Average wages by county (map)
Average Wages, 1980
Inflation-Adjusted to 2016 Dollars
- In 1980, the average wage for Washington was $37,789 (inflation adjusted to 2016 dollars).
- Garfield and San Juan counties had the lowest average wages at $23,424 and $24,150, respectively.
- Skamania County had the highest average wage at $54,269 because of the high construction wages at the North Bonneville Dam project.
- Seven counties had average wages higher than the state average.
Average Wages, 1990
Inflation-Adjusted to 2016 Dollars
- In 1990, the average wage for Washington was $38,148 (inflation adjusted to 2016 dollars).
- Columbia and Douglas counties had the lowest average wages at $23,597 and $23,845, respectively.
- King County had the highest average wage at $43,745.
- Four counties had average wages higher than the state average.
Average Wages, 2000
Inflation-Adjusted to 2016 Dollars
- In 2000, the average wage for Washington was $51,1082 (inflation adjusted to 2016 dollars).
- Okanogan and Pacific counties had the lowest average wages at $29,070 and $30,075 respectively.
- King County had the highest average wage at $64,741 and was the only county with average wage higher than the state average.
Average Wages, 2016
Inflation-Adjusted to 2016 Dollars
- In 2016 the average wage for Washington was $58,977.
- Okanogan and San Juan counties had the lowest average wages at $32,955 and $35,226 respectively.
- King County had the highest average wage at $76,013. No other county had an average wage at or above the state average.
Change in Average Wage, 2000-2016
Inflation-Adjusted to 2016 Dollars
- Overall, between 2000 and 2016, the real average wage for Washington state increased by 15.5 percent.
- Columbia County, with an increase of 27.6 percent, led the way followed by Klickitat County with 26.5 percent.
- Eighteen counties grew at below average rates because they were either more severely impacted by the great recession later in the measurement period, or were in poor performing resource-dependent areas.
Data sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
- Washington State Revenue Forecast Council - Implicit Price Deflator
Last updated: January 14, 2019
E-mail: OFM.Forecasting@ofm.wa.gov
