What does this measure?
The overall percentage change in average salary, total and by sector, since 2000.
Why is this important?
Salaries are a gauge of overall economic health and a measure of the degree to which employees are sharing in the prosperity of a community. They also indicate the vitality of a region and its ability to compete and attract workers.
How is our county performing?
Although there have been shifts in average salaries among employment sectors, the overall average salary in Worcester County in 2022 was $67,000, a 7% increase from 2000. This increase was notably less than the state and the nation, where the average salary increased by 19% and 17% respectively.
The greatest increases in average salary were in the Financial Activities (35%), Government (30%), and Professional and Business Services (26%) sectors in Worcester County, while the Manufacturing and Natural Resources and Mining sectors declined by 7% and 2% respectively. The County had much smaller increases in the Educational and Information sectors compared to both the state and nation. The average Education sector salary grew by 17% in the state and 10% in the nation compared to 2% in Worcester. Similarly, the average Information sector salary grew by 35% in the state and 45% in the nation, compared to 5% in the County.
Notes about the data
Data have been converted to 2022 dollars. Industries in which most of the workforce is full time (e.g., Manufacturing) will appear to pay significantly higher wages than ones that employ many part-timers (e.g., Retail or Leisure and Hospitality).
| Construction | Educational Services | Financial Activities | Government | Health Care and Social Assistance | Information | Leisure and Hospitality | Manufacturing | Natural Resources and Mining | Other Services | Professional and Business Services | Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester County | 14% | 2% | 35% | 30% | 19% | 5% | 22% | -7% | -2% | 19% | 26% | 10% | 7% |
| Massachusetts | 13% | 17% | 36% | 23% | 17% | 35% | 24% | 5% | 12% | 24% | 37% | 11% | 19% |
Notes: N/A - Data not disclosed or not available
| Construction | Educational Services | Financial Activities | Government | Health Care and Social Assistance | Information | Leisure and Hospitality | Manufacturing | Natural Resources and Mining | Other Services | Professional and Business Services | Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester County | $80,801 | $64,283 | $101,892 | $79,480 | $61,385 | $99,198 | $27,128 | $85,851 | $44,396 | $42,118 | $87,060 | $58,445 | $66,993 |
| Massachusetts | $90,720 | $73,130 | $174,285 | $89,340 | $68,131 | $153,771 | $36,369 | $100,483 | $63,383 | $50,051 | $134,859 | $67,956 | $89,800 |
Notes: Figures are in constant 2022 dollars. N/A - Data not available or not disclosed.
| INDICATORS | TREND |
|---|---|
| Change in Employment by Sector | 10 Not Applicable* |
| Change in Average Salary by Sector | 10 Not Applicable* |
| Female to Male Earnings Ratio |
0
Maintaining
|
| Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity |
-1
Decreasing
|
| Employer Size |
1
Increasing
|
| Business Ownership, by Race/Ethnicity | 10 Not Applicable* |
| Self-Employment Revenue |
0
Maintaining
|
| People Entering/Leaving County for Work |
1
Increasing
|
