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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The data below covers the full spectrum — from six-figure metros to markets where the math is tighter. The national median salary for Data Engineers in 2026 is $145,486, with entry-level positions averaging $104,750 and senior roles reaching $206,590. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $265,000, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Data Engineer falls within the Technology sector, specifically in Technology. The typical education path involves Bachelor's in CS. The career outlook? Very high demand. Work style is remote-eligible — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
$161,250 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Data Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $265,000 — $161,250 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($103,750). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The salary distribution for Data Engineers reveals a $101,840 spread from entry to senior. At $145,486, the median sits $65,119 above the national median household income of $80,367. That's a strong baseline — and it only includes individual earnings, not household. The P10 floor of $104,750 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $206,590 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $247,500 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $104,583 (average of the bottom 3). That $142,917 delta is real money — $11,910/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Data Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $265,000 — $161,250 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($103,750). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Data Engineer is $104,750, while senior-level (P90) earners average $206,590. That $101,840 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Data Engineers at $175,594 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $154,375) is $21,219.
At the 90th percentile, Data Engineers pull in an average of $206,590. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $104,750 | $145,486 | $206,590 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £62,809 | £87,235 | £123,874 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$81,416 | CA$113,078 | CA$160,571 |
| Australia | 13 | A$94,370 | A$131,070 | A$186,119 |
| Sweden | 24 | 594,440 kr | 825,611 kr | 1,172,367 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $126,428 | $175,594 | $249,344 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $122,175 | $169,688 | $240,956 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $121,500 | $168,750 | $239,625 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $112,500 | $156,250 | $221,875 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $111,150 | $154,375 | $219,213 |
| Washington | 8 | $109,013 | $151,406 | $214,997 |
| New York | 5 | $102,600 | $142,500 | $202,350 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $102,600 | $142,500 | $202,350 |
| Florida | 22 | $101,823 | $141,420 | $200,817 |
| Colorado | 11 | $100,064 | $138,977 | $197,348 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $99,900 | $138,750 | $197,025 |
| Nevada | 5 | $99,720 | $138,500 | $196,670 |
| Arizona | 12 | $99,225 | $137,813 | $195,694 |
| Oregon | 5 | $99,000 | $137,500 | $195,250 |
| Idaho | 3 | $98,700 | $137,083 | $194,658 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $97,920 | $136,000 | $193,120 |
| Utah | 4 | $97,650 | $135,625 | $192,588 |
| Virginia | 7 | $96,043 | $133,393 | $189,418 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $94,800 | $131,667 | $186,967 |
| Alaska | 1 | $94,500 | $131,250 | $186,375 |
| Illinois | 5 | $93,420 | $129,750 | $184,245 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $91,100 | $126,528 | $179,669 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $90,000 | $125,000 | $177,500 |
| Montana | 1 | $90,000 | $125,000 | $177,500 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $89,700 | $124,583 | $176,908 |
| Texas | 40 | $89,258 | $123,969 | $176,036 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $89,100 | $123,750 | $175,725 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $88,650 | $123,125 | $174,838 |
| Georgia | 6 | $88,350 | $122,708 | $174,246 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $88,200 | $122,500 | $173,950 |
| Kansas | 4 | $87,750 | $121,875 | $173,063 |
| Michigan | 6 | $87,450 | $121,458 | $172,471 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $86,400 | $120,000 | $170,400 |
| Maryland | 1 | $86,400 | $120,000 | $170,400 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $85,500 | $118,750 | $168,625 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $85,500 | $118,750 | $168,625 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $83,250 | $115,625 | $164,188 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $82,800 | $115,000 | $163,300 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $81,675 | $113,438 | $161,081 |
| Missouri | 4 | $81,675 | $113,438 | $161,081 |
| Alabama | 5 | $81,360 | $113,000 | $160,460 |
| Indiana | 3 | $80,100 | $111,250 | $157,975 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $80,100 | $111,250 | $157,975 |
| Iowa | 2 | $79,200 | $110,000 | $156,200 |
| Ohio | 6 | $79,050 | $109,792 | $155,904 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $75,600 | $105,000 | $149,100 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Data Engineer median of $175,594 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($169,688) and Hawaii ($168,750). The city-level data complicates the national narrative. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $105,000 and $110,000. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($265,000 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $125,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $265,000 | 212 | $125,000 | $146,358 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $247,500 | 198 | $125,000 | $138,649 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $230,000 | 184 | $125,000 | $130,529 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $226,250 | 181 | $125,000 | $128,764 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $222,500 | 178 | $125,000 | $127,000 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $221,250 | 177 | $125,000 | $126,412 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $221,250 | 177 | $125,000 | $126,412 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $216,250 | 173 | $125,000 | $124,059 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $216,250 | 173 | $125,000 | $124,059 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $211,250 | 169 | $125,000 | $121,707 |
Career economics for Data Engineers: entry level averages $104,750, mid-career hits $145,486, and experienced professionals reach $206,590. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Bachelor's in CS, and the work is remote-eligible. The outlook: very high demand. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The weighted national median salary for Data Engineers is $145,486 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $104,750, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $206,590.
The highest-paying city for Data Engineers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $265,000. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($265,000), Santa Clara ($247,500), Irvine ($230,000). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Data Engineer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $103,750. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Data Engineers (10th percentile) average $104,750 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $190,800. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Data Engineers average $206,590 nationally — $101,840 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Data Engineers can earn up to $376,300.
The top-paying states for Data Engineers are California ($175,594 median), Massachusetts ($169,688 median), Hawaii ($168,750 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Data Engineer involves Bachelor's in CS. The field is in the Technology sector (Technology), and the career outlook is very high demand. Work style is typically remote-eligible.
With a national median of $145,486 and representation across 288 metro areas, Data Engineer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $101,840 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: very high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.