Cloud Data Engineer Salary: Your 2026 Guide

Key takeaways

• The annual median total cloud data engineer salary is $156,000, according to Glassdoor [1].

• You can earn $168,000 per year as a senior cloud data engineer with 10 to 14 years of experience [1].

• A cloud data engineer manages software applications and data hosted in the cloud.

Among the most valuable skills for cloud data engineers are data analysis, Python, and structured query language (SQL). Learn more about the skills, salary potential, and career opportunities for cloud data engineers.

Afterward, if you’re ready to take your first step toward a career in cloud data engineering, enroll in the Preparing for Google Cloud Certification: Cloud Data Engr Professional Certificate. You’ll have the opportunity to understand the intricacies of big data and machine learning applications in Google Cloud, learn how to employ BigQuery to carry out interactive data analysis, choose between different data processing products on Google Cloud, and more.

What does a cloud data engineer do?

A cloud data engineer is in charge of managing corporate applications and data hosted in the cloud. Specializing in cloud settings, cloud data engineers also excel in designing and developing data workflows and storage solutions within cloud infrastructures. Other common work responsibilities of a cloud data engineer include:

• Crafting application programming interfaces (APIs) for data access by a range of applications or users

• Automating workflows with cloud tools to improve data engineering processes

• Assessing cloud app performance to track potential bottlenecks

• Coordinating with data scientists and data analysts for data modeling, analysis, and reporting requirements

• Maintaining metadata to support data lineage tracking and cataloging efforts

• Performing data quality tests and enacting measures to safeguard data integrity

• Investigating and rectifying data pipeline malfunctions

A cloud data engineer may also be called a cloud engineer or cloud developer.

Read more: What Is Cloud Infrastructure and How Does It Work?

How much does a cloud data engineer make?

According to multiple job listing sites, the yearly income for cloud data engineers ranges from $91,409 to $156,000. The following table lists the salary ranges provided by Payscale, Salary.com, Glassdoor, and Indeed [2, 3, 1, 4].

Glassdoor salary information represents the median total pay. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Factors impacting cloud data engineer salary

Multiple factors influence your salary as a cloud data engineer. Keep reading to find out how your education, experience, skills, industry, location, and company choice impact your potential annual income.

Education

According to Zippia, cloud data engineers with bachelor’s degrees earn an average of $107,460 annually [5]. A master’s degree yields an average of $117,324, while a doctorate yields an average of $127,334 [5]. Up to 65 percent of cloud data engineers hold a bachelor’s degree, making it the most prevalent qualification in this field [5]. Common areas of study include computer science, computer engineering, and business.

Experience

As you gain more experience, you may assume complex tasks and leadership roles, resulting in higher compensation. The following list outlines how median salaries shift as you progress in your career as a cloud data engineer [1]:

• 0–1 year: $126,000

• 1–3 years: $136,000

• 4–6 years: $149,000

• 7–9 years: $156,000

• 10–14 years: $168,000

• 15 or more years: $187,000

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of August 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Skills

The cloud data engineer role necessitates strong technical proficiency in cloud service models, such as infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and software as a service (SaaS). Additionally, familiarity with leading cloud platforms, including Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure, is essential. Other vital skills for data engineers include [6]:

• SQL: $98,606

• Extract, transform, load (ETL): $100,375

• Data analysis: $93,602

• Python: $99,865

• Amazon Web Services (AWS): $102,296

Will AI replace cloud engineers?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is unlikely to replace cloud engineers as the technology currently lacks the contextual understanding needed to perform data engineering tasks. However, AI can assist cloud engineers in automating repetitive tasks such as ETL coding.

Industry

High-margin industries tend to pay higher salaries. The following list highlights the top-paying industries by total median salaries for cloud data engineers, according to Glassdoor [1]:

• Information technology (IT): $151,633

• Manufacturing: $133,626

• Management and consulting: $120,428

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of August 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Location

Your geographical location can also influence your annual income as a cloud engineer. Different cities provide varying compensation levels based on local demand for talent, the cost of living, and the presence of industry hubs. Below are some of the top-paying cities for cloud data engineers in the United States, according to Indeed [4]:

• Seattle, WA: $156,899

• New York, NY: $146,767

• Washington, DC: $143,928

• Chicago, IL: $139,731

• Des Moines, IA: $138,892

• Austin, TX: $133,567

Company

Companies seeking specialized skills in emerging cloud technologies or niche areas may offer higher pay to attract the right talent. Among the top-paying companies for cloud data engineers are [1]:

• Google: $225,000–$314,000

• Snowflake: $214,000–$316,000

• Amazon: $171,000–$236,000

• Indeed: $160,000–$242,000

• Intel Corporation: $135,000–$205,000

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of August 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Job outlook

The job outlook for cloud data engineers is promising. Grand View Research forecasts the global public cloud market size to grow from $1,044.2 billion in 2026 to $2,729.9 billion by 2033 [7]. The burgeoning demand for public cloud services should continue to drive greater work opportunities for cloud engineers. Corroborating the trend, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts a 34 percent increase in employment opportunities for data scientists between 2024 and 2034 [8]. The projection translates to 23,400 job openings a year, on average, during that time frame [8].

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