Government Jobs in Washington: Employers & Pay

1,890

local governments (2022)

counties

282

cities, towns and townships

1,274

special districts

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments — Government Organization. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Washington state government pay plan

Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources publishes the classification and pay plan for Washington state employees: 1,663 job classes and 637 pay grades, effective July 1, 2026. Below are the classes that match GovJobsWiki jobs, with annual ranges converted from the plan's published rates.

Job	Classes in the WA plan	Annual range
911 Dispatcher / Public Safety Telecommunicator	Communications Officer 1–4 5 classes	$53,796 – $117,948
Administrative Assistant (government)	Administrative Assistant 1–5 5 classes	$42,132 – $83,340
Bank / Financial Examiner	Financial Examiner 1–4 4 classes	$45,924 – $122,448
Budget Analyst	Budget Analyst 1–4 4 classes	$48,048 – $98,064
Campus / University Police Officer	Campus Police Officer 1 class	$56,952 – $76,608
Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county)	Transportation Engineer Intern, Civil Engineer 1–4, +2 more 17 classes	$47,004 – $164,664
Contract / Procurement Specialist	Contracts Specialist 1–3 3 classes	$51,600 – $93,288
Correctional Officer (state prison)	Corrections & Custody Officer 2–4 4 classes	$48,048 – $120,696
Crime Scene Investigator / Forensic Technician	Forensic Scientist 1–5 5 classes	$61,332 – $125,544
Custodian (schools & public buildings)	Custodian 1–5 5 classes	$38,340 – $75,504
Emergency Management Specialist	Emergency Management Program Specialist 1–4 4 classes	$58,392 – $122,448
Engineering Technician (DOT)	Engineering Aide Trainee, Engineering Aide 1–4, +3 more 12 classes	$40,836 – $88,788
Environmental Engineer	Environmental Engineer 1–6 6 classes	$64,512 – $142,020
Environmental Scientist (government)	Environmental Specialist 1–5 5 classes	$43,836 – $114,852
Epidemiologist	Epidemiologist 1, Epidemiologist 2 (Non-Medical), +2 more 4 classes	$72,900 – $149,244
Fleet Mechanic (city/county)	Automotive Mechanic Trainee, Automotive Mechanic, +2 more 7 classes	$39,924 – $113,736
Forestry Technician (USFS)	Forest Technician 1 class	$43,836 – $58,392
Government Auditor	Auditor 2–6, Apprentice Auditor 1 6 classes	$49,296 – $88,788
Grants Specialist / Manager	Grant & Contract Specialist 1 class	$48,048 – $64,512
Heavy Equipment Operator (government)	Equipment Operator 1–2, Equipment Operator Lead 3 classes	$49,296 – $87,576
Highway / Road Maintenance Worker (DOT)	Highway Maintenance Worker 1–4 4 classes	$51,600 – $80,496
Hydrologist	Hydrogeologist 1–5 5 classes	$58,392 – $122,448
IRS Revenue Agent / Tax Examiner	Revenue Agent 1–4, Revenue Auditor 1–4 8 classes	$49,296 – $110,952
IT Specialist (government)	It Support Technician 1–2, It Business Analyst - Entry, +5 more 8 classes	$45,924 – $147,264
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government)	Office Assistant 1–3, Office Assistant Lead 4 classes	$38,340 – $68,436
Park Ranger (NPS / state / county)	Park Ranger 1–4 4 classes	$52,872 – $108,228
Policy / Management Analyst	Management Analyst 3–5 3 classes	$61,332 – $133,200
Psychiatric Technician (state hospitals)	Mental Health Technician 1–3 3 classes	$49,296 – $74,748
Public Information Officer	Communications Specialist - Transportation, Communications Consultant 1–5 6 classes	$39,924 – $133,200
Social Worker (government)	Social Worker 1 - Academic Medical Centers, Social Worker 2 - Academic Medical Centers, Psychiatric Social Worker 1–4 6 classes	$56,952 – $154,488
Stationary Engineer (public facilities)	Stationary Engineer 1–4 4 classes	$56,952 – $106,704
Transportation Inspector (DOT / FMCSA / FRA)	Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer 1–4 4 classes	$66,900 – $133,464
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor	Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 1–4, Rehabilitation Counselor 1–2 6 classes	$51,600 – $108,228
Wildlife / Fisheries Biologist	Fish & Wildlife Biologist 1–4 4 classes	$47,004 – $95,676

Classes are matched to jobs by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources, Washington Classified Job Listing and OFM Salary Schedules (effective July 1, 2026). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Public employers in Washington

