Coverage varies by state, trade and authority. These are source snapshots, not a census of unique businesses or a live license check. Ratios cannot establish market saturation or contractor quality.
Minnesota vs Washington: contractor markets, side by side
Minnesota has 16,763 roster records across the trades we cover; Washington has 71,213. Counts come from the Minnesota Dept. of Labor and Industry (DLI) and the Washington L&I Open Data; market figures are U.S. Census aggregates.
| Minnesota | Washington | |
|---|---|---|
| Covered roster records | 16,763 | 71,213 |
| Snapshot records per 10k residents | 29.4 | 84.5 |
| Residents | 5,695,830 | 8,422,710 |
| Households | 2,494,239 | 3,540,228 |
| ZIP-weighted income indicator | $88,902 | $95,237 |
| Housing units authorized (source year) | 20,947 (2025) | 34,913 (2025) |
| Top covered city by records | Minneapolis | Seattle |
Washington has the higher snapshot ratio: 84.5 source records per 10k residents against 29.4 in Minnesota. Differences in source coverage affect this ratio; it does not measure contractors per square mile or competition for jobs.
The ZIP-weighted income indicator is higher in Washington: $95,237 against $88,902 in Minnesota, using the Census estimates in this dataset. This indicator does not establish renovation budgets or likely sales.
Trade by trade
| Trade | Minnesota | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Electricians | 3,091 | — |
| Plumbers | 1,920 | 541 |
| HVAC Contractors | 4,779 | 880 |
| General Contractors | 15,101 | 61,761 |
| Roofing Contractors | 179 | 696 |
| Landscape Contractors | — | 1,859 |
| Pool Contractors | — | 75 |
| Fire-Protection Contractors | — | 124 |
| Carpenters | — | 1,465 |
| Concrete Contractors | — | 927 |
| Masons | — | 380 |
| Drywall Contractors | — | 465 |
| Tile Contractors | — | 1,265 |
| Excavating Contractors | — | 438 |
| Painters | — | 2,923 |
| Flooring Contractors | — | 2,380 |
Counts reflect the separate covered-trade snapshot. A “—” means no count is provided here; it says nothing about whether the trade exists or requires a license. These category counts are not reconciled with the headline roster totals.
Figures use separately generated snapshots: overall roster totals, trade counts and mapped-city counts can differ in scope and collection time and should not be added together or treated as a reconciled census. The displayed source refresh date does not date every aggregate. Population and households are sums of the covered ZIP estimates. The income indicator is a population-weighted average of ZIP-level household-income medians, not the state's household median. Census context can refer to a different period from the roster. Housing-unit authorizations refer to the displayed permit year; they are not completed projects. See the ACS estimate guidance and Building Permits Survey for the underlying statistical definitions.
Working one of these markets?
Minnesota vs Washington: common questions
Does Minnesota or Washington have more contractor records?
Washington has 71,213 covered records; Minnesota has 16,763. These counts reflect different source coverage, not a census of operating businesses. Sources: Minnesota Dept. of Labor and Industry (DLI) and the Washington L&I Open Data.
Which has the higher snapshot records-to-population ratio, Minnesota or Washington?
Washington has the higher snapshot ratio: 84.5 snapshot records per 10k residents against 29.4 in Minnesota.
Which has the higher ZIP-weighted income indicator, Minnesota or Washington?
Washington: $95,237 against $88,902 in Minnesota. This is a population-weighted average of ZIP-level income medians, not either state's household median.
Where does this Minnesota vs Washington comparison data come from?
Roster counts derive from Minnesota Dept. of Labor and Industry (DLI) and Washington L&I Open Data; population, household, income, and permit figures are U.S. Census aggregates. Counts are snapshot records, not a census of unique companies. Source scope and dates differ between states.