StateRates

Yakima salaries

The median worker in the Yakima, WA metro area earned $46,740 a year in 2024, about $22.47 an hour. That ranks #191 of the 391 metro areas published here, 5.6% below the national median.

Washington

Median pay $46,740 $22.47 per hour
Vs national -5.6% U.S. $49,500
Workers 98,540 wage and salary
Metro rank #191 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Yakima pays 24.1% less than Washington as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products 105.42× 1,810 $34,840
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse 10.33× 1,730 $34,370
Packers and Packagers, Hand 9.15× 3,520 $34,710
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders 3.8× 930 $36,340
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators 3.23× 1,660 $42,340
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 2.47× 2,170 $45,400
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term 2.16× 660 $49,710
Bus Drivers, School 2.07× 510 $52,060
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors 2.01× 570 $57,170
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 1.92× 4,890 $44,280
Industrial Machinery Mechanics 1.91× 510 $60,410
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 1.62× 1,440 $80,020

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Yakima
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Financial Managers $156,830 $75.40 200
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary $142,430 n/a 310
Pharmacists $141,620 $68.09 210
Lawyers $125,080 $60.14 220
General and Operations Managers $113,390 $54.51 1,170
Software Developers $111,320 $53.52 220
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors $98,330 $47.28 210
Registered Nurses $98,240 $47.23 1,480
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $97,740 n/a 600
Project Management Specialists $92,210 $44.33 260
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $91,690 $44.08 300
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $85,850 $41.27 350
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $81,620 n/a 450
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $81,430 $39.15 420
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School $81,190 n/a 210
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education $81,080 n/a 250
Electricians $80,870 $38.88 440
Accountants and Auditors $80,040 $38.48 670
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $80,020 n/a 1,440
Correctional Officers and Jailers $78,020 $37.51 210
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $75,890 $36.49 860
Compliance Officers $75,400 $36.25 270
Business Operations Specialists, All Other $74,850 $35.99 530
Child, Family, and School Social Workers $70,400 $33.84 420
Buyers and Purchasing Agents $70,300 $33.80 250
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $70,090 $33.70 640
Human Resources Specialists $69,640 $33.48 390
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $67,500 $32.45 880
Computer User Support Specialists $65,200 $31.35 240
Carpenters $65,180 $31.34 420
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $64,300 $30.92 200
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists $63,990 $30.77 280
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $62,800 $30.19 220
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs $61,050 $29.35 270
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $60,860 $29.26 480
Healthcare Social Workers $60,700 $29.18 310
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $60,410 $29.04 510
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $57,560 $27.67 1,630
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $57,390 $27.59 300
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors $57,170 $27.49 570
Rehabilitation Counselors $57,140 $27.47 210
Postal Service Mail Carriers $55,660 $26.76 220
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $52,400 $25.19 210
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $52,330 $25.16 920
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $52,220 $25.11 260
Bus Drivers, School $52,060 $25.03 510
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $51,050 $24.54 1,180
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers $49,900 $23.99 810
Billing and Posting Clerks $49,900 $23.99 340
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $49,810 $23.95 1,200
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term $49,710 $23.90 660
Painters, Construction and Maintenance $49,430 $23.77 210
Pharmacy Technicians $49,250 $23.68 250
Construction Laborers $48,860 $23.49 750
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $48,850 $23.48 440
Social and Human Service Assistants $48,720 $23.42 260
Medical Assistants $47,890 $23.03 640
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks $47,760 $22.96 240
Customer Service Representatives $47,100 $22.64 660
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants $46,820 $22.51 320

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Yakima by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 4,890 $44,280 $21.29
Packers and Packagers, Hand 3,520 $34,710 $16.69
Fast Food and Counter Workers 2,980 $34,950 $16.80
Retail Salespersons 2,550 $35,850 $17.23
Cashiers 2,220 $35,050 $16.85
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 2,170 $45,400 n/a
Stockers and Order Fillers 2,100 $39,680 $19.08
Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products 1,810 $34,840 $16.75
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse 1,730 $34,370 $16.52
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1,680 $37,480 $18.02
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators 1,660 $42,340 $20.36
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1,630 $57,560 $27.67
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1,620 $38,190 $18.36
Registered Nurses 1,480 $98,240 $47.23
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 1,440 $80,020 n/a
Office Clerks, General 1,420 $44,280 $21.29
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 1,200 $49,810 $23.95
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 1,180 $51,050 $24.54
General and Operations Managers 1,170 $113,390 $54.51
Nursing Assistants 1,130 $46,330 $22.28

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other Washington metro areas

Yakima pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Yakima?

The median across all occupations is $46,740, or $22.47 an hour, covering 98,540 wage and salary workers. The mean is $59,490, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Yakima pay more than the rest of Washington?

No. The metro median of $46,740 is 24.1% below the Washington median of $61,590. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Yakima?

Financial Managers ($156,830), Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary ($142,430), Pharmacists ($141,620). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Yakima unusually full of?

Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products, at 105.42× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.