Tax Preparer Salary in Seattle, WA
Tax Preparers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $47,860 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,636 take-home, or $3,386 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median tax preparer salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,563
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,967
- Medicare (1.45%)$694
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$40,636
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Tax Preparer pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,330 | $19.39 | $34,585 | $2,882 |
| 25th percentile | $45,370 | $21.81 | $38,635 | $3,220 |
| Median (50th) | $47,860 | $23.01 | $40,636 | $3,386 |
| 75th percentile | $57,100 | $27.45 | $48,060 | $4,005 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,480 | $34.37 | $59,116 | $4,926 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,860 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 tax preparer's $40,636 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,565 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Tax Preparer jobs are less concentrated in Seattle, WA than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for tax preparers, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #27 of 28 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City, MO | $78,920 | $61,578 | $66,540 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $81,180 | $61,565 | $55,753 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $84,240 | $63,393 | $54,832 |
| 4 | Salt Lake City, UT | $66,920 | $53,863 | $53,399 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $60,170 | $50,527 | $50,418 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $71,300 | $55,736 | $49,516 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $65,150 | $52,370 | $49,507 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | $70,170 | $54,881 | $49,050 |
| 27 | Seattle, WA | $47,860 | $40,636 | $36,565 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 28 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tax preparer make in Seattle, WA?
The median tax preparer salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $47,860 a year, or about $23.01 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,370 and $57,100.
What is a tax preparer’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $47,860 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $40,636 a year ($3,386 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a tax preparer?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $54,920. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,565 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #27 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a tax preparer 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) — 60% of a median tax preparer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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