Salaries in Spokane, WA

Spokane’s secret? It’s not a cheap place to live anymore, but your paycheck still pretends it is. The city’s cost of living index sits at 101.0—just a hair above the national average—yet its median household income is only $65,016. That gap tells you everything about the quiet squeeze here.

Let’s talk purchasing power. A one-bedroom apartment runs you about $1,012 a month. If you’re making the city’s average salary of $69,976, that’s roughly 18% of your gross income going to rent. Not terrible, but it’s not the steal it was five years ago. The COL-adjusted average salary drops to $69,284, which means the national price for goods and services bites a little deeper here than you’d expect. It’s not a bargain, but it’s not a rip-off either. It’s… squarely average.

So, who’s actually thriving? You’ll find the real money in healthcare, tech, and construction. Major employers like Kaiser Permanente, Spokane’s growing tech hub around the University District, and big construction firms tied to the region’s infrastructure boom are where the six-figure jobs live. The data shows it clearly: marketing managers lead the pack at $158,092, followed by pharmacists at $136,438 and software developers at $127,641. If you’re in one of these fields, Spokane offers a surprisingly solid lifestyle.

But here’s the catch: wages aren’t exactly sprinting ahead of costs. The unemployment rate is a healthy 4.2%, but only 33.7% of folks have a bachelor’s degree or higher. That means competition for those top-paying roles is real, and if you’re not in a high-demand field, you might feel stuck. This city works best for skilled professionals who can command a premium.

The numbers below will show you exactly where you stand—by role, by adjusted pay, and by what it really costs to live here.