SOC 19-2099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physical Scientists, All Other — Seattle
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Seattle, WA comes to $134,720 a year, ahead of the national median of $122,570 by 9.9%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Seattle, WA comes to $134,720 a year, ahead of the national median of $122,570 by 9.9%. Pay ranges from under $99,720 at the tenth percentile to more than $208,220 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $122,390 to $172,620.
Employment stands at 310, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Kennewick records the highest median at $132,830. Of the 693 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 81st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $99,720 | −18.6% |
| 25th | $122,390 | −0.1% |
| Median (50th) | $134,720 | +9.9% |
| 75th | $172,620 | +40.8% |
| 90th | $208,220 | +69.9% |
| Mean | $149,890 | +22.3% |
Other metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennewick | $132,830 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Seattle run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $134,720 buys what $125,907 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 2.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$134,720as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$125,907US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $134,720 a year, 9.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $99,720 to $208,220 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 310 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kennewick, at $132,830.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physical Scientists, All Other in Seattle, WA?
The median annual wage is $134,720, or $64.77 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $122,570, so pay in Seattle, WA is 9.9% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Seattle, WA earns more than $208,220 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $99,720 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Kennewick, at $132,830 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 310 jobs in this occupation in Seattle, WA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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