Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Each occupation's median wage in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$109,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,870 – $116,670+116.2%
2Paramedics$123,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$77,530 – $144,230+103.5%
3Tool and Die Makers$116,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$77,730 – $116,850+82.4%
4Sheet Metal Workers$109,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,330 – $149,260+77.7%
5Skincare Specialists$80,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,800 – $139,160+77.6%
6Gambling Dealers$60,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,770 – $132,410+76.3%
7Chief Executives$370,000
Bachelor's degree
$187,890 – $607,100+72.9%
8Firefighters$101,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$73,360 – $124,000+70.5%
9Bartenders$58,180
No formal educational credential
$40,340 – $96,230+69.4%
10Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$110,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,110 – $110,470+69.0%
11Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$117,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,800 – $172,840+68.6%
12Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$59,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,910 – $101,340+67.1%
13Tour and Travel Guides$63,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,350 – $80,930+66.9%
14Anesthesiologists$646,930
Doctoral or professional degree
$421,780 – $646,940+65.2%
15Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$99,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,540 – $119,000+65.0%
16Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$174,260
Master's degree
$107,190 – $209,400+64.6%
17Waiters and Waitresses$57,280
No formal educational credential
$36,730 – $95,940+62.6%
18Advertising Sales Agents$105,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,000 – $205,150+62.5%
19Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$101,580
Bachelor's degree
$76,360 – $129,940+62.1%
20Massage Therapists$94,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,850 – $128,500+61.2%
21Electricians$101,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,690 – $151,290+61.1%
22Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$102,920
Bachelor's degree
$67,550 – $131,990+60.9%
23Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$95,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,830 – $128,420+60.0%
24Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$77,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,800 – $83,300+59.9%
25Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$102,560
Bachelor's degree
$77,630 – $131,240+59.3%
26Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$76,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,020 – $115,240+58.1%
27Sales and Related Workers, All Other$74,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,530 – $105,510+54.3%
28Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$102,180
Bachelor's degree
$77,670 – $130,400+54.2%
29Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$100,150
Bachelor's degree
$76,640 – $130,050+53.8%
30Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$164,860
Doctoral or professional degree
$79,520 – $306,040+53.6%
31First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$121,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,980 – $170,810+51.6%
32Real Estate Sales Agents$79,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,310 – $114,090+51.4%
33Public Safety Telecommunicators$80,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$68,030 – $97,130+51.2%
34Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$75,090
No formal educational credential
$59,270 – $90,160+51.1%
35Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$115,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$94,290 – $136,110+51.1%
36Butchers and Meat Cutters$60,600
No formal educational credential
$40,560 – $67,430+51.0%
37Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians$125,160
Associate's degree
$108,200 – $125,160+51.0%
38Computer and Information Research Scientists$211,270
Master's degree
$103,480 – $286,400+50.6%
39Special Education Teachers, Middle School$100,350
Bachelor's degree
$79,510 – $130,850+50.2%
40First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$158,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$130,480 – $195,220+49.5%
41Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$95,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,930 – $153,500+49.3%
42Highway Maintenance Workers$75,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,900 – $90,930+49.3%
43Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$101,780
Master's degree
$80,400 – $131,060+49.1%
44Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$109,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$80,000 – $122,440+47.9%
45Paralegals and Legal Assistants$92,900
Associate's degree
$59,320 – $119,820+47.7%
46Library Technicians$65,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,310 – $76,860+47.4%
47Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$53,950
Some college, no degree
$39,450 – $64,450+46.7%
48Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$71,980
No formal educational credential
$49,640 – $134,100+46.5%
49First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$134,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$104,260 – $161,960+44.2%
50Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$60,070
Bachelor's degree
$51,770 – $74,340+44.2%

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	vs. national
1	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,600	$67,870 – $116,670	+116.2%
2	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$123,310	$77,530 – $144,230	+103.5%
3	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$116,850	$77,730 – $116,850	+82.4%
4	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,830	$61,330 – $149,260	+77.7%
5	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,510	$51,800 – $139,160	+77.6%
6	Gambling DealersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,490	$34,770 – $132,410	+76.3%
7	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$370,000	$187,890 – $607,100	+72.9%
8	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$101,090	$73,360 – $124,000	+70.5%
9	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$58,180	$40,340 – $96,230	+69.4%
10	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,470	$63,110 – $110,470	+69.0%
11	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$117,990	$67,800 – $172,840	+68.6%
12	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,810	$38,910 – $101,340	+67.1%
13	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,630	$38,350 – $80,930	+66.9%
14	AnesthesiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$646,930	$421,780 – $646,940	+65.2%
15	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,010	$62,540 – $119,000	+65.0%
16	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$174,260	$107,190 – $209,400	+64.6%
17	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$57,280	$36,730 – $95,940	+62.6%
18	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,320	$61,000 – $205,150	+62.5%
19	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$101,580	$76,360 – $129,940	+62.1%
20	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$94,220	$65,850 – $128,500	+61.2%
21	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,780	$55,690 – $151,290	+61.1%
22	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$102,920	$67,550 – $131,990	+60.9%
23	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,750	$59,830 – $128,420	+60.0%
24	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,860	$62,800 – $83,300	+59.9%
25	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$102,560	$77,630 – $131,240	+59.3%
26	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,800	$46,020 – $115,240	+58.1%
27	Sales and Related Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,520	$51,530 – $105,510	+54.3%
28	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$102,180	$77,670 – $130,400	+54.2%
29	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$100,150	$76,640 – $130,050	+53.8%
30	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$164,860	$79,520 – $306,040	+53.6%
31	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$121,130	$77,980 – $170,810	+51.6%
32	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,990	$49,310 – $114,090	+51.4%
33	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,180	$68,030 – $97,130	+51.2%
34	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$75,090	$59,270 – $90,160	+51.1%
35	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$115,120	$94,290 – $136,110	+51.1%
36	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$60,600	$40,560 – $67,430	+51.0%
37	Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$125,160	$108,200 – $125,160	+51.0%
38	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$211,270	$103,480 – $286,400	+50.6%
39	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$100,350	$79,510 – $130,850	+50.2%
40	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$158,510	$130,480 – $195,220	+49.5%
41	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,230	$51,930 – $153,500	+49.3%
42	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,030	$64,900 – $90,930	+49.3%
43	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$101,780	$80,400 – $131,060	+49.1%
44	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$109,570	$80,000 – $122,440	+47.9%
45	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$92,900	$59,320 – $119,820	+47.7%
46	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,690	$51,310 – $76,860	+47.4%
47	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$53,950	$39,450 – $64,450	+46.7%
48	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$71,980	$49,640 – $134,100	+46.5%
49	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$134,830	$104,260 – $161,960	+44.2%
50	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$60,070	$51,770 – $74,340	+44.2%

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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.

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

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