Technology Tucson, AZ Pop. 542,629

Data Engineer Salary in Tucson, Arizona

The median data engineer salary in Tucson, AZ is $118,750 per year, which is 5% below the national median and 4% below the Arizona state average.

City Median
$118,750
vs State Avg
$-5,000
vs National
$-6,250
Cost of Living
93%

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

Tucson offers a median data engineer salary of $118,750, which is $5,000 below the Arizona state average of $123,750. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Tucson pays below the national benchmark for this role.

Tucson's cost of living is 93% of the national average, meaning salary figures here closely reflect actual purchasing power. This makes direct comparisons to other cities straightforward.

The salary range for data engineers in Tucson spans from $74,100 at the 10th percentile to $180,500 at the 90th percentile — a $106,400 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $76,000, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $171,000. As a major metro area with a population of 542,629, Tucson typically offers more job opportunities and employer competition, which can drive salaries higher.

Data Engineer Salary in Tucson by Experience

In Tucson, an entry-level data engineer earns around $76,000, while experienced professionals earn up to $171,000 per year. The local cost of living index is 93% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$76,000
$-4,000 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$120,650
$-6,350 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$171,000
$-9,000 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Tucson, AZ

Percentile Tucson
10th Percentile $74,100
25th Percentile $95,000
Median (50th) $118,750
75th Percentile $150,100
90th Percentile $180,500

Data Engineer Salary in Other Arizona Cities

Scottsdale, AZ
$142,500
Pop. 241,361
Chandler, AZ
$130,000
Pop. 275,987
Phoenix, AZ
$127,500
Pop. 1,608,139
Mesa, AZ
$123,750
Pop. 504,258

How to Become a Data Engineer in Tucson

Education

Most data engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. Tucson and the surrounding Arizona 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 Tucson may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Tucson

Browse open data engineer positions in Tucson, AZ:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Tucson

How much does a Data Engineer make in Tucson, AZ? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Tucson, Arizona is $118,750 per year, which is 5% below the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $74,100 (10th percentile) to $180,500 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Tucson? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $118,750, a data engineer in Tucson earns approximately $57 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Tucson compare to the Arizona state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Tucson's median data engineer salary of $118,750 is 4% below the Arizona state average of $123,750. The local cost of living index is 93% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Tucson, AZ? ▼
Tucson has a cost of living index of 93% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $118,750 in Tucson has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Tucson? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Tucson 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.