If you’ve got your heart set on entering the tech industry, you’re probably thinking about a life in New York City or Silicon Valley — because that’s where tech is, right? Wrong! There are far too many successful names in tech to fit into just one or two cities, and Seattle is the perfect proof of that.
If you don’t know much about the city, you’ll be surprised to find just how many businesses have offices or even headquarters in Seattle. In fact, there are so many that it can be a little hard to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together this list of 12 of the best tech companies you could ever work for in Seattle.
Amazon
Industry: Technology, e-commerce
Glassdoor Rating: 3.7★
Size: >1,541,000 employees
Description: You might think of Amazon as a Silicon Valley company, but it’s actually headquartered in none other than Seattle. The company is known for many things, from its global e-commerce store and Kindle e-readers to Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the Prime Video streaming service.
What they stand out for: The Seattle Amazon campus is made up of over 40 buildings, including the Amazon Spheres — a set of three spherical conservatories full of plants. Employees have roof decks, game rooms, happy hours, concerts, and many other types of perks to engage in. If you’re looking for an impressive office environment, this is it.
Typical tech roles in Seattle: Senior ML Specialist, Software Development Manager, Data Engineer
Microsoft
Industry: Computer hardware and software
Glassdoor Rating: 4.3★
Size: >221,000 employees
Description: Microsoft has been at the forefront of computer technology since the beginning, and Windows is still the most widely used desktop operating system in the world. The company’s other flagship products include the Microsoft Office productivity suite and Azure cloud services.
What they stand out for: The Microsoft Seattle campus has sports areas, walking trails, and more than 20 cafes and restaurants for employees to eat at. They’re praised for their inclusive hiring practices, which include non-standard educational backgrounds. Job openings clearly state whether roles are 100% on-site, up to 50% work from homeIs Working From Home Immoral?, or up to 100% work from home.
Typical tech roles in Seattle: Senior Software Engineer, Senior Data Scientist, Cloud Engineer, Cloud Network Engineer, Software Architect
Tableau
Industry: Business IntelligenceHow to Become a Business Intelligence Analyst software
Glassdoor Rating: 3.9★
Size: >5,000 employees
Description: Tableau is a leading data visualization and analytics software headquartered in Seattle. The platform focuses on providing a user-friendly interface that allows both technical and non-technical users to analyze and visualize data quickly and efficiently. You’ll probably find Tableau skills taught in many data science and analytics courses, and listed in many job posts.
What they stand out for: The main Tableau campus is in Fremont, Seattle, but there are also offices in Bellevue. If you feel like a change, they check out the locations all across the world, from Singapore and Tokyo to Stockholm and London.
Typical tech roles in Seattle: Senior Analyst, Ops Enablement Engineer, Software Engineer
Apple
Industry: Hardware and software
Glassdoor Rating: 4.2★
Size: >161,000 employees
Description: Only one year younger than Microsoft, Apple has been in the hardware business for quite a long time. From the Macintosh computer to today’s Macbooks and iPhones, Apple has long been known as the face of high-quality hardware. The company also creates software and software services like the App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, and Apple Pay.
What they stand out for: The main Seattle campus is in the South Lake Union neighborhood, with free shuttle buses, EV charging spots, and plenty of bike parking. The company is proud of its Diversity Network Associations that help people band together and create new opportunities for each other. The campus also runs on 100% renewable energy.
Typical tech roles in Seattle: ML Engineer, Senior Software Engineer, Cloud Security Architect, Generative AI Applied Scientist
Snap Inc.
Industry: Social media
Glassdoor Rating: 3.6★
Size: >10,000 employees
Description: Snap Inc. is best known for the social media app Snapchat, which focuses on communication through the medium of photos. Its innovative features made it a hit amongst younger demographics. The company has also expanded into hardware, developing AR glasses called Spectacles.
What they stand out for: The company offers a range of family, health, fitness, mind, and financial benefits that help their employees stay happy and healthy.
Typical tech roles in Seattle: Software Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, Full Stack Engineer, Big Data Engineer
Square
Industry: Fintech (Financial technology)
Glassdoor Rating: 3.8★
Size: >13,000 employees
Description: Founded back in 2009, this fintech company is best known for its point-of-sale (POS) software and hardware products that make it easy for businesses of any size to accept card payments. They also launched the money-sending app CashApp.
