How Much Do Data Engineers Make in the USA in 2025?
In today’s digital-first economy, data is often called the new oil. Every business, regardless of size or industry, depends on accurate, timely, and actionable data to make better decisions, improve efficiency, and gain a competitive edge. Behind the scenes of this data revolution are data engineers—the professionals who design, build, and maintain the infrastructure that makes data collection, storage, and analysis possible.
Because of this massive demand, data engineers have become some of the most sought-after tech professionals in the United States. As a result, one of the first questions aspiring professionals ask is: How much do data engineers earn in the USA in 2025?
This comprehensive guide explores the latest data engineer salary trends in the US, covering average salaries by experience level, city, industry, and company, along with a breakdown of the factors influencing compensation. We’ll also explore the skills, certifications, and career outlook for data engineers in 2025 and beyond.
Why Data Engineers Are in High Demand
Businesses today generate an enormous volume of data—from online transactions, IoT devices, customer behavior tracking, to machine-generated logs. But raw data in its natural form is often messy, unstructured, and unusable. This is where data engineers come in.
They build the pipelines and frameworks that collect, organize, and transform data into a usable format for data analysts, data scientists, and AI systems. With the growing adoption of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and real-time analytics, companies need skilled data engineers more than ever.
This soaring demand has created lucrative salary opportunities, making data engineering one of the most rewarding tech careers in 2025.
What Does a Data Engineer Do?
Before diving into salaries, let’s quickly understand the role itself.
A data engineer is responsible for developing and managing the systems that enable organizations to process and analyze large datasets efficiently. Their ultimate goal is to ensure that data is accessible, reliable, and secure for decision-making.
Key Responsibilities of a Data Engineer:
- Designing and maintaining scalable data pipelines
- Gathering structured and unstructured data from various sources
- Building data warehouse and data lake solutions
- Developing algorithms to transform raw data into insights
- Ensuring compliance with data governance and security policies
- Collaborating with business leaders to align data infrastructure with company goals
- Implementing ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes for smooth data flow
- Staying updated with modern tools such as Spark, Kafka, Hadoop, Snowflake, and cloud services
In large organizations, data engineers may specialize—some focus on pipelines, others on warehouses. In startups or smaller companies, data engineers often wear multiple hats, handling everything from ingestion to visualization.
Average Data Engineer Salary in the USA (2025)
So, how much can you expect to earn as a data engineer in the United States this year?
According to Glassdoor, the median annual salary for data engineers in the USA in 2025 is around $130,000. However, salaries can range widely—from $98,000 for entry-level positions to over $177,000 for experienced professionals.
High-paying companies, tech hubs, and industries often push salaries much higher, sometimes crossing $250,000 to $300,000 annually for senior roles.
Factors That Influence Data Engineer Salaries
Not all data engineer jobs are created equal. Salaries vary based on several factors:
- Experience Level – Beginners earn less than mid-level and senior engineers.
- Location – Cities like San Francisco, New York, and Seattle pay significantly higher salaries due to tech demand and cost of living.
- Industry – Finance, energy, AI, and cloud computing industries pay above-average salaries.
- Company Size & Reputation – FAANG companies (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google) and top consulting firms offer premium pay.
- Skills & Certifications – Engineers with cloud certifications (AWS, Azure, GCP) or expertise in big data and machine learning are more valuable.
- Education – A bachelor’s degree is often enough, but advanced degrees or certifications can accelerate growth.
Data Engineer Salaries by Experience Level
Here’s how experience impacts salaries in 2025 (Glassdoor data):
| Experience Level | Median Salary (Annual) |
|---|---|
| 0–1 Year | $105,000 |
| 1–3 Years | $116,000 |
| 4–6 Years | $133,000 |
| 7–9 Years | $144,000 |
| 10–14 Years | $155,000 |
| 15+ Years | $177,000 |
👉 Key Insight: Even early-career data engineers earn six figures, making it one of the best-paying entry-level tech jobs in the US.
Data Engineer Salaries by City (2025)
Some cities pay significantly more due to higher demand and higher living costs. According to ZipRecruiter, here are the top-paying US cities for data engineers:
| US City | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Santa Clara, CA | $153,306 |
| Los Altos, CA | $153,624 |
| San Bruno, CA | $154,971 |
| Sitka, AK | $156,627 |
| Belmont, CA | $156,883 |
| Redwood City, CA | $158,819 |
| Berkeley, CA | $158,830 |
| Nantucket, MA | $159,613 |
| Cupertino, CA | $160,037 |
| Nome, AK | $160,913 |
👉 Key Insight: California and Alaska lead the list. Tech-heavy regions like Silicon Valley remain the highest-paying hubs.
