Salary for Executive-level / Director Data Engineer in United States during 2022

Salary details

The average executive-level / director Data Engineer salary lies between USD 200,000 and USD 297,500 in the United States. 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.

Region represents the primary country of residence of an employee during the year (or residence for tax purposes). All data shown are full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries. Part-time salary information has been extrapolated to its FTE value.

Last updated: Dec. 22, 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, Machine Learning and Python. 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:

Engineering | 106 jobs Machine Learning | 63 jobs Python | 60 jobs Agile | 56 jobs Pipelines | 56 jobs SQL | 54 jobs AWS | 50 jobs Security | 46 jobs Data pipelines | 44 jobs ETL | 40 jobs Architecture | 38 jobs Big Data | 34 jobs Spark | 34 jobs Computer Science | 31 jobs Kafka | 29 jobs Hadoop | 28 jobs NoSQL | 27 jobs GCP | 27 jobs Streaming | 27 jobs Airflow | 25 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 2022 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 91 jobs Health care | 46 jobs Startup environment | 43 jobs Competitive pay | 30 jobs Flex hours | 28 jobs Team events | 25 jobs Insurance | 25 jobs Flex vacation | 23 jobs Medical leave | 22 jobs Equity / stock options | 21 jobs Salary bonus | 17 jobs Parental leave | 16 jobs 401(k) matching | 13 jobs Wellness | 12 jobs Conferences | 11 jobs Flexible spending account | 11 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 8 jobs Yoga | 7 jobs Fitness / gym | 5 jobs Home office stipend | 5 jobs

Salary Composition for Executive-Level Data Engineers

The salary for an Executive-level or Director Data Engineer in the United States typically comprises several components. The fixed base salary is the largest portion, often accounting for 60-80% of the total compensation package. Bonuses, which can be performance-based or tied to company profits, usually make up 10-20% of the total salary. Additional remuneration may include stock options, especially in tech companies, which can account for 10-20% of the total package. The composition can vary significantly depending on the region, industry, and company size. For instance, tech hubs like Silicon Valley or New York City might offer higher base salaries and more substantial stock options, while industries like finance or healthcare might provide more significant bonuses.

Steps to Increase Salary from This Position

To increase your salary further from an Executive-level Data Engineer position, consider the following strategies:

• Expand Your Skill Set: Acquiring new skills in emerging technologies such as AI, machine learning, or cloud computing can make you more valuable.
• Pursue Leadership Roles: Transitioning into a Chief Data Officer (CDO) or similar executive role can lead to higher compensation.
• Network and Build Industry Connections: Engaging with industry leaders and participating in conferences can open up new opportunities.
• Negotiate Effectively: When offered a new position or during performance reviews, negotiate for higher pay or better benefits.
• Consider Relocation: Moving to a region with higher demand for your skills can result in better salary offers.

Educational Requirements

Most Executive-level Data Engineer roles require at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, engineering, or a related field. However, a master's degree or even a Ph.D. can be advantageous, especially for roles that require deep technical expertise or leadership in research and development. Advanced degrees can also provide a competitive edge in salary negotiations.

Helpful Certifications

While not always mandatory, certain certifications can enhance your qualifications and potentially lead to higher salaries. Some valuable certifications include:

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

These certifications demonstrate expertise in data management, cloud platforms, and data engineering, making you a more attractive candidate for higher-level positions.

Experience Requirements

Typically, an Executive-level Data Engineer position requires extensive experience, often 10-15 years in data engineering or related fields. This experience should include a proven track record of managing large-scale data projects, leading teams, and implementing data strategies. Experience in specific industries, such as finance or healthcare, can also be beneficial if the role is industry-specific.

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