What are the responsibilities and job description for the Cloud Application & Solutions Architect position at Jobs via Dice?
Salary: $10,514.75 - $13,714.92 Monthly
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Job Number: 1460
Department: Health Benefits Exchange
Opening Date: 03/12/2026
Description
The mission of Washington Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) is to radically improve how Washington residents secure health insurance through innovative and practical solutions, an easy-to-use customer experience, our values of integrity, respect, equity and transparency, and by providing undeniable value to the health care community.
The Exchange is a public-private partnership that operates Washington Healthplanfinder, the eligibility and enrollment portal used by one in four Washington residents to obtain health and dental coverage. Through this platform, and with support from a Customer Support Center and statewide network of in-person navigators and brokers, individuals and families can shop, compare and enroll in private, qualified health plans (as defined in the Affordable Care Act) or enroll in Washington Apple Health, the state Medicaid program.
The Exchange embraces the following equity statement adopted by our Board of Directors:
Equity is fundamental to the mission of the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. The process of advancing toward equity and becoming anti-racist is disruptive and demands vigilance to dismantle deeply entrenched systems of privilege and oppression. While systemic racism is a root cause of many societal inequities, we must also use an intersectional approach to address all forms of bias and oppression, which interact with and often exacerbate racial inequities. To be successful, we must recognize the socioeconomic drivers of health and focus on people and places where needs are greatest. As we listen to community, we must hold ourselves accountable to responding to recommendations to remedy inequitable policies, systems, or practices within the Exchange's area of influence. Our goal is that all Washingtonians have full and equal access to opportunities, power and resources to achieve their full potential.
Summary
The Cloud Application & Solutions Architect position reports to the Cloud development manager and serves as the expert-level technical authority as designated by the Enterprise Architect, CIO, and Deputy CIO. Architectural and development design decisions made in this role have significant long-term impacts-up to 10 years.
The incumbent is expected to collaborate with business and IT roles across HBE, providing technical leadership, vision, and direction for development efforts within and beyond scrum teams. This position oversees and provides technical consultation and guidance on matters of cloud applications and integration solutions architecture, design, and development necessary to meet HBE's mission and business objectives.
The role leads the development team and other IT leads to advise, direct, develop, revise, and set direction on current and future application and data solutions. It also coordinates with business stakeholders and technical personnel to ensure solutions are delivered in alignment with IT architectural standards.
Additional responsibilities include supporting issue and risk resolution processes, conducting design and code reviews, and leading architectural validation efforts. The incumbent advises IT management on development standards and best practices and collaborates with other architects and leads to implement new standards, processes, and procedures for development teams.
Duties
Lead development initiatives to architect, design, develop, and deliver quality, mission-critical solutions.
Document technical design specifications and workflows.
Plan and coordinate reviews and approval of technical deliverables.
Write and review designs and deliverables for IT solutions.
Occasionally take on development tasks to support the team.
Stay current on development best practices and emerging technologies.
Participate in budget development, SOW creation, and procurement.
Provide technical consultation and oversight on complex projects.
Lead teams in developing and documenting new processes.
Translate complex requirements into software designs.
Direct and lead developers on new projects and enhancements.
Lead technical planning and development of new applications.
Foster understanding among stakeholders and provide technical consulting.
Analyze data and monitor system performance.
Assess project feasibility and define technical requirements.
Lead security design reviews at agency and state levels.
Ensure compliance with technical audits and implement corrective actions.
Collaborate with management and stakeholders on staffing and resourcing.
Support interface and data conversion planning and execution.
Ensure development standards are followed.
Help establish policies, procedures, and technical guidance.
Guide the team on appropriate technologies and tools.
Oversee application development throughout the lifecycle.
Ensure code and security reviews are conducted.
Align development with IT strategic roadmap and architecture.
Ensure solutions meet internal and external quality standards.
Oversee solution delivery and release quality.
Coordinate with vendors to align technical solutions with HBE standards.
Act as a technical visionary for emerging technologies (e.g., PaaS, DevSecOps).
Strategize architectural approaches to meet organizational goals.
Advise executive and senior management on IT architecture.
Research and guide integration of new technologies and processes.
Lead and participate in technical proof-of-concepts and feasibility studies.
Coach subordinates on policy and standards.
Support team development through coaching and education.
Serve as liaison between system integrators, business staff, state agencies, and partners.
Consult with business and IT units to determine enterprise design and performance.
