What the data says about data scientist pay in Seattle
After a simplified 17% national tax estimate that is about US$11,400 a month, in a metro with a cost-of-living index of 100.
Data Scientist pay in Seattle: national and in-state ranking
San Jose leads at US$185,080, 12% above Seattle, while San Antonio sits at US$103,290. The neighbours in the ranking are San Francisco and New York.
No other WA metro has observed data scientist percentiles here, so Seattle is judged against the 21-metro national list instead.
What the Seattle median is worth after tax and rent
Price levels in Seattle (index 100) neither inflate nor shrink the paycheck much; adjusted for costs it is worth about US$164,700.
Adjusting for prices does not move Seattle in the ranking: it is 3rd of 21 on both cash and buying power.
Take-home on the median comes to roughly US$11,400 monthly (17% effective tax in our simplified model). Rent for a modeled 1-bedroom is 14% of it, and the single-adult budget ends about US$7,880 in the black.
Metros with a cost level like Seattle
New York (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$135,980, 17% less than Seattle; modeled monthly leftover is US$1,830 lower.
Los Angeles (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$129,740, 21% less than Seattle; modeled monthly leftover is US$2,220 lower.
Chicago (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$107,640, 35% less than Seattle; modeled monthly leftover is US$3,650 lower.
Where Data Scientist ranks among Seattle jobs
Of the 9 roles we track in Seattle, Data Scientist is 3rd by median; the highest is Software Engineer (US$167,280).
Closest neighbours in the Seattle list: Lawyer at US$164,980 (0%) and Frontend Developer at US$130,440 (-21%).
How Seattle ranks at the low and high end
The Seattle market rewards seniority more than entry: the 90th percentile (US$230,980) ranks 3rd of 21, but the 10th (US$81,130) only 5th.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$282,840 at the 90th percentile, +22% against Seattle.
How wide data scientist pay runs in Seattle
Expect wide variation between offers: the 10th percentile is US$81,130 and the 90th US$230,980, a 2.8× ratio.