Salaries in Renton, WA

Here’s a fun one for you: Renton’s median household income of $100,237 sits nearly 20% above the national average, yet its cost of living is only 13% above average. That gap is where the story gets interesting. It’s not a free ride, but it’s not the squeeze you might expect from a city this close to Seattle.

With a COL index of 113, your dollar doesn’t stretch as far as it would in, say, Boise. But it’s not getting crushed like it would in downtown San Francisco. Take a 1-bedroom apartment here at $1,864 a month. That’s steep, sure, but it’s a far cry from the $2,800-plus you’d pay for a similar spot in Seattle proper. You’re paying a premium, but you’re not getting completely priced out.

The city’s economy is a tale of two sectors. You’ve got the tech spillover, with software developers pulling in a median of $132,223. But the real bedrock is healthcare and the trades. Renton is home to a major medical center and a Boeing manufacturing footprint, which is why registered nurses and electricians are in the top-paid roles. It’s a practical city for practical skills.

Here’s my honest take: wages are decent, but that 4.2% unemployment rate hints at a competitive market. The COL-adjusted average salary sits at a sobering $50,003, which means the high earners are really pulling up the average. For a dual-income household or a skilled professional, Renton can be a financial sweet spot. For everyone else, it’s a constant calculation.

The data below breaks down exactly who’s winning and who’s just getting by.