What are the main factors that influence a Data Engineer I's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What industry pays the highest salary for Data Engineer I?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Data Engineer I roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

How does experience change A Data Engineer 's salary?

A Data Engineer 's salary grows with experience: a Data Engineer I (0-2 years)earns $78,642, a Data Engineer II (2-4 years)earns $90,512, a Data Engineer III (4-7 years)earns $105,719, a Data Engineer IV (7+ years)earns $122,767, a Data Engineer V (7-10 years)earns $159,942,

What are the highest paying states for a Data Engineer I?

Data Engineer I salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Data Engineer I roles are District of Columbia $85,981, California $85,655, Massachusetts $84,513. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Data Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Data Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Drilling Engineer I: $116,526; AI Engineer I: $92,672; Chemical Engineer I: $83,603; DevOps Engineer I: $83,451; Medical Device Engineer I: $80,072.

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Data Engineer I Salary in Delaware

How much does a Data Engineer I make in Delaware?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Data Engineer I in Delaware is $78,642 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

However, a Data Engineer I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $85,369
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $71,810 to $82,163
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $65,589

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Data Engineer I Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$82,163	$6,847	$1,580	$40
Average	$78,642	$6,554	$1,512	$38
25th Percentile	$71,810	$5,984	$1,381	$35

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Key Factors That Influence Data Engineer I Salaries

A Data Engineer I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Data Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Data Engineer I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Data Engineer I (0-2 years): $78,642
Data Engineer II (2-4 years): $90,512
Data Engineer III (4-7 years): $105,719
Data Engineer IV (7+ years): $122,767
Data Engineer V (7-10 years): $159,942

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Data Engineer I	0-2 years	$78,642
Data Engineer II	2-4 years	$90,512
Data Engineer III	4-7 years	$105,719
Data Engineer IV	7+ years	$122,767
Data Engineer V	7-10 years	$159,942

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Data Engineer I Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Data Engineer Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $85,981.
California: $85,655.
Massachusetts: $84,513.

District of Columbia $85,981 California $85,655 Massachusetts $84,513 Washington $84,202 New Jersey $84,171 Alaska $84,063 Connecticut $82,991 New York $82,556

Hawaii $81,166 Rhode Island $80,514 Maryland $80,071 Minnesota $79,465 Colorado $79,232 Illinois $79,155 Oregon $78,860 Delaware $78,642

New Hampshire $78,506 Virginia $78,200 Pennsylvania $77,307 Nevada $76,856 North Dakota $76,709 Michigan $76,476 Wisconsin $76,390 Vermont $76,219

Texas $75,746 Maine $75,715 Arizona $75,668 Ohio $75,614 Georgia $74,899 Indiana $74,542 Wyoming $74,472 Utah $74,363

Iowa $74,317 Kansas $73,944 Louisiana $73,835 North Carolina $73,796 Missouri $73,781 Florida $73,478 Montana $73,315 Nebraska $73,160

Kentucky $73,074 South Carolina $72,764 Tennessee $72,570 Idaho $72,492 New Mexico $71,925 Oklahoma $71,801 Alabama $71,343 South Dakota $70,574

Arkansas $70,154 West Virginia $69,929 Mississippi $69,254

Top Paying Cities for Data Engineer Is

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

Lincoln: $78,288
Little Creek: $78,861
Magnolia: $78,748

Lincoln, DE $78,288 Little Creek, DE $78,861 Magnolia, DE $78,748 Milford, DE $78,487 Marydel, DE $78,616 Millsboro, DE $77,960 Millville, DE $78,080 Milton, DE $78,215

Nassau, DE $78,272 Ocean View, DE $78,067 Rehoboth Beach, DE $78,217 Seaford, DE $78,261 Selbyville, DE $77,937 Smyrna, DE $78,916 Viola, DE $78,552 Woodside, DE $78,763

Bear, DE $78,582 Newark, DE $78,552 Claymont, DE $78,713 Delaware City, DE $78,631 Hockessin, DE $78,545 Kirkwood, DE $78,616 Middletown, DE $78,646 Montchanin, DE $78,563

New Castle, DE $78,575 Odessa, DE $78,685 Port Penn, DE $78,738 Rockland, DE $78,571 Saint Georges, DE $78,621 Townsend, DE $78,742 Winterthur, DE $78,580 Lewes, DE $78,245

Wilmington, DE $78,549 Dover, DE $78,861 Dover Afb, DE $78,446 Bethany Beach, DE $77,984 Bethel, DE $78,065 Bridgeville, DE $78,249 Camden Wyoming, DE $78,639 Cheswold, DE $78,836

Clayton, DE $78,838 Dagsboro, DE $77,930 Delmar, DE $77,805 Ellendale, DE $78,041 Felton, DE $78,481 Fenwick Island, DE $77,947 Frankford, DE $77,811 Frederica, DE $78,558

Georgetown, DE $77,901 Greenwood, DE $78,262 Harbeson, DE $77,984 Harrington, DE $78,381 Hartly, DE $78,625 Houston, DE $78,269 Kenton, DE $78,842 Laurel, DE $77,854

Yorklyn, DE $78,568

Data Engineer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Data Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $87,961. While startup companies pay approximate $74,388.

Data Engineer I Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$74,388
Growth Stage	51~500	$78,677
Established	501~5000	$84,943
Enterprise	5000+	$87,961

Data Engineer I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Data Engineer I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Data Engineer positions in Telecom or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Data Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Data Engineer I

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services	$102,235	$49.0	30%
Internet	$98,303	$47.0	25%
Energy & Utilities	$94,371	$45.0	20%
Pharmaceuticals	$94,371	$45.0	20%
Aerospace & Defense	$90,439	$43.0	15%

Data Engineer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Data Engineer I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

$71,810

Average $78,642/year

$82,163

$5,984

Average $6,554/month

$6,847

$1,381

Average $1,512/week

$1,580

$35

Average $38/hour

$40

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$82,163	$6,847	$1,580	$40
Average	$78,642	$6,554	$1,512	$38
25th Percentile	$71,810	$5,984	$1,381	$35

Data Engineer I Salary Growth & Career Path

Data Engineer I

Data Engineer II

Data Engineer III

For a Data Engineer I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Data Engineer II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $90,512 - a projected growth of 15% over your current level.

Salaries of jobs related to Data Engineer I

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