Jobs, pay and daily life in Tahlequah, 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.
Tahlequah is a city in Oklahoma with 16,935 residents. The median household earns $49,581 a year and the median rent is $835 a month, which is 20.2% of the median household income. The nearest metropolitan area with BLS wage data is Tulsa, OK (458,730 jobs), about 23 miles away; this place is probably not part of it, so its pay tables are a reference only.
How Tahlequah compares. Among the 60 largest places in Oklahoma, Tahlequah is #31 by population, #59 for homeownership (#1 = highest), #5 for rent (#1 = cheapest), #51 for household income (#1 = highest). Its county, Cherokee County, is #39 of 77 counties for average pay ($49,123).
Tahlequah has 16,935 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.4% of the population of Oklahoma. It covers 13 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 1,327 people per square mile. The median age is 29.3, 21% younger than the state median (29.3 against 37.0).
The median gross rent is $835 a month (rent plus utilities), 18% below the state median ($835 against $1,014). Over a year that is 20.2% 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 $185,400, which is 3.7 times the median household income ($49,581); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 40.2% of households own their home, 39% below the state average (40.2% against 65.8%). A low ownership share points to a rental-heavy market with more apartments and shorter stays.
The nearest metropolitan area with wage data is Tulsa, OK, metropolitan area has 458,730 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $46,670 a year, 8% below the national median ($46,670 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (56,900 jobs, median $44,000); food preparation and serving related (43,300 jobs, median $28,070); sales and related (42,190 jobs, median $35,830). The area is most specialised in installation, maintenance, and repair (1.5 times) and production (1.4 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($105,050) and architecture and engineering ($93,600). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Cherokee County was 3.9%. 63.4% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Cherokee County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 71.2% drive alone, 0.7% use public transit, 5.0% walk, 5.6% work from home. 9.8% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 6% below the state average (9.8% against 10.4%).
34.4% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 21% above the state share (34.4% against 28.4%). 4.0% of residents were born outside the United States, 37% below the state share (4.0% against 6.4%). The poverty rate is 18.4%, 20% above the state rate (18.4% against 15.3%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 82°F (27.9°C), and the coolest is Jan at 36°F (2.0°C). About 1,156 mm (46 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; May is the wettest month (156 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: Wagoner (23 miles, rent 4% higher); Muskogee (24 miles, similar rent); Siloam Springs (31 miles, rent 20% higher); Sallisaw (33 miles, similar rent). Rent differences are against Tahlequah; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Oklahoma (915) →State guide: OklahomaCountry guideCherokee 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.
Open federal jobs in Oklahoma →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 12,760 | 1.12 | $26,460 | $20,610 | $34,410 | -15% |
| Retail Salespersons | 12,110 | 1.05 | $29,810 | $23,410 | $45,590 | -16% |
| General and Operations Managers | 11,840 | 1.15 | $96,150 | $47,400 | $215,110 | -9% |
| Registered Nurses | 10,880 | 1.09 | $84,790 | $57,240 | $109,150 | -13% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 9,990 | 1.15 | $36,980 | $28,910 | $48,100 | -8% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 9,800 | 1.28 | $38,560 | $29,540 | $59,800 | -14% |
| Cashiers | 9,770 | 1.07 | $29,180 | $22,690 | $36,200 | -11% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 9,400 | 1.12 | $35,270 | $28,900 | $46,480 | -6% |
| Office Clerks, General | 8,010 | 1.10 | $40,380 | $24,050 | $59,190 | -10% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 7,460 | 1.11 | $18,350 | $16,200 | $48,100 | -48% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 7,220 | 1.19 | $58,790 | $37,530 | $75,160 | +0% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 5,800 | 1.40 | $44,740 | $31,720 | $59,780 | +0% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 5,490 | 0.43 | $28,140 | $25,740 | $34,270 | -21% |
| Nursing Assistants | 5,420 | 1.27 | $36,720 | $31,740 | $43,480 | -13% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 5,410 | 1.28 | $62,390 | $42,830 | $103,400 | -10% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 5,140 | 0.79 | $32,170 | $24,350 | $42,680 | -13% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 5,110 | 1.20 | $81,320 | $50,710 | $132,990 | -3% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 5,060 | 1.00 | $40,700 | $29,000 | $58,920 | -14% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 4,670 | 1.29 | $36,900 | $27,770 | $57,360 | -16% |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 4,520 | 3.68 | $53,550 | $39,960 | $72,740 | -0% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physicians | 540 | 1.69 | $350,190 | $128,880 | $484,950 | +43% |
| Physicians, All Other | 850 | 0.84 | $259,220 | $63,460 | $387,550 | -3% |
| Chief Executives | 790 | 1.31 | $162,260 | $77,990 | $382,260 | -24% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 770 | 1.18 | $160,810 | $120,400 | $219,010 | -6% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 1,060 | 0.53 | $150,680 | $86,320 | $216,490 | -14% |
| Financial Managers | 1,950 | 0.79 | $141,980 | $82,850 | $284,590 | -15% |
| Pharmacists | 820 | 0.86 | $140,820 | $108,990 | $164,430 | -0% |
| Sales Managers | 1,050 | 0.56 | $140,040 | $71,300 | $298,520 | -6% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 1,090 | 1.14 | $139,460 | $100,240 | $167,950 | +5% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 730 | 1.00 | $123,930 | $73,840 | $191,150 | -2% |
| Administrative Services Managers | 510 | 0.66 | $111,790 | $65,320 | $196,390 | -2% |
| Software Developers | 1,960 | 0.39 | $108,730 | $76,140 | $166,580 | -20% |
| Lawyers | 1,820 | 0.82 | $108,220 | $47,350 | $217,680 | -32% |
| Mechanical Engineers | 1,060 | 1.21 | $107,440 | $70,710 | $140,510 | +3% |
| Construction Managers | 700 | 0.62 | $105,960 | $71,360 | $167,480 | -8% |
| Electrical Engineers | 710 | 1.21 | $105,180 | $75,950 | $143,250 | -13% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 1,620 | 0.92 | $104,470 | $67,000 | $175,810 | -16% |
| Civil Engineers | 880 | 0.81 | $102,080 | $73,310 | $151,930 | +1% |
| Computer Systems Analysts | 1,260 | 0.82 | $101,460 | $69,160 | $137,080 | -4% |
| Physical Therapists | 710 | 0.90 | $100,840 | $74,780 | $127,510 | -2% |
These figures are for the nearest metropolitan area with wage data, Tulsa, OK, about 23 miles away. They show what the regional labour market pays; they are not a measure of this city.
