Pay raises smaller in Sonoma County

Wages are rising more slowly in Sonoma County than the rest of the United States, according to new data released Thursday.

The average weekly wage was $846 in Sonoma County during the first quarter, up 3.4 percent from a year ago, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

Statewide, wages climbed 6.2 percent during the period, to an average of $1,066. Across the United States, wages rose 5.2 percent, reaching $935.

Wages grew faster in 199 of the nation's 322 largest counties, the agency reported. In the Bay Area, only San Mateo County registered slower growth, with wages increasing 1.6 percent to an average of $1,485.