Technology Kearney, NE Pop. 33,464

Data Engineer Salary in Kearney, Nebraska

The median data engineer salary in Kearney, NE is $105,000 per year, which is 16% below the national median and 4.5% below the Nebraska state average.

City Median
$105,000
vs State Avg
$-5,000
vs National
$-20,000
Cost of Living
86%

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

Kearney offers a median data engineer salary of $105,000, which is $5,000 below the Nebraska state average of $110,000. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Kearney pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Kearney's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 86% of the national average. This means the $105,000 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $122,093 in an average-cost city. This makes Kearney an attractive option for data engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for data engineers in Kearney 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. Kearney is a smaller market (pop. 33,464), which may mean fewer openings but also less competition for available positions.

Data Engineer Salary in Kearney by Experience

In Kearney, 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 86% 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 Kearney, NE

Percentile Kearney
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 Nebraska Cities

Omaha, NE
$113,750
Pop. 486,051
Bellevue, NE
$112,500
Pop. 64,176
Lincoln, NE
$110,000
Pop. 291,082
Grand Island, NE
$102,500
Pop. 53,131

How to Become a Data Engineer in Kearney

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Kearney

Browse open data engineer positions in Kearney, NE:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Kearney

How much does a Data Engineer make in Kearney, NE? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Kearney, Nebraska 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 Kearney? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $105,000, a data engineer in Kearney earns approximately $50 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Kearney compare to the Nebraska state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Kearney's median data engineer salary of $105,000 is 4.5% below the Nebraska state average of $110,000. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Kearney, NE? ▼
Kearney has a cost of living index of 86% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $105,000 in Kearney has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Kearney? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Kearney 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.