Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Seattle

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August 29, 2022
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Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Seattle

Whether you picture hard-working teachers buying school supplies for their students or genius professors shaping future leaders, it's fair to say education encompasses a wide variety of jobs. So much so that there's room to specialize and pursue your passion.

Historically, teachers' pay is a rather contentious topic. The average teacher salary is about $2,000 less than a decade ago after adjusting for inflation. Despite this, many of these jobs are rewarding in more ways than one. In other words, education can be very lucrative—particularly within specialty fields.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying education jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage. Keep reading to discover the highest and lowest paying education jobs in your city.

#51. Preschool teachers, except special education

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $38,420
- #108 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,510

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,460
- Employment: 391,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($49,990)
--- Ocean City, NJ ($49,720)
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($49,560)

#50. Teaching assistants, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $40,780
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,010

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 121,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Arecibo, PR ($62,080)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($59,560)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($59,380)

#49. Tutors

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $41,610
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,490

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,780
- Employment: 147,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Pittsfield, MA ($82,910)
--- Santa Fe, NM ($68,440)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($60,110)

#48. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $46,390
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 15,460

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,760
- Employment: 1,187,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($46,390)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,820)

#47. Substitute teachers, short-term

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $48,100
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,420

National
- Annual mean salary: $38,410
- Employment: 374,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Prescott, AZ ($64,310)
--- Appleton, WI ($63,310)
--- Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL ($58,770)

#46. Self-enrichment teachers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $51,000
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,140

National
- Annual mean salary: $49,230
- Employment: 216,910
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($70,350)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($66,650)
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($63,470)

#45. Library technicians

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $56,670
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 890

National
- Annual mean salary: $39,070
- Employment: 73,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($61,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($59,950)
--- Napa, CA ($57,890)

#44. Museum technicians and conservators

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $58,740
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,030
- Employment: 10,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,670)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($73,740)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($68,180)

#43. Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $64,210
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 880

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,650
- Employment: 38,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($96,640)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,740)

#42. Curators

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $67,660
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,880
- Employment: 11,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($96,990)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($94,020)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($86,680)

#41. Archivists

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $72,340
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 6,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($84,080)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($79,270)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($75,800)

#40. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $74,420
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,080
- Employment: 13,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($136,830)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($123,660)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($121,590)

#39. Special education teachers, preschool

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $74,470
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,970
- Employment: 21,130
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($101,190)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($100,010)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($97,900)

#38. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $74,520
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 750

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,680
- Employment: 58,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($162,660)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($145,980)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($132,320)

#37. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $76,010
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 950

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,240
- Employment: 94,720
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($180,910)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($160,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($151,060)

#36. Education teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $76,940
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,180

National
- Annual mean salary: $76,990
- Employment: 58,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($119,140)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($112,130)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($110,160)

#35. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $77,720
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,090

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,130
- Employment: 105,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($116,850)
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($97,110)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($95,200)

#34. Psychology teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $78,280
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,000

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,390
- Employment: 36,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($141,130)
--- Iowa City, IA ($131,770)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($117,020)

#33. Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $78,680
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $93,230
- Employment: 2,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($157,890)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($140,800)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($139,060)

#32. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $79,300
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,260
- Employment: 20,850
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($147,650)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($129,190)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($127,730)

#31. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $80,540
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $91,680
- Employment: 9,040
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($160,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($137,790)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($119,510)

#30. History teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $80,790
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,460
- Employment: 18,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($148,420)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($129,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,560)

#29. Kindergarten teachers, except special education

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $80,990
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,350

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,490
- Employment: 120,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($95,420)
--- Kingston, NY ($92,160)
--- Salinas, CA ($90,490)

#28. Communications teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $81,000
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $84,580
- Employment: 27,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,400)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($127,260)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,320)

#27. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $82,280
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,730
- Employment: 13,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($161,540)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($152,830)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($132,020)

#26. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $82,550
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,990
- Employment: 19,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,170)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($130,560)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($129,250)

#25. Sociology teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $84,720
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $87,850
- Employment: 12,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($143,100)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($139,630)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($119,830)

#24. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $84,780
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,610

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,090
- Employment: 187,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($102,210)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,730)
--- Chico, CA ($88,430)

#23. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $84,910
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 810

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,040
- Employment: 68,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($146,700)
--- Charlottesville, VA ($109,450)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($109,310)

#22. Instructional coordinators

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $85,010
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,180

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,560
- Employment: 184,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salem, OR ($93,890)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($93,760)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($91,430)

#21. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $86,200
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,330

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,880
- Employment: 592,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bakersfield, CA ($109,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,280)
--- Yuba City, CA ($94,480)

#20. Elementary school teachers, except special education

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $86,470
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 14,550

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,080
- Employment: 1,329,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,860)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($91,430)
--- Salinas, CA ($91,280)

#19. Special education teachers, middle school

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $86,510
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 670

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 79,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($117,940)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($94,630)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($94,140)

#18. Political science teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $87,210
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,980
- Employment: 14,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($155,350)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($150,290)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($140,340)

#17. Special education teachers, secondary school

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $87,990
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,050

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,100
- Employment: 145,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($110,320)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($106,590)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($103,540)

#16. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $88,150
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,890

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,530
- Employment: 1,020,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,010)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($101,980)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($97,490)

#15. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $90,050
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,260

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,960
- Employment: 84,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,160)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,490)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($115,060)

#14. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $90,150
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,110
- Employment: 5,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($137,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($130,530)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($128,760)

#13. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $93,550
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,840
- Employment: 10,250
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,120)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,790)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($147,770)

#12. Career/technical education teachers, middle school

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $93,790
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,410
- Employment: 11,840
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($139,720)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,750)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($93,790)

#11. Librarians and media collections specialists

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $94,230
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,250

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,180
- Employment: 127,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($94,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,990)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($89,220)

#10. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $96,630
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550

National
- Annual mean salary: $87,980
- Employment: 44,140
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($157,340)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($149,220)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($138,090)

#9. Physics teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $97,150
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $99,480
- Employment: 12,460
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($148,140)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($144,580)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($142,450)

#8. Biological science teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $97,730
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,710
- Employment: 47,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($181,560)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($166,470)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,140)

#7. Environmental science teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $101,810
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,210
- Employment: 5,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($133,560)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($126,820)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($120,840)

#6. Computer science teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $105,230
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430

National
- Annual mean salary: $89,610
- Employment: 37,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($152,280)
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($145,360)
--- Tuscaloosa, AL ($144,170)

#5. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $106,050
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,060
- Employment: 20,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($140,550)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($136,870)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($135,160)

#4. Business teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $118,050
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 880

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,720
- Employment: 79,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($175,640)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($175,080)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($154,600)

#3. Economics teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $130,020
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $124,090
- Employment: 11,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($180,550)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($180,490)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($172,600)

#2. Engineering teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $139,300
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,590
- Employment: 35,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($157,030)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($154,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($153,050)

#1. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $176,220
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,290

National
- Annual mean salary: $133,310
- Employment: 191,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($226,440)
--- Jackson, MS ($202,690)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($183,250)

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