Technology Norfolk, VA Pop. 238,005

Data Engineer Salary in Norfolk, Virginia

The median data engineer salary in Norfolk, VA is $130,000 per year, which is 4.0% above the national median and 7.1% below the Virginia state average.

City Median
$130,000
vs State Avg
$-10,000
vs National
+$5,000
Cost of Living
96%

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

Norfolk offers a median data engineer salary of $130,000, which is $10,000 below the Virginia state average of $140,000. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Norfolk pays above average for this role.

Norfolk's cost of living is 96% 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 Norfolk 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. With a population of 238,005, Norfolk is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Engineer Salary in Norfolk by Experience

In Norfolk, 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 96% 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 Norfolk, VA

Percentile Norfolk
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 Virginia Cities

How to Become a Data Engineer in Norfolk

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Norfolk

Browse open data engineer positions in Norfolk, VA:

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Norfolk

How much does a Data Engineer make in Norfolk, VA? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Norfolk, Virginia 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 Norfolk? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $130,000, a data engineer in Norfolk earns approximately $63 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Norfolk compare to the Virginia state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Norfolk's median data engineer salary of $130,000 is 7.1% below the Virginia state average of $140,000. The local cost of living index is 96% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Norfolk, VA? ▼
Norfolk has a cost of living index of 96% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $130,000 in Norfolk has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Norfolk? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Norfolk 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.