Total compensation paid to workers in this metropolitan area almost hit the $10 billion mark in 2007, according to data released Monday by the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis.

That number rose by 11 percent over the amount paid here in 2006. That compares to a 5.5 percent increase nationwide. Average compensation last year nationally reached $54,000, well below the per-job average of $56,000 in the Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The BEA’s annual compensation report includes wage and income data by county, metro area and by industry.

Government and government enterprises accounted for more than half the $10 billion - a total of $6.4 billion. The military alone accounted for $5 billion of the total. (The state comptroller has figured that Fort Hood’s total economic impact on this area is $10 billion per year.)

Retail trade wages totaled only $500 million.

Across the Southwest, total compensation grew in 365 of 379 counties, with the largest growth in Hemphill County at 37 percent.