Jobs, pay and daily life in McAlester, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
McAlester is a city in Oklahoma with 18,111 residents. The median household earns $51,930 a year and the median rent is $915 a month, which is 21.1% of the median household income. We could not match it to a metropolitan area in the BLS wage tables, so metro pay data is not shown.
How McAlester compares. Among the 60 largest places in Oklahoma, McAlester is #30 by population, #47 for household income (#1 = highest), #41 for college degrees (#1 = most), #21 for rent (#1 = cheapest). Its county, Pittsburg County, is #30 of 77 counties for average pay ($50,572).
McAlester has 18,111 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.4% of the population of Oklahoma. It covers 18 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 1,017 people per square mile. The median age is 35.6, 4% younger than the state median (35.6 against 37.0).
The median gross rent is $915 a month (rent plus utilities), 10% below the state median ($915 against $1,014). Over a year that is 21.1% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $151,600, which is 2.9 times the median household income ($51,930); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 58.5% of households own their home, 11% below the state average (58.5% against 65.8%).
In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Pittsburg County was 4.8%. 53.3% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Pittsburg County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 82.3% drive alone, 0.2% use public transit, 1.2% walk, 6.4% work from home. 7.3% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 30% below the state average (7.3% against 10.4%).
21.0% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 26% below the state share (21.0% against 28.4%). 2.0% of residents were born outside the United States, 69% below the state share (2.0% against 6.4%). The poverty rate is 19.7%, 29% above the state rate (19.7% against 15.3%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 83°F (28.4°C), and the coolest is Jan at 38°F (3.5°C). About 1,180 mm (46 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; May is the wettest month (161 mm) and Jan the driest (60 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Okmulgee (49 miles, rent 9% lower); Ada (52 miles, similar rent); Seminole (54 miles, rent 19% lower); Muskogee (61 miles, rent 6% lower). Rent differences are against McAlester; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Oklahoma (915) →State guide: OklahomaCountry guidePittsburg CountyOklahoma rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 915 federal postings open in Oklahoma (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
No metropolitan wage table is matched to this city. Employment shares of residents by industry (ACS):
| Industry ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.3% |
| Public administration | 16.6% |
| Retail trade | 13.4% |
| Manufacturing | 9.8% |
| Other services | 6.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 6.8% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 6.6% |
| Construction | 4.1% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 3.1% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 2.8% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 2.6% |
| Information | 2.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.9% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where McAlester lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburg County | 43,561 | $2,331 million | $53,504 | 14,780 | 1,046 | $50,572 | -2.1% | 4.8% | 17,217 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 1,802 | 21.4% | $33,335 | 1.22 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,467 | 17.4% | $41,844 | 0.69 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,393 | 16.5% | $20,682 | 1.04 |
| Manufacturing | 718 | 8.5% | $58,820 | 0.59 |
| Construction | 436 | 5.2% | $64,484 | 0.56 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 426 | 5.1% | $56,757 | 0.68 |
| Administrative and waste services | 385 | 4.6% | $42,409 | 0.44 |
| Finance and insurance | 380 | 4.5% | $55,218 | 0.63 |
| Wholesale trade | 368 | 4.4% | $60,347 | 0.63 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 267 | 3.2% | $40,939 | 0.60 |
| Mining, oil and gas | 254 | 3.0% | $81,235 | 4.54 |
| Utilities | 208 | 2.5% | $133,247 | 3.70 |
| Real estate and rental | 126 | 1.5% | $51,946 | 0.55 |
| Information | 102 | 1.2% | $52,124 | 0.37 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 50 | 0.6% | $16,877 | 0.20 |
| Educational services | 41 | 0.5% | $34,093 | 0.13 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing | 7 | 0.1% | $35,224 | 0.06 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 82.3% |
| Public transit | 0.2% |
| Walk | 1.2% |
| Work from home | 6.4% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 7.3% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $51,930 |
| Income per person | $27,708 |
| Median gross rent per month | $915 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 21.1% |
| Median home value | $151,600 |
| Homeowners | 58.5% |
| Poverty rate | 19.7% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | n/a |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | n/a |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; graduated states show 0 until you enter your own estimate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Graduated, top rate 4.50%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 84.9% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 21.0% |
| Born abroad | 2.0% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 53.3% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.5 | 38 | 60 |
| Feb | 5.6 | 42 | 71 |
| Mar | 11.1 | 52 | 95 |
| Apr | 16.1 | 61 | 122 |
| May | 20.7 | 69 | 161 |
| Jun | 25.6 | 78 | 114 |
| Jul | 28.4 | 83 | 94 |
| Aug | 28.1 | 83 | 94 |
| Sep | 23.8 | 75 | 100 |
| Oct | 16.8 | 62 | 115 |
| Nov | 10.5 | 51 | 72 |
| Dec | 4.8 | 41 | 82 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Okmulgee | OK | 49 mi | 11,348 | $41,848 | $837 |
| Ada | OK | 52 mi | 16,575 | $53,507 | $894 |
| Seminole | OK | 54 mi | 7,194 | $39,121 | $744 |
| Muskogee | OK | 61 mi | 36,758 | $50,213 | $858 |
| Sallisaw | OK | 66 mi | 8,605 | $48,036 | $826 |
| Poteau | OK | 67 mi | 8,959 | $50,511 | $853 |
| Bixby | OK | 71 mi | 30,155 | $104,404 | $1,393 |
| Glenpool | OK | 72 mi | 14,151 | $79,525 | $1,370 |
| Coweta | OK | 72 mi | 10,433 | $67,519 | $932 |
| Durant | OK | 73 mi | 19,746 | $46,812 | $953 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
18,111 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$915 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 21.1% of the median household income.
$51,930 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
4.8% (BLS county, Pittsburg County (latest month 2026M09)).
Oklahoma. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.