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

23-1500-SAN
Thursday, July 06, 2023

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

County Employment and Wages in California — Fourth Quarter 2022

Employment rose in 27 of California’s 28 largest counties from December 2021 to December 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2021.) Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that Fresno County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 2.9 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among selected large counties in California, December 2022

National employment increased 2.6 percent over the year, with 325 of the 355 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Midland, TX, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment with a gain of 7.9 percent. Elkhart, IN, and Hendricks, IN, both experienced the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment with a loss of 1.7 percent each.

Among the 28 largest counties in California, employment was highest in Los Angeles County (4,551,200) in December 2022. Within Los Angeles County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 28 largest California counties accounted for 93.1 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 355 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 30 counties in California with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all 30 of the smaller counties were below the national average of $1,385 in the fourth quarter of 2022. (See table 2).

Large county wage changes

Among the 28 large California counties, 21 reported average weekly wage losses from the fourth quarter of 2021 to the fourth quarter of 2022. (See chart 2.) San Francisco County (-22.6 percent), San Mateo County (-20.7 percent), and Santa Clara County (-15.0 percent) had the largest over-the-year decreases in the state and made up 3 of the 4 largest percentage wage decreases among large counties nationally. Merced County had the largest over-year increase at 1.6 percent. Over-the-year wage changes among California’s other 24 large counties ranged from -5.0 percent in Santa Barbara County to 0.5 percent in San Luis Obispo County.

Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among selected large counties in California, fourth quarter 2022

Nationwide, wages decreased by 2.3 percent over the year. Among the 355 largest counties in the United States, 240 had over-the-year wage decreases. San Francisco, CA, had the largest percentage wage decrease (-22.6 percent). Midland, TX, had the largest over-the-year percentage increase (+6.1 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Weekly wages in the 11 of the 28 largest counties in California were above the national average of $1,385 in the fourth quarter of 2022. Three of these counties had the highest average weekly wages nationwide: Santa Clara ($3,329, 1st), San Francisco ($2,962, 2nd), and San Mateo ($2,939, 3rd).

Among the largest U.S. counties, 86 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the fourth quarter of 2022. Average weekly wages were at or below the national average in the remaining 269 counties. At $827 a week, Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage.

Average weekly wages in California’s smaller counties

Among the 30 smaller counties in California—those with employment below 75,000—all reported an average weekly wage below the national average. Napa County ($1,361) reported the highest average weekly wage among the smaller counties. Sierra County ($927) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 58 counties in California were considered, 6 reported average weekly wages of less than $999, 19 registered wages from $1,000 to $1,099, 12 had wages from $1,100 to $1,199, 5 had average weekly wages from $1,200 to $1,299, and 16 had average weekly wages at $1,300 or higher. (See chart 3.) The higher-paying counties were located around the Bay Area stretching inwards towards Sacramento, and around Los Angeles.

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 or visit www.bls.gov/cew.

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. The Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online is available at www.bls.gov/cew/publications/employment-and-wages-annual-averages/.

The County Employment and Wages release for first quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. The County Employment and Wages full data update for first quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.


Technical Note

Average weekly wage data by county are compiled under the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, also known as the ES-202 program. The data are derived from summaries of employment and total pay of workers covered by state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) legislation and provided by State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). The average weekly wage values are calculated by dividing quarterly total wages by the average of the three monthly employment levels of those covered by UI programs. The result is then divided by 13, the number of weeks in a quarter. It is to be noted, therefore, that over-the-year wage changes for geographic areas may reflect shifts in the composition of employment by industry, occupation, and such other factors as hours of work. Thus, wages may vary among counties, metropolitan areas, or states for reasons other than changes in the average wage level. Data for all states, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), counties, and the nation are available on the BLS web site at www.bls.gov/cew. However, data in QCEW press releases have been revised and may not match the data contained on the Bureau’s web site.

QCEW data are not designed as a time series. QCEW data are simply the sums of individual establishment records reflecting the number of establishments that exist in a county or industry at a point in time. Establishments can move in or out of a county or industry for a number of reasons–some reflecting economic events, others reflecting administrative changes.

The preliminary QCEW data presented in this release may differ from data released by the individual states as well as from the data presented on the BLS web site. These potential differences result from the states’ continuing receipt, review and editing of UI data over time. On the other hand, differences between data in this release and the data found on the BLS web site are the result of adjustments made to improve over-the-year comparisons. Specifically, these adjustments account for administrative (noneconomic) changes such as a correction to a previously reported location or industry classification. Adjusting for these administrative changes allows users to more accurately assess changes of an economic nature (such as a firm moving from one county to another or changing its primary economic activity) over a 12-month period. Currently, adjusted data are available only from BLS press releases.

For more information see the Technical Note for the County Employment and Wages News Release.

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.

