City guides / Seattle
Seattle
Home to two of the biggest H-1B sponsors, with no state income tax on wages.
Guide Wages: DOL wage year 2026-27 H-1B filings: DOL disclosure data
What the jobs pay
Prevailing wages for the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue metro area. Your employer must pay at least the wage for your job's level. Explore every job and level →
H-1B salaries here by job: Software Developers · Computer Occupations, All Other · Data Scientists · Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers · Computer Programmers · Computer and Information Systems Managers · Computer Systems Analysts · Industrial Engineers · Mechanical Engineers · Financial and Investment Analysts · Accountants and Auditors · Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
| Job | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $111,613 | $143,104 | $174,595 | $206,086 |
| Data Scientists | $93,912 | $127,026 | $160,118 | $193,232 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $86,715 | $110,427 | $134,160 | $157,872 |
| Electrical Engineers | $101,670 | $123,531 | $145,413 | $167,274 |
| Management Analysts | $83,054 | $106,059 | $129,064 | $152,069 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $74,610 | $90,709 | $106,808 | $122,907 |
| Registered Nurses | $96,782 | $111,509 | $126,235 | $140,962 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary (universities) | $83,060 | $126,483 | $169,907 | $213,330 |
Who sponsors here
32,159 certified H-1B applications (LCAs) from 2,821 employers for jobs in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA area. Certified H-1B LCAs decided July 2025 to June 2026. Typical offered pay: $136,000 to $191,500 (middle half), median $164,500.
| Employer | H-1B filings here | Median pay | Green card filings (all US) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Services LLC | 9010 | $162,000 | 57 |
| Microsoft CorporationPERM green card filings suspended | 4788 | $179,000 | 4,526 |
| Amazon Development Center U.S., Inc. | 1525 | $159,500 | 1 |
| Meta Platforms, Inc | 1285 | $212,000 | 538 |
| Amazon Web Services, Inc. | 955 | $152,500 | 14 |
| Google LLC | 906 | $177,000 | 1 |
| Amazon Data Services, Inc | 580 | $150,000 | 10 |
| Apple Inc. | 403 | $184,500 | 1,257 |
| Salesforce, Inc. | 351 | $206,000 | 1,284 |
| TT Commerce & Global Services LLC | 325 | $182,000 | — |
| Expedia, Inc. | 276 | $151,000 | 264 |
| Quadrant Technologies LLC | 234 | $115,000 | 20 |
| Infosys LimitedPERM green card filings suspended | 191 | $111,500 | — |
| Snowflake Inc. | 168 | $160,000 | 232 |
| NVIDIA Corporation | 168 | $197,000 | 1,295 |
Most common jobs
- Software Developers 16289
- Data Scientists 2933
- Computer Occupations, All Other 2565
- Computer and Information Systems Managers 1404
- Computer and Information Research Scientists 798
- Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers 650
- Computer Systems Analysts 460
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists 426
Where the jobs are
- Seattle 12239
- Bellevue 6522
- Redmond 4834
- Kirkland 777
- Bothell 532
- Issaquah 250
- Lynnwood 142
- Everett 137
- Sammamish 99
- Renton 96
One LCA can cover more than one worker, and a filing is not an approved petition. Green card filings are certified PERM applications for the employer nationwide. Search sponsors by job →
Taxes
Washington has no personal income tax on wages. It does tax large long-term capital gains. Washington Department of Revenue: capital gains tax
The good
- No state income tax on salary
- High prevailing wages for tech jobs
- Strong community on the Eastside (Bellevue, Redmond, Sammamish)
The hard
- Dependence on a few very large employers
- Housing costs are high on the Eastside
- Long, dark winters take adjusting to
Community
Bellevue, Redmond, Sammamish, Bothell and Kirkland have large Indian and Chinese communities.
Home away from home
Places of worship, Indian and Asian groceries, restaurants and community groups in and around the city, from OpenStreetMap. Tap a pin or a name for the address.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, updated weekly. Listings depend on what volunteers have mapped, so some places are missing; anyone can add them.
Cost of living
For a realistic budget by family size, see the MIT Living Wage Calculator for this metro area. Compare it with the wage table above to see how far a Level I or II salary goes.
Sources: DOL OFLC wage library, DOL LCA and PERM disclosure data, Washington Department of Revenue: capital gains tax, MIT Living Wage Calculator. Last verified 2026-09-26.