Jobs, pay and daily life in Oak Harbor, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Oak Harbor is a city in Washington with 24,362 residents. The median household earns $76,084 a year and the median rent is $1,645 a month, which is 25.9% of the median household income. The nearest metropolitan area with BLS wage data is Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA (52,600 jobs), about 13 miles away; this place is probably not part of it, so its pay tables are a reference only.
How Oak Harbor compares. Among the 80 largest places in Washington, Oak Harbor is #54 by population, #80 for remote work (#1 = most), #72 for homeownership (#1 = highest), #16 for long commutes (#1 = fewest). Its county, Island County, is #18 of 39 counties for average pay ($58,929).
Oak Harbor has 24,362 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.3% of the population of Washington. It covers 10 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 2,521 people per square mile. The median age is 31.5, 18% younger than the state median (31.5 against 38.3).
The median gross rent is $1,645 a month (rent plus utilities), 7% below the state median ($1,645 against $1,760). Over a year that is 25.9% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $461,200, which is 6.1 times the median household income ($76,084); a ratio above 5 usually means buying is out of reach without savings or a second income. 46.7% of households own their home, 27% below the state average (46.7% against 63.8%). A low ownership share points to a rental-heavy market with more apartments and shorter stays.
The nearest metropolitan area with wage data is Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA, metropolitan area has 52,600 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $59,590 a year, 17% above the national median ($59,590 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (5,480 jobs, median $54,190); food preparation and serving related (4,930 jobs, median $43,620); sales and related (4,900 jobs, median $43,700). The area is most specialised in office and administrative support (0.9 times), where the share of workers is above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are office and administrative support ($54,190). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Island County was 3.4%. 47.7% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Island County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 77.4% drive alone, 0.9% use public transit, 1.8% walk, 5.7% work from home. 10.8% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 36% below the state average (10.8% against 16.9%).
28.9% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 27% below the state share (28.9% against 39.6%). 10.5% of residents were born outside the United States, 32% below the state share (10.5% against 15.4%). The poverty rate is 8.3%, 16% below the state rate (8.3% against 9.9%).
The warmest month is Aug, averaging 63°F (17.2°C), and the coolest is Dec at 38°F (3.6°C). About 1,303 mm (51 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Nov is the wettest month (205 mm) and Jul the driest (23 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Anacortes (13 miles, rent 3% higher); Mount Vernon (17 miles, rent 15% lower); Arlington (24 miles, rent 16% higher); Marysville (26 miles, rent 21% higher). Rent differences are against Oak Harbor; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Washington (1,198) →State guide: WashingtonCountry guideIsland CountyWashington rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 1,198 federal postings open in Washington (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in Washington →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 1,730 | 1.31 | $39,240 | $35,850 | $57,430 | +11% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,580 | 1.21 | $36,890 | $35,610 | $45,540 | +18% |
| Cashiers | 1,270 | 1.21 | $37,960 | $36,020 | $48,270 | +15% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 1,200 | 0.82 | $42,690 | $36,390 | $50,630 | +19% |
| Registered Nurses | 1,190 | 1.04 | $106,730 | $85,030 | $135,510 | +9% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 900 | 0.94 | $44,300 | $37,070 | $55,590 | +19% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 870 | 1.82 | $57,950 | $39,470 | $62,920 | +58% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 830 | 1.08 | $53,060 | $37,910 | $81,410 | +51% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 800 | 0.80 | $45,960 | $36,830 | $58,030 | +14% |
| Electricians | 740 | 2.89 | $104,510 | $55,590 | $156,620 | +65% |
| Office Clerks, General | 720 | 0.86 | $50,170 | $38,420 | $69,010 | +11% |
| General and Operations Managers | 710 | 0.60 | $126,680 | $75,280 | $236,610 | +20% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 670 | 0.96 | $62,240 | $49,400 | $83,310 | +6% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 650 | 0.87 | $44,860 | $37,440 | $64,160 | +22% |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 590 | 1.23 | $46,450 | $37,280 | $56,800 | +24% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 560 | 1.07 | $60,150 | $38,380 | $88,400 | +21% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 560 | 1.21 | $59,020 | $44,440 | $79,470 | +16% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | 560 | 2.04 | $130,790 | $76,380 | $171,810 | +64% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 550 | 2.42 | $79,630 | $58,220 | $117,550 | +7% |
| Carpenters | 540 | 2.40 | $69,710 | $50,190 | $119,960 | +15% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | 560 | 2.04 | $130,790 | $76,380 | $171,810 | +64% |
| General and Operations Managers | 710 | 0.60 | $126,680 | $75,280 | $236,610 | +20% |
| Registered Nurses | 1,190 | 1.04 | $106,730 | $85,030 | $135,510 | +9% |
| Electricians | 740 | 2.89 | $104,510 | $55,590 | $156,620 | +65% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 500 | 1.07 | $100,730 | $79,390 | $132,840 | +57% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 550 | 2.42 | $79,630 | $58,220 | $117,550 | +7% |
| Carpenters | 540 | 2.40 | $69,710 | $50,190 | $119,960 | +15% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 670 | 0.96 | $62,240 | $49,400 | $83,310 | +6% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 560 | 1.07 | $60,150 | $38,380 | $88,400 | +21% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 560 | 1.21 | $59,020 | $44,440 | $79,470 | +16% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 870 | 1.82 | $57,950 | $39,470 | $62,920 | +58% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 510 | 0.88 | $56,980 | $43,250 | $73,740 | +20% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 830 | 1.08 | $53,060 | $37,910 | $81,410 | +51% |
| Office Clerks, General | 720 | 0.86 | $50,170 | $38,420 | $69,010 | +11% |
| Nursing Assistants | 500 | 1.01 | $49,020 | $41,320 | $59,040 | +16% |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 590 | 1.23 | $46,450 | $37,280 | $56,800 | +24% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 800 | 0.80 | $45,960 | $36,830 | $58,030 | +14% |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 500 | 1.55 | $45,020 | $37,700 | $59,420 | +15% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 650 | 0.87 | $44,860 | $37,440 | $64,160 | +22% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 900 | 0.94 | $44,300 | $37,070 | $55,590 | +19% |
These figures are for the nearest metropolitan area with wage data, Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA, about 13 miles away. They show what the regional labour market pays; they are not a measure of this city.
