Average Wages, 1980
Inflation-Adjusted to 2012 Dollars
- In 1980, the average wage for Washington was $36,366 (inflation adjusted to 2012 dollars).
- Garfield and San Juan counties had the lowest average wages at $22,541 and $23,240, respectively.
- Skamania County had the highest average wage at $52,225 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 2012 Dollars
- In 1990, the average wage for Washington was $35,973 (inflation adjusted to 2012 dollars).
- Columbia and Douglas counties had the lowest average wages at $22,252 and $22,486, respectively.
- King County had the highest average wage at $41,252.
- Four counties had average wages higher than the state average.
Average Wages, 2000
Inflation-Adjusted to 2012 Dollars
- In 2000, the average wage for Washington was $47,878 (inflation adjusted to 2012 dollars).
- Okanogan and Pacific counties had the lowest average wages at $27,247 and $28,138 respectively.
- King County had the highest average wage at $60,680 and was the only county with average wage higher than the state average.
Average Wages, 2012
Inflation-Adjusted to 2012 Dollars
- In 2012 the average wage for Washington was $52,945.
- Okanogan and Asotin counties had the lowest average wages at $29,013 and $21,760 respectively.
- King County had the highest average wage at $66,733, was the only county with an average wage at or above than the state average.
Change in Average Wage, 2000-2012
Inflation-Adjusted to 2012 Dollars
- Overall, between 2000 and 2012, the real average wage for Washington state increased by 10.6 percent.
- Klickitat County, with an increase of 32.2 percent, led the way followed by Columbia County with 26.7 percent.
- Seventeen counties grew at below average rates because they were either more severely impacted by the recession/housing market bust later in 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: July 11, 2014
E-mail: OFM.Forecasting@ofm.wa.gov
