Employment decreased in 6 of the 10 largest counties in Washington from September 2024 to September 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that Snohomish County had the largest over-the-year decrease in employment at 1.0 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Washington, September 2025

County	Percent change, September 2025
Snohomish	-1.0
Thurston	-0.7
King	-0.4
Yakima	-0.2
Clark	-0.1
Pierce	-0.1
Whatcom	0.1
Benton	0.2
Spokane	0.2
Kitsap	0.9

Among the 10 largest counties in Washington, employment was highest in King (1,443,000) in September 2025. Together, the 10 largest counties accounted for 83.9 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 372 largest counties comprise 73.2 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2024.)

All 10 large Washington counties reported average weekly wage increases over the year. (See chart 2.) King had the largest increase (+9.1 percent). Over-the-year wage changes for Washington's other large counties ranged from 6.4 percent to 2.7 percent.

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Washington, third quarter 2025

County	Percent change, third quarter 2025
King	9.1
Snohomish	6.4
Thurston	6.4
Pierce	5.3
Spokane	5.0
Benton	4.8
Whatcom	4.7
Clark	4.4
Kitsap	2.8
Yakima	2.7

Weekly wages in 3 of the 10 largest counties in Washington were above the national average of $1,459. Average weekly wages ranged from $2,635 in King to $1,028 in Yakima.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 29 small counties in Washington, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2024. (See table 2.) Wage levels in all 29 smaller counties were below the national average. Cowlitz reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,343). Wahkiakum reported the lowest average weekly wage ($930) in the state.

Among all 39 Washington counties, 10 reported average weekly wages of less than $1,100, 10 had wages from $1,100 to $1,119, 8 had wages from $1,200 to $1,299, and 11 had average weekly wages of $1,300 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)