Technology Cedar Rapids, IA Pop. 137,710

Data Engineer Salary in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

The median data engineer salary in Cedar Rapids, IA is $106,250 per year, which is 15% below the national median and 1.2% below the Iowa state average.

City Median
$106,250
vs State Avg
$-1,250
vs National
$-18,750
Cost of Living
88%

Data Engineer Pay in Cedar Rapids: What to Expect (2026)

Cedar Rapids offers a median data engineer salary of $106,250, which is $1,250 below the Iowa state average of $107,500. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Cedar Rapids pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Cedar Rapids's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 88% of the national average. This means the $106,250 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $120,739 in an average-cost city. This makes Cedar Rapids an attractive option for data engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for data engineers in Cedar Rapids spans from $66,300 at the 10th percentile to $161,500 at the 90th percentile — a $95,200 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $68,000, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $153,000. With a population of 137,710, Cedar Rapids is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Engineer Salary in Cedar Rapids by Experience

In Cedar Rapids, an entry-level data engineer earns around $68,000, while experienced professionals earn up to $153,000 per year. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$68,000
$-12,000 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$107,950
$-19,050 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$153,000
$-27,000 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Cedar Rapids, IA

Percentile Cedar Rapids
10th Percentile $66,300
25th Percentile $85,000
Median (50th) $106,250
75th Percentile $134,300
90th Percentile $161,500

Data Engineer Salary in Other Iowa Cities

Iowa City, IA
$115,000
Pop. 74,828
Des Moines, IA
$111,250
Pop. 214,133
Davenport, IA
$103,750
Pop. 101,724
Sioux City, IA
$101,250
Pop. 85,797

How to Become a Data Engineer in Cedar Rapids

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Cedar Rapids

Browse open data engineer positions in Cedar Rapids, IA:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Cedar Rapids

How much does a Data Engineer make in Cedar Rapids, IA? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Cedar Rapids, Iowa is $106,250 per year, which is 15% below the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $66,300 (10th percentile) to $161,500 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Cedar Rapids? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $106,250, a data engineer in Cedar Rapids earns approximately $51 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Cedar Rapids compare to the Iowa state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Cedar Rapids's median data engineer salary of $106,250 is 1.2% below the Iowa state average of $107,500. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Cedar Rapids, IA? ▼
Cedar Rapids has a cost of living index of 88% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $106,250 in Cedar Rapids has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Cedar Rapids? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Cedar Rapids 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.