Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

News Release Information

24-730-SAN
Thursday, April 18, 2024

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

County Employment and Wages in Washington – Third Quarter 2023

Employment increased in Washington’s 10 largest counties from September 2022 to September 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2022.) Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that Benton County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 2.7 percent, followed by Clark and Thurston Counties at 2.5 percent each. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

Chart 1

National employment increased 1.5 percent over the year, with 309 of the 360 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Hall, GA, had the largest increase in employment (+5.4 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-7.3 percent).

Among the 10 largest counties in Washington, employment was highest in King County (1,463,000) in September 2023. Within King County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 10 largest Washington counties accounted for 84.6 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 360 largest counties made up 72.9 percent of total U.S. employment.

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 $1,334 in the third quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

Nine of Washington’s ten large counties reported average weekly wage gains from the third quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023. (See chart 2.) Thurston County had the largest gain (+1.9 percent), followed by King, Kitsap, and Yakima Counties (+1.8 percent each). Over-the-year wage changes among Washington’s other six large counties ranged from 1.5 percent to -0.1 percent.

Chart 2

Nationwide, wages increased by 0.1 percent over the year. Among the 360 largest counties in the United States, 169 had over-the-year wage increases. Clayton, GA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+7.7 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-6.0 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Weekly wages in 3 of the 10 largest counties in Washington were above the national average of $1,334 in the third quarter of 2023 and ranked among the top 100 nationwide: King ($2,287, 5th), Snohomish ($1,449, 52nd), and Kitsap ($1,336, 91st).

Among the largest U.S. counties, 92 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the third quarter of 2023. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,288). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 268 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($793).

Average weekly wages in Washington’s smaller counties

Among the 29 smaller counties in Washington—those with employment below 75,000—Columbia ($1,273) reported the highest average weekly wage. Wahkiakum County ($829) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 39 counties in Washington were considered, 13 reported average weekly wages of less than $1,000, 9 registered wages from $1,000 to $1,099, 8 had wages from $1,100 to $1,199, and 9 had average weekly wages of $1,200 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.

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Washington, third quarter 2023

U.S. average = $1,334

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 fourth quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. The County Employment and Wages full data update for the fourth quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the 10 largest counties in Washington, third quarter 2023
Area Establishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
September 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
September
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
Third quarter
2023 ($)
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
third quarter
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

12,026.4 153,772.8 1.5 -- 1,334 -- 0.1 --

Washington

242.6 3,618.1 1.3 -- 1,682 2 1.5 3

Benton

5.5 100.9 2.7 42 1,279 121 1.2 60

Clark

15.5 182.3 2.5 54 1,308 105 -0.1 179

King

86.0 1,463.0 0.1 305 2,287 5 1.8 34

Kitsap

7.0 93.3 1.7 115 1,336 91 1.8 34

Pierce

21.3 333.9 1.5 140 1,282 119 0.8 85

Snohomish

21.2 295.0 2.0 95 1,449 52 1.5 46

Spokane

15.9 245.1 1.9 102 1,190 187 1.1 69

Thurston

8.7 128.3 2.5 54 1,321 97 1.9 30

Whatcom

7.5 93.7 0.7 239 1,159 208 0.4 129

Yakima

6.4 124.6 0.7 239 956 347 1.8 34

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.

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 Washington, third quarter 2023
Area Establishments Employment September 2023 Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,026,378 153,772,811 1,334

Washington

242,604 3,618,125 1,682

Adams

696 10,110 942

Asotin

551 7,089 976

Benton

5,465 100,918 1,279

Chelan

3,274 48,249 1,020

Clallam

2,340 24,951 1,002

Clark

15,525 182,289 1,308

Columbia

202 1,560 1,273

Cowlitz

2,675 41,356 1,219

Douglas

1,162 13,211 930

Ferry

270 1,751 908

Franklin

2,387 38,394 1,061

Garfield

75 671 1,140

Grant

2,748 46,277 1,134

Grays Harbor

1,900 23,965 1,045

Island

2,209 18,360 1,054

Jefferson

1,117 9,095 1,064

King

85,963 1,462,954 2,287

Kitsap

6,952 93,292 1,336

Kittitas

1,445 17,314 993

Klickitat

847 7,110 1,135

Lewis

2,275 27,635 1,070

Lincoln

467 2,878 980

Mason

1,257 14,522 1,066

Okanogan

1,674 18,241 861

Pacific

719 6,777 894

Pend Oreille

350 3,320 1,100

Pierce

21,299 333,852 1,282

San Juan

1,095 6,687 974

Skagit

3,908 53,870 1,165

Skamania

263 2,620 954

Snohomish

21,168 295,029 1,449

Spokane

15,942 245,086 1,190

Stevens

1,054 11,626 991

Thurston

8,722 128,294 1,321

Wahkiakum

137 789 829

Walla Walla

1,852 30,208 1,029

Whatcom

7,499 93,749 1,159

Whitman

1,286 19,708 1,179

Yakima

6,413 124,591 956

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. 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, third quarter 2023
State Establishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
September 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
September
2022–23
Third quarter
2023 ($)
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
third quarter
2022–23
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