Median pay across all occupations: $46,670 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.9% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 33.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 13.8% |
| Retail trade | 11.0% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 8.8% |
| Public administration | 7.4% |
| Other services | 6.1% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 4.5% |
| Manufacturing | 4.0% |
| Construction | 3.6% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 3.4% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 2.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.3% |
| Information | 0.6% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Tahlequah 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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee County | 47,942 | $1,929 million | $40,238 | 17,947 | 921 | $49,123 | +2.3% | 3.9% | 23,751 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 1,703 | 26.4% | $30,641 | 0.95 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,467 | 22.7% | $19,129 | 0.90 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,206 | 18.7% | $43,901 | 0.47 |
| Construction | 360 | 5.6% | $48,196 | 0.38 |
| Real estate and rental | 348 | 5.4% | $37,833 | 1.25 |
| Finance and insurance | 313 | 4.8% | $58,328 | 0.43 |
| Manufacturing | 272 | 4.2% | $52,393 | 0.18 |
| Professional and technical services | 213 | 3.3% | $50,591 | 0.17 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 209 | 3.2% | $34,019 | 0.39 |
| Educational services | 130 | 2.0% | $42,755 | 0.35 |
| Wholesale trade | 87 | 1.3% | $49,817 | 0.12 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 83 | 1.3% | $23,723 | 0.28 |
| Information | 64 | 1.0% | $30,401 | 0.19 |
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 | 71.2% |
| Public transit | 0.7% |
| Walk | 5.0% |
| Work from home | 5.6% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 9.8% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $49,581 |
| Income per person | $28,232 |
| Median gross rent per month | $835 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 20.2% |
| Median home value | $185,400 |
| Homeowners | 40.2% |
| Poverty rate | 18.4% |
| Price level of the nearest metro area (US = 100) | 89.2 |
| Nearest metro median pay, all occupations | $46,670 |
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 | 29.3 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 89.0% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 34.4% |
| Born abroad | 4.0% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 63.4% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.0 | 36 | 60 |
| Feb | 4.2 | 40 | 62 |
| Mar | 9.9 | 50 | 96 |
| Apr | 15.2 | 59 | 121 |
| May | 19.9 | 68 | 156 |
| Jun | 25.0 | 77 | 110 |
| Jul | 27.9 | 82 | 99 |
| Aug | 27.3 | 81 | 104 |
| Sep | 22.8 | 73 | 94 |
| Oct | 15.7 | 60 | 111 |
| Nov | 9.4 | 49 | 71 |
| Dec | 3.6 | 38 | 72 |
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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wagoner | OK | 23 mi | 8,082 | $57,917 | $868 |
| Muskogee | OK | 24 mi | 36,758 | $50,213 | $858 |
| Siloam Springs | AR | 31 mi | 18,699 | $72,065 | $1,003 |
| Sallisaw | OK | 33 mi | 8,605 | $48,036 | $826 |
| Pryor Creek | OK | 33 mi | 9,569 | $44,839 | $928 |
| Prairie Grove | AR | 38 mi | 7,798 | $70,701 | $968 |
| Coweta | OK | 38 mi | 10,433 | $67,519 | $932 |
| Farmington | AR | 41 mi | 9,094 | $90,469 | $1,321 |
| Tontitown | AR | 45 mi | 6,425 | $85,603 | $1,346 |
| Claremore | OK | 45 mi | 20,166 | $58,685 | $1,009 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
16,935 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$835 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 20.2% of the median household income.
$49,581 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.9% (BLS county, Cherokee County (latest month 2026M09)).
Oklahoma. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.