Early-career pay climbs 5% in Seattle
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Seattle ranks among the country's highest-earning metros for early-career workers — and new Glassdoor data shows those wages are still growing at a solid clip.
Why it matters: Seattle pays new grads more than most metros, but faster wage growth elsewhere could narrow that advantage — and tempt some young workers to start looking elsewhere.
By the numbers: The Seattle area ranked 15th for early-career wage growth nationally, with wages rising about 5% a year on average and 28% overall since 2020, according to the Glassdoor report.
- Workers with 0–4 years of experience now earn $91,900 — among the highest in the country.
Yes, but: Young workers' salaries are rising faster in several smaller metro areas — including Provo, Utah, where early-career pay has climbed an average of 7% per year since 2020.
- Boise, Idaho; Orlando, Florida; and Charleston, South Carolina; also saw higher early-career wage growth than Seattle in recent years, per Glassdoor.
How it works: The report is based on more than 5 million salary datapoints from Glassdoor users "with 0-4 years of relevant experience in their current job from January 2020 through October 31, 2025," and among metro areas with at least 1,000 salary data points per year.
The bottom line: Strong wage growth gives Seattle an edge as young workers navigate a soft labor market — but competition from smaller, faster-growing metros is only getting sharper.