Synthetic Data Engineer Salary.
Across 83 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
Skills that increase Synthetic Data Engineer pay
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Synthetic Data Engineers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $23,100 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$23,100 per year
≈ +$21,450 per year
≈ +$19,800 per year
≈ +$18,150 per year
≈ +$16,500 per year
≈ +$16,500 per year
≈ +$16,500 per year
≈ +$14,850 per year
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%.