Employee compensation in Midwest falls below U.S. average

The Midwest region, which includes Missouri, landed near the lower end of the scale in average employee compensation during March at roughly $27.92 per hour, according to data released yesterday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Comparatively, the U.S. average during March was $28.78, with wages and salaries making up 70.4 percent and benefits accounting for 29.6 percent, according to a news release.

Compensation paid by private employers in the Midwest region comprised $19.42 in wages and salaries and $8.51 in benefits. Narrowing down the results to the West North Central division, which includes Missouri and Kansas, reveals an average compensation of $28, the release said.

Private employers in the Northeast region paid out the most in compensation during March with an average of $32.99, followed by the West with $30.03, and the South with $26.16.