Assist team members with technical questions and decision-making.
Collaborate across IT functions and organizations to resolve system issues.
Provide technical expertise to translate system requirements into solutions.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Required:
10 years in IT project development; experience with cloud solutions and architecture; DevOps/CI-CD; Agile (SCRUM/KANBAN)
4 years of experience in planning technical architecture and implementation
Experience in serving as technical expertise; 2 years in architecture roles
Ability to clearly communicate concepts and ideas in writing
Experience with enterprise object-oriented systems; architecture experience
Demonstrated ability of Leadership and mentoring skills; Experience in Agile methodologies
Strong experience in utilizing analytical and design skills; Ability to communicate
Experience in being servant Leader; experience managing development teams
Ability to communicate effectively; working together across different departments.
Experience in Project Management; Technical Analysis
Experience in DevSecOps and familiar with security compliance
Knowledge of audit and risk assessment processes
Knowledge of development best practices
Demonstrated ability to lead and provide technical guidance, create policy and procedures
Experienced in SDLC and proficient in Agile methodologies
Experience in DevSecOps: Applying Security Best Practices
Experience in strategic planning; ability in architectural design
Experienced in quality assurance and effectively managing stakeholder expectations
Experienced in implementing continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) methods and managing software releases.
Experienced in cloud-native tools, Azure PaaS, and committed to continuous learning of new technological advancements
Experience in working with Enterprise architecture team; strategic planning
Ability to communicate with leadership; Ability to provide technical consulting
Demonstrated experience in driving innovation and leveraging emerging technologies such as Cloud, Agile methodologies, and DevSecOps.
Skilled in technical review; experienced in architectural design
Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams; experience in communicating information clearly
Experienced in enterprise architecture and skilled at engaging stakeholders.
Experience in guiding teams on technical work items and mentoring teams enabling expertise; them to to derive technical solutions
Experienced in systems analysis, architecture, and design
Desired:
Relevant awareness of Project management; experience in technical oversight
Hands-on development experience; cloud-native tools (Docker, AKS)
Demonstrated ability to understand technical solutions; continuous learning
Experience In Project Management Principles And Skills
Experience with performance monitoring; analytical skills
Experience in leading and project planning complex initiatives and team members
Experience in using Integration technology (REST, SFTP, EDI)
Knowledge of emerging technologies; DevOps
Demonstrated expertise in managing vendors and maintaining consistent technical standards
Mentoring skills; leadership experience
Demonstrated ability to build effective teams and manage employee performance.
Demonstrated ability in problem-solving and cross-team coordination
Being flexible and ability; to demonstrate broad technical competency
Supplemental Information
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
This position will be open until we find a suitable number of candidates to review. If interested, please submit an application. The Exchange reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time.
SALARY INFORMATION
Full Salary Range: $109,719.00 to $164,579.00 annually, with midpoint at $137,149.00.
Hiring Range: $126,177.00 and $137,149.00 annually. This is an estimate of where a qualified candidate can expect to receive an offer.
The actual salary offer will consider candidate experience, skills, qualifications, internal equity, and the market. Our compensation policy reserves the salary range above the midpoint for employees who are meeting and exceeding expectations and for growth and development, up to the maximum.
Benefits
Take a peek at our
WORKING CONDITIONS
Core business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. There are times where irregular hours will be required. The preferred duty station is our Olympia, Washington headquarters. The nature of this role relies heavily on remote and in-person collaboration. While a hybrid remote and on-site schedule may be considered, the position will require flexibility to allow for in-office availability as business needs dictate. Travel requirements will be limited, however there may be occasions where an employee is required to travel and work irregular hours to attend meetings or trainings. Duties of this position require the use of standard office furniture and equipment, including setup for remote work. The employee is responsible for providing and maintaining a safe, ergonomic, and secure workspace at their remote location.
The working conditions and physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Special Requirements
A criminal background screen will be conducted for candidates under final consideration, and if hired, every five years of employment where highly sensitive data is processed or maintained by the position. The result of this background screen must meet the Exchange s eligibility standards.
Other Information
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and levels of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills of personnel so classified.
This is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.
The Washington Health Benefit Exchange is an All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
We participate in You can view the Department of Justice's Right to Work poster
More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.
Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.
Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.
Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.
Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.
Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.
The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.
Retirement And Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.
Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.
Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.
Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.
Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.
Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.
Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.
Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
As provided in , an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.
Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.
Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.
