StateRates

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue salaries

The median worker in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earned $67,510 a year in 2024, about $32.46 an hour. That ranks #4 of the 391 metro areas published here, 36.4% above the national median.

Washington

Median pay $67,510 $32.46 per hour
Vs national +36.4% U.S. $49,500
Workers 2,082,610 wage and salary
Metro rank #4 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays 9.6% more than Washington as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Avionics Technicians 17.24× 4,870 $109,030
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers 9.89× 4,390 $94,910
Special Effects Artists and Animators 7.5× 2,160 $142,690
Ship Engineers 6.67× 770 $96,390
Tapers 5.86× 990 $73,110
Aerospace Engineers 5.79× 5,350 $174,130
Statisticians 5.22× 2,100 $102,950
Religious Workers, All Other 5.18× 850 $60,310
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators 4.84× 650 $83,270
Travel Agents 4.62× 3,690 $66,190
Web and Digital Interface Designers 4.26× 6,400 $132,310
Computer and Information Research Scientists 3.98× 2,070 $232,120

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Nurse Anesthetists $237,310 $114.09 410
Computer and Information Research Scientists $232,120 $111.60 2,070
Compensation and Benefits Managers $214,220 $102.99 400
Computer and Information Systems Managers $212,450 $102.14 13,900
Dentists, General $208,810 $100.39 1,670
Natural Sciences Managers $208,230 $100.11 2,260
Architectural and Engineering Managers $183,640 $88.29 4,560
Financial Managers $180,770 $86.91 9,460
Human Resources Managers $178,550 $85.84 3,670
Aerospace Engineers $174,130 $83.72 5,350
Computer Hardware Engineers $174,070 $83.69 1,150
Marketing Managers $173,880 $83.60 7,200
Sales Managers $172,440 $82.90 6,950
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary $170,150 n/a 3,250
Air Traffic Controllers $169,350 $81.42 500
Software Developers $169,340 $81.42 72,730
Public Relations Managers $169,250 $81.37 1,280
Managers, All Other $168,750 $81.13 7,580
Purchasing Managers $167,110 $80.34 1,560
Computer Network Architects $166,880 $80.23 3,370
Pharmacists $165,270 $79.46 4,850
Physician Assistants $163,460 $78.59 1,910
Pediatricians, General $163,090 $78.41 430
Optometrists $162,820 $78.28 550
Lawyers $162,680 $78.21 9,440
Veterinarians $159,130 $76.50 1,020
Data Scientists $157,290 $75.62 6,100
Training and Development Managers $156,860 $75.41 610
Medical and Health Services Managers $153,910 $74.00 4,780
Information Security Analysts $152,660 $73.40 4,490
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $151,560 $72.86 1,210
Art Directors $143,490 $68.99 1,460
Fundraising Managers $143,050 $68.78 620
Nurse Practitioners $142,940 $68.72 2,850
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer $142,830 $68.67 1,590
Special Effects Artists and Animators $142,690 $68.60 2,160
General and Operations Managers $141,280 $67.93 30,890
Materials Engineers $140,810 $67.70 1,100
Industrial Production Managers $139,260 $66.95 3,040
Construction Managers $138,970 $66.81 4,220
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers $138,900 $66.78 2,150
Physical Scientists, All Other $138,480 $66.58 360
Administrative Services Managers $137,090 $65.91 2,330
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers $137,040 $65.89 770
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary $135,510 n/a 3,630
Electrical Engineers $135,480 $65.14 6,580
Facilities Managers $134,750 $64.79 1,750
Computer Occupations, All Other $134,230 $64.54 10,400
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products $134,030 $64.44 8,130
Database Administrators $133,310 $64.09 1,380
Commercial Pilots $133,180 n/a 660
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates $132,960 $63.92 540
Computer Systems Analysts $132,580 $63.74 13,940
Web and Digital Interface Designers $132,310 $63.61 6,400
Radiation Therapists $132,230 $63.57 250
Dental Hygienists $131,890 $63.41 2,700
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay $131,680 $63.31 260
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers $131,640 $63.29 7,300
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers $130,730 $62.85 1,040
Management Analysts $129,900 $62.45 17,770

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Software Developers 72,730 $169,340 $81.42
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 53,140 $46,690 $22.45
Fast Food and Counter Workers 51,590 $38,310 $18.42
Retail Salespersons 48,310 $39,180 $18.84
Registered Nurses 37,250 $118,570 $57.00
Business Operations Specialists, All Other 34,600 $101,420 $48.76
General and Operations Managers 30,890 $141,280 $67.93
Customer Service Representatives 30,370 $51,090 $24.56
Cashiers 30,030 $39,370 $18.93
Stockers and Order Fillers 29,750 $44,410 $21.35
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 29,400 $47,660 $22.92
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 27,680 $44,820 $21.55
Project Management Specialists 26,620 $125,390 $60.29
Waiters and Waitresses 25,860 $48,760 $23.44
Office Clerks, General 25,540 $53,640 $25.79
Accountants and Auditors 24,880 $99,380 $47.78
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks 21,300 $58,390 $28.07
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 21,220 $69,290 $33.31
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 20,120 $49,980 n/a
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers 20,100 $78,750 $37.86

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other Washington metro areas

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?

The median across all occupations is $67,510, or $32.46 an hour, covering 2,082,610 wage and salary workers. The mean is $89,760, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pay more than the rest of Washington?

Yes. The metro median of $67,510 is 9.6% above the Washington median of $61,590. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?

Nurse Anesthetists ($237,310), Computer and Information Research Scientists ($232,120), Compensation and Benefits Managers ($214,220). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue unusually full of?

Avionics Technicians, at 17.24× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.