Data Engineer Salaries Around the World: How Much Do Data Engineers Make in 2024?

Data engineering is a relatively new discipline, yet it’s in huge demand at the moment. Named the fastest-growing tech occupation in 2020’s DICE Tech Job Report, this role has grown significantly as we’ve become a more data-focused world. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that roles related to this field will grow around 8% over the coming decade, much faster than the average role. Clearly, this is an in-demand career, but what is a data engineer's salary like? 

If you want to become a data engineer, salary is an important factor to consider. Data engineers are typically well-paid compared to many other jobs. However, actual salaries can vary significantly depending on the specific industry, the organization's size, and the data engineer's level of experience. Here, we explore how much data engineers can expect to earn based on various factors. 

A Note on Salary Information

Throughout this article, we’ll examine data from various sources, including PaySacle, Glassdoor, Indeed, and others. However, it can be difficult to gain an accurate picture of an ‘average’ salary. There are several reasons for this. 

• Salaries can vary widely based on factors such as the industry, organization size, location you’re applying to, and your experience level.
• Not everyone who works in a particular field will earn the same salary. Education, experience, and other factors can all play a part in determining your salary. 
• The method used to calculate the average salary can impact its accuracy.
• The data used in the calculation may not represent the overall population.
• The data may not be collected and analyzed properly, leading to inaccurate results.

We’ll provide our sources for the figures we outline here, but it’s important to consider these factors as we explore data engineer salaries. 

Average Salary for Data Engineers Worldwide 

Let’s start by looking at average salaries worldwide. We’ll cover several countries and various data sources. All figures are in local currencies. 

We’ve compiled data engineer salary data and other statistics to compare average salaries in this industry compared to the rest of the country:

As you can see from the table above, data engineer salaries are significantly above the national average in a range of different countries. We've also created a graph comparing the data of the first five countries listed: 

Let’s look at these stats in more detail. 

Data engineering salary in the United States

Let’s look at some annual salary averages from different sources:

• PayScale. $97,052 based on around 5,500 salary profiles 
• Glassdoor. $103,948 based on around 25,000 salaries
• Indeed. $127,315 based on around 6,600 salaries 

These figures vary slightly but are consistent, which is quite different from what we saw with data analyst salaries, which varied a lot. Furthermore, these figures will differ depending on where in the country you’re working. So, for example, according to IIndeed, the average base data analyst salary in New York is $128,283, while in California, it’s $146,770, and in Houston, it’s $151,010. 

Data engineering salary in the United Kingdom 

We’ll look at a similar range of sources for data engineer salaries in the UK: 

• PayScale. £41,408 based on around 500 salary profiles 
• Glassdoor. £48,478 
• Indeed. £51,250 based on around 2,000 salaries
• Reed. £65,113 based on around 900 job listings.

Unlike in the United States, the data here ranges significantly from source to source. Similarly, Indeed data around the country shows quite a spread. For example, the average annual base data engineer salary in London is £55,332, while only £50,698 in Edinburgh, £48,498 in Belfast, and £47,948 in Cardiff.

Data engineering salary in Canada

We’ve used the same method to look at data engineer salaries in Canada: 

• PayScale. $84,264 based on around 600 salary profiles
• Glassdoor. $90,066 based on around 1,500 salaries
• Indeed. $96,481 based on around 500 salaries reported 
• Talent.com. $135,260 based on around 7500 salaries

When looking at how salaries compare across Canada, we’ll use Glassdoor data once again. The average data analyst salary in Toronto is $99,386, while in Vancouver, it’s $89,178, and in Edmonton $84,914. However, the sample sizes outside of Toronto are much smaller, which could explain why there is little difference in salaries. 

Data engineering salary in Australia 

In Australia, we can see the average salary data below: 

• PayScale. $96,992 based on around 300 salary profiles
• Glassdoor. $130,000 based on around 200 salaries
• Indeed. $114,521 based on around 500 salaries reported
• Talent.com. $122,009 based on around 600 salaries.

We can see from Indeed data that data engineer salaries in Australia can vary significantly. We can also see that in Sydney, the average annual salary for a data analyst is $131,794, while in Brisbane, it’s $138,182, and in Adelaide, it’s only $131,698.

Data engineering salary in Germany

There is slightly less data available for data analyst salaries in Germany, but we can see that:

• PayScale. €59,117 based on around 300 salary profiles 
• Glassdoor. €65,000 based on around 500 salaries. 

Based on what we’ve seen in other countries, it’s also highly likely that these figures will vary across the country, with the highest salaries being found in cities such as Munich. 

