Salary Comparison

Data Engineer Salary:
New York, NY vs Seattle, WA

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

New York, NY
$165,248
/ year
-18%
difference
Seattle, WA
$200,832
/ year
Bottom line: Seattle wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
New York
Seattle
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$165,248
$200,832✓ higher
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$106,865
$129,877✓ higher
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$255,527
$310,551✓ higher
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$110,447
$134,387✓ higher
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$113,964
$141,431✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.45×
1.42×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$106,865
$129,877✓ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$255,527
$310,551✓ higher

What if you move from New York to Seattle?

Gross salary change
+$35,584
18% increase
Take-home change
+$23,940
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$27,467
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00×). Full methodology →

Salary Range Comparison

New York, NY$165,248
P10: $106,865Median: $165,248P90: $255,527
Seattle, WA$200,832
P10: $129,877Median: $200,832P90: $310,551

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Data Engineer earn more in New York or Seattle?

The median Data Engineer salary in New York, NY is $165,248/yr compared to $200,832/yr in Seattle, WA. Seattle pays 18% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Data Engineer salary worth more in New York or Seattle after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your New York salary has the purchasing power of $113,964/yr in a median-cost city, vs $141,431/yr for Seattle. Seattle offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Data Engineer in New York vs Seattle?

After estimated taxes, a Data Engineer in New York, NY takes home approximately $110,447/yr, vs $134,387/yr in Seattle, WA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.