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News Release Information

24-480-CHI
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (312) 353-1138

County Employment and Wages in Wisconsin — Third Quarter 2023

Employment rose in 3 of the 6 largest counties in Wisconsin from September 2022 to September 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.) Regional Commissioner Jason Palmer noted that Dane County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 2.0 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)


National employment increased 1.5 percent over the year, with 309 of the 360 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Hall, GA, had the largest increase in employment (+5.4 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-7.3 percent).

Among the six largest counties in Wisconsin, employment was highest in Milwaukee County (469,500) in September 2023. Within Milwaukee County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the six largest Wisconsin counties accounted for 48.6 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 66 counties in Wisconsin with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all of the 66 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,334 in the third quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

Four of the six large Wisconsin counties reported average weekly wage declines from the third quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023. (See chart 2.) Waukesha County had the largest loss (–2.4 percent), followed by Brown County (–2.0 percent). Over-the-year wage changes among Wisconsin’s other four large counties ranged from –1.3 percent to +1.4 percent.


Nationwide, wages increased by 0.1 percent over the year. Among the 360 largest counties in the United States, 169 had over-the-year wage increases. Clayton, GA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+7.7 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-6.0 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Weekly wages in the six largest counties in Wisconsin were below the national average of $1,334 in the third quarter of 2023. Average weekly wages in three of these counties ranked among the top half nationwide: Dane ($1,331, 93rd), Waukesha ($1,218, 171st), and Milwaukee ($1,216, 174th).

Among the largest U.S. counties, 92 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the third quarter of 2023. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,288). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 268 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($793).

Smaller county average weekly wages

Among the 66 smaller counties in Wisconsin—those with employment below 75,000—all reported an average weekly wage below the national average of $1,334. Sheboygan County ($1,115) reported the highest average weekly wage in the state, while Florence County ($612) reported the state's lowest average weekly wage.

When all 72 counties in Wisconsin were considered, 15 counties reported average weekly wages of less than $850, 25 counties registered wages from $850 to $949, 16 counties had wages from $950 to $1,049, and 16 had average weekly wages of $1,050 or higher. (See map 1.)

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Wisconsin, third quarter 2023

(U.S. average = $1,334)

 

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 the fourth quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
The County Employment and Wages full data update for the fourth quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the six largest counties in Wisconsin, third quarter 2023
AreaEstablishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
September 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
September
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
Third quarter
2023 ($)
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
third quarter
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

12,026.4153,772.81.5--1,334--0.1--

Wisconsin

206.22,938.61.0--1,13333-0.437

Brown

7.5156.0-0.23181,126240-2.0307

Dane

17.6355.82.0951,331930.5122

Milwaukee

29.2469.5-0.13151,216174-1.1259

Outagamie

5.9107.70.72391,1292371.451

Waukesha

14.3247.80.82271,218171-2.4323

Winnebago

4.292.5-0.43291,140224-1.3277

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 Wisconsin, third quarter 2023
AreaEstablishmentsEmployment September 2023Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,026,378153,772,8111,334

