Chief Executive Salary in Seattle, WA
Chief Executives in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $370,000 a year — 73% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $259,032 take-home, or $21,586 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chief executive salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$92,634
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$6,895
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$259,032
Marginal rate: 35% federal + 0.00% state
Chief Executive pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $187,890 | $90.33 | $139,899 | $11,658 |
| 25th percentile | $260,990+ | $125.48 | $190,397 | $15,866 |
| Median (50th) | $370,000+ | $177.88 | $259,032 | $21,586 |
| 75th percentile | $481,180+ | $231.34 | $328,686 | $27,391 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $607,100+ | $291.88 | $407,575 | $33,965 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $370,000 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 chief executive's $259,032 take-home pay has the buying power of $233,083 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chief Executive jobs are less concentrated in Seattle, WA than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for chief executives, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #1 of 55 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $239,200+ | $259,032 | $233,083 |
| 2 | Bridgeport, CT | $239,200+ | $247,855 | $231,935 |
| 3 | Charlotte, NC | $239,200+ | $220,744 | $226,758 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $239,200+ | $227,744 | $220,918 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $239,200+ | $226,413 | $218,556 |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | $239,200+ | $213,626 | $218,302 |
| 7 | Des Moines, IA | $239,200+ | $199,056 | $217,070 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $239,200+ | $227,767 | $216,055 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 55 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chief executive make in Seattle, WA?
The median chief executive salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $370,000 a year, or about $177.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $239,200+ and $239,200+.
What is a chief executive’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $370,000 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $259,032 a year ($21,586 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a chief executive?
Pay here is 73% above the national median of $213,990. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $233,083 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #1 of 55 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chief executive 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) — 9% of a median chief executive’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $214,680
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $204,340
- Natural Sciences Manager — $203,150
- Financial Manager — $185,550
- Sales Manager — $184,320
- Marketing Manager — $175,850
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $174,260
- Human Resources Manager — $171,360
- Managers, All Other — $168,980
- Training and Development Manager — $168,240
- Public Relations Manager — $166,590
- Purchasing Manager — $165,430