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What does a Real Estate Brokers salary really buy you in Washington?
Washington is 9.8% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Washington's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.8, meaning prices are 9.8% higher the national average. A Real Estate Brokers earning $82,790 in Washington has the equivalent purchasing power of $75,400 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Washington's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $77,830 | $70,883 | $-6,946 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $82,790 | $75,400 | $-7,389 |
| Median (P50) | $82,790 | $75,400 | $-7,389 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $96,440 | $87,832 | $-8,607 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $103,140 | $93,934 | $-9,205 |
While $82,790 sounds high, Washington's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $75,400. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Washington's RPP of 109.8 puts it 9.8% above the national baseline cost of living. A Real Estate Brokers needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying Washington's RPP, the $82,790 median salary translates to $75,401 in real terms — a 8.9% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Real Estate Brokers.
Washington sits at #15 of 36 states for Real Estate Brokers COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Real Estate Brokers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Washington ranks #15 out of 36 states for Real Estate Brokers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Real Estate Brokers take-home pay in Washington after taxes →
A Real Estate Brokers in Washington earns a median salary of $82,790 per year. After adjusting for Washington's cost of living (RPP=109.8), the real purchasing power is $75,400 — a -8.9% difference.
Washington's cost of living is 9.8% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Washington is 109.8 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Real Estate Brokers in Washington: $82,790 x (100 / 109.8) = $75,400. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Real Estate Brokers's nominal salary of $82,790 in Washington has 8.9% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $75,400. However, Washington may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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