Technology Sacramento, CA Pop. 524,943

Data Engineer Salary in Sacramento, California

The median data engineer salary in Sacramento, CA is $166,250 per year, which is 33.0% above the national median and 13.1% below the California state average.

City Median
$166,250
vs State Avg
$-25,000
vs National
+$41,250
Cost of Living
118%

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

Sacramento offers a median data engineer salary of $166,250, which is $25,000 below the California state average of $191,250. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Sacramento pays above average for this role.

However, Sacramento's cost of living index is 118%, significantly above the national average. After adjusting for local costs, the $166,250 salary has an effective purchasing power of approximately $140,890. Housing, transportation, and food costs in Sacramento should be factored into any relocation or job-change decision.

The salary range for data engineers in Sacramento spans from $103,740 at the 10th percentile to $252,700 at the 90th percentile — a $148,960 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $106,400, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $239,400. As a major metro area with a population of 524,943, Sacramento typically offers more job opportunities and employer competition, which can drive salaries higher.

Data Engineer Salary in Sacramento by Experience

In Sacramento, an entry-level data engineer earns around $106,400, while experienced professionals earn up to $239,400 per year. The local cost of living index is 118% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$106,400
+$26,400 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$168,910
+$41,910 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$239,400
+$59,400 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Sacramento, CA

Percentile Sacramento
10th Percentile $103,740
25th Percentile $133,000
Median (50th) $166,250
75th Percentile $210,140
90th Percentile $252,700

Data Engineer Salary in Other California Cities

How to Become a Data Engineer in Sacramento

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Sacramento

Browse open data engineer positions in Sacramento, CA:

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Sacramento

How much does a Data Engineer make in Sacramento, CA? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Sacramento, California is $166,250 per year, which is 33.0% above the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $103,740 (10th percentile) to $252,700 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Sacramento? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $166,250, a data engineer in Sacramento earns approximately $80 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Sacramento compare to the California state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Sacramento's median data engineer salary of $166,250 is 13.1% below the California state average of $191,250. The local cost of living index is 118% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Sacramento, CA? ▼
Sacramento has a cost of living index of 118% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $166,250 in Sacramento has less purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Sacramento? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Sacramento 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.