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- calendar_today November 2, 2026
Utah's employment and wage landscape in the first quarter of 2026 reveals a dynamic picture with notable variations across counties. Fresh data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics highlight modest statewide employment growth coupled with varying wage gains, reflecting both regional strengths and disparities.
Statewide, total employment increased by 0.9 percent over the year, reaching 1,737,800 in March 2026.[1] This growth was not uniform across all regions. Among the state's five largest counties, Washington County saw the highest employment boost at 1.9 percent, followed by Utah County at 1.8 percent and Salt Lake County at 1.2 percent.[1] In contrast, Weber and Davis counties experienced employment declines, recording decreases of 0.3 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively.[1] Salt Lake County remained the state's employment hub with 806,300 jobs—accounting for a substantial share of Utah's workforce.[1] For more granular statistics, the detailed employment table from the BLS provides further insight.
In terms of wages, Utah's statewide average weekly pay climbed 4.0 percent over the year to $1,415, securing the state 27th for wage level and 17th for wage growth nationally.[1] Wage growth was particularly strong in several large counties. Washington County again led with a 7.0 percent rise in average weekly wages.[1] Weber County saw a 4.3 percent increase, Salt Lake County 4.0 percent, and Utah County trailed with a 1.5 percent gain.[1] Notably, the average weekly wage in Salt Lake County ($1,666) surpassed the national average of $1,654,[1] while other large counties reported lower figures—Utah County at $1,288 and Washington County at $1,042.[1] You can view a graphical breakdown in the BLS wage growth chart.
Smaller counties, those with employment below 75,000, generally offered lower average weekly wages than the national benchmark, with Garfield County reporting the highest wage among them at $1,642 and Piute County the lowest at $730.[1] Statewide, wage levels exhibited a broad spectrum: eight counties reported $949 or less, and six reported $1,250 or more in average weekly wages. These county-level wage variations are detailed in the summary table.
In summary, early 2026 saw Utah's job market grow modestly, with pronounced regional differences. Wage growth outpaced the national average in many of the state's populous counties, but significant disparities persist between counties—especially when comparing large economic centers to smaller rural areas.
