Entry-level Software Engineer salary in Seattle, WA
Based on 5,322 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland, Bothell, Issaquah.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $117,430 |
| 25th | $129,000 |
| 50th (median) | $129,000 |
| 75th | $133,272 |
| 90th | $143,690 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $113,400 | $110,000 | $124,000 | 2,613 |
| FY2021 | $113,200 | $93,000 | $123,000 | 1,439 |
| FY2022 | $118,000 | $97,760 | $129,000 | 2,443 |
| FY2023 | $123,500 | $106,642 | $129,140 | 2,136 |
| FY2024 | $127,256 | $105,000 | $133,000 | 1,779 |
| FY2025 | $129,000 | $123,500 | $132,700 | 2,934 |
| FY2026 | $129,000 | $129,000 | $135,800 | 2,388 |
Cost of living
Seattle's median entry-level Software Engineer salary of $129,000 is worth about $116,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Seattle = 111.1).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Seattle, WA area earned a median of $167,280 in May 2025 (92,770 employed). The H-1B median here is $129,000, 23% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $129,000 | 3,434 |
| Microsoft | $135,164 | 442 |
| Meta | $169,442 | 244 |
| DoorDash | $153,600 | 54 |
| Stripe | $129,000 | 51 |
| TikTok | $136,800 | 49 |
| Nordstrom | $120,000 | 39 |
| Snowflake | $149,365 | 37 |
| ByteDance | $136,800 | 34 |
| Costco Wholesale | $141,150 | 32 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $129,000 | 5,322 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $161,735 | 11,398 |
| Senior · Level III | $187,595 | 6,255 |
| Expert · Level IV | $217,450 | 3,954 |
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 | $110,635 | $129,000 | 5,322 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $149,240 | $161,735 | 11,398 |
| Senior · Level III | $163,862 | $187,595 | 6,255 |
| Expert · Level IV | $212,202 | $217,450 | 3,954 |
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.