TechnologyUpdated Q1 2026No state income tax

Data Engineer Salary
in Arlington, TX

Build and maintain data pipelines, warehouses, and infrastructure for analytics. Median salary in Arlington: $135K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$135K
per year
Take-home: $95K

Salary range in Arlington

Entry level (25th)$100,000
Median (50th)$135,000
Senior (75th)$171,000
Top earner (90th)$214,000
Data freshness

Figures represent annual base salary in Arlington, Texas. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial Β· How we calculate this β†’

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What the numbers say for Arlington

Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above β€” specific to this role and city.

2% premium vs national median

Data Engineers in Arlington earn approximately 2% higher than the US national median for this role β€” a $3,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Arlington's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.

Cost-of-living adjusted picture

Adjusted for Arlington's cost-of-living index (94), the median Data Engineer salary buys the equivalent of $143,617 in a US-average-cost city. That's $11,617 more purchasing power than the national median β€” a meaningful real-wage advantage.

No state income tax β€” $13K effective edge

Texas has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $12,555 per year at this salary level compared to a California Data Engineer on the same gross pay. A Arlington Data Engineer would need to earn $148,842 in California to net the same take-home.

Key facts for Arlington

Median salary
$135K
annual
Take-home pay
$95K
after fed/state tax
COL index
94
100 = US avg
State income tax
None
no-tax state
Avg 1BR rent
$1,280
per month
YoY growth
+6.5%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Arlington Data Engineer to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $135K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast β€” Arlington

Historical (2019–2025) + projected to 2030 based on BLS growth rates

HistoricalProjected
Data Engineer salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED β†’$95K$110K$124K$139K$153K201920212023202520272029
2026
$138K
projected
2027
$142K
projected
2028
$145K
projected
2029
$149K
projected
2030
$153K
projected

Projections based on BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032 CAGR and WEF Jobs Report 2025. Not financial advice.

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$135,000+$0
2028 projected$135,000+$0
2029 projected$135,000+$0
2030 projected$135,000+$0

Projections use compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from BLS occupational outlook data. Actual salaries may vary.

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Data Engineer Salary in Arlington, Texas: Complete Guide (2026)

The median Data Engineer salary in Arlington, TX is $135,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Arlington–TX metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.

Salary range for Data Engineer in Arlington

Entry-level Data Engineers in Arlington with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $100,000 and $135,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $135,000 to $171,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $171,000 to $214,000 or more.

Cost of living in Arlington for Data Engineers

Arlington has a cost of living index of 94 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 6% further in Arlington than the national average. Crucially, Texas has no state income tax β€” giving Arlington-based Data Engineers an immediate 5–7% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).

Education requirements for Data Engineer

Bachelor's in CS, Engineering, or related. This role is 68% remote-eligible nationally, which can significantly expand the job market for Arlington-based professionals.

Data Engineer salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
Arlington (current)$135K94
Houston$139K91
San Antonio$121K87
Dallas$148K96
Austin$161K110
Fort Worth$139K93