Ground Picture // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $151,560
- Median hourly wage: $72.86
- Total employment: 1,210 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Seattle
Despite recession fears and falling consumer confidence, the job market in the United States has remained relatively stable in 2025 thus far. According to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, around 177,000 new jobs were added in April, a slight decrease from the 185,000 new jobs added in the month before, but an extension of the country's 52-month streak of job growth. Unemployment rates also held relatively steady between April 2024 and April 2025, coming in at around 4%.
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean Americans have it easy in the workplace. A December 2024 Payscale report found that nearly half (47%) of business organizations struggle to balance fair pay practices with spend optimization, and 18% plan to reduce pay increases in 2025 as a result.
For context, median weekly earnings across all employees in the U.S. stood at $1,194 in the first quarter of 2025. This represents an increase of 4.8% from a year prior and exceeds the Consumer Price Index's 2.7% increase in the same time period. However, there's one caveat: Earnings go much further in some places than in others.
In fact, the very definition of a "high-paying" job varies by location, as well as other factors such as industry and benefits. Even a six-figure salary may be considered low-income in places with an unusually high cost of living. Meanwhile, technology, finance, and health care jobs lead in terms of salary, but benefits like remote work can make other lower-paying jobs more desirable.
Regardless, anyone seeking a high-paying job should start by looking at the numbers. Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Seattle. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
You may also like: Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Seattle by diners
BalanceFormCreative // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Information security analysts
- Median annual wage: $152,660
- Median hourly wage: $73.40
- Total employment: 4,490 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $153,910
- Median hourly wage: $74.00
- Total employment: 4,780 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Database architects
- Median annual wage: $155,880
- Median hourly wage: $74.94
- Total employment: Not available
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Training and development managers
- Median annual wage: $156,860
- Median hourly wage: $75.41
- Total employment: 610 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Middle Eastern restaurants in Seattle by diners
Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Data scientists
- Median annual wage: $157,290
- Median hourly wage: $75.62
- Total employment: 6,100 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $159,130
- Median hourly wage: $76.50
- Total employment: 1,020 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $159,820
- Median hourly wage: $76.84
- Total employment: 80 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $162,680
- Median hourly wage: $78.21
- Total employment: 9,440 people (4.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $162,820
- Median hourly wage: $78.28
- Total employment: 550 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best private K-12 schools in the Seattle metro area
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $163,090
- Median hourly wage: $78.41
- Total employment: 430 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $163,460
- Median hourly wage: $78.59
- Total employment: 1,910 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $165,270
- Median hourly wage: $79.46
- Total employment: 4,850 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $166,880
- Median hourly wage: $80.23
- Total employment: 3,370 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $167,110
- Median hourly wage: $80.34
- Total employment: 1,560 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated campgrounds in the Seattle area by visitors
PIYAWAT WONGOPASS // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Computer programmers
- Median annual wage: $167,970
- Median hourly wage: $80.76
- Total employment: Not available
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $168,750
- Median hourly wage: $81.13
- Total employment: 7,580 people (3.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Public relations managers
- Median annual wage: $169,250
- Median hourly wage: $81.37
- Total employment: 1,280 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $169,340
- Median hourly wage: $81.42
- Total employment: 72,730 people (34.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Burben // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Air traffic controllers
- Median annual wage: $169,350
- Median hourly wage: $81.42
- Total employment: 500 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Recently opened restaurants in the Seattle area
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $170,150
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,250 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $172,440
- Median hourly wage: $82.90
- Total employment: 6,950 people (3.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $173,880
- Median hourly wage: $83.60
- Total employment: 7,200 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Computer hardware engineers
- Median annual wage: $174,070
- Median hourly wage: $83.69
- Total employment: 1,150 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aappp // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Aerospace engineers
- Median annual wage: $174,130
- Median hourly wage: $83.72
- Total employment: 5,350 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants in Seattle by diners
Kenishirotie //Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Mathematicians
- Median annual wage: $176,000
- Median hourly wage: $84.61
- Total employment: 110 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $178,550
- Median hourly wage: $85.84
- Total employment: 3,670 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $180,770
- Median hourly wage: $86.91
- Total employment: 9,460 people (4.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $183,640
- Median hourly wage: $88.29
- Total employment: 4,560 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PanuShot // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Advertising and promotions managers
- Median annual wage: $192,970
- Median hourly wage: $92.77
- Total employment: 140 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best private high schools in the Seattle metro area
Mark_Kostich // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Medical dosimetrists
- Median annual wage: $201,780
- Median hourly wage: $97.01
- Total employment: 40 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VE.Studio // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $208,230
- Median hourly wage: $100.11
- Total employment: 2,260 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $208,810
- Median hourly wage: $100.39
- Total employment: 1,670 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $212,450
- Median hourly wage: $102.14
- Total employment: 13,900 people (6.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Compensation and benefits managers
- Median annual wage: $214,220
- Median hourly wage: $102.99
- Total employment: 400 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in Seattle this year
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $232,120
- Median hourly wage: $111.60
- Total employment: 2,070 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $237,310
- Median hourly wage: $114.09
- Total employment: 410 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
38 / 50#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 480 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
39 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 3,850 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
40 / 50#1. Neurologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 150 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Car insurance rates in Seattle October 2025
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
41 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 560 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock
42 / 50#1. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,520 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 220 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Podiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 140 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 810 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Seattle in the last week
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,690 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Chief executives (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 2,620 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Djols // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 280 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
You may also like: Seattle's 2025 housing market year in review