Fire departments · 241

Employer	City	Career firefighters	Website
Seattle Fire Department	Seattle	1,013	Official site
City of Spokane Fire Department	Spokane	331	Official site
Tacoma Fire Department	Tacoma	315	Official site
South Snohomish County Fire and Rescue Regional Fire Authority	Everett	290	Official site
Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority	Kent	265	Official site
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue	Tacoma	257	Official site
Snohomish County Fire District 7	Monroe	250	Official site
Bellevue Fire Department	Bellevue	217	Official site
Vancouver Fire Department	Vancouver	178	Official site
Everett Fire Department	Everett	165	—

All 241 fire departments in Washington →

Transit agencies · 47

Employer	City	Vehicles operated directly	Website
King County	Seattle	1,849	Official site
Snohomish County Public Transportation Benefit Area Corporation	Everett	448	Official site
Pierce County Transportation Benefit Area Authority	Lakewood	341	Official site
Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority	Seattle	296	Official site
Spokane Transit Authority	Spokane	278	Official site
Ben Franklin Transit	Richland	255	Official site
Intercity Transit	Olympia	243	Official site
Kitsap County Public Transportation Benefit Area Authority	Bremerton	211	Official site
Clark County Public Transportation Benefit Area Authority	Vancouver	167	Official site
Whatcom Transportation Authority	Bellingham	103	Official site

All 47 transit agencies in Washington →

School districts · 298

Employer	City	Teachers (FTE)	Website
Seattle School District No. 1	Seattle	3,074	Official site
Spokane School District	Spokane	1,950	Official site
Lake Washington School District	Redmond	1,730	Official site
Tacoma School District	Tacoma	1,538	—
Kent School District	Kent	1,411	—
Evergreen School District (Clark)	Vancouver	1,271	Official site
Puyallup School District	Puyallup	1,226	—
Federal Way School District	Federal Way	1,217	Official site
Northshore School District	Bothell	1,217	Official site
Bethel School District	Spanaway	1,161	Official site

All 298 school districts in Washington →

Police departments · 191

Municipal and county police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 191 police departments in Washington →

Sheriff's offices · 39

County sheriff's offices in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 39 sheriff's offices in Washington →

Campus police departments · 7

College and university police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 7 campus police departments in Washington →

Sources: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry; Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database 2024 — Reporter Agency Information; National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25 local education agency universe (directory and staff); Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay for government jobs in Washington

Median wage in Washington for each job's occupation (all employers in the state), next to the national median in government. Largest occupations first.

Job	Workers in WA	Median in WA	National, government
Correctional Nurse SOC 29-1141	69,260	$124,200	$100,490
Public Health Nurse SOC 29-1141	69,260	$124,200	$100,490
School Nurse SOC 29-1141	69,260	$124,200	$100,490
VA Nurse (Veterans Affairs) SOC 29-1141	69,260	$124,200	$100,490
Child Support Officer SOC 13-1199	51,650	$100,360	$91,060
Death Investigator / Coroner SOC 13-1199	51,650	$100,360	$91,060
Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) SOC 13-1199	51,650	$100,360	$91,060
Grants Specialist / Manager SOC 13-1199	51,650	$100,360	$91,060
City / County Manager SOC 11-1021	50,630	$133,750	$137,300
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government) SOC 43-9061	49,050	$50,500	$46,170
Custodian (schools & public buildings) SOC 37-2011	47,380	$45,520	$39,640
Paraprofessional / Teacher Aide SOC 25-9045	43,420	$49,120	$36,990
IRS Customer Service Representative SOC 43-4051	39,760	$50,330	$45,860
Accountant (government) SOC 13-2011	34,740	$96,550	$81,390
Government Auditor SOC 13-2011	34,740	$96,550	$81,390
Administrative Assistant (government) SOC 43-6014	31,710	$57,330	$48,290
School Secretary / Office Manager SOC 43-6014	31,710	$57,330	$48,290
Elementary School Teacher SOC 25-2021	28,980	$102,350	$65,310
Public School Teacher (hub) SOC 25-2021	28,980	$102,350	$65,310
Policy / Management Analyst SOC 13-1111	24,760	$109,170	$96,570
Program Analyst (federal) SOC 13-1111	24,760	$109,170	$96,570
Human Resources Specialist (government) SOC 13-1071	22,770	$84,550	$80,330
Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker SOC 37-3011	22,550	$46,950	$40,080
Contract / Procurement Specialist SOC 13-1020	15,400	$85,130	$89,920
ESL / ELL Teacher SOC 25-2031	14,880	$102,670	$74,220
High School Teacher SOC 25-2031	14,880	$102,670	$74,220
Substitute Teacher SOC 25-3031	14,820	$55,740	$43,690
IT Specialist (government) SOC 15-1299	14,360	$128,940	$119,250
Public Pre-K Teacher SOC 25-2011	13,210	$45,660	$60,040
Government Attorney (agency counsel) SOC 23-1011	12,770	$154,130	$134,680

Several jobs can share one occupation code.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Government jobs in Washington