Salary comparison
Software Developers: Seattle vs Los Angeles
Seattle, WA pays about 4.0% more for software developers on paper — $167,280 vs $160,920. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Seattle comes out ahead by $6,360 a year in real buying power.
Seattle, WA
$167,280
$132,800
$211,860
$80.42
100
$167,280/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Los Angeles, CA
$160,920
$127,530
$191,540
$77.37
100
$160,920/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $6,360 a year (4.0%) in favor of Seattle. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Seattle runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Los Angeles sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Seattle is the better deal by $6,360 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Los Angeles to Seattle for this role, the raise needs to beat 4.0% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do software developers earn more, Seattle or Los Angeles?
Seattle pays $167,280 on median — about 4.0% more than Los Angeles ($160,920). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Seattle. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Seattle gives you roughly$167,280 of real buying power versus $160,920 in the other city.