Highest paying jobs in Seattle that require a bachelor's degree
Highest paying jobs in Seattle that require a bachelor's degree
While college and university tuition costs may be skyrocketing, many still believe a bachelor’s degree is essential to landing a high-paying job in the United States. Stacker compiled a list of the highest paying jobs that typically require a bachelors in Seattle using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage.
Whether highly technical, scientific, or based in finance or the arts, all the jobs require keeping up to date with the latest developments in culture, commerce, or tech.
Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs that require a bachelor degree in Seattle.
#50. Logisticians
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $91,520
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,520
National
- Annual mean salary: $78,680
- Employment: 182,050
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Lake Charles, LA ($124,160)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($106,490)
--- Anchorage, AK ($100,690)
#49. Special effects artists and animators
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $91,700
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,090
National
- Annual mean salary: $84,780
- Employment: 29,340
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($117,080)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($106,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,570)
#48. Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $92,640
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,640
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,940
- Employment: 84,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($122,400)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,180)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($104,210)
#47. Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $92,940
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 810
National
- Annual mean salary: $108,350
- Employment: 29,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tulsa, OK ($207,900)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($170,220)
--- Midland, TX ($165,590)
#46. Market research analysts and marketing specialists
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $94,410
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 18,790
National
- Annual mean salary: $71,570
- Employment: 678,500
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($98,640)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($94,410)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($91,350)
#45. Hydrologists
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $94,870
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,330
- Employment: 6,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($127,570)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($118,370)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($108,850)
#44. Bioengineers and biomedical engineers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $94,980
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,090
- Employment: 19,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($122,100)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($119,000)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($117,790)
#43. Civil engineers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $96,640
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,870
National
- Annual mean salary: $94,360
- Employment: 310,850
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($120,110)
--- Midland, TX ($117,900)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($117,200)
#42. Surveyors
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $96,760
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,920
- Employment: 45,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Redding, CA ($103,560)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($101,990)
--- Fresno, CA ($98,770)
#41. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $97,960
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,720
National
- Annual mean salary: $92,980
- Employment: 306,980
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($136,780)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($128,380)
--- Casper, WY ($125,850)
#40. Network and computer systems administrators
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $99,160
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,940
National
- Annual mean salary: $88,410
- Employment: 354,450
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,440)
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($112,910)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($109,790)
#39. Legislators
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $100,340
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
National
- Annual mean salary: $49,440
- Employment: 52,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bakersfield, CA ($110,820)
--- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ($108,220)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($100,340)
#38. Marine engineers and naval architects
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $100,370
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,730
- Employment: 11,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($136,480)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($128,750)
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($121,600)
#37. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $100,850
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $94,810
- Employment: 25,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($124,110)
--- Albuquerque, NM ($122,020)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($121,620)
#36. Operations research analysts
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $103,140
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,180
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,600
- Employment: 99,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($137,530)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($122,310)
--- Salinas, CA ($121,050)
#35. Sales engineers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $103,890
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610
National
- Annual mean salary: $112,780
- Employment: 63,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($158,150)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($156,600)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($153,860)
#34. Mechanical engineers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $104,290
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,630
National
- Annual mean salary: $93,540
- Employment: 306,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($125,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($123,270)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($120,950)
#33. Construction managers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $106,670
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,520
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,000
- Employment: 293,380
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($160,500)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($148,140)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($146,820)
#32. Computer systems analysts
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $106,690
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 12,590
National
- Annual mean salary: $96,160
- Employment: 589,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($122,990)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($121,300)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($119,540)
#31. Art directors
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $107,490
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560
National
- Annual mean salary: $109,600
- Employment: 42,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($142,650)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($135,970)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($134,810)
#30. Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $108,110
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,170
- Employment: 17,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charlottesville, VA ($111,780)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($109,600)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($108,880)
#29. Environmental engineers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $109,270
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 970
National
- Annual mean salary: $94,220
- Employment: 53,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($123,340)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($120,600)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($117,170)
#28. Management analysts
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $109,940
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 18,280
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,560
- Employment: 709,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dothan, AL ($132,090)
--- Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL ($127,750)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($127,570)
#27. Financial examiners
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $110,850
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
National
- Annual mean salary: $92,330
- Employment: 64,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($125,290)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($125,150)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,720)
#26. Information security analysts
