Technology Grand Rapids, MI Pop. 198,917

Data Engineer Salary in Grand Rapids, Michigan

The median data engineer salary in Grand Rapids, MI is $112,500 per year, which is 10% below the national median and 0.0% above the Michigan state average.

City Median
$112,500
vs State Avg
+$0
vs National
$-12,500
Cost of Living
90%

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

Grand Rapids offers a median data engineer salary of $112,500, which is $0 above the Michigan state average of $112,500. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Grand Rapids pays below the national benchmark for this role.

Grand Rapids's cost of living is 90% of the national average, meaning salary figures here closely reflect actual purchasing power. This makes direct comparisons to other cities straightforward.

The salary range for data engineers in Grand Rapids spans from $70,200 at the 10th percentile to $171,000 at the 90th percentile — a $100,800 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $72,000, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $162,000. With a population of 198,917, Grand Rapids is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Engineer Salary in Grand Rapids by Experience

In Grand Rapids, an entry-level data engineer earns around $72,000, while experienced professionals earn up to $162,000 per year. The local cost of living index is 90% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$72,000
$-8,000 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$114,300
$-12,700 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$162,000
$-18,000 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Grand Rapids, MI

Percentile Grand Rapids
10th Percentile $70,200
25th Percentile $90,000
Median (50th) $112,500
75th Percentile $142,200
90th Percentile $171,000

Data Engineer Salary in Other Michigan Cities

Ann Arbor, MI
$131,250
Pop. 123,851
Detroit, MI
$110,000
Pop. 639,111
Warren, MI
$110,000
Pop. 139,387
Lansing, MI
$107,500
Pop. 112,644

How to Become a Data Engineer in Grand Rapids

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Grand Rapids

Browse open data engineer positions in Grand Rapids, MI:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Grand Rapids

How much does a Data Engineer make in Grand Rapids, MI? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Grand Rapids, Michigan is $112,500 per year, which is 10% below the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $70,200 (10th percentile) to $171,000 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Grand Rapids? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $112,500, a data engineer in Grand Rapids earns approximately $54 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Grand Rapids compare to the Michigan state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Grand Rapids's median data engineer salary of $112,500 is 0.0% above the Michigan state average of $112,500. The local cost of living index is 90% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Grand Rapids, MI? ▼
Grand Rapids has a cost of living index of 90% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $112,500 in Grand 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 Grand Rapids? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Grand 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.