Data Engineer vs Data Governance Analyst: 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.
Data Governance Analyst
Establish and enforce policies for data quality, privacy, and compliance.
Data Engineer earns more on average — the national median is $50,560/year (57%) higher than a Data Governance Analyst. However, salaries vary significantly by city, employer, and experience level — see the city-by-city breakdown below.
Data Engineer vs Data Governance Analyst — Salary by City
National median figures in USD across top cities.
| City | Data Engineer | Data Governance Analyst | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $202,499 | $127,235 | Data +$75,264 |
| New York, NY | $131,540 | $104,917 | Data +$26,623 |
| Seattle, WA | $105,430 | $102,930 | Data +$2,500 |
| Austin, TX | $153,836 | $96,439 | Data +$57,397 |
| Chicago, IL | $154,010 | $96,264 | Data +$57,746 |
| Boston, MA | $179,962 | $114,991 | Data +$64,971 |
| London, UK | £108,711 | £67,745 | Data +$40,966 |
| Toronto, Canada | CA$181,115 | CA$119,721 | Data +$61,394 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Data Engineer or Data Governance Analyst earn more?+
A Data Engineer earns more on average. The national median salary for a Data Engineer is $139,500/year, compared to $88,940/year for a Data Governance Analyst — a difference of $50,560 (57%).
Which has better career growth — Data Engineer or Data Governance Analyst?+
Data Engineer roles are growing at 34% YoY while Data Governance Analyst demand is growing at 28% YoY. Data Engineer has stronger near-term demand growth.
Can you switch from Data Engineer to Data Governance Analyst?+
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 Data Governance Analyst?+
Data Engineer has a lower AI automation risk (42% vs 50%). Based on Oxford Martin School and McKinsey 2023 analysis.