Learn Also: Electric AI Salary
Highest-Paying Companies for Data Engineers
According to Glassdoor, these companies currently pay the most:
| Company | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Meta (Facebook) | $263K |
| Cisco | $212K |
| Amazon | $214K |
| IBM | $134K |
| Capital One | $144K |
| Cognizant | $113K |
| Microsoft | $195K |
| $225K | |
| Apple | $279K |
| Accenture | $130K |
👉 Key Insight: Apple, Google, Meta, and Amazon dominate the top-paying employer list.
Highest-Paying Industries for Data Engineers
Industry choice also plays a big role in compensation. According to Glassdoor:
- Energy, Mining & Utilities – $140K/year
- Agriculture – $139K/year
- Financial Services – $137K/year
- Media & Communication – $137K/year
- Hotels & Travel Accommodation – $135K/year
👉 Key Insight: Traditional industries like energy and agriculture now rely heavily on data, making them surprisingly lucrative fields for engineers.
Job Outlook for Data Engineers in 2025 and Beyond
The future looks extremely bright for data engineers.
- The data engineering sector grew 22.89% in 2024, adding over 20,000 new jobs.
- Over 150,000 professionals are currently employed as data engineers in the US.
- Cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud continue to dominate, making cloud skills crucial.
- Employers prefer versatile engineers who can move between pipeline development, cloud infrastructure, and visualization.
With the rise of AI, big data analytics, and IoT, data engineers will remain essential, making this career recession-proof and future-ready.
Learn Also: Average US Income
Skills That Boost Data Engineer Salaries
If you want to maximize your earning potential, focus on mastering these in-demand skills:
- Programming: Python, SQL, R, Scala, Java
- Big Data Tools: Hadoop, Spark, Kafka, MongoDB
- ETL Systems: Talend, Stitch, Xplenty, Alooma
- Cloud Computing: AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform
- Data Security & Governance
- Machine Learning Basics (for collaboration with data scientists)
- Databases: Relational (SQL) & Non-Relational (NoSQL)
- Automation & Scripting
Certifications That Employers Value
Certifications validate your expertise and can lead to higher pay. Some of the most valuable ones include:
- Google Cloud Certified Professional Data Engineer
- AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty
- Microsoft Azure Data Engineer Associate
- IBM Certified Data Engineer
- Cloudera Certified Professional (CCP) Data Engineer
👉 Pro Tip: Adding certifications can increase salaries by 10–20% in competitive markets.
How Data Engineers Can Increase Their Salaries
If you’re already in the field, here are proven ways to boost your income:
- Gain advanced certifications
- Move into senior/lead roles
- Switch to FAANG or Fortune 500 companies
- Relocate to high-paying tech hubs
- Develop cross-functional skills (cloud, ML, visualization)
- Negotiate effectively during job offers
Comparison: Data Engineer Salary vs Other Tech Roles
Data engineering salaries stack up very well compared to other roles:
- Data Engineer: $130K median
- Data Scientist: $125K median
- Software Engineer: $120K median
- DevOps Engineer: $115K median
👉 Key Insight: Data engineers now earn more than data scientists on average, showing their growing importance.
FAQs About Data Engineer Salaries in the USA
1. Where do data engineers earn the most in the US?
California and Alaska cities lead the salary charts.
2. What’s the highest pay for data engineers?
Senior data engineers at top companies can earn $250K–$300K+ annually.
3. How can data engineers increase salaries?
By upgrading skills, earning certifications, moving to top-paying industries, and negotiating effectively.
4. How does cost of living affect salaries?
High-cost cities like San Francisco pay more, balancing living expenses.
5. What’s the average salary in AI-focused roles?
AI data engineers earn around $137,000/year, often higher at big tech firms.
Conclusion
In 2025, data engineers in the USA enjoy some of the best salaries in the tech industry, ranging from $98,000 to over $177,000 depending on experience. At leading companies like Apple, Google, and Meta, total compensation can soar past $250,000–$300,000 annually.
As demand for big data, AI, and cloud solutions continues to skyrocket, data engineering will remain one of the most lucrative and stable career paths in the coming decade.
If you’re considering entering this field, now is the perfect time. With the right skills, certifications, and career strategies, you can secure not only a six-figure salary but also a future-proof career in data engineering.
Learn Also: The Lucrative Salary of an AI Engineer