Personal income growth in the Grand Junction area ranked among the top communities in the United States in 2018.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Grand Junction metropolitan area which includes Fruita, Palisade and some smaller communities saw personal income grow by 6.4% last year. That growth led the state and ranks 23rd out of all metro areas.

The growth is due, in part, to a low unemployment rate in Mesa County and officials are hoping that, even with the loss of some oil field jobs, that the area will continue to show growth in other areas such as manufacturing.

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Grand Junction's average yearly income is $44,935 which ranks 213th out of 384 metro areas studied by the BEA. The national average yearly income is $54,446 with Colorado 11th in the country with a yearly average income of 58,456.

Colorado's minimum wage is set to increase to $12 per hour beginning January 1, 2020. That will contribute some to the growth as well, officials said.

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