Technology Cambridge, MA Pop. 118,403

Data Engineer Salary in Cambridge, Massachusetts

The median data engineer salary in Cambridge, MA is $212,500 per year, which is 70.0% above the national median and 17.2% above the Massachusetts state average.

City Median
$212,500
vs State Avg
+$31,250
vs National
+$87,500
Cost of Living
160%

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

Cambridge offers a median data engineer salary of $212,500, which is $31,250 above the Massachusetts state average of $181,250. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Cambridge pays above average for this role.

However, Cambridge's cost of living index is 160%, significantly above the national average. After adjusting for local costs, the $212,500 salary has an effective purchasing power of approximately $132,813. Housing, transportation, and food costs in Cambridge should be factored into any relocation or job-change decision.

The salary range for data engineers in Cambridge spans from $132,600 at the 10th percentile to $323,000 at the 90th percentile — a $190,400 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $136,000, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $306,000. With a population of 118,403, Cambridge is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Engineer Salary in Cambridge by Experience

In Cambridge, an entry-level data engineer earns around $136,000, while experienced professionals earn up to $306,000 per year. The local cost of living index is 160% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$136,000
+$56,000 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$215,900
+$88,900 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$306,000
+$126,000 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Cambridge, MA

Percentile Cambridge
10th Percentile $132,600
25th Percentile $170,000
Median (50th) $212,500
75th Percentile $268,600
90th Percentile $323,000

Data Engineer Salary in Other Massachusetts Cities

Boston, MA
$202,500
Pop. 675,647
Worcester, MA
$150,000
Pop. 206,518
Lowell, MA
$143,750
Pop. 115,554
Springfield, MA
$135,000
Pop. 155,929

How to Become a Data Engineer in Cambridge

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Cambridge

Browse open data engineer positions in Cambridge, MA:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Cambridge

How much does a Data Engineer make in Cambridge, MA? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Cambridge, Massachusetts is $212,500 per year, which is 70.0% above the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $132,600 (10th percentile) to $323,000 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Cambridge? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $212,500, a data engineer in Cambridge earns approximately $102 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Cambridge compare to the Massachusetts state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Cambridge's median data engineer salary of $212,500 is 17.2% above the Massachusetts state average of $181,250. The local cost of living index is 160% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Cambridge, MA? ▼
Cambridge has a cost of living index of 160% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $212,500 in Cambridge has less purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Cambridge? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Cambridge 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.