Seattle, United States
Software Engineer Salary in Seattle (2026)
The median software engineer in Seattle earns $120,000 per year — about 9% above the national average. Updated May 2026 from 250 employer postings and verified submissions.
Median salary
$120,000
vs $110,000 national
Percentile vs national
Top 40%
60th percentile
Hiring employers
250
active in last 90 days
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Salary percentiles by experience level
| Level | P10 | P25 | P50 (median) | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| junior | $65,000 | $78,000 | $90,000 | $102,000 | $118,000 |
| mid | $95,000 | $108,000 | $120,000 | $138,000 | $158,000 |
| senior | $135,000 | $158,000 | $178,000 | $210,000 | $255,000 |
Pxx = percentile. A P75 means 75% of professionals earn at or below that amount.
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What that salary is really worth
$120,000 in Seattle = $100,000 in real purchasing power
Seattle’s cost-of-living index is 120 (national average = 100). To match the lifestyle of someone earning the national median in an average metro, a software engineer here would need $132,000.
Run the full cost-of-living calculator →Advertisement
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