737, 2^nd), and San Mateo ($3,615, 3^rd).

Among the largest U.S. counties, 84 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the fourth quarter of 2021. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage at $4,005. Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 259 counties. At $826 a week, Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage.

Average weekly wages in California’s smaller counties

Among the 30 smaller counties in California—those with employment below 75,000—all reported an average weekly wage below the national average. Napa County ($1,402) reported the highest average weekly wage in the state. Modoc County ($917) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 58 counties in California were considered, 10 reported average weekly wages of less than $999, 19 registered wages from $1,000 to $1,099, 9 had wages from $1100 to $1,199, 3 had average weekly wages from $1,200 to $1,299, and 17 had average weekly wages at $1,300 or higher. (See chart 3.) The higher-paying counties were located around the Bay Area stretching inwards towards Sacramento, and around Los Angeles.

Additional statistics and other information

QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3. For additional information about quarterly employment and wages data, please read the Technical Note or visit www.bls.gov/cew.

Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online features comprehensive information by detailed industry on establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all states. This publication is typically published in September of the following year of the reference period or shortly after the QCEW first quarter full data update. The Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online is available at www.bls.gov/cew/publications/employment-and-wages-annual-averages/.

The County Employment and Wages release for first quarter 2022 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, August 24, 2022. The County Employment and Wages full data update for first quarter 2022 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, September 7, 2022.

Technical Note

Average weekly wage data by county are compiled under the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, also known as the ES-202 program. The data are derived from summaries of employment and total pay of workers covered by state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) legislation and provided by State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). The average weekly wage values are calculated by dividing quarterly total wages by the average of the three monthly employment levels of those covered by UI programs. The result is then divided by 13, the number of weeks in a quarter. It is to be noted, therefore, that over-the-year wage changes for geographic areas may reflect shifts in the composition of employment by industry, occupation, and such other factors as hours of work. Thus, wages may vary among counties, metropolitan areas, or states for reasons other than changes in the average wage level. Data for all states, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), counties, and the nation are available on the BLS web site at www.bls.gov/cew. However, data in QCEW press releases have been revised and may not match the data contained on the Bureau’s web site.

QCEW data are not designed as a time series. QCEW data are simply the sums of individual establishment records reflecting the number of establishments that exist in a county or industry at a point in time. Establishments can move in or out of a county or industry for a number of reasons–some reflecting economic events, others reflecting administrative changes.

The preliminary QCEW data presented in this release may differ from data released by the individual states as well as from the data presented on the BLS web site. These potential differences result from the states’ continuing receipt, review and editing of UI data over time. On the other hand, differences between data in this release and the data found on the BLS web site are the result of adjustments made to improve over-the-year comparisons. Specifically, these adjustments account for administrative (noneconomic) changes such as a correction to a previously reported location or industry classification. Adjusting for these administrative changes allows users to more accurately assess changes of an economic nature (such as a firm moving from one county to another or changing its primary economic activity) over a 12-month period. Currently, adjusted data are available only from BLS press releases.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the 28 largest counties in California, fourth quarter 2021

