Expert Civil Engineer salary in Seattle, WA
Based on 36 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Bellevue, Redmond, Renton, Woodinville, Tacoma.
Also listed as: Structural Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $128,314 |
| 25th | $131,377 |
| 50th (median) | $144,171 |
| 75th | $161,295 |
| 90th | $178,175 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 5 |
| FY2022 | $114,335 | $110,543 | $119,120 | 10 |
| FY2023 | $122,500 | $116,533 | $133,490 | 14 |
| FY2024 | $143,427 | $121,437 | $185,000 | 12 |
| FY2025 | $136,500 | $126,627 | $147,014 | 13 |
| FY2026 | $146,000 | $134,520 | $166,485 | 23 |
Cost of living
Seattle's median expert Civil Engineer salary of $144,171 is worth about $129,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Seattle = 111.1).
Compared with all workers here
All Civil Engineers in the Seattle, WA area earned a median of $116,480 in May 2025 (7,680 employed). The H-1B median here is $144,171, 24% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | too few | 5 |
| Civic Cm | too few | 3 |
| Jacobs Engineering Group | too few | 3 |
| Osborn Consulting | too few | 3 |
| HDR Engineering | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $85,894 | 86 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $112,036 | 88 |
| Senior · Level III | $121,232 | 35 |
| Expert · Level IV | $144,171 | 36 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $85,800 | $85,894 | 86 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $100,984 | $112,036 | 88 |
| Senior · Level III | $116,189 | $121,232 | 35 |
| Expert · Level IV | $131,373 | $144,171 | 36 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.