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News Release Information

25-374-ATL
Tuesday, March 18, 2025

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

County Employment and Wages in Tennessee —Third Quarter 2024

Employment rose in 5 of the 6 largest counties in Tennessee 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 Victoria G. Lee noted that Knox County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 2.2 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 six largest counties in Tennessee, employment was highest in Davidson County (557,900) in September 2024. Within Davidson County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the six largest Tennessee counties accounted for 55.4 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 89 counties in Tennessee with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 86 of the 89 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,394 in the third quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

All six large Tennessee counties reported average weekly wage gains from the third quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) Davidson County had the largest gain (+5.6 percent), followed by Rutherford County (+4.6 percent) and Knox County (+4.5 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 2 of the 6 largest counties in Tennessee were above the national average of $1,394 in the third quarter of 2024. Williamson County reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,539), followed by Davidson County ($1,520)

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 89 smaller counties in Tennessee—those with employment below 75,000—three reported average weekly wages above the national average: Roane ($1,573), Anderson ($1,475), and Haywood ($1,456). Hancock County ($636) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 95 counties in Tennessee were considered, 34 reported average weekly wages of less than $900, 26 registered wages from $900 to $999, 18 had wages from $1,000 to $1,099, 7 had wages from $1,100 to $1,199, and 10 had average weekly wages of $1,200 or higher. (See map 1.)

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Tennessee, 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 fourth quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The County Employment and Wages full data update for fourth quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the six largest counties in Tennessee, 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 --

Tennessee

233.3 3,290.0 0.8 -- 1,256 28 4.1 32

Davidson

35.6 557.9 1.1 105 1,520 52 5.6 38

Hamilton

13.9 222.3 1.0 122 1,217 206 3.0 306

Knox

17.7 263.5 2.2 28 1,210 211 4.5 122

Rutherford

9.0 149.1 1.3 82 1,233 193 4.6 107

Shelby

24.9 480.8 -1.1 353 1,364 109 3.1 294

Williamson

14.9 149.4 1.5 71 1,539 46 2.7 324

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

United States (2)

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

Tennessee

233,274 3,289,972 1,256

Anderson

2,118 46,362 1,475

Bedford

1,088 17,896 1,055

Benton

395 4,278 865

Bledsoe

197 2,482 930

Blount

3,502 57,552 1,151

Bradley

2,529 40,852 1,004

Campbell

766 9,393 816

Cannon

303 2,375 877

Carroll

585 7,627 883

Carter

905 12,192 884

Cheatham

1,033 9,859 1,120

Chester

334 4,023 808

Claiborne

618 8,618 828

Clay

171 1,365 724

Cocke

616 8,288 807

Coffee

1,633 26,729 1,095

Crockett

313 4,024 937

Cumberland

1,598 19,579 874

Davidson

35,552 557,870 1,520

Decatur

310 3,615 874

De Kalb

475 5,397 915

Dickson

1,451 19,226 971

Dyer

928 17,162 988

Fayette

839 8,107 1,044

Fentress

418 5,856 818

Franklin

1,039 11,881 1,002

Gibson

1,134 14,948 903

Giles

745 9,947 949

Grainger

377 4,368 971

Greene

1,627 25,228 945

Grundy

256 2,079 729

Hamblen

1,603 34,019 960

Hamilton

13,893 222,312 1,217

Hancock

115 1,058 636

Hardeman

402 6,683 980

Hardin

660 8,447 931

Hawkins

919 12,280 1,023

Haywood

421 7,658 1,456

Henderson

632 8,486 882

Henry

861 11,988 867

Hickman

407 4,089 955

Houston

151 1,400 784

Humphreys

444 5,979 1,103

Jackson

222 1,562 863

Jefferson

1,059 14,371 1,025

Johnson

395 4,299 1,052

Knox

17,679 263,459 1,210

Lake

112 1,447 908

Lauderdale

386 6,279 915

Lawrence

952 12,000 874

Lewis

295 3,299 970

Lincoln

818 10,499 931

Loudon

1,478 17,642 1,022

McMinn

1,129 17,254 923

McNairy

558 5,581 857

Macon

446 5,451 929

Madison

3,041 61,272 1,088

Marion

603 8,405 933

Marshall

773 9,795 1,014

Maury

3,204 42,240 1,194

Meigs

165 1,987 1,021

Monroe

975 15,503 913

Montgomery

4,970 65,711 981

Moore

96 2,342 1,216

Morgan

252 3,606 844

Obion

760 12,234 919

Overton

490 5,873 875

Perry

165 1,689 868

Pickett

121 998 741

Polk

350 2,984 733

Putnam

2,632 40,115 950

Rhea

651 12,149 1,042

Roane

1,083 19,305 1,573

Robertson

1,710 22,948 1,034

Rutherford

8,961 149,141 1,233

Scott

466 5,820 796

Sequatchie

323 3,667 822

Sevier

3,623 54,624 829

Shelby

24,882 480,808 1,364

Smith

433 4,944 1,045

Stewart

274 3,053 1,190

Sullivan

4,303 70,606 1,176

Sumner

5,710 63,002 1,102

Tipton

981 12,099 887

Trousdale

180 2,118 943

Unicoi

347 5,060 1,071

Union

306 3,015 886

Van Buren

84 962 688

Warren

1,036 13,002 947

Washington

4,032 64,437 1,072

Wayne

305 3,988 832

Weakley

691 10,798 853

White

606 7,155 850

Williamson

14,949 149,370 1,539

Wilson

4,803 65,972 1,079

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: Tuesday, March 18, 2025