Salary report · Seattle, WA

What is the average HR Manager salary in Seattle, WA?

HR Managers in Seattle earn a median of $169,000 per year — about 30% above the national average. Pay ranges from $121,700 (25th percentile) to $262,000 (90th percentile).

25th percentile
$121,700
Median
$169,000
75th percentile
$216,300
90th percentile
$262,000
YoY change
+3.5%

HR Manager salary by experience level

Entry · 0–2 yrs
$109,900
Mid · 3–5 yrs
$169,000
Senior · 6–8 yrs
$216,300
Lead · 8+ yrs
$245,100

How Seattle pay compares

Seattle median$169,000
National median$130,000
Cost-of-living adjusted(COL index 158)$107,000

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

$147K
2022
$152K
2023
$158K
2024
$163K
2025
$169K
2026

Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 3.5%.

HR Manager 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 hr managers work in the Seattle metro. Daily responsibilities typically include:

  • Lead hiring efforts
  • Handle employee relations
  • Run performance reviews
  • Manage benefits programs
  • Ensure HR compliance

Related job salaries in Seattle

HR Manager salary in other cities

FAQ

How much does a HR Manager make in Seattle, WA?+

HR Managers in Seattle earn a median of $169,000 per year — about 30% above the national average of $130,000.

What's the entry-level HR Manager salary in Seattle?+

Entry-level HR Managers in Seattle typically earn around $109,900 per year. Salaries scale to about $245,100 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.

Is $169,000 a good HR Manager salary in Seattle?+

$169,000 is the median, meaning half of HR Managers in Seattle earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 158, that's roughly $107,000 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.

How fast is HR Manager pay growing in Seattle?+

HR Manager salaries in Seattle grew about 3.5% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +5%.

Where do HR Managers in Seattle get paid the most?+

The 90th percentile HR Manager salary in Seattle is around $262,000. 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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