Pierce County Overview
Location
Tacoma-Pierce County is Washington State's third largest city and located just 18 miles south of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. It boasts a deep water port that is one of the largest container ports in North America. The Port of Tacoma is a direct gateway to markets in Asia, handling nearly 2.1 million TEUs (2006).
The county has three four-year universities and four community and technical colleges to provide the skilled employees needed by businesses.
The presence of two major military facilities also provides an excellent source of workers for employers to access.
| Population | April 2007 | 790,500 |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Census | 700,820 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey
| Income 2006 (Inflation adjusted dollars) | |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $53,923 |
| Households | 282,065 |
| Median Family income | $63,225 |
| Per Capita income | $25,207 |
| Educational Attainment | |
| High School Graduates, age 25+ | 89.3% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher, age 25+ | 23.7% |
| Mean commute time, workers age 16+ | 28.8 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey
Post Secondary Education
Tacoma-Pierce County offers three four-year universities and four community and technical colleges.
Universities:
- University of Washington Tacoma
- University of Puget Sound
- Pacific Lutheran University
Community and Technical Colleges:
- Bates Technical College
- Clover Park Technical College
- Pierce College — Steilacoom and Puyallup campus
- Tacoma Community College
Labor Force
| Year | Labor Force | No. of Employed | No. of Unemployed | Unemployment Rate % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 387,380 | 369,900 | 17,480 | 4.5 |
Source: Washington State Employment Security Department
Cost of Living
| Tacoma Metro Area | Seattle Metro Area | |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price (December 2007) | $277,000 | $435,000 |
| Average Actual Rent Price (2 Bedroom/2 Bath) | $901 | $1,127 |
Top Private Employers in Tacoma Pierce County — 2008
| Rank | Organization | Employees | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MULTICARE HEALTH SYSTEM | 5,832 | Health Services |
| 2 | FRANCISCAN HEALTH SYSTEM | 4,041 | Health Services |
| 3 | FRED MEYER STORES * | 2,383 | Retail |
| 4 | WAL-MART * | 1,990 | Retail |
| 5 | EMERALD QUEEN CASINO | 1,915 | Casino Gaming |
| 6 | BOEING COMPANY, THE (Frederickson Site) | 1,760 | Aerospace |
| 7 | SAFEWAY STORES, INC. | 1,635 | Retail (Grocer) |
| 8 | RUSSELL INVESTMENTS (formerly RUSSELL INVESTMENT GROUP) | 1,144 | Investment Management |
| 9 | STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANIES | 1,133 | Insurance |
| 10 | COSTCO | 1,081 | Wholesale |
| 11 | INTEL CORPORATION | 1,000 | Computer Electronics |
| 12 | LONGSHORE LABOR UNION | 976 | Labor Union |
| 13 | MCDONALD'S RESTAURANTS (Corporate stores only) | 939 | Fast Food |
| 14 | COMCAST CABLE | 907 | Cable Services |
| 15 | ALBERTSON’S INC | 886 | Retail (Grocer) |
| 16 | DAVITA | 856 | Health Services |
| 17 | MILGARD MANUFACTURING, INC. | 817 | Glass & Window Mfg. |
| 18 | AAFES (ARMY & AIR FORCE EXCHANGE SERVICE) | 798 | Merchandise for Armed Forces |
| 19 | RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT, INC. (REI) | 702 | Retail & Dist. (Outdoor Products) |
| 20 | PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY | 700 | Education |
* FTE count was not available for some employers. Headcount used for Fred Meyer Stores and Wal-Mart.
