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Washington Wages by Occupation

Median pay for every occupation in Washington and its metro areas from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025).

Median wage
$62,990 a year
All occupations
U.S. median
$50,980 a year
Employment
3,550,970
Wage and salary jobs
Occupations with data
765

Pay range in Washington

All occupations: 10th to 90th percentile, middle half shaded

10%: $38,670Median: $62,99090%: $153,630

Highest paying occupations

Occupations with at least 50 jobs here

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#OccupationEmploymentMedian wageMean wage
1Cardiologists200$656,330$562,160
2Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric290$553,310$464,800
3Dermatologists170$526,170$412,360
4Anesthesiologists1,540$499,990$508,520
5Surgeons, All Other370$479,460$382,200
6Obstetricians and Gynecologists270$343,140$352,950
7General Internal Medicine Physicians1,100$340,010$327,250
8Chief Executives3,170$339,810$360,290
9Neurologists180$327,140$274,740
10Physicians, All Other6,300$307,170$293,760
11Psychiatrists360$304,920$265,600
12Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric180$304,830$330,130
13Physicians, Pathologists200$300,680$281,820
14Family Medicine Physicians1,270$292,900$274,210
15Orthodontists290$290,430$276,250

Most common occupations

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#OccupationEmploymentMedian wageMean wage
1Software Developers107,030$166,540$171,040
2Home Health and Personal Care Aides103,260$47,730$48,210
3Fast Food and Counter Workers94,710$37,710$40,390
4Retail Salespersons84,850$39,560$43,530
5Registered Nurses69,260$124,200$121,540
6Cashiers61,050$38,720$41,930
7Stockers and Order Fillers57,370$44,620$45,690
8Business Operations Specialists, All Other51,650$100,360$106,140
9General and Operations Managers50,630$133,750$158,920
10Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand49,450$46,190$47,680
11Office Clerks, General49,050$50,500$53,940
12Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners47,380$45,520$47,410
13Waiters and Waitresses45,400$56,130$60,590
14Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary43,420$49,120$50,650
15Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers40,530$64,760$68,230

Jobs concentrated here

Highest location quotient: the share of jobs compared with the U.S. (2.0 = twice the national share)

Lowest paying occupations

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Every occupation in Washington

Median wage by occupation group

Management Occupations (37)
Business and Financial Operations Occupations (31)
Computer and Mathematical Occupations (21)
Architecture and Engineering Occupations (34)
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations (46)
Community and Social Service Occupations (17)
Legal Occupations (7)
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations (64)
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations (37)
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations (67)
Healthcare Support Occupations (17)
Protective Service Occupations (20)
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations (16)
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations (10)
Personal Care and Service Occupations (29)
Sales and Related Occupations (20)
Office and Administrative Support Occupations (50)
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations (12)
Construction and Extraction Occupations (47)
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations (48)
Production Occupations (91)
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations (44)

Metro and nonmetro areas in Washington

All occupations. Areas that cross state lines are listed under their main state

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Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage in Washington?
The median wage for all occupations in Washington is $62,990 a year, compared with $50,980 a year for the U.S. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).
What is the highest paying job in Washington?
Among occupations with at least 50 jobs, cardiologists have the highest median wage in Washington at $656,330 a year.
What is the most common job in Washington?
Software Developers is the largest occupation, with 107,030 jobs and a median wage of $166,540 a year.