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Entry-level data engineer jobs: what the job is, skills and open roles

A data engineer builds the pipelines that move and store data so analysts and scientists can use it. Entry roles maintain and extend existing pipelines. Right now 1,063 entry-level data engineer jobs are open on employers’ own career sites.

What a data engineer does

In the data and analytics family of jobs. Roles that collect, clean and explain data.

A typical day

  1. 1. Build and fix data pipelines
  2. 2. Write SQL and Python
  3. 3. Monitor jobs and failures
  4. 4. Test data quality
  5. 5. Document tables

Do you need experience?

2 of the 1,063 open entry-level data engineer jobs say in their own text that no experience is required. 1 say they provide training. The figures are counted from the posting text and change as jobs open and close.

Open entry-level data engineer jobs

Taken from employers’ own career sites and checked to still be open within the last week.

Showing the newest 15 of about 1,063 verified open jobs here. Search all jobs

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Skills for data engineer jobs

The skills this job uses, most important first. Most can be learned or shown before the first day.

Skills to build or show

  1. 1. SQL
  2. 2. Python
  3. 3. Data modeling basics
  4. 4. Cloud data tools
  5. 5. Git
  6. 6. Debugging

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The market for data engineer work

Every figure names its source.

Open entry-level data engineer jobs
1,063

Source: NextChapter, checked against employer career sites, last 7 days.

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Openings that say no experience is required
2

Source: The posting’s own text, counted by NextChapter.

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Openings that say they provide training
1

Source: The posting’s own text, counted by NextChapter.

Median pay in listings that state it
$130,000

Source: NextChapter verified openings (285 with pay).

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Across 285 open entry-level data engineer listings that state an annual pay figure, the middle half run from $102,500 to $150,000, with a median of $130,000. Listings that state pay are not every listing, and some roles add commission or bonus on top.

Where entry-level data engineer jobs are

Between jobs? Unemployment benefits and severance rules in these states, or in every state.

Employers hiring data engineers now

  • Sentara Health 26
  • Agile Defense 15
  • Booz Allen Hamilton 15
  • Samprasoft 11
  • ClearanceJobs 10
  • Software Technology 9
  • Deloitte 8
  • Capgemini 7
  • Insight Global 7
  • SFE 7

More jobs like data engineer

Roles that use the same skills, and where this job commonly leads.

Where it can lead

Similar entry-level jobs

All entry-level data and analytics jobs · Data Engineer jobs at every level

Questions about data engineer jobs

What does a data engineer do?
A data engineer builds the pipelines that move and store data so analysts and scientists can use it. Entry roles maintain and extend existing pipelines. A typical day includes: build and fix data pipelines; write SQL and python; monitor jobs and failures; test data quality; document tables.
Can I get an entry-level data engineer job with no experience?
2 of the 1,063 open entry-level data engineer jobs say in their own text that no experience is required. 1 say they provide training. The figures are counted from the posting text and change as jobs open and close.
What skills do you need to be a data engineer?
The skills this job uses most are SQL, python, data modeling basics, cloud data tools, git, debugging. Most can be learned before the first day through coursework, short courses, practice or a related job.
How much does an entry-level data engineer make?
Across 285 open entry-level data engineer listings that state an annual pay figure, the middle half run from $102,500 to $150,000, with a median of $130,000. Listings that state pay are not every listing, and some roles add commission or bonus on top.
Where can a data engineer job lead?
People in this job commonly move to data analyst, software developer, DevOps or cloud engineer, business analyst. The link between jobs is the shared skills; the path is not guaranteed and depends on the employer.

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