Employment declined in 2 of the 3 largest counties in Oklahoma from March 2025 to March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Oklahoma employment was essentially unchanged over the year at 1,700,600 in March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. (See table 1.) Regional Commissioner James B. Howard, Jr., noted that employment decreased in Cleveland (-0.9 percent) and Oklahoma (-0.8 percent) Counties. (See chart 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Oklahoma, March 2026

County	Percent change, March 2026
Cleveland	-0.9
Oklahoma	-0.8
Tulsa	1.4

  

Oklahoma County (493,100) had the highest employment level in Oklahoma in March 2026. Together, the three largest counties accounted for 56.4 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 376 largest counties comprise 73.5 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 2025.)

Average weekly wage gains in both large counties in Oklahoma with published data were below the national average of 3.9 percent. (See chart 2.) Cleveland had the largest gain (+2.5 percent). In Tulsa, the average weekly wage increased 1.2 percent over the year.

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Oklahoma, first quarter 2026

County	Percent change, first quarter 2026
Cleveland	2.5
Tulsa	1.2

Weekly wages in all three large counties in Oklahoma were below the national average of $1,654: $1,441 in Oklahoma County, $1,352 in Tulsa County, and $1,014 in Cleveland County. 

Statewide, average weekly wages increased 3.6 percent over the year to $1,235. Oklahoma ranked 46th in average weekly wages among the 50 states and the District of Columbia and 28th in wage growth.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 74 smaller counties in Oklahoma, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2025. (See table 2.)  Wage levels in all of the smaller counties were below the national average. Dewey reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,637) in the state. Jefferson reported the lowest average weekly wage ($680).

Among all 77 Oklahoma counties, 19 reported average weekly wages of $899 and lower, 26 had wages from $900 to $999, 19 had wages from $1,000 to $1,099, and 13 had average weekly wages of $1,100 and higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)