Are you thinking about making the leap into a data engineer career but have no idea how to get started? No problem! You're not alone, and you're already on the right track by doing your homework. Once you have the full picture, you can consider the job requirements and whether you’d be a good fit for the role.
The world is increasingly digital and dependent on data and connected systems—keeping these professionals in high demand for the foreseeable future. So, wondering how to become a data engineer? Keep on reading this article to find out.
Plus, check out our latest Data Engineer Career Track. We've mapped out everything you need to know in 10 carefully designed courses that'll take you from complete beginner to job-ready data engineer. Start learning today!
Table of Contents
- What Is a Data Engineer and What Does a Data Engineer Do?
- Why Should You Become a Data Engineer?
- Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Data Engineer
- Data Engineer Career Path
- Emerging Trends in Data Engineering
- Begin Building Your Career With 365 Data Science
- FAQs
What Is a Data Engineer and What Does a Data Engineer Do?
From e-commerce invoices to medical forms, the world is full of material—often in a digital format. So, what is data engineering? Data engineers plan, build and maintain the scalable infrastructure that allows organizations to collect, process and use information.
How do they further business objectives? They examine how companies use content and identify the best ways to overcome identified challenges. This means finding appropriate formats and converting content so decision-makers can feed it into tools like business intelligence platforms.
These professionals also collaborate with other team members—such as cybersecurity or data governance professionals—to give employees the appropriate access to the material needed to do their jobs. Data engineer responsibilities vary somewhat depending on factors like the size of their company, their field, and the maturity of the pipelines and processes.
Now that you understand the data engineer job description, let’s look at why you should consider this career.
Why Should You Become a Data Engineer?
If you're someone who loves working with data and gets excited about building the essential systems that help companies use information smarter and safer, a data engineering career could be perfect for you.
In data engineer roles, you'll be hands-on with databases, tools, and platforms that make a real difference—while also helping protect against issues like data breaches.
This career path is in high demand. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts jobs will grow 8% through 2032—that's quicker than most other careers.
The role also offers attractive work-life benefits. Our 2024 research shows that approximately 10% of data engineering positions are fully remote, with many more offering hybrid arrangements, giving you the flexibility to balance your work and personal life.
Data Engineer Salary Trends
Now, let’s not forget about one of the most attractive benefits of this career: the data engineer salary.
Our research report grouped data engineers with a few other IT roles with salaries exceeding \$155,000, indicating you can make a very comfortable living in these positions.
Remember that where you live—or choose to relocate—could also impact your earnings. Washington, California and Texas were the three states with the highest salaries for IT professionals. Additionally, Texas led the way with remote job postings.
The broader report covering cities in both the US and Canada showed that base salaries for IT professionals had increased by 1.22% and are now just under \$100,000.
Another important finding shows that organizations are cutting back on entry-level positions as they rely more on automation. So, if you’re wondering how to get into data engineering, new-comers might face some extra challenges when looking for their first roles.
The potential salaries for upper-level positions, however, should provide ample motivation for staying dedicated. The survey indicated that the median compensation for IT professionals at large companies is \$107,663, but executives earn \$186,286.
Both your education and experience levels will impact your potential earnings—we'll explore how to develop these in the next section how our ‘How to Become a Data Engineer’ guide.
Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Data Engineer
Knowing how to become a data engineer means understanding what exactly employers are looking for in the current job market. You can increase the chances of landing a job you love by doing your research and following these three steps.
1. Research Educational Programs
Do you need a data engineer degree, or could you land a great career with a less formal approach? One of the notable findings of the 365 job market research was that approximately one-third of data engineer job postings mentioned degrees in fields less traditionally connected to data engineering, such as economics, physics and statistics.
Depending on your background, you might want to take a shorter route to becoming a data engineer. Instead of pursuing a four-year degree, you could enroll in an intensive specialty program that allows you to learn specific data engineer skills without the fluff. Many of these courses are self-paced and can be completed in just a few months, giving you a solid foundation in the fundamentals.
365 Data Science recently launched a comprehensive Data Engineer Career Track! It’s just 28 hours of lessons that take you from beginner to job-ready— from foundational programming to advanced data architecture. At the end, you’ll receive a Data Engineer certificate that shows employers you have the specialized skills for the role. Start your career journey today!
Even if you have a broader degree related to data engineering, like data science or engineering, you can enhance your resume with strategic certifications. Browse our courses at 365 Data Science to discover valuable additions to your skillset!
2. Sharpen Your Skills and Tech Capabilities
After you’ve decided which education route you want to take, the next step in our ‘How to Become a Data Engineer’ guide is mastering the right skills and tools.
Along with knowing the programming languages your employer uses, you'll need a solid grasp of data engineering skills like data warehousing, database design, and analysis techniques. Take stock of what you're good at and where you could improve—then keep building those skills while looking for chances to grow.
Here are the essential skills for a data engineer:
- Big Data Tools: Apache Hadoop, Spark, and Kafka
- Database Management: Both SQL and NoSQL databases
- ETL Tools: Apache Airflow, Apache NiFi
- Cloud Platforms: AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure
- Data Warehousing: Snowflake, Amazon Redshift
- Version Control: Git and GitHub
- Soft Skills: Problem-solving, communication, and teamwork
Check out our 365 annual job market report for a closer look at which skills and tools are hottest for data engineers right now.
