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Washington and U.S. average wages

Average wages

Inflation-adjusted to 2022 dollars

Year Washington U.S.
2022 $83,665 $70,282
2021 $86,772 $72,252
2020 $84,064 $71,172
2019 $77,191 $66,698
2018 $74,733 $65,477
2017 $71,850 $64,681
2016 $69,654 $63,670
2015 $68,015 $63,427
2014 $66,128 $61,653
2013 $64,631 $60,648
2012 $64,362 $60,824
2011 $63,895 $60,419
2010 $63,239 $60,255
2009 $63,907 $59,785
2008 $61,521 $59,609
2007 $61,931 $59,828
2006 $60,310 $58,705
2005 $58,993 $57,683
2004 $58,877 $57,307
2003 $58,573 $56,249
2002 $58,594 $55,715

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  • Washington started the decade of the 1980s in much better economic condition than the U.S. overall.
  • During the 1980s, high-paying jobs were lost as some production was shifted abroad. High real interest rates in the U.S. further depressed the demand for durable goods. Washington average wages were lower than the U.S. average wages during the years 1987-1990.
  • Real average wages started rising again in 1989 as the state benefited from growth in aerospace employment and foreign trade while the U.S. economy was in recession.
  • The fast growth in average wages during the mid- to late 1990s proved to be unsustainable as high-wage, but non-performing Dot-Com firms fell by the wayside.
  • The post 9/11 recession suppressed average wages in the early part of the decade, and significant growth did not resume until 2006.
  • The Great recession resulted in a decline in average wages in 2008 for both Washington and the U.S.
  • Washington state ranked 5th among the states and District of Columbia in average wages in 2022.

Data source:

E-mail: OFM.Forecasting@ofm.wa.gov

Last updated
Friday, May 17, 2024
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