Labor Department Report Shows How Oklahoma Jobs Measure Up

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Tulsa, Rogers and Washington county residents are among the highest paid in Oklahoma, while salaries in Nowata, Ottawa, Delaware and Adair counties rank among the lowest, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report released Wednesday.

Wage and employment levels for all Oklahoma counties show that average wages are below the national average of $865. Oklahoma county comes closest to the national average with an average weekly wage of $789 and Tulsa is next with $783.

The lowest paid counties in Green Country, including Nowata, Ottawa, Adair and Delaware, have an average weekly wage of $549 or less.

Oklahoma and Tulsa counties account for nearly one-half – or 49.4 percent - of the state's total jobs. From June 2009 to June 2010, Oklahoma County was above the national average in job growth – registering an employment gain of 0.2 percent. Employment in Tulsa County declined 2.0 percent.

Over the year, weekly wages rose 3.0 percent both nationwide and in Oklahoma. Wage increases in Tulsa were smaller at 2.5 percent and in Oklahoma City at 2.3 percent.