Sections

Largest Employers

The following data reflect the largest employers in Thurston County, and in Pierce County. Data for both counties are presented due to Lacey’s immediate proximity to Pierce County, as well as the high level of cross-county economic activity.  Thurston data are provided by the Thurston Economic Development Council.  Data for Pierce County, which are presented in the second table, below, are presented by the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County.

Not surprisingly, given Thurston County being the site of the state capital, state government makes up the single largest employer with more than 24,600 employees. Rounding out public sector employers are local governments, with 12,556 employees, and the federal government with 869 employees in Thurston County. Employees in public higher education and school districts are included in the local government employment numbers.

State Government 28,300
Local Government 20,000
Federal Government 900

 

Largest Private-Sector Employers--Thurston County

EmployerNumber of Employees
Providence St Peter Hospital

2.849
Safeway

1,024

Walmart
1,002
Nisqually Red Wind Casino

760

Lucky Eagle

688

Fred Meyer

665
Washington State Employees Credit Union

662
Capital Medical Center

650
Conduent (formerly Xerox)
650
Great Wolf Lodge

529

YMCA
430
Panorama City
400

St. Martin's University
383

Kaiser Permanente
347

Cabela's

300
Ostrom
300

Largest Employers--Pierce County

Top Employers in Pierce County
RankEmployer2014 FTESector
1JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD 66,054 MILITARY
2LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS13,408 EDUCATION
3MULTICARE HEALTH SYSTEM 6,904 HEALTHCARE
4STATE OF WASHINGTON 6,455 GOVERNMENT
5FRANCISCAN HEALTH SYSTEM5,338 HEALTHCARE
6PIERCE COUNTY GOVERNMENT2,979 GOVERNMENT
7WASHINGTON STATE HIGHER EDUCATION2,566 EDUCATION
8FRED MEYER STORES2,560 RETAIL & DISTRIBUTION
9STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANIES2,206 INSURANCE
10CITY OF TACOMA2,078 GOVERNMENT
11EMERALD QUEEN CASINO2,061 GAMING
12BOEING COMPANY 1,670 AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING
13US POSTAL SERVICE1,464 GOVERNMENT
14TACOMA PUBLIC UTILITIES1,334 UTILITY SERVICES
15WAL-MART 1,304 RETAIL
16SAFEWAY STORES 1,297 RETAIL
17COSTCO1,205 RETAIL
18YMCA OF TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY1,057 FITNESS & RECREATION
19COMCAST CABLE*1,046 MEDIA
20PUYALLUP TRIBE981GOVERNMENT
21INTERNATIONAL LONGSHORE AND WAREHOUSE UNION #23 944UNION
22PIERCE TRANSIT835TRANSIT
23MILGARD MANUFACTURING 818MANUFACTURING
24GROUP HEALTH COOPERATIVE 733HEALTHCARE
25AMAZON700DISTRIBUTION
26PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY 695EDUCATION
27HOME DEPOT*692RETAIL
28UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND667EDUCATION
29RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT, INC. (REI) 624RETAIL & DISTRIBUTION
30GOODWILL INDUSTRIES620NONPROFIT
31DAVITA604HEALTHCARE
32COLUMBIA BANK599BANKING
33O'REILLY AUTOPARTS582RETAIL & DISTRIBUTION
34CAMBIA HEALTH (REGENCE)546INSURANCE
35CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICES518NONPROFIT
36TORAY COMPOSITES (AMERICA) 516AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING
37ROBERT LARSON AUTOMOTIVE GROUP506RETAIL
38WASTE CONNECTIONS 494SERVICES
39ALBERTSON'S 473RETAIL
40GORDON TRUCKING  464TRANSPORTATION
41J.C. PENNEY*462RETAIL & DISTRIBUTION
42MCLANE NORTHWEST428FOOD DISTRIBUTION
43METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT425GOVERNMENT & RECREATION
44POTELCO425SERVICES
45ROCKTENN**422MANUFACTURING
