Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA · CBSA 42660
Mechanical Engineer Salary in Seattle
VerifiedPublished metro-area wages for mechanical engineers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, from the BLS OEWS May 2024 release — with the local distribution set against Washington and the national benchmark.
Mechanical Engineers in Seattle earn a median of $117,930 per year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. The middle 50% earn $97,430–$138,870; the top 10% earn $168,150. That is 15% above the national median and 8% above the Washington median. BLS reports 5,390 employed locally.
Median wage
Verified$117,930
+15% vs national
Top 10% earn
$168,150
90th percentile
Employed in metro
5,390
Reliability Good (7.9% RSE)
Mechanical Engineer pay — Seattle vs Washington vs national
All three distributions are published BLS percentiles on a single shared scale.
| Percentile | Annual wage | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentileentry / low | $81,600 | +19% |
| 25th percentile | $97,430 | +19% |
| Median50th percentile | $117,930 | +15% |
| 75th percentile | $138,870 | +7% |
| 90th percentiletop earners | $168,150 | +4% |
| Meanaverage | $123,780 | +12% |
How concentrated mechanical engineers are in Seattle
Location quotient compares local concentration to the national rate. Above 1.00 means this metro employs the occupation more densely than the country overall.
Location quotient
1.39
Jobs per 1,000
2.59
Metro rank (pay)
#22 of 342
All engineering roles
$156,767
Seattle employs mechanical engineers at close to the national rate (location quotient 1.39).
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Seattle?
Does Seattle pay more than the rest of Washington?
Where does Seattle rank nationally for mechanical engineers?
Source details
Published wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2141 (Mechanical Engineers), Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (metro area).
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →