Technology

Data Engineer Salary

Data engineers build infrastructure and pipelines that collect, store, and process large-scale data for analytics.

Median Salary
$125,000
Mean Salary
$130,800
Total Employed
115,000
Job Growth
+28%

Data Engineer Salary by Experience Level

Entry-level data engineers earn around $80,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $127,000. Senior-level data engineers can earn $180,000 or more.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$80,000
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$127,000
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$180,000

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Salary Percentile Breakdown

The salary range for data engineers varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $78,000, while the top 10% earn $190,000.

Percentile Annual Salary
10th Percentile $78,000
25th Percentile $100,000
50th Percentile (Median) $125,000
75th Percentile $158,000
90th Percentile $190,000

Data Engineer Salary by State

Data Engineer salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $206,250, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $93,750.

State Median
#1 Hawaii $206,250 Details →
#2 California $191,250 Details →
#3 Massachusetts $181,250 Details →
#4 New York $165,000 Details →
#5 Washington $158,750 Details →
#6 Alaska $151,250 Details →
#7 New Jersey $151,250 Details →
#8 Maryland $145,000 Details →
#9 Oregon $145,000 Details →
#10 Connecticut $143,750 Details →
#11 Colorado $141,250 Details →
#12 Virginia $140,000 Details →
#13 New Hampshire $133,750 Details →
#14 Rhode Island $132,500 Details →
#15 Utah $127,500 Details →
#16 Delaware $126,250 Details →
#17 Florida $125,000 Details →
#18 Illinois $125,000 Details →
#19 Minnesota $125,000 Details →
#20 Arizona $123,750 Details →
#21 Nevada $123,750 Details →
#22 Pennsylvania $122,500 Details →
#23 Texas $122,500 Details →
#24 Vermont $122,500 Details →
#25 Georgia $120,000 Details →
#26 North Carolina $120,000 Details →
#27 Maine $118,750 Details →
#28 Idaho $117,500 Details →
#29 New Mexico $116,250 Details →
#30 Wisconsin $115,000 Details →
#31 Montana $113,750 Details →
#32 Michigan $112,500 Details →
#33 Ohio $112,500 Details →
#34 Tennessee $111,250 Details →
#35 Indiana $110,000 Details →
#36 Missouri $110,000 Details →
#37 Nebraska $110,000 Details →
#38 Louisiana $108,750 Details →
#39 South Carolina $108,750 Details →
#40 Iowa $107,500 Details →
#41 North Dakota $107,500 Details →
#42 Wyoming $107,500 Details →
#43 Kansas $105,000 Details →
#44 Kentucky $103,750 Details →
#45 South Dakota $103,750 Details →
#46 Alabama $102,500 Details →
#47 Oklahoma $102,500 Details →
#48 Arkansas $97,500 Details →
#49 West Virginia $95,000 Details →
#50 Mississippi $93,750 Details →

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Key Responsibilities

  • ● Build scalable data pipelines
  • ● Manage data warehouses
  • ● Optimize query performance
  • ● Implement data quality monitoring
  • ● Collaborate with data scientists

Top Skills

Python SQL Spark Airflow AWS/GCP Data Modeling

Education Required

Bachelor's degree

Job Outlook

Much faster than average — projected 28% growth over the next decade

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Frequently Asked Questions About Data Engineer Salaries

How much does a Data Engineer make per year? ▼
The median data engineer salary in the United States is $125,000 per year. Entry-level positions start around $80,000, while senior-level professionals earn up to $180,000 annually. The mean (average) salary is $130,800.
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour? ▼
Based on the national median salary of $125,000 per year, a data engineer earns approximately $60 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year. Hourly rates vary by experience, location, and employer.
What is the highest paying state for data engineers? ▼
Hawaii is the highest paying state for data engineers, with a median salary of $206,250. Other top-paying states include California ($191,250) and Massachusetts ($181,250).
What education do you need to become a data engineer? ▼
Most data engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Python, SQL, Spark, Airflow. Relevant certifications and hands-on experience can also strengthen your qualifications.
What is the job outlook for data engineers? ▼
Employment for data engineers is projected to grow 28% over the next decade, which is much faster than average. There are currently 115,000 data engineers employed in the United States.
How much does an entry-level data engineer make? ▼
An entry-level data engineer with 0-2 years of experience earns around $80,000 per year. With 3-7 years of experience, pay increases to approximately $127,000. The bottom 10% of earners make $78,000, while the top 10% earn $190,000.