Average Salaries in Washington
Explore salaries across 765 occupations in Washington. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $86.5K, +31.5% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates. Coverage: 765 occupations and 3,506,210 total jobs in Washington.
How the state compares
Washington is one of the higher-paying states in the country. Average wages here run meaningfully above the national level, though local cost of living often offsets some of that premium.
Washington has a mid-sized labor market, with strong representation in some occupations but thinner coverage in niche roles.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Cardiologists. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in Washington
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Highest-paid occupations in Washington
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiologists | $656.3K | 200 |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $553.3K | 290 |
| Dermatologists | $526.2K | 170 |
| Anesthesiologists | $500K | 1,540 |
| Surgeons, All Other | $479.5K | 370 |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $380.9K | N/A |
| Obstetricians And Gynecologists | $343.1K | 270 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $340K | 1,100 |
| Chief Executives | $339.8K | 3,170 |
| Neurologists | $327.1K | 180 |
Largest occupations in Washington
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | 107,030 | $166.5K |
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 103,260 | $47.7K |
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 94,710 | $37.7K |
| Retail Salespersons | 84,850 | $39.6K |
| Registered Nurses | 69,260 | $124.2K |
| Cashiers | 61,050 | $38.7K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 57,370 | $44.6K |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 51,650 | $100.4K |
| General And Operations Managers | 50,630 | $133.8K |
| Laborers And Freight, Stock, And Material Movers, Hand | 49,450 | $46.2K |
What Washington specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in Washington than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Most concentrated occupations in Washington
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Avionics Technicians | 7.91 | $91.4K |
| Aerospace Engineering And Operations Technologists And Technicians | 6.18 | $125.2K |
| Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, And Systems Assemblers | 5.51 | $110.5K |
| Tapers | 5.30 | $79K |
| Graders And Sorters, Agricultural Products | 4.93 | $35K |
| Web And Digital Interface Designers | 4.47 | $130.5K |
| Statisticians | 4.47 | $105.7K |
| Zoologists And Wildlife Biologists | 4.44 | $83.8K |
| Hoist And Winch Operators | 4.01 | N/A |
| Foresters | 4.00 | $78.5K |
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $89.7K | Neurologists |
| New York | $83.2K | Cardiologists |
| California | $83.2K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Massachusetts | $81.2K | Radiologists |
| New Jersey | $80.4K | Radiologists |
| Minnesota | $79.9K | Radiologists |
| Alaska | $79.6K | Emergency Medicine Physicians |
| Maryland | $79.5K | Radiologists |
Metros inside Washington
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Major metros in Washington
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $92.6K | 2,063,900 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $74.6K | 246,770 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $77.8K | 123,420 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $78.8K | 120,910 |
| Yakima, WA | $70K | 90,310 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $80.2K | 87,420 |
| Bellingham, WA | $74.7K | 84,700 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $74.6K | 46,830 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $71.5K | 46,490 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $72.7K | 35,370 |
Common salary questions for Washington
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.