Technology Columbus, OH Pop. 905,748

Data Engineer Salary in Columbus, Ohio

The median data engineer salary in Columbus, OH is $118,750 per year, which is 5% below the national median and 5.6% above the Ohio state average.

City Median
$118,750
vs State Avg
+$6,250
vs National
$-6,250
Cost of Living
95%

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

Columbus offers a median data engineer salary of $118,750, which is $6,250 above the Ohio state average of $112,500. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Columbus pays below the national benchmark for this role.

Columbus's cost of living is 95% 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 Columbus spans from $74,100 at the 10th percentile to $180,500 at the 90th percentile — a $106,400 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $76,000, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $171,000. As a major metro area with a population of 905,748, Columbus typically offers more job opportunities and employer competition, which can drive salaries higher.

Data Engineer Salary in Columbus by Experience

In Columbus, an entry-level data engineer earns around $76,000, while experienced professionals earn up to $171,000 per year. The local cost of living index is 95% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$76,000
$-4,000 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$120,650
$-6,350 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$171,000
$-9,000 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Columbus, OH

Percentile Columbus
10th Percentile $74,100
25th Percentile $95,000
Median (50th) $118,750
75th Percentile $150,100
90th Percentile $180,500

Data Engineer Salary in Other Ohio Cities

Cincinnati, OH
$112,500
Pop. 309,317
Cleveland, OH
$107,500
Pop. 372,624
Akron, OH
$105,000
Pop. 190,469
Toledo, OH
$102,500
Pop. 270,871

How to Become a Data Engineer in Columbus

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Columbus

Browse open data engineer positions in Columbus, OH:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Columbus

How much does a Data Engineer make in Columbus, OH? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Columbus, Ohio is $118,750 per year, which is 5% below the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $74,100 (10th percentile) to $180,500 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Columbus? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $118,750, a data engineer in Columbus earns approximately $57 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Columbus compare to the Ohio state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Columbus's median data engineer salary of $118,750 is 5.6% above the Ohio state average of $112,500. The local cost of living index is 95% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Columbus, OH? ▼
Columbus has a cost of living index of 95% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $118,750 in Columbus has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Columbus? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Columbus 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.