Salary for Executive-level / Director Data Engineer in United States during 2023

Salary details

The average executive-level / director Data Engineer salary lies between USD 130,002 and USD 234,000 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: Nov. 10, 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 Python. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2023 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Engineering | 174 jobs Architecture | 105 jobs Python | 100 jobs Spark | 95 jobs Agile | 90 jobs Pipelines | 88 jobs Machine Learning | 87 jobs Computer Science | 87 jobs SQL | 86 jobs Big Data | 83 jobs Java | 81 jobs Hadoop | 74 jobs AWS | 73 jobs Data pipelines | 72 jobs ETL | 62 jobs Streaming | 62 jobs Security | 61 jobs Azure | 61 jobs Scala | 60 jobs GCP | 60 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, Startup environment and Health care. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2023 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 142 jobs Startup environment | 97 jobs Health care | 78 jobs Flex hours | 52 jobs Flex vacation | 42 jobs Equity / stock options | 41 jobs Insurance | 41 jobs Salary bonus | 39 jobs Competitive pay | 38 jobs Parental leave | 32 jobs Team events | 30 jobs Wellness | 25 jobs 401(k) matching | 21 jobs Medical leave | 19 jobs Gear | 15 jobs Home office stipend | 13 jobs Transparency | 12 jobs Fitness / gym | 10 jobs Conferences | 7 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 7 jobs

Salary Composition

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 70-80% 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 or startups, and other benefits like health insurance, retirement contributions, and paid time off. 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 lucrative stock options, while smaller companies might compensate with higher bonuses or flexible work arrangements.

Increasing Salary

To increase your salary further from this position, consider pursuing advanced leadership roles such as Chief Data Officer or VP of Data Engineering. These roles often come with higher compensation packages. Additionally, expanding your skill set to include expertise in emerging technologies like AI ethics, quantum computing, or advanced machine learning techniques can make you more valuable. Networking within industry circles and attending conferences can also open up opportunities for higher-paying roles. Finally, consider negotiating your salary during performance reviews or when taking on additional responsibilities.

Educational Requirements

Most Executive-level or Director Data Engineer positions require at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, engineering, or a related field. However, a master's degree or Ph.D. is often preferred, especially in larger companies or more competitive markets. Advanced degrees can provide a deeper understanding of complex data systems and algorithms, which is crucial for strategic decision-making at this level.

Helpful Certifications

While not always mandatory, certain certifications can enhance your qualifications and demonstrate your commitment to the field. Certifications such as Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP), Google Professional Data Engineer, or AWS Certified Big Data – Specialty can be particularly beneficial. These certifications validate your expertise in data management, cloud platforms, and big data technologies, which are critical skills for a Director Data Engineer.

Required Experience

Typically, a Director Data Engineer role requires at least 10-15 years of experience in data engineering or related fields. This experience should include a proven track record of managing data teams, designing and implementing data architectures, and leading large-scale data projects. Experience in strategic planning and cross-functional collaboration is also essential, as these roles often involve working closely with other departments to align data strategies with business goals.

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