Technology Atlanta, GA Pop. 498,715

Data Engineer Salary in Atlanta, Georgia

The median data engineer salary in Atlanta, GA is $131,250 per year, which is 5.0% above the national median and 9.4% above the Georgia state average.

City Median
$131,250
vs State Avg
+$11,250
vs National
+$6,250
Cost of Living
102%

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

Atlanta offers a median data engineer salary of $131,250, which is $11,250 above the Georgia state average of $120,000. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Atlanta pays above average for this role.

Atlanta's cost of living is 102% 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 Atlanta spans from $81,900 at the 10th percentile to $199,500 at the 90th percentile — a $117,600 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $84,000, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $189,000. With a population of 498,715, Atlanta is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Engineer Salary in Atlanta by Experience

In Atlanta, an entry-level data engineer earns around $84,000, while experienced professionals earn up to $189,000 per year. The local cost of living index is 102% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$84,000
+$4,000 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$133,350
+$6,350 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$189,000
+$9,000 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Atlanta, GA

Percentile Atlanta
10th Percentile $81,900
25th Percentile $105,000
Median (50th) $131,250
75th Percentile $165,900
90th Percentile $199,500

Data Engineer Salary in Other Georgia Cities

How to Become a Data Engineer in Atlanta

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Atlanta

Browse open data engineer positions in Atlanta, GA:

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Atlanta

How much does a Data Engineer make in Atlanta, GA? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Atlanta, Georgia is $131,250 per year, which is 5.0% above the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $81,900 (10th percentile) to $199,500 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Atlanta? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $131,250, a data engineer in Atlanta earns approximately $63 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Atlanta compare to the Georgia state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Atlanta's median data engineer salary of $131,250 is 9.4% above the Georgia state average of $120,000. The local cost of living index is 102% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Atlanta, GA? ▼
Atlanta has a cost of living index of 102% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $131,250 in Atlanta has less purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Atlanta? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Atlanta 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.