Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Kennewick-Richland, WA

Each occupation's median wage in Kennewick-Richland, WA compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Kennewick-Richland, WA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Kennewick-Richland, WA run 0.1% above the national average (2024), so a Kennewick-Richland, WA salary is worth about 1.00× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Kennewick-Richland, WA

OccupationMedian, Kennewick-Richland, WA · vs. national

1Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$104,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,910 – $120,810+111.4%
2Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$105,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,860 – $120,320+110.1%
3Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$123,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$75,390 – $175,690+77.2%
4Crane and Tower Operators$120,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,000 – $128,690+76.7%
5Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$126,230
Associate's degree
$72,010 – $143,340+69.4%
6Skincare Specialists$76,520
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,550 – $99,970+68.8%
7Paramedics$101,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,690 – $104,310+67.1%
8Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School$107,620
Bachelor's degree
$64,780 – $116,940+65.5%
9Millwrights$107,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,720 – $129,740+63.9%
10Bartenders$55,820
No formal educational credential
$40,040 – $78,980+62.6%
11Insulation Workers, Mechanical$92,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,620 – $107,700+58.9%
12First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$126,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,000 – $160,110+58.4%
13Electricians$99,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,260 – $125,380+58.0%
14Pipelayers$77,220
No formal educational credential
$65,720 – $102,610+57.6%
15Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$101,390
Bachelor's degree
$68,560 – $119,390+57.5%
16Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$129,110
Bachelor's degree
$74,710 – $167,070+57.0%
17Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$100,380
Bachelor's degree
$66,380 – $115,980+56.9%
18Sheet Metal Workers$96,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,650 – $128,160+55.3%
19Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$102,420
Bachelor's degree
$68,280 – $119,910+54.5%
20Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$105,240
Master's degree
$66,210 – $126,200+54.2%
21Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$161,530
Master's degree
$140,980 – $171,210+52.6%
22Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$97,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,720 – $145,880+52.2%
23Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$74,180
No formal educational credential
$48,140 – $76,730+49.3%
24First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$82,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,080 – $129,070+48.2%
25Instructional Coordinators$114,320
Master's degree
$61,390 – $126,010+47.6%
26Facilities Managers$157,120
Bachelor's degree
$86,500 – $217,970+47.3%
27Public Safety Telecommunicators$78,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,320 – $78,990+47.1%
28Waiters and Waitresses$51,460
No formal educational credential
$35,340 – $89,410+46.1%
29First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$69,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,290 – $98,060+43.8%
30Security Guards$54,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,500 – $86,900+43.8%
31Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$102,600
Bachelor's degree
$80,430 – $120,250+42.4%
32Training and Development Specialists$98,280
Bachelor's degree
$50,830 – $161,740+41.9%
33Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$104,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$68,210 – $159,470+40.6%
34Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$125,970
Bachelor's degree
$75,020 – $167,760+39.7%
35Library Assistants, Clerical$51,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,450 – $56,910+39.4%
36Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$49,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,970 – $76,670+38.7%
37Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$88,900
Master's degree
$61,110 – $122,080+38.2%
38Real Estate Sales Agents$72,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,630 – $101,900+38.2%
39Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$86,420
Bachelor's degree
$66,100 – $115,790+37.9%
40Public Relations Specialists$103,030
Bachelor's degree
$60,360 – $159,900+37.8%
41Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$104,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$89,040 – $116,090+37.2%
42Massage Therapists$79,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,210 – $96,270+36.8%
43Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$77,440
No formal educational credential
$49,000 – $121,260+35.8%
44Firefighters$80,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,750 – $98,360+35.1%
45Correctional Officers and Jailers$79,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,010 – $81,550+34.8%
46Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$80,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,560 – $92,040+34.5%
47Chief Executives$287,180
Bachelor's degree
$74,390 – $484,870+34.2%
48Home Health and Personal Care Aides$47,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,610 – $48,170+33.5%
49Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$79,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,880 – $122,580+33.4%
50Maintenance Workers, Machinery$81,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,060 – $106,080+33.2%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianKennewick-Richland, WA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Hazardous Materials Removal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,530	$47,910 – $120,810	+111.4%
2	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$105,650	$48,860 – $120,320	+110.1%
3	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$123,990	$75,390 – $175,690	+77.2%
4	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$120,310	$78,000 – $128,690	+76.7%
5	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$126,230	$72,010 – $143,340	+69.4%
6	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,520	$48,550 – $99,970	+68.8%
7	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$101,250	$60,690 – $104,310	+67.1%
8	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$107,620	$64,780 – $116,940	+65.5%
9	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,700	$62,720 – $129,740	+63.9%
10	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$55,820	$40,040 – $78,980	+62.6%
11	Insulation Workers, MechanicalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,680	$55,620 – $107,700	+58.9%
12	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$126,630	$64,000 – $160,110	+58.4%
13	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,850	$48,260 – $125,380	+58.0%
14	PipelayersNo formal educational credential	$77,220	$65,720 – $102,610	+57.6%
15	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$101,390	$68,560 – $119,390	+57.5%
16	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$129,110	$74,710 – $167,070	+57.0%
17	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$100,380	$66,380 – $115,980	+56.9%
18	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,000	$57,650 – $128,160	+55.3%
19	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$102,420	$68,280 – $119,910	+54.5%
20	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$105,240	$66,210 – $126,200	+54.2%
21	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$161,530	$140,980 – $171,210	+52.6%
22	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,130	$47,720 – $145,880	+52.2%
23	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$74,180	$48,140 – $76,730	+49.3%
24	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,880	$54,080 – $129,070	+48.2%
25	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$114,320	$61,390 – $126,010	+47.6%
26	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$157,120	$86,500 – $217,970	+47.3%
27	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,030	$62,320 – $78,990	+47.1%
28	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$51,460	$35,340 – $89,410	+46.1%
29	First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling ServicesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,820	$47,290 – $98,060	+43.8%
30	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,670	$36,500 – $86,900	+43.8%
31	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$102,600	$80,430 – $120,250	+42.4%
32	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$98,280	$50,830 – $161,740	+41.9%
33	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$104,180	$68,210 – $159,470	+40.6%
34	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$125,970	$75,020 – $167,760	+39.7%
35	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,460	$37,450 – $56,910	+39.4%
36	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,640	$34,970 – $76,670	+38.7%
37	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$88,900	$61,110 – $122,080	+38.2%
38	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,990	$44,630 – $101,900	+38.2%
39	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$86,420	$66,100 – $115,790	+37.9%
40	Public Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$103,030	$60,360 – $159,900	+37.8%
41	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,570	$89,040 – $116,090	+37.2%
42	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,950	$61,210 – $96,270	+36.8%
43	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$77,440	$49,000 – $121,260	+35.8%
44	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,090	$37,750 – $98,360	+35.1%
45	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,460	$64,010 – $81,550	+34.8%
46	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,750	$55,560 – $92,040	+34.5%
47	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$287,180	$74,390 – $484,870	+34.2%
48	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,810	$38,610 – $48,170	+33.5%
49	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,850	$59,880 – $122,580	+33.4%
50	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,070	$54,060 – $106,080	+33.2%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Kennewick-Richland, WA

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