NAICS 62

Healthcare and Social Assistance in Washington: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 52.3 (Elevated), ranked #45 of 51 states. 23,809 establishments, 471,157 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 52.3
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Elevated

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national healthcare and social assistance average.

⛔High Barrier to Entry

Washington's healthcare and social assistance sector shows high establishment density (top 10 nationally) paired with firm retention in the bottom 10. This combination indicates elevated competitive pressure on new market entrants.

5-Year Firm Retention
19.6%
Percentile within industry
Rank #42 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
↑ 73.9
Scale of 0-100
Rank #10 of 51 states
Establishment Density
3.1
vs. national average
Rank #7 of 51 states
Market Volatility
32.8
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
100.0
Labor cost pressure

23,809 Establishments in Washington

23,809
Establishments
+8.6% YoY
471,157
Total Employment
+3.4% YoY
$70,148
Average Annual Wage
+5.8% YoY

Washington vs National Healthcare and Social Assistance Average

How Washington's healthcare and social assistance market compares to the national average across all 51 states.

Metric WA National Difference
Entry Risk Score 52.3 40.5 +11.8
5-Year Retention 19.6% 51.0% -31.4
Growth Momentum 73.9 46.8 +27.1
Market Volatility 32.8 27.8 +5.0
Establishment Density 3.1 12.9 -9.8
Wage Pressure 100.0 49.0 +51.0

Green = favorable vs national average. Red = less favorable. Metrics are relative within healthcare and social assistance only.

Washington Ranks #45 of 51 for Healthcare and Social Assistance

Washington ranks #45 out of 51 states for healthcare and social assistance market entry conditions.

Healthcare and Social Assistance Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Utah 22.9 low
#2 Nebraska 23.7 low
#3 North Dakota 26.2 low
#4 Iowa 26.7 low
#5 District of Columbia 27.9 low
#45 Washington You 52.3 elevated
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 50.3 · #44 Alabama — 43.6 · #31 Arkansas — 39.5 · #24 Arizona — 44.1 · #32 California — 54.6 · #49 Colorado — 46.7 · #35 Connecticut — 30.9 · #8 District of Columbia — 27.9 · #5 Delaware — 44.8 · #33 Florida — 47.2 · #37 Georgia — 43.3 · #28 Hawaii — 50.2 · #43 Iowa — 26.7 · #4 Idaho — 29.8 · #7 Illinois — 43.6 · #30 Indiana — 31.2 · #10 Kansas — 34.0 · #15 Kentucky — 54.4 · #48 Louisiana — 34.6 · #16 Massachusetts — 48.4 · #40 Maryland — 36.8 · #21 Maine — 49.9 · #42 Michigan — 52.5 · #46 Minnesota — 31.0 · #9 Missouri — 55.6 · #51 Mississippi — 38.3 · #23 Montana — 33.0 · #13 North Carolina — 33.0 · #14 North Dakota — 26.2 · #3 Nebraska — 23.7 · #2 New Hampshire — 36.6 · #19 New Jersey — 45.1 · #34 New Mexico — 53.1 · #47 Nevada — 37.2 · #22 New York — 48.2 · #39 Ohio — 40.2 · #26 Oklahoma — 49.7 · #41 Oregon — 55.6 · #50 Pennsylvania — 29.5 · #6 Rhode Island — 36.0 · #17 South Carolina — 31.5 · #12 South Dakota — 31.4 · #11 Tennessee — 47.4 · #38 Texas — 46.8 · #36 Utah — 22.9 · #1 Virginia — 39.9 · #25 Vermont — 36.7 · #20 Washington — 52.3 · #45 Wisconsin — 43.4 · #29 West Virginia — 40.3 · #27 Wyoming — 36.4 · #18
Low Moderate Elevated High

Tap a state to view details

About Entry Risk Score: A weighted composite of firm retention, growth momentum, market volatility, establishment density, and wage pressure. Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: February 2026. Next refresh expected: Q2 2026 (BLS QCEW update).

Compare to Another State

How does Washington stack up against other states for healthcare and social assistance?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Healthcare and Social Assistance in Neighboring States

How Washington's healthcare and social assistance market compares to bordering states.

Idaho 29.8 #7/51 Oregon 55.6 #50/51

Other Industries in Washington

Construction → Retail Trade → Accommodation and Food Services → Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services → Finance and Insurance → Real Estate and Rental and Leasing → Administrative and Support Services → Information → Other Services →