Washington Jobs and Wages
Wages, unemployment, minimum wage, benefits, visa filings and federal openings for Washington from BLS, the Department of Labor and USAJOBS.
- Median wage
- $62,990 a year
- May 2025
- Unemployment rate
- 4.8%
- Sep 2026
- Minimum wage
- $17.13/hr
- State law
- Average weekly jobless benefit
- $760
- Sep 2026
Highest paying jobs in Washington
Occupations with at least 100 jobs
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiologists | 200 | $656,330 | $562,160 |
| 2 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | 290 | $553,310 | $464,800 |
| 3 | Dermatologists | 170 | $526,170 | $412,360 |
| 4 | Anesthesiologists | 1,540 | $499,990 | $508,520 |
| 5 | Surgeons, All Other | 370 | $479,460 | $382,200 |
| 6 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | 270 | $343,140 | $352,950 |
| 7 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | 1,100 | $340,010 | $327,250 |
| 8 | Chief Executives | 3,170 | $339,810 | $360,290 |
Most common jobs in Washington
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Software Developers | 107,030 | $166,540 | $171,040 |
| 2 | Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 103,260 | $47,730 | $48,210 |
| 3 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | 94,710 | $37,710 | $40,390 |
| 4 | Retail Salespersons | 84,850 | $39,560 | $43,530 |
| 5 | Registered Nurses | 69,260 | $124,200 | $121,540 |
| 6 | Cashiers | 61,050 | $38,720 | $41,930 |
| 7 | Stockers and Order Fillers | 57,370 | $44,620 | $45,690 |
| 8 | Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 51,650 | $100,360 | $106,140 |
Wages by metro area
- Bellingham, WA
- Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA
- Kennewick-Richland, WA
- Longview-Kelso, WA
- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA
- Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
- Walla Walla, WA
- Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA
- Yakima, WA
- Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area
- Western Washington nonmetropolitan area
Visa filings for jobs in this state
Employer filings with the Department of Labor
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)27,843 certified, median offer $161,600
- PERM (FY 2026 through Q3)3,579 certified, median offer $140,694
Top H-1B employers in Washington
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| # | Employer | Certified | Median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amazon.com Services LLC | 7,455 | $160,000 |
| 2 | Microsoft Corporation | 3,519 | $180,000 |
| 3 | Amazon Development Center U.S., Inc. | 1,367 | $158,300 |
| 4 | Meta Platforms, Inc | 1,096 | $211,778 |
| 5 | Google LLC | 817 | $177,000 |
| 6 | Amazon Web Services, Inc. | 807 | $152,200 |
| 7 | Amazon Data Services, Inc | 506 | $150,000 |
| 8 | People Tech Group, Inc | 376 | $117,749 |
More Washington labor data
- Unemployment by county4.8% statewide
- Jobs by industry3.65 million jobs, +0.7% in a year
- Minimum wage$17.13 an hour
- Unemployment benefits$760 a week on average
- Union membership18.0% in 2025
- Federal job openings741 open now
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median wage in Washington?
- The median wage for all occupations in Washington is $62,990 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).
- What is the unemployment rate in Washington?
- Washington's unemployment rate was 4.8% in Sep 2026 (seasonally adjusted).
- What is the highest paying job in Washington?
- Cardiologists have the highest median wage among occupations with at least 100 jobs in Washington: $656,330 a year.