Political Scientists pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $224,960 or more. The middle half of political scientists in Seattle earn between $98,350 and $193,450.
- $82K10th
- $98K25th
- $154KMedian
- $193K75th
- $225K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $146,970 | $12,248 | $70.66 |
| Median | $153,960 | $12,830 | $74.02 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $98,350 | $8,196 | $47.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $193,450 | $16,121 | $93.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Political Scientists salary after taxes in Seattle
On the average salary of $146,970, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $111,720 a year, or $9,310 a month and $4,297 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% 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 political scientists? 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 $146,970 buys what about $132,247 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Political Scientists salary in nearby metro areas
- Phoenix, AZ$124,870
- Chicago, IL$105,230
- Ann Arbor, MI$110,690
- Detroit, MI$89,470
- Washington, DC$156,310
- Boston, MA$135,740
Highest-paying cities for political scientists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($156,310).
- Washington, DC$156,310
- Seattle, WA$146,970
- Boston, MA$135,740
- Phoenix, AZ$124,870
- Ann Arbor, MI$110,690
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Political Scientists salary in Seattle: questions
How much do political scientists make an hour in Seattle?
$70.66 an hour on average, and $74.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level political scientists salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $98,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the political scientists take-home pay in Seattle?
About $111,720 a year ($9,310 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $146,970. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do political scientists earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($153,194).
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 19-3094; area Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.1%.
- 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 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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