Data Engineer vs BI Developer: Which Pays More?
Side-by-side salary comparison by city, experience level, and career growth outlook. Data reflects current market rates.
Data Engineer
Build and maintain data pipelines, warehouses, and ETL infrastructure.
BI Developer
Build dashboards, reports, and data visualisations to support business decisions.
Data Engineer earns more on average — the national median is $39,769/year (40%) higher than a BI Developer. However, salaries vary significantly by city, employer, and experience level — see the city-by-city breakdown below.
Data Engineer vs BI Developer — Salary by City
National median figures in USD across top cities.
| City | Data Engineer | BI Developer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $202,499 | $149,547 | Data +$52,952 |
| New York, NY | $131,540 | $119,905 | Data +$11,635 |
| Seattle, WA | $105,430 | $144,935 | Data $39,505 |
| Austin, TX | $153,836 | $109,654 | Data +$44,182 |
| Chicago, IL | $154,010 | $103,999 | Data +$50,011 |
| Boston, MA | $179,962 | $133,426 | Data +$46,536 |
| London, UK | £108,711 | £77,839 | Data +$30,872 |
| Toronto, Canada | CA$181,115 | CA$132,034 | Data +$49,081 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Data Engineer or BI Developer earn more?+
A Data Engineer earns more on average. The national median salary for a Data Engineer is $139,500/year, compared to $99,731/year for a BI Developer — a difference of $39,769 (40%).
Which has better career growth — Data Engineer or BI Developer?+
Data Engineer roles are growing at 34% YoY while BI Developer demand is growing at 22% YoY. Data Engineer has stronger near-term demand growth.
Can you switch from Data Engineer to BI Developer?+
Yes. Many professionals transition between these roles, especially since both are in the same category. Shared skills include: SQL.
Which is harder to automate — Data Engineer or BI Developer?+
Data Engineer has a lower AI automation risk (42% vs 45%). Based on Oxford Martin School and McKinsey 2023 analysis.