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News Release Information

24-2525-KAN
Thursday, December 12, 2024

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

County Employment and Wages in Kansas – Second Quarter 2024

Employment rose in three of the four largest counties in Kansas from June 2023 to June 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are the 369 U.S. counties or county equivalents with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.)  Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that Wyandotte County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 2.5 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

 

National employment increased 0.8 percent over the year, with 259 of the 355 largest U.S. counties with published data reporting gains. 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).

Among the four largest counties in Kansas, employment was highest in Johnson County (373,100) in June 2024. 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 369 largest counties comprised 73.1 percent of total covered employment in the United States.

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 100 of the 101 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,390 in the second quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

All four large Kansas counties reported average weekly wage gains from the second quarter of 2023 to the second quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) Shawnee County had the largest gain (+5.0 percent), followed by Johnson County (+3.9 percent), Sedgwick County (+3.8 percent), and Wyandotte County (+1.9 percent).

 

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

Weekly wages in all four of the largest counties in Kansas were below the national average of $1,390 in the second quarter of 2024. The average weekly wage in Johnson County ($1,370, 95th) was ranked in the upper half of large counties nationwide. The remaining three counties—Wyandotte ($1,221, 182nd), Shawnee ($1,122, 274th), and Sedgwick ($1,117, 278th)—ranked among the lower half of large counties nationwide.

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).

Average weekly wages in Kansas’ smaller counties

Among the 101 smaller counties in Kansas—those with employment below 75,000—only Coffey ($1,462) reported an average weekly wage above the national average. Jewell County ($676) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 105 counties in Kansas were considered, 21 reported average weekly wages of $799 or less, 37 registered wages from $800 to $899, 37 had wages from $900 to $999, and 10 had average weekly wages of $1,000 or higher. (See map 1.) The higher-paying counties were primarily located in and around the metropolitan areas of Kansas City, Topeka, and Wichita.

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Kansas, second quarter 2024

(U.S. average = $1,390)

 
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 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 four largest counties in Kansas, second quarter 2024
AreaEstablishments,
second quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage 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)

12,238.2155,710.20.8--1,390--4.4--

Kansas

100.91,435.80.5--1,124434.031

Johnson

30.5373.10.12521,370953.9178

Sedgwick

14.6265.61.2981,1172783.8196

Shawnee

5.198.80.02601,1222745.075

Wyandotte

4.194.62.5141,2211821.9330

(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 2024
AreaEstablishmentsEmployment June 2024Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,238,175155,710,2391,390