What they stand out for: With a number of highly popular products under their belts, Square is now one of the biggest fintech companies around. That success is mirrored in their benefits programs and employee communities, where they offer something for everyone.
Typical tech roles in Seattle: Principal Software Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer
Qualtrics
Industry: Experience management software
Glassdoor Rating: 3.2★
Size: 5,000+ employees
Description: Qualtrics is an Experience Management Platform that allows organizations to collect, analyze, and act on feedback from customers, employees, and stakeholders. It leverages advanced analytics and AI-driven insights to drive strategic decision-making.
What they stand out for: The Seattle office is fully catered, with a 24/7 fitness center, dedicated workspaces, a pub, and varied commuting options. The company also offers a range of mental health and wellness benefits, as well as an experience benefit that you can use on anything from a holiday to home improvement projects.
Typical tech roles in Seattle: Senior Security Engineer, Software Development Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer
Freshworks
Industry: Customer service software
Glassdoor Rating: 3.8★
Size: >10,000 employees
Description: Freshworks is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company that provides cloud-based customer engagement software. Its product suite includes Freshdesk, Freshsales, Freshchat, Freshmarketer, Freshservice, and Freshworks.
What they stand out for: The company culture is centered around diversity, equity, and inclusion, continuously working towards a workplace where everyone can feel comfortable being themselves. According to reviews, employees also have a great work-life balance.
Typical tech roles in Seattle: Senior IT Engineer, Web Experience Manager
Expedia
Industry: Travel technology
Glassdoor Rating: 3.9★
Size: >17,100 employees
Description: Founded and headquartered in Seattle, Expedia Group operates a global online travel marketplace that can take care of accommodation, flights, rental cars, activities, and vacation packages. It owns brands like Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Vrbo, and Orbitz.
What they stand out for: The Seattle campus is based in Elliot Bay and boasts a range of great amenities—including a food market. Employees praise the work-life balance and the benefits.
Typical tech roles in Seattle: Data Scientist, Senior IT Auditor
Getty Images
Industry: Media and photography
Glassdoor Rating: 3.9★
Size: >1,700 employees
Description: Another big name headquartered in Seattle, Getty Images is a global leader in visual communication and media content. Its platform provides customers with a vast collection of photos, illustrations, videos, and music. Getty uses its own team of photographers, videographers, and content creators to expand the library, making sure there’s a photo for every situation.
What they stand out for: With over 400 million assets and counting, Getty is a powerhouse of media content that won’t be going anywhere any time soon. They have offices on multiple continents and offer a range of benefits including remote flexibility, retirement benefits, and transit benefits.
Typical tech roles in Seattle: Senior Data AnalystHow to Become a Data Analyst, Senior Systems Engineer
Remitly
Industry: Fintech
Glassdoor Rating: 3.7★
Size: >2,700 employees
Description: Remitly is a financial technology company that focuses on enabling people to send money internationally quickly, securely, and at an affordable rate. The overarching goal of the company is to help immigrants send money back to their families and loved ones, without losing so much to fees and long processing times.
What they stand out for: The company provides a continuing education or travel stipend to each employee, so they can either upskill or go visit the countries Remitly serves and learn more about their customers. There are also plenty of other benefits and perks at the company.
Typical tech roles in Seattle: Senior Software Development Engineer, Full Stack Software Engineer, Senior Analytics Engineer
Liberty Mutual Insurance
Industry: Insurance
Glassdoor Rating: 3.7★
Size: 45,000+ employees
Description: Liberty Mutual has been in the insurance business since 1912, providing coverage for auto, home, property, life, and commercial insurance needs. It operates in over 30 countries and serves millions of people worldwide.
What they stand out for: The company provides a very large range of benefits, spanning health, dental, vision, incentive awards, retirement, insurance, family, and more areas. They also offer flexible work arrangements with remote work possibilities.
Typical tech roles in Seattle: Software Engineer, Senior Analyst, Senior Cybersecurity Specialist
Land your role
As you can see, there is no shortage of great places to work in Seattle. From the impressive Amazon headquarters to the Apple and Microsoft campuses, many big names have settled into Seattle with no intent to leave. If you want to take the next step towards working at one of these companies, take our tech career quiz and find out what fields you’re destined to excel in!