Technology Austin, TX Pop. 978,908

Data Engineer Salary in Austin, Texas

The median data engineer salary in Austin, TX is $138,750 per year, which is 11.0% above the national median and 13.3% above the Texas state average.

City Median
$138,750
vs State Avg
+$16,250
vs National
+$13,750
Cost of Living
105%

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

Austin offers a median data engineer salary of $138,750, which is $16,250 above the Texas state average of $122,500. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Austin pays above average for this role.

Austin's cost of living is 105% 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 Austin spans from $86,580 at the 10th percentile to $210,900 at the 90th percentile — a $124,320 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $88,800, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $199,800. As a major metro area with a population of 978,908, Austin typically offers more job opportunities and employer competition, which can drive salaries higher.

Data Engineer Salary in Austin by Experience

In Austin, an entry-level data engineer earns around $88,800, while experienced professionals earn up to $199,800 per year. The local cost of living index is 105% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$88,800
+$8,800 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$140,970
+$13,970 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$199,800
+$19,800 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Austin, TX

Percentile Austin
10th Percentile $86,580
25th Percentile $111,000
Median (50th) $138,750
75th Percentile $175,380
90th Percentile $210,900

Data Engineer Salary in Other Texas Cities

How to Become a Data Engineer in Austin

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Austin

Browse open data engineer positions in Austin, TX:

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Austin

How much does a Data Engineer make in Austin, TX? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Austin, Texas is $138,750 per year, which is 11.0% above the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $86,580 (10th percentile) to $210,900 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Austin? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $138,750, a data engineer in Austin earns approximately $67 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Austin compare to the Texas state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Austin's median data engineer salary of $138,750 is 13.3% above the Texas state average of $122,500. The local cost of living index is 105% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Austin, TX? ▼
Austin has a cost of living index of 105% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $138,750 in Austin has less purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Austin? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Austin 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.