Salary Comparison

Machine Learning Engineer Salary:
Seattle, WA vs Los Angeles, CA

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

Seattle, WA
$245,169
/ year
+5%
difference
Los Angeles, CA
$234,282
/ 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
Los Angeles
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$245,169✓ higher
$234,282
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$158,550✓ higher
$151,509
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$379,111✓ higher
$362,276
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$164,119✓ higher
$157,042
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$172,654✓ higher
$169,770
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.42×
1.38×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$158,550✓ higher
$151,509
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$379,111✓ higher
$362,276

What if you move from Seattle to Los Angeles?

Gross salary change
$10,887
5% decrease
Take-home change
$7,077
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$2,884
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$245,169
P10: $158,550Median: $245,169P90: $379,111
Los Angeles, CA$234,282
P10: $151,509Median: $234,282P90: $362,276

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Machine Learning Engineer earn more in Seattle or Los Angeles?

The median Machine Learning Engineer salary in Seattle, WA is $245,169/yr compared to $234,282/yr in Los Angeles, CA. Seattle pays 5% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Machine Learning Engineer salary worth more in Seattle or Los Angeles after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Seattle salary has the purchasing power of $172,654/yr in a median-cost city, vs $169,770/yr for Los Angeles. Seattle offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Machine Learning Engineer in Seattle vs Los Angeles?

After estimated taxes, a Machine Learning Engineer in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $164,119/yr, vs $157,042/yr in Los Angeles, CA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.