Average wage nears $59,000 in 2016

OLYMPIA – Washington’s average annual wage grew by 4.8 percent in 2016 to $58,957, representing the largest percentage increase year over year since 2007.

The average weekly wage rose from $1,082 in 2014 to $1,133 in 2016, according to the state Employment Security Department These figures include only those wages covered by unemployment insurance.

Much of the increase was driven by a 7.3 percent increase in total earnings, which grew by nearly $12.5 billion in 2016. Overall, the average number of workers in Washington covered by unemployment insurance grew by just over 74,000 in 2016.

The ind...