Seattle frontend developer salary: rankings and context
After a simplified 15% national tax estimate that is about US$9,200 a month, in a metro with a cost-of-living index of 100.
Frontend Developer pay in Seattle: national and in-state ranking
Directly above Seattle is Washington (US$134,350); directly below is Boston (US$108,520). The full range runs from US$73,920 in Portland to US$166,670 in San Jose.
With Seattle as the sole WA entry for frontend developers, the useful benchmarks are national: 4th of 19, +41% vs the median.
What the Seattle median is worth after tax and rent
With a COL index of 100, there is little difference between headline pay and price-adjusted pay (US$130,400).
Cash rank and buying-power rank match for Seattle: 4th of 19.
Take-home on the median comes to roughly US$9,200 monthly (15% effective tax in our simplified model). Rent for a modeled 1-bedroom is 18% of it, and the single-adult budget ends about US$5,700 in the black.
Seattle vs similar-cost metros
New York (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$104,820, 20% less than Seattle; modeled monthly leftover is US$1,650 lower.
Los Angeles (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$107,290, 18% less than Seattle; modeled monthly leftover is US$1,490 lower.
In Chicago — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$96,870 (-26% vs Seattle), and the modeled budget leaves US$2,170 less each month.
Where Frontend Developer ranks among Seattle jobs
Software Engineer is the best-paid tracked role in Seattle at US$167,280; frontend developer comes 4th of 9.
Closest neighbours in the Seattle list: Data Scientist at US$164,740 (+26%) and Project Manager at US$130,380 (0%).
Where Seattle stands for junior and senior frontend developers
Seattle is relatively stronger at the entry end: its 10th-percentile pay (US$81,190) ranks 3rd of 19, while its 90th percentile (US$176,750) ranks 5th.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$233,990 at the 90th percentile, +32% against Seattle.
Spread between low and high frontend developer pay in Seattle
Expect wide variation between offers: the 10th percentile is US$81,190 and the 90th US$176,750, a 2.2× ratio.