Average wages by county (map)
Average Wages, 1980
Inflation-Adjusted to 2017 Dollars
- In 1980, the average wage for Washington was $38,782 (inflation adjusted to 2017 dollars).
- Garfield and San Juan counties had the lowest average wages at $24,039 and $24,784, respectively.
- Skamania County had the highest average wage at $55,659 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 2017 Dollars
- In 1990, the average wage for Washington was $38,316 (inflation adjusted to 2017 dollars).
- Columbia and Douglas counties had the lowest average wages at $23,701 and $23,950, respectively.
- King County had the highest average wage at $43,938.
- Four counties had average wages higher than the state average.
Average Wages, 2000
Inflation-Adjusted to 2017 Dollars
- In 2000, the average wage for Washington was $50,903 (inflation adjusted to 2017 dollars).
- Okanogan and Pacific counties had the lowest average wages at $29,969 and $29,969 respectively.
- King County had the highest average wage at $64,541 and was the only county with average wage higher than the state average.
Average Wages, 2017
Inflation-Adjusted to 2017 Dollars
- In 2017 the average wage for Washington was $61,896.
- Okanogan and San Juan counties had the lowest average wages at $33,692 and $35,853 respectively.
- King County had the highest average wage at $80,845. No other county had an average wage at or above the state average.
Change in Average Wage, 2000-2017
Inflation-Adjusted to 2017 Dollars
- Overall, between 2000 and 2017, the real average wage for Washington state increased by 21.6 percent.
- Klickitat County, with an increase of 36.7 percent, led the way followed by Garfield County with 31.9 percent.
- Twenty-one counties grew at below average rates because they were either more severely impacted by the great recession during 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: May 22, 2019
E-mail: OFM.Forecasting@ofm.wa.gov