Wisconsin

206,2082,938,5561,133

Adams

4054,488805

Ashland

6397,875939

Barron

1,55721,676874

Bayfield

5624,308770

Brown

7,502156,0411,126

Buffalo

3973,722909

Burnett

4544,936862

Calumet

95016,375947

Chippewa

1,92826,463954

Clark

95211,119916

Columbia

1,77722,315954

Crawford

5076,698834

Dane

17,575355,8391,331

Dodge

1,98736,9081,064

Door

1,39515,011818

Douglas

1,20616,166991

Dunn

1,12318,051988

Eau Claire

3,24558,1541,062

Florence

138988612

Fond du Lac

2,54046,1581,073

Forest

3003,229825

Grant

1,50217,423867

Green

1,15515,315960

Green Lake

5296,055916

Iowa

71711,0071,001

Iron

2401,749712

Jackson

4807,910953

Jefferson

2,26234,190960

Juneau

7429,645914

Kenosha

4,23172,7461,017

Kewaunee

5616,736873

La Crosse

3,49969,5001,059

Lafayette

4845,018927

Langlade

6267,384841

Lincoln

77810,321902

Manitowoc

1,96433,240969

Marathon

3,86569,7531,056

Marinette

1,25017,823979

Marquette

3793,935816

Menominee

1152,054880

Milwaukee

29,159469,4581,216

Monroe

1,32721,222975

Oconto

9069,225858

Oneida

1,48216,558995

Outagamie

5,910107,7451,129

Ozaukee

3,13941,1421,066

Pepin

2692,483893

Pierce

1,03510,739829

Polk

1,29616,468896

Portage

1,92833,6291,035

Price

4425,194892

Racine

5,10475,8351,068

Richland

5255,626874

Rock

3,84269,0311,066

Rusk

3734,669842

St. Croix

2,64236,0781,034

Sauk

2,12836,310933

Sawyer

6967,271877

Shawano

1,06412,167821

Sheboygan

2,97461,1431,115

Taylor

5337,942890

Trempealeau

83812,591919

Vernon

8018,873878

Vilas

9948,594834

Walworth

3,34244,290924

Washburn

6145,604798

Washington

3,81257,2391,062

Waukesha

14,320247,7731,218

Waupaca

1,38418,628881

Waushara

5706,258799

Winnebago

4,21992,4621,140

Wood

2,14436,7711,029

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, third quarter 2023
StateEstablishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
September 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
September
2022–23
Third quarter
2023
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
third quarter
2022–23
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

12,026.4153,772.81.5$1,334--0.1--

Alabama

157.72,079.61.81,121350.424

Alaska

25.4335.43.11,328151.82

Arizona

223.13,163.82.11,24820-0.233

Arkansas

103.11,284.31.41,036500.030

California

1,785.318,102.20.21,61340.812

Colorado

261.92,888.72.31,4318-0.540

Connecticut

150.01,679.01.41,4806-0.642

Delaware

42.3472.52.11,26918-1.651

District of Columbia

52.1758.70.82,15911.44

Florida

894.29,668.62.51,21825-0.131

Georgia

392.54,807.31.51,24919-0.233

Hawaii

57.4627.90.71,226231.18

Idaho

95.3852.72.11,068460.519

Illinois

411.36,044.10.81,34612-1.048

Indiana

192.33,175.61.01,11536-0.745

Iowa

110.51,559.71.01,11237-0.642

Kansas

99.71,419.71.31,087430.325

Kentucky

152.21,985.42.01,092421.011

Louisiana

155.41,886.60.51,107400.615

Maine

64.9649.11.51,129341.18

Maryland

190.12,689.70.81,42490.519

Massachusetts

295.83,653.50.51,6433-0.745

Michigan

325.54,422.21.91,22822-0.540

Minnesota

206.42,923.51.41,32914-1.350

Mississippi

88.31,163.10.992751-0.642

Missouri

250.42,894.11.51,152310.325

Montana

66.9513.21.51,072451.26

Nebraska

78.31,014.02.31,11138-0.437

Nevada

107.51,537.82.81,20127-0.336

New Hampshire

66.3687.61.41,35011-1.249

New Jersey

326.84,256.91.91,4567-0.437

New Mexico

67.9857.21.61,096411.18

New York

701.89,525.51.71,61050.228

North Carolina

375.64,835.12.01,222241.26

North Dakota

35.8428.31.91,205261.35

Ohio

344.45,488.11.31,18530-0.131

Oklahoma

131.11,684.92.11,052480.519

Oregon

203.42,001.81.01,301160.519

Pennsylvania

392.55,996.01.31,28317-0.947

Rhode Island

48.2495.11.61,234210.714

South Carolina

179.72,256.42.61,086440.615

South Dakota

39.8457.62.01,058470.615

Tennessee

221.23,216.10.41,199280.129

Texas

831.913,731.12.61,336130.325

Utah

137.21,706.12.31,195290.812

Vermont

32.4306.51.41,14132-0.233

Virginia

315.84,053.61.81,383100.519

Washington

242.63,618.11.31,68221.53

West Virginia

59.1695.31.81,044490.615

Wisconsin

206.22,938.61.01,13333-0.437

Wyoming

30.6285.22.11,111382.41

Puerto Rico

53.6940.21.6633(3)2.8(3)

Virgin Islands

3.835.11.9953(3)-4.0(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.

 

Last Modified Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024