Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

News Release Information

23-2002-ATL
Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (404) 893-4220

County Employment and Wages in Tennessee — First Quarter 2023

Employment rose in all of Tennessee’s six large counties from March 2022 to March 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 Victoria G. Lee noted that Williamson County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 4.7 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)


National employment increased 2.5 percent over the year, with 325 of the 360 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Midland, TX, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment with a gain of 8.5 percent. Elkhart, IN, experienced the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment with a loss of 4.6 percent.

Among the six largest counties in Tennessee, employment was highest in Davidson County (539,200) in March 2023. Within Davidson County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the six largest Tennessee counties accounted for 56.0 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 360 largest counties made up 73.0 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 89 counties in Tennessee with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 87 of the 89 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,465 in the first quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

All six large Tennessee counties reported average weekly wage gains from the first quarter of 2022 to the first quarter of 2023. (See chart 2.) Four counties had rates of wage gains that were above the national rate of 6.6 percent. Rutherford County had the largest gain (+11.3 percent), followed by Knox County (+11.0 percent).


Nationwide, wages increased by 6.6 percent over the year. Among the 360 largest counties in the United States, 353 had over-the-year wage increases. Clayton, GA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+24.3 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-6.3 percent). 

Large county average weekly wages

Among Tennessee’s six largest counties, Williamson ($1,767) and Davidson ($1,574) had an average weekly wage above the national average of $1,465 in the first quarter of 2023.

Among the largest U.S. counties, 87 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the first quarter of 2023. New York, NY, had the highest average weekly wage at $3,922. Average weekly wages were at or below the national average in the remaining 273 counties. At $782 a week, Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage.

Average weekly wages in Tennessee’s smaller counties

Among the 89 smaller counties in Tennessee—those with employment below 75,000—Roane ($1,498) reported an average weekly wage above the national average of $1,465, with average weekly wages in Anderson County matching the national level. Hancock County ($600) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 95 counties in Tennessee were considered, 17 reported average weekly wages of less than $800, 24 had wages from $800 to $899, 26 had wages from $900 to $999, 15 had wages from $1,000 to $1,099, and 13 had average weekly wages of $1,100 or higher. (See map 1.)

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 or visit www.bls.gov/cew.

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. The Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online is available at www.bls.gov/cew/publications/employment-and-wages-annual-averages/.

The County Employment and Wages release for second quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The County Employment and Wages full data update for the second quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

County Changes for the 2023 County Employment and Wages News Releases

Counties with annual average employment of 75,000 or more in 2022 are included in this release and will be included in future 2023 releases. Five counties have been added to the publication tables: Napa, CA; York, ME; Gaston, NC; Orange, NC; and Merrimack, NH. No counties were dropped from the publication tables.


Technical Note

Average weekly wage data by county are compiled under the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, also known as the ES-202 program. The data are derived from summaries of employment and total pay of workers covered by state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) legislation and provided by State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). The average weekly wage values are calculated by dividing quarterly total wages by the average of the three monthly employment levels of those covered by UI programs. The result is then divided by 13, the number of weeks in a quarter. It is to be noted, therefore, that over-the-year wage changes for geographic areas may reflect shifts in the composition of employment by industry, occupation, and such other factors as hours of work. Thus, wages may vary among counties, metropolitan areas, or states for reasons other than changes in the average wage level. Data for all states, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), counties, and the nation are available on the BLS web site at www.bls.gov/cew. However, data in QCEW press releases have been revised and may not match the data contained on the Bureau’s web site.

QCEW data are not designed as a time series. QCEW data are simply the sums of individual establishment records reflecting the number of establishments that exist in a county or industry at a point in time. Establishments can move in or out of a county or industry for a number of reasons–some reflecting economic events, others reflecting administrative changes.

The preliminary QCEW data presented in this release may differ from data released by the individual states as well as from the data presented on the BLS web site. These potential differences result from the states’ continuing receipt, review and editing of UI data over time. On the other hand, differences between data in this release and the data found on the BLS web site are the result of adjustments made to improve over-the-year comparisons. Specifically, these adjustments account for administrative (noneconomic) changes such as a correction to a previously reported location or industry classification. Adjusting for these administrative changes allows users to more accurately assess changes of an economic nature (such as a firm moving from one county to another or changing its primary economic activity) over a 12-month period. Currently, adjusted data are available only from BLS press releases.

For more information see the Technical Note for the County Employment and Wages News Release.

