Electrical Engineer Salary in Seattle, WA
Electrical Engineers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $140,210 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $107,100 take-home, or $8,925 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrical engineer salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$22,384
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,693
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,033
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$107,100
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Electrical Engineer pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $98,130 | $47.18 | $77,864 | $6,489 |
| 25th percentile | $109,330 | $52.56 | $85,744 | $7,145 |
| Median (50th) | $140,210 | $67.41 | $107,100 | $8,925 |
| 75th percentile | $169,440 | $81.46 | $127,078 | $10,590 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $202,430 | $97.32 | $150,717 | $12,560 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $140,210 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median electrical engineer's $107,100 take-home pay has the buying power of $96,371 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Seattle, WA has 1.9× the national concentration of electrical engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for electrical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #4 of 18 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $145,360 | $110,620 | $112,801 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $187,060 | $123,681 | $112,007 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $131,070 | $100,852 | $102,254 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $140,210 | $107,100 | $96,371 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $166,030 | $111,378 | $96,337 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $124,390 | $96,287 | $93,400 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $127,730 | $94,648 | $92,291 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $128,610 | $92,960 | $85,863 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 18 metros →
About the job: electrical engineers
Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +9.9% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrical engineer make in Seattle, WA?
The median electrical engineer salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $140,210 a year, or about $67.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $109,330 and $169,440.
What is a electrical engineer’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $140,210 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $107,100 a year ($8,925 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a electrical engineer?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $120,630. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $96,371 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #4 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrical engineer afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 23% of a median electrical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Aerospace Engineer — $163,580
- Industrial Engineer — $131,210
- Mechanical Engineer — $126,590
- Civil Engineer — $116,480
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $100,610