Technology Charlotte, NC Pop. 874,579

Data Engineer Salary in Charlotte, North Carolina

The median data engineer salary in Charlotte, NC is $127,500 per year, which is 2.0% above the national median and 6.3% above the North Carolina state average.

City Median
$127,500
vs State Avg
+$7,500
vs National
+$2,500
Cost of Living
98%

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

Charlotte offers a median data engineer salary of $127,500, which is $7,500 above the North Carolina state average of $120,000. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Charlotte pays above average for this role.

Charlotte's cost of living is 98% 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 Charlotte spans from $79,560 at the 10th percentile to $193,800 at the 90th percentile — a $114,240 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $81,600, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $183,600. As a major metro area with a population of 874,579, Charlotte typically offers more job opportunities and employer competition, which can drive salaries higher.

Data Engineer Salary in Charlotte by Experience

In Charlotte, an entry-level data engineer earns around $81,600, while experienced professionals earn up to $183,600 per year. The local cost of living index is 98% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$81,600
+$1,600 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$129,540
+$2,540 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$183,600
+$3,600 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Charlotte, NC

Percentile Charlotte
10th Percentile $79,560
25th Percentile $102,000
Median (50th) $127,500
75th Percentile $161,160
90th Percentile $193,800

Data Engineer Salary in Other North Carolina Cities

Raleigh, NC
$127,500
Pop. 467,665
Durham, NC
$123,750
Pop. 283,506
Greensboro, NC
$115,000
Pop. 299,035
Winston-Salem, NC
$112,500
Pop. 249,545

How to Become a Data Engineer in Charlotte

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Charlotte

Browse open data engineer positions in Charlotte, NC:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Charlotte

How much does a Data Engineer make in Charlotte, NC? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Charlotte, North Carolina is $127,500 per year, which is 2.0% above the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $79,560 (10th percentile) to $193,800 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Charlotte? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $127,500, a data engineer in Charlotte earns approximately $61 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Charlotte compare to the North Carolina state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Charlotte's median data engineer salary of $127,500 is 6.3% above the North Carolina state average of $120,000. The local cost of living index is 98% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Charlotte, NC? ▼
Charlotte has a cost of living index of 98% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $127,500 in Charlotte has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Charlotte? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Charlotte 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.