Salary Comparison

Data Scientist Salary:
Seattle, WA vs London

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

Seattle, WA
$176,322
/ year
+78%
difference
London
$99,008
/ year
Bottom line: Seattle wins on all three metrics โ€” higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Seattle
London
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$176,322โœ“ higher
$99,008
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$114,027โœ“ higher
$65,691
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$272,651โœ“ higher
$149,223
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$117,721โœ“ higher
$67,325
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$124,170โœ“ higher
$66,005
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.42ร—โœ“ lower
1.50ร—
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$114,027โœ“ higher
$51,896
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$272,651โœ“ higher
$117,886

What if you move from Seattle to London?

Gross salary change
$77,314
78% decrease
Take-home change
$50,396
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$58,165
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 1.00ร—). Full methodology โ†’

Salary Range Comparison

Seattle, WA$176,322
P10: $114,027Median: $176,322P90: $272,651
London$99,008
P10: $51,896Median: $99,008P90: $117,886

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a Data Scientist earn more in Seattle or London?

The median Data Scientist salary in Seattle, WA is $176,322/yr compared to ยฃ78,216/yr in London. Seattle pays 78% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a Data Scientist 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 $124,170/yr in a median-cost city, vs $66,005/yr for London. Seattle offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a Data Scientist in Seattle vs London?

After estimated taxes, a Data Scientist in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $117,721/yr, vs $67,325/yr in London. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.