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You don’t have to look very far to find a group of business leaders who are excited about AI‘s transformative power or shouting about the importance of data-driven decision-making. But if you look beyond the buzzwords dominating corporate America’s boardrooms, you’ll quickly see that data is the real star of the show.
Every department within an organization continuously captures vast amounts of data across hundreds of applications. Although APIs connect many of these systems, achieving a single version of the truth across all data points requires the expertise of data analysts.
These unsung heroes collect, organize, and interpret data, using data mining and programming skills to bring data to life and empower leaders to make strategic business decisions. Given the critical nature of their work, a data analyst’s average salary reflects the value they provide their employers.
So, what is a data analyst’s salary today?
Join us in exploring the factors influencing the rise in data analyst salary rates as we explore what data analysts can make in 2024 and beyond.
Key Takeaways
- Entry-level data analysts can earn between $50,000 and $70,000 annually.
- Junior data analysts with 1-3 years of experience earn $60,000 to $80,000 annually.
- Mid-level data analysts with 3-5 years of experience earn between $70,000 and $90,000 annually.
- Senior data analysts with 5-8 years of experience can earn $100,000 to over $120,000 annually.
- Principal data analysts with over eight years of experience earn around $156,322 annually.
- Experience, location, and industry significantly influence data analyst pay.
What Is the Average Salary of a Data Analyst?
Data analysts can expect to earn around $82,000 a year, according to Indeed data compiled as of May 2024. However, this annual salary can vary based on the candidate’s location, education, and experience. Unsurprisingly, entry-level data analysts tend to earn on the lower end of the scale, while more experienced professionals can command higher salaries.
According to Fortune’s analysis of job postings, basic data analyst positions typically pay anywhere between $60,000 and $90,000. Roles such as lead or senior data analyst offer higher compensation for those with more experience.
Data Analyst Salaries by Experience
Experience is one of the most significant factors influencing data analyst salaries.
Entry-level data analysts, often holding bachelor’s degrees in related fields, can expect to earn between $50,000 and $70,000.
The primary tasks of this role will include cleaning and organizing data, conducting fundamental statistical analyses, and generating reports to ensure data accuracy and reliability.
Junior Data Analyst Salary
As professionals gain 1-3 years of experience, they can expect to transition to junior data analyst roles earning $60,000 to $80,000.
These more experienced analysts handle complex data sets, conduct exploratory analyses, and use statistical software. They collaborate with team members to interpret trends and provide actionable insights.
Mid-Level Data Analyst Salary
As data analysts accumulate 3-5 years of experience, their responsibilities and salaries increase significantly. Mid-level data analysts earn between $70,000 and $90,000.
However, they have much bigger responsibilities and can design and implement data collection systems, develop dashboards, and perform advanced statistical analyses to inform strategic decisions.
Senior Data Analyst Salary
Senior data analysts with 5-8 years of experience can command salaries from $100,000 to over $120,000. They lead complex analyses, mentor junior team members, and contribute to developing data-driven strategies, ensuring data quality, and driving innovation in analytics methodologies.
With over eight years of experience, principal data analysts can expect to earn around $156,322 annually, taking on leadership roles in high-level decision-making and strategy development within organizations.
Data Analyst Management Salary
For those advancing further, transitioning into lead data scientist or data manager roles can significantly boost earning potential, with salaries ranging from $120,000 to $180,000.
These professionals guide overall data strategies, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and ensure alignment with business goals.
At the profession’s pinnacle, chief data officers (CDOs) earn starting salaries of over $200,000, often supplemented with bonuses and stock options.
CDOs are responsible for setting the organization’s data strategy, ensuring governance and compliance, and driving innovation. They play a critical role in shaping the company’s data culture and maximizing the value derived from data assets.
Data Analyst Salaries by Industry
| Industry | Median Salary | Salary Range |
| Hardware and Networking | $72,800 | $46,000 – $110,000 |
| Finance | $70,000 | $44,000 – $100,000 |
| Software and IT Services | $68,000 | $43,000 – $105,000 |
| Healthcare | $65,000 | $42,000 – $89,000 |
| Public Administration | $63,200 | $40,000 – $89,000 |
| Non-Profits | $57,100 | $40,000 – $83,000 |
| Energy and Mining | $70,000 | $46,000 – $101,000 |
| Entertainment | $68,000 | $43,000 – $103,000 |
Source: CareerFoundry
Data analyst salaries vary significantly by industry, reflecting the unique demands and value placed on data expertise within different sectors. Data analysts in the hardware and networking industry can earn a median salary of $72,800, with potential earnings ranging from $46,000 to $110,000.
The finance industry also offers lucrative opportunities, with salaries averaging $70,000 and extending from $44,000 to $100,000.
Similarly, the software and IT services industry provides competitive compensation. Data analysts can expect to earn around $68,000 on average, with top salaries reaching up to $105,000.
These figures underscore the high demand, pushing the data analytics salary for those with the right skills and experience.
Healthcare, another vital field, provides an average salary of $65,000, with potential earnings ranging from $42,000 to $89,000.
