Average Wages, 1980

Inflation-Adjusted to 2019 Dollars

• In 1980, the average wage for Washington was $40,163 (inflation adjusted to 2019 dollars).
• Garfield and San Juan counties had the lowest average wages at $24,895 and $25,667, respectively.
• Skamania County had the highest average wage at $57,678 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 2019 Dollars

• In 1990, the average wage for Washington was $39,680 (inflation adjusted to 2019 dollars).
• Columbia and Douglas counties had the lowest average wages at $24,545 and $24,803, 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 2019 Dollars

• In 2000, the average wage for Washington was $52,716 (inflation adjusted to 2019 dollars).
• Okanogan and Pacific counties had the lowest average wages at $30,000 and $31,037 respectively.
• King County had the highest average wage at $68,812 and was the only county with average wage higher than the state average.

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Average Wages, 2010

Inflation-Adjusted to 2019 Dollars

• In 2010, the average wage for Washington was $56,618 (inflation adjusted to 2019 dollars).
• Okanogan and Asotin counties had the lowest average wagesat $31,380 and $33,926, respectively.
• King County had the highest average wage at $70,246. King County and Benton County ($57,877) were the only counties with average wages higher than the state average.

Average Wages, 2019

Inflation-Adjusted to 2019 Dollars

• In 2019 the average wage for Washington was $56,618.
• Okanogan and Pacific counties had the lowest average wages at $35,719 and $38,877 respectively.
• King County had the highest average wage at $92,095. No other county had an average wage at or above the state average.

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Change in Average Wage, 2000-2019

Inflation-Adjusted to 2019 Dollars

• Overall, between 2000 and 2019, the real average wage for Washington state increased by 21.7%. At the county level, the change ranged from -1.0% for Benton County to a 31.1% increase 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