Counties in Massachusetts by average weekly wage (QCEW)

Suffolk County had the highest average weekly wage (QCEW) of 14 counties in 2022, at $2,397. Franklin County had the lowest, at $982. The median was $1,266 and the figure for Massachusetts was $1,727. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Highest2,397Suffolk County
Median1,26614 counties
Massachusetts1,727History

Map of counties, 2022

Barnstable County: 1,155 USDBerkshire County: 1,104 USDBristol County: 1,172 USDDukes County: 1,282 USDEssex County: 1,407 USDFranklin County: 982 USDHampden County: 1,107 USDHampshire County: 1,120 USDMiddlesex County: 2,033 USDNantucket County: 1,446 USDNorfolk County: 1,536 USDPlymouth County: 1,249 USDSuffolk County: 2,397 USDWorcester County: 1,288 USD
  • Under 1,100
  • 1,100 to 1,200
  • 1,200 to 1,300
  • 1,300 to 1,500
  • 1,500 and over
USD, 2022. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2022

Suffolk County: 2,397 USDSuffolk County2,397Middlesex County: 2,033 USDMiddlesex County2,033Norfolk County: 1,536 USDNorfolk County1,536Nantucket County: 1,446 USDNantucket County1,446Essex County: 1,407 USDEssex County1,407Worcester County: 1,288 USDWorcester County1,288Dukes County: 1,282 USDDukes County1,282Plymouth County: 1,249 USDPlymouth County1,249Bristol County: 1,172 USDBristol County1,172Barnstable County: 1,155 USDBarnstable County1,155Hampshire County: 1,120 USDHampshire County1,120Hampden County: 1,107 USDHampden County1,107Berkshire County: 1,104 USDBerkshire County1,104Franklin County: 982 USDFranklin County982Suffolk County: 2,397 USDSuffolk County2,397Middlesex County: 2,033 USDMiddlesex County2,033Norfolk County: 1,536 USDNorfolk County1,536Nantucket County: 1,446 USDNantucket County1,446Essex County: 1,407 USDEssex County1,407Worcester County: 1,288 USDWorcester County1,288Dukes County: 1,282 USDDukes County1,282Plymouth County: 1,249 USDPlymouth County1,249Bristol County: 1,172 USDBristol County1,172Barnstable County: 1,155 USDBarnstable County1,155Hampshire County: 1,120 USDHampshire County1,120Hampden County: 1,107 USDHampden County1,107Berkshire County: 1,104 USDBerkshire County1,104Franklin County: 982 USDFranklin County982
USD. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2022
USD
Change on 2021
1Suffolk County2,397+2.7%
2Middlesex County2,033-0.3%
3Norfolk County1,536+4.1%
4Nantucket County1,446+5.2%
5Essex County1,407+2.8%
6Worcester County1,288+3.1%
7Dukes County1,282+4.2%
8Plymouth County1,249+3.7%
9Bristol County1,172+2.7%
10Barnstable County1,155+4.3%
11Hampshire County1,120+3.8%
12Hampden County1,107+3.2%
13Berkshire County1,104+4.6%
14Franklin County982+4.2%

Other periods

About this ranking

Total wages paid during the year divided by the average number of covered jobs and by 52, in US dollars, all industries, private and government, from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Counted where the job is located, from the reports employers file each quarter; monthly employment counts the jobs in the pay period that includes the 12th.

In current dollars, not adjusted for inflation. An average per job, so part-time jobs pull it down and high earners pull it up; for the typical job use median_annual_wage. Wages include bonuses, stock options exercised, severance pay and tips, which makes counties with corporate headquarters stand out. Covers about 95 percent of US wage and salary jobs. Excludes the self-employed, most agricultural workers on small farms, the armed forces, elected officials in most states, most railroad employees, some domestic workers and most student workers at schools.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties (Counties in Massachusetts by average weekly wage (QCEW), 2022) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv

MLA 9

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Massachusetts by average weekly wage (QCEW), 2022. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/massachusetts-counties?period=2022. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Counties in Massachusetts by average weekly wage (QCEW), 2022. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/massachusetts-counties?period=2022.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Massachusetts by average weekly wage (QCEW), 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/massachusetts-counties?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_massachusetts_by_2022,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Massachusetts by average weekly wage (QCEW), 2022}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/massachusetts-counties?period=2022. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Massachusetts by average weekly wage (QCEW), 2022
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/massachusetts-counties?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/average-weekly-wage/massachusetts-counties?period=2022.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest average weekly wage (QCEW)?

Suffolk County, with $2,397 in 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest average weekly wage (QCEW)?

Franklin County, with $982 in 2022.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average weekly wage, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Average weekly wage (QCEW): other rankings

Counties in Massachusetts: more rankings