NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Yakima, WA

Metro Market Score 67.8 (Difficult), ranked #326 of 378 metros. 705 establishments, 11,113 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 67.8
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

⚡Rising Wages

Wage costs in Yakima's retail trade sector are well above the metro average, with wage competitiveness at 74.9 and rising pressure at 90.2. New entrants should factor higher labor costs into their financial projections for this market.

Industry Concentration
14.6
LQ: 0.95
Rank #55 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
74.9
$40,718 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 8.7
Employment growth index
Rank #346 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
90.2
YoY wage change index

705 Retail Trade Firms in Yakima

705
Establishments
+2.8% YoY
11,113
Total Employment
-3.4% YoY
$40,718
Average Annual Wage
+5.5% YoY
0.95
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Yakima vs Washington Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Washington overall. The state ranks #20/51 for entry risk.

Measure Yakima WA Statewide
Overall Score 67.8 Difficult 42.0 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #326 of 378 metros #20 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Yakima

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 17.6 Administrative and Support Services 20.8 Information 30.0 Finance and Insurance 38.7 Construction 39.6 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 40.5 Accommodation and Food Services 41.3 Other Services 48.6 Healthcare and Social Assistance 53.7

Retail Trade in Other Washington Metros

Walla Walla 51.0 #153/378 Bellingham 58.5 #237/378 Kennewick-Richland 58.9 #242/378 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue 60.7 #263/378 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater 69.2 #329/378 Longview-Kelso 69.3 #332/378 Spokane-Spokane Valley 69.7 #334/378 Wenatchee-East Wenatchee 69.9 #337/378 Mount Vernon-Anacortes 71.8 #348/378 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard 74.0 #361/378

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Yakima's retail trade sector, the employment growth component (91.3) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.