King County, Washington Income Statistics
King County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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A
King County Above averageWealthiest county in Washington
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | King County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $124,760 | $98,224 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $96,370 | $73,370 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.9% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 29.0% | 19.3% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 29.8% | 18.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in King County is about 27% higher than in Washington. Income has been growing faster in King County (5.9%/yr) than in Washington (5.6%/yr).
About 29% of adults in King County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Washington average of 19%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in King County, Washington grew by 83.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $124,760 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in King County
| Metric | King County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.511 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $111,156 | $86,137 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $88,288 | $68,506 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.6% | 20.5% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In King County, it is 0.511, lower than Washington's 0.534, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 26% more than women's income in King County, Washington. Over a 35-year career, a 26% wage gap accumulates to roughly $800,380 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in King County, Washington has narrowed from about 26% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,397 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | King County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 5.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 29.1% | 19.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 25 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 63,742 people are unemployed in King County, Washington.
The average commute time in King County is 25 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in Washington.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in King County, Washington has fallen from 6.9% to 4.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.7% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.2% in 2019.
King County, WA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
King County, WA is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 2,275,758 residents against a local median of 276,921. The measure that sets King County, WA apart most is median household income: $124,760, 25% above the local median of $99,574. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $23,035 on median household income, so King County, WA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. King County, WA has the highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King County, WA | 2,275,758 | $124,760 #1/6 | 5.9%/yr #3/6 | 4.8% #5/6 | 0.511 #1/6 |
| Pierce County, WA | 929,755 | $99,574 | 6.2%/yr | 4.9% | 0.525 |
| Snohomish County, WA | 843,136 | $111,921 | 5.3%/yr | 4.4% | 0.527 |
| Kitsap County, WA | 276,921 | $104,681 | 6.0%/yr | 4.2% | 0.519 |
| Skagit County, WA | 131,328 | $88,887 | 5.8%/yr | 4.8% | 0.527 |
| Island County, WA | 86,836 | $92,129 | 5.5%/yr | 3.6% | 0.518 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, King County, Washington has an overall wealth index grade of A, making it somewhat better than Washington, and notably better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in King County, Washington.
How Rich Is King County, Washington?
King County has a wealth index grade of A. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A grade means residents are much better off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $124,760, about 27% higher than the Washington average of $98,224.
How fast is household income rising in King County, Washington?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in King County, Washington rose 84%, from $67,898 to $124,760. Over the same years, income here outpaced Washington as a whole: +84% against +73%.
What was the median household income in King County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in King County, Washington was $122,214, up 5% from $116,391 in 2022. The Washington median that year was $95,216.
What was the median household income in King County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in King County, Washington was $99,266. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $124,760.
How many people earn six figures in King County, Washington?
Yes. 29% of adults in King County, Washington earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 3), against 19% (about 1 in 5) in Washington. 30% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 18% in Washington.
What is the Gini coefficient in King County, Washington?
The Gini coefficient in King County is 0.511. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in King County, Washington?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in King County, Washington has narrowed from about 26% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,397 since 2009.
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