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News Release Information

24-2539-DAL
Thursday, December 12, 2024

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (972) 850-4800

County Employment and Wages in Oklahoma – Second Quarter 2024

Employment rose in two of the three largest counties in Oklahoma from June 2023 to June 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.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that Oklahoma County had the largest over-the-year increases in employment at 1.4 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)


National employment increased 0.8 percent over the year, with 259 of the 355 largest U.S. counties with published data reporting gains. Kings, NY, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 4.0 percent. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-3.0 percent).

Among the three largest counties in Oklahoma, employment was highest in Oklahoma County (495,000) in June 2024. Within Oklahoma County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the three largest Oklahoma counties accounted for 56.6 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 74 counties in Oklahoma with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all 74 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,390 in the second quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

All three large Oklahoma counties reported average weekly wage gains from the second quarter of 2023 to the second quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) Oklahoma County and Tulsa County both saw a 4.7 percent over-the-year wage gain, while Cleveland County reported a 3.5 percent increase.

 

Nationwide, wages increased by 4.4 percent over the year. Among the 351 largest counties in the United States with published data, 348 had over-the-year wage increases. Hamilton, IN, had the largest percentage wage increase (+33.4 percent). Essex, MA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-2.1 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Weekly wages in all three largest counties in Oklahoma were below the national average of $1,390 in the second quarter of 2024. Oklahoma County ($1,222, 181st) and Tulsa County ($1,177, 221st) ranked in the middle third of all large counties nationwide. The average weekly wage for Cleveland County ($973) ranked in the lower third at 349th.

Among the 360 largest U.S. counties with published data, 87 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the second quarter of 2024. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,632). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 273 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($820).

Average weekly wages in Oklahoma's smaller counties

All 74 smaller counties in Oklahoma—those with employment below 75,000—reported an average weekly wage below the national average. Dewey County reported the highest average weekly wage, $1,253. McIntosh County ($694) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 77 counties in Oklahoma were considered, 15 reported average weekly wages of $849 or less, 25 registered wages from $850 to $949, 24 had wages from $950 to $1,049, and 13 had average weekly wages of $1,050 or higher. (See map 1.)

Map 1: Average weekly wages by county in Oklahoma, second quarter 2024

(U.S. average = $1,390)

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 third quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.
The County Employment and Wages full data update for the third quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the three largest counties in Oklahoma, second quarter 2024
Area Establishments,
second quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
June 2024
(thousands)
Percent change,
June
2023–24 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
Second quarter
2024 ($)
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
second quarter
2023–24 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

12,238.2 155,710.2 0.8 -- 1,390 -- 4.4 --

Oklahoma

129.3 1,684.7 0.8 -- 1,101 47 4.7 12

Cleveland

7.4 90.4 -0.1 273 973 349 3.5 229

Oklahoma

33.3 495.0 1.4 80 1,222 181 4.7 100

Tulsa

26.6 367.7 0.3 222 1,177 221 4.7 100

(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 Oklahoma, second quarter 2024
Area Establishments Employment June 2024 Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,238,175 155,710,239 1,390

