These Are The 10 Best Jobs In Washington For Recent College Grads

.street-view{width:100%;height:300px;pointer-events:none;}

Fastest Growing Jobs In Washington

Source: Wikipedia

As a recent college graduate in 2026, you’re likely at a pivotal crossroads in your career journey. With the job market continuously evolving, it’s essential to identify the most promising opportunities available to you.

While the search for a job can seem daunting, especially with the tales of limited options circulating among graduates, we’ve compiled a list to streamline your path.

Based on recent research and analysis, here are the 10 best jobs for new college graduates in Washington state:

You might be surprised to see web developers at the top of this list. Read on to discover how we curated this selection and why each position is worth considering, including the role of web developers.

How We Identified the Best Entry-Level Jobs in Washington

We’ve conducted extensive conversations with recent graduates to understand their priorities when searching for their first job. Generally, their main considerations include:

Job Availability
Location
Salary
Growth Potential
Work-Life Balance

Fortunately, there is a wealth of data available from reliable sources to evaluate these criteria. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides insights on salary by location, while state Departments of Labor compile statistics on job growth. Additionally, O*NET Online offers valuable information on job qualifications.

We synthesized data from these sources to create a comprehensive database with insights into various professions. Our analysis focused on the following criteria:

Location Quotient: This measures the prevalence of a job in Washington state.
Only considering positions that require a college degree.
Average Annual Entry-Level Salary.
Projected Industry Growth over the next decade.

By narrowing our dataset to jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree, we identified 37 positions to evaluate.

Each job was then ranked according to the criteria, with 1 being the best. We calculated an overall “Job Score” for each position based on these rankings and subsequently ranked them from 1 to 37.

One Job, Please!

Graduating from college can be both intimidating and exhilarating. Remember, you have a plethora of options available, whether you choose to dive straight into the job market or take some time to travel and explore. With this list, you’ll have a clearer view of the opportunities within the job market.

Below, you’ll find a detailed breakdown of the best jobs for recent college graduates in Washington state.

Detailed List Of The Best Entry-Level Jobs In Washington For Recent College Graduates

Rank	Job	Growth %	Entry Wage	Jobs in 2024
1	Web Developers	51.62%	$45,000	8,430
2	Multimedia Artists and Animators	32.7%	$42,040	4,180
3	Computer Systems Analysts	30.03%	$58,810	24,290
4	Computer Programmers	21.53%	$67,180	20,600
5	Management Analysts	27.28%	$53,380	29,110
6	Technical Writers	27.05%	$50,870	1,550
7	Network and Computer Systems Administrators	24.84%	$53,570	9,950
8	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers	22.32%	$41,980	2,740
9	Database Administrators	25.98%	$52,620	3,200
10	Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates	10.81%	$57,190	1,230
11	Sales Engineers	24.37%	$59,620	1,480
12	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health	34.48%	$28,000	1,170
13	Human Resources Specialists	21.95%	$38,960	17,720
14	Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors	22.97%	$25,220	4,390
15	Industrial Engineers	1.89%	$65,770	8,070
16	Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists	20.4%	$49,460	4,190
17	Electronics Engineers, Except Computer	9.94%	$71,110	3,980
18	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education	18.61%	$37,140	5,800
19	Computer Network Support Specialists	21.9%	$45,540	4,230
20	Cost Estimators	16.48%	$41,810	7,140
21	Self-Enrichment Education Teachers	20.02%	$24,650	14,690
22	Interior Designers	17.17%	$32,420	2,730
23	Rehabilitation Counselors	9.27%	$25,590	6,720
24	Coaches and Scouts	14.95%	$21,480	15,220
25	Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians	21.38%	$30,460	3,690
26	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products	23.81%	$32,680	5,720
27	Forest and Conservation Workers	5.51%	$19,600	1,340
28	Social and Human Service Assistants	16.62%	$21,500	11,930
29	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents	0.0%	$42,010	1,170
30	Paralegals and Legal Assistants	8.39%	$36,630	6,460
31	Clergy	12.94%	$38,200	4,800
32	Advertising Sales Agents	17.92%	$23,370	3,290
33	Community Health Workers	17.89%	$24,640	1,120
34	Insurance Sales Agents	4.68%	$26,420	12,090
35	Directors, Religious Activities and Education	12.5%	$28,570	2,520
36	Recreation Workers	13.86%	$20,390	7,720
37	Residential Advisors	16.19%	$21,160	1,220

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

Create Resume