SOC 51-9151 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators — Washington
Washington · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Washington comes to $46,280 a year, ahead of the national median of $40,610 by 14.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Washington comes to $46,280 a year, ahead of the national median of $40,610 by 14.0%. Pay ranges from under $36,640 at the tenth percentile to more than $75,310 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $38,440 to $75,310.
The area has 80 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.77 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Washington ranks number 6th out of 29 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Seattle records the highest median at $60,320. Of the 757 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 667th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,640 | −9.8% |
| 25th | $38,440 | −5.3% |
| Median (50th) | $46,280 | +14.0% |
| 75th | $75,310 | +85.4% |
| 90th | $75,310 | +85.4% |
| Mean | $53,980 | +32.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle | $60,320 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Washington run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $46,280 buys what $43,252 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 6.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$46,280as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$43,252US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $46,280 a year, 14.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,640 to $75,310 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 80 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 6th of 29 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Seattle, at $60,320.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators in Washington?
The median annual wage is $46,280, or $22.25 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $40,610, so pay in Washington is 14.0% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Washington earns more than $75,310 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,640 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Seattle, at $60,320 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 80 jobs in this occupation in Washington. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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