Salary report · Seattle, WA

What is the average Freelance Writer salary in Seattle, WA?

Freelance Writers in Seattle earn a median of $95,100 per year — about 30% above the national average. Pay ranges from $68,500 (25th percentile) to $147,400 (90th percentile).

25th percentile
$68,500
Median
$95,100
75th percentile
$121,700
90th percentile
$147,400
YoY change
+3.9%

Freelance Writer salary by experience level

Entry · 0–2 yrs
$61,800
Mid · 3–5 yrs
$95,100
Senior · 6–8 yrs
$121,700
Lead · 8+ yrs
$137,900

How Seattle pay compares

Seattle median$95,100
National median$73,150
Cost-of-living adjusted(COL index 158)$60,200

Cost-of-living adjusted is the Seattle salary translated into equivalent purchasing power vs the US average (COL index 100). Useful for comparing offers across cities.

5-year salary trend

$82K
2022
$85K
2023
$88K
2024
$92K
2025
$95K
2026

Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 3.9%.

Freelance Writer job market in Seattle

Seattle is home to Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing and a thriving startup scene. Washington has no state income tax, which boosts net pay vs California.

An estimated 2,600 freelance writers work in the Seattle metro. Daily responsibilities typically include:

  • Research and write articles
  • Pitch new clients
  • Edit and revise drafts
  • Invoice clients
  • Manage editorial calendars

Related job salaries in Seattle

Freelance Writer salary in other cities

FAQ

How much does a Freelance Writer make in Seattle, WA?+

Freelance Writers in Seattle earn a median of $95,100 per year — about 30% above the national average of $73,150.

What's the entry-level Freelance Writer salary in Seattle?+

Entry-level Freelance Writers in Seattle typically earn around $61,800 per year. Salaries scale to about $137,900 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.

Is $95,100 a good Freelance Writer salary in Seattle?+

$95,100 is the median, meaning half of Freelance Writers in Seattle earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 158, that's roughly $60,200 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.

How fast is Freelance Writer pay growing in Seattle?+

Freelance Writer salaries in Seattle grew about 3.9% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +4%.

Where do Freelance Writers in Seattle get paid the most?+

The 90th percentile Freelance Writer salary in Seattle is around $147,400. These typically include senior, lead, or specialist roles at major employers.

Are you being paid fairly in Seattle?

Run a free comparison against BLS data — see if your salary is below, at, or above the Seattle median.

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