Technology Lafayette, LA Pop. 121,374

Data Engineer Salary in Lafayette, Louisiana

The median data engineer salary in Lafayette, LA is $105,000 per year, which is 16% below the national median and 3.4% below the Louisiana state average.

City Median
$105,000
vs State Avg
$-3,750
vs National
$-20,000
Cost of Living
88%

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

Lafayette offers a median data engineer salary of $105,000, which is $3,750 below the Louisiana state average of $108,750. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Lafayette pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Lafayette's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 88% of the national average. This means the $105,000 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $119,318 in an average-cost city. This makes Lafayette an attractive option for data engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for data engineers in Lafayette spans from $65,520 at the 10th percentile to $159,600 at the 90th percentile — a $94,080 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $67,200, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $151,200. With a population of 121,374, Lafayette is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Engineer Salary in Lafayette by Experience

In Lafayette, an entry-level data engineer earns around $67,200, while experienced professionals earn up to $151,200 per year. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$67,200
$-12,800 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$106,680
$-20,320 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$151,200
$-28,800 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Lafayette, LA

Percentile Lafayette
10th Percentile $65,520
25th Percentile $84,000
Median (50th) $105,000
75th Percentile $132,720
90th Percentile $159,600

Data Engineer Salary in Other Louisiana Cities

New Orleans, LA
$117,500
Pop. 383,997
Baton Rouge, LA
$110,000
Pop. 227,470
Lake Charles, LA
$102,500
Pop. 80,000
Shreveport, LA
$101,250
Pop. 187,593

How to Become a Data Engineer in Lafayette

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Lafayette

Browse open data engineer positions in Lafayette, LA:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Lafayette

How much does a Data Engineer make in Lafayette, LA? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Lafayette, Louisiana is $105,000 per year, which is 16% below the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $65,520 (10th percentile) to $159,600 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Lafayette? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $105,000, a data engineer in Lafayette earns approximately $50 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Lafayette compare to the Louisiana state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Lafayette's median data engineer salary of $105,000 is 3.4% below the Louisiana state average of $108,750. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Lafayette, LA? ▼
Lafayette has a cost of living index of 88% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $105,000 in Lafayette has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Lafayette? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Lafayette 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.