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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Geographic Information > Western > News Release
News Release Information

26-865-SAN
Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (415) 625-2270

County Employment and Wages in California — Fourth Quarter 2025

Employment rose in 18 of the 28 largest counties in California with published data from December 2024 to December 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that Merced County (+1.8 percent) had the largest over-the-year increase in employment. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

Los Angeles County (4,598,200) had the highest employment level in California in December 2025. Together, the 29 largest counties accounted for 93.0 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 372 largest counties comprise 73.4 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 2024.)

Large county average weekly wages in the fourth quarter 2025

Average weekly wage gains in 19 of 26 large counties in California with published data were below the national average of 4.2 percent. (See chart 2.) San Mateo had the largest gain (+11.1 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among the other 25 large California counties ranged from 8.9 percent to 0.6 percent.

Weekly wages in 11 of the 29 largest counties in California were above the national average of $1,569. Average weekly wages ranged from $4,542 in Santa Clara to $1,095 in Tulare.

Smaller county average weekly wages in the fourth quarter of 2025

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 29 smaller counties in California, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2024. (See table 2.) Wage levels in all smaller counties were below the national average. El Dorado reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,399). Alpine reported the lowest average weekly wage ($891) in the state.

Among all 58 California counties, 13 reported average weekly wages less than $1,150, 20 had wages from $1,150 to $1,274, 7 had wages from $1,275 to $1,399, 7 had wages from $1,400 to $1,524, and 11 had average weekly wages of $1,525 or higher. (See map1 and table 2.)

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in California, fourth quarter 2025

(U.S. average = $1,569)

Additional statistics and other information

QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3.

Nationwide coverage of the largest counties is published in the County Employment and Wages news release. Additional information about quarterly employment and wages data is available in the news release Technical Note and from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The County Employment and Wages release for the first quarter 2026 is scheduled to be released on Friday, August 28, 2026.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the 29 largest counties in California, fourth quarter 2025
Area Establishments,
fourth quarter
(thousands)		 Employment Average weekly wage (1)
December 2025
(thousands)		 Percent change,
December
2024–25 (2)		 National ranking
by percent change (3)		 Fourth quarter
2025 ($)		 National ranking
by level (3)		 Percent change,
fourth quarter
2024–25 (2)		 National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

