Technology Seattle, WA Pop. 737,015

Software Engineer Salary in Seattle, Washington

The median software engineer salary in Seattle, WA is $198,720 per year, which is 60.0% above the national median and 26.0% above the Washington state average.

City Median
$198,720
vs State Avg
+$40,986
vs National
+$74,520
Cost of Living
148%

Software Engineer Salary in Seattle by Experience

In Seattle, an entry-level software engineer earns around $124,800, while experienced professionals earn up to $296,000 per year. The local cost of living index is 148% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$124,800
+$46,800 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$200,000
+$75,000 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$296,000
+$111,000 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Seattle, WA

Percentile Seattle
10th Percentile $119,360
25th Percentile $157,120
Median (50th) $198,720
75th Percentile $253,120
90th Percentile $317,728

Software Engineer Salary in Other Washington Cities

Bellevue, WA
$203,688
Pop. 151,854
Tacoma, WA
$151,524
Pop. 219,346
Vancouver, WA
$141,588
Pop. 190,915
Spokane, WA
$129,168
Pop. 228,989

How to Become a Software Engineer in Seattle

Education

Most software engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. Seattle and the surrounding Washington area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

PythonJavaScriptSQLGitCloud PlatformsSystem Design

Job Outlook

Nationally, software engineer employment is projected to grow 25% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Seattle may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Software Engineer Jobs in Seattle

Browse open software engineer positions in Seattle, WA:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Software Engineer Salary in Seattle

How much does a Software Engineer make in Seattle, WA? ▼
The median software engineer salary in Seattle, Washington is $198,720 per year, which is 60.0% above the national median of $124,200. Salaries range from $119,360 (10th percentile) to $317,728 (90th percentile).
How much does a Software Engineer make per hour in Seattle? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $198,720, a software engineer in Seattle earns approximately $96 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Seattle compare to the Washington state average for software engineer pay? ▼
Seattle's median software engineer salary of $198,720 is 26.0% above the Washington state average of $157,734. The local cost of living index is 148% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Seattle, WA? ▼
Seattle has a cost of living index of 148% compared to the national average. This means a software engineer salary of $198,720 in Seattle has less purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a software engineer in Seattle? ▼
Most software engineer positions in Seattle require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Python, JavaScript, SQL, Git. The job market is projected to grow 25% nationally over the next decade.