How much do I need to earn to buy a house in Seattle?

To afford the median Seattle home ($780,000) at standard 36% DTI with 6.7% mortgage rate and 20% down, you need approximately $187,000/year. The city median household income is $92,000, creating a gap of $95,000/year.

What percentage of Seattle homes are affordable on median income?

Based on FRC analysis using BLS income data and Zillow home prices (May 2026), approximately 14% of Seattle homes are affordable on the median household income of $92,000/year.

FRC City Analysis · May 2026

Seattle, WA
Housing Affordability

CRISIS — 14% of homes affordable

← All Cities

Seattle tech salaries are high but home prices higher. Amazon engineers earning $142K still fall $45K short of the income needed for the median home. Renton (14 miles south) offers the nearest affordable inventory.

$780,000

Median Home Price

$4,956/mo

Monthly PITI (20% down)

$187,000

Income Needed (36% DTI)

$92,000

Median Household Income

+$95,000

Annual Income Gap

14%

Homes Affordable on Median

The Math

At today's 6.7% mortgage rate with 20% down, the monthly PITI on Seattle's median home is $4,956. To keep housing under 36% of gross income (the back-end DTI threshold most lenders use), you need $187,000/year — 203% of the city's median income.

The local median income of $92,000 leaves a gap of $95,000/year. This means the median household needs to earn 103% more to comfortably qualify for the median home.

Affordable Alternatives

📍 Nearest affordable areas: Renton, Kent, Tacoma
These surrounding communities typically offer lower home prices within commuting distance.

See If You'd Qualify

These are market averages. Your situation depends on your income, debts, and credit.

🏦 Ask Zai About Seattle → ← All Cities

Source: BLS OEWS 2024, Zillow ZHVI May 2026, FRC Underwriting Model. Not financial advice. Educational analysis only.

Seattle, WAHousing Affordability

The Math

Affordable Alternatives

Seattle, WA
Housing Affordability