Data Engineer.
Baton Rouge.
$132,000
median salary, 12% below the national average
$101,000 to $172,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Baton Rouge is 12% cheaper than the national average. For Data Engineers, that shakes out to a median of $132,000, with the full range spanning $101,000 to $172,000. Proficiency with modern data stack tools like Spark, Kafka, dbt, and Snowflake separates top earners from the pack. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $119,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$86,000
to $106,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$112,000
to $139,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$145,000
to $172,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$165,000
to $205,000
Salary trend
+3% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $37,000 to the total package.
Base
$132,000
Equity
$21,000
Bonus
$13,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $169,000
Data Engineer salary by company
Total compensation estimates include base, equity, bonus, and signing. Ranges reflect mid to senior level. Derived from public H-1B LCA filings, SEC proxy statements, and aggregated self-reported data.
How Baton Rouge compares
Baton Rouge, LA
$132,000
Cost of living: 12% below average
National Average
$150,000
Baton Rouge is $18,000 below
Data Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Baton Rouge
What you should know
The Data Engineer landscape in Baton Rouge is not what most salary sites will tell you. Baton Rouge is Louisiana's capital with a strong chemical manufacturing, energy, and state government base. LSU drives education and research employment. The cost of living is very affordable, making even moderate salaries deliver strong purchasing power. Proficiency with modern data stack tools like Spark, Kafka, dbt, and Snowflake separates top earners from the pack. Engineers who build real-time streaming pipelines or manage petabyte-scale warehouses earn 15 to 25% more. Startups with heavy ML infrastructure needs often pay premiums to attract pipeline specialists.
Junior data engineers start at $85,000 to $105,000, progressing to mid-level at $115,000 to $155,000 within three years. Senior data engineers earn $160,000 to $195,000, while staff-level or principal roles reach $210,000 to $270,000 at top-tier companies. In Baton Rouge, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 12% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity grants at data-intensive startups can represent 15 to 30% of total compensation. Annual bonuses range from 10 to 15%, and many firms provide $3,000 to $8,000 yearly learning stipends for cloud platform training. And on the tax side: louisiana's top income tax rate is 4.25%. Baton Rouge has no city income tax. The moderate rate and very affordable living costs create good take home pay. When someone quotes you $132,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Reference the petrochemical corridor salary benchmarks. Chemical and energy engineers in Baton Rouge earn competitive rates driven by specialized industry demand. The range for Data Engineers in Baton Rouge runs from $101,000 to $172,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A AI Auditor in Baton Rouge earns $131,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Baton Rouge is Distinguished Engineer at $293,000
Common questions.
Data Engineer salary in other cities
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