Salary Comparison

Data Engineer Salary:
Boston, MA vs Atlanta, GA

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Boston, MA
$194,297
/ year
+31%
difference
Atlanta, GA
$148,227
/ year
Bottom line: Atlanta offers better purchasing power despite Boston paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Boston
Atlanta
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$194,297✓ higher
$148,227
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$125,651✓ higher
$95,858
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$300,446✓ higher
$229,207
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$129,944✓ higher
$100,174
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$138,784
$141,169✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40×
1.05×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$125,651✓ higher
$95,858
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$300,446✓ higher
$229,207

What if you move from Boston to Atlanta?

Gross salary change
$46,070
31% decrease
Take-home change
$29,770
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$2,385
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00×). Full methodology →

Salary Range Comparison

Boston, MA$194,297
P10: $125,651Median: $194,297P90: $300,446
Atlanta, GA$148,227
P10: $95,858Median: $148,227P90: $229,207

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Data Engineer earn more in Boston or Atlanta?

The median Data Engineer salary in Boston, MA is $194,297/yr compared to $148,227/yr in Atlanta, GA. Boston pays 31% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Data Engineer salary worth more in Boston or Atlanta after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Boston salary has the purchasing power of $138,784/yr in a median-cost city, vs $141,169/yr for Atlanta. Atlanta offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Data Engineer in Boston vs Atlanta?

After estimated taxes, a Data Engineer in Boston, MA takes home approximately $129,944/yr, vs $100,174/yr in Atlanta, GA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.