Benton County first quarter wage growth up 14.6%, top in the nation

Benton County was first in the nation for first quarter 2025 average wage growth, with Arkansas in the top five ranking among the states for wage growth in the quarter, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) report for the first quarter of 2025 was posted Tuesday (Sept. 8) and is the most recent wage data available. Only three Arkansas counties — Benton, Pulaski, and Washington — made the cut of the 372 largest U.S. counties by population. The 372 counties comprise 73.4% of the total covered workers.

From March 2024 to March 2025, employment increased in 221 of the 372 largest counties. In March 2025, national employment increased to 154.5 million, a 0.4% increase over the year, as measured by the QCEW report.

Among the 372 largest counties, 340 had over-the-year increases in average weekly wages. In the first quarter of 2025, average weekly wages for the nation increased to $1,589, up 4.1% over the year, and Benton County in Northwest Arkansas had the largest first quarter over-the-year wage gain at 14.6%.

“Within Benton, an average weekly wage gain of $860 (up 19.1%) in professional and business services made the largest contribution to the county’s increase in average weekly wages,” the BLS noted in its report.

Rounding out the top five counties for first quarter wage growth were San Mateo, Calif. (11.4%); Monmouth, N.J. (10.9%); New York (10.6%); and Marion, Ind. (8.9%).

Following are the estimated establishments — number of businesses — and wage numbers for Arkansas and the three Arkansas counties in the first quarter of 2025.

Arkansas
Establishments: 107,600
First quarter 2024 average weekly wage: $1,236
Percentage increase from 2024 quarter: 5.6%

Benton County
Establishments: 8,900
First quarter 2024 average weekly wage: $2,296
Percentage increase from 2024 quarter: 14.6%
Percentage growth rank among 372 counties: 1

Pulaski County
Establishments: 14,600
First quarter 2024 average weekly wage: $1,289
Percentage increase from 2025 quarter: 2.6%
Percentage growth rank among 372 counties: 247

Washington County
Establishments: 7,300
First quarter 2025 average weekly wage: $1,136
Percentage increase from 2024 quarter: 2.3%
Percentage growth rank among 372 counties: 268

Among Arkansas’ contiguous states, Arkansas posted the highest percentage average weekly wage growth of 5.6%. Following are the data for the contiguous states ranked by percentage growth.

Mississippi: $1,018, 4.1%
Tennessee: $1,364, 4%
Missouri: $1,310, 3.2%
Texas: $1,587, 3.1%
Oklahoma: $1,186, 3%
Louisiana: $1,227, 2.8%

Following is the top 5 ranking for percentage gain in average weekly wages in the first quarter of 2025.

Hawaii: 6.7%
New York: 6.2%
Alaska and Washington (tied): 5.8%
Arkansas and Montana (tied): 5.6%
Florida: 5.1%