Entry-level Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Seattle, WA
Based on 246 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Bellevue, Redmond, Bothell, Kirkland, Issaquah.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $79,331 |
| 25th | $83,824 |
| 50th (median) | $95,500 |
| 75th | $131,472 |
| 90th | $152,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $65,000 | $60,000 | $110,000 | 224 |
| FY2021 | $84,250 | $60,000 | $109,328 | 230 |
| FY2022 | $63,164 | $60,000 | $110,000 | 302 |
| FY2023 | $104,300 | $68,050 | $118,400 | 111 |
| FY2024 | $101,608 | $72,500 | $128,470 | 131 |
| FY2025 | $90,000 | $80,000 | $122,750 | 131 |
| FY2026 | $116,533 | $83,824 | $139,316 | 115 |
Cost of living
Seattle's median entry-level Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $95,500 is worth about $85,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Seattle = 111.1).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer Systems Engineers/Architects in the Seattle, WA area earned a median of $136,120 in May 2025 (10,710 employed). The H-1B median here is $95,500, 30% lower.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | $127,850 | 52 |
| Amazon | $136,800 | 47 |
| People Tech Group | $83,824 | 10 |
| Fpt | too few | 9 |
| Saxon Global | too few | 5 |
| TikTok | too few | 4 |
| Aptly Technology | too few | 3 |
| CHEQ Lifestyle Technology | too few | 3 |
| Meta | too few | 2 |
| Beaconfire Staffing Solutions | 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 | $95,500 | 246 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $111,550 | 1,852 |
| Senior · Level III | $165,800 | 1,430 |
| Expert · Level IV | $188,590 | 1,148 |
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 | $83,824 | $95,500 | 246 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $108,098 | $111,550 | 1,852 |
| Senior · Level III | $136,843 | $165,800 | 1,430 |
| Expert · Level IV | $167,024 | $188,590 | 1,148 |
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.