It pays to live in the Evergreen State — literally. In a recent study released by Approve.com, Washington State came out ahead with the highest overall average salary increase in the nation since 2010.
The study tracked salary data across the country between 2010 and 2020, and then calculated the percentage increase in average annual wages for that time period. In 2010, the average annual salary in Washington State was $48,516, and in 2020 it had increased to $76,791. That’s a total salary increase of 58.28%, followed by California with an increase of 49.16% and North Dakota with 45.47%.
The national average was an increase of 35.1%, from a salary of $43,265 in 2010 to $58,484 in 2020. By 2030, the national average salary is projected at $79,266.
While Washington was first in salary growth, it is currently fourth overall in average wages, behind Massachusetts, New York and California in the first three spots, respectively. But by 2030, Washington is projected to lead the nation in this category, with a predicted average salary of $121,545.
With the strong tech sector in our region, and major employers and new startups fostered by our local economy, it seems likely that Washington will live up to its projected outcome in the next decade.
