Highest-paying management jobs in Seattle

Not everyone has what it takes to be a manager in today's workplace, and those who do tend to be well compensated.

Workers today are split on how they want to interact with their jobs. Half of workers want to blend their work and their personal lives, while the other roughly 50% prefer to keep them separate, according to Gallup polling. The lion's share want more flexibility in where they perform their work—at a time when businesses may have to buckle in for tougher economic conditions in the year ahead.

Whether overseeing a sales team or leading a commercial building project, these are the challenges that get management professionals out of bed in the morning.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest-paying management jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage. Jobs the BLS lists as "management occupations" were included.

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#30. Food service managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $89,860
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,460

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,970
- Employment: 210,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($91,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($89,860)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,750)

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#29. Social and community service managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $93,800
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,750

National
- Annual mean salary: $76,790
- Employment: 156,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($100,530)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($98,240)
--- Charlottesville, VA ($98,200)

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#28. Gambling managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $96,870
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $89,190
- Employment: 3,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($106,830)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($104,140)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($103,210)

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#27. Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $105,390
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,810
- Employment: 17,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($108,680)
--- Lexington-Fayette, KY ($108,430)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($105,390)

5 / 30

#26. Property, real estate, and community association managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $109,540
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,670

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,030
- Employment: 234,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,540)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($106,420)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($103,610)

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#25. Construction managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $116,800
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,150

National
- Annual mean salary: $108,210
- Employment: 284,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($160,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,050)
--- Napa, CA ($145,430)

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#24. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $119,240
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,930

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,580
- Employment: 144,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
--- Trenton, NJ ($144,620)

8 / 30

#23. Facilities managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $119,780
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,290

National
- Annual mean salary: $101,970
- Employment: 101,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($146,040)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($136,440)
--- Ithaca, NY ($136,210)

9 / 30

#22. Emergency management directors

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $123,170
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $84,800
- Employment: 10,320
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($142,000)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($124,780)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($123,170)

10 / 30

#21. Industrial production managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $132,440
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $117,780
- Employment: 192,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($155,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($153,860)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($153,470)

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#20. Legislators

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $132,460
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,110
- Employment: 44,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Yakima, WA ($139,690)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($136,400)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($132,460)

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#19. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $138,990
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,870

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,650
- Employment: 274,710
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($144,880)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($143,450)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($142,330)

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#18. Fundraising managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $140,030
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,400
- Employment: 23,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($175,610)
--- Syracuse, NY ($155,700)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($153,980)

14 / 30

#17. Administrative services managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $142,650
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,340

National
- Annual mean salary: $113,030
- Employment: 224,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,360)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($142,650)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($141,950)

15 / 30

#16. Education administrators, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $142,980
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,440

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,260
- Employment: 155,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Corvallis, OR ($178,570)
--- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($165,940)
--- Syracuse, NY ($164,660)

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#15. Training and development managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $143,940
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430

National
- Annual mean salary: $128,800
- Employment: 35,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($180,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($176,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($166,410)

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#14. General and operations managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $146,860
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 27,930

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,250
- Employment: 2,984,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($165,340)
--- Trenton, NJ ($165,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($159,210)

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#13. Medical and health services managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $147,610
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,250

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,840
- Employment: 436,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($162,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($157,340)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($156,370)

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#12. Purchasing managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $152,920
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,460

National
- Annual mean salary: $134,590
- Employment: 69,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($181,030)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,010)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($174,760)

20 / 30

#11. Advertising and promotions managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $153,660
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $142,860
- Employment: 22,520
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($193,980)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($182,520)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($166,620)

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#10. Public relations managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $153,880
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 900

National
- Annual mean salary: $138,000
- Employment: 59,850
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($183,410)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($182,890)
--- Boulder, CO ($174,250)

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#9. Human resources managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $159,830
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,700

National
- Annual mean salary: $136,590
- Employment: 166,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($190,020)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,410)

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#8. Compensation and benefits managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $161,210
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $139,470
- Employment: 15,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($190,560)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($187,770)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,130)

24 / 30

#7. Sales managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $168,450
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,670

National
- Annual mean salary: $142,390
- Employment: 453,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($198,960)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($196,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($182,820)

25 / 30

#6. Marketing managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $168,930
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,520

National
- Annual mean salary: $153,440
- Employment: 278,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($210,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($198,870)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($191,310)

26 / 30

#5. Architectural and engineering managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $169,630
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,360

National
- Annual mean salary: $158,970
- Employment: 187,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($206,050)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($198,430)

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#4. Financial managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $174,530
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,930

National
- Annual mean salary: $153,460
- Employment: 681,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($209,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($201,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,900)

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#3. Computer and information systems managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $185,210
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 11,220

National
- Annual mean salary: $162,930
- Employment: 485,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($211,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,800)

29 / 30

#2. Natural sciences managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $188,200
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,410

National
- Annual mean salary: $156,110
- Employment: 74,760
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($222,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($219,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($216,750)

30 / 30

#1. Chief executives

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $313,440
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,900

National
- Annual mean salary: $213,020
- Employment: 200,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($313,440)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($298,960)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($296,480)

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