46AACRES WA LLC420DISABILITY REHABILITATION SERVICES
47WALGREENS DRUG STORES404RETAIL
48TRUEBLUE 403SERVICES
49STARBUCKS402RETAIL
50PIERCE COUNTY SECURITY380SECURITY SERVICES
51LOWE'S377RETAIL
52GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE ROASTERS 368FOOD PROCESSING
53AIM AEROSPACE 365AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING
54BRADKEN 353MANUFACTURING
55MANKE LUMBER COMPANY  345MANUFACTURING
56COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE334HEALTHCARE
57INTEL CORPORATION***310SOFTWARE
58INTERSTATE DISTRIBUTOR COMPANY*309TRANSPORTATION
59JP MORGAN CHASE* 300BANKING
60KEYBANK290BANKING
61TACOMA LUTHERAN HOME & RETIREMENT 282SENIOR SERVICES
62CITY OF PUYALLUP277GOVERNMENT
63US FOOD SERVICE277FOOD DISTRIBUTION
64CENTURYLINK275COMMUNICATIONS
65CENTRAL PIERCE FIRE & RESCUE 271GOVERNMENT
66MILES SAND & GRAVEL270MINING
67NORTHWEST CASCADE270SERVICES
68MANORCARE HEALTH SERVICES 268REHABILITATION SERVICES
69LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA*260SENIOR SERVICES
70PIERCE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM258GOVERNMENT
71WELLS FARGO252BANKING
72CONTINUANT250COMMUNICATIONS
73MISSION FOODS250FOOD PROCESSING
74GENSCO 249WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION OF HVAC
75PACIFIC CREST INDUSTRIES 247MANUFACTURING
76GREATER LAKES MENTAL HEALTHCARE246MENTAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES
77CENTERFORCE  245DISABILITY REHABILITATION SERVICES
78NORDSTROM'S244RETAIL
79PORT OF TACOMA240GOVERNMENT
80PUGET SOUND ENERGY236UTILITY SERVICES
81ASSOCIATED PETROLEUM233DISTRIBUTION
82OLYMPIC EAGLE DISTRIBUTING 229ALCOHOL DISTRIBUTION
83THE NEWS TRIBUNE228MEDIA
84TITUS-WILL FORD TOYOTA SCION228RETAIL
85CITY OF LAKEWOOD226GOVERNMENT
86AUTO WAREHOUSING*220DISTRIBUTION
87SOUTHERN WINE AND SPIRITS*218ALCOHOL DISTRIBUTION
88BROWN & HALEY215FOOD PROCESSING
89U.S. BANK207BANKING
90KOREAN WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION206NONPROFIT
91QUALITY FOOD CENTERS (QFC)*204RETAIL
92WEST PIERCE FIRE & RESCUE203GOVERNMENT
93SOUNDCARE  202INSURANCE
94WESTERN INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD  (WIRB)202RESEARCH SERVICES
95HOTEL MURANO 200HOTEL
96SUPERVALU200RETAIL & DISTRIBUTION
97WILCOX FAMILY FARM*200FOOD PROCESSING
98HARBORSTONE CREDIT UNION195BANKING
99U.S. OIL & REFINING190DISTRIBUTION
100CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY CORP188MANUFACTURING
101DAMERON PROPERTY MANAGEMENT186SERVICES
102GENERAL PLASTICS 185AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING
103CADENCE AEROSPACE - PMW OPERATIONS184AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING
104COCA-COLA BOTTLING GROUP of WA 184BEVERAGE DISTRIBUTION
105LIFE CENTER aka FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD*184RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION
106NORTHWEST DOOR183MANUFACTURING
107SOUND FAMILY MEDICINE 182HEALTHCARE
108MCFARLAND CASCADE*181MANUFACTURING
109BARGREEN ELLINGSON177WHOLESALE
110CASCADE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL177EDUCATION
111SIMPSON INVESTMENT COMPANY 174MANUFACTURING
112WESTMARK PRODUCTS174MANUFACTURING
113METAGENICS170MANUFACTURING
114GREAT AMERICAN CASINO165GAMING
115SOUND CREDIT UNION165BANKING
116NORTHWEST MEDICAL SPECIALTIES164HEALTHCARE
117ADOLFSON & PETERSON 162CONSTRUCTION
118SHINING OCEAN*162FOOD PROCESSING
119ANNIE WRIGHT SCHOOL160EDUCATION
120BNY  MELLON160BANKING
121COORDINATED CARE CORP160INSURANCE
122UNITED PARCEL SERVICE (UPS)160TRANSPORTATION
123MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK*159RECREATION GOVERNMENT
