Olympia Employment

Employment and Industries in the Olympia, Washington Area

Due to Olympia being a state capital, state government is the city's largest employer and it's also a major part of the economy. Some of the notable industries in Olympia are industrial supplies, machinery and plastics. Employment is also provided by firms producing items such as processed foods, wood products and metal and paper containers.

Agriculture, livestock, poultry and timber contribute to the economy. Tourism is also important. The area also includes a gambling sector. Notable companies located in the region are Univera Inc., Fast Transact and Reach One.

Legal and consulting companies are strong element's of the area's economy. The region also includes an emerging life sciences community and noteworthy warehouse and distribution companies.

The largest employers for the Olympia area:

  • State of Washington
  • Local Government
  • Providence St. Peter Hospital
  • Tribal Government
  • Federal Government
  • Group Health Cooperative
  • Columbia Capital Medical Center
  • St. Martin's University
  • Walmart Stores Inc
  • Costco Wholesale Corp

Some of the occupations which are more common in Olympia than most other cities are zoologists and wildlife biologists, forest and conservation technicians, budget analysts, social science research assistants, urban and regional planners, health educators, environmental scientists and specialists; and computer applications software engineers.

The major nonagricultural employment segments in Olympia, Washington:

  • Government
  • Trade, transportation and utilities
  • Leisure and hospitality
  • Professional and business services
  • Construction and mining
  • Financial activities

Some of the associations providing help to Olympia companies are:

The Olympian.com offers details about the local business community.

Jobs in Olympia

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations113980$56,490$27.16100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations15380$43,480$20.913.75
3Sales and Related Occupations10720$43,840$21.089.5
4Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations10260$31,540$15.168.7
5Business and Financial Operations Occupations8850$68,240$32.815.35
6Transportation and Material Moving Occupations7990$39,980$19.226.7
7Management Occupations7430$107,110$51.496.35
8Educational Instruction and Library Occupations7150$57,990$27.886
9Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations5760$90,000$43.275.85
10Computer and Mathematical Occupations5480$88,550$42.573
11Healthcare Support Occupations4910$35,410$17.022.85
12Retail Salespersons4600$32,500$15.622.7
13Construction and Extraction Occupations4460$60,200$28.944.6
14Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations3790$54,420$26.173.75
15Fast Food and Counter Workers3750$27,820$13.372.45
16General and Operations Managers3600$106,730$51.321.5
17Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations3460$35,220$16.933.6
18Personal Care and Service Occupations2950$38,000$18.274.65
19Office Clerks, General2840$37,620$18.091.9
20Community and Social Service Occupations2710$54,790$26.341.75
21Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations2470$71,870$34.550.8
22Production Occupations2340$43,710$21.025.6
23Cashiers2300$30,120$14.482.2
24Customer Service Representatives2230$39,290$18.891.75
25Protective Service Occupations2170$59,770$28.742.2
26Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations2120$57,670$27.731.8
27Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive1930$47,000$22.61.4
28Registered Nurses1840$78,650$37.811.95
29Architecture and Engineering Occupations1700$82,380$39.611.7
30Waiters and Waitresses1630$33,360$16.041.65
31Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1620$35,560$17.11.5
32Stockers and Order Fillers1620$33,820$16.261.25
33Home Health and Personal Care Aides1600$30,160$14.50
34Nursing Assistants1530$31,640$15.210.95
35Computer Systems Analysts1460$82,170$39.510.4
36Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand1410$33,010$15.871.8
37Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers1380$48,620$23.381.2
38Cooks, Restaurant1350$32,230$15.490.9
39Legal Occupations1280$86,040$41.370.8
40Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers1240$106,640$51.270.65
41Maintenance and Repair Workers, General1170$46,120$22.180.9
42Management Analysts1150$70,440$33.870.55
43Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1080$46,270$22.241.05
44Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other1040$71,950$34.590.7
45Computer Network Architects1030$87,570$42.10.1
46Receptionists and Information Clerks1000$32,500$15.620.7
47Construction Laborers940$45,150$21.70.9
48First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers930$58,510$28.130.95
49Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other900$63,120$30.350.2
50First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers870$50,930$24.490.95
51Financial Managers850$98,040$47.130.4
52Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity850$37,140$17.860.3
53Compliance Officers830$69,640$33.480.2
54Accountants and Auditors810$70,560$33.920.9
55Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators800$61,980$29.80.2
56Carpenters790$70,200$33.750.6
57First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers790$44,960$21.610.6
58Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners780$28,600$13.750.9
59Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks770$49,950$24.010.2
60Human Resources Specialists760$70,440$33.860.4
61Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers760$36,580$17.580.75
62Civil Engineers740$89,290$42.930.2
63Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors670$47,260$22.720.2
64Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products660$84,400$40.580.85
65Electricians630$62,320$29.960.45
66Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel630$75,000$36.060.7
67Public Relations Specialists610$75,090$36.10.2
68Bartenders600$33,790$16.240.4
69Health Education Specialists600$62,010$29.810
70Medical Assistants600$43,630$20.980.45
71Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations590$38,160$18.350.65
72Computer User Support Specialists580$56,310$27.070.4
73Light Truck Drivers560$40,160$19.310.6
74Lawyers510$110,260$53.010.5
75Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors500$48,020$23.090.2
76Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics490$43,230$20.780.5
77Substitute Teachers, Short-Term490$40,400$19.420.4
78First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers470$73,940$35.550.4
79Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses460$57,800$27.790.5
80Packers and Packagers, Hand460$32,790$15.760.4
81Paralegals and Legal Assistants450$54,820$26.360.2
82Billing and Posting Clerks440$45,460$21.850.3
83Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants430$66,680$32.060.35
84Urban and Regional Planners430$79,040$380
85Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists420$32,300$15.530.4
86Tellers390$36,040$17.330.25
87Dental Assistants380$46,180$22.20.2
88Dishwashers380$28,730$13.810.3
89Food Preparation Workers380$30,620$14.720.5
90Buyers and Purchasing Agents370$61,690$29.660.25
91Child, Family, and School Social Workers370$53,060$25.510.2
92Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria370$34,030$16.360.3
93Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health370$65,760$31.620.1
94First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers370$69,330$33.330.3
95Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers370$80,080$38.50.4
96Security Guards370$36,290$17.450.7
97Insurance Sales Agents340$67,570$32.490.3
98Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education340$28,060$13.490.3
99Dental Hygienists330$98,470$47.340.1
100Medical Dosimetrists, Medical Records Specialists, and Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other330$54,900$26.390
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Olympia Colleges
Olympia colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Olympia Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$56,490113,980
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$43,48015,380
Sales and Related Occupations$43,84010,720
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$31,54010,260
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$68,2408,850
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$39,9807,990
Management Occupations$107,1107,430
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$57,9907,150
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$90,0005,760
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$88,5505,480
Healthcare Support Occupations$35,4104,910
Retail Salespersons$32,5004,600
Construction and Extraction Occupations$60,2004,460
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$54,4203,790
Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,8203,750
General and Operations Managers$106,7303,600
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$35,2203,460
Personal Care and Service Occupations$38,0002,950
Office Clerks, General$37,6202,840
Community and Social Service Occupations$54,7902,710
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$71,8702,470
Production Occupations$43,7102,340
Cashiers$30,1202,300
Customer Service Representatives$39,2902,230
Protective Service Occupations$59,7702,170
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$57,6702,120
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,0001,930
Registered Nurses$78,6501,840
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$82,3801,700
Waiters and Waitresses$33,3601,630
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$35,5601,620
Stockers and Order Fillers$33,8201,620
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$30,1601,600
Nursing Assistants$31,6401,530
Computer Systems Analysts$82,1701,460
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$33,0101,410
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$48,6201,380
Cooks, Restaurant$32,2301,350
Legal Occupations$86,0401,280
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$106,6401,240
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$46,1201,170
Management Analysts$70,4401,150
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$46,2701,080
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$71,9501,040
Computer Network Architects$87,5701,030
Receptionists and Information Clerks$32,5001,000
Construction Laborers$45,150940
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$58,510930
Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other$63,120900
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$50,930870

