Indian Population in Washington: Cities, Jobs, Income & Community Trends
Washington state has a rapidly growing Indian community driven by big-tech hiring in Seattle and on the Eastside — Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, and Sammamish. It skews toward high-earning software professionals. Exact counts vary by definition, but growth over the past decade has been among the fastest nationally.
Last updated: July 21, 2026
Indian Population in Washington — Quick Facts
- 2020 Census (Asian Indian alone)
- 140,817 — 1.83% of Washington's population
- National rank by total count
- ≈10th — Smaller total count than the top states, but the fastest 2010→2020 growth rate of this cluster — tech hiring drove more than a doubling in a decade.
- Growth, 2010→2020 Census
- +130%
- Major Indian metro areas
- Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond
- Main employers
- Almost everything routes through Microsoft and Amazon and their vendor and contract-staffing ecosystem, with Boeing, T-Mobile, Expedia, and a growing cloud-infrastructure presence filling in the rest.
- University hubs
- The University of Washington and regional universities enroll growing numbers of Indian students feeding the Seattle-area tech workforce.
- Community drivers
- Tech
- Best-known Indian areas
- Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Sammamish
How many Indians live in Washington?
The 2020 Census counted 140,817 people as “Asian Indian alone” in Washington — 1.83% of the state's population, and ≈10th nationally by that measure, up +130% from the 2010 Census. Washington has a fast-growing, tech-heavy Indian-origin population on the Seattle Eastside.
Washington Census snapshot — Asian Indian alone
2020 Census
140,817
1.83% of Washington's population
2010 Census
61,124
Same definition, for comparison
Growth, 2010→2020
+130%
Approx. national rank
≈10th
Smaller total count than the top states, but the fastest 2010→2020 growth rate of this cluster — tech hiring drove more than a doubling in a decade.
Fees, timelines, forms, and agency rules can change. Always verify with official government sources before filing or making decisions.
Both years use “Asian Indian alone”, so the growth figure is comparable; the rank is approximate. Full definitions and sources are on the pillar guide.
Where Indians live in Washington
Indian neighbourhoods and commercial hubs in Washington
Crossroads and Factoria, Bellevue
Eastside groceries, restaurants, and weekend classes within reach of the Microsoft and Amazon campuses.
Redmond and Sammamish
Newer family settlement chosen mostly for the schools; among the fastest-growing Indian populations in the country.
Bothell and Renton
Where the same jobs are bought at a lower entry price — increasingly common as Eastside housing has climbed.
Why Indians move to Washington
- Big-tech software and cloud jobs
- No state income tax
- High-paying senior engineering roles
- Growing Indian community on the Eastside
- Strong schools in Bellevue/Redmond/Sammamish
Who hires Indian professionals in Washington
Almost everything routes through Microsoft and Amazon and their vendor and contract-staffing ecosystem, with Boeing, T-Mobile, Expedia, and a growing cloud-infrastructure presence filling in the rest.
Software engineering, cloud, program management, and data/AI at major tech employers.
Indian students in Washington
The University of Washington and regional universities enroll growing numbers of Indian students feeding the Seattle-area tech workforce.
What Washington costs an Indian family
Washington has no state income tax, which is why a Seattle offer often nets more than a Bay Area one at the same headline salary. It does tax large capital gains above an annual threshold and has high sales tax, so the advantage is real but smaller than the zero-income-tax headline suggests.
Washington's Indian community is concentrated in senior tech roles, contributing significantly to the regional economy — though exact tax contribution by state is not published as a simple official number.
Visa and immigration patterns in Washington
Heavily H-1B and L-1 in early career, converting to green cards over time.
Indian communities by region in Washington
Telugu communities
Large, fast-growing tech community.
Tamil communities
Strong software and engineering presence.
North Indian / Hindi-belt communities
Sizable professional community on the Eastside.
Settlement patterns, not Census counts — the Census does not record Indian state of origin.
Indian Population in Washington — FAQ
How many Indians live in Washington?
The 2020 Census counted 140,817 people as "Asian Indian alone" in Washington — 1.83% of the state, up from 61,124 in 2010. Smaller total count than the top states, but the fastest 2010→2020 growth rate of this cluster — tech hiring drove more than a doubling in a decade.
Where do most Indians live in Washington?
Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond hold the densest communities. Crossroads and Factoria, Bellevue is the commercial centre: eastside groceries, restaurants, and weekend classes within reach of the Microsoft and Amazon campuses.
Why do Indians move to Washington?
Big-tech software and cloud jobs; No state income tax; High-paying senior engineering roles. Washington has a fast-growing, tech-heavy Indian-origin population on the Seattle Eastside.
Who hires Indian professionals in Washington?
Almost everything routes through Microsoft and Amazon and their vendor and contract-staffing ecosystem, with Boeing, T-Mobile, Expedia, and a growing cloud-infrastructure presence filling in the rest.
Are there many Indian students in Washington?
The University of Washington and regional universities enroll growing numbers of Indian students feeding the Seattle-area tech workforce.
Which Indian communities are common in Washington?
Washington has visible Telugu, Tamil, North Indian / Hindi-belt communities. Telugu: large, fast-growing tech community. These are settlement patterns, not Census counts — the Census does not record Indian state of origin.
Is the Indian population in Washington growing?
Yes — +130% between the 2010 and 2020 Censuses on one consistent definition, from 61,124 to 140,817.
What does living in Washington cost an Indian family?
Washington has no state income tax, which is why a Seattle offer often nets more than a Bay Area one at the same headline salary. It does tax large capital gains above an annual threshold and has high sales tax, so the advantage is real but smaller than the zero-income-tax headline suggests.
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Written / reviewed by Deepak Middha · CA, Series 65
Last updated: July 21, 2026