As of September 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Chief Engineer in Seattle, WA is $327,718, equivalent to $158 per hour, $6,302 weekly, or $27,310 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Chief Engineer in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Chief Engineer in Seattle, WA vary widely, spanning from $267,140 to $366,734. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($296,009) and 75th percentile ($348,140), while top earners (90th percentile) make $366,734 per year. This $52,131 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Leadership or Housekeeping, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, Seattle Chief Engineer often earn 1.9% higher than national averages. However, Seattle currently ranks 67 statewide for Chief Engineer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Chief Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $267,140 Seattle, WA September 01, 2026
25th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $296,009 Seattle, WA September 01, 2026
50th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $327,718 Seattle, WA September 01, 2026
75th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $348,140 Seattle, WA September 01, 2026
90th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $366,734 Seattle, WA September 01, 2026
25% $296,009 10% $267,140 90% $366,734 75% $348,140 $327,718 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Chief Engineer

Astrion - Seattle, WA

Chief Engineer

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What is a Chief Engineer ?

A chief engineer, commonly referred to as "ChEng" or "Chief", is the seniormost engine officer of an engine department on a ship, typically a merchant ship, and holds overall leadership and responsibility of that department. As a person who holds one of the most senior roles on the ship, he or she must have excellent communication and leadership skills. He or she will be expected to regularly work alongside other crew members and external consultants, and most importantly, provide guidance his or her team. To be a chief engineer, an engineer must attain a chief engineer's license appropriate ...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/17/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Job Openings for Chief Engineer in Seattle, WA

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Chief Engineer, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
296009
348140
327718

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
390601
543639
456829
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Chief Engineer in Seattle, WA. The base salary for Chief Engineer ranges from $296,009 to $348,140 with the average base salary of $327,718. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $390,601 to $543,639 with the average total cash compensation of $456,829.

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296009
348140

 

About Seattle, Washington    Seattle (/siˈætəl/ (listen) see-AT-əl) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With an e....More

Seattle, Washington  area prices were up 2.8% from a year ago

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