$100k in Redmond
Your salary isn't what you earn. It's what you keep.
See the exact impact of WA taxes and Redmond living costs on your paycheck.
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2026 IRS Brackets • FICA Limits • State & Local Rules
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📊 Redmond Salary Guide
The Redmond, WA Salary Guide: What $100,000 Actually Buys You
You cleared the bar. You landed the interview. You got the offer letter for a cool $100,000 to work in the tech hub of the Pacific Northwest. But in a city dominated by Microsoft, Nintendo of America, and a relentless housing market, that six-figure salary is just the entry fee.
We stripped away the fluff and ran the raw numbers to see what your bank account looks like on the 1st of the month.
The Verification Test ($100,000 Analysis)
Let’s kill the fantasy: Your gross salary is not your spending power.
When you sign a contract for $100,000 in Redmond, you are signing up for a specific set of withholdings. Before you see a dime, the federal government and FICA take their pound of flesh.
Here is the hard math on a $100,000 annual salary:
- Sticker Price: $100,000
- Federal Tax: -$13,614
- FICA (Social Security/Medicare): -$7,650
- State Tax: $0
- Local Tax: $0
Your Total Take Home Pay: $78,736
That 21.2% reduction is the reality of American taxation. However, you are playing the game on "Easy Mode" regarding state taxes. Because Washington has NO STATE INCOME TAX, you are saving roughly $5,000 to $7,000 annually compared to a $100k earner in California or New York. This is your single biggest financial advantage in Redmond.
Monthly Net Income: $6,561
Smart Budget Breakdown (50/30/20 Rule)
With a net monthly income of $6,561, you have exactly one shot to build wealth or drown in "lifestyle creep." We apply the 50/30/20 rule to see how far your money goes in a city where the median rent for a 1-bedroom is hovering around $2,300.
Needs: $3,281/mo (50%)
Verdict: Manageable, but tight.
Your "Needs" bucket covers rent, utilities, groceries, insurance, and transportation. Redmond is expensive, but this budget can handle it.
- Rent: You can afford a modern 1-bedroom apartment ($2,300 - $2,500) or a studio with premium amenities.
- Utilities/Food: After rent, you have roughly $800 left for food, power, and internet. This requires cooking at home. If you are dining out three times a week, you blow this category immediately.
Wants: $1,968/mo (30%)
Verdict: The "Tech Lifestyle" Fund.
This is your disposable income. It covers dining out, the gym, Netflix, and weekend trips to Seattle or the Cascades. $1,968 is a healthy amount for a single person to enjoy the Pacific Northwest lifestyle, provided you don't lease a Tesla and buy $200 dinners every Friday.
Savings: $1,312/mo (20%)
Verdict: Wealth Creation Engine.
This is the number that matters. Saving $1,312 a month is $15,744 a year.
If you are debt-free and invest this in a standard S&P 500 index fund, compounding turns this into serious capital over a decade. This is how you transition from "earning a salary" to "building net worth." In Redmond, $1,312/month in savings puts you ahead of the national average.
Redmond Taxes vs. The Competition
Why does everyone move to Washington? Look at the competition. We compared a $100,000 salary in Redmond against two major tech hubs: New York City and Austin, Texas.
| City | Gross Salary | State/Local Tax | Estimated Net Pay | You Lose (vs. Redmond) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmond, WA | $100,000 | $0 | $78,736 | $0 |
| Austin, TX | $100,000 | ~$6,000+ (Property Tax/High COL) | ~$78,000* | ~$700 (Negligible) |
| New York, NYC | $100,000 | ~$10,000+ (State/City Tax) | ~$68,500 | $10,236 |
*Note: Texas has no income tax, but high property taxes and rising cost of living eat into the gap.
The Analysis: Austin is closing the gap, but New York City bleeds you dry. Earning $100k in NYC leaves you with roughly $5,700/mo compared to Redmond's $6,561. That difference of nearly $900 a month is the difference between living in a luxury building in Redmond versus a cramped apartment in Queens.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the income tax rate in Redmond?
A: Redmond has a 0% state income tax and a 0% local city income tax. You only pay Federal tax and FICA. Your tax burden is strictly what the IRS requires.
Q: Is $100,000 a good salary in Redmond?
A: It is a good starting salary, but not a "get rich quick" salary. It allows for a comfortable single lifestyle and solid savings ($1,312/mo). However, buying a home in Redmond (median price ~$1.2M) on a single $100k income is extremely difficult without a massive down payment or dual income.
Q: Does Redmond have a local city tax?
A: No. Residents of Redmond do not pay a local income tax. You may see "B&O" taxes on business receipts, but as an employee, your paycheck is not taxed by the city.
METHODOLOGY & SOURCES:
Tax calculations based on IRS 2026 Tax Brackets (Standard Deduction Single Filer). FICA rates fixed at 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare. Cost of Living data cross-referenced with Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) CPI and State Comptroller filings for WA.