Engineering · Salary Guide · Seattle
Data Engineer Salary in Seattle
Seattle offers a favorable salary-to-tax ratio. Base salaries run roughly 80–85% of SF levels, but Washington's zero state income tax means take-home pay is often within 5% of SF for the same role. Amazon alone employs over 50,000 engineers in the Puget Sound region, and AWS-specific roles (cloud, distributed systems, infra) carry a 10–15% premium over generalist engineering. Microsoft, Meta's Seattle office, and a growing cluster of Seattle-based startups round out the market. Cost of living is 40% above the national average — lower than SF or NYC but still high. A 1BR in Seattle proper averages $2,200/month.
Median base in Seattle
$198k
Cost of living index
140
US = 100
Market multiplier
1.20x
vs US national
Salary by experience level in Seattle
| Experience level | Base salary (US national) |
|---|---|
| Entry (0–2 yrs) | $120k – $180k |
| Mid (3–5 yrs) | $168k – $240k |
| Senior (6–9 yrs) | $216k – $330k |
| Staff / Principal (10+ yrs) | $306k – $516k |
Adjusted from national ranges using the Seattle market multiplier (1.20x).
Tax and take-home considerations
No state income tax — Washington's biggest compensation advantage vs. CA or NY.
Dominant employers in Seattle
No state income tax. Dominated by Amazon and Microsoft; AWS roles pay a premium.
FAQ
What is the average data engineer salary in Seattle?
The median base salary for a data engineer in Seattle is approximately $198k in 2026. Seattle offers a favorable salary-to-tax ratio.
Does Seattle have state income tax for data engineers?
No state income tax — Washington's biggest compensation advantage vs. CA or NY.
Which companies hire the most data engineers in Seattle?
The dominant employers in Seattle are Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Google, Snowflake. No state income tax. Dominated by Amazon and Microsoft; AWS roles pay a premium.
What is the average data engineer salary in the US?
As of 2026, the median base salary for a US data engineer is about $165,000, with mid-level ranges of $140k–$200k. Total comp at large tech companies typically adds 35–55% through equity and bonuses.
Do data engineers make more than data scientists?
At the senior/staff level in 2026, data engineers and data scientists are at parity — within a few thousand dollars at most companies. At the entry level, data engineering tends to pay 5–10% more because infrastructure skills are scarcer and harder to bootstrap.
Related Data Engineer Resources
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