Salary Comparison

Network Engineer Salary:
New York, NY vs Seattle, WA

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

New York, NY
$156,625
/ year
+4%
difference
Seattle, WA
$151,026
/ year
Bottom line: New York wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
New York
Seattle
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$156,625✓ higher
$151,026
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$101,289✓ higher
$97,668
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$242,193✓ higher
$233,535
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$105,243✓ higher
$101,864
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$108,017✓ higher
$106,356
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.45×
1.42×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$101,289✓ higher
$97,668
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$242,193✓ higher
$233,535

What if you move from New York to Seattle?

Gross salary change
$5,599
4% decrease
Take-home change
$3,379
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$1,661
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

New York, NY$156,625
P10: $101,289Median: $156,625P90: $242,193
Seattle, WA$151,026
P10: $97,668Median: $151,026P90: $233,535

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Network Engineer earn more in New York or Seattle?

The median Network Engineer salary in New York, NY is $156,625/yr compared to $151,026/yr in Seattle, WA. New York pays 4% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Network Engineer salary worth more in New York or Seattle after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your New York salary has the purchasing power of $108,017/yr in a median-cost city, vs $106,356/yr for Seattle. New York offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Network Engineer in New York vs Seattle?

After estimated taxes, a Network Engineer in New York, NY takes home approximately $105,243/yr, vs $101,864/yr in Seattle, WA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.