Salary for Executive-level / Director Data Engineer during 2024

Salary details

The average executive-level / director Data Engineer salary lies between USD 143,858 and USD 245,600 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: Dec. 15, 2024

Salary trend

Top 20 Job Tags for Executive-level / Director Data Engineer roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with executive-level / director Data Engineer job listings are Engineering, Architecture and SQL. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Engineering | 400 jobs Architecture | 252 jobs SQL | 246 jobs Pipelines | 242 jobs Python | 238 jobs Computer Science | 228 jobs AWS | 202 jobs Security | 198 jobs ETL | 191 jobs Data pipelines | 185 jobs Spark | 163 jobs Agile | 161 jobs Big Data | 155 jobs Data quality | 141 jobs Java | 139 jobs Machine Learning | 131 jobs Azure | 129 jobs Data management | 127 jobs Data governance | 124 jobs Privacy | 122 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Executive-level / Director Data Engineer roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with executive-level / director Data Engineer job listings are Career development, Health care and Startup environment. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 332 jobs Health care | 181 jobs Startup environment | 123 jobs Flex hours | 112 jobs Flex vacation | 100 jobs Equity / stock options | 92 jobs Salary bonus | 89 jobs Insurance | 84 jobs Competitive pay | 73 jobs Wellness | 71 jobs Parental leave | 70 jobs Medical leave | 67 jobs Team events | 61 jobs 401(k) matching | 41 jobs Travel | 12 jobs Transparency | 11 jobs Home office stipend | 10 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 9 jobs Gear | 8 jobs Flexible spending account | 6 jobs

Salary Composition

The salary for an Executive-level or Director Data Engineer typically comprises a base salary, performance bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or equity, especially in tech companies. The base salary is often the largest component, providing a stable income. Performance bonuses are usually tied to individual, team, or company performance metrics and can vary significantly. Additional remuneration might include benefits like health insurance, retirement contributions, and other perks.

• Region: In regions like Silicon Valley or New York, the base salary might be higher due to the cost of living and competitive job market. In contrast, regions with a lower cost of living might offer a smaller base but compensate with other benefits.
• Industry: Tech and finance industries often offer higher salaries and bonuses compared to sectors like healthcare or education.
• Company Size: Larger companies might offer more comprehensive benefits and stock options, while startups might offer lower base salaries but higher equity stakes.

Increasing Salary

To increase your salary from this position, consider the following strategies:

• Skill Enhancement: Continuously update your skills in emerging technologies and methodologies in AI/ML and data engineering.
• Leadership Roles: Aim for roles with greater responsibility, such as VP of Data Engineering or Chief Data Officer.
• Networking: Build a strong professional network to learn about higher-paying opportunities and industry trends.
• Negotiation: Improve your negotiation skills to better advocate for higher compensation during performance reviews or when switching jobs.

Educational Requirements

Most executive-level data engineering roles require at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics, or a related field. However, a master's degree or Ph.D. can be advantageous, especially in competitive markets. Advanced degrees often provide deeper technical knowledge and research experience, which are valuable in strategic decision-making roles.

Helpful Certifications

While not always mandatory, certain certifications can enhance your credibility and demonstrate expertise:

• Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP)
• Google Professional Data Engineer
• AWS Certified Big Data – Specialty
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate

These certifications can validate your skills in specific platforms and tools, making you more attractive to potential employers.

Required Experience

Typically, a director-level data engineering role requires 10+ years of experience in data engineering or related fields. This experience should include:

• Leading data engineering teams
• Designing and implementing large-scale data architectures
• Experience with cloud platforms and big data technologies
• Proven track record of delivering data solutions that drive business value

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