Find Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Washington

By Martina Mascali, Monster Contributor

Discover what the best places to live in Washington State are, their high-demand jobs, average income, house values and more. Known as the “Evergreen State” due to its abundance of forests, Washington has many natural wonders, rich wildlife, and over half a million businesses in several different industries. Mainly due to its great education system, infrastructure, economy, fiscal stability, and healthcare, Washington is considered one of the best states in the country to live and work in.

Washington state’s best employers according to Forbes include Costco Wholesale, Microsoft, UW Medicine, Apple, and Google. High-demand occupations that are estimated to grow in Washington include those in business and financial operations, computer, food preparation and service, sales, transportation, and construction.

Washington State’s key sectors are:

aerospace and commercial space
agriculture and food manufacturing
clean technology
forest products
information and communication technology
life science and global health
maritime
military and defense
tourism

If you need more convincing, here are a few more fun facts and good reasons to look for work in one of the best places to live in Washington State:

It’s the birthplace of world-famous companies like Amazon, Starbucks, Costco, Boeing, Tommy Bahama, and Microsoft.
It’s the U.S.’s number one producer of apples, blueberries, hops, pears, spearmint oil and sweet cherries as well as number two for apricots, asparagus, grapes, potatoes, and raspberries.
Washington state is the second best American state for wine production.
It’s the best state in the country for aerospace manufacturing opportunities.
It’s on the podium of the states with the highest minimum wage.
Innovations like disposable diapers, fiberglass skis, pellet stove and the kidney dialysis machine were invented in Washington State.
The median house value in Washington State is $713,600 and the average household income of its residents is $77,006 per year.

Now let’s look at the best places to live in Washington State, along with their most profitable industries, popular jobs, average household income and more:

Seattle

Seattle is the largest city in Washington state and has the highest minimum wage in the country. It’s also the best American city for work-life balance and the birthplace of world-famous musicians and bands like Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam. Tourism in Washington is one of the largest industries and Seattle alone attracts tens of millions of tourists every year. The Space Needle, Museum of Pop Culture, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Pacific Science Center, and Pike Place Market are some of the main attractions to visit in town.

Sports fans can cheer at baseball games at the T-Mobile Park or soccer and football games at the Lumen Field. Seattle residents’ average household income is $77,006 per year and the median house value is $713,600. The most requested occupations here include software developers, office and administration support workers, healthcare practitioners, market specialists, and teachers.

Browse all Seattle, WA jobs on Monster.

Olympia

As State capital, home of the Washington State Capitol Building, and the main destination for those seeking government jobs, Olympia certainly deserves a spot in our list of best places to live in Washington State. Its historic district is a hot destination for shopping and restaurants, but also to admire and visit historic landmarks like the Old Capitol Building.

A big part of the Olympia-Tumwater area workforce is employed in office and administrative support, business and financial operations, sales, food service and preparation, and transportation. Occupations with a high projected annual growth rate in Olympia include healthcare practitioners, nurses and other healthcare roles, counselors and social workers, massage therapists, and animal care workers. The median house value in Olympia is $330,800 and the average household income of its residents is $63,185 per year.

Browse all Olympia, WA jobs on Monster.

Tacoma

Located southwest of Seattle and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park, Tacoma is a port city comically named as one of the best in the U.S. for vampires as well as more seriously as the trendiest in the state for Gen Z renters. Besides its beautiful beaches and parks, like Point Defiance where there is also a Zoo and Aquarium, Tacoma offers a lot of fun and entertainment. Must-visits include W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory, Tacoma Art Museum, America’s Car Museum, Museum of Glass, and Tacoma Dome for concerts and community events.

Tacoma is a multicultural city with 40% of its residents are under 40 and, along with Seattle and Bellevue, it’s considered one of the best destinations for young adults. Major employers include Joint Base Lewis-McChord, MultiCare Health System, Safeway and Albertsons, CHI Franciscan Health, and Amazon. The median house value in Tacoma is $311,700 and the average household income of its residents is $64,457 per year.

Browse all Tacoma, WA jobs on Monster.

