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News Release Information

24-553-KAN
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

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

County Employment and Wages in Missouri — Third Quarter 2023

Employment rose in six of the seven largest counties in Missouri 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.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that Clay County and St. Charles County had the largest over-the-year increases in employment at 3.0 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively. (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 seven largest counties in Missouri, employment was highest in St. Louis County (598,700) in September 2023. Within St. Louis County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the seven largest Missouri counties accounted for 60.3 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 108 counties in Missouri with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all of the 108 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,334 in the third quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

Three of the seven large Missouri counties reported average weekly wage gains from the third quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023. (See chart 2.) St. Louis City had the largest gain (+2.7 percent), followed by Boone County (+2.1 percent). Clay County and St. Louis County had the largest over-the-year wage losses of -1.9 percent and -1.3 percent, respectively.


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 five of the seven largest counties in Missouri were below the national average of $1,334 in the third quarter of 2023. Average weekly wages in St. Louis City ($1,442, 55th) and St. Louis County ($1,336, 91st) ranked among the top 100 nationwide.

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 108 smaller counties in Missouri—those with employment below 75,000—Buchanan ($1,094) reported the highest average weekly wage. Worth County ($518) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 115 counties in Missouri were considered, 12 reported average weekly wages of $699 or lower, 56 registered wages from $700 to $849, 34 had wages from $850 to $999, and 13 had average weekly wages of $1,000 or higher. (See map 1.) The higher-paying counties were mainly located in and around the major metropolitan areas of St. Louis, Columbia, and Kansas City.

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Missouri, 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 seven largest counties in Missouri, third quarter 2023
Area Establishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average 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)

12,026.4 153,772.8 1.5 -- 1,334 -- 0.1 --

Missouri

250.4 2,894.1 1.5 -- 1,152 31 0.3 25

Boone

5.3 98.8 0.5 256 1,107 256 2.1 24

Clay

6.8 111.6 3.0 29 1,115 250 -1.9 303

Greene

10.9 177.7 1.5 140 1,054 307 0.0 170

Jackson

25.8 373.1 0.6 253 1,295 113 0.3 143

St. Charles

11.2 162.7 2.9 35 1,057 306 -0.5 207

St. Louis

46.7 598.7 1.5 140 1,336 91 -1.3 277

St. Louis City

16.3 223.9 -0.3 321 1,442 55 2.7 14

(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 Missouri, third quarter 2023
Area Establishments Employment September 2023 Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,026,378 153,772,811 1,334