Pay attention to emerging technologies and how they affect the data engineer career path. AI is a disruptive force that has already changed numerous industries and the roles of people working in them. But not all businesses are well-equipped for the transition.
A 2024 report indicated fewer than 2% of executives felt their organizations had adequate workforces to implement and monitor AI. There’s a good chance your role as a data engineer will regularly involve new technology and assisting people to use it responsibly—so this might be something you should consider when studying.
If someone you know and trust works as a data engineer, consider asking them what they wish they’d have known before diving into the career and what recommendations they have for you. Although the journey may look slightly different depending on their circumstances, you can compare their efforts to your own data engineer qualifications.
3. Find Internships
One of the best ways to get to know data engineer requirements is to immerse yourself in the field. People typically do that through internships, which can be excellent for getting your foot in the door and creating situations where you can prove yourself and demonstrate an eagerness to learn more.
Consider using representatives from your chosen educational programs as potential leads for this next step. Some schools have specific partnerships with companies known to hire data engineers.
One example is Penn State’s IBM Data Engineering Co-Op. This talent-pipeline program gives participants real-world experience through paid internships at established businesses. Learners also take part in data engineering training workshops, allowing them to expand their knowledge alongside peers.
Check out some of our other articles all about how to land your first internship!
Data Engineer Career Path
If you speak to one data engineer about how they got into the work, their answer may vary tremendously from someone else. So, you shouldn’t get discouraged if your journey looks a bit different from others.
Although there are relatively few entry-level data engineer roles, you may land a job in an adjacent position—like a data analyst—and build your way up from there.
It’s also wise to adopt a continuous education habit that allows you to stay aware of new trends and job opportunities. 365 Data Science can help you master skills that will remain relevant no matter what the future holds.
If you're just starting out, look for associate or junior positions—they're great stepping stones into the field. As you gain experience, you can move up to senior roles where you might get the chance to lead teams and shape data strategy. The data engineer career path goes all the way up to staff and principal engineer positions, but even then, there's always room to grow and take on new challenges.
For example, you might pivot into machine learning or data science roles, especially if you notice that companies have advancement opportunities in those areas. You can also customize your data engineering career path after discovering where your interests lie and determining the best ways to capitalize on them.
Emerging Trends in Data Engineering
Keeping yourself informed about how the data engineering field will likely change over the coming months and years can support your career growth and allow you to focus on areas that could open new, exciting opportunities.
Here's an interesting peek at upcoming data engineer job requirements and where the industry is headed: According to a 2024 global report, the big data and data engineering market is set to hit \$325.01 billion by 2033—with \$88.85 billion coming as soon as 2025.
Now, let’s take a closer look at some specific trends.
Big Data’s Booming Growth
This big data boom has several drivers. One stems from the banking and financial tech sectors' growing big data adoption. More financial services providers offer online services, which increases the flow of information sent and received by apps—requiring those with data engineer skills to manage it all.
Big data adoption extends far beyond these sectors, however. The e-commerce sector perfectly illustrates the growing demand for data engineers. US consumers spent \$1.3 trillion on online retail purchases in 2023 alone—a clear sign of the digital shopping revolution. This massive volume of transactions generates enormous amounts of data that needs to be processed, stored, and analyzed securely, driving the growth in data engineering opportunities.
Cloud Computing Momentum
One very short answer to the question "How to become a data engineer today?" is: cloud skills.
The shift toward cloud computing is also driving huge demand for data engineers. These professionals help companies move their data from old-school servers to modern cloud platforms, making sure everything goes smoothly and business keeps running without hiccups.
While some companies still prefer keeping certain data on their physical servers (especially if they've got an in-house team managing them), the cloud migration trend isn't slowing down anytime soon.
Data engineers are involved in those processes by creating the necessary infrastructure and overseeing the movement of information. Business interest in the cloud is likely to continue, too. A 2023 study indicated public cloud expenditures will reach \$1 trillion by 2027. Additionally, the report’s authors suggested most business leaders will view the cloud as essential by 2028. In other words, cloud skills must make up part of your data engineer education.
These two broad trends emphasize why data engineering is an excellent field to get into right now.
Begin Building Your Career With 365 Data Science
Now that you've got the scoop on what it takes to become a data engineer, you're ready to take that next step. While dreaming about a new career is exciting, the real magic happens when you start taking action.
Want to start your data engineer career? Check out our comprehensive Data Engineer Career Track. We've packed everything you need into 10 carefully designed courses that'll take you from beginner to job-ready.
You'll learn all the essential skills we covered above—from SQL and Python to cloud platforms and ETL tools. Plus, you'll get hands-on experience with real-world projects that'll make your resume stand out. When you complete the track, you'll earn a certificate that shows employers you're ready to succeed in your first data engineering role.
We hope that you have found everything you need to know about how to become a data engineer. Happy learning!
FAQs
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