Finance Jobs (Seattle, Bellevue: job market, neighborhoods, income)

[goldengirl1]

Long time reader, first time poster.

SO and I both work in the financial field. We are seriously considering a move to Seattle. We've been there once and are visiting again later this month to check out the different neighborhoods more in depth and make an ultimate decision about whether to move there or not.

So my question is: do financial jobs tend to be concentrated downtown? Or are there other concentrations of those types of jobs in other parts of the Seattle metro area? I ask because ideally I will commute via public transit. Obviously if financial jobs tend to be concentrated in certain areas, I will want to live near those areas (or near a good bus line).

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[aa85]

The short answer is yes, most jobs are concentrated in downtown Seattle.

Safeco, Russell (in the near future), all of the major bank offices (Wells, Chase, BofA, USB), Washington Federal (WFSL), most of the brokerages, advisory firms, consultants, etc. are all downtown.

Bellevue has some concentration of jobs, but not nearly to the extent of Seattle. I wouldn't say there is any "concentration" of finance jobs anywhere else in the area.

Tough job market, though. I don't know too many firms hiring in the industry. Not sure where you would be moving from and what line of work you're in, but Seattle's salaries are probably lower overall compared to San Francisco, NYC, or Boston just because of the relatively lower cost of living. However, we don't have a state income tax.

Good luck!

[sean98125]

Keep in mind that the Washington Mutual fiasco flooded the job market with financial job seekers. Make sure you have something lined up before you make the leap.