Average yearly income raises to $40,000 in Polk Co.

LAKELAND (FOX 13) - Polk County had a banner year when it came to wages in 2015. Annual salaries increased by 10-percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, bringing the average to more than $40,000.

That increase is more than three times the increase state-wide. Economy experts say that they are working with new businesses to bring well-paying jobs to the county, as well as working with businesses already in the county to increase their salaries.

"We go after companies that make sense for our community," Lakeland Economic Development Council business development director Claudia Tritton. "We know we're great for business and medical services. We are manufacturing. We are logistics. It's a supply and demand thing. This is what's good for us to grow."

Amazon was one of numerous companies to bring new jobs to Polk County this past year. Walmart is planning to open an E-Commerce Distribution Center in Davenport later this year.

The company initially announced it would create about 625 new jobs, but that number has since increased to 1,000. The average starting salary there is $42,000.