Software Engineer salary: Seattle vs Austin
Two of the strongest US 'second-tier' tech hubs. Seattle leads on senior tech depth; Austin leads on tax-adjusted take-home.
Software Engineer median · Seattle
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US · live Adzuna
Software Engineer median · Austin
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US · live Adzuna
Seattle market
Seattle is the second US tech hub by depth - Amazon and Microsoft anchor the market with a strong supporting cast (Snowflake, Stripe, Anthropic offices). Cash salaries trail SF by ~5-10% but cost of living is lower.
Austin market
Austin's tech market has matured through the 2020s, anchored by Tesla, Oracle and Indeed. Salaries sit ~15-20% below SF for tech but Texas tax economics often equalise take-home pay.
Software Engineer salary in Seattle (full report)
Percentiles, contract day rate, side-income context.
Software Engineer salary in Austin (full report)
Percentiles, contract day rate, side-income context.
Where do you sit on this benchmark?
Hustle Report pulls live medians for your role and postcode every Monday - plus matched side-hustle briefs to close any gap your benchmark exposes.
Compare other cities
More Software Engineer salary comparisons
Same cities, different role
FAQ
Seattle vs Austin · FAQ
Does Austin actually pay more than Seattle for Software Engineers?
Live medians fluctuate week to week — see the cards above for the latest figures. But headline pay is only half the picture: cost of living, tax band, equity culture and remote norms can swing real take-home parity by 15-30% in either direction.
How is the GBP-equivalent calculated?
We pull each city's local-currency median from Adzuna in its native currency, then convert at the most recent monthly average from our currency reference. We refresh weekly and don't smooth, so a sharp FX move can shift the comparison.
What's the catch with comparing Software Engineer salaries across countries?
Tax is the biggest one. After income tax, payroll/social contributions and (in the US) state tax, headline gaps often shrink. Equity is also undercounted: Software Engineers in the US frequently take 20-40% of total comp in RSUs, which Adzuna doesn't see.
Should I relocate based on this Seattle vs Austin comparison?
Almost never on salary alone. Cost of housing, healthcare and visa friction usually dominate the decision. Use this page to set negotiation anchors and to understand whether your current pay is regionally competitive — the Hustle Report Monday brief makes that personal to your CV and postcode.
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