Average Wages, 1980

Inflation-Adjusted to 2020 Dollars

• In 1980, the average wage for Washington was $40,745 (inflation adjusted to 2020 dollars).
• Garfield and San Juan counties had the lowest average wages at $25,255 and $26,039, respectively.
• Skamania County had the highest average wage at $58,513 because of the high construction wages at the North Bonneville Dam project.
• Seven counties had average wages higher than the state average.

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Average Wages, 1990

Inflation-Adjusted to 2020 Dollars

• In 1990, the average wage for Washington was $40,255 (inflation adjusted to 2020 dollars).
• Columbia and Douglas counties had the lowest average wages at $24,901 and $25,163, respectively.
• King County had the highest average wage at $45,503.
• Four counties had average wages higher than the state average.

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Average Wages, 2000

Inflation-Adjusted to 2020 Dollars

• In 2000, the average wage for Washington was $53,475 (inflation adjusted to 2020 dollars).
• Okanogan and Pacific counties had the lowest average wages at $30,432 and $31,483 respectively.
• King County had the highest average wage at $67,773 and was the only county with average wage higher than the state average.

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Average Wages, 2010

Inflation-Adjusted to 2020 Dollars

• In 2010, the average wage for Washington was $57,301 (inflation adjusted to 2020 dollars).
• Okanogan and Asotin counties had the lowest average wagesat $31,758 and $34,335, respectively.
• King County had the highest average wage at $71,093.
• King County and Benton County ($58,575) were the only counties with average wages higher than the state average.

Average Wages, 2020

Inflation-Adjusted to 2020 Dollars

• In 2020 the average wage for Washington was $75,550.
• Okanogan and Wahkiakum counties had the lowest average wages at $39,302 and $39,968 respectively.
• King County had the highest average wage at $103,596. No other county had an average wage at or above the state average.

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Change in Average Wage, 2000-2020

Inflation-Adjusted to 2020 Dollars

• Overall, between 2010 and 2020, the real average wage for Washington state increased by 31.8%. At the county level, the change ranged from 4.5% for Benton County to 45.7% for King County.

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Data sources:

• U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
• Washington State Revenue Forecast Council - Implicit Price Deflator

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