The overall percentage change in average salary since 2000.
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.
Although there have been shifts in average salaries among employment sectors, the overall average salary in Essex County ($58,000) increased from 2000. This is in contrast to the state, where average salary has increased by 11% and a 10% 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 (39%), Government (22%) and Manufacturing (21%) sectors in Essex County, while the Information sector had the largest decline (-18%). 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 (14% and 25%, respectively).
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 8% and 11%, respectively. The greatest sector increase within each comparison county was Manufacturing in Lake County, IL (57%), Natural Resources and Mining in Middlesex, MA (65%), and Financial Activities in Westchester, NY (38%) since 2000. The largest declines in average salary were in the Information sector in Westchester, NY (-19%) and Lake County, IL (-8%) and Trade, Transportation and Utilities in Middlesex, NY (-6%).
Data have been converted to 2017 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). 2018 data for this indicator are expected to be released in the third quarter of 2019.
| 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 | 11% | 13% | 39% | 22% | 8% | -18% | 5% | 21% | 20% | -0% | 18% | -2% | 4% |
| Middlesex County, MA | 6% | 42% | 34% | 20% | 10% | 21% | 3% | 12% | 65% | 2% | 22% | -6% | 11% |
| Lake County, IL | 8% | 33% | 9% | 15% | -0% | -8% | 11% | 57% | 0% | 10% | 34% | 11% | 20% |
| Westchester County, NY | 9% | 11% | 38% | 18% | 13% | -19% | 1% | 25% | 14% | 26% | 15% | -6% | 8% |
| Massachusetts | 12% | 18% | 27% | 25% | 14% | 14% | 9% | 10% | 29% | 10% | 25% | 2% | 11% |
| 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 | 11% | 13% | 39% | 22% | 8% | -18% | 5% | 21% | 20% | -0% | 18% | -2% | 4% |
| Middlesex County, MA | 6% | 42% | 34% | 20% | 10% | 21% | 3% | 12% | 65% | 2% | 22% | -6% | 11% |
| Lake County, IL | 8% | 33% | 9% | 15% | -0% | -8% | 11% | 57% | 0% | 10% | 34% | 11% | 20% |
| Westchester County, NY | 9% | 11% | 38% | 18% | 13% | -19% | 1% | 25% | 14% | 26% | 15% | -6% | 8% |
| Massachusetts | 12% | 18% | 27% | 25% | 14% | 14% | 9% | 10% | 29% | 10% | 25% | 2% | 11% |
| INDICATORS | TREND | ESSEX COUNTY |
|---|
