I assume so as well. OP seemed incredulous of the relative $ amount between Bay Area BigCo and Seattle BigCo and that they lacked parity. I don’t have any context for the startup and its pay scale, but figured the clarity may help.
E: on a third reading, OP may have meant 5% raise in addition to dollars gained due to tax differences.
Sorry I assumed the pay would be equivalent between the regions for the same job at the same company. The 5% raise would just be a result of no state income tax.
E: on a third reading, OP may have meant 5% raise in addition to dollars gained due to tax differences.