Seattle / Bellevue, WA • 100% Geo-Band • 0% State/Regional Tax
Data Scientist & Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Seattle
2026 local compensation bands, state tax drag ($0/yr at L5), and purchasing power benchmarks.
L5 Median Total Comp
$320,440
Cost of Living Index
88 / 100
Real Purchasing Power vs SF
125%
Median Home Price
$890,000
| Level | Title & Experience | 25th %ile Base | Median Base (P50) | 75th %ile Base | 90th %ile Base | Bonus / Equity | Median Total Comp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L3 | Associate Data Scientist / ML Engineer 0 - 2 Years |
$85,000 | $102,000 | $122,000 | $140,000 | 10% / $18,000 | $130,200 |
| L4 | Data Scientist / ML Engineer II 2 - 5 Years |
$125,000 | $148,000 | $178,000 | $205,000 | 12% / $35,000 | $200,760 |
| L5 | Senior Machine Learning Engineer 5 - 8 Years |
$175,000 | $208,000 | $250,000 | $295,000 | 18% / $75,000 | $320,440 |
| L6 | Staff / Principal AI Scientist 8 - 12+ Years |
$240,000 | $285,000 | $350,000 | $420,000 | 22% / $160,000 | $507,700 |
Seattle Compensation FAQs
How much does a Data Scientist & Machine Learning Engineer make in Seattle in 2026?
Adjusted for Seattle (100% market tier), median Data Scientist & Machine Learning Engineer total compensation spans from $130,200 at L3 to $507,700 at L6.
How do taxes and cost of living affect Data Scientist & Machine Learning Engineer pay in Seattle?
Seattle carries an estimated 0% state/regional income tax rate and a 88/100 cost-of-living index (median home $890,000), giving roughly 125% real purchasing power compared to San Francisco.