12,026.4 153,772.8 1.5 1,334 -- 0.1 --

Alabama

157.7 2,079.6 1.8 1,121 35 0.4 24

Alaska

25.4 335.4 3.1 1,328 15 1.8 2

Arizona

223.1 3,163.8 2.1 1,248 20 -0.2 33

Arkansas

103.1 1,284.3 1.4 1,036 50 0.0 30

California

1,785.3 18,102.2 0.2 1,613 4 0.8 12

Colorado

261.9 2,888.7 2.3 1,431 8 -0.5 40

Connecticut

150.0 1,679.0 1.4 1,480 6 -0.6 42

Delaware

42.3 472.5 2.1 1,269 18 -1.6 51

District of Columbia

52.1 758.7 0.8 2,159 1 1.4 4

Florida

894.2 9,668.6 2.5 1,218 25 -0.1 31

Georgia

392.5 4,807.3 1.5 1,249 19 -0.2 33

Hawaii

57.4 627.9 0.7 1,226 23 1.1 8

Idaho

95.3 852.7 2.1 1,068 46 0.5 19

Illinois

411.3 6,044.1 0.8 1,346 12 -1.0 48

Indiana

192.3 3,175.6 1.0 1,115 36 -0.7 45

Iowa

110.5 1,559.7 1.0 1,112 37 -0.6 42

Kansas

99.7 1,419.7 1.3 1,087 43 0.3 25

Kentucky

152.2 1,985.4 2.0 1,092 42 1.0 11

Louisiana

155.4 1,886.6 0.5 1,107 40 0.6 15

Maine

64.9 649.1 1.5 1,129 34 1.1 8

Maryland

190.1 2,689.7 0.8 1,424 9 0.5 19

Massachusetts

295.8 3,653.5 0.5 1,643 3 -0.7 45

Michigan

325.5 4,422.2 1.9 1,228 22 -0.5 40

Minnesota

206.4 2,923.5 1.4 1,329 14 -1.3 50

Mississippi

88.3 1,163.1 0.9 927 51 -0.6 42

Missouri

250.4 2,894.1 1.5 1,152 31 0.3 25

Montana

66.9 513.2 1.5 1,072 45 1.2 6

Nebraska

78.3 1,014.0 2.3 1,111 38 -0.4 37

Nevada

107.5 1,537.8 2.8 1,201 27 -0.3 36

New Hampshire

66.3 687.6 1.4 1,350 11 -1.2 49

New Jersey

326.8 4,256.9 1.9 1,456 7 -0.4 37

New Mexico

67.9 857.2 1.6 1,096 41 1.1 8

New York

701.8 9,525.5 1.7 1,610 5 0.2 28

North Carolina

375.6 4,835.1 2.0 1,222 24 1.2 6

North Dakota

35.8 428.3 1.9 1,205 26 1.3 5

Ohio

344.4 5,488.1 1.3 1,185 30 -0.1 31

Oklahoma

131.1 1,684.9 2.1 1,052 48 0.5 19

Oregon

203.4 2,001.8 1.0 1,301 16 0.5 19

Pennsylvania

392.5 5,996.0 1.3 1,283 17 -0.9 47

Rhode Island

48.2 495.1 1.6 1,234 21 0.7 14

South Carolina

179.7 2,256.4 2.6 1,086 44 0.6 15

South Dakota

39.8 457.6 2.0 1,058 47 0.6 15

Tennessee

221.2 3,216.1 0.4 1,199 28 0.1 29

Texas

831.9 13,731.1 2.6 1,336 13 0.3 25

Utah

137.2 1,706.1 2.3 1,195 29 0.8 12

Vermont

32.4 306.5 1.4 1,141 32 -0.2 33

Virginia

315.8 4,053.6 1.8 1,383 10 0.5 19

Washington

242.6 3,618.1 1.3 1,682 2 1.5 3

West Virginia

59.1 695.3 1.8 1,044 49 0.6 15

Wisconsin

206.2 2,938.6 1.0 1,133 33 -0.4 37

Wyoming

30.6 285.2 2.1 1,111 38 2.4 1

Puerto Rico

53.6 940.2 1.6 633 (3) 2.8 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.8 35.1 1.9 953 (3) -4.0 (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. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

 

Last Modified Date: Thursday, April 18, 2024