Seattle has more H1B software engineer filings than any US city, with 45,234 in FY2024. DOL LCA data shows Amazon pays $158K, Microsoft $168K, and Google Kirkland $175K at the median. Washington state's zero income tax makes Seattle the top after-tax compensation city for H1B engineers — superior to San Francisco and New York on take-home pay.
Key fact: Washington state has no personal income tax. A Seattle SWE earning $182K takes home $12,000–$17,000 more per year than an equivalent San Francisco engineer — making Seattle's after-tax compensation the highest of any major US tech hub.
| Role | Median |
|---|---|
| SDE L3 | $158,000 |
| Senior SDE L4 | $205,000 |
| Principal SDE L5 | $258,000 |
| ML Engineer L4 | $195,000 |
| SDE Manager | $235,000 |
Source: DOL LCA disclosures, FY2024.
| Employer | Median Wage |
|---|---|
| Amazon | $158,000 |
| Microsoft | $168,000 |
| Google Kirkland | $175,000 |
| Expedia | $138,000 |
| Zillow | $142,000 |
| T-Mobile | $132,000 |