Kansas

100,8651,435,7791,124

Allen

4035,760871

Anderson

2662,490898

Atchison

4285,503927

Barber

2131,630828

Barton

89811,747906

Bourbon

4035,418794

Brown

3384,556912

Butler

1,71519,427933

Chase

87864822

Chautauqua

107795695

Cherokee

4195,7131,029

Cheyenne

136920759

Clark

90868980

Clay

2872,981780

Cloud

3133,308777

Coffey

2683,4191,462

Comanche

94660796

Cowley

78712,862938

Crawford

1,08817,720839

Decatur

135906732

Dickinson

5656,496830

Doniphan

2362,638978

Douglas

3,77350,5291,044

Edwards

125962846

Elk

88633725

Ellis

1,12915,592882

Ellsworth

1862,253919

Finney

1,13120,559974

Ford

86517,830999

Franklin

71710,122926

Geary

75612,519966

Gove

1631,159817

Graham

112877822

Grant

2312,514960

Gray

3133,213990

Greeley

80647842

Greenwood

2071,665735

Hamilton

1061,542890

Harper

2242,478870

Harvey

84513,910915

Haskell

1641,827938

Hodgeman

76626819

Jackson

3244,418906

Jefferson

4173,923972

Jewell

112748676

Johnson

30,461373,1211,370

Kearny

1471,572869

Kingman

2542,796879

Kiowa

1051,145768

Labette

5038,592885

Lane

88652899

Leavenworth

1,78622,0071,123

Lincoln

111932947

Linn

2632,185975

Logan

1391,252830

Lyon

88715,448912

Mcpherson

98716,5641,100

Marion

3573,613769

Marshall

4164,541899

Meade

1681,613958

Miami

9759,1571,014

Mitchell

2773,165872

Montgomery

2,21515,181849

Morris

1721,618784

Morton

96837797

Nemaha

4395,865963

Neosho

4966,523886

Ness

1451,088958

Norton

2012,354876

Osage

3733,121739

Osborne

1731,284762

Ottawa

1591,307779

Pawnee

2102,587893

Phillips

2372,157853

Pottawatomie

75510,063972

Pratt

3824,691916

Rawlins

1231,068904

Reno

1,70426,921903

Republic

2251,972774

Rice

3583,856911

Riley

2,05230,369978

Rooks

2031,778851

Rush

1161,084848

Russell

3162,531815

Saline

1,60830,192941

Scott

2502,127955

Sedgwick

14,580265,5681,117

Seward

59711,067962

Shawnee

5,09398,8461,122

Sheridan

1211,076905

Sherman

2832,469818

Smith

1641,412777

Stafford

1771,216814

Stanton

93938954

Stevens

2062,154950

Sumner

6386,500834

Thomas

4184,153897

Trego

1321,132877

Wabaunsee

1911,398803

Wallace

98603804

Washington

2972,096727

Wichita

111772859

Wilson

2433,192901

Woodson

97697736

Wyandotte

4,10494,5881,221

(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 2024
StateEstablishments,
second quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage 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)

12,238.2155,710.20.81,390--4.4--

Alabama

162.92,111.11.21,150363.935

Alaska

25.4345.90.81,345154.517

Arizona

221.33,137.31.11,324184.616

Arkansas

101.71,299.91.01,074494.130

California

1,878.618,193.50.41,69744.420

Colorado

268.92,909.4-0.21,48784.225

Connecticut

151.41,702.20.41,56963.837

Delaware

43.8481.00.91,322195.46

District of Columbia

52.3764.00.12,28314.225

Florida

903.59,700.11.41,278213.643

Georgia

392.24,867.71.21,297204.225

Hawaii

59.6640.90.81,273225.83

Idaho

101.0867.31.21,096485.64

Illinois

410.26,115.50.01,401123.444

Indiana

192.53,187.30.41,171336.42

Iowa

111.31,588.00.21,118453.345

Kansas

100.91,435.80.51,124434.031

Kentucky

157.11,995.91.01,146384.323

Louisiana

155.91,904.30.61,144404.712

Maine

65.7666.11.11,167354.225

Maryland

210.52,778.51.51,45493.837

Massachusetts

287.63,708.10.21,75835.08

Michigan

345.14,480.50.41,266233.935

Minnesota

212.22,985.50.51,359143.345

Mississippi

89.81,163.80.1960514.031

Missouri

245.32,927.10.61,186323.148

Montana

63.3528.81.51,113463.837

Nebraska

77.11,030.90.71,122442.751

Nevada

108.61,548.91.61,243284.517

New Hampshire

66.7699.60.51,443104.031

New Jersey

338.54,361.10.91,51673.345

New Mexico

68.4871.91.21,150364.420

New York

712.79,762.41.31,68754.031

North Carolina

379.64,902.00.91,256254.89

North Dakota

36.5437.41.51,221303.148

Ohio

341.25,558.10.41,214314.712

Oklahoma

129.31,684.70.81,101474.712

Oregon

196.12,019.2-0.11,338164.89

Pennsylvania

393.66,067.50.81,325173.837

Rhode Island

48.8504.71.11,257242.950

South Carolina

188.42,290.11.81,134415.17

South Dakota

40.2470.30.71,074493.837

Tennessee

234.93,287.41.31,248274.225

Texas

840.913,905.71.21,381134.517

Utah

138.21,715.20.81,249265.64

Vermont

32.8310.80.01,227294.323

Virginia

319.94,140.81.41,436114.89

Washington

234.73,674.31.01,77627.41

West Virginia

61.7700.10.61,127424.712

Wisconsin

208.52,990.80.41,168343.742

Wyoming

31.0290.90.51,145394.420

Puerto Rico

54.5944.01.3651(3)4.7(3)

Virgin Islands

3.936.4-0.11,010(3)1.5(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: Thursday, December 12, 2024