What home projects cost in Washington
Construction workers in Washington earn $1,646 a week on average, +5.6% against the national $1,559. Because labour is roughly 45% of a residential project and materials cost much the same everywhere, that works out to about +2.5% on the price of a job here.
Biggest difference: ADU, where a typical project runs $4,500 more here than the national figure.
Idaho, lowest Alaska, highest
Washington pays more than 40 of the 51, and the taller notch marks the national average.
| Project | In Washington | National |
|---|---|---|
| Home Addition cost in Washington | $67,300 – $100,900 | $65,600 – $98,400 |
| Bathroom Remodel cost in Washington | $14,000 – $21,800 | $13,700 – $21,400 |
| Basement Finishing cost in Washington | $29,500 – $44,300 | $28,800 – $43,200 |
| Interior Painting cost in Washington | $4,450 – $6,650 | $4,300 – $6,500 |
| Garage Conversion cost in Washington | $26,500 – $43,300 | $25,800 – $42,200 |
| Shower Remodel cost in Washington | $5,250 – $8,550 | $5,150 – $8,350 |
| Flooring Installation cost in Washington | $5,750 – $9,050 | $5,600 – $8,800 |
| ADU cost in Washington | $136,500 – $232,500 | $133,200 – $226,800 |
| Cabinet Refacing cost in Washington | $5,400 – $8,400 | $5,250 – $8,250 |
| Kitchen Remodel cost in Washington | $32,800 – $53,400 | $31,900 – $52,100 |
| Countertop cost in Washington | $2,900 – $4,500 | $2,800 – $4,400 |
| Project | In Washington | National |
|---|---|---|
| Tree Removal cost in Washington | $650 – $1,050 | $650 – $1,050 |
| Window Replacement cost in Washington | $5,850 – $9,550 | $5,700 – $9,300 |
| Roof Replacement cost in Washington | $6,500 – $10,600 | $6,350 – $10,400 |
| Concrete Driveway cost in Washington | $5,150 – $8,350 | $5,000 – $8,200 |
| Retaining Wall cost in Washington | $4,500 – $7,300 | $4,350 – $7,150 |
| Landscaping cost in Washington | $4,100 – $7,000 | $4,000 – $6,800 |
| Pool cost in Washington | $34,200 – $58,200 | $33,400 – $56,800 |
| Exterior Painting cost in Washington | $4,600 – $7,200 | $4,500 – $7,000 |
| Siding cost in Washington | $7,500 – $11,700 | $7,300 – $11,400 |
| Asphalt Driveway cost in Washington | $3,650 – $6,150 | $3,550 – $6,050 |
| Fence Installation cost in Washington | $2,900 – $4,800 | $2,800 – $4,700 |
| Gutter Installation cost in Washington | $1,550 – $2,550 | $1,500 – $2,500 |
| Concrete Patio cost in Washington | $2,050 – $3,450 | $2,000 – $3,400 |
| Project | In Washington | National |
|---|---|---|
| Mold Remediation cost in Washington | $2,000 – $3,200 | $1,950 – $3,150 |
| Foundation Repair cost in Washington | $5,450 – $8,950 | $5,300 – $8,700 |
| HVAC Replacement cost in Washington | $9,600 – $15,000 | $9,350 – $14,600 |
| Furnace Replacement cost in Washington | $4,650 – $7,650 | $4,550 – $7,450 |
| Well Drilling cost in Washington | $5,450 – $9,750 | $5,350 – $9,450 |
| Chimney Repair cost in Washington | $1,100 – $2,000 | $1,050 – $1,950 |
| Asbestos Removal cost in Washington | $1,700 – $3,200 | $1,700 – $3,100 |
| Water Heater Replacement cost in Washington | $1,200 – $2,100 | $1,200 – $2,000 |
| Crawl Space Encapsulation cost in Washington | $4,050 – $7,250 | $3,950 – $7,050 |
| Electrical Panel Upgrade cost in Washington | $1,900 – $3,400 | $1,850 – $3,350 |
| Septic System cost in Washington | $5,800 – $10,800 | $5,650 – $10,500 |
| Basement Waterproofing cost in Washington | $3,800 – $7,000 | $3,700 – $6,900 |
How the Washington figures are worked out
Every range on this page is the national estimate with one adjustment: the labour portion is scaled by what construction actually pays in Washington.
Wages come from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages, NAICS 23 (Construction), private ownership. Washington averages $1,646 a week against $1,559 nationally, an index of 1.056. Applied to a labour share of 45%, that gives a multiplier of 1.025.
What this cannot tell you. It is a state average, and the gap between a metro and a rural county inside Washington is often wider than the gap between states. Materials are treated as national, which is close to true for lumber and shingles and less true where freight is long. Permit costs, local code and how busy contractors are that month move real quotes as much as wages do. Treat this as a starting point and get a written quote.
Questions about Washington costs
- Is home improvement more expensive in Washington?
- Construction wages in Washington run +5.6% against the national average of $1,559 a week. Labour is about 45% of a residential project and materials cost much the same everywhere, so that works out to roughly +2.5% on the price of a job. Washington pays more than 40 of the 51 states and the District of Columbia.
- Does the Washington adjustment hit some projects harder than others?
- No. It is a wage adjustment, so it moves every project by the same +2.5%, whether that is a tree removal or an addition. What changes is the dollar amount: ADU moves by about $4,500 while tree removal moves by less than $100. If a contractor tells you one trade is unusually expensive in Washington, that is a local market condition, not something this data can show.
- What is the cheapest home improvement project in Washington?
- Of the 36 projects priced here, tree removal is the least expensive at $650 to $1,050 for a typical job, and ADU is the most at $136,500 to $232,500. Both assume a mid finish level; every calculator lets you change the scope and the finish.
- Are these figures accurate for my city in Washington?
- They are state-level figures and should be read that way. The gap between a metro area and a rural county inside one state is often wider than the gap between two states, and the wage data behind this page does not resolve below the state. Use the range as a starting point for what to expect, then get an on-site quote, which is the only firm number.