Virginia vs Washington

Two eight-million-person states, one federal-award giant

When populations nearly match, the dollar column is the clean test. Washington’s 7,958,180 residents are about 90 percent of Virginia’s 8,811,195. Washington’s $7.3B is about 7 percent of Virginia’s $110.8B. That is not a rounding difference. USAspending.gov place-of-performance attributes a large professional-services stock to Virginia and a much smaller federal book to Washington.

Washington’s private technology economy is not what this row measures. Federal obligations are not private payroll. A state can host major private tech employers and still show $7.3B on the USAspending state aggregate.

Eight million eight hundred eleven thousand one hundred ninety-five versus 7,958,180 residents is the cleanest large-state population match in this assigned batch after New Jersey. $110.8B versus $7.3B is therefore a numerator story. USAspending.gov place-of-performance puts the contractor-hub stock in Virginia and a much smaller federal book in Washington, regardless of Washington’s private technology employers.

Computer-related services vs building construction

Virginia’s top industry is other computer related services. Washington’s is commercial and institutional building construction — the same construction lead California, Alabama, and Hawaii show in this batch. IT services versus buildings is the industry contrast, and it runs opposite the casual story that “Washington is the tech state.” On this federal ledger, Virginia holds the computer-related-services lead.

Washington’s award count is 236,821 against Virginia’s 1,116,647. Construction can produce fewer actions than a services-modification market. This page does not assign a share of $7.3B to buildings.

Commercial and institutional building construction as Washington’s top industry will surprise readers who expected a software NAICS code. The packet’s industry fact is construction, under $7.3B and 236,821 awards. Virginia’s other computer related services fact sits under $110.8B and 1,116,647 awards. On this federal ledger, Virginia holds the computer-services lead.

Questions

Does Washington state get more federal spending than Virginia?

No. Washington shows $7.3B in USAspending obligations; Virginia shows $110.8B. Populations are similar: 7,958,180 in Washington and 8,811,195 in Virginia. Totals are obligations, not Treasury outlays. FY 2026 is the latest year in the pair. Figures come from SpendingVault aggregates of USAspending.gov award records. They are obligations — recorded commitments — not Treasury outlays, and FY 2026 is the latest year in the comparison.

What is Washington’s federal spending per capita vs Virginia?

Washington’s spending per capita is $73.46. Virginia’s is $1,344.24. Both divide USAspending obligations by Census population (7,958,180 and 8,811,195). Per-capita is a scaling statistic, not a payment to residents. Figures come from SpendingVault aggregates of USAspending.gov award records. They are obligations — recorded commitments — not Treasury outlays, and FY 2026 is the latest year in the comparison.

What top industries show up for Virginia and Washington?

Virginia’s top industry is other computer related services. Washington’s is commercial and institutional building construction. Those NAICS descriptions are the leading slices in SpendingVault’s aggregates, not a complete list of either state’s federal work. Figures come from SpendingVault aggregates of USAspending.gov award records. They are obligations — recorded commitments — not Treasury outlays, and FY 2026 is the latest year in the comparison.

How many federal awards are in Washington versus Virginia?

Washington has 236,821 awards in this aggregate; Virginia has 1,116,647. Award counts include contracts, grants, and modifications. Virginia also leads on dollars, $110.8B versus Washington’s $7.3B. Figures come from SpendingVault aggregates of USAspending.gov award records. They are obligations — recorded commitments — not Treasury outlays, and FY 2026 is the latest year in the comparison.