Technology Philadelphia, PA Pop. 1,603,797

Data Engineer Salary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The median data engineer salary in Philadelphia, PA is $130,000 per year, which is 4.0% above the national median and 6.1% above the Pennsylvania state average.

City Median
$130,000
vs State Avg
+$7,500
vs National
+$5,000
Cost of Living
102%

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

Philadelphia offers a median data engineer salary of $130,000, which is $7,500 above the Pennsylvania state average of $122,500. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Philadelphia pays above average for this role.

Philadelphia's cost of living is 102% 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 Philadelphia spans from $81,120 at the 10th percentile to $197,600 at the 90th percentile — a $116,480 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $83,200, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $187,200. As a major metro area with a population of 1,603,797, Philadelphia typically offers more job opportunities and employer competition, which can drive salaries higher.

Data Engineer Salary in Philadelphia by Experience

In Philadelphia, an entry-level data engineer earns around $83,200, while experienced professionals earn up to $187,200 per year. The local cost of living index is 102% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$83,200
+$3,200 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$132,080
+$5,080 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$187,200
+$7,200 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Philadelphia, PA

Percentile Philadelphia
10th Percentile $81,120
25th Percentile $104,000
Median (50th) $130,000
75th Percentile $164,320
90th Percentile $197,600

Data Engineer Salary in Other Pennsylvania Cities

How to Become a Data Engineer in Philadelphia

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Philadelphia

Browse open data engineer positions in Philadelphia, PA:

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Philadelphia

How much does a Data Engineer make in Philadelphia, PA? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is $130,000 per year, which is 4.0% above the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $81,120 (10th percentile) to $197,600 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Philadelphia? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $130,000, a data engineer in Philadelphia earns approximately $63 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Philadelphia compare to the Pennsylvania state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Philadelphia's median data engineer salary of $130,000 is 6.1% above the Pennsylvania state average of $122,500. The local cost of living index is 102% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Philadelphia, PA? ▼
Philadelphia has a cost of living index of 102% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $130,000 in Philadelphia has less purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Philadelphia? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Philadelphia 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.