Salary for Entry-level / Junior Data Engineer during 2022

Salary details

The average entry-level / junior Data Engineer salary lies between USD 65,000 and USD 135,000 globally. It represents the overall compensation/gross salary amount for the working year (before deductions like social security, taxes and other contributions), not including equity/stock options or similar benefits.

All data shown are full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries. Part-time salary information has been extrapolated to its FTE value.

Last updated: Nov. 10, 2024

Salary trend

Top 20 Job Tags for Entry-level / Junior Data Engineer roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with entry-level / junior Data Engineer job listings are Python, Engineering and SQL. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2022 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Python | 196 jobs Engineering | 187 jobs SQL | 166 jobs Pipelines | 118 jobs ETL | 102 jobs AWS | 102 jobs Computer Science | 84 jobs Data pipelines | 82 jobs Machine Learning | 72 jobs Big Data | 70 jobs Spark | 70 jobs Airflow | 59 jobs GCP | 56 jobs APIs | 54 jobs Azure | 52 jobs Scala | 50 jobs Agile | 47 jobs Testing | 46 jobs Research | 42 jobs Architecture | 39 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Entry-level / Junior Data Engineer roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with entry-level / junior Data Engineer job listings are Career development, Startup environment and Team events. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2022 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 121 jobs Startup environment | 62 jobs Team events | 60 jobs Flex hours | 59 jobs Health care | 49 jobs Competitive pay | 35 jobs Flex vacation | 34 jobs Equity / stock options | 24 jobs Salary bonus | 23 jobs Parental leave | 18 jobs Insurance | 15 jobs Medical leave | 14 jobs Wellness | 13 jobs Home office stipend | 12 jobs 401(k) matching | 11 jobs Fitness / gym | 9 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 9 jobs Lunch / meals | 8 jobs Snacks / Drinks | 7 jobs Conferences | 6 jobs

Salary Composition

The salary for an entry-level or junior data engineer typically consists of a base salary, performance bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or benefits. The base salary is the fixed component and usually makes up the majority of the total compensation package. Performance bonuses can vary significantly depending on the company’s policies and your individual performance. Additional remuneration might include stock options, especially in tech companies, or benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.

The composition can vary based on region, industry, and company size. For instance, tech hubs like Silicon Valley or New York City might offer higher base salaries and stock options, while companies in other regions might offer more in terms of bonuses or benefits. Larger companies often have more structured compensation packages, while startups might offer more equity to compensate for lower base salaries.

Increasing Salary

To increase your salary from an entry-level position, consider the following steps:

• Skill Development: Continuously improve your technical skills, especially in programming languages like Python, SQL, and tools like Apache Spark or Hadoop. Mastering cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud can also be beneficial.

• Advanced Education: Pursuing a master's degree in data science, computer science, or a related field can open up higher-paying opportunities.

• Certifications: Obtaining relevant certifications can demonstrate your expertise and commitment to the field, potentially leading to salary increases.

• Networking: Building a strong professional network can lead to new job opportunities and salary negotiations.

• Performance Excellence: Consistently exceeding performance expectations can lead to promotions and salary raises.

Educational Requirements

Most entry-level data engineering positions require at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, engineering, or a related field. Some employers may accept candidates with degrees in mathematics or statistics if they have relevant technical skills. A strong foundation in programming, databases, and data structures is essential.

Helpful Certifications

While not always required, certain certifications can enhance your resume and demonstrate your expertise:

• AWS Certified Data Analytics: Validates your ability to design, build, and maintain analytics solutions on AWS.

• Google Professional Data Engineer: Demonstrates your ability to design, build, and operationalize data processing systems on Google Cloud Platform.

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate: Shows proficiency in integrating, transforming, and consolidating data from various structured and unstructured data systems into structures suitable for building analytics solutions.

• Cloudera Certified Professional (CCP) Data Engineer: Focuses on the skills required to develop reliable, autonomous, scalable data pipelines.

Experience Requirements

For an entry-level data engineer role, employers typically look for candidates with some practical experience, which can be gained through internships, co-op programs, or relevant projects during your studies. Experience with data modeling, ETL processes, and working with large datasets is often preferred. Familiarity with data warehousing solutions and cloud platforms can also be advantageous.

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