Median pay across all occupations: $59,590 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.7% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.4% |
| Retail trade | 13.9% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 12.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 11.9% |
| Manufacturing | 8.8% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 5.9% |
| Public administration | 5.7% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 3.8% |
| Construction | 3.2% |
| Other services | 2.9% |
| Information | 2.1% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 0.4% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Oak Harbor lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island County | 86,836 | $4,664 million | $53,714 | 18,271 | 2,142 | $58,929 | +1.1% | 3.4% | 35,421 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 2,269 | 18.0% | $29,322 | 1.37 |
| Retail trade | 2,200 | 17.4% | $40,823 | 1.21 |
| Health care and social assistance | 2,122 | 16.8% | $48,025 | 0.81 |
| Construction | 1,260 | 10.0% | $62,068 | 1.31 |
| Professional and technical services | 1,030 | 8.2% | $124,267 | 0.81 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 818 | 6.5% | $44,708 | 1.49 |
| Manufacturing | 704 | 5.6% | $62,560 | 0.47 |
| Educational services | 473 | 3.7% | $34,891 | 1.25 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 398 | 3.2% | $25,706 | 1.30 |
| Finance and insurance | 343 | 2.7% | $121,470 | 0.46 |
| Real estate and rental | 298 | 2.4% | $44,146 | 1.05 |
| Wholesale trade | 262 | 2.1% | $77,199 | 0.36 |
| Information | 252 | 2.0% | $92,992 | 0.74 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 121 | 1.0% | $54,586 | 0.16 |
| Utilities | 81 | 0.6% | $102,058 | 1.17 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 77.4% |
| Public transit | 0.9% |
| Walk | 1.8% |
| Work from home | 5.7% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 10.8% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $76,084 |
| Income per person | $36,377 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,645 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 25.9% |
| Median home value | $461,200 |
| Homeowners | 46.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.3% |
| Price level of the nearest metro area (US = 100) | 102.4 |
| Nearest metro median pay, all occupations | $59,590 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: No state tax on wages.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 31.5 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 95.2% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 28.9% |
| Born abroad | 10.5% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 47.7% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4.0 | 39 | 191 |
| Feb | 4.2 | 40 | 114 |
| Mar | 6.1 | 43 | 146 |
| Apr | 8.6 | 47 | 93 |
| May | 12.1 | 54 | 67 |
| Jun | 14.3 | 58 | 50 |
| Jul | 17.0 | 63 | 23 |
| Aug | 17.2 | 63 | 33 |
| Sep | 14.7 | 58 | 64 |
| Oct | 10.2 | 50 | 142 |
| Nov | 6.3 | 43 | 205 |
| Dec | 3.6 | 38 | 175 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anacortes | WA | 13 mi | 17,966 | $91,951 | $1,702 |
| Mount Vernon | WA | 17 mi | 35,377 | $75,777 | $1,405 |
| Arlington | WA | 24 mi | 21,095 | $88,231 | $1,905 |
| Marysville | WA | 26 mi | 73,002 | $103,974 | $1,997 |
| Mukilteo | WA | 30 mi | 21,323 | $132,861 | $2,166 |
| Everett | WA | 30 mi | 111,845 | $83,512 | $1,740 |
| Lake Stevens | WA | 32 mi | 40,253 | $122,336 | $2,224 |
| Bellingham | WA | 33 mi | 93,438 | $66,755 | $1,577 |
| Eastmont | WA | 34 mi | 23,721 | $138,912 | $2,443 |
| North Lynnwood | WA | 35 mi | 23,339 | $101,088 | $2,145 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
24,362 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,645 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 25.9% of the median household income.
$76,084 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.4% (BLS county, Island County (latest month 2026M09)).
Washington. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.