Technology Great Falls, MT Pop. 60,442

Data Engineer Salary in Great Falls, Montana

The median data engineer salary in Great Falls, MT is $105,000 per year, which is 16% below the national median and 7.7% below the Montana state average.

City Median
$105,000
vs State Avg
$-8,750
vs National
$-20,000
Cost of Living
88%

Data Engineer Pay in Great Falls: What to Expect (2026)

Great Falls offers a median data engineer salary of $105,000, which is $8,750 below the Montana state average of $113,750. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Great Falls pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Great Falls'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 Great Falls an attractive option for data engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for data engineers in Great Falls 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. Great Falls is a smaller market (pop. 60,442), which may mean fewer openings but also less competition for available positions.

Data Engineer Salary in Great Falls by Experience

In Great Falls, 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 Great Falls, MT

Percentile Great Falls
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 Montana Cities

Bozeman, MT
$138,750
Pop. 53,293
Missoula, MT
$122,500
Pop. 75,516
Billings, MT
$115,000
Pop. 117,116
Helena, MT
$112,500
Pop. 32,315

How to Become a Data Engineer in Great Falls

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Great Falls

Browse open data engineer positions in Great Falls, MT:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Great Falls

How much does a Data Engineer make in Great Falls, MT? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Great Falls, Montana 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 Great Falls? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $105,000, a data engineer in Great Falls earns approximately $50 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Great Falls compare to the Montana state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Great Falls's median data engineer salary of $105,000 is 7.7% below the Montana state average of $113,750. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Great Falls, MT? ▼
Great Falls has a cost of living index of 88% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $105,000 in Great Falls has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Great Falls? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Great Falls 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.