State
Businesses in Washington by trade
202,177 employer establishments in 2023, employing 3,056,235 people (+5.8% establishments since 2017).
WASHINGTON · ALL INDUSTRIES
202,177
establishments with paid employees
- Employees
- 3,056,235
- Average per site
- 15.1
- Change since 2017
- +5.8%
- Annual payroll
- $251.8 billion
The 12 trades in Washington
| Trade | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 | State rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurants | 6,724 | 110,404 | +7.2% | 13 |
| Coffee shops and snack bars | 3,088 | 33,561 | +14.6% | 5 |
| Beauty salons | 2,168 | 9,074 | +11.3% | 14 |
| Barber shops | 192 | 1,291 | +69.9% | 12 |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 2,242 | 33,116 | +0.2% | 16 |
| Roofing contractors | 990 | 8,985 | +34.5% | 5 |
| Landscaping services | 3,194 | 19,278 | +10.6% | 13 |
| Janitorial services | 2,166 | 18,746 | +17.3% | 8 |
| Child day care | 2,386 | 22,898 | +4.0% | 11 |
| General auto repair | 1,734 | 8,930 | +2.1% | 16 |
| Fitness centers | 1,054 | 19,125 | +13.6% | 13 |
| Pet care services | 725 | 4,757 | +23.5% | 12 |
Largest industry groups in Washington
The twelve three-digit NAICS groups with the most employer establishments.
| Industry group | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 23,574 | 242,493 | +6.3% |
| Food Services and Drinking Places | 17,386 | 262,656 | +8.0% |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | 16,412 | 149,030 | +13.4% |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | 15,193 | 207,237 | +8.9% |
| Real Estate | 12,407 | 51,678 | +16.7% |
| Administrative and Support Services | 10,078 | 154,239 | +4.5% |
| Construction of Buildings | 9,869 | 56,891 | +20.4% |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | 6,859 | 57,905 | +1.8% |
| Personal and Laundry Services | 6,733 | 35,019 | +10.1% |
| Social Assistance | 5,581 | 90,661 | +19.6% |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | 4,780 | 76,843 | −8.1% |
| Repair and Maintenance | 4,684 | 27,758 | +0.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023; change measured against 2017, 2019 and 2022). Establishments with paid employees only; employment and payroll carry Census noise infusion. Retrieved November 2, 2026. Method and sources.