Question 1

What is the cost of living in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?

Accepted Answer

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA's overall price level (BEA Regional Price Parity) is 111.13, where 100 equals the U.S. average. That means everyday goods, services, and housing cost about 11.1% more than the national average. HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom is $2,501/month.

Question 2

What is the average salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?

Accepted Answer

Across the 100 BLS-tracked occupation categories with published data in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, the average median wage is $197,087. The single highest-paying occupation here is Cardiologists at $662,760/year (BLS OEWS).

Question 3

What are the highest-paying jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?

Accepted Answer

Based on BLS OEWS data, the top-paying occupations in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA are: 1) Cardiologists at $662,760; 2) Anesthesiologists at $646,930; 3) Dermatologists at $641,210; 4) Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric at $576,130; 5) Surgeons, All Other at $504,360. Click any occupation above to see the full wage breakdown (10th to 90th percentile).

Question 4

How much does it cost to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a 2-bedroom unit in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is $2,501/month. FMR is the rent level HUD uses to administer housing assistance and reflects the 40th percentile of standard-quality rentals, updated annually.

Question 5

Where does AffordMap's Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue data come from?

Accepted Answer

Salary figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. Cost of living comes from the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (RPP). Rent comes from HUD Fair Market Rents. All three are federal datasets, updated annually, and free to use. AffordMap pairs them so you can see what a salary actually buys after local costs.

Rank	Occupation	Category	Median salary	Hourly
91	Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary	Education	$132K	N/A
92	Administrative Services Managers	Management	$132K	$63.32/hr
93	Industrial Engineers	Engineering	$131K	$63.08/hr
94	Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists	Healthcare	$130K	$62.72/hr
95	Web Developers	Technology	$130K	$62.71/hr
96	Project Management Specialists	Business & Finance	$130K	$62.68/hr
97	Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers	Legal	$130K	$62.63/hr
98	Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary	Education	$130K	N/A
99	Diagnostic Medical Sonographers	Healthcare	$130K	$62.48/hr
100	Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary	Education	$130K	N/A

Top Paying Jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Highest paying careers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue

Affordability snapshot: Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue