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News Release Information

25-384-BOS
Monday, March 17, 2025

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (617) 565-4141

County Employment and Wages in Massachusetts — Third Quarter 2024

Employment declined in 7 of the 9 largest counties in Massachusetts 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.) Regional Commissioner William J. Sibley noted that Bristol County had the largest over-the-year decrease in employment (-0.7 percent), followed by Middlesex, Suffolk, and Worcester Counties (-0.6 percent each). (See chart 1 and table 1.)

National employment increased 0.8 percent over the year, with gains recorded in 264 of the 362 largest U.S. counties with published data. 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 nine largest counties in Massachusetts, employment was highest in Middlesex County (920,400) in September 2024. Within Middlesex County’s private industry, professional, scientific, and technical services accounted for the largest employment. Together, the nine largest Massachusetts counties accounted for 92.8 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 five counties in Massachusetts with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 4 of the 5 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,394 in the third quarter of 2024. (See table 2.) 

Large county wage changes

All nine large Massachusetts counties reported average weekly wage gains from the third quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) Suffolk County had the largest gain (+6.5 percent), followed by Essex County (+6.4 percent) and Middlesex County (+6.2 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Massachusetts’s other six large counties ranged from 4.5 percent to 3.4 percent.

Nationwide, wages increased 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 4 of the 9 largest counties in Massachusetts were above the national average of $1,394 in the third quarter of 2024. Average weekly wages in two of these counties ranked among the top 10 nationwide: Suffolk ($2,290, 6th) and Middlesex ($2,066, 9th).

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 five smaller counties in Massachusetts—those with employment below 75,000—Nantucket ($1,418) reported an average weekly wage above the national average. Franklin County ($1,037) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 14 counties in Massachusetts were considered, 5 reported average weekly wages of less than $1,225, 3 registered wages from $1,225 to $1,324, 3 had wages from $1,325 to $1,424, and 3 had average weekly wages of $1,425 or higher. (See map 1.) The highest-paying counties were located in the Boston metropolitan area.

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Massachusetts, 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 nine largest counties in Massachusetts, 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 --

Massachusetts

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

Barnstable

10.0 100.7 0.2 241 1,186 226 3.9 203

Bristol

18.3 228.2 -0.7 338 1,211 209 3.9 203

Essex

29.3 324.9 0.0 265 1,410 86 6.4 15

Hampden

19.0 203.7 -0.4 320 1,171 239 3.4 261

Middlesex

60.0 920.4 -0.6 330 2,066 9 6.2 20

Norfolk

26.6 344.6 -0.3 307 1,511 55 4.4 138

Plymouth

17.3 195.5 -0.1 283 1,291 151 4.4 138

Suffolk

34.4 713.7 -0.6 330 2,290 6 6.5 13

Worcester

28.3 351.3 -0.6 330 1,334 123 4.5 122

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 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 Massachusetts, third quarter 2024
Area Establishments Employment September 2024 Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

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

Massachusetts

291,307 3,647,391 1,736

Barnstable

10,028 100,698 1,186

Berkshire

5,581 57,559 1,182

Bristol

18,313 228,232 1,211

Dukes

1,523 10,305 1,278

Essex

29,294 324,946 1,410

Franklin

2,635 25,636 1,037

Hampden

19,042 203,730 1,171

Hampshire

5,023 65,412 1,228

Middlesex

60,038 920,449 2,066

Nantucket

1,347 9,942 1,418

Norfolk

26,627 344,648 1,511

Plymouth

17,292 195,534 1,291

Suffolk

34,393 713,712 2,290

Worcester

28,324 351,298 1,334

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 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)

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 include workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

 

Last Modified Date: Monday, March 17, 2025