What is the Average Salary in Seattle in 2024?
Seattle has long been known as a city with high salaries, driven by its booming tech industry and strong economy. But just how much do Seattleites earn on average? Let's take an in-depth look at salaries across various industries and job titles in the Emerald City.
Seattle's Median Household Income Soars to $115,000
According to the most recent census data, Seattle's median household income reached a record high of $115,000 in 2022. This figure is a whopping 54% higher than the national median household income of $74,750.
Seattle's high incomes are necessary to keep up with the city's notoriously high cost of living. Housing costs are 111% higher than the national average, with the median home price at $952,328 and median rent for a 2-bedroom apartment at $2,896 per month.
Seattleites also pay more for utilities, transportation, food, and healthcare compared to the average American city.
Tech Salaries Lead the Pack
Seattle's tech scene is the driving force behind the city's high salaries. Tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft, along with hundreds of smaller tech companies, employ a significant portion of the city's workforce.
According to Levels.fyi, the average total compensation for a Software Engineer in Seattle is an impressive $$227,286 per year.
Even entry-level software engineers can expect to earn around $179,000, with top earners bringing in over $300,000 annually.
For more senior roles like Senior Software Engineer, the average total compensation jumps to $191,827.
Other high-paying tech jobs in Seattle include Data Scientist, with an average salary of $158,000, and Machine Learning Engineer, with an average of $202,000 per year.
With the tech industry's continued growth and Seattle's reputation as a tech hub, these salaries are likely to keep climbing.
Healthcare Salaries Remain Strong
Healthcare is another major industry in Seattle, with respected institutions like the University of Washington Medical Center and Seattle Children's Hospital.
Healthcare jobs tend to pay well above average, though not as high as tech salaries.
Registered Nurses in Seattle earn an average annual salary of $99,310, which is 20% higher than the national average for RNs.
Even new grad RNs in Seattle start out earning around $77,000 per year on average.
Nurse Practitioners earn an average of $130,000 per year in Seattle.
Physicians in Seattle earn an average of $255,590, with some specialties like Anesthesiology and Surgery earning over $300,000 per year. Physician Assistants earn an average of $131,000 annually.
Other Notable Salaries in Seattle
Here are a few other average salaries for common jobs in the Seattle metro area:
Accountant: $87,770
Civil Engineer: $99,000
Dental Hygienist: $111,600
Firefighter: $87,140
Lawyer: $145,300
Mechanic: $54,690
Police Officer: $105,540
Public School Teacher: $63,916
Real Estate Broker: $114,900
Web Developer: $134,430
House Cleaning Services: $39,975
Income Inequality in Seattle
While Seattle boasts some of the highest salaries in the nation, not all residents share in this prosperity equally. There is significant income inequality between neighborhoods and racial/ethnic groups.
The median household income in Seattle's wealthiest neighborhood, Laurelhurst, exceeds $250,000 per year. In contrast, the median in the Chinatown-International District is just $36,900.
South Seattle and Delridge also have much lower median incomes compared to North Seattle and the Eastside suburbs.
Households headed by Asian residents have the highest median income in Seattle at $130,000, while those headed by Black/African American residents have the lowest at $42,500. The median income for white households is $105,100.
The Real Cost of Living in Seattle: Average Salaries and Economic Challenges in 2024
Seattle's high salaries, driven largely by the tech industry, allow many residents to enjoy a high standard of living despite the city's soaring cost of living.
To better manage their valuable time and focus more on their careers, many residents opt for services like a Seattle cleaning service, which helps them enjoy life's luxuries without the hassle of everyday chores.
However, income inequality remains a significant issue, with certain neighborhoods and populations left behind.
As the city continues to grow and change, leaders will need to grapple with how to make Seattle an affordable and equitable place to live and work for all residents, not just the highest earners.
Initiatives like raising the minimum wage, expanding affordable housing, and investing in education and job training programs could help close the income gap.
For those considering a move to Seattle for work, it's essential to research salaries for your specific industry and factor in the high costs of housing and other essentials.
Websites like Glassdoor, Payscale, and Levels.fyi can provide valuable insights.
With its stunning natural beauty, vibrant culture, and booming economy, Seattle remains an appealing place to build a career for many.
Just be sure to come with realistic expectations around cost of living and a competitive salary for your field. The opportunities and quality of life may well be worth the price tag for those who can swing it.