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.
Pennsylvania vs Washington: contractor markets, side by side
Pennsylvania has 9,064 roster records across the trades we cover; Washington has 71,213. Counts come from the Philadelphia L&I + Pittsburgh Permits and the Washington L&I Open Data; market figures are U.S. Census aggregates.
| Pennsylvania | Washington | |
|---|---|---|
| Covered roster records | 9,064 | 71,213 |
| Snapshot records per 10k residents | 6.5 | 84.5 |
| Residents | 13,983,292 | 8,422,710 |
| Households | 6,205,690 | 3,540,228 |
| ZIP-weighted income indicator | $78,687 | $95,237 |
| Housing units authorized (source year) | 25,709 (2025) | 34,913 (2025) |
| Top covered city by records | Pittsburgh | Seattle |
Washington has the higher snapshot ratio: 84.5 source records per 10k residents against 6.5 in Pennsylvania. 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 $78,687 in Pennsylvania, using the Census estimates in this dataset. This indicator does not establish renovation budgets or likely sales.
Trade by trade
| Trade | Pennsylvania | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Electricians | 1,795 | — |
| Plumbers | 693 | 541 |
| HVAC Contractors | 252 | 880 |
| General Contractors | 6,207 | 61,761 |
| Roofing Contractors | — | 696 |
| Landscape Contractors | — | 1,859 |
| Pool Contractors | — | 75 |
| Fire-Protection Contractors | 120 | 124 |
| Carpenters | — | 1,465 |
| Concrete Contractors | — | 927 |
| Masons | — | 380 |
| Drywall Contractors | — | 465 |
| Tile Contractors | — | 1,265 |
| Excavating Contractors | 185 | 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?
Pennsylvania vs Washington: common questions
Does Pennsylvania or Washington have more contractor records?
Washington has 71,213 covered records; Pennsylvania has 9,064. These counts reflect different source coverage, not a census of operating businesses. Sources: Philadelphia L&I + Pittsburgh Permits and the Washington L&I Open Data.
Which has the higher snapshot records-to-population ratio, Pennsylvania or Washington?
Washington has the higher snapshot ratio: 84.5 snapshot records per 10k residents against 6.5 in Pennsylvania.
Which has the higher ZIP-weighted income indicator, Pennsylvania or Washington?
Washington: $95,237 against $78,687 in Pennsylvania. This is a population-weighted average of ZIP-level income medians, not either state's household median.
Where does this Pennsylvania vs Washington comparison data come from?
Roster counts derive from Philadelphia L&I + Pittsburgh Permits 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.