Data Engineer
Also known as: Data Infrastructure Engineer, ETL Developer
Build and maintain the infrastructure that allows organizations to collect, store, and analyze massive datasets.
Salary Range
The highest-paid specialization or seniority level for data engineers.
About 1 in 400 reaches this level
Of ~200K data engineers, VP at $575K total comp means FAANG-level companies; perhaps 300-500 hold such titles.
Salary data based on 2025 BLS, Glassdoor, and industry reports. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, and employer.
How to Become One
This career typically requires a bachelor's degree. Here are the top colleges for it:
AI Risk Assessment
AI tools now generate production-ready SQL, build ETL pipelines, and auto-document data flows from natural language. The Fivetran-dbt Labs merger aims to 'reduce engineering complexity by automating data management end to end.' Entry-level hiring has tightened significantly even as senior architectural roles remain in demand — one experienced engineer with AI tools produces what a small team did before.
Sources
Ratings reflect a 10-year outlook based on 2025-2026 research, weighted toward entry-level impact. Individual outcomes will vary.
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