Chemical Engineers pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $84,680 a year or less, while the top 10% make $179,230 or more. The middle half of chemical engineers in Seattle earn between $105,430 and $151,540.
- $85K10th
- $105K25th
- $125KMedian
- $152K75th
- $179K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $129,180 | $10,765 | $62.11 |
| Median | $125,200 | $10,433 | $60.19 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $105,430 | $8,786 | $50.69 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $151,540 | $12,628 | $72.86 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Engineers pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Chemical engineers in Seattle earn 4% less than the Washington average ($134,910) and about the same as the U.S. average ($129,980). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $125,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $129,180 | $125,200 | $84,680 | $179,230 | 230 |
| Washington | $134,910 | $128,290 | $94,160 | $185,360 | 650 |
| United States | $129,980 | $125,040 | $79,420 | $182,880 | 21,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemical Engineers salary after taxes in Seattle
On the average salary of $129,180, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $99,561 a year, or $8,297 a month and $3,829 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for chemical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $129,180 buys what about $116,239 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Engineers salary in other Washington cities
Seattle ranks 2nd of 2 Washington metro areas for this job; Kennewick pays the most ($137,890).
- Kennewick$137,890
- Seattle$129,180
Highest-paying cities for chemical engineers
Houston, TX pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($155,750).
- Houston, TX$155,750
- Austin, TX$149,140
- Dallas, TX$147,410
- Lake Charles, LA$144,900
- Trenton, NJ$144,720
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Chemical Engineers salary in Seattle: questions
How much do chemical engineers make an hour in Seattle?
$62.11 an hour on average, and $60.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical engineers salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $84,680 a year and the 25th percentile is $105,430, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical engineers take-home pay in Seattle?
About $99,561 a year ($8,297 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $129,180. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do chemical engineers earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($129,980).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2041; area Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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