Missouri

250,417 2,894,138 1,152

Adair

728 9,563 814

Andrew

538 2,840 726

Atchison

234 1,599 838

Audrain

623 8,152 854

Barry

962 13,247 861

Barton

340 3,564 815

Bates

468 3,724 775

Benton

600 3,721 705

Bollinger

248 1,795 712

Boone

5,282 98,772 1,107

Buchanan

2,716 45,819 1,094

Butler

1,605 18,073 839

Caldwell

230 1,924 769

Callaway

939 15,000 1,049

Camden

1,782 18,203 877

Cape Girardeau

2,939 41,903 1,001

Carroll

316 2,728 759

Carter

252 1,543 658

Cass

2,577 30,162 892

Cedar

403 3,263 722

Chariton

279 1,916 743

Christian

2,353 20,439 782

Clark

174 1,425 665

Clay

6,801 111,627 1,115

Clinton

492 4,333 828

Cole

2,549 53,715 1,029

Cooper

502 4,756 754

Crawford

709 6,665 871

Dade

189 1,623 715

Dallas

459 2,761 620

Daviess

289 1,730 702

De Kalb

271 2,573 854

Dent

596 3,983 754

Douglas

277 2,522 691

Dunklin

1,714 9,020 659

Franklin

3,160 38,976 966

Gasconade

534 5,384 716

Gentry

231 2,073 807

Greene

10,920 177,675 1,054

Grundy

288 2,854 786

Harrison

280 2,494 744

Henry

712 7,947 911

Hickory

213 1,568 665

Holt

178 1,268 814

Howard

234 2,389 767

Howell

1,425 15,639 817

Iron

648 3,490 876

Jackson

25,778 373,145 1,295

Jasper

3,614 58,873 900

Jefferson

4,762 48,745 895

Johnson

1,299 16,173 863

Knox

119 902 722

Laclede

881 14,420 863

Lafayette

970 8,888 780

Lawrence

986 8,879 865

Lewis

248 2,436 832

Lincoln

1,189 12,686 954

Linn

398 4,029 754

Livingston

483 6,198 815

McDonald

457 7,104 828

Macon

431 4,886 797

Madison

354 3,624 728

Maries

178 1,305 768

Marion

1,009 12,959 909

Mercer

109 1,365 878

Miller

754 8,250 786

Mississippi

433 3,060 775

Moniteau

363 4,064 800

Monroe

259 1,857 719

Montgomery

334 3,314 900

Morgan

629 4,890 712

New Madrid

936 7,806 860

Newton

1,590 21,453 995

Nodaway

624 8,632 779

Oregon

267 2,468 651

Osage

299 4,212 893

Ozark

250 1,591 600

Pemiscot

994 5,067 696

Perry

607 9,420 934

Pettis

1,390 19,483 880

Phelps

1,326 19,274 949

Pike

505 5,295 804

Platte

3,204 47,255 1,060

Polk

803 9,937 879

Pulaski

907 13,522 883

Putnam

135 905 714

Ralls

271 3,533 974

Randolph

690 9,528 920

Ray

466 4,138 837

Reynolds

284 1,811 825

Ripley

792 3,067 557

St. Charles

11,206 162,675 1,057

St. Clair

232 1,714 704

Ste. Genevieve

516 6,240 1,012

St. Francois

1,880 22,479 783

St. Louis

46,671 598,683 1,336

Saline

664 9,184 870

Schuyler

100 811 752

Scotland

154 1,215 787

Scott

1,399 16,087 902

Shannon

242 1,653 636

Shelby

206 1,799 778

Stoddard

914 10,525 852

Stone

857 7,463 705

Sullivan

158 2,294 936

Taney

2,183 28,863 785

Texas

624 5,820 752

Vernon

742 6,598 857

Warren

777 8,298 916

Washington

765 5,005 726

Wayne

430 2,294 776

Webster

879 8,672 812

Worth

71 386 518

Wright

565 4,668 768

St. Louis City

16,340 223,926 1,442

(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
State Establishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average 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)

12,026.4 153,772.8 1.5 1,334 -- 0.1 --

Alabama

157.7 2,079.6 1.8 1,121 35 0.4 24

Alaska

25.4 335.4 3.1 1,328 15 1.8 2

Arizona

223.1 3,163.8 2.1 1,248 20 -0.2 33

Arkansas

103.1 1,284.3 1.4 1,036 50 0.0 30

California

1,785.3 18,102.2 0.2 1,613 4 0.8 12

Colorado

261.9 2,888.7 2.3 1,431 8 -0.5 40

Connecticut

150.0 1,679.0 1.4 1,480 6 -0.6 42

Delaware

42.3 472.5 2.1 1,269 18 -1.6 51

District of Columbia

52.1 758.7 0.8 2,159 1 1.4 4

Florida

894.2 9,668.6 2.5 1,218 25 -0.1 31

Georgia

392.5 4,807.3 1.5 1,249 19 -0.2 33

Hawaii

57.4 627.9 0.7 1,226 23 1.1 8

Idaho

95.3 852.7 2.1 1,068 46 0.5 19

Illinois

411.3 6,044.1 0.8 1,346 12 -1.0 48

Indiana

192.3 3,175.6 1.0 1,115 36 -0.7 45

Iowa

110.5 1,559.7 1.0 1,112 37 -0.6 42

Kansas

99.7 1,419.7 1.3 1,087 43 0.3 25

Kentucky

152.2 1,985.4 2.0 1,092 42 1.0 11

Louisiana

155.4 1,886.6 0.5 1,107 40 0.6 15

Maine

64.9 649.1 1.5 1,129 34 1.1 8

Maryland

190.1 2,689.7 0.8 1,424 9 0.5 19

Massachusetts

295.8 3,653.5 0.5 1,643 3 -0.7 45

Michigan

325.5 4,422.2 1.9 1,228 22 -0.5 40

Minnesota

206.4 2,923.5 1.4 1,329 14 -1.3 50

Mississippi

88.3 1,163.1 0.9 927 51 -0.6 42

Missouri

250.4 2,894.1 1.5 1,152 31 0.3 25

Montana

66.9 513.2 1.5 1,072 45 1.2 6

Nebraska

78.3 1,014.0 2.3 1,111 38 -0.4 37

Nevada

107.5 1,537.8 2.8 1,201 27 -0.3 36

New Hampshire

66.3 687.6 1.4 1,350 11 -1.2 49

New Jersey

326.8 4,256.9 1.9 1,456 7 -0.4 37

New Mexico

67.9 857.2 1.6 1,096 41 1.1 8

New York

701.8 9,525.5 1.7 1,610 5 0.2 28

North Carolina

375.6 4,835.1 2.0 1,222 24 1.2 6

North Dakota

35.8 428.3 1.9 1,205 26 1.3 5

Ohio

344.4 5,488.1 1.3 1,185 30 -0.1 31

Oklahoma

131.1 1,684.9 2.1 1,052 48 0.5 19

Oregon

203.4 2,001.8 1.0 1,301 16 0.5 19

Pennsylvania

392.5 5,996.0 1.3 1,283 17 -0.9 47

Rhode Island

48.2 495.1 1.6 1,234 21 0.7 14

South Carolina

179.7 2,256.4 2.6 1,086 44 0.6 15

South Dakota

39.8 457.6 2.0 1,058 47 0.6 15

Tennessee

221.2 3,216.1 0.4 1,199 28 0.1 29

Texas

831.9 13,731.1 2.6 1,336 13 0.3 25

Utah

137.2 1,706.1 2.3 1,195 29 0.8 12

Vermont

32.4 306.5 1.4 1,141 32 -0.2 33

Virginia

315.8 4,053.6 1.8 1,383 10 0.5 19

Washington

242.6 3,618.1 1.3 1,682 2 1.5 3

West Virginia

59.1 695.3 1.8 1,044 49 0.6 15

Wisconsin

206.2 2,938.6 1.0 1,133 33 -0.4 37

Wyoming

30.6 285.2 2.1 1,111 38 2.4 1

Puerto Rico

53.6 940.2 1.6 633 (3) 2.8 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.8 35.1 1.9 953 (3) -4.0 (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: Tuesday, March 19, 2024