2026 Seattle Tech Salary Guide

Determining a good IT salary in Seattle requires examining the range of roles and their corresponding compensation within the market. Competitive IT salaries often reflect the high cost of living and the concentration of tech companies in the area.

While specific data for every IT role in Seattle is limited, salaries for mid- to senior level technology positions generally range from around $90,000 up to $180,000 or more, depending on specialization and experience. For example, mid-level roles in related tech hubs like Houston or Minneapolis tend to see salaries between $100,000 and $150,000, with senior level engineers and specialists reaching $150,000 to $180,000 or higher, indicating a similar trend likely present in Seattle's market.

The IT salary Seattle professionals can expect varies widely by role: infrastructure or software engineers, systems architects, and security specialists typically command higher pay relative to roles such as IT support specialists or junior analysts.

Based on the evolving landscape of IT compensation trends, a good IT salary in Seattle would be one that aligns with or exceeds the higher end of these mid-level to senior ranges — reflecting technical proficiency, role criticality, and impact on digital transformation initiatives in the region.

The IT job with the highest salary in Seattle is typically the senior level Infrastructure and Security Architect. Based on current market data, these professionals earn between $168,558 and $190,971 annually. This role commands a significant impact in organizations by ensuring scalable and secure infrastructure aligned with evolving digital transformation initiatives.

Other highly paid roles include senior level Data Engineers and Cloud Architects, with salary ranges of approximately $157,732 to $191,839 and $162,135 to $186,595 respectively. Network Architects also fall into the upper echelon, earning between $156,830 and $187,124. These positions reflect expanding viability in cloud infrastructure, big data management, and network design.

In comparison, mid-level roles such as Systems Engineers and Network Engineers typically range from about $108,665 to $154,457, reflecting a substantial salary growth as professionals advance.

IT salaries in Seattle have shown an upward trajectory in 2026 across a range of roles. This increase reflects the expanding viability of technology in business operations and the competitive market for skilled professionals within the region.

For instance, mid-level Software Developers in Seattle earn between $115,000 and $154,000, while senior levels range from $133,000 to approximately $159,000. Data Analysts see mid-level salaries of about $103,000 to $126,000, and senior salaries can reach nearly $160,000. Cloud Engineers and Information Security Engineers have particularly notable ranges, with senior level Cloud Engineers earning as much as $196,000 and senior Information Security Engineers approaching $176,000.

Such figures indicate that the overall IT salary Seattle market is rising, propelled by demand in specialized areas like cloud computing and cybersecurity. Network Engineers and Application Security Engineers also demonstrate healthy growth, with senior Application Security salaries going up to $187,000.

This evolving landscape in Seattle’s tech workforce underscores the significance of staying attuned to role-specific salary data. The increases correlate with the critical impact these roles have on innovation and digital transformation initiatives, driving businesses toward scalable and secure technology solutions.

Director of IT positions in Seattle generally align with senior technology leadership roles in compensation. While exact figures for the Director of IT specifically may vary, comparable senior leadership roles like the Director of Engineering report salaries ranging from approximately $174,000 to $232,000 annually.

This salary range reflects Seattle’s robust technology ecosystem, where leadership drives strategic IT initiatives and seamless experience across infrastructure and digital transformation projects. The IT salary in the Seattle landscape demonstrates a significant impact on compensation for directors overseeing critical IT operations, ensuring scalability and mitigating critical errors.