Impact Essex County

How is our county doing?

Although there have been shifts in average salaries among employment sectors, the overall average salary in Essex County ($62,000) increased from 2000. This increase was less than the state, where average salary has increased by 15% and a 13% increase in the nation. Essex County's average salary simply kept pace with inflation.

The greatest increases in average salary were in the Financial Activities (43%), Natural Resources and Mining (38%) and Professional and Business Services (24%) sectors in Essex County, while the Information sector had the largest decline (-8%). Although Essex County, the state and nation had similar changes in many sectors, the state and nation both had increases in average salaries in Information (23% and 36%, respectively).

How do we compare to similar counties?

Lake, IL, with an increase of 20% in overall average salary since 2000, was the highest among the comparison counties, with Westchester, NY and Middlesex, MA trailing with increases of 10% and 15%, respectively. The greatest sector increase within each comparison county was Natural Resources and Mining in Middlesex, MA (62%), Manufacturing in Lake, IL (56%), and Financial Activities in Westchester, NY (44%) since 2000. The largest declines in average salary were in the Information sector in Westchester, NY (-13%) and Trade, Transportation and Utilities in Middlesex, NY (-6%).

Notes about the data

Data have been converted to 2019 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). 2020 data for this indicator are expected to be released in the third quarter of 2021.

	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
Essex County, MA	15%	16%	43%	23%	9%	-8%	10%	19%	38%	2%	24%	-0%	6%
Middlesex County, MA	11%	28%	39%	26%	11%	31%	9%	9%	62%	4%	29%	-6%	15%
Lake County, IL	4%	35%	11%	19%	1%	-4%	14%	56%	6%	14%	35%	13%	20%
Westchester County, NY	10%	1%	44%	24%	16%	-13%	6%	23%	13%	28%	13%	-1%	10%
Massachusetts	16%	19%	32%	28%	13%	23%	15%	7%	29%	15%	33%	5%	15%
United States	18%	11%	26%	18%	12%	36%	12%	10%	34%	20%	25%	7%	13%

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

Essex County, MA

15%

16%

43%

23%

-8%

10%

19%

38%

24%

-0%

Middlesex County, MA

11%

28%

39%

26%

11%

31%

62%

29%

-6%

15%

Lake County, IL

35%

11%

19%

-4%

14%

56%

14%

35%

13%

20%

Westchester County, NY

10%

44%

24%

16%

-13%

23%

13%

28%

13%

-1%

10%

Massachusetts

16%

19%

32%

28%

13%

23%

15%

29%

15%

33%

15%

United States

18%

11%

26%

18%

12%

36%

12%

10%

34%

20%

25%

13%

	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
Essex County, MA	15%	16%	43%	23%	9%	-8%	10%	19%	38%	2%	24%	-0%	6%
Middlesex County, MA	11%	28%	39%	26%	11%	31%	9%	9%	62%	4%	29%	-6%	15%
Lake County, IL	4%	35%	11%	19%	1%	-4%	14%	56%	6%	14%	35%	13%	20%
Westchester County, NY	10%	1%	44%	24%	16%	-13%	6%	23%	13%	28%	13%	-1%	10%
Massachusetts	16%	19%	32%	28%	13%	23%	15%	7%	29%	15%	33%	5%	15%
United States	18%	11%	26%	18%	12%	36%	12%	10%	34%	20%	25%	7%	13%