2025 wages in Clark County grew 4 percent over 2024

Workers in Clark County made more in 2025 than they did in 2024.

New census data shows the average annual wage here rose to $75,473 last year, up nearly $3,000 from 2024 — or about 4 percent.

Emily Robertson, a regional labor economist for the Washington Employment Security Department, called the increase modest.

It “reflects slower growth in both employment and wages,” Robertson said.

That’s compared with the rapid growth seen locally in the years following the pandemic.

The increase outpaced inflation in 2025, Robertson added. Seattle’s consumer price index, the closest inflation measure for Clark County, hovered around 3 percent for much of last year.

But wage growth varied both within and across industries, Robertson said.

Retail and management work saw a 5.7 percent increase, while manufacturing and waste management saw increases of 5.5 percent. Education services wages dropped about 3.2 percent compared with 2024.

Economists said earlier this year that the local economy would continue to grow but more slowly than in recent years. Stagnating population growth here and across the Portland metro area is part of that, as is the current K-shaped economy in which the wealthiest thrive while low earners struggle.

Clark County’s total number of jobs rose in 2025 but just slightly, with employers adding about 1,200 jobs locally in 2025 compared with 2024.

The total wages paid locally by employers rose by $600 million between 2024 and 2025, a roughly 4.5 percent increase.

Wages grew more dramatically statewide, up almost 5 percent to $99,810 in 2025, according to data from the Washington Employment Security Department.