Kitsap County’s wage scale is competitive with the state of Washington and the county’s affordable lifestyle. For current wage and other employment information in the county, please visit Workforce Explorer Wasington's website.

WAGES AND INCOME

Hourly Wages - Washington State minimum wage as of January 2011 is $8.67.

• In 2005, Kitsap County averaged about 82,245 jobs covered by unemployment insurance, with a total payroll of nearly $3.0 billion;

• The average annual wage for the county was $36,458, slightly below the state average of $40,704;

• When ranked among the counties, Kitsap County ranks 5th in annual average wage for 2005;

• Average annual wage has been increasing by 7.0 percent from 2000-2005;

• In 2005, Management of Companies and Enterprises annual wages of $64,992 was the highest among all sectors, followed by: Utilities ($63,775), Government ($51,116), Professional and Technical Services ($47,020), Finance and Insurance ($43,767), and Wholesale Trade ($40,133).

• The lowest ranking sectors are: Arts, Entertainment and Recreation ($16,808), Other Services, except Public Administration ($18,223), and Accommodation and Food Services ($13,275).

• In 2004, the median hourly wage for Kitsap County was $15.55, a 6 percent increase from 2000;

• Compared to the other counties, Kitsap County's median wage ranks 13th;

• The statewide median hourly wage was $17.52 in 2004;

• The lowest-paid ten percent of jobs for the county paid $7.49 in 2004, while the highest-paid ten percent of jobs paid $48.08;

• Historically, the median hourly wage has been steadily increasing since 1990 ($12.91), and increased by 20 percent to $15.55. However, for 1996 and 1997, the median hourly wage stayed the same at $13.76.

• Between 1990 and 2004, the lowest-paid ten percent of jobs had a minimal change of $1.23 from $6.26 in 1990 to $7.49 in 2004;

• The highest-paid ten percent of jobs, however, showed a change of $9.92, from $38.16 in 1990 to $48.08 in 2004;

Between 1990 and 2004, wages earned by the lowest-paid ten percent of jobs increased by 19 percent, the highest-paid ten percent of jobs increased by 25 percent.