what ’ s working
“ These are good jobs and jobs that allow people to take care of their families , to pay their taxes , and to give back to their communities .”
— Rachel Smith , president and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
Smith said the chamber last released an aerospace impacts report in 2019 , before the grounding of the 737 MAX , pandemic and other challenges . The latest report tells a “ recovery story ,” she said .
In 2019 , Washington ’ s aerospace industry had 88,500 jobs , a figure that dropped to 67,500 in 2021 . Since early 2022 , those jobs have steadily returned ; as of July 2024 , aerospace employment stands at 81,800 jobs . Boeing accounts for about 80 % of aerospace jobs .
Boeing supports a wide range of aerospace suppliers and support services throughout the region , the report notes .
Aerospace employees earn a higher wage than the statewide average : 72 % of workers earn between $ 50,000 and $ 175,000 , with an average wage of $ 133,200 .
“ These are good jobs and jobs that allow people to take care of their families , to pay their taxes , and to give back to their communities ,” Smith said .
Snohomish County is home to nearly half of all Boeing employees . It ’ s also a hub for expansion of new aerospace technologies , including sustainable aviation fuel and hydrogen-electric aircraft , said Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers .
The county has partnered with Washington State University to launch the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Research & Development Center at Everett ’ s Paine Field , while clean aviation startup ZeroAvia opened a manufacturing facility in Everett this spring .
“ I am very optimistic ,” Somers said . “ Even through the pandemic , we had businesses locating here and it ’ s because of Boeing and the other prior companies that we had here . Even during the down times , we ’ ve seen a lot of real positive development .”
Boeing ’ s new CEO Kelly Ortberg choosing to be based in Seattle is a win for the state ’ s aerospace workforce , Somers adds .
The chamber ’ s report also shows how aerospace workers boost the local economy . In Auburn and Renton , aerospace employees were responsible for 2.4 % of restaurant sales in 2023 , directly supporting 420 restaurant jobs , or the equivalent of 35 restaurants .
“ You can ’ t pick a business , whether it ’ s restaurants or car dealerships or grocery stores , that isn ’ t majorly benefited by aerospace ,” Somers said .
Dwayne Lane ’ s Auto Family , a car dealership based in Everett , directly experiences the ups and downs of the aerospace industry . When aerospace employment is up , so are car sales . fall 2024 27