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Average Salary in Washington
This page shows what jobs actually pay in Washington, occupation by occupation, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey for May 2024. BLS publishes wage estimates for 744 occupations in Washington. For context, the U.S. all-occupation mean annual wage in May 2024 was $67,920, the median wage was $23.80 an hour, and total U.S. employment covered by the survey was 154,187,380 jobs. Use the tables below to see Washington's highest-paying occupations, its largest occupations, and which Washington jobs pay more — or less — than the same job nationally.
Highest-paying occupations in Washington
The highest-paying occupation BLS publishes for Washington is dermatologists, with a mean annual wage of $239,200+ — 622.6% higher than the U.S. all-occupation mean of $67,920 — and a median wage of $239,200+ across 140 jobs. Compared with the same occupation nationally (mean $239,200+), Washington pays 41.1% higher for this work. Next on the list are airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers at a mean of $239,200+ and obstetricians and gynecologists at $239,200+. These top-paying fields are small: together the top three employ 4,280 people in Washington, so they describe the top of the Washington wage ladder rather than the typical worker's experience.
| Occupation | Employment | Median hourly | Median annual | Mean annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dermatologists | 140 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 3,650 | — | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | 490 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Surgeons, All Other | 820 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Chief Executives | 4,140 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | 810 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | 220 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Physicians, All Other | 6,350 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Nurse Anesthetists | 730 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Neurologists | 200 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Physicians, Pathologists | 280 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Radiologists | 2,260 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 18,310 | $99.24 | $206,420 | $231,000 |
| Psychiatrists | 420 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $228,080 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | 1,420 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $226,040 |
Largest occupations in Washington
The occupation with the most jobs in Washington is home health and personal care aides, employing an estimated 100,360 people at a median annual wage of $46,140 and a mean of $46,950. Nationally the same occupation pays a median of $34,900, so Washington's typical pay for this work runs 32.2% higher. The next-largest occupations are fast food and counter workers (94,830 jobs, median $36,820) and software developers (91,470 jobs, median $166,910). Because these occupations are so large, their wages move the overall picture of Washington pay far more than the small, highly paid fields above.
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual | Mean annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 100,360 | $46,140 | $46,950 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 94,830 | $36,820 | $39,150 |
| Software Developers in Washington | 91,470 | $166,910 | $175,600 |
| Retail Salespersons | 86,050 | $38,350 | $43,680 |
| Registered Nurses | 64,690 | $112,180 | $115,740 |
| Cashiers | 59,660 | $37,300 | $40,400 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 55,260 | $42,210 | $44,670 |
| General and Operations Managers | 53,800 | $130,240 | $157,840 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 50,310 | $45,850 | $47,280 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 48,470 | $93,450 | $102,960 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 48,470 | $43,720 | $45,460 |
| Office Clerks, General | 48,360 | $49,920 | $53,120 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 44,880 | $49,150 | $54,410 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 43,720 | $47,490 | $55,520 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 41,650 | $47,210 | $47,820 |
Where Washington pays a premium — and where it lags
Comparing each occupation's Washington median with its own national median shows where Washington's labor market is strong. Among occupations with at least 1,000 Washington jobs, the largest premium is for legislators: a median of $109,390 in Washington versus $44,810 nationally, 144.1% higher. The largest discount is for health information technologists and medical registrars, at $52,790 in Washington versus $67,310 nationally, 21.6% lower. In total, 384 of the 407 occupations with 1,000 or more Washington jobs pay a median above their national median. Separately, 394 of the 744 occupations published for Washington have a median annual wage above the U.S. all-occupation mean of $67,920, which underlines how much of Washington's job base sits in lower-wage service work even in a state with high-paying headline jobs.
| Occupation | Washington median | U.S. median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legislators | $109,390 | $44,810 | +144.1% |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | $104,120 | $49,970 | +108.4% |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $118,470 | $66,700 | +77.6% |
| Paramedics | $100,780 | $58,410 | +72.5% |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $105,970 | $62,700 | +69.0% |
| Tax Preparers | $45,120 | $50,560 | -10.8% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $84,690 | $97,270 | -12.9% |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $131,740 | $156,210 | -15.7% |
| Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | $61,860 | $74,080 | -16.5% |
| Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars | $52,790 | $67,310 | -21.6% |
Detailed Washington occupation guides
Washington salary FAQ
What is the highest-paying job in Washington?
By average pay, dermatologists is the highest-paying occupation BLS publishes for Washington, with a mean annual wage of $239,200+ and a median of $239,200+ in May 2024.
What is the average salary in Washington?
For context, the U.S. all-occupation mean annual wage was $67,920 in May 2024. In Washington, the largest occupation, home health and personal care aides, paid a median of $46,140 across 100,360 jobs, and the tables on this page show mean and median pay for all 744 published occupations.
How many jobs does the largest occupation in Washington have?
Home Health and Personal Care Aides is the largest occupation published for Washington, with an estimated 100,360 jobs in May 2024 and a mean annual wage of $46,950.
Which occupations pay more in Washington than in the U.S. overall?
Among occupations with at least 1,000 Washington jobs, legislators shows the largest premium: a median of $109,390 in Washington versus $44,810 nationally, 144.1% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Figures checked October 2026.