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News Release Information

23-2621-KAN
Friday, December 15, 2023

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (816) 285-7000

County Employment and Wages in Kansas – Second Quarter 2023

Employment rose in the four largest counties in Kansas from June 2022 to June 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2022.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that Johnson and Sedgwick Counties had the largest over-the-year increases in employment at 3.9 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively. (See chart 1 and table 1.)


National employment increased 2.4 percent over the year, with 337 of the 360 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Midland, TX, had the largest increase in employment (+7.0 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-7.7 percent).

Among the four largest counties in Kansas, employment was highest in Johnson County (373,500) in June 2023. Within Johnson County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the four largest Kansas counties accounted for 58.0 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 360 largest counties made up 72.9 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 101 counties in Kansas with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all 101 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,332 in the second quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

All four large Kansas counties reported average weekly wage gains from the second quarter of 2022 to the second quarter of 2023, exceeding the national rate of 3.2 percent. (See chart 2.) Wyandotte County had the largest gain (+6.2 percent), followed by Shawnee County (+5.8 percent), Sedgwick County (+4.3 percent), and Johnson County (+3.4 percent).


Among the 360 largest counties in the United States, 332 had over-the-year wage increases. Clayton, GA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+17.2 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-13.2 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Weekly wages in all four of the largest counties in Kansas were below the national average of $1,332 in the second quarter of 2023. Average weekly wages in Johnson County ($1,317, 96th) and Wyandotte County ($1,202, 171st) were ranked in the upper half of large counties nationwide. The remaining two counties, Sedgwick County ($1,078, 276th) and Shawnee County ($1,074, 281st), ranked among the lower half of large counties nationwide.

Among the largest U.S. counties, 88 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the second quarter of 2023. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,321). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 272 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($795).

Average weekly wages in Kansas’ smaller counties

All 101 smaller counties in Kansas—those with employment below 75,000— reported an average weekly wage below the national average. Coffey County ($1,197) reported the highest average weekly wage, followed by Leavenworth County ($1,102). Osage County reported the lowest average in the state at $634 per week.

When all 105 counties in Kansas were considered, 17 reported average weekly wages of $749 or less, 32 registered wages from $750 to $849, 38 had wages from $850 to $949, and 18 had average weekly wages of $950 or higher. (See map 1.) The higher-paying counties were located in and around the metropolitan areas of Kansas City, Wichita, and Dodge City.

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Kansas, second quarter 2023

(U.S. average = $1,332)

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 for the County Employment and Wages News Release or visit the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website.

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.

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.

The County Employment and Wages release for third quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.
The County Employment and Wages full data update for third quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 6, 2024.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the four largest counties in Kansas, second quarter 2023
Area Establishments,
second quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
June 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
June
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
Second quarter
2023
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
second quarter
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

11,964.6 154,308.5 2.4 -- $1,332 -- 3.2 --

Kansas

98.7 1,428.6 3.2 -- 1,081 43 4.0 13

Johnson

29.5 373.5 3.9 36 1,317 96 3.4 124

Sedgwick

14.3 262.6 3.8 41 1,078 276 4.3 72

Shawnee

5.4 100.3 3.7 50 1,074 281 5.8 29

Wyandotte

3.9 92.3 3.4 67 1,202 171 6.2 18

(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 Kansas, second quarter 2023
Area Establishments Employment June 2023 Average weekly wage (1)

United States (2)

