Government budget and revenue in Washington, United States: official figures
Washington's state government took in $73.9 billion in fiscal year 2024, $9,320 per resident, 23rd lowest of 50 states per person (all states: $9,318 per person). The total includes taxes, federal funds, charges and pension-fund investment income.
How much does the Washington state government spend?
The Washington state government spent $79.7 billion in fiscal year 2024, or $10,050 per resident, 18th highest of 50 states (all states: $9,444). Spending was 33.2% higher than in fiscal year 2019 ($59.8 billion), before adjusting for inflation.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does the Washington state government have?
Washington state government debt outstanding was $30.6 billion at the end of fiscal year 2024, $3,862 per resident, 17th highest of 50 states (all states: $3,248). That equals 41% of one year's general revenue; in fiscal year 2019 the debt was $29.2 billion.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal funding does Washington get?
The federal government provided $22.3 billion to the Washington state government in fiscal year 2024, $2,816 per resident and 30.2% of its general revenue, 12th lowest share of 50 states (all states: 34.2%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are federal funds to Washington spent on?
Public welfare programmes, mainly Medicaid, accounted for $12.5 billion or 56% of Washington's federal funds in fiscal year 2024, and education for $3.9 billion (17%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat does the Washington state government spend its money on?
Direct state spending on public welfare was $2,475 per resident in fiscal year 2024, 17th lowest of 50 states (all states: $3,000); higher education took $1,123 per resident and highways $499.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Washington give to local governments and schools?
29.2% of Washington's state general spending in fiscal year 2024 ($23.2 billion) was paid to other governments, mostly local governments and school districts, 8th highest share of 50 states (all states: 27.7%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Washington collect?
Washington collected $39.4 billion in state taxes in fiscal year 2025, $4,920 per resident, 14th highest of 50 states (all states: $4,503). That was 5.4% more than in fiscal year 2024 ($37.3 billion); across all states collections rose 4.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Washington rely on?
The individual income tax raised $545.7 million (1.4% of state taxes, 8th lowest share of 50 states) in fiscal year 2025. The general sales tax raised $23.4 billion (59.4%, 4th highest share of 50 states). The largest single tax was the general sales and gross receipts tax (59.4%), followed by the property tax (12.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyDoes Washington have corporate, property or severance taxes?
In fiscal year 2025, in Washington, no corporate net income tax was collected; state property tax raised $4.7 billion; severance tax on oil, gas, coal and minerals raised $38.8 million (0.1% of state taxes).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much money does the Washington state government hold in reserves?
The Washington state government held $181.1 billion in cash and securities at the end of fiscal year 2024, $22,846 per resident, of which $173.9 billion was in insurance trust funds such as public employee pension systems.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Washington compares with other states
State government revenue per person (2024)
Washington ranks 28 of 50, highest first. All revenue of the state government, including insurance trust income, divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government revenue per person |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Montana | $9,489 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $9,375 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $9,353 |
| 28 | Washington | $9,320 |
| 29 | Illinois | $9,319 |
| 30 | Michigan | $9,298 |
| 31 | Utah | $9,173 |
State government spending per person (2024)
Washington ranks 18 of 50, highest first. Total expenditure of the state government divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government spending per person |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Kentucky | $10,405 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $10,223 |
| 17 | Maryland | $10,187 |
| 18 | Washington | $10,050 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $10,008 |
| 20 | Michigan | $9,697 |
| 21 | Maine | $9,675 |
State government debt per person (2024)
Washington ranks 17 of 50, highest first. Debt outstanding at the end of the fiscal year divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government debt per person |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Vermont | $4,125 |
| 15 | Oregon | $3,964 |
| 16 | Colorado | $3,936 |
| 17 | Washington | $3,862 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $3,826 |
| 19 | Virginia | $3,825 |
| 20 | Maine | $3,765 |
Federal funds received by the state government per person (2024)
Washington ranks 37 of 50, highest first. Intergovernmental revenue from the federal government
| Rank | Region | Federal funds received by the state government per person |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Nebraska | $2,944 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $2,843 |
| 36 | Illinois | $2,830 |
| 37 | Washington | $2,816 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $2,766 |
| 39 | Colorado | $2,737 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $2,729 |
Federal funds as a share of state general revenue (2024)
Washington ranks 39 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Federal funds as a share of state general revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | New Mexico | 30.9% |
| 37 | Illinois | 30.4% |
| 38 | Wisconsin | 30.3% |
| 39 | Washington | 30.2% |
| 40 | Massachusetts | 29.8% |
| 41 | New Jersey | 29.8% |
| 42 | Connecticut | 29.6% |
State tax collections per person (2025)
Washington ranks 14 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | State tax collections per person |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | New Jersey | $5,662 |
| 12 | Illinois | $5,606 |
| 13 | Maryland | $5,255 |
| 14 | Washington | $4,920 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $4,909 |
| 16 | Maine | $4,889 |
| 17 | Oregon | $4,802 |
Individual income tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
Washington ranks 43 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Individual income tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | New Mexico | 16.9% |
| 41 | North Dakota | 7.7% |
| 42 | New Hampshire | 2.7% |
| 43 | Washington | 1.4% |
| 44 | Tennessee | 0.0% |
| 45 | Texas | 0.0% |
| 46 | Florida | 0.0% |
General sales tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
Washington ranks 4 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | General sales tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 62.9% |
| 2 | Texas | 62.8% |
| 3 | South Dakota | 61.6% |
| 4 | Washington | 59.4% |
| 5 | Tennessee | 57.5% |
| 6 | Nevada | 52.4% |
| 7 | Arizona | 50.7% |
State spending on public welfare per person (2024)
Washington ranks 34 of 50, highest first. Direct general expenditure on public welfare, mainly Medicaid
| Rank | Region | State spending on public welfare per person |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Montana | $2,551 |
| 32 | Missouri | $2,510 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $2,478 |
| 34 | Washington | $2,475 |
| 35 | Michigan | $2,416 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $2,340 |
| 37 | Kansas | $2,309 |
More on Washington: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Finances: State Government Finances, U.S. and States, 2012-2024 (table GS00STATEFIN01, amounts in thousands of dollars), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 72ff59b48414…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections: historical database, fiscal years to 2025 (thousands of dollars), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bdf560cd3d8f…)
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