Software Developers salary in Seattle, Washington

About 72,700 Software Developers work in the Seattle metro, making it one of the densest concentrations of the role in the country. The 2024 median annual wage was $169,340, roughly 1.5% above the Washington state median of $166,910 and about 22% above the US median of $138,520.

The gap between Seattle and the national figure is wider than the gap between Seattle and the rest of Washington. That pattern suggests most of the state's high-paying software jobs are concentrated in and around this metro, pulling the statewide number close to what Seattle reports on its own.

The average wage of $181,040 runs $11,700 above the median. When the mean sits that far above the median, a smaller group of top earners is pulling the average up. The full range reinforces that: the 25th-percentile wage of $136,010 sits below the US median, while the 75th percentile reaches $211,590. A developer moving from the lower quarter to the upper quarter of local earners sees compensation jump by roughly $75,000 per year. That spread points to real differences in seniority, specialization, and which companies are doing the hiring.

At the 10th percentile, the wage was $105,060. Entry-level or early-career roles in the Seattle market still clear six figures, which is not the case in most other metros for this occupation. That floor, combined with the high ceiling at the upper end, is what makes the Seattle distribution look different from a typical mid-tier tech market.