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News Release Information

25-370-KAN
Friday, March 14, 2025

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

County Employment and Wages in Missouri — Third Quarter 2024

Employment rose in 6 of the 7 largest counties and county equivalent in Missouri from September 2023 to September 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 Greene County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 1.8 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)


National employment increased 0.8 percent over the year, with 264 of the 369 largest U.S. counties with published data reporting gains. Kings, NY, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 4.9 percent. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-2.7 percent).

Among the seven largest counties in Missouri, employment was highest in St. Louis County (595,900) in September 2024. 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 60.1 percent of total covered 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 108 counties in Missouri with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all 108 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,394 in the third quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

All seven large Missouri counties reported average weekly wage gains from the third quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) Boone County had the largest gain (+5.6 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Missouri’s other six large counties ranged from 4.5 percent to 3.2 percent.


Nationwide, wages increased by 4.5 percent over the year. Among the 365 largest counties in the United States with published data, 363 had over-the-year wage increases. Benton, AR, had the largest percentage wage increase (+15.5 percent). Weld, CO, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-1.3 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Weekly wages in 6 of the 7 largest counties in Missouri were below the national average of $1,394 in the third quarter of 2024. Average weekly wages in three large counties ranked among the top half nationwide: St. Louis City ($1,498, 59th), St. Louis ($1,374, 105th), and Jackson ($1,354, 113th).

Among the 369 largest U.S. counties, 94 reported average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the third quarter of 2024. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,557). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 275 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($819).

Smaller county average weekly wages

Among the 108 smaller counties in Missouri—those with employment below 75,000—Buchanan ($1,123) reported the highest average weekly wage. Ozark County ($610) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state, followed by Ripley County ($611).

When all 115 counties in Missouri were considered, 36 reported average weekly wages of less than $800, 41 registered wages from $800 to $899, 24 had wages from $900 to $999, and 14 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 2024

U.S. average = $1,394

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 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.
The County Employment and Wages full data update for the fourth quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the seven largest counties in Missouri, third quarter 2024
Area Establishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
September 2024
(thousands)
Percent change,
September
2023–24 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
Third quarter
2024 ($)
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
third quarter
2023–24 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

12,297.4 155,360.4 0.8 -- 1,394 -- 4.5 --

Missouri

248.0 2,911.7 0.5 -- 1,197 31 4.0 34

Boone

5.2 99.2 0.5 188 1,170 240 5.6 38

Clay

6.8 113.0 0.3 225 1,156 261 3.9 203

Greene

11.1 179.9 1.8 50 1,096 316 4.1 178

Jackson

25.6 377.7 1.3 82 1,354 113 4.5 122

St. Charles

11.1 163.4 0.8 153 1,103 313 4.3 151

St. Louis

46.0 595.9 0.2 241 1,374 105 3.2 284

St. Louis City

15.5 221.9 -0.3 307 1,498 59 4.2 165

(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 include 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 2024
Area Establishments Employment September 2024 Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,297,414 155,360,357 1,394

