Seattle · Occupational wage benchmark
Financial Managers Salary in Seattle
What Financial Managers actually earn in the Seattle metro area — the published BLS median, what it is worth after local costs, and how it ranks against other major metros.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2024 estimates (published April 2025)), Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro estimates for SOC 11-3031; cost-of-living adjustment from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (MARPP) (2024). Occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes.
- Median annual wage
- $185,550
- Financial Managers in Seattle
- Adjusted for cost of living
- $166,962
- Seattle price level 111.1 (U.S. = 100)
- Rank among metros
- #6 of 49
- #17 after cost of living
- Workers employed
- 8,500
- in metro Seattle
What Financial Managers earn in Seattle, adjusted for what it costs to live there
A headline wage only means something next to local prices. Once local prices are accounted for, Seattle drops 11 places — a higher headline wage is partly consumed by a higher cost of living.
| Metro | Median (nominal) | Adjusted for cost of living |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $225,280 | $204,015 |
| New York | $221,010 | $196,343 |
| San Francisco | $216,150 | $186,960 |
| Boston | $209,780 | $193,764 |
| Denver | $193,400 | $182,829 |
| Seattle | $185,550 | $166,962 |
| Washington DC | $185,270 | $170,154 |
| Los Angeles | $175,310 | $154,368 |
| San Diego | $174,210 | $155,702 |
| Richmond | $173,140 | $176,930 |
| Charlotte | $172,760 | $177,466 |
| Atlanta | $171,240 | $171,141 |
| Hartford | $170,310 | $165,758 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $169,200 | $164,128 |
| Chicago | $168,810 | $162,952 |
| Providence | $167,570 | $164,651 |
| Austin | $167,180 | $170,477 |
| Philadelphia | $166,920 | $162,763 |
| Houston | $166,910 | $169,230 |
| Minneapolis | $165,620 | $158,001 |
Nominal medians: BLS OEWS, May 2024 estimates (published April 2025) — occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes. Adjusted column: SalaryMBA estimate, computed as nominal ÷ (metro RPP ÷ 100) using BEA MARPP 2024 regional price parities.
The national pay range for Financial Managers
BLS publishes the full percentile distribution nationally. The spread within the occupation is usually far wider than the gap between metros.
| Percentile (national) | Annual wage | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $94,310 | Entry / early-career end |
| 25th percentile | $125,490 | |
| Median (50th) | $166,570 | |
| 75th percentile | $219,980 | |
| 90th percentile | $323,270 | Senior / top-market end |
Other MBA-relevant roles in Seattle
How to read the Seattle number
The $185,550 median means half of Financial Managers in the Seattle area earn less and half earn more. It is measured across everyone in the occupation — every experience level, industry, and level of education. It is not the salary of a recent MBA graduate, and it is not a starting salary.
BLS counts roughly 8,500 people in this role in the Seattle area. To compare against the state and national picture, see Financial Managers nationally or model your own economics with the MBA ROI calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Financial Managers make in Seattle?
Financial Managers in the Seattle metro area earn a median of $185,550 per year, according to BLS OEWS May 2024 estimates (published April 2025). That is +11.4% vs national, ranking Seattle #6 of 49 major metros we track for this role. This is an occupational wage benchmark across all workers in the metro, not an MBA-graduate-specific salary.
Is $185,550 a good salary in Seattle?
It depends on local prices. The Seattle area price level is 111.1 against a U.S. average of 100, so $185,550 there carries roughly the purchasing power of $166,962 nationally — about $18,588 less than the headline number implies. Once local prices are accounted for, Seattle drops 11 places — a higher headline wage is partly consumed by a higher cost of living.
Do Financial Managers in Seattle need an MBA?
These BLS figures cover everyone in the occupation regardless of degree, so they cannot isolate what an MBA adds. Financial Managers is a role MBA graduates commonly target, and an MBA can affect where you land within the range through network, function, and seniority — but any precise MBA premium for this role in Seattle would not be supported by this data.
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