Technology Owensboro, KY Pop. 60,183

Data Engineer Salary in Owensboro, Kentucky

The median data engineer salary in Owensboro, KY is $97,500 per year, which is 22% below the national median and 6% below the Kentucky state average.

City Median
$97,500
vs State Avg
$-6,250
vs National
$-27,500
Cost of Living
82%

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

Owensboro offers a median data engineer salary of $97,500, which is $6,250 below the Kentucky state average of $103,750. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Owensboro pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Owensboro's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 82% of the national average. This means the $97,500 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $118,902 in an average-cost city. This makes Owensboro an attractive option for data engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for data engineers in Owensboro spans from $60,840 at the 10th percentile to $148,200 at the 90th percentile — a $87,360 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $62,400, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $140,400. Owensboro is a smaller market (pop. 60,183), which may mean fewer openings but also less competition for available positions.

Data Engineer Salary in Owensboro by Experience

In Owensboro, an entry-level data engineer earns around $62,400, while experienced professionals earn up to $140,400 per year. The local cost of living index is 82% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$62,400
$-17,600 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$99,060
$-27,940 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$140,400
$-39,600 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Owensboro, KY

Percentile Owensboro
10th Percentile $60,840
25th Percentile $78,000
Median (50th) $97,500
75th Percentile $123,240
90th Percentile $148,200

Data Engineer Salary in Other Kentucky Cities

How to Become a Data Engineer in Owensboro

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Owensboro

Browse open data engineer positions in Owensboro, KY:

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Owensboro

How much does a Data Engineer make in Owensboro, KY? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Owensboro, Kentucky is $97,500 per year, which is 22% below the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $60,840 (10th percentile) to $148,200 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Owensboro? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $97,500, a data engineer in Owensboro earns approximately $47 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Owensboro compare to the Kentucky state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Owensboro's median data engineer salary of $97,500 is 6% below the Kentucky state average of $103,750. The local cost of living index is 82% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Owensboro, KY? ▼
Owensboro has a cost of living index of 82% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $97,500 in Owensboro has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Owensboro? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Owensboro 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.