Technology Rockford, IL Pop. 148,655

Data Engineer Salary in Rockford, Illinois

The median data engineer salary in Rockford, IL is $108,750 per year, which is 13% below the national median and 13% below the Illinois state average.

City Median
$108,750
vs State Avg
$-16,250
vs National
$-16,250
Cost of Living
82%

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

Rockford offers a median data engineer salary of $108,750, which is $16,250 below the Illinois state average of $125,000. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Rockford pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Rockford's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 82% of the national average. This means the $108,750 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $132,622 in an average-cost city. This makes Rockford an attractive option for data engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for data engineers in Rockford spans from $67,860 at the 10th percentile to $165,300 at the 90th percentile — a $97,440 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $69,600, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $156,600. With a population of 148,655, Rockford is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Engineer Salary in Rockford by Experience

In Rockford, an entry-level data engineer earns around $69,600, while experienced professionals earn up to $156,600 per year. The local cost of living index is 82% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$69,600
$-10,400 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$110,490
$-16,510 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$156,600
$-23,400 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Rockford, IL

Percentile Rockford
10th Percentile $67,860
25th Percentile $87,000
Median (50th) $108,750
75th Percentile $137,460
90th Percentile $165,300

Data Engineer Salary in Other Illinois Cities

Naperville, IL
$141,250
Pop. 149,540
Chicago, IL
$140,000
Pop. 2,693,976
Aurora, IL
$125,000
Pop. 197,757
Springfield, IL
$112,500
Pop. 114,394

How to Become a Data Engineer in Rockford

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Rockford

Browse open data engineer positions in Rockford, IL:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Rockford

How much does a Data Engineer make in Rockford, IL? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Rockford, Illinois is $108,750 per year, which is 13% below the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $67,860 (10th percentile) to $165,300 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Rockford? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $108,750, a data engineer in Rockford earns approximately $52 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Rockford compare to the Illinois state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Rockford's median data engineer salary of $108,750 is 13% below the Illinois state average of $125,000. The local cost of living index is 82% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Rockford, IL? ▼
Rockford has a cost of living index of 82% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $108,750 in Rockford has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Rockford? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Rockford 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.