Chief Executive salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Chief Executives in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $370,000 a year ($177.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,060 workers.
Pay ranges from $187,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $607,100 for the top 10%. That is 73% higher than the national median of $213,990. Pay here is 9% higher than the Washington statewide median of $339,810. There are 0.99 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $393,060, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $187,890 | $90.33 |
| 25th percentile | $260,990 | $125.48 |
| Median | $370,000 | $177.89 |
| 75th percentile | $481,180 | $231.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $607,100 | $291.88 |
| Average (mean) | $393,060 | $188.97 |
Half of chief executives earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $30,833.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $15,416.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $14,230.77 |
| Weekly | $7,115.38 |
| Hourly | $177.89 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $370,000 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chief Executive salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $375,810 | 690 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $287,180 | 70 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $268,090 | 60 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $260,940 | 160 |
| Yakima, WA | $238,180 | 50 |
| Bellingham, WA | $236,930 | 70 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $210,760 | 30 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $207,100 | 30 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $204,190 | 130 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $176,030 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for chief executives
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $341,630 |
| Washington | $339,810 |
| Illinois | $331,920 |
| North Carolina | $314,290 |
| Virginia | $310,740 |
| New Jersey | $310,440 |
| Connecticut | $295,120 |
| Hawaii | $281,640 |
| South Dakota | $280,900 |
| New York | $257,980 |
See Chief Executive pay in every state or the Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $146,030 | $70.21 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $214,680 | $103.21 |
| Financial Manager | $185,550 | $89.21 |
| Managers, All Other | $168,980 | $81.24 |
| Marketing Manager | $175,850 | $84.55 |
| Sales Manager | $184,320 | $88.61 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $160,100 | $76.97 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $204,340 | $98.24 |
| Construction Manager | $159,430 | $76.65 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $151,580 | $72.88 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $174,260 | — |
| Human Resources Manager | $171,360 | $82.39 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $131,700 | $63.32 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $117,990 | $56.72 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chief executive make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for chief executives in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $370,000 a year, or $177.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $187,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $607,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of chief executives in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $607,100 a year. The top 25% earn $481,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $187,890 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $260,990 or less.
How many chief executives work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 2,060 chief executives are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.