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.

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Tennessee, first quarter 2023

(U.S. average = $1,465)

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the six largest counties in Tennessee, first quarter 2023
Area Establishments,
first quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
March 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
March
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
First quarter
2023
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
first quarter
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

11,883.2 151,418.1 2.5 -- $1,465 -- 6.6 --

Tennessee

210.7 3,201.7 2.9 -- 1,264 26 7.8 20

Davidson

32.2 539.2 3.8 41 1,574 61 4.9 303

Hamilton

12.5 214.9 4.1 29 1,252 184 7.5 191

Knox

16.0 255.3 2.9 79 1,235 190 11.0 24

Rutherford

7.9 141.7 1.2 249 1,148 260 11.3 19

Shelby

23.7 489.3 0.6 300 1,341 136 7.1 209

Williamson

13.3 152.5 4.7 18 1,767 35 2.6 344

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 Tennessee, first quarter 2023
Area Establishments Employment March 2023 Average weekly wage (1)

United States (2)

11,883,196 151,418,052 $1,465

Tennessee

210,729 3,201,709 1,264

Anderson

2,002 44,418 1,465

Bedford

1,004 17,885 945

Benton

358 4,321 828

Bledsoe

181 2,306 874

Blount

3,127 54,060 1,164

Bradley

2,276 42,217 1,003

Campbell

714 9,229 792

Cannon

275 2,444 853

Carroll

551 7,561 881

Carter

827 11,854 845

Cheatham

885 9,223 1,061

Chester

310 3,963 753

Claiborne

568 9,263 825

Clay

156 1,434 700

Cocke

572 7,585 789

Coffee

1,508 26,090 1,066

Crockett

287 3,903 1,041

Cumberland

1,442 18,734 842

Davidson

32,225 539,217 1,574

Decatur

281 3,383 813

De Kalb

432 5,670 882

Dickson

1,316 18,625 925

Dyer

893 16,429 974

Fayette

747 8,104 1,051

Fentress

376 5,528 757

Franklin

968 11,696 949

Gibson

1,082 14,855 870

Giles

691 10,247 944

Grainger

349 3,940 964

Greene

1,478 25,155 903

Grundy

233 2,179 693

Hamblen

1,495 33,357 916

Hamilton

12,513 214,916 1,252

Hancock

109 1,035 600

Hardeman

385 6,462 962

Hardin

620 8,016 988

Hawkins

830 12,120 947

Haywood

347 5,151 1,002

Henderson

576 7,855 867

Henry

802 11,509 868

Hickman

364 3,967 916

Houston

140 1,447 737

Humphreys

408 6,040 1,185

Jackson

198 1,556 790

Jefferson

933 13,890 959

Johnson

364 4,216 914

Knox

16,009 255,266 1,235

Lake

109 1,474 879

Lauderdale

366 7,549 940

Lawrence

853 11,635 844

Lewis

265 3,105 766

Lincoln

746 9,878 874

Loudon

1,335 17,818 1,021

McMinn

1,070 17,528 911

McNairy

516 5,429 793

Macon

393 5,141 812

Madison

2,851 60,365 1,066

Marion

543 8,325 945

Marshall

687 9,826 1,007

Maury

2,819 40,098 1,231

Meigs

155 2,074 966

Monroe

884 15,234 921

Montgomery

4,397 61,686 923

Moore

92 2,436 1,092

Morgan

234 3,494 854

Obion

724 12,131 865

Overton

448 5,540 817

Perry

158 1,689 754

Pickett

121 906 647

Polk

314 2,461 746

Putnam

2,393 38,901 902

Rhea

596 11,262 977

Roane

960 19,837 1,498

Robertson

1,542 22,877 958

Rutherford

7,895 141,743 1,148

Scott

392 5,846 740

Sequatchie

292 3,450 789

Sevier

3,343 50,286 803

Shelby

23,719 489,265 1,341

Smith

391 5,067 1,043

Stewart

260 3,062 1,190

Sullivan

3,940 68,696 1,207

Sumner

5,133 60,561 1,094

Tipton

900 12,167 911

Trousdale

162 2,023 975

Unicoi

325 4,913 1,072

Union

284 2,931 892

Van Buren

77 920 718

Warren

952 12,986 904

Washington

3,712 64,676 1,025

Wayne

277 3,974 849

Weakley

657 10,744 819

White

547 7,293 836

Williamson

13,340 152,471 1,767

Wilson

4,232 61,564 1,064

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, first quarter 2023
State Establishments,
first quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
March 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
March
2022–23
First quarter
2023
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
first quarter
2022–23
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

