Kitsap County’s Largest Employers Remain Anchored by Defense, Healthcare and Education

Kitsap County’s employment landscape continues to be dominated by military, healthcare and education sectors, according to the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance’s 2025 Top Employers list.

Naval Base Kitsap remains by far the county’s largest employer, with 24,340 civilian employees and 18,360 active-duty personnel. St. Michael Medical Center ranks as the county’s largest private-sector employer with 2,087 employees, followed by South Kitsap School District (1,774), Central Kitsap School District (1,541) and Kitsap County government (1,198).

The list also highlights the continued strength of the region’s healthcare industry, with organizations including Kitsap Mental Health Services, The Doctors Clinic, Peninsula Community Health Services, Martha & Mary Health Services and Franciscan Medical Group among the county’s largest employers. Defense-related manufacturers such as Tessera, SAFE Boats International, Inventech Marine, Stirrett-Johnsen and SabelHaus West also maintain a significant presence in the county’s workforce.

Compiled by the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance and Western Washington University’s Center for Economic and Business Research, the annual ranking reflects employment data provided by participating organizations and serves as a snapshot of the county’s economic base.