Benton County tops U.S. weekly wage growth
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Benton County saw the most wage growth among large U.S. counties between the first quarters of 2024 and 2025, per new federal data. The average weekly pay there was up 14.6%.
The big picture: Benton County's average weekly gain of $860 in professional and business services made the biggest contribution to the county's increase in average weekly wages, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- The agency tracked data from the 372 largest counties.
Zoom in: Walmart, J.B. Hunt and other major employers are headquartered in Benton County.
- Tyson Foods and the University of Arkansas are in Washington County, which saw wages increase 2.3%.
Zoom out: Nationally, average weekly wages rose 4.1% to $1,589.
- Yes, but: Inflation rose about 2.7% during the period, taking a bite out of those gains.
By the numbers: Following Benton County were San Mateo County, California (+11.4%); Monmouth County, New Jersey (+10.9%); and New York County, New York (+10.6%).
- New York and San Mateo counties were also home to the country's highest average weekly wages overall in Q1 2025, at about $4,500 and $4,400, respectively.
Between the lines: Dozens of cities, counties and states raised their minimum wage back in January.
Reality check: In Benton County, the average selling price for a single-family home during the second half of 2024 was $449,750, up 7% from a year earlier, according to the most recent Arvest Skyline Report. It was $402,322 in Washington County, up 4%.
- Those prices were up more than 120% from a decade earlier.
The bottom line: Looking at wage growth for all residents only tells part of the story.
- Broadly speaking, men's wages rose last year while women's pay stagnated, Axios' Emily Peck reported — "a worrying sign that the slow march toward pay equity for women is stumbling."
Go deeper: Inflation and unemployment filings are up, with no silver lining this time