Data Analyst vs Data Engineer
Data Analysts and Data Engineers both work with data, but the scope of their work is quite different. Analysts query and interpret existing data to answer business questions. Engineers build the pipelines and systems that make that data available and reliable. For anyone deciding which path to pursue, the difference in pay, required skills and career progression is worth understanding clearly.
Data Analyst
1,517
open roles
Data Engineer
1,764
open roles
What the data shows
Data Engineer roles account for 54% of active listings between these two roles — 247 more open positions than Data Analyst right now.
Data Engineer commands a higher median salary — $111,169 vs $76,176 — a gap of roughly 46%. Both roles show meaningful upside at the 75th percentile.
Data Engineer skews more remote-friendly — 15% of listings offer remote work vs 11% for Data Analyst, a 4-point difference.
Data Engineer skews more senior — 43% of its listings target senior-level candidates, reflecting the depth of specialization the role demands.
Salary comparison
Data Analyst
P25
$55,000
Median
$76,176
P75
$104,891
Data Engineer
P25
$72,500
Median
$111,169
P75
$147,351
Salary estimates derived from active listings that include explicit pay ranges. Midpoint of stated range used to compute percentiles.
Shared skills
These skills appear in the top 12 for both roles — useful if you're considering a transition or working across both areas.
Data from active job listings · Updated hourly