In contrast, industries such as public administration and non-profits typically offer lower average salaries of $63,200 and $57,100, respectively, reflecting budget constraints and different operational focuses.
Other industries also present promising salary prospects for data analysts. For instance, the energy and mining sector offers average salaries of $70,000, with a potential range from $46,000 to $101,000.
The entertainment industry matches this average at $68,000, with earnings spanning from $43,000 to $103,000.
These variations highlight how industry-specific factors influence data analyst pay, guiding professionals in targeting sectors that align with their career and financial goals.
Data Analyst Salaries by Location
Data analyst salaries will also vary greatly depending on the location, reflecting the cost of living and the demand for data expertise in different regions.
For instance, in tech hubs like the San Francisco Bay Area, data analysts can command some of the highest salaries in the US, averaging around $122,000. This high salary is driven by the presence of major tech companies such as Google and Salesforce, which value data-driven decision-making and innovation.
Similarly, New York City offers robust opportunities for data analysts, particularly in the finance, healthcare, and retail sectors. The average salary for a data analyst in NYC is approximately $115,000. Companies like JPMorgan Chase and IBM significantly contribute to the demand for skilled data professionals in this bustling metropolis.
Other US cities also offer competitive salaries for data analysts, albeit at slightly lower levels.
In Seattle, home to tech giants Microsoft and Amazon, data analysts earn an average of $108,000, benefiting from the city’s thriving tech ecosystem. Boston, known for its strong healthcare and academic presence, provides data analysts with an average salary of about $102,000, with opportunities at companies like Biogen and Fidelity.
Elsewhere, cities like Austin and Denver are emerging as significant tech centers, offering average salaries of $92,000 and $91,000, respectively. These cities attract data analysts with their growing tech industries and vibrant cultural scenes, making them attractive destinations for professionals in this field.
How Much Do Data Analysts Make in Big Tech?
Apple Data Analyst Salary
According to Comparably, the average Apple data analyst earns an estimated $109,798 annually, including a base salary of $95,084 and a $14,714 bonus.
This compensation is significantly higher (by $32,069) than the US average for data analysts.
At Apple, data analyst salaries range from $61,000 to $187,000, reflecting the company’s competitive pay scale.
Additionally, the marketing department at Apple earns $30,566 more on average than the admin department, highlighting the value Apple places on data-driven roles within its marketing efforts.
Microsoft Data Analyst Salary
The average Microsoft data analyst earns $112,833 annually, including a base salary of $101,833 and an $11,000 bonus.
This total compensation is $35,105 more than the US average for data analysts. At Microsoft, data analyst salaries range from $84,500 to $136,000, reflecting the company’s competitive pay structure.
Additionally, the marketing department at Microsoft earns $2,102 more on average than the finance department, indicating a slightly higher valuation for data-driven marketing roles. This data is based on three salary records from Microsoft data analysts, as reported by Comparably.
Amazon Data Analyst Salaries
The average Amazon data analyst earns an estimated $102,236 annually, which includes a base salary of $92,986 and a $9,250 bonus.
This compensation is $24,507 more than the US average for data analysts. Amazon’s data analyst salaries range from $65,000 to $136,000, reflecting the company’s competitive pay structure.
Additionally, the marketing department at Amazon earns $2,414 more on average than the business development department, indicating a slightly higher valuation for data-driven roles within marketing.
Google Data Analyst Salary
According to Comparably, the average data analyst salary at Google is $75,000 annually. However, Glassdoor reveals higher figures, with the total pay range for a data analyst at Google between $130,000 and $198,000 per year, including base salary and additional pay.
The average base salary for a data analyst at Google is $138,000 per year, according to Glassdoor, with an average additional income of $22,000, which includes cash bonuses, stock, commissions, profit sharing, or tips.
This “Most Likely Range” reflects values within the 25th and 75th percentile of all available pay data for this role. These figures are derived from Glassdoor’s proprietary machine-learning model, which uses user salaries and the latest government data to make accurate pay predictions.
The Bottom Line
The demand for skilled data analysts will only increase as data continues to grow exponentially. So, how much do data analysts make? The answer depends on several factors.
For example, industries like tech, finance, and healthcare offer some of the highest salaries, with companies like Google, Apple, and Microsoft leading the charge with competitive packages. Location also plays a crucial role, with tech hubs such as San Francisco, New York City, and Seattle offering the highest salaries.
Depending on their experience, data analysts can expect to earn a lucrative salary that reflects the critical value they bring to organizations across various sectors.
FAQs
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References
- Data Analyst Salaries in the United States for USTA National Headquarters | Indeed.com?(Indeed)
- How much do data analysts make? | Fortune Education?(Fortune)
- What Are the Best Data Analyst Salaries by Industry??(Careerfoundry)
- Average Data Analyst Salaries by Levels, Cities, & Career Opportunities (2024) | Handshake?(Joinhandshake)
- Apple Data Analyst Salary | Comparably?(Comparably)
- Microsoft Data Analyst Salary | Comparably?(Comparably)
- Amazon Data Analyst Salary | Comparably?(Comparably)
- Google Data Analyst Salary | Comparably?(Comparably)
- Google Data Analyst Salary | Comparably?(Glassdoor)
