2027 Data Engineering Tech Salary Guide

Motion Recruitment's 2027 Tech Salary Guide helps you understand the data engineering job market in the United States. It provides salary details for over 100 job titles and insights into the tech industry. Before starting a job search or data engineering hiring, learn about the current landscape for data engineering professionals.

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IT Salaries and Tech Market Insights for Data Engineering Workers in 2027

Motion’s 2027 IT Salary Guide gives you the info needed to navigate either your tech job search or hiring plans.

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Map Out Your 2027 Strategy for the Data Engineering Hiring Market

with Expert Insights & Salary Data

Motion Recruitment's 2027 Data Engineering Tech Salary Guide helps data engineers and company leaders see how AI is changing the skills employers want and what they pay, with salary data for more than 100 top tech roles.

 

Data engineers sit between raw data and every AI project. Gartner's April 2026 survey of 353 data and analytics and AI leaders found that organizations with successful AI initiatives invest up to four times more, as a share of revenue, in foundations such as data quality and governance than those with poor outcomes. Additionally, AI-ready data cannot come from one-time preparation and needs continuous, use-case-driven practice.

 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for database administrators and architects, a related group of roles, to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, with a 2025 median wage of $126,760. It says AI adoption makes database architects critical for design, transition, backup and security.

2.1%

year-over-year salary increase for mid-level data engineers.

Mid-level Data engineer salaries increase by 2.1% year-over-year, exactly in line with national tech workers. 

$150K

average compensation for data engineers

The base level salary for a data engineer in the United States is $150,231.

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Tech Companies Seek Data Engineers Who Build AI-Ready Pipelines

Because AI-ready data is a continuous job, demand stays high for engineers who build reliable pipelines, check data quality and keep sensitive data secure. Python appears in 258,674 U.S. postings, up nearly 30% from 2024, according to Lightcast. 

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Q: What Advice Would You Give Tech Job Seekers and Hiring Managers in 2027?

From James Vallone, President of Motion Recruitment

“Tech leaders who plan for AI as a redesign of how work gets done, not just a shortcut to a smaller team, will build the strongest organizations in 2027. The same goes for candidates. Employers want people who can supervise, verify, and improve what AI produces, and who can show real examples of their work. Pair that with training and a clear path for early-career talent, and you have a team that is ready for what comes next.” 

What will I find in Motion's IT Salary Guide?

What tech job data and trends are covered in the Guide?
  • The state of tech employment in 2027, with the impact of layoffs, economic conditions, and the increase in IT job creation in non-tech companies.
  • The continuing impact of artificial intelligence on the job market, including the full cycle of the AI economy, the need for rehiring after the failure of AI gains, and a lack of ROI for AI projects.

  • Tech hiring and workplace trends, including the pessimism in the tech workforce and the disconnect between workers and management on topics like AI usage and RTO practices.

  • Advice from market experts on what you can do to succeed in 2027.
What valuable insights into IT salary data can I discover?
  • You will find starting salaries for mid and senior level ranges for over 100 specific job titles across technology areas. There are also city-specific variances included, which you can use to measure the regional salary ranges per tech job.

  • You will see IT salaries for top roles from the most in-demand technology areas: Software, Data & AI, Security, Infrastructure & DevOps, Mobile, Functional, Product & UX and Executive.

 

Data Engineer Salary Demand and Supply Market Insights

Previous Salary Guides

Tech Salary Guide
North America 2026

Download Guide

Tech Hiring Market
Midyear Update 2025

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Tech Salary Guide
North America 2025

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which data engineering job has the highest salary?

Compensation for data engineering roles is heavily influenced by seniority and technical specialization. Nationally, mid-level Data Engineers are projected to earn between $121,873 and $152,051 in 2027. Senior-level professionals command a higher range, with salaries between $150,482 and $176,518.

Additionally, candidates seeking a higher data engineering manager salary US typically advance through these senior tiers to reach leadership levels. Motion Recruitment continues to monitor this evolving landscape to provide data-informed insights into workforce scalability and digital transformation. 

Did data engineering salaries increase in 2027?

At this moment in the tech industry, projected compensation for data professionals remains substantial. Nationally, the data engineering salary for mid-level roles rose 2.1% year-over-year and range from $121,873 to $152,051. 

Additionally, senior-level data engineers are projected to earn between $150,482 and $176,518.

How much can a Data Engineer make in 2027?

Compensation for professionals in the field of data engineering continues to reflect the critical role these specialists play in managing organizational data pipelines.

Nationally, a data engineering salary in 2027 is projected to range from $121,873 to $152,051 for mid-level roles. For those in senior-level positions, the projected range increases to $150,482–$176,518.

At this moment in the tech industry, these figures underscore the ongoing demand for scalability and digital transformation. Motion Recruitment observes that such compensation levels align with the technical complexity required to maintain robust data architectures.