Software Engineer Salary Comparison: Bay Area vs Greater Seattle Area (2024-2025)

Overview

As of late 2024, both the Bay Area and the Greater Seattle Area remain competitive markets for software engineers. Let's dive into a detailed comparison of compensation packages across different experience levels and companies.

https://www.levels.fyi/t/software-engineer/locations/san-francisco-bay-area

Median Total Compensation

Bay Area (San Francisco)

• Median: $258,250
• Range: $195,000 - $350,000 (25th to 75th percentile)
• 90th percentile: $460,000

Greater Seattle Area

• Median: $238,000
• Range: $180,000 - $310,000 (25th to 75th percentile)
• 90th percentile: $400,000

While the Bay Area offers higher median compensation, the difference is less pronounced than in previous years, especially when considering the cost of living.

Entry-Level Positions

Bay Area

• Median: $186,250
• Range: $152,500 - $208,250

Greater Seattle Area

• Median: $176,750
• Range: $154,000 - $187,000

Entry-level positions in both areas show a smaller gap, with the Bay Area offering about 5% higher median compensation.

Mid-Level Positions

Bay Area

• Median: $258,250
• Range: $195,000 - $350,000

Greater Seattle Area

• Median: $238,000
• Range: $180,000 - $310,000

At the mid-level, the Bay Area maintains a slight edge in compensation.

Senior-Level Positions

Bay Area

• Median: $490,684
• Range: $300,000 - $650,000

Greater Seattle Area

• Median: $407,000
• Range: $250,000 - $550,000

The gap widens for senior positions, with the Bay Area offering significantly higher compensation at this level.

Company-Specific Data

Amazon (San Francisco Bay Area)

• SDE I (L4): $191,000 (Base: $146K, Stock: $28.9K, Bonus: $15.7K)
• SDE II (L5): $296,000 (Base: $186K, Stock: $104K, Bonus: $5.5K)
• SDE III (L6): $487,000 (Base: $229K, Stock: $252K, Bonus: $6.6K)
• Principal SDE (L7): $690,000 (Base: $270K, Stock: $398K, Bonus: $23.1K)

Indeed (Greater Seattle Area)

• L1: $165,000 (Base: $131K, Stock: $17.1K, Bonus: $16.7K)
• L2: $230,000 (Base: $162K, Stock: $53.3K, Bonus: $15.1K)
• L2-II: $278,000 (Base: $188K, Stock: $70.7K, Bonus: $19K)

Meta (Facebook) - United States

• E3: $185,000 (Base: $135K, Stock: $34.4K, Bonus: $15.6K)
• E4: $313,000 (Base: $183K, Stock: $99.4K, Bonus: $30.9K)
• E5: $473,000 (Base: $221K, Stock: $221K, Bonus: $30.3K)
• E6: $599,000 (Base: $256K, Stock: $302K, Bonus: $40.7K)

Meta's compensation is particularly competitive, especially at higher levels. However, it's important to note that these figures are for the United States overall and may vary slightly between the Bay Area and Seattle.

Additional Considerations

1. Stock Compensation: Bay Area companies, particularly tech giants, often offer higher equity components in their compensation packages.
2. Cost of Living: While Bay Area salaries are higher, the cost of living is significantly higher as well, which can impact the real value of compensation.
3. Career Growth: The Bay Area still offers a wider variety of tech companies and startups, potentially providing more diverse career opportunities.
4. Work-Life Balance: Seattle is often perceived as offering a better work-life balance compared to the fast-paced Bay Area.
5. Industry Focus: While both areas have diverse tech scenes, the Bay Area is known for consumer tech and startups, while Seattle has strengths in cloud computing and enterprise software.

Conclusion

While the Bay Area still maintains an edge in raw compensation figures, especially at senior levels, the Greater Seattle Area offers competitive salaries with a potentially lower cost of living. Software engineers should consider factors beyond just salary, including career growth opportunities, work-life balance, and personal preferences when choosing between these two tech hubs. The data shows that both regions remain highly attractive for tech talent, with companies like Amazon, Indeed, and Meta offering substantial compensation packages across various experience levels.

 

Citations:
[1] https://www.levels.fyi/companies/amazon/salaries/software-engineer/locations/san-francisco-bay-area
[2] https://www.levels.fyi/companies/indeed/salaries/software-engineer/locations/greater-seattle-area
[3] https://www.levels.fyi/t/software-engineer/locations/san-francisco-bay-area
[4] https://www.levels.fyi/companies/facebook/salaries/software-engineer
[5] https://www.levels.fyi/t/software-engineer/locations/greater-seattle-area
[6] https://www.levels.fyi/companies/facebook/salaries/software-engineer/levels/e5/locations/san-francisco-bay-area