Technology Reading, PA Pop. 95,112

Data Engineer Salary in Reading, Pennsylvania

The median data engineer salary in Reading, PA is $112,500 per year, which is 10% below the national median and 8.2% below the Pennsylvania state average.

City Median
$112,500
vs State Avg
$-10,000
vs National
$-12,500
Cost of Living
88%

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

Reading offers a median data engineer salary of $112,500, which is $10,000 below the Pennsylvania state average of $122,500. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Reading pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Reading's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 88% of the national average. This means the $112,500 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $127,841 in an average-cost city. This makes Reading an attractive option for data engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for data engineers in Reading 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. Reading is a smaller market (pop. 95,112), which may mean fewer openings but also less competition for available positions.

Data Engineer Salary in Reading by Experience

In Reading, 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 88% 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

Salary Percentiles in Reading, PA

Percentile Reading
10th Percentile $70,200
25th Percentile $90,000
Median (50th) $112,500
75th Percentile $142,200
90th Percentile $171,000

Data Engineer Salary in Other Pennsylvania Cities

Philadelphia, PA
$130,000
Pop. 1,603,797
Allentown, PA
$120,000
Pop. 126,092
Pittsburgh, PA
$118,750
Pop. 302,971
Erie, PA
$107,500
Pop. 94,831

How to Become a Data Engineer in Reading

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Reading

Browse open data engineer positions in Reading, PA:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Reading

How much does a Data Engineer make in Reading, PA? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Reading, Pennsylvania 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 Reading? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $112,500, a data engineer in Reading earns approximately $54 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Reading compare to the Pennsylvania state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Reading's median data engineer salary of $112,500 is 8.2% below the Pennsylvania state average of $122,500. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Reading, PA? ▼
Reading has a cost of living index of 88% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $112,500 in Reading has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Reading? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Reading 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.