11,883.2 151,418.1 2.5 $1,465 -- 6.6 --

Alabama

153.8 2,055.3 2.6 1,164 38 8.9 12

Alaska

25.1 311.3 2.4 1,301 24 10.3 1

Arizona

214.7 3,143.1 2.7 1,330 21 7.5 27

Arkansas

102.2 1,272.5 3.1 1,127 44 6.4 41

California

1,790.3 17,842.7 0.9 1,735 5 5.5 46

Colorado

261.7 2,838.6 2.5 1,559 9 7.1 33

Connecticut

145.6 1,641.7 1.4 1,817 4 5.9 44

Delaware

41.0 462.3 3.0 1,431 15 4.8 50

District of Columbia

49.5 754.0 1.1 2,341 1 5.1 48

Florida

883.1 9,640.2 4.1 1,330 21 9.3 6

Georgia

376.4 4,775.6 3.0 1,376 17 6.1 43

Hawaii

55.1 634.3 3.3 1,218 30 7.2 31

Idaho

91.8 818.1 1.6 1,084 47 10.1 2

Illinois

409.8 5,936.4 2.1 1,567 8 5.5 46

Indiana

191.0 3,124.3 1.8 1,203 33 6.2 42

Iowa

110.7 1,526.1 0.9 1,176 36 8.3 15

Kansas

97.7 1,405.6 2.6 1,155 39 7.6 24

Kentucky

148.0 1,956.2 2.9 1,138 43 9.3 6

Louisiana

152.7 1,882.2 1.9 1,150 40 9.1 9

Maine

63.9 616.7 1.7 1,188 34 7.7 22

Maryland

189.1 2,647.5 2.0 1,541 10 9.0 10

Massachusetts

294.5 3,583.5 1.8 1,917 3 5.0 49

Michigan

311.0 4,305.8 2.0 1,308 23 6.8 35

Minnesota

207.8 2,836.9 1.9 1,461 14 6.5 40

Mississippi

84.7 1,153.8 1.6 944 51 7.2 31

Missouri

243.5 2,854.3 2.4 1,224 29 8.5 14

Montana

64.3 498.1 2.6 1,079 49 9.3 6

Nebraska

75.9 990.7 2.5 1,165 37 8.0 18

Nevada

106.3 1,497.2 3.8 1,246 27 7.4 28

New Hampshire

64.2 671.9 1.8 1,462 13 7.4 28

New Jersey

329.7 4,169.3 2.3 1,699 7 5.7 45

New Mexico

69.4 844.1 2.8 1,105 46 8.9 12

New York

693.2 9,368.7 2.9 2,015 2 2.1 51

North Carolina

366.3 4,782.7 3.1 1,348 18 6.8 35

North Dakota

34.9 413.0 2.9 1,216 31 9.8 3

Ohio

338.0 5,392.9 1.7 1,265 25 7.3 30

Oklahoma

128.2 1,660.1 3.6 1,109 45 9.0 10

Oregon

193.8 1,959.8 1.4 1,339 19 6.7 37

Pennsylvania

391.2 5,898.8 2.0 1,408 16 7.6 24

Rhode Island

47.7 478.4 2.1 1,334 20 6.6 39

South Carolina

173.4 2,221.1 3.4 1,139 42 9.5 5

South Dakota

39.3 440.8 2.0 1,084 47 7.0 34

Tennessee

210.7 3,201.7 2.9 1,264 26 7.8 20

Texas

820.5 13,568.7 4.3 1,480 11 8.1 17

Utah

134.7 1,666.9 2.4 1,245 28 7.9 19

Vermont

31.5 304.6 2.3 1,188 34 7.6 24

Virginia

347.7 4,002.1 2.6 1,477 12 8.2 16

Washington

238.7 3,540.1 2.5 1,721 6 7.7 22

West Virginia

56.8 682.4 1.8 1,062 50 9.6 4

Wisconsin

202.0 2,874.3 1.9 1,211 32 6.7 37

Wyoming

30.2 270.6 2.4 1,145 41 7.8 20

Puerto Rico

51.7 936.1 1.8 640 (3) 10.2 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.8 36.1 2.2 971 (3) 3.6 (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, September 19, 2023