Cost of hiring an office manager in Seattle-Tacoma, WA
Seattle-Tacoma is a higher-paying market for office managers: the median of $81,640 a year[1] is 2.7% above the Washington statewide median of $79,480, and 17.5% above the US median of $69,500. Only 3 of 519 US areas pay more for this job. It is the largest market for the job in Washington: about 18,020 people, 57% of the Washington total.
BLS occupation 43-1011, area Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Seattle-Tacoma against Washington and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA | $60,310 | $81,640 | $126,040 | |
| Washington | $56,900 | $79,480 | $120,710 | |
| United States | $45,610 | $69,500 | $104,710 |
Office managers at the 90th percentile earn $126,040, 2.1 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.3. The middle half of office managers in Seattle-Tacoma earns $70,180–$101,070. The mean ($88,780) is 9% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median.
What to budget for an office manager here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $60,310 | $5,026 | $29.00 | $86,157 |
| 25th percentile | $70,180 | $5,848 | $33.74 | $100,257 |
| Median | $81,640 | $6,803 | $39.25 | $116,629 |
| 75th percentile | $101,070 | $8,422 | $48.59 | $144,386 |
| 90th percentile | $126,040 | $10,503 | $60.60 | $180,057 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $11,460 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $19,430, or about $27,757 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in Seattle-Tacoma
At the $81,640 median, a local hire costs about $116,629 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $34,989 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for office managers we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Seattle-Tacoma
Of the 17 roles we track in Seattle-Tacoma, this one ranks #7 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $130,380 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $45,820.
| Role | Median | vs office manager | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +59.7% | 26,910 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +25.1% | 18,030 | |
| Accountant | +21.7% | 22,100 | |
| Paralegal | +13.8% | 6,310 | |
| Recruiter | +13.6% | 14,120 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +1.1% | 12,450 | |
| Office Manager | this role | 18,020 | |
| Executive Assistant | -1.0% | 7,370 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -18.4% | 1,980 | |
| Bookkeeper | -25.9% | 17,860 | |
| HR Assistant | -26.0% | 1,480 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -26.1% | 6,420 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -26.2% | 15,780 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -34.4% | 25,840 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -39.5% | n/a | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -42.4% | 760 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -43.9% | 14,260 |
Other areas in Washington
Across the 13 areas of Washington with data for this job, the median runs from $72,300 in Spokane-Spokane Valley to $81,980 in Longview-Kelso, a gap of $9,680 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Seattle-Tacoma | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longview-Kelso, WA | +0.4% | 410 | |
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA | this area | 18,020 | |
| Bremerton-Silverdale, WA | -2.6% | 740 | |
| Olympia-Lacey, WA | -4.1% | 1,210 | |
| Bellingham, WA | -6.3% | 920 | |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | -6.7% | 490 | |
| Walla Walla, WA | -7.2% | 230 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an office manager in Seattle-Tacoma, WA?
About $116,629 a year at the median, or $9,719 a month: $81,640 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for office managers in Seattle-Tacoma?
The median was $81,640 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $60,310, the 90th $126,040, and the middle half earned $70,180 to $101,070.
Is Seattle-Tacoma cheaper than the rest of Washington for office managers?
No, it costs more: a median of $81,640 against $79,480 statewide. Longview-Kelso pays the most ($81,980) and Spokane-Spokane Valley the least ($72,300).
How many office managers work in Seattle-Tacoma?
BLS counts about 18,020 in the May 2025 survey. That is 57% of the Washington total of 31,790.
Does an office manager cost more than an executive assistant in Seattle-Tacoma?
Yes: $780 a year more at the median. The medians are $81,640 and $80,860.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-1011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes431011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-06.