A center of manufacturing, commerce and finance for the Pacific Northwest, the greater Seattle-Puget Sound region headquarters more than 30 large corporations and is a global leader in international trade. Tourism is a major player in the local and state economies. Washington ranks sixth nationally in the concentration of biotechnology companies, and is one of the leading advanced technology centers in the nation with the greater Seattle area the center of the state's technology activity. More than 30 percent of all jobs in Washington depend on technology-based industries when indirect linkages are taken into account. While aerospace dominates the high-tech sector, the number of jobs in biotechnology has increased by a power of 10 over the past two decades and by 300 percent in the electronics industry.
Unemployment is lower than both state and national averages.
As a result, consumer spending in the greater Seattle region is high and predicted to enjoy healthy growth. State Taxes Washington State's tax system is uncomplicated and has remained essentially unchanged since 1935. The statutory maximum city gross receipts tax rate is two-tenths of one percent. The statutory maximum city sales tax is one percent and six-tenths of one percent for special transportation districts. The statutory maximum property tax is one percent of value.