Technology Tuscaloosa, AL Pop. 101,129

Data Engineer Salary in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The median data engineer salary in Tuscaloosa, AL is $103,750 per year, which is 17% below the national median and 1.2% above the Alabama state average.

City Median
$103,750
vs State Avg
+$1,250
vs National
$-21,250
Cost of Living
88%

Data Engineer Pay in Tuscaloosa: What to Expect (2026)

Tuscaloosa offers a median data engineer salary of $103,750, which is $1,250 above the Alabama state average of $102,500. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Tuscaloosa pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Tuscaloosa's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 88% of the national average. This means the $103,750 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $117,898 in an average-cost city. This makes Tuscaloosa an attractive option for data engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for data engineers in Tuscaloosa spans from $64,740 at the 10th percentile to $157,700 at the 90th percentile — a $92,960 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $66,400, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $149,400. With a population of 101,129, Tuscaloosa is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Engineer Salary in Tuscaloosa by Experience

In Tuscaloosa, an entry-level data engineer earns around $66,400, while experienced professionals earn up to $149,400 per year. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$66,400
$-13,600 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$105,410
$-21,590 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$149,400
$-30,600 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Tuscaloosa, AL

Percentile Tuscaloosa
10th Percentile $64,740
25th Percentile $83,000
Median (50th) $103,750
75th Percentile $131,140
90th Percentile $157,700

Data Engineer Salary in Other Alabama Cities

Huntsville, AL
$108,750
Pop. 216,963
Birmingham, AL
$106,250
Pop. 197,575
Montgomery, AL
$101,250
Pop. 200,603
Mobile, AL
$100,000
Pop. 187,041

How to Become a Data Engineer in Tuscaloosa

Education

Most data engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. Tuscaloosa and the surrounding Alabama area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

PythonSQLSparkAirflowAWS/GCPData Modeling

Job Outlook

Nationally, data engineer employment is projected to grow 28% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Tuscaloosa may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Tuscaloosa

Browse open data engineer positions in Tuscaloosa, AL:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Tuscaloosa

How much does a Data Engineer make in Tuscaloosa, AL? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Tuscaloosa, Alabama is $103,750 per year, which is 17% below the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $64,740 (10th percentile) to $157,700 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Tuscaloosa? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $103,750, a data engineer in Tuscaloosa earns approximately $50 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Tuscaloosa compare to the Alabama state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Tuscaloosa's median data engineer salary of $103,750 is 1.2% above the Alabama state average of $102,500. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Tuscaloosa, AL? ▼
Tuscaloosa has a cost of living index of 88% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $103,750 in Tuscaloosa has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Tuscaloosa? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Tuscaloosa require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Python, SQL, Spark, Airflow. The job market is projected to grow 28% nationally over the next decade.