Data Engineer vs Computer Vision Engineer: 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.
Computer Vision Engineer
Build image and video recognition systems using deep learning.
Data Engineer earns more on average — the national median is $19,270/year (16%) higher than a Computer Vision Engineer. However, salaries vary significantly by city, employer, and experience level — see the city-by-city breakdown below.
Data Engineer vs Computer Vision Engineer — Salary by City
National median figures in USD across top cities.
| City | Data Engineer | Computer Vision Engineer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $202,499 | $175,639 | Data +$26,860 |
| New York, NY | $131,540 | $135,980 | Data $4,440 |
| Seattle, WA | $105,430 | $171,965 | Data $66,535 |
| Austin, TX | $153,836 | $137,560 | Data +$16,276 |
| Chicago, IL | $154,010 | $126,140 | Data +$27,870 |
| Boston, MA | $179,962 | $155,915 | Data +$24,047 |
| London, UK | £108,711 | £95,414 | Data +$13,297 |
| Toronto, Canada | CA$181,115 | CA$156,431 | Data +$24,684 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Data Engineer or Computer Vision Engineer earn more?+
A Data Engineer earns more on average. The national median salary for a Data Engineer is $139,500/year, compared to $120,230/year for a Computer Vision Engineer — a difference of $19,270 (16%).
Which has better career growth — Data Engineer or Computer Vision Engineer?+
Data Engineer roles are growing at 34% YoY while Computer Vision Engineer demand is growing at 38% YoY. Computer Vision Engineer has stronger near-term demand growth.
Can you switch from Data Engineer to Computer Vision Engineer?+
Yes. Many professionals transition between these roles, especially since both are in the same category. Shared skills include: Python.
Which is harder to automate — Data Engineer or Computer Vision Engineer?+
Computer Vision Engineer has a lower AI automation risk (22% vs 42%). Based on Oxford Martin School and McKinsey 2023 analysis.