Convert your annual salary to hourly, daily, weekly, biweekly, and monthly pay in Tacoma, and compare it to the local minimum wage and MIT living wage for 2026.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Tacoma minimum wage: $16.66/hour | Living wage: $21.50/hour
Median household income in Tacoma is about $78,000. The applicable minimum wage is $16.66/hour, and the MIT living wage for a single adult is about $21.50/hour. Use the comparisons below to see where a given salary lands.
| Pay Benchmark (Tacoma) | Hourly | Annual (full-time) |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable minimum wage | $16.66 | $34,653 |
| MIT living wage (single adult) | $21.50 | $44,720 |
| Median household income | $37.50 | $78,000 |
| Standard full-time hours | - | 2,080 hours/year |
Tacoma anchors the South Sound with the Port of Tacoma (one of the largest container ports on the West Coast), manufacturing and logistics, healthcare, higher education, and a growing arts and museum district, within commuting distance of both Seattle and Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
| Local Metric | Tacoma (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 220,000 |
| County / jurisdiction | Pierce County |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 105 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $21.50/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $43.50/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $16.66/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $1,500/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $1,950/month |
| Median home price | $470,000 |
| Median household income | $78,000/year |
| Combined sales tax rate | 10.4% |
| Effective property tax rate | 1.05% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
Divide your annual salary by your total work hours per year (40 hours/week times 52 weeks is 2,080 hours). For example, a $78,000 salary in Tacoma is about $37.50/hour at full time.
Median household income in Tacoma is around $78,000. Because the cost-of-living index is 105 (US average = 100) and average 1-bedroom rent is $1,500/month, what counts as comfortable depends heavily on housing costs.
The applicable minimum wage in Tacoma is $16.66/hour, which is about $34,653/year at full time. The Washington statewide minimum wage applies to most employers in Tacoma; Washington indexes its rate to inflation each January and it is among the highest state minimums in the nation.
The MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult in Pierce County needs about $21.50/hour, roughly $44,720/year, to cover basic costs without assistance.
At full time, $78,000/year is about $37.50/hour, $6,500/month gross, and $3,000 per biweekly paycheck before taxes.