Employment was at 763,900 in Washington, D.C., in June 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall-Bovee noted that employment in Washington, D.C., increased 0.1 percent from June 2023 to June 2024. (See table 1.) Professional, scientific, and technical services accounted for the largest portion of private industry employment in Washington, D.C.

National employment increased 0.8 percent over the year, with 259 of the 355 largest U.S. counties with published data reporting gains. (Large counties are the 369 U.S. counties or county equivalents, such as Washington, D.C., with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.) Kings, NY, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 4.0 percent. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-3.0 percent).

Large county wage changes

Washington, D.C., reported an average weekly wage gain of 4.2 percent from the second quarter of 2023 to the second quarter of 2024.

Nationwide, wages increased by 4.4 percent over the year. Among the 351 largest counties in the United States with published data, 348 had over-the-year wage increases. Hamilton, IN, had the largest percentage wage increase (+33.4 percent). Essex, MA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-2.1 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

The average weekly wage of $2,283 in Washington, D.C., was above the national average of $1,390 and ranked 7^th among the largest counties nationally in the second quarter of 2024.

Among the 360 largest U.S. counties with published data, 87 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the second quarter of 2024. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,632). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 273 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($820).

Additional statistics and other information

QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 2. 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 the third quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. The County Employment and Wages full data update for the third quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the largest county in District of Columbia, second quarter 2024

Area	Establishments, second quarter (thousands)	Employment			Average weekly wage (1)
		June 2024 (thousands)	Percent change, June 2023–24 (2)	National ranking by percent change (3)	Second quarter 2024 ($)	National ranking by level (3)	Percent change, second quarter 2023–24 (2)	National ranking by percent change (3)
United States (4)	12,238.2	155,710.2	0.8	--	1,390	--	4.4	--
District of Columbia	52.3	764.0	0.1	--	2,283	1	4.2	25
Washington	52.3	763.9	0.1	252	2,283	7	4.2	140
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 by state, second quarter 2024

State	Establishments, second quarter (thousands)	Employment		Average weekly wage (1)
		June 2024 (thousands)	Percent change, June 2023–24	Second quarter 2024 ($)	National ranking by level	Percent change, second quarter 2023–24	National ranking by percent change
United States (2)	12,238.2	155,710.2	0.8	1,390	--	4.4	--
Alabama	162.9	2,111.1	1.2	1,150	36	3.9	35
Alaska	25.4	345.9	0.8	1,345	15	4.5	17
Arizona	221.3	3,137.3	1.1	1,324	18	4.6	16
Arkansas	101.7	1,299.9	1.0	1,074	49	4.1	30
California	1,878.6	18,193.5	0.4	1,697	4	4.4	20
Colorado	268.9	2,909.4	-0.2	1,487	8	4.2	25
Connecticut	151.4	1,702.2	0.4	1,569	6	3.8	37
Delaware	43.8	481.0	0.9	1,322	19	5.4	6
District of Columbia	52.3	764.0	0.1	2,283	1	4.2	25
Florida	903.5	9,700.1	1.4	1,278	21	3.6	43
Georgia	392.2	4,867.7	1.2	1,297	20	4.2	25
Hawaii	59.6	640.9	0.8	1,273	22	5.8	3
Idaho	101.0	867.3	1.2	1,096	48	5.6	4
Illinois	410.2	6,115.5	0.0	1,401	12	3.4	44
Indiana	192.5	3,187.3	0.4	1,171	33	6.4	2
Iowa	111.3	1,588.0	0.2	1,118	45	3.3	45
Kansas	100.9	1,435.8	0.5	1,124	43	4.0	31
Kentucky	157.1	1,995.9	1.0	1,146	38	4.3	23
Louisiana	155.9	1,904.3	0.6	1,144	40	4.7	12
Maine	65.7	666.1	1.1	1,167	35	4.2	25
Maryland	210.5	2,778.5	1.5	1,454	9	3.8	37
Massachusetts	287.6	3,708.1	0.2	1,758	3	5.0	8
Michigan	345.1	4,480.5	0.4	1,266	23	3.9	35
Minnesota	212.2	2,985.5	0.5	1,359	14	3.3	45
Mississippi	89.8	1,163.8	0.1	960	51	4.0	31
Missouri	245.3	2,927.1	0.6	1,186	32	3.1	48
Montana	63.3	528.8	1.5	1,113	46	3.8	37
Nebraska	77.1	1,030.9	0.7	1,122	44	2.7	51
Nevada	108.6	1,548.9	1.6	1,243	28	4.5	17
New Hampshire	66.7	699.6	0.5	1,443	10	4.0	31
New Jersey	338.5	4,361.1	0.9	1,516	7	3.3	45
New Mexico	68.4	871.9	1.2	1,150	36	4.4	20
New York	712.7	9,762.4	1.3	1,687	5	4.0	31
North Carolina	379.6	4,902.0	0.9	1,256	25	4.8	9
North Dakota	36.5	437.4	1.5	1,221	30	3.1	48
Ohio	341.2	5,558.1	0.4	1,214	31	4.7	12
Oklahoma	129.3	1,684.7	0.8	1,101	47	4.7	12
Oregon	196.1	2,019.2	-0.1	1,338	16	4.8	9
Pennsylvania	393.6	6,067.5	0.8	1,325	17	3.8	37
Rhode Island	48.8	504.7	1.1	1,257	24	2.9	50
South Carolina	188.4	2,290.1	1.8	1,134	41	5.1	7
South Dakota	40.2	470.3	0.7	1,074	49	3.8	37
Tennessee	234.9	3,287.4	1.3	1,248	27	4.2	25
Texas	840.9	13,905.7	1.2	1,381	13	4.5	17
Utah	138.2	1,715.2	0.8	1,249	26	5.6	4
Vermont	32.8	310.8	0.0	1,227	29	4.3	23
Virginia	319.9	4,140.8	1.4	1,436	11	4.8	9
Washington	234.7	3,674.3	1.0	1,776	2	7.4	1
West Virginia	61.7	700.1	0.6	1,127	42	4.7	12
Wisconsin	208.5	2,990.8	0.4	1,168	34	3.7	42
Wyoming	31.0	290.9	0.5	1,145	39	4.4	20
Puerto Rico	54.5	944.0	1.3	651	(3)	4.7	(3)
Virgin Islands	3.9	36.4	-0.1	1,010	(3)	1.5	(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.