Data Engineer Salary by Experience Level

Compare salary bands for each data engineer level.

2026 Median Salary$135KMid Level Data Engineer benchmark
Senior Range$120K - $210KSenior Data Engineer market range
Starting Hourly Range$22-$48/hrData Engineer Intern / early-career estimate
Category (Experience)
Year
Min - Max (USD)
Salary Range (Min - Max in USD)
Data Engineer Intern(internship)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$22-$48/hr
$21-$47/hr
$20-$45/hr
$19-$43/hr
$19-$41/hr
$22
$48
$21
$47
$20
$45
$19
$43
$19
$41
Junior Data Engineer(0 to 2 years)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$62K - $112K
$60K - $109K
$59K - $106K
$57K - $102K
$54K - $98K
$62K
$112K
$60K
$109K
$59K
$106K
$57K
$102K
$54K
$98K
Entry Level Data Engineer(0 to 2 years)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$70K - $125K
$68K - $121K
$66K - $117K
$63K - $113K
$61K - $109K
$70K
$125K
$68K
$121K
$66K
$117K
$63K
$113K
$61K
$109K
Associate Data Engineer(2 to 4 years)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$88K - $155K
$85K - $149K
$83K - $146K
$80K - $140K
$76K - $134K
$88K
$155K
$85K
$149K
$83K
$146K
$80K
$140K
$76K
$134K
Mid Level Data Engineer(3 to 5 years)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$100K - $175K
$96K - $168K
$94K - $165K
$91K - $160K
$88K - $154K
$100K
$175K
$96K
$168K
$94K
$165K
$91K
$160K
$88K
$154K
Senior Data Engineer(5 to 8 years)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$120K - $210K
$115K - $202K
$113K - $198K
$109K - $191K
$105K - $183K
$120K
$210K
$115K
$202K
$113K
$198K
$109K
$191K
$105K
$183K
Lead Data Engineer(8 or more years)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$135K - $235K
$130K - $226K
$127K - $221K
$123K - $214K
$118K - $206K
$135K
$235K
$130K
$226K
$127K
$221K
$123K
$214K
$118K
$206K
Data Architect, Principal Data Engineer, or equivalent technical leader(10 or more years)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$140K - $255K
$134K - $245K
$132K - $239K
$127K - $232K
$123K - $223K
$140K
$255K
$134K
$245K
$132K
$239K
$127K
$232K
$123K
$223K
VP of Engineering(executive leadership)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$185K - $330K
$179K - $318K
$174K - $310K
$170K - $302K
$164K - $292K
$185K
$330K
$179K
$318K
$174K
$310K
$170K
$302K
$164K
$292K

References