Technology Chesapeake, VA Pop. 249,422

Data Engineer Salary in Chesapeake, Virginia

The median data engineer salary in Chesapeake, VA is $132,500 per year, which is 6.0% above the national median and 5.4% below the Virginia state average.

City Median
$132,500
vs State Avg
$-7,500
vs National
+$7,500
Cost of Living
98%

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

Chesapeake offers a median data engineer salary of $132,500, which is $7,500 below the Virginia state average of $140,000. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Chesapeake pays above average for this role.

Chesapeake's cost of living is 98% 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 Chesapeake spans from $82,680 at the 10th percentile to $201,400 at the 90th percentile — a $118,720 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $84,800, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $190,800. With a population of 249,422, Chesapeake is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Engineer Salary in Chesapeake by Experience

In Chesapeake, an entry-level data engineer earns around $84,800, while experienced professionals earn up to $190,800 per year. The local cost of living index is 98% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$84,800
+$4,800 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$134,620
+$7,620 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$190,800
+$10,800 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Chesapeake, VA

Percentile Chesapeake
10th Percentile $82,680
25th Percentile $106,000
Median (50th) $132,500
75th Percentile $167,480
90th Percentile $201,400

Data Engineer Salary in Other Virginia Cities

How to Become a Data Engineer in Chesapeake

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Chesapeake

Browse open data engineer positions in Chesapeake, VA:

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Chesapeake

How much does a Data Engineer make in Chesapeake, VA? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Chesapeake, Virginia is $132,500 per year, which is 6.0% above the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $82,680 (10th percentile) to $201,400 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Chesapeake? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $132,500, a data engineer in Chesapeake earns approximately $64 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Chesapeake compare to the Virginia state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Chesapeake's median data engineer salary of $132,500 is 5.4% below the Virginia state average of $140,000. The local cost of living index is 98% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Chesapeake, VA? ▼
Chesapeake has a cost of living index of 98% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $132,500 in Chesapeake has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Chesapeake? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Chesapeake 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.