Bereavement Leave
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.
Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay
Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.
Updated 01-07-2026
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Job Number: 1460
Department: Health Benefits Exchange
Opening Date: 03/12/2026
Description
The mission of Washington Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) is to radically improve how Washington residents secure health insurance through innovative and practical solutions, an easy-to-use customer experience, our values of integrity, respect, equity and transparency, and by providing undeniable value to the health care community.
The Exchange is a public-private partnership that operates Washington Healthplanfinder, the eligibility and enrollment portal used by one in four Washington residents to obtain health and dental coverage. Through this platform, and with support from a Customer Support Center and statewide network of in-person navigators and brokers, individuals and families can shop, compare and enroll in private, qualified health plans (as defined in the Affordable Care Act) or enroll in Washington Apple Health, the state Medicaid program.
The Exchange embraces the following equity statement adopted by our Board of Directors:
Equity is fundamental to the mission of the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. The process of advancing toward equity and becoming anti-racist is disruptive and demands vigilance to dismantle deeply entrenched systems of privilege and oppression. While systemic racism is a root cause of many societal inequities, we must also use an intersectional approach to address all forms of bias and oppression, which interact with and often exacerbate racial inequities. To be successful, we must recognize the socioeconomic drivers of health and focus on people and places where needs are greatest. As we listen to community, we must hold ourselves accountable to responding to recommendations to remedy inequitable policies, systems, or practices within the Exchange's area of influence. Our goal is that all Washingtonians have full and equal access to opportunities, power and resources to achieve their full potential.
Summary
The Cloud Application & Solutions Architect position reports to the Cloud development manager and serves as the expert-level technical authority as designated by the Enterprise Architect, CIO, and Deputy CIO. Architectural and development design decisions made in this role have significant long-term impacts-up to 10 years.
The incumbent is expected to collaborate with business and IT roles across HBE, providing technical leadership, vision, and direction for development efforts within and beyond scrum teams. This position oversees and provides technical consultation and guidance on matters of cloud applications and integration solutions architecture, design, and development necessary to meet HBE's mission and business objectives.
The role leads the development team and other IT leads to advise, direct, develop, revise, and set direction on current and future application and data solutions. It also coordinates with business stakeholders and technical personnel to ensure solutions are delivered in alignment with IT architectural standards.
Additional responsibilities include supporting issue and risk resolution processes, conducting design and code reviews, and leading architectural validation efforts. The incumbent advises IT management on development standards and best practices and collaborates with other architects and leads to implement new standards, processes, and procedures for development teams.
Duties
Lead development initiatives to architect, design, develop, and deliver quality, mission-critical solutions.
Document technical design specifications and workflows.
Plan and coordinate reviews and approval of technical deliverables.
Write and review designs and deliverables for IT solutions.
Occasionally take on development tasks to support the team.
Stay current on development best practices and emerging technologies.
Participate in budget development, SOW creation, and procurement.
Provide technical consultation and oversight on complex projects.
Lead teams in developing and documenting new processes.
Translate complex requirements into software designs.
Direct and lead developers on new projects and enhancements.
Lead technical planning and development of new applications.
Foster understanding among stakeholders and provide technical consulting.
Analyze data and monitor system performance.
Assess project feasibility and define technical requirements.
Lead security design reviews at agency and state levels.
Ensure compliance with technical audits and implement corrective actions.
Collaborate with management and stakeholders on staffing and resourcing.
Support interface and data conversion planning and execution.
Ensure development standards are followed.
Help establish policies, procedures, and technical guidance.
Guide the team on appropriate technologies and tools.
Oversee application development throughout the lifecycle.
Ensure code and security reviews are conducted.
Align development with IT strategic roadmap and architecture.
Ensure solutions meet internal and external quality standards.
Oversee solution delivery and release quality.
Coordinate with vendors to align technical solutions with HBE standards.
Act as a technical visionary for emerging technologies (e.g., PaaS, DevSecOps).
Strategize architectural approaches to meet organizational goals.
Advise executive and senior management on IT architecture.
Research and guide integration of new technologies and processes.
Lead and participate in technical proof-of-concepts and feasibility studies.
Coach subordinates on policy and standards.
Support team development through coaching and education.
Serve as liaison between system integrators, business staff, state agencies, and partners.
Consult with business and IT units to determine enterprise design and performance.
Assist team members with technical questions and decision-making.
Collaborate across IT functions and organizations to resolve system issues.
