Employment rose in 9 of the 10 largest counties in Washington 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 Chris Rosenlund noted that Benton County and Snohomish County had the largest over-the-year increases in employment at 3.1 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Washington, September 2024

County	Percent change, September 2024
Benton	3.1
Snohomish	2.5
Thurston	1.9
Pierce	1.8
Clark	1.6
Kitsap	1.3
Spokane	1.1
Whatcom	1.1
King	0.7
Yakima	-1.0

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 10 largest counties in Washington, employment was highest in King County (1,467,200) in September 2024. Within King County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 10 largest Washington counties accounted for 84.2 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 29 counties in Washington with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all of the 29 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,394 in the third quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

All 10 large Washington counties reported average weekly wage gains from the third quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) King County had the largest gain (+6.4 percent), followed by Whatcom County (+5.8 percent) and Clark and Kitsap Counties (+4.7 percent each). Over-the-year wage gains among Washington’s other 6 large counties ranged from 4.5 percent to 2.7 percent.

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Washington, third quarter 2024

County	Percent change, third quarter 2024
King	6.4
Whatcom	5.8
Clark	4.7
Kitsap	4.7
Pierce	4.5
Spokane	4.3
Yakima	3.9
Benton	3.7
Thurston	3.6
Snohomish	2.7

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).

Weekly wages in 3 of the 10 largest counties in Washington were above the national average of $1,394 in the third quarter of 2024 and ranked among the top 100 nationwide: King County ($2,450, 5^th), Snohomish ($1,491, 62^nd), and Kitsap ($1,402, 91^st).

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).

Among the 29 smaller counties in Washington—those with employment below 75,000—Columbia ($1,305) reported the highest weekly wage. Wahkiakum County ($874) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 39 counties in Washington were considered, 9 reported average weekly wages of less than $1,049, 12 registered wages from $1,050 to $1,149, 9 had wages from $1,150 to $1,249, and 9 had average weekly wages of $1,250 or higher. (See map 1.) The higher-paying counties were located in and around the Seattle metropolitan area, as well as certain counties on the southern border.