Technology Memphis, TN Pop. 633,104

Data Engineer Salary in Memphis, Tennessee

The median data engineer salary in Memphis, TN is $107,500 per year, which is 14% below the national median and 3.4% below the Tennessee state average.

City Median
$107,500
vs State Avg
$-3,750
vs National
$-17,500
Cost of Living
86%

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

Memphis offers a median data engineer salary of $107,500, which is $3,750 below the Tennessee state average of $111,250. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Memphis pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Memphis's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 86% of the national average. This means the $107,500 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $125,000 in an average-cost city. This makes Memphis an attractive option for data engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for data engineers in Memphis spans from $67,080 at the 10th percentile to $163,400 at the 90th percentile — a $96,320 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $68,800, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $154,800. As a major metro area with a population of 633,104, Memphis typically offers more job opportunities and employer competition, which can drive salaries higher.

Data Engineer Salary in Memphis by Experience

In Memphis, an entry-level data engineer earns around $68,800, while experienced professionals earn up to $154,800 per year. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$68,800
$-11,200 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$109,220
$-17,780 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$154,800
$-25,200 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Memphis, TN

Percentile Memphis
10th Percentile $67,080
25th Percentile $86,000
Median (50th) $107,500
75th Percentile $135,880
90th Percentile $163,400

Data Engineer Salary in Other Tennessee Cities

Nashville, TN
$125,000
Pop. 689,447
Murfreesboro, TN
$115,000
Pop. 152,769
Knoxville, TN
$110,000
Pop. 190,740
Chattanooga, TN
$110,000
Pop. 181,099

How to Become a Data Engineer in Memphis

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Memphis

Browse open data engineer positions in Memphis, TN:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Memphis

How much does a Data Engineer make in Memphis, TN? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Memphis, Tennessee is $107,500 per year, which is 14% below the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $67,080 (10th percentile) to $163,400 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Memphis? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $107,500, a data engineer in Memphis earns approximately $52 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Memphis compare to the Tennessee state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Memphis's median data engineer salary of $107,500 is 3.4% below the Tennessee state average of $111,250. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Memphis, TN? ▼
Memphis has a cost of living index of 86% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $107,500 in Memphis has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Memphis? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Memphis 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.