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Tulsa Wage Increases Remain Strong. Tulsa County continued to show strong wage growth for workers in the first three months of this year.

Workers earned $914 in weekly wages on average during the year's first quarter -- an 11.3 percent increase from the same time period last year for Tulsa County, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The percent change was the sixth highest increase among the nation's 329 largest counties. For the last three months of 2011, Tulsa County topped the nation with an 8.6 increase in weekly wages compared to the last three months of 2010.

Tulsa County weekly wages remained below the national average of $984, though the cost of living in Oklahoma is lower compared to other parts of the country. Nationally, wages increased by 5.4 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the first three months of 2011.

Tulsa County wages were slightly higher than in Oklahoma County, which had average weekly wages of $912 for the first quarter.

The data is the most recent available. It comes from reports submitted by employers because of unemployment insurance regulations.

BOK Center Ranked in the Top U.S. Arenas. The SMG-managed BOK Center finished the third quarter of 2012 ranked 13th in the United States and 36th in the world in Pollstar Magazine's Top 200 Arena Venues. The rankings are based on worldwide tickets sales through the end of the third quarter 2012.

"We are very proud of the continued success of the BOK Center," said BOK Center General Manager John Bolton in a release. "The community continues to support the great events we bring to the Tulsa."

With 220,875 tickets sold, the BOK Center finished higher than other area venues including the American Airlines Center (Dallas,), the Toyota Center (Houston) and Verizon Arena (North Little Rock, Ark.).

Third quarter events at the venue included Big Time Rush, James Taylor, The Wiggles, Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks, Professional Bull Riders, Brad Paisley, KISS and Motley Crue and Hillsong Live.

Upcoming events through the end of the year include: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns, Bob Dylan, Carrie Underwood, Winterfest, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Eric Church, Cirque du Soleil and Batman Live.