
Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Seattle
Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Seattle
Anybody who has taken a course in marketing, psychology or sociology is likely familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. First detailed by psychologist Andrew Maslow in his 1943 work “A Theory of Human Motivation,” the hierarchy breaks down the complex network of human thoughts into a categorical triage, placing self-development at the top and security and physical health at the bottom. In setting up this pyramid, Maslow framed self-recognition and creative development as ultimate goals, while also prioritizing personal safety and strong physical health.
As such, it has never been more important to recognize the health care professionals who work tirelessly to keep the population healthy. In 2019, the United States spent 17.7% of its GDP on health. While it’s encouraging to know that the country is investing in those responsible for maintaining the nation’s well-being, not all health care professionals receive equal compensation.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage. Keep reading to see which health care jobs make the most and least in your city.
#57. Physical therapist aides
- Annual mean salary: $31,900
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,180
- Employment: 49,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Savannah, GA ($50,470)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($44,720)
--- Boulder, CO ($41,450)
#56. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Annual mean salary: $32,130
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,200
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,690
- Employment: 97,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($48,240)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,890)
--- Port St. Lucie, FL ($43,200)
#55. Pharmacy aides
- Annual mean salary: $33,910
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 620
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,490
- Employment: 37,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($46,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($46,430)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($42,620)
#54. Orderlies
- Annual mean salary: $34,230
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,710
- Employment: 46,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($51,240)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($49,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,730)
#53. Nursing assistants
- Annual mean salary: $35,110
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 19,460
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,720
- Employment: 1,419,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($46,170)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,100)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($44,710)
#52. Medical transcriptionists
- Annual mean salary: $36,550
- #96 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 800
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,210
- Employment: 55,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($67,840)
--- Amarillo, TX ($56,970)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($54,080)
#51. Psychiatric technicians
- Annual mean salary: $40,590
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,070
National
- Annual mean salary: $37,550
- Employment: 78,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($72,990)
--- Fresno, CA ($66,710)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($66,290)
#50. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $40,790
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,340
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($76,660)
--- Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA ($57,740)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($50,100)
#49. Dietetic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $41,090
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($52,880)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($45,910)
--- Salinas, CA ($44,730)
#48. Phlebotomists
- Annual mean salary: $42,150
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,550
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,480
- Employment: 128,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($58,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,040)
--- Redding, CA ($52,310)
#47. Medical equipment preparers
- Annual mean salary: $42,560
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690
National
- Annual mean salary: $39,530
- Employment: 56,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($63,400)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($61,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,670)
#46. Ophthalmic medical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $44,790
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 620
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,760
- Employment: 58,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Duluth, MN-WI ($56,620)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($53,770)
--- New Bedford, MA ($53,250)
#45. Pharmacy technicians
- Annual mean salary: $44,940
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,960
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,250
- Employment: 417,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,090)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($50,790)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($50,070)
#44. Medical assistants
- Annual mean salary: $47,140
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,570
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,720
- Employment: 712,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($49,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($48,920)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,140)
#43. Dental assistants
- Annual mean salary: $48,070
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,500
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 351,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($56,010)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($54,510)
--- Rochester, MN ($53,010)
#42. Opticians, dispensing
- Annual mean salary: $50,130
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 780
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,730
- Employment: 72,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($70,730)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($68,970)
--- New Haven, CT ($66,020)

#41. Athletic trainers
- Annual mean salary: $50,510
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,540
- Employment: 28,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($73,250)
--- Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($66,390)
--- Trenton, NJ ($65,320)
#40. Exercise physiologists
- Annual mean salary: $52,330
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,750
- Employment: 7,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($184,950)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($88,760)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($69,300)
#39. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Annual mean salary: $60,360
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,210
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 697,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($69,490)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,160)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($67,990)
#38. Surgical technologists
- Annual mean salary: $61,240
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,210
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,110
- Employment: 109,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($74,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,790)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($69,750)
#37. Physical therapist assistants
- Annual mean salary: $62,360
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 810
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($78,530)
--- Victoria, TX ($78,070)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($75,470)
#36. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $64,890
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salem, OR ($106,620)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($103,050)
--- Medford, OR ($82,780)
#35. Dietitians and nutritionists
- Annual mean salary: $65,850
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,000
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,330
- Employment: 67,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($88,350)
--- Salinas, CA ($87,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,890)
#34. Occupational therapy assistants
- Annual mean salary: $66,250
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($92,580)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($83,690)
--- Reno, NV ($81,800)

