How Much Does a Chief Engineer Make in Seattle, WA ? (2026 Salary Guide)

Chief Engineer Salary in Seattle, WA

As of April 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Chief Engineer in Seattle, WA is $327,416, equivalent to $157 per hour, $6,296 weekly, or $27,285 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Chief Engineer in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Chief Engineer in Seattle, WA vary widely, spanning from $269,797 to $366,176. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($297,256) and 75th percentile ($347,705), while top earners (90th percentile) make $366,176 per year. This $50,449 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 91 statewide for Chief Engineer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

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Chief Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $269,797 Seattle, WA April 01, 2026
25th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $297,256 Seattle, WA April 01, 2026
50th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $327,416 Seattle, WA April 01, 2026
75th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $347,705 Seattle, WA April 01, 2026
90th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $366,176 Seattle, WA April 01, 2026
25% $297,256 10% $269,797 90% $366,176 75% $347,705 $327,416 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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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

Career Path for this job

  1. Down a level:

    VP of Engineering


    Bachelor's Degree

  2. This Job:

    Chief Engineer


    Bachelor's Degree

  3. Up a level:

    Chief Engineering Officer


    Master's Degree or MBA

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

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
297256
347705
327416

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
385680
536818
451078
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 $297,256 to $347,705 with the average base salary of $327,416. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $385,680 to $536,818 with the average total cash compensation of $451,078.

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297256
347705

 

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

Chief Engineer Salary in popular cities: Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver

Recently searched related titles: Vice President Engineering, Vp Engineering, Senior Vice President Engineering

Learn more about: Compensation Packages, Employee Flight Risk, Gender Pay Gap, Job Openings for This Role

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