 12,428.4 156,700.2 0.2 -- 1,569 -- 4.2 --

California

 2,013.7 18,351.7 0.6 -- 1,954 4 4.6 16

Alameda

 79.2 788.9 0.2 135 1,970 19 1.4 338

Butte

 9.7 79.3 (5) - 1,196 322 (5) -

Contra Costa

 43.3 379.3 0.9 65 1,714 51 2.6 304

Fresno

 48.0 430.1 0.4 107 1,214 314 4.1 182

Kern

 31.0 346.9 0.8 76 1,199 320 (5) -

Los Angeles

 619.5 4,598.2 0.3 125 1,804 29 3.4 251

Marin

 13.8 111.4 0.8 76 1,895 23 3.2 269

Merced

 9.3 84.3 1.8 27 1,140 345 3.4 251

Monterey

 16.9 177.5 -0.9 297 1,283 257 3.1 280

Napa

 7.1 75.4 -1.2 325 1,483 125 3.1 280

Orange

 162.2 1,682.9 0.2 135 1,693 54 (5) -

Placer

 17.2 189.0 1.2 51 1,517 103 4.0 195

Riverside

 97.0 835.9 0.4 107 1,203 318 3.4 251

Sacramento

 80.4 736.2 0.3 125 1,630 69 2.0 322

San Bernardino

 85.9 860.7 0.5 101 1,267 272 2.2 318

San Diego

 144.0 1,552.6 -0.1 181 1,714 51 2.2 318

San Francisco

 71.6 703.7 0.9 65 3,779 3 8.9 3

San Joaquin

 24.4 288.3 0.6 89 1,270 268 1.4 338

San Luis Obispo

 12.5 119.6 0.6 89 1,309 234 5.0 91

San Mateo

 33.7 416.2 1.1 55 3,947 2 11.1 1

Santa Barbara

 18.7 208.5 -0.5 236 1,481 129 5.0 91

Santa Clara

 90.3 1,133.0 1.1 55 4,542 1 8.0 4

Santa Cruz

 10.9 101.7 0.1 152 1,430 158 5.5 54

Solano

 15.0 144.1 -0.1 181 1,450 148 3.5 246

Sonoma

 23.2 204.9 -0.6 254 1,506 111 4.0 195

Stanislaus

 19.2 195.9 0.0 170 1,264 274 2.0 322

Tulare

 16.2 174.0 -0.8 282 1,095 356 4.8 108

Ventura

 34.0 340.2 0.0 170 1,425 162 0.6 342

Yolo

 8.6 108.6 -0.7 275 1,598 80 3.2 269

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.
(5) Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.

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 California, fourth quarter 2025
Area Establishments Employment December 2025 Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

 12,428,415 156,700,218 1,569

California

 2,013,695 18,351,660 1,954

Alameda

 79,194 788,947 1,970

Alpine

 99 1,292 891

Amador

 1,455 12,024 1,228

Butte

 9,654 79,328 1,196

Calaveras

 1,566 10,141 1,222

Colusa

 1,123 9,071 1,313

Contra Costa

 43,278 379,295 1,714

Del Norte

 930 8,206 1,149

El Dorado

 7,104 59,040 1,399

Fresno

 48,014 430,081 1,214

Glenn

 1,432 9,396 1,125

Humboldt

 7,839 53,841 1,134

Imperial

 10,874 68,143 1,118

Inyo

 887 7,783 1,248

Kern

 30,972 346,926 1,199

Kings

 5,968 52,686 1,152

Lake

 4,113 17,612 1,124

Lassen

 768 8,712 1,175

Los Angeles

 619,525 4,598,210 1,804

Madera

 6,278 57,157 1,190

Marin

 13,789 111,435 1,895

Mariposa

 694 5,829 1,075

Mendocino

 4,851 32,351 1,116

Merced

 9,331 84,277 1,140

Modoc

 425 2,626 1,091

Mono

 755 8,261 1,074

Monterey

 16,879 177,530 1,283

Napa

 7,063 75,359 1,483

Nevada

 4,801 34,892 1,328

Orange

 162,246 1,682,919 1,693

Placer

 17,216 189,023 1,517

Plumas

 1,012 6,267 1,280

Riverside

 97,011 835,929 1,203

Sacramento

 80,365 736,219 1,630

San Benito

 2,159 18,940 1,253

San Bernardino

 85,928 860,699 1,267

San Diego

 144,016 1,552,609 1,714

San Francisco

 71,585 703,715 3,779

San Joaquin

 24,361 288,330 1,270

San Luis Obispo

 12,514 119,554 1,309

San Mateo

 33,723 416,163 3,947

Santa Barbara

 18,663 208,521 1,481

Santa Clara

 90,346 1,133,029 4,542

Santa Cruz

 10,888 101,654 1,430

Shasta

 9,337 72,619 1,227

Sierra

 140 597 1,217

Siskiyou

 1,850 13,349 1,132

Solano

 14,973 144,106 1,450

Sonoma

 23,193 204,928 1,506

Stanislaus

 19,188 195,928 1,264

Sutter

 4,613 32,647 1,154

Tehama

 2,432 20,015 1,216

Trinity

 463 2,780 1,166

Tulare

 16,189 174,025 1,095

Tuolumne

 1,998 18,298 1,214

Ventura

 33,997 340,218 1,425

Yolo

 8,641 108,640 1,598

Yuba

 2,302 20,838 1,380

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. 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 2025
State Establishments,
fourth quarter
(thousands)		 Employment Average weekly wage (1)
December 2025
(thousands)		 Percent change,
December
2024–25		 Fourth quarter
2025 ($)		 National ranking
by level		 Percent change,
fourth quarter
2024–25		 National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

