What is average unemployment pay in Washington state - trying to figure out my benefit amount

The weekly benefit amount in Washington depends on your earnings during your base period. For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit is $999 and the minimum is $295. Most people get somewhere between $400-700 per week. You can use the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website to get a better estimate based on your specific wages.

I was making around $48k and my weekly benefit came out to $518. It's roughly 50% of your average weekly wage during your highest earning quarter, but there are caps. With your salary you'll probably get somewhere in the $600-700 range I'd guess.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions about your benefit calculation, I found this service called Claimyr that actually helped me reach an agent. They have a system that calls for you and gets you connected. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. I was able to get clarification on my benefit amount calculation when I couldn't get through on my own.

the maximum used to be like $844 just a few years ago so it's gone up quite a bit. inflation i guess. when i was on unemployment in 2022 i got $392 per week and that was with making about $38k

Just to clarify - is the benefit amount based on gross or net income? And do they look at just your last job or all jobs during the base period?

I'm getting $445 a week and I was making about $43k. The Washington ESD system is so confusing though. My friend who made less than me is getting more benefits and we can't figure out why. Something about quarterly earnings distribution or whatever.

Just filed last week and I'm getting $628 weekly. I was making about $58k as an office manager. The process wasn't too bad once I got started but gathering all the employment documentation was a pain.

WASHINGTON ESD IS A NIGHTMARE TO DEAL WITH!!! I've been trying to get my benefit amount corrected for weeks. They calculated it wrong and now I'm stuck in this endless loop of phone calls that go nowhere. Anyone else having issues with incorrect calculations?

The average probably varies a lot by region and industry. I'm in tech and most people I know who've been on unemployment got $700+ per week. But my brother who worked retail got like $350.

Does anyone know if the benefit amount changes if you're on unemployment for a long time? Like do they reduce it after a certain number of weeks?

I think I read somewhere that Washington has one of the higher unemployment benefit amounts compared to other states. Can anyone confirm that?

Just want to add that if you worked multiple jobs during your base period, they'll count wages from all of them. I had two part-time jobs and was worried they'd only count one, but they included both when calculating my benefit.

Quick question - do they count commission or bonuses in the wage calculation? I got a pretty big bonus last year and I'm wondering if that affects my benefit amount.

For what it's worth, I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it really did help me get through to Washington ESD. I needed to verify some wage information for my claim and couldn't get anyone on the phone for days. Worth checking out if you're having phone issues.

I've been on unemployment twice in the past five years and the benefit amounts were pretty different each time even though my salary was similar. I think it really depends on exactly when you file and which quarters they use for calculation.

One thing to keep in mind is that unemployment benefits are taxable income. So while the benefit amount might look decent, you'll owe taxes on it unless you choose to have them withheld.

The whole system is confusing but basically if you made decent money you'll probably get a decent benefit. I wouldn't stress too much about the exact calculation - just file and see what happens. You can always appeal if you think it's wrong.

Just remember you have to be actively looking for work and filing weekly claims to keep getting benefits. The amount is only part of the equation - you still have to meet all the ongoing requirements.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I feel a lot more prepared to file my claim now. Sounds like I can expect somewhere in the $600-700 range based on my salary, which would definitely help while I'm job hunting.

Based on your $52k salary, you should expect around $600-650 per week in benefits. The calculation uses your highest earning quarter during the base period (typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). Washington's benefit formula is roughly 50% of your average weekly wage from that quarter, but there are minimum and maximum caps. Since you're filing for the first time, make sure to have all your employment dates, employer info, and reason for separation ready. The online application is pretty straightforward once you gather everything. Good luck!