Security Engineer Salary in Seattle, WA — 2026
Security Engineer salary data for Seattle, WA — adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The median Security Engineer salary in Seattle, WA is $197,600 per year ($16,467/month, $95/hr). This reflects the local cost of living index of 152, which is 52% above the national average.
Security Engineer Take-Home Pay in Seattle
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $197,600 |
| Federal Tax | -$36,158 |
| State Tax (0.0%) | -$0 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$14,304 |
| Annual Take-Home | $147,138 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $12,261 |
Living Cost Comparison
Security Engineer Requirements
Key Skills
Security Engineer salary search terms in Seattle
People comparing Security Engineer pay in Seattle, WA may use related job-title wording. Salario keeps the main estimate tied to the Security Engineer role, then treats the terms below as comparison phrases that should be checked for licensing, employer type, seniority, and role scope.
| Comparison point | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Primary local answer | $197,600 median salary, $136,800-$276,640 modeled range, and $147,138 estimated take-home pay in Seattle. |
| Title variants | cybersecurity engineer, information security engineer, cloud security engineer, security analyst comparison can point to similar searches, but some variants may represent a narrower specialty or a higher/lower seniority band. |
| Offer comparison | Compare base salary, hourly equivalent, take-home pay, certifications, local cost of living, and whether the job is employee, contractor, public-sector, commission-heavy, or management-level. |
Seattle Job Market Overview
Seattle, Washington has a population of 737,015 and an unemployment rate of 3.0%. The top industries are Technology, Healthcare, Aerospace. The local job growth rate is 2.8%, and the average commute time is 28 minutes.
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Security Engineer Salary in Nearby Washington Cities
Salary Percentile Breakdown — Security Engineer in Seattle
Based on the cost-of-living-adjusted distribution for Security Engineer in Seattle, WA, here's how earnings break down across the workforce:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $136,800 | $66/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $167,200 | $80/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $197,600 | $95/hr | Mid-career, 3-6 years |
| 75th | $276,640 | $133/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $326,800 | $157/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
Percentiles estimated using a log-normal salary distribution model calibrated to Security Engineer compensation data. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Seattle's Technology sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Security Engineer salaries in Seattle have grown approximately 16.0% over the past 5 years, outpacing local CPI inflation in many cases. Here's the historical and projected trajectory:
Year-over-year, an average Security Engineer can expect a 10.6% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 7 years in Seattle. Negotiation, certifications (CISSP, CEH), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Seattle vs National Average
The national median Security Engineer salary is $130,000. In Seattle, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $197,600 is 52.0% above the national figure. This reflects Seattle's cost of living index of 152 (higher than the national average of 100).
For Security Engineers, this means: rent typically consumes 19.6% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered affordable), and a median home in Seattle costs about 5.3× annual take-home. Homeownership in Seattle on this salary is challenging — most experts recommend keeping home costs to 3-4× income.
Industry Context: Technology in Seattle
Seattle's economy is anchored by Technology, Healthcare, Aerospace, with 737,015 residents and 3.0% unemployment as of 2026. Security Engineers working in the Technology sector typically earn at or above the local median due to industry-specific demand. The state's overall job growth rate is 2.8%, and Security Engineer occupations specifically are projected to grow 25.0% nationally through 2034 (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Security Engineer salaries in Seattle, WA:
- Base salary model starts with Salario occupation data and public wage references, including BLS OEWS and O*NET when a direct or related occupational crosswalk is available. For niche titles, we do not treat a broader SOC family as an exact job-title wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the Seattle index of 152 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs checked separately.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), WA state income tax of 0.0%, and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine — occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation and cost-of-living data
- U.S. Census Bureau — Seattle QuickFacts — population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — Seattle unemployment rate
Last reviewed: 2026. Salary data updated annually as new BLS releases become available. Security Engineer salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Technology vs others in Seattle), specific skill set (Cloud Security, SIEM, Penetration Testing), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Security Engineer salary in Seattle, WA?
How much does a Security Engineer take home in Seattle after taxes?
Is Seattle a good city for Security Engineers?
What skills are needed for a Security Engineer in Seattle?
How does Security Engineer salary in Seattle compare to the national average?
What job titles are similar to Security Engineer in Seattle?
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- Amortio: Home Affordability — what home you can buy on this income
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Security Engineer salary in Seattle, WA?
The median Security Engineer salary in Seattle, WA is $197,600 per year as of 2026. This is adjusted for the local cost of living index of 152. Entry-level Security Engineers earn around $136,800, while senior-level professionals can earn $276,640 or more.
How much does a Security Engineer take home in Seattle after taxes?
A Security Engineer earning the median salary of $197,600 in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $147,138 per year ($12,261/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 25.5%.
Is Seattle a good city for Security Engineers?
Seattle, WA has a cost of living index of 152 (above national average). Security Engineers here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 3.0% and top industries include Technology, Healthcare, Aerospace.
What skills are needed for a Security Engineer in Seattle?
Key skills for Security Engineers include Cloud Security, SIEM, Penetration Testing, Python, Zero Trust Architecture. Typical education requirement is Bachelor's Degree. Valuable certifications include CISSP, CEH, OSCP.
How does Security Engineer salary in Seattle compare to the national average?
The national median Security Engineer salary is $130,000. In Seattle, the adjusted salary is $197,600, which is 52.0% higher than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.
What job titles are similar to Security Engineer in Seattle?
Related search terms for Security Engineer in Seattle, WA include cybersecurity engineer, information security engineer, cloud security engineer, security analyst comparison. Use them as comparison terms, not always exact matches: licensing, employer type, seniority, public-sector rules, and whether the role is W-2, contractor, clinical, technical, management, or sales-focused can change the salary range.