Data Engineer.
Los Angeles.
$179,000
median salary, 19% above the national average
$137,000 to $232,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Data Engineer in Los Angeles earns a median of $179,000 in 2026. That is 19% above the national average. The range runs from $137,000 to $232,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Proficiency with modern data stack tools like Spark, Kafka, dbt, and Snowflake separates top earners from the pack.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $161,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$116,000
to $143,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$152,000
to $188,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$197,000
to $233,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$224,000
to $277,000
Salary trend
+3% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $51,000 to the total package.
Base
$179,000
Equity
$29,000
Bonus
$18,000
Signing
$4,000
Estimated total: $230,000
How Los Angeles compares
Los Angeles, CA
$179,000
Cost of living: 18% above average
National Average
$150,000
Los Angeles is $29,000 above
Data Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Los Angeles
What you should know
Here is what the Data Engineer market actually looks like in Los Angeles. Los Angeles blends a thriving entertainment industry with a growing tech and startup ecosystem, often called Silicon Beach. The city's diverse economy spans aerospace, healthcare, fashion, and gaming. LA offers strong salaries that, while below San Francisco levels, pair with a broader lifestyle appeal and lower housing costs relative to the Bay Area. 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 Los Angeles, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 18% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
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: california's 13.3% top state income tax rate applies to LA earners as well. There is no city income tax, but the high state rate makes take home pay lower than cities in no income tax states. When someone quotes you $179,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight cross industry skills. LA employers value candidates who bridge entertainment and tech, so framing your experience across verticals can unlock higher offers. The range for Data Engineers in Los Angeles runs from $137,000 to $232,000. 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 Media & Entertainment Specialist in Los Angeles earns $178,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Los Angeles is Chief AI Officer at $377,000
Common questions.
Data Engineer salary in other cities
Other salaries in Los Angeles
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