Jobs, pay and daily life in Olympia, 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.
Olympia is a city in Washington with 55,951 residents. The median household earns $81,302 a year and the median rent is $1,599 a month, which is 23.6% of the median household income. It is part of the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metropolitan area, where BLS counts 130,300 jobs.
How Olympia compares. Among the 80 largest places in Washington, Olympia is #25 by population, #11 for long commutes (#1 = fewest), #68 for homeownership (#1 = highest), #19 for rent (#1 = cheapest). Its county, Thurston County, is #4 of 39 counties for average pay ($72,043).
Olympia has 55,951 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.7% of the population of Washington. It covers 18 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 3,071 people per square mile. The median age is 40.5, 6% older than the state median (40.5 against 38.3).
The median gross rent is $1,599 a month (rent plus utilities), 9% below the state median ($1,599 against $1,760). Over a year that is 23.6% 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 $486,200, which is 6.0 times the median household income ($81,302); a ratio above 5 usually means buying is out of reach without savings or a second income. 49.8% of households own their home, 22% below the state average (49.8% against 63.8%). A low ownership share points to a rental-heavy market with more apartments and shorter stays.
The Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metropolitan area has 130,300 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $61,960 a year, 22% above the national median ($61,960 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (15,820 jobs, median $54,190); business and financial operations (14,550 jobs, median $83,100); food preparation and serving related (10,250 jobs, median $38,870). The area is most specialised in computer and mathematical (1.7 times) and business and financial operations (1.6 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($130,260) and computer and mathematical ($109,840). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Thurston County was 3.4%. 61.6% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Thurston County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 59.4% drive alone, 1.9% use public transit, 4.9% walk, 25.6% work from home. 9.0% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 47% below the state average (9.0% against 16.9%). Remote work is more common than in the state as a whole, which widens the set of employers a resident can work for without moving.
51.8% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 31% above the state share (51.8% against 39.6%). 8.4% of residents were born outside the United States, 46% below the state share (8.4% against 15.4%). The poverty rate is 14.0%, 42% above the state rate (14.0% against 9.9%).
The warmest month is Aug, averaging 63°F (17.1°C), and the coolest is Dec at 38°F (3.5°C). About 1,688 mm (66 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Nov is the wettest month (268 mm) and Jul the driest (20 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: Tumwater (4 miles, rent 11% higher); Lacey (5 miles, rent 17% higher); Lakewood (19 miles, rent 5% lower); University Place (20 miles, rent 10% higher). Rent differences are against Olympia; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Washington (1,198) →State guide: WashingtonCountry guideThurston 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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 3,910 | 1.21 | $36,110 | $34,960 | $45,420 | +16% |
| General and Operations Managers | 3,670 | 1.25 | $122,210 | $90,210 | $193,400 | +16% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 3,370 | 0.93 | $44,060 | $37,840 | $47,480 | +23% |
| Retail Salespersons | 3,180 | 0.97 | $37,350 | $34,970 | $48,000 | +5% |
| Management Analysts | 2,770 | 3.69 | $88,790 | $58,370 | $121,620 | -13% |
| Cashiers | 2,470 | 0.95 | $37,340 | $35,040 | $50,190 | +14% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 2,450 | 1.03 | $44,070 | $36,590 | $58,980 | +18% |
| Registered Nurses | 2,250 | 0.79 | $125,020 | $83,300 | $151,610 | +28% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 2,110 | 1.47 | $54,320 | $43,700 | $70,030 | +14% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 1,990 | 0.81 | $44,760 | $36,080 | $57,020 | +11% |
| Office Clerks, General | 1,970 | 0.95 | $46,690 | $36,800 | $66,280 | +4% |
| Software Developers | 1,920 | 1.36 | $124,060 | $94,720 | $187,350 | -9% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 1,700 | 1.43 | $51,350 | $36,440 | $57,810 | +40% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 1,430 | 0.66 | $49,630 | $37,580 | $61,860 | +11% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 1,410 | 0.74 | $53,000 | $36,330 | $92,670 | +50% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 1,410 | 1.85 | $86,700 | $59,620 | $114,560 | +14% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 1,350 | 0.73 | $44,100 | $36,040 | $58,700 | +20% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 1,330 | 1.09 | $94,470 | $66,660 | $127,570 | +13% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 1,320 | 1.45 | $82,630 | $57,470 | $122,710 | -1% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,210 | 0.70 | $63,040 | $47,070 | $81,930 | +8% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Managers | 670 | 0.95 | $142,500 | $105,030 | $234,110 | -14% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 690 | 1.24 | $140,160 | $113,700 | $227,360 | -20% |
| Lawyers | 630 | 1.00 | $132,900 | $87,760 | $170,300 | -17% |
| Registered Nurses | 2,250 | 0.79 | $125,020 | $83,300 | $151,610 | +28% |
