Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Wages 2009
Wages 2009
Whatcom Pend
San Juan
Oreille
Okanogan
Skagit Ferry
Stevens
Island
Snohomish
Clallam
Chelan
Jefferson
Douglas
Kitsap Spokane
Lincoln
King
Grays Mason
Harbor Grant
Kittitas
Pierce Adams
Thurston Whitman
Washington Statewide,
Metropolitan and Balance of State Areas
Contents
Introduction/Notes on Estimates i
Definitions ii
Washington State 1
Metropolitan Statistical Areas:
Asotin 13
Bellingham 15
Bremerton 21
Longview, Kelso 27
Mount Vernon, Anacortes 31
Olympia 35
Richland, Kennewick, Pasco 41
Seattle, Bellevue, Everett 47
Spokane 57
Tacoma 65
Vancouver 73
Wenatchee 79
Yakima 83
Balance of State Areas:
BOS Northwest 89
BOS Southwest 93
BOS Central 97
BOS East 101
These estimates are produced by the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey, a semi-
annual federal-state cooperative program between state employment departments and the Bureau
of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. National estimates and information about the
survey are available online at http://www.bls.gov/oes.
Notes on Estimates
The occupational employment and wage estimates presented here are based on the spring 2008
Occupational Employment Statistics survey of over 4,000 employers. Data from the current
survey were combined with the fall 2005, spring 2006, fall 2006, spring 2007, and fall 2007
surveys to increase the sample size to about 24,000 employers. Wage estimates were updated to
a March 2009 level using Employment Cost Index (ECI) factors. Employment estimates are
benchmarked to an average of November 2007 and May 2008 employment.
All occupations collected in the survey were classified into one of about 800 categories using the
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) coding system. For job definitions and other
information about the SOC coding system, go online to www.bls.gov/soc.
The survey covers non-farming establishments. Self-employed persons are not included. Some
occupations or wage levels will not appear due to inadequate sample size. Occupations with an
estimated employment of less than 25 were not included in this publication. To determine the
outlook of various occupations, see Employment Projections at www.workforceexplorer.com;
select Data Analysts under Quick Links.
Note regarding this publication: The Washington State Employment Security Department has provided
several extensions to the official OES data series (which have been developed in cooperation with the
Bureau of Labor Statistics). These additional products have not been validated by BLS and are not,
therefore, official BLS data series. The Employment Security Department feels, however, that they
provide additional information that is useful to the users of these data.
50th Percentile – Also called the median. Represents the wage rate that falls at the 50th percentile
within the wage rate distribution for jobs within an occupation. Of 100 wage rates ranked from
lowest to highest, this would be the 50th listed.
75th Percentile – Represents the wage rate that falls at the 75th percentile within the wage rate
distribution for jobs within an occupation. Of 100 wage rates ranked from lowest to highest, this
would be the 75th listed.
Annual Wage – In instances where hourly rates were reported, equal to the hourly wage
multiplied by 2,080, the yearly equivalent of working 40 hours each week. Annual wages are
calculated as full time.
Average Wage – Sum of all reported wage rates divided by the number of rates.
Balance of State Area (BOS) – One of four groups of counties in Washington not included in
Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The county groups are considered to be economically related.
Employment Cost Index (ECI) - The Employment Cost Index measures changes in wages,
salaries and benefits for civilian workers, including private industry plus state and local
government. The ECI index is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and can be
viewed at http://stats.bls.gov/ncs/ect.
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) – Also called Metro Area. A county or group of counties
designated to be an economically-related area.