 12,428.4 156,700.2 0.2 1,569 -- 4.2 --

Alabama

 167.4 2,135.3 0.5 1,301 36 3.7 37

Alaska

 25.3 317.3 -0.3 1,497 16 4.7 14

Arizona

 227.4 3,278.3 0.0 1,446 20 3.0 47

Arkansas

 113.0 1,318.2 0.4 1,213 49 5.0 8

California

 2,013.7 18,351.7 0.6 1,954 4 4.6 16

Colorado

 258.5 2,896.4 -0.6 1,683 8 5.6 3

Connecticut

 149.8 1,706.5 0.1 1,801 6 5.0 8

Delaware

 47.3 481.0 0.1 1,502 15 4.7 14

District of Columbia

 51.0 726.1 -4.5 2,587 1 4.1 24

Florida

 886.2 10,013.2 0.3 1,471 17 4.8 12

Georgia

 398.7 4,925.4 0.1 1,440 21 3.5 40

Hawaii

 63.0 650.0 -0.2 1,411 25 5.0 8

Idaho

 104.3 875.7 1.8 1,303 35 5.8 2

Illinois

 387.7 6,089.5 -0.1 1,588 11 3.3 42

Indiana

 195.6 3,211.2 0.1 1,276 40 4.5 17

Iowa

 110.6 1,560.0 -0.2 1,282 39 3.7 37

Kansas

 101.8 1,443.2 -0.1 1,268 44 4.1 24

Kentucky

 161.3 2,008.7 -0.1 1,235 46 3.8 34

Louisiana

 159.2 1,927.3 -0.5 1,267 45 3.2 44

Maine

 67.6 644.7 -0.1 1,332 33 4.2 21

Maryland

 199.5 2,754.6 -1.1 1,616 10 3.0 47

Massachusetts

 298.5 3,625.5 -0.9 1,980 2 4.9 11

Michigan

 316.9 4,412.7 0.0 1,427 23 4.2 21

Minnesota

 215.2 2,948.0 0.0 1,505 14 3.7 37

Mississippi

 92.2 1,180.9 0.3 1,075 51 5.1 7

Missouri

 259.9 2,920.8 -0.1 1,324 34 4.4 18

Montana

 62.3 512.3 -0.1 1,296 38 3.3 42

Nebraska

 78.5 1,024.0 -0.2 1,275 42 4.0 31

Nevada

 111.0 1,592.1 1.7 1,395 27 3.2 44

New Hampshire

 67.9 688.8 -0.6 1,652 9 4.8 12

New Jersey

 343.1 4,343.1 0.2 1,691 7 3.9 33

New Mexico

 69.7 875.3 -0.3 1,275 42 4.1 24

New York

 719.1 9,907.5 0.4 1,975 3 5.4 4

North Carolina

 392.1 4,991.1 0.9 1,409 26 3.8 34

North Dakota

 37.0 430.4 -0.2 1,350 31 2.7 49

Ohio

 348.5 5,554.4 0.0 1,358 30 4.1 24

Oklahoma

 129.3 1,717.1 0.1 1,217 48 4.1 24

Oregon

 177.9 1,975.8 -1.0 1,468 19 3.2 44

Pennsylvania

 398.1 6,094.8 0.2 1,470 18 4.0 31

Rhode Island

 49.1 500.3 -0.1 1,429 22 6.0 1

South Carolina

 192.4 2,344.7 1.5 1,276 40 4.3 20

South Dakota

 41.2 458.9 -0.2 1,230 47 4.1 24

Tennessee

 225.2 3,281.6 -0.3 1,424 24 3.8 34

Texas

 860.8 14,255.2 0.8 1,549 13 4.2 21

Utah

 144.6 1,761.6 1.4 1,389 28 4.1 24

Vermont

 34.5 309.3 -0.9 1,378 29 5.3 5

Virginia

 324.0 4,166.9 0.5 1,585 12 2.6 50

Washington

 242.1 3,590.3 -0.3 1,948 5 2.4 51

West Virginia

 62.8 698.3 -0.6 1,203 50 3.5 40

Wisconsin

 213.9 2,946.2 -0.1 1,346 32 5.3 5

Wyoming

 31.7 278.4 -0.8 1,297 37 4.4 18

Puerto Rico

 53.5 974.7 -0.2 735 (3) 2.8 (3)

Virgin Islands

 3.0 34.7 0.3 1,068 (3) 2.7 (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. 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.

 

Last Modified Date: Tuesday, June 09, 2026