Provide technical expertise to translate system requirements into solutions.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Required:
10 years in IT project development; experience with cloud solutions and architecture; DevOps/CI-CD; Agile (SCRUM/KANBAN)
4 years of experience in planning technical architecture and implementation
Experience in serving as technical expertise; 2 years in architecture roles
Ability to clearly communicate concepts and ideas in writing
Experience with enterprise object-oriented systems; architecture experience
Demonstrated ability of Leadership and mentoring skills; Experience in Agile methodologies
Strong experience in utilizing analytical and design skills; Ability to communicate
Experience in being servant Leader; experience managing development teams
Ability to communicate effectively; working together across different departments.
Experience in Project Management; Technical Analysis
Experience in DevSecOps and familiar with security compliance
Knowledge of audit and risk assessment processes
Knowledge of development best practices
Demonstrated ability to lead and provide technical guidance, create policy and procedures
Experienced in SDLC and proficient in Agile methodologies
Experience in DevSecOps: Applying Security Best Practices
Experience in strategic planning; ability in architectural design
Experienced in quality assurance and effectively managing stakeholder expectations
Experienced in implementing continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) methods and managing software releases.
Experienced in cloud-native tools, Azure PaaS, and committed to continuous learning of new technological advancements
Experience in working with Enterprise architecture team; strategic planning
Ability to communicate with leadership; Ability to provide technical consulting
Demonstrated experience in driving innovation and leveraging emerging technologies such as Cloud, Agile methodologies, and DevSecOps.
Skilled in technical review; experienced in architectural design
Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams; experience in communicating information clearly
Experienced in enterprise architecture and skilled at engaging stakeholders.
Experience in guiding teams on technical work items and mentoring teams enabling expertise; them to to derive technical solutions
Experienced in systems analysis, architecture, and design
Desired:
Relevant awareness of Project management; experience in technical oversight
Hands-on development experience; cloud-native tools (Docker, AKS)
Demonstrated ability to understand technical solutions; continuous learning
Experience In Project Management Principles And Skills
Experience with performance monitoring; analytical skills
Experience in leading and project planning complex initiatives and team members
Experience in using Integration technology (REST, SFTP, EDI)
Knowledge of emerging technologies; DevOps
Demonstrated expertise in managing vendors and maintaining consistent technical standards
Mentoring skills; leadership experience
Demonstrated ability to build effective teams and manage employee performance.
Demonstrated ability in problem-solving and cross-team coordination
Being flexible and ability; to demonstrate broad technical competency
Supplemental Information
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
This position will be open until we find a suitable number of candidates to review. If interested, please submit an application. The Exchange reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time.
SALARY INFORMATION
Full Salary Range: $109,719.00 to $164,579.00 annually, with midpoint at $137,149.00.
Hiring Range: $126,177.00 and $137,149.00 annually. This is an estimate of where a qualified candidate can expect to receive an offer.
The actual salary offer will consider candidate experience, skills, qualifications, internal equity, and the market. Our compensation policy reserves the salary range above the midpoint for employees who are meeting and exceeding expectations and for growth and development, up to the maximum.
Benefits
Take a peek at our
WORKING CONDITIONS
Core business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. There are times where irregular hours will be required. The preferred duty station is our Olympia, Washington headquarters. The nature of this role relies heavily on remote and in-person collaboration. While a hybrid remote and on-site schedule may be considered, the position will require flexibility to allow for in-office availability as business needs dictate. Travel requirements will be limited, however there may be occasions where an employee is required to travel and work irregular hours to attend meetings or trainings. Duties of this position require the use of standard office furniture and equipment, including setup for remote work. The employee is responsible for providing and maintaining a safe, ergonomic, and secure workspace at their remote location.
The working conditions and physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Special Requirements
A criminal background screen will be conducted for candidates under final consideration, and if hired, every five years of employment where highly sensitive data is processed or maintained by the position. The result of this background screen must meet the Exchange s eligibility standards.
Other Information
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and levels of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills of personnel so classified.
This is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.
The Washington Health Benefit Exchange is an All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
We participate in You can view the Department of Justice's Right to Work poster
More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.
Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.
Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.
Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.
Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.
Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.
The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.
Retirement And Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.
Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.
Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.
Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.
Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.
Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.
Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.
Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
As provided in , an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.
Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.
Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.
Bereavement Leave
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.
Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay
Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.
Updated 01-07-2026
Salary : $109,719 - $164,579