Area	Establishments, fourth quarter (thousands)	Employment			Average weekly wage (1)
		December 2021 (thousands)	Percent change, December 2020–21 (2)	National ranking by percent change (3)	Fourth quarter 2021	National ranking by level (3)	Percent change, fourth quarter 2020–21 (2)	National ranking by percent change (3)
United States (4)	11,194.1	148,293.6	5.2	--	$1,418	--	5.9	--
California	1,701.9	17,622.2	7.4	--	1,804	4	4.8	37
Alameda	68.1	779.3	7.0	35	1,854	15	1.8	305
Butte	8.4	78.4	4.0	190	1,065	310	1.8	305
Contra Costa	36.2	362.2	5.6	90	1,622	43	1.0	319
Fresno	39.8	402.8	6.5	50	1,090	294	3.0	262
Kern	23.6	334.5	5.7	82	1,098	286	2.5	281
Los Angeles	539.2	4,451.3	7.4	23	1,698	27	5.9	109
Marin	13.0	108.9	5.0	123	1,836	18	4.2	208
Merced	7.3	80.9	6.1	58	995	327	0.9	324
Monterey	14.7	177.1	6.2	55	1,119	269	2.1	297
Orange	137.6	1,614.7	6.8	39	1,553	53	3.2	255
Placer	14.7	176.9	6.8	39	1,427	79	3.5	241
Riverside	74.9	792.5	6.8	39	1,095	291	4.4	202
Sacramento	65.6	686.5	5.0	123	1,476	67	4.6	185
San Bernardino	68.8	831.9	6.0	68	1,156	243	4.0	220
San Diego	123.3	1,487.5	8.1	12	1,609	44	2.9	266
San Francisco	62.8	728.1	9.1	7	3,737	2	2.6	279
San Joaquin	19.9	274.0	5.9	71	1,168	230	2.6	279
San Luis Obispo	11.1	115.2	7.3	25	1,198	208	0.0	335
San Mateo	29.9	420.7	7.5	20	3,615	3	5.9	109
Santa Barbara	16.5	210.8	7.1	34	1,304	144	5.1	163
Santa Clara	78.0	1,109.8	5.9	71	4,005	1	8.7	23
Santa Cruz	10.0	99.7	6.0	68	1,257	169	1.3	315
Solano	12.3	136.6	5.0	123	1,331	129	1.9	302
Sonoma	20.6	203.8	6.4	52	1,423	82	3.4	247
Stanislaus	16.9	191.6	4.6	153	1,162	237	4.9	171
Tulare	12.7	166.5	5.5	95	993	329	3.8	230
Ventura	29.3	326.2	5.7	82	1,348	116	1.5	312
Yolo	7.5	107.0	4.9	136	1,401	89	2.4	285
Footnotes: (1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data. (2) Percent changes were computed from employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic county reclassifications. (3) Ranking does not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. (4) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all counties in California, fourth quarter 2021

Area	Establishments	Employment December 2021	Average weekly wage (1)
United States (2)	11,194,120	148,293,597	$1,418
California	1,701,863	17,622,235	1,804
Alameda	68,123	779,288	1,854
Alpine	82	661	1,094
Amador	1,208	12,006	1,080
Butte	8,359	78,373	1,065
Calaveras	1,462	10,098	986
Colusa	957	9,002	1,065
Contra Costa	36,221	362,236	1,622
Del Norte	808	8,065	943
El Dorado	6,047	55,842	1,221
Fresno	39,837	402,762	1,090
Glenn	1,235	9,405	1,037
Humboldt	6,196	48,894	1,008
Imperial	8,258	64,945	957
Inyo	773	7,230	1,087
Kern	23,602	334,527	1,098
Kings	4,647	47,874	1,032
Lake	3,049	15,850	954
Lassen	740	9,104	1,092
Los Angeles	539,246	4,451,308	1,698
Madera	4,829	53,739	1,054
Marin	12,962	108,938	1,836
Mariposa	574	5,133	956
Mendocino	4,221	31,452	1,005
Merced	7,306	80,900	995
Modoc	391	2,527	917
Mono	704	8,468	937
Monterey	14,717	177,149	1,119
Napa	6,054	72,541	1,402
Nevada	4,058	32,063	1,176
Orange	137,628	1,614,692	1,553
Placer	14,716	176,867	1,427
Plumas	961	5,745	1,070
Riverside	74,906	792,532	1,095
Sacramento	65,641	686,452	1,476
San Benito	1,733	16,800	1,147
San Bernardino	68,803	831,875	1,156
San Diego	123,311	1,487,454	1,609
San Francisco	62,772	728,114	3,737
San Joaquin	19,856	273,994	1,168
San Luis Obispo	11,068	115,213	1,198
San Mateo	29,874	420,747	3,615
Santa Barbara	16,537	210,822	1,304
Santa Clara	77,960	1,109,836	4,005
Santa Cruz	9,965	99,655	1,257
Shasta	7,835	66,541	1,123
Sierra	142	524	974
Siskiyou	1,760	13,354	1,002
Solano	12,288	136,599	1,331
Sonoma	20,563	203,777	1,423
Stanislaus	16,859	191,565	1,162
Sutter	3,739	31,674	1,044
Tehama	2,087	19,345	1,100
Trinity	470	2,666	1,014
Tulare	12,684	166,536	993
Tuolumne	1,718	16,803	1,081
Ventura	29,296	326,221	1,348
Yolo	7,453	106,981	1,401
Yuba	1,790	19,560	1,218
Footnotes: (1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data. (2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, fourth quarter 2021

