14 of the Best Types of Data Engineer Jobs in 2026

Discover some great types of Data Engineer jobs that are hiring now.

High Paying Data Engineer Jobs

• Director Data Engineer

  Salary range: $84,000 - $196,000

  A director is a low-level executive in a company or organization that is responsible for a particular project, region, or division. A director of a company is employed to manage the day-to-day business activities of a group or division within an organization. There are different types of directors, but they are all tasked with leading others and meeting the goals of the organization. Directors plan, execute and manage to reach a goal. For example, the sales director would oversee the sales for a particular product or area. An HR director would be tasked with screening applicants and hiring the right candidates, making sure to comply with all employment laws and settling any personnel issues.

• From Home Data Engineer

  Salary range: $133,500 - $170,000

  From Home Data Engineer is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for From Home Data Engineer jobs pay between $133,500 (25th percentile) and $170,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for From Home Data Engineer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Senior Data Engineer

  Salary range: $106,000 - $144,000

  Senior Data Engineer is a common job search query. Most salaries for Senior Data Engineer jobs pay between $106,000 (25th percentile) and $144,000 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Senior Data Engineer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Freelance Data Engineer

  Salary range: $114,500 - $137,500

  Freelancers are self-employed. As a freelancer, you provide work to clients and invoice them for it. The type of clients you have depends on what kind of services you offer. Your clients can be individuals or companies. A full-time freelancer often has assignments from multiple clients at once. Some common services that people provide as freelancers are: writing, editing, graphic design, web design, marketing, programming, accounting, and bookkeeping. Freelancing is ideal for those who prefer to be their own boss and are willing to market themselves to meet their income goals.

• Trainee Data Engineer

  Salary range: $114,500 - $137,500

  The requirements to get a trainee job vary by industry. In some, such as architecture or accounting, you must graduate from an accredited college program before you can begin work. Other industries, such as retail, manufacturing, or telemarketing, may require only a high school diploma or a GED certificate to begin a training program. No matter what profession you are interested in, you should have strong verbal and written communication and an interest in continuing the career.

• Co Op Data Engineer

  Salary range: $114,500 - $137,500

  The qualifications you need for a Co-Op job depend on the application requirements at your school and the organization where you want to work. You must be an officially enrolled student at your college or university, and GPA and credit hour requirements are typical. Some companies prefer Co-Op students whose major aligns with the industry. You must have strong communication skills and a willingness to learn and practice a variety of new tasks and job duties. Your responsibilities are to apply your learning to your Co-Op work experience and be a punctual and motivated employee.

• Data Engineer Entry Level

  Salary range: $114,500 - $137,500

  Entry-level jobs are positions that do not require any previous experience in the role. Most entry-level jobs are aimed at high school or college graduates as a starting point for a future career goal. A college student may have majored in their ideal career field, but will still need to start in an entry-level position to train in a real-world environment. Some students move from internships into entry-level jobs, but most entry-level jobs do not expect a candidate to have any prior employment or on-site training.

• Data Engineer Manager

  Salary range: $114,500 - $137,500

  Managers supervise a team of people; they establish goals, assign tasks, and measure progress. The specific responsibilities of someone in a management position will vary based on the company and industry they work in, but their primary responsibilities remain largely the same. Managers monitor the accomplishments of their staff, focusing on the overall goals of the department. They work with Human Resources to determine and address staffing needs, coordinate and delegate responsibilities, check employee performance, and provide additional training and direction when necessary.

• Summer Data Engineer

  Salary range: $114,500 - $137,500

  Summer jobs are an integral part of American culture for students in their teens and beyond, but not all summer jobs are created equal. The difference between a great summer and an awful one can be the right job. According to Forbes, some good summer jobs for teens are camp counselor, golf caddy, nanny, food service, retail sales, and, of course, internships.

• Temporary Data Engineer

  Salary range: $114,500 - $137,500

  A Temporary job is an employment arrangement in which both parties, the employee and employer, agree in advance that the position will be filled for a set period. Temporary jobs often are based on employers’ seasonal or specific project needs. Occasionally, Temporary employees will be offered ongoing, full-time positions if their performance is excellent and a position is available. However, you should not assume this will be the case.

• Union Data Engineer

  Salary range: $114,500 - $137,500

  For those who work for unions, some of the specific jobs include researchers, organizers, administrators, lawyers, communications workers, and clerical staff. Your duties include entering workplaces to speak with workers and provide them encouragement and support if they are interested in joining a specific union, or to negotiate with employers for better working conditions, pay, or benefits for union members. There are numerous types of unions, including health care, public sector, construction, writing, and service workers unions, and they represent a variety of professions, such as nurses, journalists, manufacturers, construction workers, municipal workers, and hotel workers, to name only a few.

• Full Time Data Engineer

  Salary range: $114,500 - $137,500

  Full-time employment hours are generally determined by the employer. There is no single universal definition; however, various laws and policies govern different types of eligibility and statuses. For example, the Fair Labor Standards Act does not define full-time employment but does require overtime pay after 40 hours of work in a workweek for non-exempt employees. The Affordable Care Act, in determining Applicable Large Employers, defines full-time employees as those working an average of at least 30 hours per week, or 130 hours a month. The H-1B Visa Program defines full-time as 40 hours per week, normally, and in no event would less than 35 hours per week be considered to be full-time employment. In practice, full-time employment is typically between 32 and 40 hours per week.

• Junior Data Engineer

  Salary range: $48,500 - $80,000

  Junior Data Engineer is a common job search query. Most salaries for Junior Data Engineer jobs pay between $48,500 (25th percentile) and $80,000 (75th percentile) annually. There are lots of open positions nationwide for Junior Data Engineer job searches, with results showing jobs hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Data Engineer Internship

  Salary range: $43,000 - $60,000

  An Internship is a position within your desired field that pays little or no money but offers you the opportunity to gain real-world experience. This may set you apart for your future job search. Generally, Internships are almost expected by employers on an entry-level candidate’s resume. You are much more of an asset to an employer if you have some work experience.