Data Engineer
$118,833
avg. annual salary
Cybersecurity Analyst
pays more on average
Cybersecurity Analyst
$123,030
avg. annual salary
As technology continues to evolve, the demand for skilled professionals in data engineering and cybersecurity has surged. Both Data Engineers and Cybersecurity Analysts play critical roles in ensuring that organizations handle and protect their data effectively. Data Engineers focus on building and maintaining the infrastructure that allows for the collection, storage, and analysis of data. In contrast, Cybersecurity Analysts are tasked with safeguarding that data against breaches and cyber threats. This guide compares the salaries, benefits, and career paths of these two in-demand roles in 2025. Understanding the financial and professional prospects can help you make an informed decision about your career trajectory. Let's dive into the specifics of each role.
Salary by Experience Level
starting salary
starting salary
avg. difference (4%)
Salary Overview
In 2025, the average salary for a Data Engineer is approximately $120,000, with a salary range between $100,000 and $140,000 depending on experience and location. On the other hand, Cybersecurity Analysts earn an average of $110,000, with a typical range from $90,000 to $130,000.
The salary differences highlight the varied responsibilities and skills required for each role.
Benefits Comparison
Both Data Engineers and Cybersecurity Analysts often receive competitive benefits packages, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. Data Engineers may also benefit from opportunities for remote work, professional development, and bonuses based on project performance.
Cybersecurity Analysts frequently enjoy similar perks, including certifications and training reimbursements, as well as the satisfaction of working in a high-stakes environment that directly impacts organizational security.
Career Path Opportunities
Data Engineers typically begin their careers as junior data engineers or data analysts, progressing to senior positions or specialized roles such as Data Architect. The career path offers avenues to work in diverse industries, including finance, healthcare, and tech.
Conversely, Cybersecurity Analysts often start in entry-level security roles, moving up to positions like Security Engineer or Security Manager. The cybersecurity field is dynamic, allowing professionals to specialize in areas such as threat intelligence or incident response.
Job Market Trends
The demand for both Data Engineers and Cybersecurity Analysts is expected to grow significantly over the next few years, fueled by the increasing importance of data and security in the digital landscape. Organizations are investing heavily in their data infrastructures and security protocols, which creates a wealth of job opportunities for both roles.
Detailed Comparison: Compensation, Roles, and Growth
Data engineers typically earn higher base pay than cybersecurity analysts in 2025, with U. S.
medians around $120,000 (range $95k–$160k) versus $95,000 (range $70k–$130k) for analysts. Total compensation differs: data engineers often get 5–15% in bonuses and equity, pushing total pay up to $140k–$180k in tech hubs.
Cybersecurity analysts see 3–10% bonuses and retention incentives; in breach-prone firms total comp can reach $110k–$150k.
Role-wise, data engineers build ETL pipelines, manage data lakes, and optimize SQL/Apache Spark jobs—tasks that scale with company data volume. Cybersecurity analysts run SIEM platforms, triage incidents, and conduct threat hunts—work that scales with risk profile.
Growth potential: senior data engineers or staff engineers can jump 20–40% in pay after 5–8 years. Senior cybersecurity roles (incident commander, threat intel lead) increase 15–30% and often require certifications.
Actionable takeaway: match salary expectations to specific tech stack, industry risk profile, and city cost of living.
Key Factors to Consider When Comparing Salaries
When comparing salaries, evaluate these concrete factors:
- •Location: expect a 20–30% premium in San Francisco Bay Area and 15–25% in New York versus national averages. Remote roles can be 5–15% lower or equal depending on employer pay policy.
- •Experience level: entry-level candidates (<2 years) start ~30% below median; mid-level (3–5 years) near median; senior (>5 years) earn 20–40% above median.
- •Certifications and skills: CISSP or SANS certifications boost cybersecurity pay by roughly 10–15%; AWS/GCP Professional certs raise data engineer pay by ~8–12%.
- •Industry risk and data scale: finance and healthcare commonly pay 10–25% more for security and data roles due to compliance and data volume.
Actionable takeaway: quantify where you sit on each factor, then target roles that close the pay gap (e. g.
, obtain a cert or move to a higher-paying industry).