11,964,606 154,308,523 $1,332

Kansas

98,684 1,428,557 1,081

Allen

387 5,606 859

Anderson

259 2,396 843

Atchison

442 5,545 876

Barber

215 1,625 808

Barton

887 11,725 878

Bourbon

394 5,680 793

Brown

337 4,558 898

Butler

1,673 19,675 902

Chase

77 800 827

Chautauqua

104 797 701

Cherokee

410 5,804 990

Cheyenne

132 922 760

Clark

88 832 973

Clay

292 3,040 736

Cloud

304 3,278 746

Coffey

264 3,380 1,197

Comanche

93 640 738

Cowley

795 13,637 883

Crawford

1,078 17,803 823

Decatur

138 900 681

Dickinson

559 6,209 800

Doniphan

215 2,569 914

Douglas

3,705 50,048 970

Edwards

126 924 842

Elk

88 643 682

Ellis

1,120 15,521 896

Ellsworth

192 2,208 850

Finney

1,118 20,226 937

Ford

866 17,396 977

Franklin

703 10,370 887

Geary

755 12,530 951

Gove

167 1,185 786

Graham

112 923 836

Grant

231 2,622 911

Gray

320 3,191 955

Greeley

69 633 788

Greenwood

200 1,557 673

Hamilton

104 1,622 877

Harper

222 2,478 829

Harvey

846 13,997 903

Haskell

155 1,657 920

Hodgeman

76 624 738

Jackson

330 4,391 864

Jefferson

418 3,943 936

Jewell

112 709 654

Johnson

29,451 373,498 1,317

Kearny

136 1,522 854

Kingman

253 2,946 916

Kiowa

105 1,045 730

Labette

490 8,483 841

Lane

87 646 812

Leavenworth

1,659 22,000 1,102

Lincoln

116 966 999

Linn

266 2,278 961

Logan

143 1,349 798

Lyon

885 15,717 860

Mcpherson

989 16,448 1,053

Marion

352 3,578 754

Marshall

412 4,570 881

Meade

171 1,573 958

Miami

922 8,857 980

Mitchell

274 3,195 848

Montgomery

2,122 15,205 812

Morris

171 1,595 735

Morton

98 841 822

Nemaha

440 5,902 945

Neosho

500 6,685 844

Ness

152 1,128 895

Norton

196 2,345 834

Osage

359 4,033 634

Osborne

171 1,281 732

Ottawa

165 1,340 726

Pawnee

208 2,551 864

Phillips

239 2,281 792

Pottawatomie

689 10,152 940

Pratt

375 4,700 865

Rawlins

119 1,037 872

Reno

1,691 26,734 882

Republic

218 1,961 713

Rice

353 3,878 872

Riley

2,089 30,489 936

Rooks

208 1,739 818

Rush

117 1,087 773

Russell

309 2,524 831

Saline

1,600 30,316 919

Scott

254 2,161 914

Sedgwick

14,320 262,620 1,078

Seward

581 10,979 919

Shawnee

5,416 100,259 1,074

Sheridan

123 1,032 891

Sherman

265 2,377 793

Smith

157 1,417 792

Stafford

168 1,251 805

Stanton

96 977 938

Stevens

200 2,058 951

Sumner

640 6,431 815

Thomas

419 4,128 894

Trego

124 1,155 872

Wabaunsee

196 1,380 786

Wallace

95 550 765

Washington

296 2,200 713

Wichita

104 750 873

Wilson

249 3,473 847

Woodson

96 717 719

Wyandotte

3,871 92,274 1,202

(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, second quarter 2023
State Establishments,
second quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
June 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
June
2022–23
Second quarter
2023
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
second quarter
2022–23
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

11,964.6 154,308.5 2.4 $1,332 -- 3.2 --

Alabama

156.7 2,079.2 2.7 1,107 35 4.0 13

Alaska

25.3 342.4 3.6 1,285 15 3.9 17

Arizona

219.1 3,091.7 3.0 1,265 18 3.9 17

Arkansas

103.2 1,284.8 2.6 1,033 50 3.8 19

California

1,767.7 18,151.1 0.9 1,624 4 3.4 26

Colorado

256.6 2,914.3 2.7 1,426 8 4.8 5

Connecticut

148.0 1,692.0 1.8 1,511 6 3.8 19

Delaware

41.6 476.2 3.0 1,248 19 2.3 44

District of Columbia

51.3 762.6 2.2 2,193 1 3.7 23

Florida

891.8 9,547.7 3.7 1,234 21 4.3 8

Georgia

384.5 4,802.8 2.2 1,247 20 2.6 39

Hawaii

56.5 636.0 3.2 1,198 24 4.0 13

Idaho

94.3 855.8 3.1 1,038 48 3.3 30

Illinois

410.8 6,101.2 1.9 1,357 12 2.6 39

Indiana

191.1 3,164.7 1.5 1,102 37 2.0 47

Iowa

110.5 1,581.8 1.1 1,082 42 2.6 39

Kansas

98.7 1,428.6 3.2 1,081 43 4.0 13

Kentucky

150.1 1,974.5 2.8 1,100 38 3.0 35

Louisiana

153.8 1,887.3 1.7 1,093 40 2.7 38

Maine

65.0 654.1 2.1 1,123 34 3.3 30

Maryland

187.1 2,716.4 2.1 1,402 9 2.2 45

Massachusetts

296.4 3,703.4 1.2 1,670 2 2.0 47

Michigan

318.4 4,463.0 2.5 1,220 23 3.4 26

Minnesota

205.7 2,964.0 2.3 1,315 14 2.2 45

Mississippi

87.7 1,158.0 1.4 924 51 4.3 8

Missouri

246.7 2,908.7 2.0 1,150 32 4.0 13

Montana

65.5 521.0 3.0 1,072 46 4.4 7

Nebraska

76.8 1,022.1 3.0 1,092 41 3.4 26

Nevada

106.7 1,522.8 3.2 1,189 27 2.9 36

New Hampshire

65.3 694.8 2.3 1,387 10 3.2 32

New Jersey

330.2 4,341.4 2.8 1,464 7 1.6 50

New Mexico

66.7 859.1 3.8 1,107 35 6.5 1

New York

699.6 9,623.8 2.4 1,621 5 2.5 42

North Carolina

370.9 4,857.5 3.3 1,198 24 3.4 26

North Dakota

35.4 430.4 2.9 1,184 28 4.9 3

Ohio

341.8 5,521.9 1.7 1,160 31 3.1 34

Oklahoma

129.7 1,669.0 3.1 1,052 47 3.6 25

Oregon

200.8 2,010.7 2.2 1,281 16 2.4 43

Pennsylvania

393.0 6,014.8 1.9 1,277 17 2.0 47

Rhode Island

48.0 498.8 1.3 1,221 22 -0.3 51

South Carolina

175.9 2,248.6 2.8 1,079 44 3.7 23

South Dakota

39.6 466.8 2.7 1,035 49 3.8 19

Tennessee

215.9 3,254.2 3.0 1,195 26 3.8 19

Texas

824.9 13,716.3 3.9 1,322 13 3.2 32

Utah

135.7 1,699.4 2.8 1,183 29 4.2 11

Vermont

31.8 310.3 2.3 1,175 30 4.1 12

Virginia

357.1 4,082.3 2.8 1,371 11 4.3 8

Washington

241.0 3,639.8 2.7 1,649 3 4.9 3

West Virginia

58.8 695.7 2.9 1,075 45 6.1 2

Wisconsin

204.4 2,975.8 1.9 1,126 33 2.9 36

Wyoming

30.5 288.6 2.7 1,096 39 4.6 6

Puerto Rico

52.6 929.7 1.6 622 (3) 4.2 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.8 36.3 4.7 992 (3) 1.1 (3)

(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.

 

Last Modified Date: Friday, December 15, 2023