South Bay wages among highest in U.S.

Santa Clara County posted the second-highest weekly wage in the nation during the fourth quarter of 2011, according to a survey the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Three Bay Area counties were listed by the federal agency as placing in the top 10 of the entire nation.

The South Bay had an average weekly wage of $1,836. That was second behind New York City with a weekly wage of $1,889.

San Francisco was ranked fifth in the nation with a weekly wage of $1,597. San Mateo County was ranked eighth at $1,556 a week.

Alameda County ranked 23rd at $1,212. Contra Costa County was 37th at $1,139. Marin County placed 27th at $1,181 a week.

Bio-Rad profit rises but revenue slumps

Hercules-based Bio-Rad Laboratories earned $48.3 million on sales of $510.4 million for its second quarter that ended in June.

Compared with the year-ago quarter, profit rose 20.7 percent, while sales slipped 2.2 percent.

Bio-Rad said its sales fell due to the effects of currency adjustments. On a currency-neutral basis, revenue rose 3 percent.

-- Staff