Washington Income Statistics
Washington Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a state's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Washington Around averageWealthier than 78% of states in US
Source: Map AI Methodology
Wealthiest and Least Wealthy Counties in Washington
- King County (124% of U.S. avg)
- Snohomish County (115% of U.S. avg)
- Kitsap County (109% of U.S. avg)
- Whitman County (77% of U.S. avg)
- Ferry County (82% of U.S. avg)
- Adams County (85% of U.S. avg)
Ranked by the Map AI Wealth Index, which combines income, employment, and income inequality metrics.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Washington | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $98,224 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $73,370 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 19.3% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 18.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Washington is about 22% higher than in US. Income has been growing faster in Washington (5.6%/yr) than in US (4.8%/yr).
About 19% of adults in Washington earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the US average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Washington grew by 72.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $98,224 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Washington
| Metric | Washington | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $86,137 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $68,506 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 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 Washington, it is 0.534, lower than 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 Washington. Over a 35-year career, a 26% wage gap accumulates to roughly $617,085 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Washington has narrowed from about 25% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,413 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Washington | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 19.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 204,633 people are unemployed in Washington.
The average commute time in Washington is 22 minutes, about the same as in US.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Washington has fallen from 8.2% to 5.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.3% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.8% in 2020.
Washington Wealth Compared With Nearby States
Washington is the 2nd largest of the 6 states compared here, 7,801,159 residents against a local median of 3,183,702. The measure that sets Washington apart most is median household income: $98,224, 25% above the local median of $78,637. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The states themselves spread $26,685 on median household income, so Washington sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Washington has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 7,801,159 | $98,224 #2/6 | 5.6%/yr #3/6 | 5.0% #3/6 | 0.534 #2/6 |
| Oregon | 4,252,306 | $83,617 | 5.7%/yr | 5.3% | 0.538 |
| Idaho | 1,929,983 | $78,141 | 6.0%/yr | 3.7% | 0.542 |
| Nevada | 3,183,702 | $78,637 | 4.9%/yr | 6.9% | 0.546 |
| California | 39,245,658 | $99,161 | 5.6%/yr | 6.6% | 0.572 |
| Montana | 1,116,812 | $72,476 | 5.2%/yr | 3.6% | 0.523 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Washington has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Washington.
How Rich Is Washington?
Washington has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $98,224, about 22% higher than the US average of $80,455.
Are incomes growing in Washington?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Washington rose 73%, from $56,797 to $98,224. Over the same years, income here outpaced the U.S. as a whole: +73% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Washington in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Washington was $95,216, up 5% from $90,787 in 2022. The US median that year was $78,147.
What was the median household income in Washington in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Washington was $77,259. By 2024 it had risen 27% to $98,224.
How many people earn six figures in Washington?
Yes. 19% of adults in Washington earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 5), against 14% (about 1 in 7) in the U.S.. 18% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 13% in the U.S..
What is the Gini coefficient in Washington?
The Gini coefficient in Washington is 0.534. 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 Washington?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Washington has narrowed from about 25% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,413 since 2009.
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