Data Engineer
Salary in Vancouver
CA$61K–CA$190K across all experience levels. Updated 2025.
BC, Canada
Senior Data Engineer · Median
CA$124K
Base salary · 5–8 years experience
Total comp median: CA$178K
Salary by experience level — Vancouver
Vancouver is Canada's third-largest tech market with major Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple engineering offices, plus a strong gaming industry (EA, Activision, Sony). High cost of living but strong salaries by Canadian standards.
CA$72K
median base salary
CA$97K
median base salary
CA$124K
median base salary
CA$160K
median base salary
| Level | Experience | 25th %ile | Median | 75th %ile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | 0–2 yrs | CA$61K | CA$72K | CA$84K |
| Mid Level | 3–5 yrs | CA$82K | CA$97K | CA$112K |
| Senior | 5–8 yrs | CA$105K | CA$124K | CA$146K |
| Staff / Principal | 8+ yrs | CA$133K | CA$160K | CA$190K |
Base salary in CAD. Data reflects 2025 compensation benchmarks from Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and Zari platform data.
Senior Data Engineer · Total Compensation
CA$178K
Median total comp (base + equity + bonus)
Total comp range
Negotiation opportunity
CA$41K
Gap between 25th and 75th percentile for senior Data Engineer in Vancouver
Most candidates who don't negotiate land at the 25th percentile. Strong negotiation moves you toward the 75th — a difference of CA$41K per year.
How to negotiate a Data Engineer offer in Vancouver
The difference between the 25th and 75th percentile is CA$41K/year — and it comes down to this conversation.
Anchor above the median
Open at CA$146K — 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 Vancouver. 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 Vancouver, a CA$14K 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.