Seattle Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Seattle, WA: $34.91/hr median hourly wage, $72,610 median annual salary, cost of living index 152, and $16.66/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Washington taxes.
Seattle Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Seattle, WA is $34.91/hr,and the median annual wage is $72,610. Entry-level pay estimates around $21.64/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $49.57/hr, and the local minimum wage is $16.66/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan statistical area (2,086,210 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Seattle shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$72,610
$34.91/hr
Cost of Living
152
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$16.66
per hour
Unemployment
3%
rate
Seattle, WA Overview
Population
737,015
Median Salary
$72,610
Average Salary
$91,790
Avg Commute
28 min
Median Home Price
$780,000
Median Rent
$2,400/mo
Job Growth
+2.8%
Sales Tax
10.25%
Seattle is located in Washington with a population of 737,015. The median annual wage across all occupations is $72,610 ($34.91/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro), which is $21,630 above the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 28 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2.8%.
Seattle Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Seattle, WA built around the $72,610 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $45,018 | $21.64/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $72,610 | $34.91/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $103,106 | $49.57/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $129,246 | $62.14/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Seattle Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Seattle, WA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$59,911
$4,992.59/month · $2,304.27/biweekly · Effective Rate: 17.5%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $2,304.27 take-home per paycheck after estimated Washington and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$72,610
Federal Tax
-$7,144
State Tax
$0
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$5,555
Net Pay
$59,911
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $6,050.83 | $72,610.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$595.35 | -$7,144.20 |
| Washington State Tax (0.00% eff.) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$375.15 | -$4,501.82 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$87.74 | -$1,052.85 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $4,992.59 | $59,911.14 |
Salary Comparison: Seattle vs Other Cities
See how Seattle's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $72,610 | 152 | $47,770 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Tacoma, WA | $72,610 | 108 | $67,231 |
| Bellevue, WA | $72,610 | 160 | $45,381 |
| Kent, WA | $72,610 | 105 | $69,152 |
| Everett, WA | $72,610 | 110 | $66,009 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Seattle
Seattle's cost of living index is 152 (national average = 100). Living in Seattle is 52% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$780,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,400
Annual Rent Cost
$28,800
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $59,911 annual take-home pay in Seattle has the purchasing power of approximately $39,415 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $110,367 in Seattle to match a $72,610 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Seattle
Seattle's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $72,610.
Salary Tips for Seattle Workers
- Negotiate for cost of living. Seattle has a cost of living 52% above the national average. When negotiating salary, factor in the higher housing and living costs to ensure your real purchasing power stays competitive.
- No state income tax advantage. Washington has no state income tax, which means more of your paycheck stays in your pocket. Invest the savings in a Roth IRA or 401(k) for long-term growth.
- Research top industries. Seattle's top industries include Technology, Healthcare, Aerospace. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $72,610 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Job Salaries in Seattle, WA
Browse occupation-specific salaries for Seattle. Figures marked BLS are the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for that occupation in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area (79 of 338); the rest are Salario estimates adjusted for Seattle's cost of living. Each page connects the benchmark with local take-home pay and market context.
Other Cities in Washington
Shoreline
South Hill
Spanaway
Spokane Valley
Spokane
Tacoma
University Place
Vancouver
Walla Walla
Wenatchee
Yakima
Auburn
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Seattle salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Seattle indexed at 152.
- Median salary: $72,610 annual, $34.91 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MSA (2,086,210 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $91,790 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Seattle was $95,000.
- Tax burden reflects Washington 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 0%) (no local income tax), sales tax (10.25%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Seattle: 3%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Technology, Healthcare, Aerospace, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2.8% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Washington.
- Housing context: median home price $780,000, median rent $2,400/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Seattle, WA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Seattle unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Seattle QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Washington, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Seattle's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Washington labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Seattle, WA?
The median hourly wage in Seattle, WA is $34.91 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $72,610. Entry-level workers are estimated around $21.64/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $49.57/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Seattle, WA?
The median salary in Seattle, WA is $72,610 per year, or $34.91 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area). The BLS mean salary is $91,790. This is $21,630 above the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Seattle, WA?
Seattle's cost of living index is 152 (national average = 100), meaning it is 52% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $780,000 and the median monthly rent is $2,400.
What are the best industries in Seattle?
The top industries in Seattle, WA include Technology, Healthcare, Aerospace. The city has a job growth rate of 2.8% and an unemployment rate of 3%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $72,610.
How does Seattle's salary compare to other cities?
Seattle's median salary of $72,610 is 42.4% above the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 152), the real purchasing power is approximately $47,770.
What is the minimum wage in Seattle, WA?
The minimum wage in Seattle, WA is $16.66 per hour. This equals approximately $34,653 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $9.41 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.