Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Walla Walla, WA

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

Cost of living: prices in Walla Walla, WA run 1.5% below the national average (2024), so a Walla Walla, WA salary is worth about 1.02× 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 Walla Walla, WA

OccupationMedian, Walla Walla, WA · vs. national

1Real Estate Sales Agents$97,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,190 – $136,990+84.5%
2Waiters and Waitresses$56,730
No formal educational credential
$38,590 – $79,340+61.0%
3Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$102,980
Bachelor's degree
$62,000 – $106,970+61.0%
4Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$99,770
Bachelor's degree
$62,190 – $102,750+59.2%
5Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$101,540
Bachelor's degree
$63,470 – $107,730+57.7%
6Bartenders$54,030
No formal educational credential
$44,790 – $76,030+57.3%
7Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$99,420
Bachelor's degree
$60,560 – $107,040+50.0%
8Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$104,940
Bachelor's degree
$76,780 – $108,140+45.7%
9Home Health and Personal Care Aides$47,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,750 – $47,700+33.2%
10Electricians$82,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,790 – $122,400+31.2%
11First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$57,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,090 – $76,920+30.4%
12Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$137,660
Master's degree
$135,980 – $160,190+30.0%
13Social and Community Service Managers$103,740
Bachelor's degree
$75,940 – $155,460+29.0%
14Construction and Building Inspectors$96,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,600 – $115,210+28.7%
15Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$53,610
Bachelor's degree
$51,770 – $53,610+28.7%
16Security Guards$48,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,400 – $52,620+28.3%
17Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$62,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,790 – $74,710+27.7%
18Highway Maintenance Workers$62,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,250 – $65,140+25.1%
19Pharmacy Technicians$57,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,970 – $70,550+25.0%
20Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$55,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,310 – $59,070+23.6%
21Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$46,170
No formal educational credential
$38,600 – $56,550+23.3%
22Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$45,140
Some college, no degree
$38,800 – $47,600+22.7%
23Medical Assistants$56,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,390 – $59,690+22.6%
24Child, Family, and School Social Workers$72,910
Bachelor's degree
$47,270 – $101,230+22.4%
25Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$78,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,950 – $92,160+22.2%
26Logisticians$100,420
Bachelor's degree
$60,250 – $136,990+22.0%
27Civil Engineers$123,030
Bachelor's degree
$96,160 – $136,990+22.0%
28First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$59,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,840 – $68,450+21.4%
29Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$60,330
No formal educational credential
$37,560 – $73,600+21.4%
30First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$75,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,790 – $93,650+20.5%
31Registered Nurses$116,970
Bachelor's degree
$85,230 – $147,870+19.9%
32Parts Salespersons$46,230
No formal educational credential
$35,620 – $60,200+19.7%
33Physician Assistants$161,980
Master's degree
$108,700 – $205,620+19.2%
34Industrial Machinery Mechanics$76,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,780 – $96,270+18.6%
35First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$94,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,090 – $116,500+18.2%
36Cooks, Restaurant$44,050
No formal educational credential
$35,770 – $52,000+17.8%
37Pharmacists$165,210
Doctoral or professional degree
$122,990 – $171,540+17.2%
38Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$93,750
Associate's degree
$62,370 – $117,270+17.0%
39Social and Human Service Assistants$52,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,520 – $63,460+15.4%
40Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$68,160
Master's degree
$45,900 – $105,010+14.8%
41Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$35,510
No formal educational credential
$34,650 – $49,100+13.8%
42Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$51,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,180 – $59,170+13.7%
43Nursing Assistants$47,990
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,340 – $57,770+13.6%
44Food Preparation Workers$40,030
No formal educational credential
$34,650 – $44,850+13.3%
45Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$55,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,980 – $69,430+13.3%
46Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$67,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,080 – $83,360+13.2%
47Management Analysts$115,210
Bachelor's degree
$73,920 – $136,990+13.1%
48Helpers--Production Workers$44,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,140 – $49,810+13.1%
49Physical Therapists$115,740
Doctoral or professional degree
$83,260 – $119,980+12.6%
50Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$67,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,330 – $81,110+12.3%

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

#	Occupation	MedianWalla Walla, WA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,470	$66,190 – $136,990	+84.5%
2	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$56,730	$38,590 – $79,340	+61.0%
3	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$102,980	$62,000 – $106,970	+61.0%
4	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$99,770	$62,190 – $102,750	+59.2%
5	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$101,540	$63,470 – $107,730	+57.7%
6	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$54,030	$44,790 – $76,030	+57.3%
7	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$99,420	$60,560 – $107,040	+50.0%
8	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$104,940	$76,780 – $108,140	+45.7%
9	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,700	$37,750 – $47,700	+33.2%
10	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,910	$47,790 – $122,400	+31.2%
11	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,470	$39,090 – $76,920	+30.4%
12	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$137,660	$135,980 – $160,190	+30.0%
13	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$103,740	$75,940 – $155,460	+29.0%
14	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,100	$55,600 – $115,210	+28.7%
15	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$53,610	$51,770 – $53,610	+28.7%
16	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,770	$36,400 – $52,620	+28.3%
17	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,170	$51,790 – $74,710	+27.7%
18	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,880	$48,250 – $65,140	+25.1%
19	Pharmacy TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,190	$44,970 – $70,550	+25.0%
20	Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,960	$39,310 – $59,070	+23.6%
21	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$46,170	$38,600 – $56,550	+23.3%
22	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$45,140	$38,800 – $47,600	+22.7%
23	Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,020	$38,390 – $59,690	+22.6%
24	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$72,910	$47,270 – $101,230	+22.4%
25	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,690	$63,950 – $92,160	+22.2%
26	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$100,420	$60,250 – $136,990	+22.0%
27	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$123,030	$96,160 – $136,990	+22.0%
28	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,620	$39,840 – $68,450	+21.4%
29	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$60,330	$37,560 – $73,600	+21.4%
30	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,800	$44,790 – $93,650	+20.5%
31	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$116,970	$85,230 – $147,870	+19.9%
32	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$46,230	$35,620 – $60,200	+19.7%
33	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$161,980	$108,700 – $205,620	+19.2%
34	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,540	$46,780 – $96,270	+18.6%
35	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,420	$69,090 – $116,500	+18.2%
36	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$44,050	$35,770 – $52,000	+17.8%
37	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$165,210	$122,990 – $171,540	+17.2%
38	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$93,750	$62,370 – $117,270	+17.0%
39	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,990	$36,520 – $63,460	+15.4%
40	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$68,160	$45,900 – $105,010	+14.8%
41	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$35,510	$34,650 – $49,100	+13.8%
42	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,910	$40,180 – $59,170	+13.7%
43	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,990	$40,340 – $57,770	+13.6%
44	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$40,030	$34,650 – $44,850	+13.3%
45	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,050	$43,980 – $69,430	+13.3%
46	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,750	$54,080 – $83,360	+13.2%
47	Management AnalystsBachelor's degree	$115,210	$73,920 – $136,990	+13.1%
48	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,200	$36,140 – $49,810	+13.1%
49	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$115,740	$83,260 – $119,980	+12.6%
50	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,000	$47,330 – $81,110	+12.3%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Walla Walla, WA

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