Data Engineer Salary.
Across 30 U.S. cities.
$150,000
national median salary
$115,000 to $195,000. Last updated April 2026.
Highest Paying
$211,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$156,000
Denver, CO
Lowest Paying
$116,000
Jackson, MS
Salary data sourced from SEC filings, H-1B Labor Condition Applications (DOL), Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and aggregated job postings across 50+ platforms. Ranges reflect 25th to 75th percentile for full-time positions. Cost-of-living adjustments use Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2025 index). Last updated April 2026.
The average Data Engineer salary in the United States is $150,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $115,000 at the 25th percentile to $195,000 at the 75th. San Jose pays the most at $211,000, while Denver offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Proficiency with modern data stack tools like Spark, Kafka, dbt, and Snowflake separates top earners from the pack.
Data Engineer salary by city
What you should know
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.
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.