Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA

Each occupation's median wage in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, 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 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA run 3.7% above the national average (2024), so a Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA salary is worth about 0.96× 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 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA

OccupationMedian, Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA · vs. national

1Paramedics$120,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,690 – $134,190+98.4%
2Skincare Specialists$81,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,120 – $180,960+79.8%
3Structural Iron and Steel Workers$111,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,810 – $122,180+77.6%
4Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$103,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,680 – $123,280+72.2%
5Public Safety Telecommunicators$89,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,270 – $89,090+68.0%
6Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$103,610
Bachelor's degree
$64,510 – $108,190+65.3%
7Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$104,650
Bachelor's degree
$62,890 – $120,250+63.6%
8Sheet Metal Workers$100,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,690 – $139,930+62.9%
9Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$104,410
Bachelor's degree
$67,080 – $122,570+62.2%
10Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$113,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,710 – $173,470+61.7%
11Glaziers$91,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,210 – $130,630+60.9%
12Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$166,910
Master's degree
$111,020 – $174,030+57.7%
13Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$103,580
Bachelor's degree
$74,710 – $125,480+56.3%
14Real Estate Sales Agents$82,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,530 – $104,250+56.2%
15Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$76,610
No formal educational credential
$46,000 – $128,000+56.0%
16Special Education Teachers, Middle School$103,880
Bachelor's degree
$75,590 – $121,550+55.5%
17Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$76,340
No formal educational credential
$61,610 – $77,610+53.6%
18Electricians$96,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,210 – $129,540+52.9%
19Firefighters$90,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,350 – $115,740+51.9%
20Logging Equipment Operators$74,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,940 – $83,750+50.4%
21Waiters and Waitresses$53,000
No formal educational credential
$36,330 – $92,670+50.4%
22Library Technicians$65,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,520 – $68,960+47.2%
23Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$88,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,710 – $100,800+47.1%
24Bartenders$50,180
No formal educational credential
$37,480 – $82,820+46.1%
25Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$105,200
Bachelor's degree
$66,450 – $122,980+46.0%
26Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$135,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$101,590 – $152,380+42.1%
27Highway Maintenance Workers$71,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,390 – $78,150+41.5%
28Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$51,350
Some college, no degree
$36,440 – $57,810+39.6%
29Legal Support Workers, All Other$100,510
Associate's degree
$66,130 – $124,250+39.4%
30Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$49,840
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,320 – $94,640+39.3%
31Correctional Officers and Jailers$81,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,270 – $86,980+38.4%
32Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$101,060
Bachelor's degree
$75,540 – $121,860+36.1%
33First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$127,110
Postsecondary nondegree award
$76,720 – $146,870+35.9%
34Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$92,610
Master's degree
$65,040 – $121,530+35.7%
35Rehabilitation Counselors$63,570
Master's degree
$50,380 – $114,610+35.7%
36Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$76,690
Bachelor's degree
$36,400 – $98,030+35.2%
37Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$66,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,710 – $70,970+35.2%
38Child, Family, and School Social Workers$80,430
Bachelor's degree
$48,820 – $100,160+35.1%
39Crossing Guards and Flaggers$51,400
No formal educational credential
$43,940 – $75,830+34.9%
40Social and Community Service Managers$108,380
Bachelor's degree
$75,150 – $157,970+34.8%
41First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$104,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,940 – $112,220+34.2%
42Massage Therapists$78,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,740 – $113,570+34.0%
43Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$75,850
No formal educational credential
$47,830 – $119,010+33.0%
44First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$140,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$119,040 – $161,610+32.7%
45Construction and Building Inspectors$98,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,990 – $130,970+31.5%
46Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$99,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$84,500 – $121,570+31.0%
47Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$48,820
No formal educational credential
$39,200 – $61,210+30.4%
48Library Assistants, Clerical$47,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,650 – $57,250+29.6%
49Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$85,650
Bachelor's degree
$70,870 – $104,260+29.2%
50Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$83,050
Master's degree
$55,460 – $108,800+29.1%

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

#	Occupation	MedianOlympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$120,260	$49,690 – $134,190	+98.4%
2	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,490	$49,120 – $180,960	+79.8%
3	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$111,500	$79,810 – $122,180	+77.6%
4	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,060	$53,680 – $123,280	+72.2%
5	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,090	$62,270 – $89,090	+68.0%
6	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$103,610	$64,510 – $108,190	+65.3%
7	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$104,650	$62,890 – $120,250	+63.6%
8	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,650	$62,690 – $139,930	+62.9%
9	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$104,410	$67,080 – $122,570	+62.2%
10	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$113,200	$73,710 – $173,470	+61.7%
11	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,870	$46,210 – $130,630	+60.9%
12	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$166,910	$111,020 – $174,030	+57.7%
13	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$103,580	$74,710 – $125,480	+56.3%
14	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,500	$48,530 – $104,250	+56.2%
15	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$76,610	$46,000 – $128,000	+56.0%
16	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$103,880	$75,590 – $121,550	+55.5%
17	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$76,340	$61,610 – $77,610	+53.6%
18	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,600	$49,210 – $129,540	+52.9%
19	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$90,050	$64,350 – $115,740	+51.9%
20	Logging Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,790	$63,940 – $83,750	+50.4%
21	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$53,000	$36,330 – $92,670	+50.4%
22	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,630	$50,520 – $68,960	+47.2%
23	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,270	$65,710 – $100,800	+47.1%
24	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$50,180	$37,480 – $82,820	+46.1%
25	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$105,200	$66,450 – $122,980	+46.0%
26	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$135,450	$101,590 – $152,380	+42.1%
27	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,140	$61,390 – $78,150	+41.5%
28	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$51,350	$36,440 – $57,810	+39.6%
29	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$100,510	$66,130 – $124,250	+39.4%
30	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,840	$35,320 – $94,640	+39.3%
31	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,550	$70,270 – $86,980	+38.4%
32	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$101,060	$75,540 – $121,860	+36.1%
33	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$127,110	$76,720 – $146,870	+35.9%
34	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$92,610	$65,040 – $121,530	+35.7%
35	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$63,570	$50,380 – $114,610	+35.7%
36	Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$76,690	$36,400 – $98,030	+35.2%
37	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,550	$38,710 – $70,970	+35.2%
38	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$80,430	$48,820 – $100,160	+35.1%
39	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$51,400	$43,940 – $75,830	+34.9%
40	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$108,380	$75,150 – $157,970	+34.8%
41	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,610	$73,940 – $112,220	+34.2%
42	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,320	$35,740 – $113,570	+34.0%
43	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$75,850	$47,830 – $119,010	+33.0%
44	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$140,730	$119,040 – $161,610	+32.7%
45	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,220	$58,990 – $130,970	+31.5%
46	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,810	$84,500 – $121,570	+31.0%
47	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$48,820	$39,200 – $61,210	+30.4%
48	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,830	$34,650 – $57,250	+29.6%
49	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$85,650	$70,870 – $104,260	+29.2%
50	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$83,050	$55,460 – $108,800	+29.1%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA

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