Economist salary in Seattle, WA

Based on 95 certified H-1B filings in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Bellevue, Redmond, Sammamish.

Also listed as: Research Economist, Associate Economist

Median salary$151,000

Middle 50%$147k–$165.5k

vs. national median+8%comparison median $140,000

Filings95FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

National median

$110k$120k$130k$140k$150k$160k$170k$180k$190k

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $83,952 and $199,759.

Median salary

Filings per year

Shaded: FY2025–FY2026, the years behind the figures above. Median shown for years with at least 10 filings. FY2026 covers Q1–Q3 only.

Show as table

Fiscal year	Median	P25	P75	Filings
FY2020	$129,000	$120,000	$129,485	61
FY2021	$138,800	$107,382	$158,450	47
FY2022	$140,000	$110,221	$152,000	68
FY2023	$147,000	$99,715	$167,650	63
FY2024	$159,600	$146,300	$174,025	46
FY2025	$148,500	$147,000	$157,800	28
FY2026	$152,000	$147,000	$168,480	67

Seattle's median Economist salary of $151,000 is worth about $135,900 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Seattle = 111.1).

All Economists in the Seattle, WA area earned a median of $126,420 in May 2025 (200 employed). The H-1B median here is $151,000, 19% higher.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.

Employer	Median	Filings
Amazon	$151,500	81
University of Washington	too few	2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Wage level	Prevailing wage (most common)	Median offered salary	Filings
Entry-level · Level I	$91,853	$147,000	21
Mid-level · Level II	$118,810	$148,500	36
Senior · Level III	$145,766	$165,600	29

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.