#33. Occupational therapy aides
- Annual mean salary: $66,430
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,310
- Employment: 7,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($66,430)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,740)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($43,240)
#32. Massage therapists
- Annual mean salary: $67,180
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,360
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,180
- Employment: 107,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($76,930)
--- Yakima, WA ($72,870)
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($70,090)
#31. Recreational therapists
- Annual mean salary: $68,180
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,130
- Employment: 19,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($83,590)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,800)
--- Fresno, CA ($82,170)
#30. Respiratory therapists
- Annual mean salary: $73,380
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,110
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($101,520)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($98,810)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,950)
#29. Orthotists and prosthetists
- Annual mean salary: $76,000
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,810
- Employment: 9,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($129,500)
--- Jackson, MS ($122,740)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($103,700)
#28. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $76,540
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,120
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($109,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,670)
#27. Speech-language pathologists
- Annual mean salary: $77,110
- #187 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,800
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,000
- Employment: 154,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($117,710)
--- Corvallis, OR ($105,380)
--- Chico, CA ($104,640)
#26. Occupational therapists
- Annual mean salary: $84,930
- #158 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,690
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,210
- Employment: 133,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- The Villages, FL ($115,090)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($108,870)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($107,450)
#25. Genetic counselors
- Annual mean salary: $86,920
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $84,310
- Employment: 2,390
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($108,000)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,210)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($100,580)
#24. Physical therapists
- Annual mean salary: $89,150
- #172 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,820
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,170
- Employment: 233,350
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Yuba City, CA ($116,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($116,120)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($113,950)
#23. Registered nurses
- Annual mean salary: $90,730
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 33,180
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,460
- Employment: 2,982,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($140,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($138,000)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($134,000)
#22. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Annual mean salary: $93,170
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 950
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($126,850)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($115,280)
#21. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $94,930
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,770
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($140,150)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($120,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,940)
#20. Audiologists
- Annual mean salary: $96,430
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,900
- Employment: 13,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Reno, NV ($146,950)
--- Fresno, CA ($131,270)
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($120,440)
#19. Veterinarians
- Annual mean salary: $98,990
- #149 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,060
National
- Annual mean salary: $104,820
- Employment: 74,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sherman-Denison, TX ($210,960)
--- Lubbock, TX ($176,730)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($161,230)
#18. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Annual mean salary: $99,920
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($124,950)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,870)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($99,920)
#17. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Annual mean salary: $100,220
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($127,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,660)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,340)
#16. Radiation therapists
- Annual mean salary: $103,890
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($142,300)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($126,260)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,720)
#15. Nurse midwives
- Annual mean salary: $114,470
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $108,810
- Employment: 6,930
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($163,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($156,450)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($130,140)

#14. Nurse practitioners
- Annual mean salary: $124,730
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,530
National
- Annual mean salary: $111,840
- Employment: 200,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($175,060)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($160,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,150)
#13. Pharmacists
- Annual mean salary: $126,690
- #168 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,310
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,510
- Employment: 311,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tyler, TX ($161,790)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($158,250)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($157,850)

#12. Optometrists
- Annual mean salary: $126,840
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 660
National
- Annual mean salary: $122,980
- Employment: 39,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($238,460)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($210,490)
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($183,380)
#11. Physician assistants
- Annual mean salary: $132,610
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,690
National
- Annual mean salary: $112,410
- Employment: 120,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($161,370)
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($156,250)
--- Waterbury, CT ($154,550)
#10. Podiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $143,540
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,680
- Employment: 9,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($222,760)
--- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI ($206,190)
--- Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA ($200,200)
#9. Dentists, general
- Annual mean salary: $170,290
- #195 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,020
National
- Annual mean salary: $178,260
- Employment: 110,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Burlington, NC ($278,360)
--- Burlington-South Burlington, VT ($275,430)
--- Longview, TX ($272,440)
#8. Nurse anesthetists
- Annual mean salary: $190,730
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $181,040
- Employment: 43,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($266,260)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($254,860)
--- Columbus, GA-AL ($247,540)
#7. Pediatricians, general
- Annual mean salary: $199,830
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $184,410
- Employment: 29,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rockford, IL ($277,390)
--- Killeen-Temple, TX ($273,770)
--- Chico, CA ($270,550)
#6. General internal medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $206,320
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $201,440
- Employment: 44,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sioux Falls, SD ($282,610)
--- Rapid City, SD ($280,990)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($280,500)

#5. Surgeons, except ophthalmologists
- Annual mean salary: $223,960
- #71 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 750
National
- Annual mean salary: $252,040
- Employment: 36,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wausau, WI ($285,230)
--- Oshkosh-Neenah, WI ($285,210)
--- Asheville, NC ($284,780)
#4. Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Annual mean salary: $227,760
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $233,610
- Employment: 18,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fayetteville, NC ($284,520)
--- Akron, OH ($282,650)
--- Albuquerque, NM ($281,800)
#3. Family medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $241,310
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630
National
- Annual mean salary: $213,270
- Employment: 109,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Racine, WI ($286,030)
--- Jacksonville, NC ($282,580)
--- Gadsden, AL ($281,430)
#2. Anesthesiologists
- Annual mean salary: $255,870
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 740
National
- Annual mean salary: $261,730
- Employment: 31,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($283,660)
--- Tulsa, OK ($281,080)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($276,350)

#1. Psychiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $280,200
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440
National
- Annual mean salary: $220,430
- Employment: 25,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($282,400)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($280,270)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($280,200)



