Data Engineer Salary in Seattle
2026 compensation data for Data Engineer positions in Seattle, WA. Ranges from $98,000 (entry-level) to $256,000 (senior). Median: $168,000.
Median (Mid)
$168,000
$80.77/hr
vs National
+2%
US: $165,000
COL Index
155
vs US avg = 100
Senior Max
$256,000
Top of band
Salary Ranges by Experience Level
Detailed Compensation Breakdown
| Level | Annual Min | Annual Median | Annual Max | Hourly (Median) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level (0–2 yrs) | $98,000 | $120,000 | $146,000 | $57.69/hr |
| Mid-Level (3–5 yrs) | $140,000 | $168,000 | $195,000 | $80.77/hr |
| Senior (6+ yrs) | $183,000 | $217,000 | $256,000 | $104.33/hr |
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A mid-level data engineer earning $168,000 in Seattle has the same buying power as $108,000 in an average US city, after adjusting for the local cost of living (COL index 155).
Cost of living comparisons use a base of 100 (US national average). Higher index = higher housing, transport, and consumer prices.
About Data Engineer Salaries in Seattle
Data engineering in Seattle benefits from one of the most favorable market conditions in the country: Amazon's massive internal data infrastructure needs, Microsoft Azure's data platform teams, and a dense startup ecosystem (Snowflake's engineering hub, Tableau/Salesforce, Databricks' Seattle presence) create structural demand that consistently outpaces local talent supply. The median data engineer salary here tracks closely with San Francisco while benefiting from Seattle's 155 cost-of-living index—meaning the real purchasing power advantage is significant, particularly for engineers who don't need Bay Area proximity. Amazon's influence is felt everywhere: the company's internal data tooling standards (Redshift, Glue, Kinesis, Lake Formation) have set a high bar for data engineering rigor that permeates the regional market. Engineers with AWS data service expertise consistently command 10–15% premiums. Microsoft's Azure data teams (Synapse, Fabric, Azure Data Factory) provide an alternative ecosystem; cross-cloud competency is increasingly valued. The startup scene—particularly enterprise SaaS companies building analytics products—offers steeper equity upside (0.1–0.5%) and faster career growth than the large-company track. Negotiation angles: the talent shortage for experienced data engineers is genuine; if you can demonstrate end-to-end ownership (pipeline design, orchestration, quality monitoring, and cross-team enablement), you're negotiating from a position of strength. Amazon and Microsoft both have transparent leveling systems; study the levels and map your experience precisely. Remote flexibility is strong at startups but less consistent at Amazon (which has mandated return-to-office). Signing bonuses are common ($30K–$100K) to offset unvested equity at current employers.
Build and maintain data pipelines, warehouses, and ETL processes for analytics and ML systems. This page covers data engineer compensation specifically in Seattle, WA.
The median data engineer salary in Seattle, WA is $168,000 for mid-level professionals, which is 2% above the national median. With a cost of living index of 155 (national average = 100), Seattle offers a high cost of living that partially offsets the salary premium.
Entry-level data engineers in Seattle can expect to earn between $98,000 and $146,000 (about $57.69/hour), while senior professionals with 6+ years of experience earn up to $256,000 ($256K annually, or about $123.08/hour).
These figures represent base salary only and do not include bonuses, equity, or benefits, which can add 20–50% to total compensation — especially at technology companies and in competitive markets like Seattle.
Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Seattle
What is the average Data Engineer salary in Seattle?+
The average Data Engineer salary in Seattle is $168,000 for a mid-level professional (3–5 years of experience). Entry-level pay starts around $120,000 and senior-level pay reaches $217,000.
How much does an entry-level data engineer make in Seattle?+
Entry-level data engineers in Seattle earn between $98,000 and $146,000, with a median of $120,000 per year (about $57.69/hour).
What is the hourly rate for a Data Engineer in Seattle?+
Based on a 2,080-hour work year, a Data Engineer in Seattle earns roughly $57.69/hour at entry-level, $80.77/hour at mid-level, and $104.33/hour at senior-level.
Is the Data Engineer salary in Seattle higher than the US average?+
Yes — Data Engineer salaries in Seattle are about 2% higher than the US national median of $165,000.
Does this include bonuses or equity?+
No — these figures are base salary only. Total compensation (base + bonus + equity + benefits) is typically 20–50% higher, and can be 2–3x at top technology and finance employers.
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