| Software Developers | 1,920 | 1.36 | $124,060 | $94,720 | $187,350 | -9% |
| General and Operations Managers | 3,670 | 1.25 | $122,210 | $90,210 | $193,400 | +16% |
| Civil Engineers | 860 | 2.78 | $108,240 | $84,500 | $142,050 | +7% |
| Computer Systems Analysts | 710 | 1.62 | $107,140 | $85,360 | $135,270 | +1% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 950 | 0.81 | $104,650 | $62,890 | $120,250 | +64% |
| Project Management Specialists | 810 | 0.91 | $103,000 | $67,000 | $151,730 | +1% |
| Electricians | 530 | 0.84 | $96,600 | $49,210 | $129,540 | +53% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 1,330 | 1.09 | $94,470 | $66,660 | $127,570 | +13% |
| Management Analysts | 2,770 | 3.69 | $88,790 | $58,370 | $121,620 | -13% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 1,410 | 1.85 | $86,700 | $59,620 | $114,560 | +14% |
| Operations Research Analysts | 600 | 6.59 | $84,500 | $62,880 | $110,930 | -5% |
| Compliance Officers | 1,020 | 2.92 | $84,500 | $64,430 | $143,000 | +5% |
| Public Relations Specialists | 630 | 2.66 | $84,470 | $62,880 | $110,060 | +13% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 1,320 | 1.45 | $82,630 | $57,470 | $122,710 | -1% |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | 670 | 1.63 | $80,450 | $57,230 | $112,090 | +4% |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 580 | 1.75 | $80,430 | $48,820 | $100,160 | +35% |
These figures are for the whole Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $61,960 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.4% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.9% |
| Public administration | 17.8% |
| Retail trade | 11.7% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 11.7% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 8.2% |
| Other services | 4.8% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 3.8% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 3.7% |
| Construction | 3.3% |
| Manufacturing | 3.0% |
| Information | 2.2% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 1.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.2% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Olympia 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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurston County | 299,067 | $21,563 million | $72,102 | 128,824 | 8,476 | $72,043 | +1.6% | 3.4% | 144,060 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 16,427 | 19.6% | $68,006 | 0.89 |
| Retail trade | 12,101 | 14.5% | $44,389 | 0.94 |
| Accommodation and food services | 9,606 | 11.5% | $29,776 | 0.82 |
| Professional and technical services | 6,878 | 8.2% | $106,177 | 0.77 |
| Administrative and waste services | 6,516 | 7.8% | $56,057 | 0.86 |
| Construction | 6,184 | 7.4% | $82,706 | 0.91 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 4,158 | 5.0% | $64,706 | 1.07 |
| Wholesale trade | 4,098 | 4.9% | $97,864 | 0.81 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3,556 | 4.2% | $59,666 | 0.65 |
| Manufacturing | 3,217 | 3.8% | $68,908 | 0.30 |
| Finance and insurance | 2,819 | 3.4% | $105,763 | 0.54 |
| Educational services | 2,512 | 3.0% | $37,284 | 0.94 |
| Information | 1,640 | 2.0% | $129,648 | 0.68 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 1,520 | 1.8% | $26,945 | 0.70 |
| Management of companies | 1,150 | 1.4% | $112,611 | 0.53 |
| Real estate and rental | 1,136 | 1.4% | $57,508 | 0.57 |
| Utilities | 217 | 0.3% | $140,462 | 0.44 |
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 | 59.4% |
| Public transit | 1.9% |
| Walk | 4.9% |
| Work from home | 25.6% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 9.0% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $81,302 |
| Income per person | $45,674 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,599 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 23.6% |
| Median home value | $486,200 |
| Homeowners | 49.8% |
| Poverty rate | 14.0% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 103.7 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $61,960 |
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 | 40.5 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 96.5% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 51.8% |
| Born abroad | 8.4% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 61.6% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4.1 | 39 | 259 |
| Feb | 4.3 | 40 | 147 |
| Mar | 6.2 | 43 | 200 |
| Apr | 8.5 | 47 | 125 |
| May | 11.9 | 53 | 79 |
| Jun | 14.2 | 58 | 53 |
| Jul | 16.9 | 62 | 20 |
| Aug | 17.1 | 63 | 33 |
| Sep | 14.8 | 59 | 73 |
| Oct | 10.3 | 51 | 175 |
| Nov | 6.3 | 43 | 268 |
| Dec | 3.5 | 38 | 256 |
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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tumwater | WA | 4 mi | 26,956 | $95,212 | $1,779 |
| Lacey | WA | 5 mi | 57,737 | $90,625 | $1,870 |
| Lakewood | WA | 19 mi | 62,937 | $74,720 | $1,525 |
| University Place | WA | 20 mi | 34,911 | $99,031 | $1,762 |
| Centralia | WA | 22 mi | 18,830 | $56,219 | $1,084 |
| Spanaway | WA | 23 mi | 34,019 | $98,251 | $1,813 |
| Parkland | WA | 23 mi | 38,742 | $72,239 | $1,663 |
| Tacoma | WA | 25 mi | 222,758 | $85,884 | $1,676 |
| Frederickson | WA | 25 mi | 25,383 | $109,500 | $2,386 |
| Graham | WA | 29 mi | 35,079 | $116,862 | $2,095 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
55,951 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,599 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 23.6% of the median household income.
$81,302 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.4% (BLS county, Thurston County (latest month 2026M09)).
Washington. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.