Top Paying Jobs in Washington
Washington has 100 tracked occupation categories totaling 487,800 jobs. The highest-paying occupations include Cardiologists ($656,330), Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric ($553,310), Dermatologists ($526,170). The cost of living index is 102.01 (national average = 100). Median 2-bedroom rent is $1,830/month.
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State-level averages. Salaries, rent, and cost of living vary significantly between metros. For more accurate data, select a metro area from the list below or browse all metros.
$190K
Avg. median salary
102.01
Cost of living index
$1,830
Median 2BR rent
7,810,350
Population
Highest paying careers in Washington
| Rank | Occupation | Category | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiologists | Healthcare | $656K | $315.54/hr |
| 2 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | Healthcare | $553K | $266.01/hr |
| 3 | Dermatologists | Healthcare | $526K | $252.97/hr |
| 4 | Anesthesiologists | Healthcare | $500K | $240.38/hr |
| 5 | Surgeons, All Other | Healthcare | $479K | $230.51/hr |
| 6 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | Healthcare | $381K | $183.11/hr |
| 7 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | Healthcare | $343K | $164.97/hr |
| 8 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | Healthcare | $340K | $163.47/hr |
| 9 | Chief Executives | Management | $340K | $163.37/hr |
| 10 | Neurologists | Healthcare | $327K | $157.28/hr |
Affordability snapshot: Washington
These are statewide averages. Costs vary widely between metros, click into a specific city for precise numbers.
Cost of living vs. national average+2.0% more expensive
2-bedroom apartment (FMR)$1,830/mo
Planning a move? Compare costs with other locations:
Metro areas in Washington
Click a metro for detailed salary, rent, and cost-of-living data specific to that area.
Bellingham
$1,794/mo rentRPP 103.3
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard$2,031/mo rentRPP 105.6
Kennewick-Richland$935/mo rentRPP 100.1
Longview-Kelso$1,451/mo rentRPP 97.5
Mount Vernon-Anacortes$1,720/mo rentRPP 102.4
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater$1,960/mo rentRPP 103.7
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$2,237/mo rentRPP 111.1
Spokane-Spokane Valley$1,131/mo rentRPP 100.3
Walla Walla$1,550/mo rentRPP 98.5
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee$1,500/mo rentRPP 103.9
Yakima$1,374/mo rentRPP 95.5
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