Salary Comparison

Data Engineer Salary:
Seattle, WA vs London

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

Seattle, WA
$200,832
/ year
+45%
difference
London
$138,701
/ 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
London
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$200,832✓ higher
$138,701
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$129,877✓ higher
$89,697
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$310,551✓ higher
$214,477
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$134,387✓ higher
$94,317
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$141,431✓ higher
$92,467
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.42×✓ lower
1.50×
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$129,877✓ higher
$70,861
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$310,551✓ higher
$169,437

What if you move from Seattle to London?

Gross salary change
$62,131
45% decrease
Take-home change
$40,070
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$48,964
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$200,832
P10: $129,877Median: $200,832P90: $310,551
London$138,701
P10: $70,861Median: $138,701P90: $169,437

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median Data Engineer salary in Seattle, WA is $200,832/yr compared to £109,574/yr in London. Seattle pays 45% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Seattle salary has the purchasing power of $141,431/yr in a median-cost city, vs $92,467/yr for London. Seattle offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Data Engineer in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $134,387/yr, vs $94,317/yr in London. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.