High paying entry level jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

These occupations in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA run 11.1% above the national average (2024), so a Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA salary is worth about 0.90× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

OccupationMedian, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA · Employed

1Computer and Information Research Scientists$211,270
Master's degree
$103,480 – $286,4001,620
2Computer Hardware Engineers$169,120
Bachelor's degree
$104,770 – $260,2101,410
3Physician Assistants$167,290
Master's degree
$130,820 – $218,9701,920
4Software Developers$167,280
Bachelor's degree
$99,190 – $257,96092,770
5Lawyers$164,980
Doctoral or professional degree
$99,910 – $314,1209,210
6Data Scientists$164,740
Bachelor's degree
$81,130 – $230,9808,370
7Veterinarians$163,810
Doctoral or professional degree
$99,260 – $274,0301,330
8Aerospace Engineers$163,580
Bachelor's degree
$112,650 – $207,7105,480
9Pharmacists$162,870
Doctoral or professional degree
$126,410 – $209,4604,440
10Dentists, General$161,270
Doctoral or professional degree
$67,870 – $335,2101,920
11Materials Engineers$156,130
Bachelor's degree
$96,060 – $213,380820
12Electrical Engineers$140,210
Bachelor's degree
$98,130 – $202,4304,930
13Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$138,890
Bachelor's degree
$85,780 – $208,1301,350
14Engineers, All Other$137,430
Bachelor's degree
$75,800 – $209,6002,260
15Computer Occupations, All Other$136,120
Bachelor's degree
$60,210 – $205,06010,710
16Special Effects Artists and Animators$134,120
Bachelor's degree
$65,380 – $210,3501,030
17Web and Digital Interface Designers$133,760
Bachelor's degree
$60,580 – $217,80010,330
18Dental Hygienists$133,740
Associate's degree
$127,620 – $162,8503,500
19Computer Systems Analysts$133,690
Bachelor's degree
$74,470 – $197,60019,050
20Database Administrators$133,180
Bachelor's degree
$71,080 – $181,5201,010
21Industrial Engineers$131,210
Bachelor's degree
$88,820 – $178,7104,590
22Web Developers$130,440
Bachelor's degree
$81,190 – $176,7503,470
23Project Management Specialists$130,380
Bachelor's degree
$78,780 – $209,22026,910
24Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$129,960
Associate's degree
$60,930 – $162,0301,190
25Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$129,690
Bachelor's degree
$74,880 – $210,1906,650
26Environmental Engineers$128,410
Bachelor's degree
$78,920 – $175,6101,050
27Registered Nurses$128,260
Bachelor's degree
$99,020 – $163,89039,900
28Mechanical Engineers$126,590
Bachelor's degree
$81,730 – $172,4904,500
29Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians$125,160
Associate's degree
$108,200 – $125,1601,570
30Financial and Investment Analysts$124,790
Bachelor's degree
$80,880 – $177,9406,170
31Civil Engineers$116,480
Bachelor's degree
$82,140 – $161,7607,680
32Occupational Therapists$109,860
Master's degree
$83,650 – $138,0502,020
33Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$109,500
Bachelor's degree
$73,050 – $153,9601,820
34Logisticians$108,920
Bachelor's degree
$76,960 – $164,6804,420
35Biological Scientists, All Other$108,580
Bachelor's degree
$77,330 – $176,0801,880
36Urban and Regional Planners$108,040
Master's degree
$86,630 – $132,5701,430
37Physical Therapists$107,290
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,790 – $144,9602,950
38Statisticians$105,650
Master's degree
$82,240 – $167,8402,560
39Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$105,430
Doctoral or professional degree
$71,490 – $173,1405,480
40Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$105,200
Associate's degree
$80,110 – $134,2202,130
41Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$105,140
Bachelor's degree
$73,460 – $163,230800
42Network and Computer Systems Administrators$104,440
Bachelor's degree
$73,000 – $165,1605,530
43Respiratory Therapists$104,220
Associate's degree
$78,450 – $128,6101,130
44Budget Analysts$104,090
Bachelor's degree
$56,160 – $160,310910
45Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$103,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,520 – $119,0403,950
46Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$102,980
Bachelor's degree
$78,950 – $155,7602,490
47Operations Research Analysts$102,930
Bachelor's degree
$70,070 – $165,8702,110
48Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$102,920
Bachelor's degree
$67,550 – $131,99014,560
49Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$102,670
Bachelor's degree
$61,140 – $132,3007,720
50Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$102,560
Bachelor's degree
$77,630 – $131,2405,230

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianSeattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$211,270	$103,480 – $286,400	1,620
2	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$169,120	$104,770 – $260,210	1,410
3	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$167,290	$130,820 – $218,970	1,920
4	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$167,280	$99,190 – $257,960	92,770
5	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$164,980	$99,910 – $314,120	9,210
6	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$164,740	$81,130 – $230,980	8,370
7	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$163,810	$99,260 – $274,030	1,330
8	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$163,580	$112,650 – $207,710	5,480
9	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$162,870	$126,410 – $209,460	4,440
10	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$161,270	$67,870 – $335,210	1,920
11	Materials EngineersBachelor's degree	$156,130	$96,060 – $213,380	820
12	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$140,210	$98,130 – $202,430	4,930
13	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$138,890	$85,780 – $208,130	1,350
14	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$137,430	$75,800 – $209,600	2,260
15	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$136,120	$60,210 – $205,060	10,710
16	Special Effects Artists and AnimatorsBachelor's degree	$134,120	$65,380 – $210,350	1,030
17	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$133,760	$60,580 – $217,800	10,330
18	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$133,740	$127,620 – $162,850	3,500
19	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$133,690	$74,470 – $197,600	19,050
20	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$133,180	$71,080 – $181,520	1,010
21	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$131,210	$88,820 – $178,710	4,590
22	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$130,440	$81,190 – $176,750	3,470
23	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$130,380	$78,780 – $209,220	26,910
24	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$129,960	$60,930 – $162,030	1,190
25	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$129,690	$74,880 – $210,190	6,650
26	Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree	$128,410	$78,920 – $175,610	1,050
27	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$128,260	$99,020 – $163,890	39,900
28	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$126,590	$81,730 – $172,490	4,500
29	Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$125,160	$108,200 – $125,160	1,570
30	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$124,790	$80,880 – $177,940	6,170
31	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$116,480	$82,140 – $161,760	7,680
32	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$109,860	$83,650 – $138,050	2,020
33	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$109,500	$73,050 – $153,960	1,820
34	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$108,920	$76,960 – $164,680	4,420
35	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$108,580	$77,330 – $176,080	1,880
36	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$108,040	$86,630 – $132,570	1,430
37	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$107,290	$64,790 – $144,960	2,950
38	StatisticiansMaster's degree	$105,650	$82,240 – $167,840	2,560
39	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$105,430	$71,490 – $173,140	5,480
40	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$105,200	$80,110 – $134,220	2,130
41	Social Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$105,140	$73,460 – $163,230	800
42	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$104,440	$73,000 – $165,160	5,530
43	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$104,220	$78,450 – $128,610	1,130
44	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$104,090	$56,160 – $160,310	910
45	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$103,900	$59,520 – $119,040	3,950
46	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$102,980	$78,950 – $155,760	2,490
47	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$102,930	$70,070 – $165,870	2,110
48	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$102,920	$67,550 – $131,990	14,560
49	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$102,670	$61,140 – $132,300	7,720
50	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$102,560	$77,630 – $131,240	5,230

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

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