Spokane

Located about 20 miles from the Idaho border, Spokane deserves to be in our list of best places to live in Washington State for being the economic, educational, cultural, and social hub of the Intermountain Northwest. It’s the home of the world's largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament, one of the most efficient airports in the country, and a thriving university district.

Service industries, education, wholesale and retail trade, medical industries, and entertainment are Spokane’s key sectors. The city’s largest employers include the State of Washington, Spokane Public Schools, Providence Health Care, and the 92nd Air Refueling Wing. Cost of living here is cheaper than other popular WA cities. The median house value in Spokane is $205,500 and the average household income of its residents is $52,600 per year.

Browse all Spokane, WA jobs on Monster.

Bellevue

Bellevue isn’t just one of the best places to live in Washington State but in the whole country. According to Niche, Bellevue deserves an A+ grade and is the third best city for public schools, fifth for outdoor activities and health, and eighth for raising a family. Located only 10 miles from Seattle, Bellevue is a walkable known tech hub, with hundreds of dining and shopping destinations like The Bellevue Collection and The Shops at the Bravern.

Bellevue’s major employers include Microsoft, Puget Sound Energy, Boeing, Symetra Financial, Expedia, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Information technology, business services, retail, and tourism are the pillars of Bellevue’s economy. The median house value in Bellevue is $887,700 and the average household income of its residents is $129,497 per year.

Browse all Bellevue, WA jobs on Monster.

Kent

Kent in one of the best cities to live in Washington state near Seattle, at only approximately 20 miles away. It’s one of the most diverse cities in America, with beautiful scenery and a great choice of outdoor and indoor activities. In Kent you can learn something new at the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum, relax or walk a trail at the Clark Lake Park, and play minigolf or ice hockey at the Kent Valley Ice Centre.

Numerous are the ethnic business in Kent, including international grocery stores and authentic cuisine restaurants. Kent’s economy is mainly supported by manufacturing, distribution, warehousing, professional services, and retail companies like REI, Oberto Sausage Company, Starbucks Roasting Plant, and Mikron Industries. The median house value in Kent is $378,800 and the average household income of its residents is $73,891 per year.

Browse all Kent, WA jobs on Monster.

Redmond

Redmond has been voted one of the best cities to live in Washington state and in America by . In Redmond there are over 40 parks, including King County’s oldest and largest park, 39 miles of public trails, numerous sport fields and courts. For your shopping and entertainment needs, the Redmond Town Center hosts over 100 shops and restaurants. The city annually hosts many cool events like Derby Days, Redmond Lights, and Big Truck Day.

Redmond’s economy is largely supported by high-tech, gaming, aerospace, and biomedical companies and the largest employers include Microsoft, Meta, Nintendo, and Eurest Dining Services. The median house value in Redmond is $788,500 and the average household income of its residents is $132,770 per year.

Browse all Redmond, WA jobs on Monster.

Spokane Valley

If living in Spokane city isn’t your cup of tea and you prefer the suburbs, consider Spokane Valley. It’s a growing town where most households own their home, and there are several major manufacturers and distributors in a variety of industries. In Spokane Valley every year you can join fun events like Crave! Food and Drink Festival, Spokane County Interstate Fair, Northwest Winterfest, and Valleyfest.

Most workers in in sales, office and administrative support, executive and managerial roles, construction, extraction, and production. Leading sectors include healthcare and social services, accommodation and food services, retail, and manufacturing. The median house value in Spokane Valley is $226,800 and the average household income of its residents is $56,351 per year.

Browse all Spokane Valley, WA jobs on Monster.

Yakima

Yakima Valley is the largest hops producer of the U.S. and has the greatest variety of fresh grown produce in the PNW. Hence, it’s one of the best places to live in Washington State if you are seeking a career in agriculture or linked industries, like transportation and material moving, food processing, and sales. Other key industries in Yakima are healthcare, industrial machinery and supplies, aerospace, and administration.

Top employers include Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, Walmart, Zirkle Fruit, Washington Fruit and Produce, and Yakama Nation Government Operations. Depending on your career and lifestyle, living in Washington state ranges in affordability, however Yakima is cheaper than most of the best places to live in Washington in our list. The median house value in Yakima is in fact $182,900 and the average household income of its residents is $48,220 per year.

Browse all Yakima, WA jobs on Monster.