Salary Comparison

Data Engineer Salary:
Seattle, WA vs Washington DC, DC

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

Seattle, WA
$200,832
/ year
+5%
difference
Washington DC, DC
$191,052
/ 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
Washington DC
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$200,832✓ higher
$191,052
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$129,877✓ higher
$123,552
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$310,551✓ higher
$295,428
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$134,387✓ higher
$127,737
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$141,431✓ higher
$134,544
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.42×✓ lower
1.42×
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$129,877✓ higher
$123,552
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$310,551✓ higher
$295,428

What if you move from Seattle to Washington DC?

Gross salary change
$9,780
5% decrease
Take-home change
$6,650
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$6,887
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
Washington DC, DC$191,052
P10: $123,552Median: $191,052P90: $295,428

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Data Engineer earn more in Seattle or Washington DC?

The median Data Engineer salary in Seattle, WA is $200,832/yr compared to $191,052/yr in Washington DC, DC. Seattle pays 5% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Data Engineer salary worth more in Seattle or Washington DC 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 $134,544/yr for Washington DC. Seattle offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Data Engineer in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $134,387/yr, vs $127,737/yr in Washington DC, DC. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.