Chart 3. Average weekly wages by county in California, Fourth Quarter 2022

(U.S. average = $1,385)

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the 28 largest counties in California, fourth quarter 2022
Area Establishments,
fourth quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
December 2022
(thousands)
Percent change,
December
2021–22 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
Fourth quarter
2022
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
fourth quarter
2021–22 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

11,785.7 152,317.9 2.6 -- $1,385 -- -2.3 --

California

1,768.8 18,051.3 2.3 -- 1,679 4 -6.9 51

Alameda

70.6 793.2 1.5 208 1,791 16 -3.8 309

Butte

8.6 78.9 0.6 297 1,061 314 -0.5 134

Contra Costa

37.9 371.1 2.0 156 1,590 42 -2.4 255

Fresno

41.9 415.2 2.9 90 1,089 297 0.0 106

Kern

25.2 339.5 2.1 149 1,090 295 -0.9 152

Los Angeles

554.8 4,551.2 2.2 144 1,637 29 -3.5 302

Marin

13.0 109.9 1.4 216 1,782 17 -3.0 287

Merced

7.8 81.1 0.2 313 1,008 331 1.6 31

Monterey

15.2 177.9 0.4 300 1,125 260 0.4 81

Orange

143.1 1,648.2 1.6 194 1,489 59 -4.5 325

Placer

15.3 181.8 2.0 156 1,362 94 -4.5 325

Riverside

79.3 809.0 2.4 126 1,098 286 0.3 84

Sacramento

68.3 702.2 2.6 105 1,465 65 -1.0 162

San Bernardino

72.1 848.3 1.2 239 1,149 245 -0.3 122

San Diego

128.6 1,527.6 2.5 114 1,531 51 -4.4 323

San Francisco

63.9 743.2 2.5 114 2,962 2 -22.6 351

San Joaquin

20.9 281.1 1.3 225 1,169 225 0.3 84

San Luis Obispo

11.3 115.9 1.1 250 1,184 218 0.5 74

San Mateo

30.7 427.7 1.7 181 2,939 3 -20.7 350

Santa Barbara

17.0 207.8 0.6 297 1,248 167 -5.0 330

Santa Clara

79.9 1,135.8 2.8 96 3,329 1 -15.0 348

Santa Cruz

10.2 101.3 1.9 166 1,240 173 -1.5 189

Solano

12.9 138.5 -0.2 332 1,308 125 -0.8 144

Sonoma

21.1 207.7 1.6 194 1,418 76 -0.1 112

Stanislaus

17.4 194.7 1.3 225 1,149 245 -0.9 152

Tulare

13.5 175.2 2.6 105 987 337 0.0 106

Ventura

30.2 328.8 0.4 300 1,303 129 -3.6 306

Yolo

7.7 107.7 1.0 265 1,337 107 -3.4 301

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 California, fourth quarter 2022
Area Establishments Employment December 2022 Average weekly wage (1)

United States (2)

11,785,706 152,317,914 $1,385

California

1,768,793 18,051,313 1,679

Alameda

70,578 793,242 1,791

Alpine

84 756 1,280

Amador

1,252 12,004 1,070

Butte

8,602 78,884 1,061

Calaveras

1,506 10,706 981

Colusa

976 8,199 1,148

Contra Costa

37,903 371,054 1,590

Del Norte

791 7,985 964

El Dorado

6,296 57,654 1,233

Fresno

41,911 415,159 1,089

Glenn

1,265 9,477 1,023

Humboldt

6,310 49,850 1,009

Imperial

8,787 62,933 1,013

Inyo

789 7,401 1,112

Kern

25,151 339,504 1,090

Kings

4,930 49,736 1,062

Lake

3,227 16,241 951

Lassen

755 8,883 1,079

Los Angeles

554,811 4,551,153 1,637

Madera

5,142 55,070 1,087

Marin

13,030 109,892 1,782

Mariposa

601 5,602 958

Mendocino

4,335 31,359 1,019

Merced

7,763 81,060 1,008

Modoc

400 2,581 1,043

Mono

730 8,029 1,124

Monterey

15,182 177,878 1,125

Napa

6,209 75,214 1,361

Nevada

4,168 33,145 1,163

Orange

143,141 1,648,230 1,489

Placer

15,276 181,838 1,362

Plumas

966 5,848 1,095

Riverside

79,319 809,003 1,098

Sacramento

68,275 702,231 1,465

San Benito

1,805 16,966 1,134

San Bernardino

72,085 848,282 1,149

San Diego

128,552 1,527,586 1,531

San Francisco

63,941 743,218 2,962

San Joaquin

20,917 281,058 1,169

San Luis Obispo

11,348 115,935 1,184

San Mateo

30,668 427,662 2,939

Santa Barbara

16,950 207,791 1,248

Santa Clara

79,897 1,135,831 3,329

Santa Cruz

10,213 101,346 1,240

Shasta

8,137 67,849 1,118

Sierra

142 529 927

Siskiyou

1,829 13,315 1,004

Solano

12,913 138,461 1,308

Sonoma

21,138 207,675 1,418

Stanislaus

17,354 194,744 1,149

Sutter

3,963 31,694 1,022

Tehama

2,118 19,427 1,067

Trinity

473 2,631 1,151

Tulare

13,523 175,153 987

Tuolumne

1,798 17,105 1,088

Ventura

30,199 328,798 1,303

Yolo

7,700 107,684 1,337

Yuba

1,897 20,468 1,204

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, fourth quarter 2022
State Establishments,
fourth quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
December 2022
(thousands)
Percent change,
December
2021–22
Fourth quarter
2022
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
fourth quarter
2021–22
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

