Tulsa Adds Jobs as Local Wages Outpace Nation
Employers in the region should expect hiring competition as wages rise 4.4% locally against a 4.2% national average.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Employment
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Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols used his second State of the City address to report economic, public safety, and housing gains. Tulsa County was the only one of Oklahoma's three largest counties to record net employment growth between March 2025 and March 2026, with nearly 5,500 new jobs announced across the Tulsa region.
Why it matters
Job growth in a single county while peer counties in the state stalled signals where hiring demand is concentrating, which matters for employers competing for workers. Wage growth of 4.4% locally is above the 4.2% national average, a gap that affects payroll planning for businesses in the region.
Tulsa County recorded net employment growth from March 2025 to March 2026, while the city reported 4.4% local wage growth against a 4.2% national average. Nearly 5,500 new jobs were announced across the region, though the address did not break those figures down by employer or industry.
The players
Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols
Tulsa's mayor, who delivered the city's second State of the City address and presented the employment, crime, and housing figures.
The details
The mayor presented the figures at the Tulsa Fire Department Training Academy as part of his second State of the City address. Alongside the employment data, he reported a 17% decline in homicides, a 96% violent crime solve rate, and property crime declines in double-digit percentages. On housing, he said 4,400 units have been completed or permitted since he took office, with nearly 2,500 meeting affordability thresholds.
Timeline
March 2025 to March 2026: Period of Tulsa County net employment growth.
Since Nichols took office: 4,400 housing units completed or permitted.
2028: Target date for 6,000 new affordable housing units.
Market Landscape
Tulsa's 4.4% local wage growth is set against a 4.2% national average, a modest premium rather than a large divergence. The employment gain is notable because Tulsa County was the only one of Oklahoma's three largest counties to record net growth over the period.
Employers in the Tulsa region should expect continued competition for workers as nearly 5,500 new jobs are announced. Businesses setting wage budgets should factor in the 4.4% local wage growth figure when planning compensation.
The takeaway
Tulsa's job growth and wage figures are the operator-relevant signal from this address, since they bear directly on hiring and pay decisions. Track the employer and sector breakdown of the announced jobs as those projects move from announcement to hiring.
Further reading
For broader context on hiring trends, see Employment coverage in Tulsa.
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