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $111,390
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,480
National
- Annual mean salary: $104,210
- Employment: 125,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($133,040)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($127,850)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,570)
#25. Industrial engineers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $113,690
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,860
National
- Annual mean salary: $92,660
- Employment: 291,710
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($131,850)
--- Billings, MT ($124,350)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,940)
#24. Database administrators and architects
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $114,960
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,230
National
- Annual mean salary: $96,110
- Employment: 125,460
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($140,580)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($116,780)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($114,960)
#23. Emergency management directors
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $115,100
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,530
- Employment: 10,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($132,440)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($123,230)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($120,230)
#22. Personal financial advisors
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $115,210
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,880
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,290
- Employment: 210,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Montgomery, AL ($178,100)
--- Santa Fe, NM ($173,970)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($171,370)
#21. Electrical engineers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $118,970
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,370
National
- Annual mean salary: $103,480
- Employment: 185,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($138,450)
--- Salinas, CA ($129,850)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($128,080)
#20. Electronics engineers, except computer
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $125,330
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,390
National
- Annual mean salary: $110,210
- Employment: 128,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,660)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($132,600)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($130,890)
#19. Medical and health services managers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $129,180
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,470
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,160
- Employment: 394,910
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($163,280)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($159,190)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,570)
#18. Computer network architects
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $131,820
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,030
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,110
- Employment: 152,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($152,400)
--- Dover-Durham, NH-ME ($151,650)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($142,100)
#17. Industrial production managers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $133,790
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,880
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,110
- Employment: 185,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Florence, SC ($158,000)
--- Boulder, CO ($149,990)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($149,500)
#16. Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $134,090
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 71,940
National
- Annual mean salary: $111,620
- Employment: 1,406,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($145,730)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($145,250)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($134,090)
#15. Actuaries
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $134,160
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,970
- Employment: 22,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($167,850)
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($150,630)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($147,760)
#14. General and operations managers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $139,660
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 27,650
National
- Annual mean salary: $123,030
- Employment: 2,400,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($189,060)
--- Trenton, NJ ($173,050)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($167,160)
#13. Purchasing managers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $142,690
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,180
National
- Annual mean salary: $128,400
- Employment: 72,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($171,560)
--- Morgantown, WV ($163,830)
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($160,620)
#12. Human resources managers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $146,510
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,490
National
- Annual mean salary: $129,570
- Employment: 154,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($196,900)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($174,390)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($170,070)
#11. Training and development managers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $149,020
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560
National
- Annual mean salary: $123,470
- Employment: 38,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($168,900)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($167,850)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($152,380)
#10. Sales managers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $149,600
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,570
National
- Annual mean salary: $141,690
- Employment: 402,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($195,220)
--- Trenton, NJ ($178,020)
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($175,500)
#9. Advertising and promotions managers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $150,170
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
National
- Annual mean salary: $141,890
- Employment: 25,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($200,420)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,040)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,210)
#8. Financial managers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $150,650
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,790
National
- Annual mean salary: $147,530
- Employment: 654,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($208,770)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($203,430)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($182,190)
#7. Compensation and benefits managers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $156,810
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $134,210
- Employment: 16,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($181,770)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($179,430)
--- New Haven, CT ($179,310)
#6. Architectural and engineering managers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $165,130
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,010
National
- Annual mean salary: $152,930
- Employment: 194,250
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($203,310)
--- Amarillo, TX ($198,010)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($188,210)
#5. Marketing managers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $166,120
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,620
National
- Annual mean salary: $149,200
- Employment: 263,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($199,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($188,810)
--- Boulder, CO ($183,460)
#4. Natural sciences managers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $169,330
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,220
National
- Annual mean salary: $145,450
- Employment: 67,720
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($222,530)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($208,910)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($206,710)
#3. Computer and information systems managers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $171,230
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,560
National
- Annual mean salary: $156,390
- Employment: 433,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($215,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($201,960)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($196,290)
#2. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $241,310
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,730
National
- Annual mean salary: $174,870
- Employment: 84,520
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($243,550)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($241,310)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($238,320)
#1. Chief executives
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $245,180
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,920
National
- Annual mean salary: $193,850
- Employment: 205,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($270,040)
--- Sioux Falls, SD ($264,330)
--- Midland, TX ($258,760)
