Salary Comparison

Data Engineer Salary:
Seattle, WA vs Toronto

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

Seattle, WA
$200,267
/ year
+49%
difference
Toronto
$134,230
/ 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
Toronto
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$200,267✓ higher
$134,230
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$129,512✓ higher
$86,806
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$309,678✓ higher
$207,563
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$134,003✓ higher
$91,276
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$141,033✓ higher
$107,384
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.42×
1.25×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$129,512✓ higher
$118,056
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$309,678✓ higher
$282,286

What if you move from Seattle to Toronto?

Gross salary change
$66,037
49% decrease
Take-home change
$42,727
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$33,649
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
Toronto$134,230
P10: $118,056Median: $134,230P90: $282,286

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median Data Engineer salary in Seattle, WA is $200,267/yr compared to CA$182,553/yr in Toronto. Seattle pays 49% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Data Engineer salary worth more in Seattle or Toronto 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 $107,384/yr for Toronto. Seattle offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Data Engineer in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $134,003/yr, vs $91,276/yr in Toronto. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.