Senior Computer Hardware Engineer salary in Seattle, WA
Based on 74 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland, Sumner, Bothell.
Also listed as: Hardware Development Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $149,401 |
| 25th | $157,560 |
| 50th (median) | $178,225 |
| 75th | $193,000 |
| 90th | $202,111 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $165,000 | $160,000 | $173,310 | 65 |
| FY2021 | $173,000 | $160,000 | $181,119 | 19 |
| FY2022 | $176,340 | $171,538 | $185,500 | 39 |
| FY2023 | $183,227 | $170,313 | $191,010 | 30 |
| FY2024 | $170,000 | $157,630 | $183,600 | 59 |
| FY2025 | $179,682 | $159,888 | $193,208 | 50 |
| FY2026 | $168,888 | $157,560 | $191,005 | 24 |
Cost of living
Seattle's median senior Computer Hardware Engineer salary of $178,225 is worth about $160,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Seattle = 111.1).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer Hardware Engineers in the Seattle, WA area earned a median of $169,120 in May 2025 (1,410 employed). The H-1B median here is $178,225, 5% 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
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $136,170 | 12 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $140,000 | 51 |
| Senior · Level III | $178,225 | 74 |
| Expert · Level IV | $215,030 | 26 |
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 | $116,626 | $136,170 | 12 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $137,093 | $140,000 | 51 |
| Senior · Level III | $146,702 | $178,225 | 74 |
| Expert · Level IV | $178,027 | $215,030 | 26 |
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.