Where do aerospace and defence occupiers lease office space in Seattle?

Most cluster in Pioneer Square. Rent runs ~52 USD/sqft ($52 USD) for trophy and prime stock.

What fit-out spec do aerospace and defence occupiers run in Seattle?

Typically high-end at $185–270/sqft.

How much office space per seat should a aerospace and defence occupier plan in Seattle?

Plan ~210 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 21,000 sqft.

What NAICS codes describe the aerospace and defence vertical?

Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 3364, 5415.

What is the talent index in Seattle?

92/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

Aerospace and defence occupiers in Seattle typically cluster in Pioneer Square, plan ~210 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out ($185–270/sqft), and pay around 52 USD/sqft ($52 USD) on Class A.

Preferred submarket: Pioneer Square.
Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($185–270/sqft).
Plan ~210 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
Class A rent context: 52 USD/sqft ($52 USD).
Typical lease: 10 years with 16 months rent-free.
Talent depth in Seattle: 92/100.

Aerospace and defence office space in Seattle

Aerospace and defence occupiers in Seattle typically cluster in Pioneer Square, plan ~210 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out">fit-out ($185–270/sqft), and pay around 52 USD/sqft ($52 USD) on Class A.

TL;DR

Preferred submarket: Pioneer Square.
Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($185–270/sqft).
Plan ~210 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
Class A rent context: 52 USD/sqft ($52 USD).
Typical lease: 10 years with 16 months rent-free.
Talent depth in Seattle: 92/100.

Where they cluster

Aerospace and defence occupiers in Seattle typically anchor in Pioneer Square. Tech, creative agencies, hospitality, design firms.

What they pay

Class A rent in Seattle runs 52 USD/sqft ($52 USD) on a 10-year lease with 16 months free. Prime submarkets sit at or modestly above the city index.

Spec and fit-out

Typical aerospace and defence fit-out targets high-end specification at $185–270/sqft. Branded reception, full client-facing programming, premium furniture, and specialist AV are standard.

Headcount sizing

Plan around 210 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount aero/defence office in Seattle typically targets 21,000 sqft of leasable area.

Talent angle

Programme leadership and contracting teams concentrate near government anchors; cleared-personnel logistics drive submarket selection. Deepest cloud, AI, and SaaS engineering talent pool in North America. UW and a deep network of T-1 engineering programs feed. Cost-of-living advantage versus Bay Area is structural.

Tax and lease context

Headline corporate tax: 21%. Modified-gross structures with operating-expense pass-throughs. 10-12 year terms standard for trophy. Free rent of 12-18 months and TI of $100-$150/sqft typical on a 10-year deal.

Key facts

city	Seattle
industry	Aerospace and defence
naics	3364, 5415
preferredSubmarket	Pioneer Square
preferredFitoutSpec	High-end
fitoutBand	$185–270/sqft
sqftPerSeat	210
classARentLocal	52 USD/sqft/yr
classARentUsd	$52/sqft/yr
vacancyPct	26.4%
typicalLeaseYears	10
typicalRentFreeMonths	16
talentIndex	92
corporateTaxPct	21%

Frequently asked questions

Where do aerospace and defence occupiers lease office space in Seattle?: Most cluster in Pioneer Square. Rent runs ~52 USD/sqft ($52 USD) for trophy and prime stock.
What fit-out spec do aerospace and defence occupiers run in Seattle?: Typically high-end at $185–270/sqft.
How much office space per seat should a aerospace and defence occupier plan in Seattle?: Plan ~210 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 21,000 sqft.
What NAICS codes describe the aerospace and defence vertical?: Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 3364, 5415.
What is the talent index in Seattle?: 92/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Miriam Hollander — Lead market analyst. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

Primary sources for this page

CBRE Marketview reports — CBRE
JLL Office Insight — JLL
Cushman & Wakefield Marketbeat — Cushman & Wakefield
Savills World Research — Savills
Colliers Global Office Outlook — Colliers

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