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Washington and U.S. average wages

Average wages

Inflation-adjusted to 2021 dollars

Year Washington U.S.
2021 $81,245 $67,698
2020 $78,776 $66,710
2019 $72,478 $62,572
2018 $70,152 $61,464
2017 $67,490 $60,767
2016 $65,489 $59,850
2015 $63,945 $59,631
2014 $62,196 $57,986
2013 $60,856 $57,104
2012 $60,624 $57,290
2011 $60,183 $56,908
2010 $58,566 $56,754
2009 $57,000 $56,312
2008 $57,947 $56,147
2007 $58,333 $56,353
2006 $56,807 $55,294
2005 $53,454 $54,332
2004 $55,456 $53,977
2003 $55,170 $52,981
2002 $55,190 $52,478
2001 $54,861 $52,318

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  • Washington started the decade of the 1980s in much better economic condition than the U.S. overall.
  • During the 1980s, high-paying jobs were lost as some production was shifted abroad. High real interest rates in the U.S. further depressed the demand for durable goods. Washington average wages were lower than the U.S. average wages during the years 1987-1990.
  • Real average wages started rising again in 1989 as the state benefited from growth in aerospace employment and foreign trade while the U.S. economy was in recession.
  • The fast growth in average wages during the mid- to late 1990s proved to be unsustainable as high-wage, but non-performing Dot-Com firms fell by the wayside.
  • The post 9/11 recession suppressed average wages in the early part of the decade, and significant growth did not resume until 2006.
  • The Great recession resulted in a decline in average wages in 2008 for both Washington and the U.S.
  • Washington state ranked 5th among the states in average wages in 2021.

Data source:

E-mail: OFM.Forecasting@ofm.wa.gov

Last updated
Friday, August 18, 2023
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