State	Establishments, fourth quarter (thousands)	Employment		Average weekly wage (1)
		December 2021 (thousands)	Percent change, December 2020–21	Fourth quarter 2021	National ranking by level	Percent change, fourth quarter 2020–21	National ranking by percent change
United States (2)	11,194.1	148,293.6	5.2	$1,418	--	5.9	--
Alabama	141.2	2,007.0	3.1	1,153	36	4.9	34
Alaska	24.1	299.4	3.1	1,311	19	4.1	43
Arizona	190.2	3,057.8	5.1	1,281	23	5.5	27
Arkansas	97.0	1,236.1	3.4	1,064	49	6.4	14
California	1,701.9	17,622.2	7.4	1,804	4	4.8	37
Colorado	232.9	2,776.4	6.2	1,484	10	7.8	3
Connecticut	134.0	1,639.9	3.9	1,611	6	3.9	45
Delaware	37.0	452.0	4.5	1,337	16	5.9	23
District of Columbia	46.1	749.4	5.1	2,320	1	1.0	50
Florida	834.7	9,241.1	6.7	1,297	20	9.7	2
Georgia	351.2	4,629.8	5.0	1,292	21	7.0	9
Hawaii	50.4	613.8	9.2	1,229	28	0.8	51
Idaho	81.8	802.3	5.1	1,111	42	7.4	6
Illinois	400.5	5,877.3	5.4	1,473	11	6.9	11
Indiana	179.4	3,089.3	3.4	1,153	36	7.0	9
Iowa	107.3	1,527.4	2.2	1,157	35	5.3	30
Kansas	92.5	1,381.0	2.4	1,132	41	5.8	24
Kentucky	136.5	1,919.8	4.5	1,110	43	5.0	33
Louisiana	146.1	1,853.9	2.9	1,142	40	6.0	21
Maine	59.7	613.7	3.3	1,163	34	6.4	14
Maryland	178.1	2,648.4	3.9	1,499	9	3.8	46
Massachusetts	281.8	3,556.9	5.5	1,832	2	3.7	47
Michigan	274.9	4,250.8	6.3	1,291	22	2.7	49
Minnesota	191.0	2,823.7	5.2	1,378	13	4.0	44
Mississippi	78.5	1,147.3	2.4	944	51	4.8	37
Missouri	226.1	2,804.8	2.9	1,179	33	4.5	40
Montana	56.7	489.0	4.6	1,108	44	7.1	8
Nebraska	77.5	978.5	1.5	1,144	38	6.1	19
Nevada	98.3	1,432.6	11.5	1,246	25	5.8	24
New Hampshire	61.2	662.2	3.9	1,580	7	12.3	1
New Jersey	315.6	4,123.7	6.8	1,563	8	3.0	48
New Mexico	66.5	819.1	6.5	1,097	47	4.4	41
New York	674.4	9,195.8	5.8	1,829	3	6.8	13
North Carolina	324.7	4,646.6	4.7	1,241	26	7.8	3
North Dakota	33.3	407.9	3.4	1,192	31	4.9	34
Ohio	318.8	5,352.6	2.9	1,221	29	5.2	31
Oklahoma	117.8	1,604.5	2.1	1,080	48	6.9	11
Oregon	173.4	1,915.0	4.8	1,332	17	6.1	19
Pennsylvania	379.7	5,807.9	4.5	1,352	15	5.1	32
Rhode Island	44.1	475.5	5.7	1,315	18	4.4	41
South Carolina	155.8	2,147.9	3.5	1,101	46	6.4	14
South Dakota	37.6	435.5	2.7	1,108	44	5.7	26
Tennessee	191.7	3,123.3	3.9	1,258	24	7.3	7
Texas	779.4	13,012.7	6.1	1,376	14	6.3	17
Utah	126.9	1,624.1	4.3	1,231	27	6.2	18
Vermont	28.7	298.7	4.3	1,189	32	4.9	34
Virginia	303.4	3,918.0	3.1	1,424	12	4.8	37
Washington	276.1	3,427.0	6.3	1,683	5	6.0	21
West Virginia	54.7	674.4	3.1	1,053	50	5.5	27
Wisconsin	194.0	2,832.6	2.4	1,202	30	5.4	29
Wyoming	28.8	267.2	2.7	1,143	39	7.7	5
Puerto Rico	48.2	935.3	6.8	645	(3)	3.9	(3)
Virgin Islands	3.4	35.0	-0.4	1,090	(3)	3.0	(3)
Footnotes: (1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data. (2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. (3) Data not included in the national ranking.
Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.