Janos Varga | Istock | Getty Images
Washington Score and Ranking
| CATEGORY | 2026 SCORE | 2026 RANK | 2025 RANK | 2026 GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INFRASTRUCTURE | 246 | 16 | 26 | B- |
| ECONOMY | 287 | 5 | 6 | A- |
| WORKFORCE | 235 | 6 | 5 | B+ |
| QUALITY OF LIFE | 176 | 12 | 14 | B- |
| COST OF DOING BUSINESS | 78 | 47 | 48 | D- |
| TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION | 169 | 4 | 4 | A- |
| BUSINESS FRIENDLINESS | 86 | 40 | 41 | D |
| ACCESS TO CAPITAL | 82 | 11 | 14 | B+ |
| EDUCATION | 43 | 37 | 33 | C- |
| COST OF LIVING | 17 | 41 | 39 | D+ |
| OVERALL | 1419 | 11 | 14 |
Economic Profile
Governor: Bob Ferguson, Democrat
Population: 8,001,020
GDP growth (Q1 2026): 4.50%
Unemployment rate (May 2026): 5.20%
Top corporate tax rate: None
Top individual income tax rate: None
Gasoline tax: 78.99 cents/gallon
Bond rating (Moody's/S&P): Aaa, Stable/AA+, Stable
Economic profile sources: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federation of Tax Administrators, American Petroleum Institute (including 18.40 cent/gallon federal tax), Moody's Investor Service, S&P Global Market Intelligence
