Data Engineer Salary in 2026
Data engineers build and maintain the infrastructure that allows data to flow from sources to analytics platforms. They design data pipelines, warehouses, and ETL processes at scale.
Median Salary
$136,000
$11,333/mo
Entry Level
$83,000
starting pay
Senior Level
$177,000
experienced
Job Growth
+35%
10-yr outlook
Data Engineer Overview
Data engineers build and maintain the infrastructure that allows data to flow from sources to analytics platforms. They design data pipelines, warehouses, and ETL processes at scale.
Education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
2-4 years
Industry
Technology
Total Jobs (US)
150K
5-Year Growth
+26%
Category
Technology
Hourly Rate
$65.38/hr
Monthly Pay
$11,333
Data Engineer Salary Calculator
Adjust your state and experience level to see the estimated Data Engineer salary in your area.
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
Estimated Data Engineer Salary
$145,000
$12,083/month · $5,577/biweekly · $69.71/hr
Data Engineer Salary Range
Salary distribution from entry-level to top earners in the Data Engineer field.
Entry-level Data Engineers earn around $83,000, while the top 10% earn $193,000 or more.
Top Paying States for Data Engineers
| State | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $160,000 | +$24,000 |
| New York | $156,000 | +$20,000 |
| Washington | $152,000 | +$16,000 |
| Massachusetts | $152,000 | +$16,000 |
| Texas | $133,000 | $-3,000 |
Top Paying Cities for Data Engineers
| City | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $170,000 | +$34,000 |
| New York | $160,000 | +$24,000 |
| Seattle | $155,000 | +$19,000 |
| Boston | $152,000 | +$16,000 |
| Austin | $140,000 | +$4,000 |
Required Skills & Certifications
Key Skills
Certifications
Data Engineer Career Progression
Typical salary growth path for a Data Engineer from entry level to expert.
$83,000
0-2 years
$130,000
3-7 years
$177,000
8-14 years
$209,000
15+ years
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Data Engineer Salary FAQ
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