Technology Grand Forks, ND Pop. 56,588

Data Engineer Salary in Grand Forks, North Dakota

The median data engineer salary in Grand Forks, ND is $105,000 per year, which is 16% below the national median and 2.3% below the North Dakota state average.

City Median
$105,000
vs State Avg
$-2,500
vs National
$-20,000
Cost of Living
88%

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

Grand Forks offers a median data engineer salary of $105,000, which is $2,500 below the North Dakota state average of $107,500. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Grand Forks pays below the national benchmark for this role.

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

The salary range for data engineers in Grand Forks 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. Grand Forks is a smaller market (pop. 56,588), which may mean fewer openings but also less competition for available positions.

Data Engineer Salary in Grand Forks by Experience

In Grand Forks, 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 Grand Forks, ND

Percentile Grand Forks
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 North Dakota Cities

Fargo, ND
$112,500
Pop. 125,990
West Fargo, ND
$111,250
Pop. 38,626
Minot, ND
$110,000
Pop. 48,639
Bismarck, ND
$107,500
Pop. 73,529

How to Become a Data Engineer in Grand Forks

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Grand Forks

Browse open data engineer positions in Grand Forks, ND:

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Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Grand Forks

How much does a Data Engineer make in Grand Forks, ND? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Grand Forks, North Dakota 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 Grand Forks? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $105,000, a data engineer in Grand Forks earns approximately $50 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Grand Forks compare to the North Dakota state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Grand Forks's median data engineer salary of $105,000 is 2.3% below the North Dakota state average of $107,500. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Grand Forks, ND? ▼
Grand Forks has a cost of living index of 88% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $105,000 in Grand Forks 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 Forks? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Grand Forks 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.