124COMPREHENSIVE LIFE RESOURCES 158BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
125SEARS ROEBUCK*158RETAIL
126KORUM MOTORS156RETAIL
127ORCHARD PARK HEALTH CARE CENTER155SENIOR SERVICES
128HOLLANDER INVESTMENTS  154HOTEL DEVELOPMENT
129VALLEY FREIGHTLINER 153TRANSPORTATION
130GOLDEN STATE FOODS151FOOD PROCESSING
131TUCCI & SONS150CONSTRUCTION
132VALDO'S CATERING150FOOD SERVICE
133TOYSMITH148DISTRIBUTION
134A A ASPHALTING142CONSTRUCTION
135CITY OF FIFE142GOVERNMENT
136UMPQUA BANK141BANKING
137BURLINGTON NORTHERN RAILROAD140TRANSPORTATION
138COMMENCEMENT BAY CORRUGATED140MANUFACTURING
139GRANT & WEBER  140SERVICES
140HEARTWOOD EXTENDED HEALTHCARE140SENIOR SERVICES
141CARLILE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS 139TRANSPORTATION & DISTRIBUTION
142CINTAS138UNIFORMS
143MILES RESOURCES 137CONSTRUCTION
144PEXCO 137MANUFACTURING
145ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION135CONSTRUCTION
146AMERICA'S CREDIT UNION134BANKING
147CARLISLE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS133MANUFACTURING
148CHARLES WRIGHT ACADEMY133EDUCATION
149JESSE ENGINEERING133MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING
150BJ'S BINGO130GAMING
151REGENCY PACIFIC130SENIOR SERVICES
152SMITH FIRE SYSTEMS 128SECURITY SERVICES
153EAST PIERCE FIRE & RESCUE127GOVERNMENT
154GLOBE MACHINE MANUFACTURING127MANUFACTURING
155NARROWS GLEN  127SENIOR SERVICES
156BEST BUY*125RETAIL
157BUFFELEN WOODWORKING COMPANY125MANUFACTURING
158PABCO ROOFING PRODUCTS125WHOLESALE
159PATRIOT FIRE PROTECTION125SECURITY SERVICES
160RAINIER REHAB125REHABILITATION SERVICES
161THE TRUSS COMPANY125MANUFACTURING 
162ALLIANCE ONE124COLLECTIONS
163PEPSI BOTTLING GROUP*123BEVERAGE DISTRIBUTION
164BURKHART DENTAL SUPPLY122DISTRIBUTION
165PRINT NW122PRINTING
166BELLARMINE PREPARATORY SCHOOL121EDUCATION
167ARTBEADS.COM120ONLINE RETAIL
168FEDEX FREIGHT 120TRANSPORTATION
169KEMPER SPORTS120SERVICES
170LINDEN GROVE CARE CENTER*120HEALTHCARE
171TACOMA HOUSING AUTHORITY120GOVERNMENT
172WEATHERLY INN118SENIOR SERVICES
173GENERAL MECHANICAL 117GENERAL & MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR
174HERITAGE BANK113BANKING
175CARDIAC STUDY CENTER*112HEALTHCARE
176SCHNITZER STEEL INDUSTRIES 112RECYCLING
177METROPOLITAN DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL*111NONPROFIT
178CARL T. MADSEN INC*110ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
179CASCADE PARK COMMUNITIES110SENIOR CARE, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
180FASTENAL COMPANY110RETAIL DISTRIBUTION
181GEORGIA PACIFIC GYPSUM LLC110MANUFACTURING
182INVESTCO FINANCIAL CORPORATION110DEVELOPMENT
183TACTICAL TAILOR110MANUFACTURING
184TOYOTA OF PUYALLUP108RETAIL
185NORTHWEST PROTECTIVE107SECURITY SERVICES
186PRO-BUILD106RETAIL
187TOOL GAUGE & PLASTIC MOLDED PRODUCTS 106AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING
188LAKEWOOD FORD105RETAIL
189PROPEL INSURANCE 105INSURANCE
190SUPERIOR LINEN SERVICES105SERVICES
191AMERICAN FAST FREIGHT104TRANSPORTATION
192FIRST GROUP104TRANSIT
193FRANKE TOBEY JONES RETIREMENT104SENIOR SERVICES
194TACOMA SCREW PRODUCTS104DISTRIBUTION
195JAMES HARDIE BUILDING PRODUCTS103MANUFACTURING
196BELINA INTERIORS102MANUFACTURING
197TACOMA CABINET & FIXTURE 102MANUFACTURING
198IKEA 101DISTRIBUTION
199LUCKS FOOD DECORATING COMPANY101FOOD PROCESSING
200CHIP'S CASINO LAKEWOOD 100GAMING
201CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, 100RECREATION  
202CITY OF SUMNER100GOVERNMENT 
203TACOMA ROOFING & WATERPROOFING100CONSTRUCTION
Source: Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County

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