Payroll per Employee by State (CBP 2022)



By: Jack Nicholaisen author image
article image

The data tells a clear story. This analysis shows you what it means for your business. You can use it to make better decisions.

Key Takeaways

  • Top performers like District of Columbia show what’s possible

Overview

Payroll per Employee by State (CBP 2022) - Overview

You get insights that matter. Data you can actually use. You can make better decisions. You can avoid costly mistakes.

What This Means for You

Here’s what this data means for your business. Top performers like District of Columbia show what’s possible. You can learn from their success. You can avoid markets that struggle. This isn’t just data. It’s a roadmap to better decisions.

Data Comparison

This chart compares values across different categories.

Data Analysis

Payroll per Employee by State (CBP 2022) - Data Analysis

This analysis uses official statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau via County Business Patterns (CBP). Series and geography follow your page configuration and API parameters.

Primary metric in this view: payroll_per_employee (Annual payroll per employee ($)).

Variables / notes from page config: PAYANN (annual payroll), EMP (employment), NAICS2017 filter, geography state/county/metro, Year 2022.

Geography: state:*.

Year (when specified): 2022.

Top ranking in this extract: District of Columbia (99,016).

Census products use survey and administrative sources; suppression rules can hide small cells. Confirm critical figures in Census releases when precision matters.

Key statistics

  • Range: 49,034 to 99,016
  • Average: 61,518
  • Observations: 50

Comparisons

State-by-State Comparison

Based on the latest government data, here are the rankings:

Top Performers

  1. District of Columbia: 99,016
  2. New York: 84,978
  3. California: 84,937
  4. Massachusetts: 84,540
  5. Washington: 81,181
  6. Connecticut: 74,569
  7. New Jersey: 72,290
  8. Illinois: 69,368
  9. Alaska: 69,199
  10. Colorado: 68,135
  11. Delaware: 67,498
  12. Virginia: 67,085
  13. Maryland: 65,458
  14. Minnesota: 65,004
  15. Texas: 64,060

Key Insight: The top performer (District of Columbia) has 2.0x the value of the lowest performer (West Virginia).

These rankings reveal clear patterns in the data. You can use this information to identify markets with the strongest performance.

Key Insights

Top Opportunity: District of Columbia leads with 99,016 - the highest value in the data.

You can position yourself where success happens.

Market Gap: District of Columbia has 2.0x the value of West Virginia (49,034).

You can skip markets that don’t work.

Average Performance: The average value across all regions is 61,518.

Range: Values span from 49,034 to 99,016 - a difference of 49,982.

How to Use This Data

Step 1: Read through the analysis. Get familiar with the key findings.

Step 2: Focus on what matters to you. Not every insight applies to every business.

Step 3: Connect the dots. See how this data relates to your situation. You can find opportunities others miss.

Step 4: Take action. Use the insights to make better decisions.

Best Practices & Tips

What Works Well:

What to Watch Out For:

  • Don’t rely on one metric: No single number tells the whole story. You can miss important context if you focus too narrowly.

  • Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results: Markets change. You can get caught off guard if you assume trends continue.

  • Consider your specific situation: What works for others might not work for you. You can make mistakes by copying without thinking.

In Summary…

Calculate payroll per employee to see wage levels by industry and location. This tool reveals compensation patterns that inform hiring and location decisions. Set competitive wages with Business Initiative!

Ready to take action based on this data?

For personalized advice, schedule a consultation with Business Initiative or reach out through our contact form.

Explore more by subscribing to The Initiative Newsletter or following us on X for the latest insights.




FAQs

What is Payroll per Employee by State (CBP 2022)?

Payroll per Employee by State (CBP 2022) is a data-driven analysis using official U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns (CBP) statistics.

This page summarizes rankings and patterns you can use for business location and planning decisions.

Learn More...

Values are derived from official government APIs via Business Initiative's government-data pipeline.

Metrics on this page match the published series definitions for the stated year.

Use the rankings and charts to compare geographies or sectors before you expand.

How often is this data updated?

Underlying source data is typically updated annually.

This page is refreshed when new releases are available.

Learn More...

Check the data sources section for the series year shown on this page.

We update pages after major annual releases from the source agency.

What data sources are used?

This analysis uses U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns (CBP).

All figures are public official statistics.

Learn More...

See the Data Sources section on this page for variable and geography details.

Derived rates (when shown) are calculated from the raw published counts.

How should I use these statistics for my business?

Compare your target market against top and bottom performers on the primary metric.

Combine this view with industry and local demand research before registering or expanding.

Learn More...

Treat rankings as directional evidence, not a sole decision criterion.

Business Initiative can help you turn location insights into formation and compliance next steps.

Ask an Expert

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About the Author

jack nicholaisen
Jack Nicholaisen

Jack Nicholaisen is the founder of Businessinitiative.org. After acheiving the rank of Eagle Scout and studying Civil Engineering at Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), he has spent the last 5 years dissecting the mess of information online about LLCs in order to help aspiring entrepreneurs and established business owners better understand everything there is to know about starting, running, and growing Limited Liability Companies and other business entities.