Data Engineer
Salary in New York City
$119K–$370K across all experience levels. Updated 2025.
NY
Senior Data Engineer · Median
$241K
Base salary · 5–8 years experience
Total comp median: $345K
Salary by experience level — New York City
NYC is the second-highest tech salary market, with strong fintech, media, and startup demand supplementing the FAANG presence. Finance-adjacent tech roles pay a premium.
$141K
median base salary
$188K
median base salary
$241K
median base salary
$311K
median base salary
| Level | Experience | 25th %ile | Median | 75th %ile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | 0–2 yrs | $119K | $141K | $163K |
| Mid Level | 3–5 yrs | $159K | $188K | $218K |
| Senior | 5–8 yrs | $204K | $241K | $283K |
| Staff / Principal | 8+ yrs | $259K | $311K | $370K |
Base salary in USD. Data reflects 2025 compensation benchmarks from Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and Zari platform data.
Senior Data Engineer · Total Compensation
$345K
Median total comp (base + equity + bonus)
Total comp range
Negotiation opportunity
$79K
Gap between 25th and 75th percentile for senior Data Engineer in New York City
Most candidates who don't negotiate land at the 25th percentile. Strong negotiation moves you toward the 75th — a difference of $79K per year.
How to negotiate a Data Engineer offer in New York City
The difference between the 25th and 75th percentile is $79K/year — and it comes down to this conversation.
Anchor above the median
Open at $283K — the 75th percentile. This gives you room to "meet in the middle" at or above the median. Never give a range; ranges get taken at the low end.
Use competing offers as leverage
A competing offer — even from a less preferred employer — is the single most powerful negotiating tool in New York City. Get at least one before negotiating.
Negotiate total comp, not just base
Base salary is often the hardest component to move. Signing bonus and equity are frequently more flexible. In New York City, a $26K signing bonus has the same year-1 value.
Never accept on the call
Ask for the offer in writing and follow up in 24–48 hours. This creates space to counter without pressure. No legitimate employer rescinds an offer because a candidate asked for review time.