TechnologyUpdated Q1 2026No state income tax

Data Engineer Salary
in Pasadena, TX

Build and maintain data pipelines, warehouses, and infrastructure for analytics. Median salary in Pasadena: $116K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$116K
per year
Take-home: $82K

Salary range in Pasadena

Entry level (25th)$86,000
Median (50th)$116,000
Senior (75th)$148,000
Top earner (90th)$185,000
Data freshness

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

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What the numbers say for Pasadena

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

12% discount vs national median

Data Engineers in Pasadena earn approximately 12% lower than the US national median for this role β€” a $16,000 discount on annual base salary. Pasadena's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 88 (US avg = 100).

No state income tax β€” $11K effective edge

Texas has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $10,788 per year at this salary level compared to a California Data Engineer on the same gross pay. A Pasadena Data Engineer would need to earn $127,894 in California to net the same take-home.

Strong 6.5% annual wage growth

This role's national salaries are growing at 6.5% year-over-year, well above the BLS all-occupations average of ~3.5%. If that pace holds, the Pasadena median reaches $158,930 in five years.

Key facts for Pasadena

Median salary
$116K
annual
Take-home pay
$82K
after fed/state tax
COL index
88
100 = US avg
State income tax
None
no-tax state
Avg 1BR rent
$1,100
per month
YoY growth
+6.5%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Pasadena 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 $116K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast β€” Pasadena

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

HistoricalProjected
Data Engineer salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED β†’$82K$94K$107K$119K$131K201920212023202520272029
2026
$119K
projected
2027
$122K
projected
2028
$125K
projected
2029
$128K
projected
2030
$131K
projected

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

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$116,000+$0
2028 projected$116,000+$0
2029 projected$116,000+$0
2030 projected$116,000+$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 Pasadena, Texas: Complete Guide (2026)

The median Data Engineer salary in Pasadena, TX is $116,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Pasadena–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 Pasadena

Entry-level Data Engineers in Pasadena with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $86,000 and $116,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $116,000 to $148,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $148,000 to $185,000 or more.

Cost of living in Pasadena for Data Engineers

Pasadena has a cost of living index of 88 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 12% further in Pasadena than the national average. Crucially, Texas has no state income tax β€” giving Pasadena-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 Pasadena-based professionals.

Data Engineer salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
Pasadena (current)$116K88
Houston$139K91
San Antonio$121K87
Dallas$148K96
Austin$161K110
Fort Worth$139K93