INDIANA (WOWO): Wages are growing in Indiana.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics says Indiana posted the ninth-highest average wage growth in the country from 2016 to 2017. The state still ranks somewhat low at 34th overall in average wage, but Finance Professor Matt Will with the University of Indianapolis tells Inside Indiana Business that’s not the whole picture:

“At first glance, it’s bad news, because you see a low ranking, but when you adjust for cost of living, Indiana jumps up to 20th best (for average wage). And when you factor in the cost of living, we’re the 9th best in the country.”

The BLS report shows Indiana’s average annual wage grew from $44,750 in 2016 to $46,424 in 2017. That’s just over 3.7%.