Highest Paying Jobs In Seattle, WA For 2026

As of 2026, Seattle continues to be a vibrant hub for high-paying careers across various sectors, including healthcare, technology, and finance. If you’re seeking lucrative job opportunities in the Seattle area, this updated list will help you identify the top-paying professions currently available.

This article outlines the 32 highest-paying jobs in Seattle for 2026, relying on the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While many of these high-paying roles require significant experience, there are also lucrative entry-level positions for candidates with the appropriate educational qualifications.

The highest-paying job in Seattle remains the Thoracic Surgeon, boasting an average annual salary of $441,520, with entry-level salaries starting at $215,000.

Whether you’re contemplating a career transition, considering relocating to Seattle, or a recent graduate mapping out your future, this guide to the highest-paying jobs and most rewarding industries in Seattle will assist you in making informed decisions about your career path.

Here’s a brief overview of the top 10 highest-paying jobs in Seattle, Washington:

Thoracic Surgeon – $441,520
Pediatric Surgeon – $411,956
Neurosurgeon – $399,453
Anesthesiologist – $374,825
Oncologist – $333,908
Periodontist – $320,522
Psychiatrist – $315,265
President/Chief Executive Officer – $313,818
Hospitalist Physician – $310,062
Hand Surgeon – $301,902

Detailed List of Highest Paying Jobs in Seattle

Rank	Job Title	Average Salary	Entry Level Salary
1	Thoracic Surgeon	$441,520	$215,000
2	Pediatric Surgeon	$411,956	$201,000
3	Neurosurgeon	$399,453	$195,000
4	Anesthesiologist	$374,825	$188,000
5	Oncologist	$333,908	$168,000
6	Periodontist	$320,522	$192,000
7	Psychiatrist	$315,265	$171,000
8	President/Chief Executive Officer	$313,818	$170,000
9	Hospitalist Physician	$310,062	$219,000
10	Hand Surgeon	$301,902	$152,000
11	Gastroenterologist	$296,118	$172,000
12	Chief Medical Officer	$291,702	$182,000
13	Consultant And Sales Representative	$285,631	$204,000
14	Operator And Truck Driver	$283,983	$163,000
15	Radiologist	$282,149	$141,000
16	Vice President/Managing Director	$279,742	$167,000
17	Outpatient Psychiatrist	$278,069	$168,000
18	Senior Vice President-Operations	$269,624	$152,000
19	Physician	$264,437	$144,000
20	Senior Vice President	$262,292	$159,000
21	Medical Director	$260,967	$172,000
22	Senior Vice President, Sales	$260,048	$159,000
23	Primary Care Physician	$258,458	$144,000
24	Staff Physician	$256,352	$148,000
25	Hospitalist	$256,038	$164,000
26	Orthotic/Prosthetic Practitioner	$246,716	$147,000
27	Vice President, Merchandising	$244,104	$150,000
28	Family Medicine Physician	$236,972	$138,000
29	General Internist	$235,054	$144,000
30	Professional Model	$235,037	$114,000
31	General Surgery Physician Assistant	$234,415	$111,000
32	Senior Physician	$232,314	$125,000

How We Determined the Highest Paid Jobs in Seattle for 2026

To identify the highest-paying jobs in Seattle, we analyzed the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and various other reputable sources.

Zippia’s dedicated data science team continuously scans millions of job postings daily to extract salary information. We cross-reference these published salaries with company, location, and job title data from other databases.

Finally, we calculate a weighted average of these inputs to derive an estimated salary for each job title in Seattle.

Our comprehensive analysis examined salary data for over 1,000 job titles in Seattle to pinpoint the most lucrative positions.

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated for 2026, marking our eighth edition ranking the highest-paying jobs in Seattle.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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