Sociologists pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $138,000 or more. The middle half of sociologists in Seattle earn between $97,170 and $104,440.
- $81K10th
- $97K25th
- $97KMedian
- $104K75th
- $138K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $101,990 | $8,499 | $49.03 |
| Median | $97,170 | $8,098 | $46.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $97,170 | $8,098 | $46.72 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $104,440 | $8,703 | $50.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sociologists pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Sociologists in Seattle earn about the same as the Washington average ($103,430) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($114,920). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $106,030.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $101,990 | $97,170 | $80,640 | $138,000 | 90 |
| Washington | $103,430 | $97,170 | $80,640 | $138,000 | 130 |
| United States | $114,920 | $106,030 | $65,160 | $172,550 | 2,260 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Sociologists salary after taxes in Seattle
On the average salary of $101,990, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $80,580 a year, or $6,715 a month and $3,099 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% 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 sociologists? 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 $101,990 buys what about $91,773 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 7.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Sociologists salary in nearby metro areas
- Stockton, CA$120,950
- San Francisco, CA$131,480
- Riverside, CA$124,360
- Los Angeles, CA$125,220
- Lansing, MI$81,650
- Columbus, OH$84,660
Highest-paying cities for sociologists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($131,480).
- San Francisco, CA$131,480
- Durham, NC$129,900
- Los Angeles, CA$125,220
- Riverside, CA$124,360
- Boston, MA$123,880
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Sociologists salary in Seattle: questions
How much do sociologists make an hour in Seattle?
$49.03 an hour on average, and $46.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sociologists salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $97,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sociologists take-home pay in Seattle?
About $80,580 a year ($6,715 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $101,990. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do sociologists earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. average for this job ($114,920).
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 19-3041; area Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 2.95, this job is 3.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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