Technology Tacoma, WA Pop. 219,346

Data Engineer Salary in Tacoma, Washington

The median data engineer salary in Tacoma, WA is $152,500 per year, which is 22.0% above the national median and 3.9% below the Washington state average.

City Median
$152,500
vs State Avg
$-6,250
vs National
+$27,500
Cost of Living
110%

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

Tacoma offers a median data engineer salary of $152,500, which is $6,250 below the Washington state average of $158,750. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Tacoma pays above average for this role.

Tacoma's cost of living is 110% 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 Tacoma spans from $95,160 at the 10th percentile to $231,800 at the 90th percentile — a $136,640 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $97,600, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $219,600. With a population of 219,346, Tacoma is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Engineer Salary in Tacoma by Experience

In Tacoma, an entry-level data engineer earns around $97,600, while experienced professionals earn up to $219,600 per year. The local cost of living index is 110% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$97,600
+$17,600 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$154,940
+$27,940 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$219,600
+$39,600 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Tacoma, WA

Percentile Tacoma
10th Percentile $95,160
25th Percentile $122,000
Median (50th) $152,500
75th Percentile $192,760
90th Percentile $231,800

Data Engineer Salary in Other Washington Cities

How to Become a Data Engineer in Tacoma

Education

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

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Tacoma

Browse open data engineer positions in Tacoma, WA:

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Tacoma

How much does a Data Engineer make in Tacoma, WA? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Tacoma, Washington is $152,500 per year, which is 22.0% above the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $95,160 (10th percentile) to $231,800 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Tacoma? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $152,500, a data engineer in Tacoma earns approximately $73 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Tacoma compare to the Washington state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Tacoma's median data engineer salary of $152,500 is 3.9% below the Washington state average of $158,750. The local cost of living index is 110% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Tacoma, WA? ▼
Tacoma has a cost of living index of 110% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $152,500 in Tacoma has less purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Tacoma? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Tacoma 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.