Technology Columbus, GA Pop. 206,922

Data Engineer Salary in Columbus, Georgia

The median data engineer salary in Columbus, GA is $111,250 per year, which is 11% below the national median and 7.3% below the Georgia state average.

City Median
$111,250
vs State Avg
$-8,750
vs National
$-13,750
Cost of Living
86%

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

Columbus offers a median data engineer salary of $111,250, which is $8,750 below the Georgia state average of $120,000. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Columbus pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Columbus's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 86% of the national average. This means the $111,250 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $129,360 in an average-cost city. This makes Columbus an attractive option for data engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for data engineers in Columbus spans from $69,420 at the 10th percentile to $169,100 at the 90th percentile — a $99,680 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $71,200, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $160,200. With a population of 206,922, Columbus is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Engineer Salary in Columbus by Experience

In Columbus, an entry-level data engineer earns around $71,200, while experienced professionals earn up to $160,200 per year. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$71,200
$-8,800 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$113,030
$-13,970 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$160,200
$-19,800 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Columbus, GA

Percentile Columbus
10th Percentile $69,420
25th Percentile $89,000
Median (50th) $111,250
75th Percentile $140,620
90th Percentile $169,100

Data Engineer Salary in Other Georgia Cities

Atlanta, GA
$131,250
Pop. 498,715
Savannah, GA
$118,750
Pop. 147,780
Athens, GA
$116,250
Pop. 127,064
Augusta, GA
$113,750
Pop. 202,081

How to Become a Data Engineer in Columbus

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Columbus

Browse open data engineer positions in Columbus, GA:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Columbus

How much does a Data Engineer make in Columbus, GA? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Columbus, Georgia is $111,250 per year, which is 11% below the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $69,420 (10th percentile) to $169,100 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Columbus? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $111,250, a data engineer in Columbus earns approximately $53 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Columbus compare to the Georgia state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Columbus's median data engineer salary of $111,250 is 7.3% below the Georgia state average of $120,000. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Columbus, GA? ▼
Columbus has a cost of living index of 86% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $111,250 in Columbus has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Columbus? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Columbus 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.