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64 | Old Heat CERB Feasibility Study <br />THE ESTIMATED MEDIAN HOURLY WAGE OF THE JOBS <br />CREATED WHEN DEVELOPMENT OCCURS. <br />The Old Heat project is intentionally designed to generate high-wage <br />employment aligned with Washington State’s advanced industry clusters, rather <br />than reinforcing the county’s existing dependence on low-wage service sectors. <br />The targeted sectors include aerospace and precision component manufacturing, <br />agricultural technology, advanced materials, clean technology, and embedded <br />systems industries. Each demonstrates compensation levels well above Kittitas <br />County’s current median wage of $69,928 per year (≈$33.62/hour). <br />BENCHMARK COMPARISONS <br />Using IMPLAN modeling and industry wage data (NAICS 3364 series for <br />aerospace, NAICS 333111 for agricultural machinery, and comparable clean-tech <br />and instrumentation subsectors), the following median annual compensation <br />figures are representative: <br />• Aerospace product & parts manufacturing (NAICS 3364): ~$92,000/year <br />(≈$44.23/hour) <br />• Agricultural machinery manufacturing (NAICS 333111): ~$76,000/year <br />(≈$36.54/hour) <br />• Advanced materials & clean-tech manufacturing: ~$80,000–$85,000/year <br />(≈$38.46–$40.87/hour) <br />• Embedded systems/software for industrial applications: ~$95,000– <br />$100,000/year (≈$45.67–$48.08/hour) <br />These estimates reflect direct employment in the sectors Old Heat is designed to <br />host or catalyze. Indirect and induced employment (e.g., professional services, <br />supply chain, and local spending impacts) will average slightly lower but remain <br />significantly above Kittitas County’s current wage base. IMPLAN modeling <br />SECTION N projects an average compensation premium of 20–25% above the county median <br />wage for the new jobs created by Old Heat. <br />AGGREGATE MEDIAN WAGE ESTIMATE <br />Given the mix of targeted industries, the blended median wage of jobs created <br />through Old Heat development is conservatively estimated at $40–$45 per hour <br />($83,200–$93,600 annually). <br />This range accounts for: <br />• Higher-end wages in aerospace, embedded systems, and advanced R&D. <br />• Mid-range wages in agricultural technology and clean-tech manufacturing. <br />• Secondary effects from induced jobs in professional and technical <br />services. <br />IMPLICATIONS FOR REGIONAL COMPETITIVENESS <br />This wage level represents a 20–35% premium over Kittitas County’s current <br />median hourly wage and positions Old Heat as a structural intervention into the <br />county’s wage trajectory. By embedding these industries into the local economy, <br />Old Heat directly addresses the living-wage deficit identified earlier in this report, <br />ensuring that new job creation translates into sustainable household prosperity <br />and a stronger tax base. <br />SECTION N