Side-by-side · Software Engineer
Washington vs Los Angeles
Move Value
−$12k
real, after tax + COL · per year
Career Velocity
8/10
DC: 7/10 → step-up
10-Year Outlook
−$140k
± $115k confidence band
| Washington | Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|
| P50 salary, role | $152k | $162k |
| State + local income tax | None | 6.9% |
| After-tax income | $114k | $110k |
| Cost of living (US = 100) | 152 | 173 |
| Median 1BR rent | $2375/mo | $2892/mo |
| Real purchasing power | $75k | $64k |
| Career Velocity (this role) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Career Velocity v1 (0–100) | 18 · Thin | 18 · Thin |
| Walkability (0–10) | 8 | 5 |
| Outdoors (0–10) | 7 | 9 |
Who should make this move
Choose Los Angeles if…
- ·Your field's Career Velocity is at least as good in LA (8/10).
- ·Creative capital with coastal pay and a car-shaped lifestyle.
Stay in Washington if…
- ·You'd lose $12k of real income annually.
- ·Your 10-year picture is $140k better if you stay.
- ·You're optimizing for what DC uniquely offers: government, consulting, and biz-dev — recession-resistant by design.
A note on the numbers: Salaries are role-P50 from BLS-style bands. Tax is statutory state + local at ~$110k single. The 10-year outlook uses a 3-year promotion cadence with a small velocity adjustment, 2.5% COL inflation, and discounts to today's dollars. Full assumptions on the methodology page.