Oklahoma

129,282 1,684,660 1,101

Adair

354 4,367 843

Alfalfa

148 1,182 1,004

Atoka

335 3,241 804

Beaver

177 1,335 982

Beckham

785 9,615 1,000

Blaine

280 2,958 968

Bryan

1,215 21,170 1,031

Caddo

626 6,767 977

Canadian

4,096 39,272 960

Carter

1,758 23,448 1,035

Cherokee

919 18,512 941

Choctaw

383 5,355 833

Cimarron

96 639 792

Cleveland

7,378 90,444 973

Coal

131 1,240 887

Comanche

2,716 41,216 999

Cotton

124 1,857 821

Craig

435 5,015 872

Creek

1,715 21,551 1,054

Custer

1,023 12,495 923

Delaware

941 9,689 835

Dewey

195 2,066 1,253

Ellis

139 1,104 866

Garfield

1,760 23,331 958

Garvin

870 9,637 1,080

Grady

1,287 13,178 917

Grant

157 1,248 1,101

Greer

104 914 803

Harmon

78 664 819

Harper

143 1,031 945

Haskell

299 3,085 803

Hughes

294 2,723 810

Jackson

677 9,578 1,007

Jefferson

149 945 756

Johnston

264 3,157 872

Kay

1,240 17,233 903

Kingfisher

619 6,917 1,081

Kiowa

241 1,944 895

Latimer

221 2,872 1,163

LeFlore

1,049 10,931 855

Lincoln

726 7,168 983

Logan

936 9,019 873

Love

255 5,775 961

McClain

1,300 12,365 909

McCurtain

897 11,886 889

McIntosh

423 4,601 694

Major

249 2,120 911

Marshall

367 5,305 1,010

Mayes

1,022 13,867 1,100

Murray

388 4,896 926

Muskogee

1,568 26,622 1,010

Noble

268 4,812 1,066

Nowata

202 1,591 901

Okfuskee

220 2,487 832

Oklahoma

33,264 495,002 1,222

Okmulgee

821 10,012 918

Osage

561 7,535 982

Ottawa

776 12,864 869

Pawnee

361 3,404 872

Payne

2,312 34,533 974

Pittsburg

1,053 14,541 989

Pontotoc

1,188 19,973 1,104

Pottawatomie

1,466 22,670 894

Pushmataha

297 2,494 824

Roger Mills

115 817 960

Rogers

2,195 30,406 1,094

Seminole

505 7,068 894

Sequoyah

758 9,646 741

Stephens

1,196 14,931 995

Texas

581 9,808 980

Tillman

178 1,451 886

Tulsa

26,593 367,650 1,177

Wagoner

1,114 11,483 1,021

Washington

1,419 18,850 1,101

Washita

297 1,875 893

Woods

299 3,280 948

Woodward

841 7,968 1,020

(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, second quarter 2024
State Establishments,
second quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
June 2024
(thousands)
Percent change,
June
2023–24
Second quarter
2024 ($)
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
second quarter
2023–24
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

12,238.2 155,710.2 0.8 1,390 -- 4.4 --

Alabama

162.9 2,111.1 1.2 1,150 36 3.9 35

Alaska

25.4 345.9 0.8 1,345 15 4.5 17

Arizona

221.3 3,137.3 1.1 1,324 18 4.6 16

Arkansas

101.7 1,299.9 1.0 1,074 49 4.1 30

California

1,878.6 18,193.5 0.4 1,697 4 4.4 20

Colorado

268.9 2,909.4 -0.2 1,487 8 4.2 25

Connecticut

151.4 1,702.2 0.4 1,569 6 3.8 37

Delaware

43.8 481.0 0.9 1,322 19 5.4 6

District of Columbia

52.3 764.0 0.1 2,283 1 4.2 25

Florida

903.5 9,700.1 1.4 1,278 21 3.6 43

Georgia

392.2 4,867.7 1.2 1,297 20 4.2 25

Hawaii

59.6 640.9 0.8 1,273 22 5.8 3

Idaho

101.0 867.3 1.2 1,096 48 5.6 4

Illinois

410.2 6,115.5 0.0 1,401 12 3.4 44

Indiana

192.5 3,187.3 0.4 1,171 33 6.4 2

Iowa

111.3 1,588.0 0.2 1,118 45 3.3 45

Kansas

100.9 1,435.8 0.5 1,124 43 4.0 31

Kentucky

157.1 1,995.9 1.0 1,146 38 4.3 23

Louisiana

155.9 1,904.3 0.6 1,144 40 4.7 12

Maine

65.7 666.1 1.1 1,167 35 4.2 25

Maryland

210.5 2,778.5 1.5 1,454 9 3.8 37

Massachusetts

287.6 3,708.1 0.2 1,758 3 5.0 8

Michigan

345.1 4,480.5 0.4 1,266 23 3.9 35

Minnesota

212.2 2,985.5 0.5 1,359 14 3.3 45

Mississippi

89.8 1,163.8 0.1 960 51 4.0 31

Missouri

245.3 2,927.1 0.6 1,186 32 3.1 48

Montana

63.3 528.8 1.5 1,113 46 3.8 37

Nebraska

77.1 1,030.9 0.7 1,122 44 2.7 51

Nevada

108.6 1,548.9 1.6 1,243 28 4.5 17

New Hampshire

66.7 699.6 0.5 1,443 10 4.0 31

New Jersey

338.5 4,361.1 0.9 1,516 7 3.3 45

New Mexico

68.4 871.9 1.2 1,150 36 4.4 20

New York

712.7 9,762.4 1.3 1,687 5 4.0 31

North Carolina

379.6 4,902.0 0.9 1,256 25 4.8 9

North Dakota

36.5 437.4 1.5 1,221 30 3.1 48

Ohio

341.2 5,558.1 0.4 1,214 31 4.7 12

Oklahoma

129.3 1,684.7 0.8 1,101 47 4.7 12

Oregon

196.1 2,019.2 -0.1 1,338 16 4.8 9

Pennsylvania

393.6 6,067.5 0.8 1,325 17 3.8 37

Rhode Island

48.8 504.7 1.1 1,257 24 2.9 50

South Carolina

188.4 2,290.1 1.8 1,134 41 5.1 7

South Dakota

40.2 470.3 0.7 1,074 49 3.8 37

Tennessee

234.9 3,287.4 1.3 1,248 27 4.2 25

Texas

840.9 13,905.7 1.2 1,381 13 4.5 17

Utah

138.2 1,715.2 0.8 1,249 26 5.6 4

Vermont

32.8 310.8 0.0 1,227 29 4.3 23

Virginia

319.9 4,140.8 1.4 1,436 11 4.8 9

Washington

234.7 3,674.3 1.0 1,776 2 7.4 1

West Virginia

61.7 700.1 0.6 1,127 42 4.7 12

Wisconsin

208.5 2,990.8 0.4 1,168 34 3.7 42

Wyoming

31.0 290.9 0.5 1,145 39 4.4 20

Puerto Rico

54.5 944.0 1.3 651 (3) 4.7 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.9 36.4 -0.1 1,010 (3) 1.5 (3)

(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: Thursday, December 12, 2024