11,785.7 152,317.9 2.6 $1,385 -- -2.3 --

Alabama

152.6 2,057.5 2.2 1,158 35 0.4 8

Alaska

24.9 303.9 1.5 1,299 18 -0.8 26

Arizona

211.7 3,157.8 3.1 1,272 22 -0.8 26

Arkansas

101.0 1,272.9 2.9 1,065 50 -0.1 13

California

1,768.8 18,051.3 2.3 1,679 4 -6.9 51

Colorado

254.3 2,857.0 2.9 1,472 9 -0.9 31

Connecticut

142.8 1,667.9 1.6 1,593 6 -0.9 31

Delaware

40.5 464.6 2.4 1,346 15 0.4 8

District of Columbia

49.7 757.7 0.9 2,291 1 -1.1 35

Florida

882.6 9,616.3 3.9 1,284 20 -0.8 26

Georgia

397.5 4,794.5 3.7 1,289 19 -0.3 18

Hawaii

54.0 638.1 3.7 1,227 28 -0.2 16

Idaho

89.5 827.0 3.1 1,114 44 0.3 10

Illinois

409.8 5,997.3 2.0 1,432 11 -2.8 46

Indiana

189.5 3,154.4 2.1 1,131 40 -1.9 40

Iowa

110.8 1,543.9 0.9 1,153 37 -0.3 18

Kansas

96.4 1,416.2 2.6 1,125 41 -0.7 25

Kentucky

146.0 1,967.4 2.5 1,099 46 -0.9 31

Louisiana

151.5 1,880.4 1.1 1,134 39 -0.8 26

Maine

63.1 626.7 2.0 1,165 34 0.0 12

Maryland

190.0 2,668.5 0.3 1,462 10 -2.4 43

Massachusetts

293.6 3,620.2 1.8 1,790 2 -2.5 45

Michigan

302.6 4,350.0 2.3 1,274 21 -1.2 37

Minnesota

205.6 2,870.0 1.6 1,357 14 -1.5 38

Mississippi

83.3 1,161.6 1.2 947 51 0.2 11

Missouri

239.9 2,860.4 2.0 1,172 33 -0.6 21

Montana

62.6 500.6 2.4 1,118 42 0.9 5

Nebraska

79.1 995.5 1.7 1,154 36 1.2 4

Nevada

105.3 1,503.3 4.7 1,244 25 -0.1 13

New Hampshire

64.7 678.9 2.4 1,484 8 -6.1 50

New Jersey

331.2 4,235.5 2.7 1,534 7 -1.9 40

New Mexico

67.5 844.1 2.7 1,115 43 1.6 1

New York

683.5 9,449.3 2.7 1,736 3 -5.1 49

North Carolina

354.8 4,771.4 2.7 1,235 26 -0.6 21

North Dakota

34.8 416.0 2.0 1,204 30 0.9 5

Ohio

333.8 5,439.4 1.6 1,203 31 -1.6 39

Oklahoma

125.9 1,662.2 3.0 1,073 48 -0.6 21

Oregon

188.0 1,960.1 2.1 1,302 17 -2.2 42

Pennsylvania

391.9 5,944.5 2.1 1,320 16 -2.4 43

Rhode Island

47.0 485.8 2.2 1,261 23 -4.3 48

South Carolina

171.0 2,218.6 3.2 1,111 45 0.9 5

South Dakota

39.7 444.6 2.1 1,096 47 -1.0 34

Tennessee

207.8 3,221.9 3.8 1,254 24 -0.8 26

Texas

811.6 13,576.6 4.2 1,372 13 -0.2 16

Utah

137.3 1,675.6 3.2 1,230 27 -0.1 13

Vermont

31.6 304.6 1.7 1,207 29 1.4 3

Virginia

337.4 4,010.6 2.2 1,416 12 -0.6 21

Washington

236.8 3,540.6 3.2 1,631 5 -3.0 47

West Virginia

56.6 682.6 1.1 1,067 49 1.5 2

Wisconsin

204.0 2,899.1 2.1 1,188 32 -1.1 35

Wyoming

30.1 272.7 1.9 1,137 38 -0.5 20

Puerto Rico

50.8 976.7 4.3 665 (3) 2.9 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.7 35.7 1.6 1,021 (3) 3.8 (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, July 06, 2023