KANSAS CITY – The Mountain-Plains Information Office of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics today released County Employment and Wages in Missouri — Fourth Quarter 2025. The report shows national rankings of wage levels, wage growth, and employment changes for the seven large counties in Missouri compared to the 372 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. Acting Regional Commissioner Jerome Watters noted the following highlights:
Employment declined in 5 of the 7 largest counties in Missouri from December 2024 to December 2025. St. Louis County had the largest over-the-year decrease in employment, with a loss of 1.4%.
Average weekly wage gains in 4 of 7 large counties in Missouri were above the national average of 4.2%. St. Louis City had the largest gain (+5.7%). Over-the-year wage gains among the other six large Missouri counties ranged from 5.3% to 2.0%.
Weekly wages in 2 of the 7 largest counties in Missouri were above the national average of $1,569: St. Louis City ($1,611) and St. Louis County ($1,586). Average weekly wages among the other five large counties ranged from $1,537 in Jackson to $1,150 in Greene.
Wage levels in all smaller counties were below the national average. Buchanan reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,238) among the smaller counties. Ripley reported the lowest average weekly wage ($664) in the state.
