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Head of Data engineering and MLOps Salary in the United States

How much does a Head of Data engineering and MLOps make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Head of Data engineering and MLOps in the United States is $270,667 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $130.

However, a Head of Data engineering and MLOps's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $315,379
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $251,404 to $294,071
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $233,866
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Head of Data engineering and MLOps Salaries

A Head of Data engineering and MLOps'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 Head of Data engineering and MLOps Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Head of Data engineering and MLOps'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $141,552
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $177,495
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $215,878
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $268,946
  • Expert (over 8 years): $334,482
Levels Salary
Master Da... Level Head of Data engineering and MLOps$141,552
Master Da... Level Head of Data engineering and MLOps$177,495
Data Mana... Level Head of Data engineering and MLOps$215,878
Head of D... Level Head of Data engineering and MLOps$268,946
Chief Dat... Level Head of Data engineering and MLOps$334,482
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How Do Head of Data engineering and MLOps 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 Head of Data engineering and MLOps. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $299,683.
  • California: $298,546.
  • Massachusetts: $294,567.

Top Paying Cities for Head of Data engineering and MLOps

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:

  • San Jose: $341,392
  • San Francisco: $337,654
  • Oakland: $330,539

What Skills Can Increase a Head of Data engineering and MLOps's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Initiative (Mentioned in 5.73% Job Postings): Taking decisive action and initiating plans independently to address problems, improve professional life, and achieve goals.
  • Data Architecture (Mentioned in 3.18% Job Postings): In information technology, data architecture is composed of models, policies, rules or standards that govern which data is collected, and how it is stored, arranged, integrated, and put to use in data systems and in organizations. Data is usually one of several architecture domains that form the pillars of an enterprise architecture or solution architecture.
  • Data System (Mentioned in 1.91% Job Postings): Data system is a term used to refer to an organized collection of symbols and processes that may be used to operate on such symbols.
Skills Demand Percentage
Initiative 5.73%
Data Architecture 3.18%
Data System 1.91%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Head of Data engineering and MLOps's salary.

  • Agility: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Data Cleansing: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Agility $322,094
19%
Flexibility $295,027
9%
Data Cleansing $292,320
8%
Get Latest Data

Head of Data engineering and MLOps Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Head of Data engineering and MLOps roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Head of Data engineering and MLOps positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Head of Data engineering and MLOps as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Head of Data engineering and MLOps

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$324,800$156.020%

Head of Data engineering and MLOps Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Head of Data engineering and MLOps'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 September 01, 2026
$251,404
Average $270,667/year
$294,071
$20,950
Average $22,556/month
$24,506
$4,835
Average $5,205/week
$5,655
$121
Average $130/hour
$141
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $294,071 $24,506 $5,655 $141
Average $270,667 $22,556 $5,205 $130
25th Percentile $251,404 $20,950 $4,835 $121

Most common benefits for Head of Data engineering and MLOps

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Head of Data engineering and MLOps

Here are companies hiring for Head of Data engineering and MLOps and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Head of Data engineering and MLOps

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Head of Data engineering and MLOps?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Head of Data engineering and MLOps roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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