- 1.Seattle salaries are within 5-10% of Bay Area while having no state income tax—best net outcome for high earners
- 2.Microsoft and Amazon headquarters provide massive employment base with 100K+ combined tech workers
- 3.Cost of living is 15-20% lower than San Francisco (COL index 159 vs 188)
- 4.Seattle TC at Big Tech rivals Bay Area: Senior SWE at Microsoft/Amazon earn $280K-$400K
- 5.Strong presence from Google, Meta, and smaller tech companies expanding Seattle offices
Seattle Tech Salaries Overview
Seattle is arguably the best city for tech workers optimizing for financial outcome. Salaries approach Bay Area levels, there's no state income tax, and cost of living is 15-20% lower. The presence of Microsoft and Amazon headquarters creates massive demand for tech talent.
Seattle Tech Salaries by Role
| Role | Entry (0-2 yr) | Senior (5-8 yr) | Staff+ (8+ yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $125K-$155K | $165K-$195K | $195K-$270K |
| Data Scientist | $115K-$145K | $155K-$185K | $185K-$245K |
| Product Manager | $125K-$155K | $165K-$200K | $200K-$270K |
| DevOps/SRE | $115K-$145K | $160K-$195K | $195K-$255K |
Source: Glassdoor, Levels.fyi 2024
Source: Levels.fyi 2024
Microsoft vs Amazon: Seattle's Giants
Microsoft and Amazon together employ over 100,000 tech workers in the Seattle area. Their compensation structures differ significantly.
Microsoft vs Amazon Senior Engineer
L63/64 vs L6 comparison
Amazon L6 (Senior SDE)
Median Annual Salary
Microsoft 64 (Senior)
Median Annual Salary
Microsoft vs Amazon Compensation Structure
| Factor | Microsoft | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary | Higher ($200K+ possible) | Capped at ~$185K |
| Equity | Annual grants (RSUs) | Front-loaded, declining |
| Bonus | 15-25% of base | Signing only (years 1-2) |
| Work-Life Balance | Generally better | High intensity culture |
| PIP Culture | Less common | Stack ranking, more PIPs |
Source: Employee reports, Glassdoor
Other Major Seattle Tech Employers
Beyond the two giants, Seattle has strong presence from other tech companies.
Major Seattle Tech Employers
| Company | Seattle Employees | Senior SWE TC | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | ~55,000 | $320K-$420K | HQ1, all teams |
| Microsoft | ~50,000 | $300K-$400K | Redmond HQ |
~8,000 | $350K-$450K | Cloud, YouTube | |
| Meta | ~5,000 | $350K-$420K | Growing presence |
| Salesforce | ~3,000 | $260K-$350K | Post-acquisition growth |
| Zillow | ~3,000 | $240K-$320K | Seattle HQ |
| Expedia | ~3,500 | $220K-$300K | Seattle HQ |
Source: Levels.fyi, LinkedIn 2024
Washington's Tax Advantage
Washington has no state income tax, providing significant advantage for high earners. Combined with salaries near Bay Area levels, Seattle often provides the best net financial outcome.
Take-Home Comparison: Seattle vs Bay Area
| Factor | Seattle ($180K base) | Bay Area ($195K base) |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $180,000 | $195,000 |
| Federal Tax (~24%) | -$43,200 | -$46,800 |
| State Tax | $0 | -$18,000 (9.3%) |
| Take-Home | ~$137,000 | ~$130,000 |
| COL Adjusted | $86,000 (COL 159) | $69,000 (COL 188) |
Source: Tax calculations (simplified)
Seattle vs Bay Area: Complete Comparison
For financial optimization, Seattle often wins. Here's the complete picture.
Seattle vs Bay Area
| Factor | Seattle | Bay Area | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominal Salary | $165K median | $175K median | Bay Area +6% |
| State Tax | 0% | 9-13% | Seattle |
| Cost of Living | 159 index | 188 index | Seattle -15% |
| Big Tech Options | High (MSFT, AMZN, GOOG) | Highest (all) | Bay Area slightly |
| Startup Scene | Growing | Largest | Bay Area |
| Net Financial Outcome | Often best | High gross, high cost | Seattle |
Source: Analysis
Salary data from crowdsourced databases, tax from state rates.
Coding Bootcamps: An Alternative Pathway
Coding bootcamps offer an accelerated pathway into tech careers. For those considering alternatives to traditional degrees, here's what you need to know about this intensive learning format.
What is a Coding Bootcamp?
A coding bootcamp is an intensive, short-term training program (typically 12-24 weeks) that teaches practical programming skills through hands-on projects. Unlike traditional degrees, bootcamps focus exclusively on job-ready skills and often include career services to help graduates land their first tech role.
Who Bootcamps Are Best For
- Career changers looking to enter tech quickly
- Professionals wanting to upskill or transition roles
- Self-taught developers seeking structured training
- Those unable to commit to a 4-year degree timeline
What People Love
Based on discussions from r/codingbootcamp, r/cscareerquestions, and r/learnprogramming
- Fast-track to employment—many graduates land jobs within 3-6 months
- Hands-on, project-based learning builds real portfolio pieces
- Career services and interview prep included in most programs
- Strong alumni networks for job referrals and mentorship
- Structured curriculum keeps you accountable and on track
Common Concerns
Honest feedback from bootcamp graduates and industry professionals
- Intense pace can be overwhelming—expect 60-80 hour weeks
- Some employers still prefer traditional CS degrees for certain roles
- Quality varies widely between programs—research carefully
- Job placement stats can be misleading—ask for CIRR audited reports
- May lack depth in computer science fundamentals like algorithms
Save $1000 on Springboard Bootcamps
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Programs for Tech careers:
- Software Engineering Career Track
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More Bootcamp Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Articles
Data Sources
Tech company compensation
Salary reports
Taylor Rupe
Co-founder & Editor (B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State • B.A. Psychology, University of Washington)
Taylor combines technical expertise in computer science with a deep understanding of human behavior and learning. His dual background drives Hakia's mission: leveraging technology to build authoritative educational resources that help people make better decisions about their academic and career paths.