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Olympia, Washington Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$56,490113,980
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$43,48015,380
Sales and Related Occupations$43,84010,720
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$31,54010,260
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$68,2408,850
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$39,9807,990
Management Occupations$107,1107,430
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$57,9907,150
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$90,0005,760
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$88,5505,480
Healthcare Support Occupations$35,4104,910
Retail Salespersons$32,5004,600
Construction and Extraction Occupations$60,2004,460
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$54,4203,790
Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,8203,750
General and Operations Managers$106,7303,600
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$35,2203,460
Personal Care and Service Occupations$38,0002,950
Office Clerks, General$37,6202,840
Community and Social Service Occupations$54,7902,710
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$71,8702,470
Production Occupations$43,7102,340
Cashiers$30,1202,300
Customer Service Representatives$39,2902,230
Protective Service Occupations$59,7702,170
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$57,6702,120
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,0001,930
Registered Nurses$78,6501,840
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$82,3801,700
Waiters and Waitresses$33,3601,630
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$35,5601,620
Stockers and Order Fillers$33,8201,620
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$30,1601,600
Nursing Assistants$31,6401,530
Computer Systems Analysts$82,1701,460
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$33,0101,410
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$48,6201,380
Cooks, Restaurant$32,2301,350
Legal Occupations$86,0401,280
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$106,6401,240
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$46,1201,170
Management Analysts$70,4401,150
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$46,2701,080
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$71,9501,040
Computer Network Architects$87,5701,030
Receptionists and Information Clerks$32,5001,000
Construction Laborers$45,150940
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$58,510930
Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other$63,120900
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$50,930870

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