Cost of Living in Olympia, WA
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
103.7
U.S. average = 100 · #38 of 387
Median wage
$61,960
all jobs · $4,330/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$1,682
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Olympia, WA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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Prices in Olympia, WA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.7 | +3.7% |
| Housing | 116.7 | +16.7% |
| Goods | 105.0 | +5.0% |
| Utilities | 91.7 | −8.3% |
| Other services | 99.5 | −0.5% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Olympia, WA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,538 | $61,520/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,682 | $67,280/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,960 | $78,400/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,613 | $104,520/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,288 | $131,520/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Olympia, WA
Your take-home pay
$51,965
per year · effective tax rate 16.1%
$4,330Monthly
$2,165Twice a month
$1,999Every 2 weeks
$24.98Hourly
- Federal income tax$5,255
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,842
- Medicare (1.45%)$898
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$51,965
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Olympia, WA
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Olympia, WA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area are 103.7% of the U.S. average, with housing at 116.7%. It is the #38 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Olympia, WA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $62,202 in Olympia, WA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $61,960.
How much is rent in Olympia, WA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Olympia, WA are $1,538 for a studio, $1,682 for one bedroom, $1,960 for two bedrooms and $2,613 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Olympia, WA
Management Occupations
- Financial Manager — $142,500
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $140,160
- General and Operations Manager — $122,210
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $103,000
- Accountant and Auditor — $94,470
- Management Analyst — $88,790
- Human Resources Specialist — $86,700
- Compliance Officer — $84,500
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $82,630
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $80,450
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $79,910
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $78,460
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $69,380
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $124,060
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $112,530
- Computer Systems Analyst — $107,140
- Operations Research Analyst — $84,500
- Computer User Support Specialist — $67,500
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Civil Engineer — $108,240
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
- Urban and Regional Planner — $95,640
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — $86,700
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $80,430
- Health Education Specialist — $78,460
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $67,650
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $132,900
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $71,140
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $105,200
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $104,650
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $51,350
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $48,020
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
- Public Relations Specialist — $84,470
- Coach and Scout — $46,620
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $125,020
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $55,700
- Dental Assistant — $48,890
- Nursing Assistant — $48,060
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $44,060
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $43,920
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $54,200
- Waiter and Waitress — $53,000
- Bartender — $50,180
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,960
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,950
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,110
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $44,850
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $44,100
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $38,920
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $76,770
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $75,180
- Insurance Sales Agent — $66,150
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $57,580
- Retail Salesperson — $37,350
- Cashier — $37,340
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $79,510
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $78,270
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs — $67,650
- Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk — $61,390
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $55,590
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $54,320
- Customer Service Representative — $49,630
- Teller — $48,700
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $48,020
- Office Clerks, General — $46,690
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $42,910
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $102,210
- Electrician — $96,600
- Carpenter — $63,260
- Construction Laborer — $53,090
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $58,980
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $51,260
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $63,040
- Bus Drivers, School — $60,460
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $48,520
- Light Truck Driver — $45,820
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,760
- Stocker and Order Filler — $44,070