The average weekly wage paid to workers in area counties in the first quarter of 2016 was highest in urban counties and lowest in rural counties.
1. Hamilton, $882 a week, up 0.9 percent from a year ago
2. Whitfield, $812 a week, up 4.8 percent from a year ago
3. Rhea, $794 a week, up 2.2 percent from a year ago
4. McMinn, $748 a week, up 2.6 percent from a year ago
5. Bradley, $725 a week, up 0.6 percent from a year ago
6. Walker, $699 a week, up 0.3 percent from a year ago
7. Polk, $664 a week, up 21.8 percent from a year ago
8. Marion, $660 a week, up 1.1 percent from a year ago
9. Meigs, $627 a week, up 3.1 percent from a year ago
10. Catoosa, $624 a week, up 1.0 percent from a year ago
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, First quarter of 2016 average wages for all workers compared with first quarter of 2015