KANSAS CITY – The Mountain-Plains Information Office of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics HAS released County Employment and Wages in Missouri – Fourth Quarter 2024.
The report shows national rankings of wage levels, wage growth, and employment changes for the seven large counties in Missouri compared to the 369 largest counties in the United States.
The report also provides employment and wage levels for the 108 counties in Missouri with employment levels below 75,000.
Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted the following highlights:
Employment rose in 4 of the 7 largest counties in Missouri from December 2023 to December 2024. Greene County and St. Charles County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, both up 1.0%.
All seven large Missouri counties reported average weekly wage gains over the year. Boone County had the largest gain (+7.3%). Over-the-year wage gains among Missouri’s other six large counties ranged from 3.5% to 1.0%.
Weekly wages in 2 of the 7 largest counties in Missouri were above the national average of $1,507: St. Louis City ($1,522) and St. Louis County ($1,519). Wage levels in the five other large counties ranged from $1,460 to $1,126.
Wage levels in all 108 smaller counties were below the national average. Buchanan County reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,165), followed by Platte County ($1,153). Ripley County reported the lowest average weekly wage ($632) in the state. (See map 1.)
