The Top 35 Best-Paying Cities for Data Engineers in 2023
These are the top 35 best-paying cities for data engineers in the United States in 2023, according to the more than 8 million verified professionals on the professional social network Blind.
Blind ranked the best-paying cities by the highest average total compensation. Total compensation is a combination of a job’s annual salary, any equity or stock-based compensation, and a bonus if paid by an employer.
The average salary of a data engineer in the United States is between $104,727 and $175,461 in 2023, according to Blind and its exclusive pay data and insights. Pay increases can be significant for senior data engineers or directors of data engineering.
A data engineer’s pay is often higher when taking into account the job’s total compensation. According to Blind’s pay benchmarking tool, the average total compensation of a data engineer in the United States can be as high as $258,634 in 2023.
1. Cupertino, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $258,634
- Median total compensation: $258,000
- Average annual salary: $175,461
- Median annual salary: $166,500
2. Menlo Park, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $234,852
- Median total compensation: $237,000
- Average annual salary: $172,900
- Median annual salary: $165,000
3. Mountain View, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $202,819
- Median total compensation: $184,000
- Average annual salary: $157,484
- Median annual salary: $160,000
4. San Francisco
- Average total compensation: $188,851
- Median total compensation: $172,000
- Average annual salary: $152,478
- Median annual salary: $150,000
5. Sunnyvale, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $185,813
- Median total compensation: $170,000
- Average annual salary: $152,768
- Median annual salary: $151,000
6. Santa Clara, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $183,178
- Median total compensation: $165,000
- Average annual salary: $155,009
- Median annual salary: $154,000
7. Los Angeles
- Average total compensation: $168,030
- Median total compensation: $153,000
- Average annual salary: $140,475
- Median annual salary: $137,500
8. San Jose, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $167,619
- Median total compensation: $153,500
- Average annual salary: $141,989
- Median annual salary: $140,000
9. New York
- Average total compensation: $165,623
- Median total compensation: $157,933
- Average annual salary: $138,798
- Median annual salary: $138,500
10. Palo Alto, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $156,464
- Median total compensation: $149,259
- Average annual salary: $132,999
- Median annual salary: $130,000
11. Seattle
- Average total compensation: $156,264
- Median total compensation: $149,950
- Average annual salary: $127,165
- Median annual salary: $125,000
12. Portland, Ore.
- Average total compensation: $155,220
- Median total compensation: $145,000
- Average annual salary: $130,542
- Median annual salary: $128,950
13. Redmond, Wash.
- Average total compensation: $152,333
- Median total compensation: $149,500
- Average annual salary: $119,388
- Median annual salary: $110,000
14. Raleigh, N.C.
- Average total compensation: $151,485
- Median total compensation: $158,500
- Average annual salary: $135,958
- Median annual salary: $143,500
15. Austin, Texas
- Average total compensation: $147,348
- Median total compensation: $140,000
- Average annual salary: $125,547
- Median annual salary: $125,000
16. Herndon, Va.
- Average total compensation: $146,634
- Median total compensation: $150,000
- Average annual salary: $121,543
- Median annual salary: $118,000
17. Washington, D.C.
- Average total compensation: $146,461
- Median total compensation: $136,500
- Average annual salary: $130,377
- Median annual salary: $126,000
18. Nashville, Tenn.
- Average total compensation: $144,842
- Median total compensation: $136,500
- Average annual salary: $123,866
- Median annual salary: $132,500
19. Phoenix
- Average total compensation: $144,365
- Median total compensation: $130,000
- Average annual salary: $128,508
- Median annual salary: $120,000
20. Philadelphia
- Average total compensation: $142,752
- Median total compensation: $135,950
- Average annual salary: $129,104
- Median annual salary: $130,700
21. San Diego
- Average total compensation: $142,158
- Median total compensation: $137,000
- Average annual salary: $126,784
- Median annual salary: $120,000
22. Boston
- Average total compensation: $139,557
- Median total compensation: $139,000
- Average annual salary: $123,855
- Median annual salary: $120,000
23. Jersey City, N.J.
- Average total compensation: $139,122
- Median total compensation: $140,000
- Average annual salary: $127,411
- Median annual salary: $132,000
24. Dallas
- Average total compensation: $134,655
- Median total compensation: $125,000
- Average annual salary: $120,226
- Median annual salary: $114,750
25. Chicago
- Average total compensation: $134,233
- Median total compensation: $130,000
- Average annual salary: $118,197
- Median annual salary: $118,000
26. Bellevue, Wash.
- Average total compensation: $133,019
- Median total compensation: $140,000
- Average annual salary: $113,282
- Median annual salary: $120,000
27. Atlanta
- Average total compensation: $128,880
- Median total compensation: $125,000
- Average annual salary: $115,396
- Median annual salary: $115,000
28. Denver
- Average total compensation: $127,477
- Median total compensation: $121,000
- Average annual salary: $113,845
- Median annual salary: $111,175
29. Minneapolis
- Average total compensation: $125,600
- Median total compensation: $129,500
- Average annual salary: $117,944
- Median annual salary: $122,500
30. Houston
- Average total compensation: $125,544
- Median total compensation: $118,000
- Average annual salary: $115,655
- Median annual salary: $111,750
31. Charlotte, N.C.
- Average total compensation: $123,706
- Median total compensation: $120,000
- Average annual salary: $114,711
- Median annual salary: $117,000
32. Hartford, Conn.
- Average total compensation: $116,472
- Median total compensation: $118,500
- Average annual salary: $110,222
- Median annual salary: $106,000
33. Salt Lake City
- Average total compensation: $116,097
- Median total compensation: $105,000
- Average annual salary: $105,700
- Median annual salary: $100,000
34. Detroit
- Average total compensation: $113,593
- Median total compensation: $100,000
- Average annual salary: $104,727
- Median annual salary: $95,500
35. Tampa, Fla.
- Average total compensation: $110,435
- Median total compensation: $100,000
- Average annual salary: $108,435
- Median annual salary: $100,000
Methodology
Blind analyzed the annual salaries and total compensation submitted by data engineers in the United States on its total compensation and salary benchmarking tool. The list excludes seniority titles, such as senior data engineer, director of data engineering or similar designations.
Cities were ranked by the average total compensation, including annual salary paid in cash and, if applicable, any stock-based compensation and bonuses.
All data is self-reported by verified professionals on the professional social network Blind.