Salary Comparison

Data Engineer Salary:
Seattle, WA vs Houston, TX

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

Seattle, WA
$200,267
/ year
+47%
difference
Houston, TX
$136,698
/ year
Bottom line: Seattle wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Seattle
Houston
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$200,267✓ higher
$136,698
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$129,512✓ higher
$88,402
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$309,678✓ higher
$211,379
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$134,003✓ higher
$93,217
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$141,033✓ higher
$139,488
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.42×
0.98×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$129,512✓ higher
$88,402
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$309,678✓ higher
$211,379

What if you move from Seattle to Houston?

Gross salary change
$63,569
47% decrease
Take-home change
$40,786
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$1,545
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

Seattle, WA$200,267
P10: $129,512Median: $200,267P90: $309,678
Houston, TX$136,698
P10: $88,402Median: $136,698P90: $211,379

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Data Engineer earn more in Seattle or Houston?

The median Data Engineer salary in Seattle, WA is $200,267/yr compared to $136,698/yr in Houston, TX. Seattle pays 47% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Seattle salary has the purchasing power of $141,033/yr in a median-cost city, vs $139,488/yr for Houston. Seattle offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Data Engineer in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $134,003/yr, vs $93,217/yr in Houston, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.