World number two Murray, 29, has reached the final of all three Grand Slams this year, winning Wimbledon for a second time last month.
Defending US Open champion Novak Djokovic, who has had a wrist injury, is the top seed at Flushing Meadows.
American Serena Williams is seeded one for the women's singles.
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Konta, 25, is ranked 14th in the world.
Last year's champion, Flavia Pennetta of Italy, retired after beating compatriot Roberta Vinci, who is seeded seventh, in the 2015 final.
The tournament starts on 29 August, although qualifying began on Tuesday, with Britain's James Ward beaten 6-3 6-4 by Maximo Gonzalez of Argentina.
Fellow Britons Tara Moore and Laura Robson begin their qualifying campaigns in New York on Wednesday.
US Open men's singles seeds
1. Novak Djokovic (Ser)
2. Andy Murray (GB)
3. Stan Wawrinka (Swi)
4. Rafael Nadal (Spa)
5. Milos Raonic (Can)
6. Kei Nishikori (Jpn)
7. Marin Cilic (Cro)
8. Dominic Thiem (Aut)
9. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Fra)
10. Gael Monfils (Fra)
US Open women's singles seeds
1. Serena Williams (US)
2. Angelique Kerber (Ger)
3. Garbiñe Muguruza (Spa)
4. Agnieszka Radwanska (Pol)
5. Simona Halep (Rom)
6. Venus Williams (US)
7. Roberta Vinci (Ita)
8. Madison Keys (US)
9. Svetlana Kuznetsova (Rus)
10. Karolina Pliskova (Cze)
Andy Murray has been seeded second in the men's singles for the US Open, with fellow Briton Johanna Konta a career-high 13th in the women's singles.