Financial Risk Specialists Salary
Financial Risk Specialists in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA make a median of $134,330 a year, or about $64.58 an hour. The range runs from $73K at the entry level to $185K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.13), so that salary is closer to $120,876 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,501/month, or 28.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $134K get you in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue’s Regional Price Parity (111.13). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About financial risk specialists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue sits well above the national pay line for financial risk specialists, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $117K. Rent runs $2,501/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 11% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.13), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for financial risk specialists in metros near Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $109K | $108K |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $106K | $100K |
| Boise City | $64K | $65K |
| Eugene-Springfield | $86K | $85K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Entry-level financial risk specialists (10th percentile) start around $73K. Mid-career wages sit at $134K. Top earners bring in $185K or more, a $112K spread from bottom to top.
Financial Risk Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Financial Risk Specialists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $158K | +35% | 300 |
| Maine | $141K | +20% | N/A |
| Delaware | $139K | +19% | 1,160 |
| New York | $137K | +17% | 12,060 |
| North Carolina | $132K | +13% | 3,200 |
| Massachusetts | $130K | +11% | 1,440 |
| New Jersey | $129K | +10% | 2,760 |
| California | $129K | +10% | 5,740 |
| Virginia | $127K | +8% | 1,770 |
| Washington | $123K | +5% | 900 |
| Colorado | $120K | +3% | 1,050 |
| Wyoming | $120K | +2% | 170 |
| Maryland | $117K | -0% | 890 |
| Connecticut | $114K | -3% | 660 |
| Oregon | $110K | -7% | 430 |
| Iowa | $106K | -10% | 530 |
| Minnesota | $105K | -10% | 1,190 |
| Rhode Island | $104K | -11% | 450 |
| Illinois | $104K | -11% | 2,920 |
| Michigan | $104K | -11% | 1,150 |
| Texas | $104K | -12% | 4,780 |
| Pennsylvania | $103K | -12% | 2,370 |
| Arizona | $103K | -12% | 1,700 |
| Montana | $101K | -14% | 50 |
| Missouri | $101K | -14% | 1,070 |
| Georgia | $101K | -14% | 2,180 |
| Nevada | $100K | -15% | 570 |
| Florida | $100K | -15% | 3,770 |
| South Carolina | $100K | -15% | 560 |
| Indiana | $99K | -15% | 380 |
| District of Columbia | $99K | -15% | 210 |
| Ohio | $99K | -16% | 2,110 |
| Wisconsin | $98K | -17% | 610 |
| Mississippi | $96K | -18% | 230 |
| West Virginia | $94K | -20% | 50 |
| Nebraska | $94K | -20% | 250 |
| Tennessee | $91K | -22% | 540 |
| Hawaii | $90K | -23% | 90 |
| New Mexico | $87K | -26% | 180 |
| Alaska | $85K | -27% | 50 |
| Oklahoma | $85K | -27% | 330 |
| Kansas | $85K | -28% | 150 |
| Alabama | $82K | -30% | 180 |
| South Dakota | $79K | -33% | 130 |
| Utah | $78K | -34% | 630 |
| Idaho | $77K | -34% | 270 |
| Kentucky | $75K | -36% | 500 |
| North Dakota | $75K | -36% | 90 |
| Arkansas | $66K | -44% | 150 |
| Louisiana | $58K | -50% | 520 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track financial risk specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue numbers change.
Related careers in Business & Finance
Frequently asked questions
Can a financial risk specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Yes — at the median salary of $134K, rent takes 29.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,501/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for financial risk specialists in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new financial risk specialists typically earn — is $73K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,351/month. At HUD’s $2,501/month FMR, rent would take 57% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is financial risk specialist a high-paying job in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $134K here vs. $117K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 11% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue compare to the national average for financial risk specialists?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays $134K median vs. the U.S. average of $117K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.13), the purchasing-power equivalent is $121K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do financial risk specialists make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median is $134,330 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $72,520, and experienced financial risk specialists can clear $184,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $134K enough to live in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,547/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,501/month, which eats 29.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a financial risk specialists salary go in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has a Regional Price Parity of 111.13 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median financial risk specialists salary is worth about $120,876 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do financial risk specialists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.