Health Sciences Degree Programs in Washington (2026)

Quick answer: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other in Washington earn a median $80,730 per year, above the national median of $65,790 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 880 of them. Licensing runs through your state licensing board for your existing clinical credential.

Health Sciences Pay and Employment in Washington at a Glance

MetricWashingtonNationalSource
Median annual wage$80,730$65,790BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile$60,880$38,660BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile$68,360$47,750BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile$106,770$97,000BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile$138,180$129,830BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment88035,010BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient1.11.00BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)not published by state3.6%BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How Washington Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The Washington median of $80,730 sits above the national median of $65,790 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 1.1 puts Washington slightly above the national average, so the occupation is a little more common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in Washington

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Bremerton$90,04040
Seattle$77,970580
Spokane$69,12050

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Allied health employment follows hospital systems and outpatient networks, so the local market tracks where the large health systems are rather than general population

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other Wages by Metro Area in Washington

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other wages in Washington vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria1,030$107,650$101,190$43,060$170,980
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue580$77,970$90,690$62,600$138,980
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro150$69,750$82,590$43,060$145,320
Spokane-Spokane Valley50$69,120$82,460$50,490$130,640
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard40$90,040$94,880$74,310$103,000

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

All Washington Metro Areas With Published Data

Seattle

Licensing and Credentials in Washington

Health sciences is a completion degree rather than a licensing credential, and it does not authorize clinical practice on its own. The licence you hold already - imaging, respiratory, laboratory or rehabilitation - is what governs your scope. This degree adds the four-year qualification on top of it.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state licensing board for your existing clinical credential that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 3 schools within 178 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 3 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

Walla Walla University

College Place, WA 167.1 miles away BOC Score 67.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 61.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 10
  • Annual completions: 29
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $68,868 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Eastern Washington University

Cheney, WA 177.6 miles away BOC Score 59.3
Tuition $8,586 - $25,959
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 90.8%
  • Graduation rate: 45.3%
  • Programs offered: 22
  • Annual completions: 359
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $60,781 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Seattle Central College

Seattle, WA 48.2 miles away BOC Score 55.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 31.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 47
  • Annual completions: 802
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $60,072 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do healthcare practitioners and technical workers make in Washington?

The median annual wage for healthcare practitioners and technical workers in Washington is $80,730, above the national median of $65,790 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $68,360 at the 25th percentile to $106,770 at the 75th.

How many healthcare practitioners and technical workers work in Washington?

Washington holds about 880 allied health practitioner jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 35,010, and BLS projects about 2,600 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).

Do I need a license to work as a allied health practitioner in Washington?

Health sciences is a completion degree rather than a licensing credential, and it does not authorize clinical practice on its own. The licence you hold already - imaging, respiratory, laboratory or rehabilitation - is what governs your scope. This degree adds the four-year qualification on top of it. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state licensing board for your existing clinical credential before you enroll in any program.

Can I earn a health sciences bachelor's online while working in Washington?

Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state licensing board for your existing clinical credential.

What is the highest-paying area of Washington for healthcare practitioners and technical workers?

Among Washington metro areas with published data, Bremerton reports the highest median at $90,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Is Washington a good state for healthcare practitioners and technical workers?

On pay, the state median of $80,730 sits above the national $65,790 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.1 means the occupation is more concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other (SOC 29-9099), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.