Protective Service Workers, All Other Salary
The median pay for a protective service workers, all other in Washington is $42,170/year ($20.27/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $41,339 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 60.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $42K get you in Washington?
About protective service workers, all others
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What this looks like in Washington
Protective service workers, all other pay in Washington tracks closely to the national median, $42K locally vs. $43K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 61.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level protective service workers, all others (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Protective Service Workers, All Other salary by metro in Washington
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $51K | +21% | 170 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $51K | +20% | 120 |
| Bellingham | $51K | +20% | 110 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $50K | +20% | 50 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $50K | +19% | 40 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $42K | +0% | 2,750 |
| Yakima | $42K | -1% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track protective service workers, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a protective service workers, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 61.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for protective service workers, all others in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new protective service workers, all others typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,079/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 88% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is protective service workers, all other a high-paying job in Washington?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $42K locally vs. $43K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Washington compare to the national average for protective service workers, all others?
Washington pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $43K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — below the national median.
How much do protective service workers, all others make in Washington?
The median is $42,170 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,650, and experienced protective service workers, all others can clear $59,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,994/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 61.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a protective service workers, all other salary go in Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median protective service workers, all other salary is worth about $41,339 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do protective service workers, all others get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.