Data engineering salary in India

We’ve highlighted some average data engineer salaries in India based on several sources: 

• PayScale. ₹8,98,715 based on around 2,000 salary profiles
• Glassdoor. ₹9,99,000 based on around 5,000 salaries 
• Indeed. ₹9,74,263 based on around 1,400 salaries reported.

Again, despite relatively high data volumes, we see a fair amount of variation here. We also expect such a broad range when looking at data across different cities in India. 

Data engineering salary in Singapore

Sites for data engineer salaries in Singapore tend to give figures on a monthly rather than an annual basis, with the average as follows: 

• PayScale. $5,078 per month, based on 129 salary profiles
• Glassdoor. $6,000 per month, with no info provided on the sample size
• Indeed. $7,007 per month, based on 1,700 salaries.

Factors Influencing Data Engineer Salaries

As we’ve seen, location can make a significant difference to data engineer salaries, both between countries and within them. However, there are other factors that can impact your salary as a data engineer, including: 

• Industry. Data engineers working in industries such as finance, healthcare, and technology may earn higher salaries than those working in other industries.
• Experience. Data engineers with more experience tend to earn higher salaries than those without experience.
• Education. Data engineers with advanced degrees or specialized training in data engineering may be able to command higher salaries.
• Company size. Data engineers working for larger companies may earn higher salaries than those working for smaller companies.
• Skills. Data engineers with a strong skill set, including programming languages such as Python and SQL, may command higher salaries. Those with a broader skill set and experience with data management tools like Hadoop and Spark may also be able to command higher salaries.

Data Engineer Salaries By Experience

Experience is one of the deciding factors in how much data engineers get paid. Let’s examine various stages of career development and the salary associated with them. Again, we’ll use Glassdoor data for the US to demonstrate this point, but the usual caveats apply. 

• A junior data engineer's salary is around $124,090, usually for those with 0-1 years of experience.
• The base pay increases to around $127,275 for those in a standard data engineer role with 2-4 years of experience.
• A senior data engineer's salary (base pay) is around $193,074 annually, while a principal data engineer can expect to earn around $243,158. 

Data Engineer Salaries at Top Companies

As with many jobs, data engineers tend to get paid more at large companies. So, what are data engineer salaries like at MAANG companies? (Meta, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google are the tech giants known worldwide.) 

Again, we’ve tried to find accurate data wherever possible, but the usual caveats apply. 

Meta

According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a data engineer at Meta is $183,000. Additional benefits are also quite generous, with an average $24,000 cash bonus and $54,000 stock bonus reported. 

Amazon

Again, using Glassdoor data, the average Amazon data engineer salary is $138,000, with a reported cash bonus of $14,000 and a stock bonus of $17,000. 

Apple

Salaries for data engineers at Apple are some of the highest reported, with the average being $171,000. Bonuses are also generous, with a $20,000 cash bonus and a $45,000 stock bonus on offer. 

Netflix

At Netflix, Glassdoor reports that the estimated base pay is $162,000. 

Google

The data shows an average base salary of $159,000 per year at Google, with a cash bonus of $23,000 and a stock bonus of $40,000. 

Ways to Increase Your Salary as a Data Engineer

If you’re looking at data engineer job descriptions and wondering how you can meet the higher bracket of the salary spectrum, there are several ways you can work towards increasing your worth as a data engineer: 

1. Acquire new skills and knowledge

You can increase your value as a data engineer by learning new technologies and improving the skills that are in high demand in the job market. This could include machine learning or big data technologies like Hadoop and Spark.

2. Get certified

Earning a professional certification in data engineering, such as the Certified Data Engineer (CDE) from the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) or the Certified Big Data Engineer (CBDE) from the Big Data Institute, can demonstrate your expertise and increase your salary potential.

3. Gain experience

As with most jobs, the more experience you have, the more valuable you are to potential employers. Focus on gaining experience working on complex data engineering projects, and consider taking on additional responsibilities or seeking out new challenges in your current role to increase your experience level.

4. Negotiate your salary

When it comes time to negotiate your salary, be sure to do your research and have a good understanding of what data engineers with similar experience and skills are earning in your area. Come prepared with data to support your request for a higher salary, and be confident but flexible in your negotiations.

Conclusion

So, how much do data engineers get paid? As we’ve seen, this is a role in high demand worldwide and one that is well-compensated based on the skills needed. You’ll find that salaries differ quite a lot based on various factors. However, hopefully, you now have the information to approach your data engineer role with the right salary expectations in mind.

Interested in other roles? Check out our other articles:

• Machine learning engineer salaries
• Data analyst salaries
• Data scientist salaries
• Business analyst salaries