Expert Validation Engineer salary in Seattle, WA
Based on 25 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Redmond, Bellevue, Renton, Bothell, Woodinville.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $140,920 |
| 25th | $150,000 |
| 50th (median) | $165,069 |
| 75th | $213,014 |
| 90th | $225,322 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $159,500 | $132,563 | $180,284 | 10 |
| FY2021 | $188,000 | $160,000 | $195,000 | 17 |
| FY2022 | $170,000 | $126,360 | $198,500 | 24 |
| FY2023 | $185,687 | $153,259 | $205,181 | 14 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2025 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2026 | $167,500 | $152,850 | $213,979 | 16 |
Cost of living
Seattle's median expert Validation Engineer salary of $165,069 is worth about $148,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Seattle = 111.1).
Compared with all workers here
All Validation Engineers in the Seattle, WA area earned a median of $137,430 in May 2025 (2,260 employed). The H-1B median here is $165,069, 20% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Meta | too few | 9 |
| AIM Intelligent Machines | too few | 2 |
| General Robotics Technology | 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 | $80,340 | 19 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $126,000 | 44 |
| Senior · Level III | $148,252 | 22 |
| Expert · Level IV | $165,069 | 25 |
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 | $78,187 | $80,340 | 19 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $99,091 | $126,000 | 44 |
| Senior · Level III | $120,016 | $148,252 | 22 |
| Expert · Level IV | $140,920 | $165,069 | 25 |
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.