KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mountain-Plains Information Office of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics today released County Employment and Wages in Missouri – Third Quarter 2023. The report shows national rankings of wage levels, wage growth, and employment changes for the seven large counties in Missouri compared to the 360 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 six of the seven of the largest counties in Missouri from September 2022 to September 2023. Clay County and St. Charles County had the largest over-the-year increases in employment at 3.0% and 2.9%, respectively.
Three of the seven large Missouri counties reported average weekly wage gains. St. Louis City had the largest gain (+2.7%), followed by Boone County (+2.1%). Clay County and St. Louis County had the largest over-the-year wage losses of -1.9% and -1.3%, respectively.
Weekly wages in five of the seven largest counties in Missouri were below the national average of $1,334 in the third quarter of 2023. Average weekly wages in St. Louis City ($1,442, 55th) and St. Louis County ($1,336, 91st) ranked among the top 100 nationwide.
Among the 108 smaller counties in Missouri—those with employment below 75,000— Buchanan ($1,094) reported the highest average weekly wage. Worth County ($518) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.
The average weekly wage in Ste. Genevieve County exceeds $1,000.
The average weekly wage in Perry County is between $850 and $999 a week.
(See map 1.)
