NAICS 53

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing in Washington: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 48.0 (Elevated), ranked #40 of 51 states. 8,478 establishments, 57,713 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 48.0
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Elevated

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national real estate and rental and leasing average.

⛔High Barrier to Entry

Washington's real estate and rental and leasing 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
11.8%
Percentile within industry
Rank #46 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
↑ 60.3
Scale of 0-100
Rank #10 of 51 states
Establishment Density
13.7
vs. national average
Rank #10 of 51 states
Market Volatility
26.6
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
70.7
Labor cost pressure

8,478 Establishments in Washington

8,478
Establishments
+0.1% YoY
57,713
Total Employment
+0.0% YoY
$80,461
Average Annual Wage
+5.7% YoY

Washington vs National Real Estate and Rental and Leasing Average

How Washington's real estate and rental and leasing market compares to the national average across all 51 states.

Metric WA National Difference
Entry Risk Score 48.0 40.5 +7.5
5-Year Retention 11.8% 51.0% -39.2
Growth Momentum 60.3 39.4 +20.9
Market Volatility 26.6 22.1 +4.5
Establishment Density 13.7 34.1 -20.4
Wage Pressure 70.7 45.1 +25.6

Green = favorable vs national average. Red = less favorable. Metrics are relative within real estate and rental and leasing only.

Washington Ranks #40 of 51 for Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

Washington ranks #40 out of 51 states for real estate and rental and leasing market entry conditions.

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Pennsylvania 24.5 low
#2 Wisconsin 26.0 low
#3 Nebraska 26.3 low
#4 South Dakota 26.4 low
#5 Massachusetts 27.7 low
#40 Washington You 48.0 elevated
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 34.9 · #15 Alabama — 31.9 · #13 Arkansas — 30.5 · #12 Arizona — 52.4 · #46 California — 47.1 · #39 Colorado — 52.1 · #44 Connecticut — 45.9 · #37 District of Columbia — 38.5 · #24 Delaware — 53.2 · #47 Florida — 54.7 · #49 Georgia — 51.6 · #43 Hawaii — 60.3 · #50 Iowa — 35.6 · #16 Idaho — 43.4 · #32 Illinois — 44.3 · #33 Indiana — 30.2 · #10 Kansas — 41.4 · #29 Kentucky — 30.3 · #11 Louisiana — 44.5 · #34 Massachusetts — 27.7 · #5 Maryland — 50.4 · #42 Maine — 28.3 · #6 Michigan — 39.3 · #26 Minnesota — 42.1 · #31 Missouri — 39.2 · #25 Mississippi — 30.0 · #8 Montana — 37.5 · #20 North Carolina — 38.1 · #23 North Dakota — 54.3 · #48 Nebraska — 26.3 · #3 New Hampshire — 29.6 · #7 New Jersey — 37.3 · #19 New Mexico — 52.3 · #45 Nevada — 61.9 · #51 New York — 37.6 · #21 Ohio — 33.2 · #14 Oklahoma — 42.0 · #30 Oregon — 44.8 · #35 Pennsylvania — 24.5 · #1 Rhode Island — 37.8 · #22 South Carolina — 44.9 · #36 South Dakota — 26.4 · #4 Tennessee — 37.2 · #18 Texas — 41.4 · #28 Utah — 46.6 · #38 Virginia — 35.6 · #17 Vermont — 30.1 · #9 Washington — 48.0 · #40 Wisconsin — 26.0 · #2 West Virginia — 40.6 · #27 Wyoming — 49.6 · #41
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 real estate and rental and leasing?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing in Neighboring States

How Washington's real estate and rental and leasing market compares to bordering states.

Idaho 43.4 #32/51 Oregon 44.8 #35/51

Other Industries in Washington

Construction → Healthcare and Social Assistance → Retail Trade → Accommodation and Food Services → Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services → Finance and Insurance → Administrative and Support Services → Information → Other Services →