Lead Data Engineer.
Cincinnati.
$165,000
median salary, 13% below the national average
$128,000 to $215,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median Lead Data Engineer salary in Cincinnati is $165,000, 13% below the national average. Entry level starts near $128,000. Experienced professionals push past $215,000. Cincinnati is home to Procter and Gamble, Kroger, and a growing fintech scene. That spread is your negotiation window.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $149,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$107,000
to $132,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$140,000
to $173,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$182,000
to $215,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$206,000
to $256,000
Salary trend
+4% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $36,000 to the total package.
Base
$165,000
Equity
$20,000
Bonus
$13,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $201,000
How Cincinnati compares
Cincinnati, OH
$165,000
Cost of living: 10% below average
National Average
$189,000
Cincinnati is $24,000 below
Lead Data Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Cincinnati
What you should know
Cincinnati is home to Procter and Gamble, Kroger, and a growing fintech scene. The city's extremely affordable cost of living and strong corporate base create excellent purchasing power. The University of Cincinnati feeds a steady pipeline of engineering and business talent. That is the backdrop for every Lead Data Engineer offer you will see here.
One thing people overlook: taxes. Ohio's income tax tops out around 3.5%. Cincinnati adds an earnings tax of 1.8%. The combined rate is moderate and the very low cost of living offsets it significantly. The salary on the offer letter is not the salary in your bank account. Always model your take home before you accept.
On negotiation: Leverage P&G and Kroger benchmarks. These Fortune 500 companies set salary floors that ripple across all professional roles in the Cincinnati metro. The range for Lead Data Engineers in Cincinnati runs from $128,000 to $215,000. 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 Computer Vision Engineer in Cincinnati earns $164,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Cincinnati is Senior VP of Product at $312,000
Common questions.
Lead Data Engineer salary in other cities
Other salaries in Cincinnati
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