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County Employment and Wages in Oklahoma — Fourth Quarter 2024
Employment rose in all three large counties in Oklahoma from December 2023 to December 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that Tulsa County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 1.0 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)
Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Oklahoma, December 2024
County
Percent change, December 2024
Tulsa
1.0
Oklahoma
0.9
Cleveland
0.6
Among the three largest counties in Oklahoma, employment was highest in Oklahoma County (499,700) in December 2024. Together, the three largest counties accounted for 56.4 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties comprise 73.3 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.)
Large county average weekly wages in the fourth quarter 2024
All three large Oklahoma counties reported average weekly wage gains over the year. (See chart 2.) Oklahoma County had the largest gain (+4.6 percent), followed by Tulsa County (+4.2 percent), and Cleveland County (+2.6 percent).
Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Oklahoma, fourth quarter 2024
County
Percent change, fourth quarter 2024
Oklahoma
4.6
Tulsa
4.2
Cleveland
2.6
Weekly wages in all three large counties in Oklahoma were below the national average of $1,507. Average weekly wages ranged from $1,299 in Oklahoma County to $1,010 in Cleveland County.
Smaller county average weekly wages in the fourth quarter of 2024
Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 74 small counties in Oklahoma, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2023. (See table 2.) Wage levels in all of the 74 smaller counties were below the national average. Dewey County reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,415). McIntosh County reported the lowest average weekly wage ($700) in the state.
Among all 77 Oklahoma counties, 19 reported average weekly wages of less than $900, 16 registered wages from $900 to $974, 22 had wages from $975 to $1,049, and 20 had average weekly wages of $1,050 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)
Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Oklahoma, fourth quarter 2024
(U.S. average = $1,507)
Additional statistics and other information
QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3.
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 first quarter 2025 is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
QCEW Moves to One Data Release Beginning with Fourth Quarter 2024 Publication
The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) is streamlining its release process. Beginning with the fourth quarter 2024 national release on June 4, QCEW will publish the national County Employment and Wages news release on the same date as the QCEW full data update. Revised news release dates are available online.
Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the three largest counties in Oklahoma, fourth quarter 2024
(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. Dashes indicate data not applicable or available. 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 Oklahoma, fourth quarter 2024
(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. Dashes indicate data not applicable or available. 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, fourth quarter 2024
(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. Dashes indicate data not applicable or available. Covered employment and wages include workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.
United States Department of Labor
