Synthetic Data Engineer Salary.
Across 30 U.S. cities.
$165,000
national median salary
$125,000 to $215,000. Last updated April 2026.
Highest Paying
$225,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$172,000
San Diego, CA
Lowest Paying
$124,000
Charleston, WV
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 Synthetic Data Engineer salary in the United States is $165,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $125,000 at the 25th percentile to $215,000 at the 75th. San Francisco pays the most at $225,000, while San Diego offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Synthetic data engineering is a rapidly emerging specialty where salaries are driven by expertise in generative models for data augmentation.
Synthetic Data Engineer salary by city
What you should know
Synthetic data engineering is a rapidly emerging specialty where salaries are driven by expertise in generative models for data augmentation. Experience with privacy-preserving data generation for regulated industries like healthcare and finance commands 15 to 25% premiums. Knowledge of differential privacy and statistical validation of synthetic datasets is highly valued.
Junior synthetic data engineers earn $125,000 to $148,000. Engineers with 2 to 4 years of specialized experience reach $165,000 to $215,000. Senior engineers and technical leads earn $220,000 to $290,000, while directors of synthetic data programs at large enterprises can command $300,000 to $380,000.
Startups in the synthetic data space offer equity packages of 0.1 to 0.5% that can be worth significantly more than base salary if the company succeeds. Established tech firms offer RSUs worth 20 to 35% of base salary plus bonuses of 10 to 20%.