Missouri

247,952 2,911,672 1,197

Adair

763 9,654 878

Andrew

497 2,868 743

Atchison

223 1,619 867

Audrain

633 8,115 895

Barry

974 13,263 887

Barton

339 3,498 837

Bates

470 3,690 821

Benton

562 3,721 716

Bollinger

248 1,780 773

Boone

5,212 99,161 1,170

Buchanan

2,666 45,882 1,123

Butler

1,574 18,238 884

Caldwell

243 1,893 780

Callaway

949 15,100 1,071

Camden

1,740 18,396 892

Cape Girardeau

2,842 41,478 1,026

Carroll

321 2,760 785

Carter

252 1,501 677

Cass

2,584 31,211 917

Cedar

402 3,513 764

Chariton

267 1,827 784

Christian

2,418 20,846 830

Clark

179 1,427 656

Clay

6,828 113,044 1,156

Clinton

492 4,448 892

Cole

2,537 54,503 1,066

Cooper

496 4,947 811

Crawford

682 6,702 924

Dade

186 1,644 748

Dallas

451 2,827 674

Daviess

297 1,929 776

De Kalb

287 2,619 876

Dent

570 3,828 804

Douglas

281 2,610 724

Dunklin

1,688 9,131 683

Franklin

3,085 39,622 986

Gasconade

538 5,145 762

Gentry

237 2,168 860

Greene

11,109 179,850 1,096

Grundy

288 2,886 820

Harrison

275 2,454 777

Henry

731 8,234 954

Hickory

214 1,591 701

Holt

183 1,273 892

Howard

236 2,471 789

Howell

1,397 15,332 860

Iron

616 3,496 928

Jackson

25,606 377,674 1,354

Jasper

3,567 59,553 932

Jefferson

4,715 49,739 933

Johnson

1,285 16,526 877

Knox

113 898 793

Laclede

882 13,579 898

Lafayette

954 9,096 838

Lawrence

968 9,109 902

Lewis

249 2,451 864

Lincoln

1,220 13,055 996

Linn

397 4,086 817

Livingston

480 6,152 858

McDonald

466 5,744 836

Macon

434 4,875 827

Madison

356 3,585 762

Maries

181 1,428 804

Marion

997 12,914 933

Mercer

126 813 831

Miller

766 8,153 841

Mississippi

399 3,052 802

Moniteau

370 4,156 902

Monroe

255 1,872 790

Montgomery

339 3,242 913

Morgan

639 4,847 732

New Madrid

908 7,338 845

Newton

1,539 21,486 1,031

Nodaway

623 8,554 794

Oregon

265 2,539 684

Osage

279 4,288 946

Ozark

255 1,593 610

Pemiscot

913 4,861 745

Perry

587 9,457 978

Pettis

1,344 19,671 936

Phelps

1,307 19,276 970

Pike

519 5,394 850

Platte

3,152 48,435 1,091

Polk

808 9,419 893

Pulaski

883 13,423 923

Putnam

144 1,003 819

Ralls

276 3,661 991

Randolph

665 9,326 921

Ray

467 3,994 871

Reynolds

282 1,798 885

Ripley

709 2,841 611

St. Charles

11,107 163,362 1,103

St. Clair

231 1,700 737

Ste. Genevieve

510 6,207 1,078

St. Francois

1,907 23,068 830

St. Louis

45,960 595,897 1,374

Saline

662 9,007 911

Schuyler

99 836 755

Scotland

156 1,296 822

Scott

1,340 16,137 939

Shannon

244 1,572 665

Shelby

202 1,791 838

Stoddard

875 9,913 883

Stone

881 7,678 737

Sullivan

160 2,333 930

Taney

2,169 28,766 811

Texas

617 5,854 798

Vernon

730 6,687 907

Warren

763 8,502 950

Washington

777 5,074 757

Wayne

395 2,261 721

Webster

890 8,439 857

Worth

69 348 648

Wright

584 4,651 758

St. Louis City

15,454 221,870 1,498

(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 include 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 2024
State Establishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
September 2024
(thousands)
Percent change,
September
2023–24
Third quarter
2024 ($)
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
third quarter
2023–24
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

12,297.4 155,360.4 0.8 1,394 -- 4.5 --

Alabama

162.5 2,099.8 0.7 1,172 36 4.5 19

Alaska

25.5 342.0 1.3 1,382 15 3.8 40

Arizona

222.3 3,187.2 -0.1 1,317 19 5.5 6

Arkansas

103.6 1,301.1 1.0 1,094 49 5.5 6

California

1,926.3 18,209.7 0.5 1,694 4 5.1 10

Colorado

250.8 2,902.1 0.5 1,486 8 3.8 40

Connecticut

150.3 1,690.7 0.7 1,545 6 4.5 19

Delaware

44.6 479.2 1.5 1,330 17 4.0 34

District of Columbia

52.3 760.3 -0.1 2,290 1 6.3 2

Florida

908.5 9,832.1 1.6 1,276 22 4.8 13

Georgia

394.0 4,853.7 0.8 1,304 20 4.5 19

Hawaii

60.6 639.4 1.8 1,299 21 5.8 3

Idaho

102.8 867.9 1.9 1,126 45 5.3 9

Illinois

410.9 6,083.9 0.4 1,398 12 3.9 39

Indiana

192.8 3,191.0 0.3 1,165 37 4.5 19

Iowa

111.8 1,559.5 -0.3 1,154 40 4.0 34

Kansas

102.9 1,430.4 0.7 1,137 43 4.6 15

Kentucky

158.5 2,002.1 0.8 1,129 44 3.4 48

Louisiana

156.2 1,908.1 0.8 1,151 41 4.0 34

Maine

66.0 657.8 0.9 1,176 34 4.3 28

Maryland

213.5 2,765.7 1.9 1,471 9 3.6 47

Massachusetts

291.3 3,647.4 -0.3 1,736 3 5.6 4

Michigan

318.0 4,440.9 0.4 1,266 24 3.0 50

Minnesota

214.7 2,948.1 0.7 1,389 14 4.6 15

Mississippi

90.5 1,170.9 0.5 960 51 3.7 45

Missouri

248.0 2,911.7 0.5 1,197 31 4.0 34

Montana

64.5 520.2 1.4 1,125 46 4.8 13

Nebraska

77.9 1,022.2 0.7 1,155 38 4.1 32

Nevada

108.7 1,555.6 1.0 1,260 26 4.9 12

New Hampshire

67.8 691.2 0.5 1,404 11 4.0 34

New Jersey

333.1 4,282.0 0.7 1,503 7 3.2 49

New Mexico

68.6 870.5 1.1 1,155 38 5.4 8

New York

714.8 9,678.7 1.5 1,684 5 4.5 19

North Carolina

379.3 4,898.5 1.1 1,275 23 4.5 19

North Dakota

36.7 435.4 1.5 1,257 27 4.4 26

Ohio

344.5 5,524.1 0.4 1,237 30 4.5 19

Oklahoma

129.8 1,699.2 0.7 1,095 48 4.2 31

Oregon

192.8 2,016.9 0.3 1,353 16 3.8 40

Pennsylvania

395.0 6,044.7 0.7 1,330 17 3.7 45

Rhode Island

49.0 501.9 1.1 1,263 25 2.5 51

South Carolina

192.8 2,296.8 1.8 1,142 42 5.1 10

South Dakota

40.5 462.3 1.0 1,102 47 4.3 28

Tennessee

233.3 3,290.0 0.8 1,256 28 4.1 32

Texas

844.5 13,933.5 1.4 1,396 13 4.6 15

Utah

140.4 1,724.3 1.1 1,248 29 4.3 28

Vermont

33.5 308.4 0.4 1,191 32 4.6 15

Virginia

325.2 4,116.1 1.4 1,444 10 4.4 26

Washington

241.1 3,663.9 1.3 1,781 2 5.6 4

West Virginia

62.6 698.4 0.6 1,085 50 3.8 40

Wisconsin

210.9 2,956.4 0.4 1,175 35 3.8 40

Wyoming

31.1 286.9 0.4 1,183 33 6.5 1

Puerto Rico

52.5 949.3 0.6 668 (3) 5.4 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.0 35.1 -0.2 983 (3) 2.3 (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 include workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

 

Last Modified Date: Friday, March 14, 2025