Data Engineer Salary in Winston-Salem, NC: $112,500 (2026)

Data Engineer Pay in Winston-Salem: What to Expect (2026)

Winston-Salem offers a median data engineer salary of $112,500, which is $7,500 below the North Carolina state average of $120,000. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Winston-Salem pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Winston-Salem's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 86% of the national average. This means the $112,500 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $130,814 in an average-cost city. This makes Winston-Salem an attractive option for data engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for data engineers in Winston-Salem 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 249,545, Winston-Salem is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Engineer Salary in Winston-Salem by Experience

In Winston-Salem, 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 86% 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

Percentile	Winston-Salem	NC State	National
10th Percentile	$70,200	$74,880	$78,000
25th Percentile	$90,000	$96,000	$100,000
Median (50th)	$112,500	$120,000	$125,000
75th Percentile	$142,200	$151,680	$158,000
90th Percentile	$171,000	$182,400	$190,000

Percentile

Winston-Salem

10th Percentile

$70,200

25th Percentile

$90,000

Median (50th)

$112,500

75th Percentile

$142,200

90th Percentile

$171,000

How to Become a Data Engineer in Winston-Salem

Education

Most data engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Winston-Salem

How much does a Data Engineer make in Winston-Salem, NC? ▼

The median data engineer salary in Winston-Salem, North Carolina 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 Winston-Salem? ▼

Based on the median annual salary of $112,500, a data engineer in Winston-Salem earns approximately $54 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.

How does Winston-Salem compare to the North Carolina state average for data engineer pay? ▼

Winston-Salem's median data engineer salary of $112,500 is 6.3% below the North Carolina state average of $120,000. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.

What is the cost of living in Winston-Salem, NC? ▼

Winston-Salem has a cost of living index of 86% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $112,500 in Winston-Salem has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.

What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Winston-Salem? ▼

Most data engineer positions in Winston-Salem 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.

Data Engineer Salary in Winston-Salem, North Carolina