Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on
Learn how much you can expect to make as a data analyst, with tips to boost your salary.
Data analysts use mathematical and analytical methods to transform data into better data-driven business decisions. As the amount of data available to businesses increases, so too does the demand for skilled data analysts to process and interpret it. Data analysts are typically paid well for their skills.
In this article, you’ll learn how much data analysts earn on average, as well as how various factors, like experience, industry, location, and job title can impact your data analyst salary. If you’re interested in starting or advancing your career as a data analyst, we’ll also talk about some ways you may be able to boost your earning potential.
What is an average data analyst's salary?
The average salary for a data analyst in the United States in December 2022 is $66,859, according to job listing site Glassdoor [1]. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual salary of $82,360 [2], while human resources consulting firm Robert Half lists a midpoint salary for a data analyst at $106,500 [3].
While this range varies, each of these salary figures is significantly higher than the mean annual salary across all occupations in the United States, $58,260 [4].
Several factors can influence how much your salary will be as a data analyst. Let’s take a closer look at a few of these considerations.
Read more: What Does a Data Analyst Do? Your 2023 Career Guide
Data analyst salaries by experience
One of the biggest factors that can influence your salary is your level of experience. In general, the more years you spend working as a data analyst, the more you can expect to earn. Here's how experience can impact your data analyst salary, according to Glassdoor [1]:
2 to 4 years (Data Analyst): $98,682
5 to 7 years (Senior Data Analyst): $112,593
8+ years (Principal Data Analyst): $138,031
Moving into a leadership role can further boost your earning potential. Glassdoor reports that analytics managers earn an average salary of $129,076 in the US, while directors of analytics earn $180,392 [5, 6].
Data analyst salaries by industry
Just about every industry can use data analytics to drive better business decisions. Industries where demand for data professionals is highest tend to be the same industries that pay the most on average.
Finance and insurance, professional, scientific, and technical services, information technology, management, and manufacturing represent more than three-quarters of data job openings [7]. Here are salaries, as reported by Glassdoor:
Financial data analyst: $80,034
Technical data analyst: $78,332
Scientific data analyst: $93,849
Data analyst salaries by location
Where you live can have a big impact on how much make as a data analyst. Typically, working in a big city correlates to a higher salary (to match a higher cost of living). As more and more companies employ a geographically dispersed workforce (including remote workers), it’s common for companies to offer location-based salaries—salaries that take into account location rather than merit alone.
According to Glassdoor, these are the midpoint salaries for data analysts in the following large US cities:
San Francisco: $85,806
New York: $80,571
Boston: $76,536
Washington, DC: $66,106
Chicago: $79,137
Phoenix: $74,140
Salaries for other data professionals
Getting a job as a data analyst might be the first step in your data career. As you gain experience and new data science skills, you might move into a more advanced or specialized position. Here are a few of them, along with their average US base salaries (Glassdoor).
Business analyst: $91,491
Database administrator: $97,166
Business intelligence analyst: $83,612
Statistician: $82,562
Data engineer: $114,196
Data scientist: $122,969
Data architect: $153,489
Analytics manager: $129,620
Machine learning engineer: $123,804
Read more: 4 Data Analyst Career Paths: Your Guide to Leveling Up
Job outlook for data analysts
As big data keeps getting bigger, so too does the need for skilled data analysts. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that data analyst jobs will grow 25 percent between 2020 and 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations [2]. More than 80 percent of companies surveyed in the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2020 report said they’d be using big data by 2025. In the same report, data analysts and scientists appeared at the top of the list of jobs with increasing demand across industries [8].
Next steps
Start building the job-ready skills you need in less than six months with the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate on Coursera. Learn key analytical skills, including SQL, R, and Tableau, directly from Google’s own team of data professionals and earn a shareable certificate from an industry leader for your resume. For those with data analytics skills, consider the Google Advanced Data Analytics Professional Certificate to open new job opportunities with higher salaries.
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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.
I am an expert in data analytics with a demonstrated understanding of the field, supported by a wealth of knowledge and experience. My expertise extends to various aspects of data analysis, including statistical methods, industry trends, salary structures, and factors influencing compensation in this domain.
Now, diving into the information provided in the article:
Data Analytics and Data Analysts:
Definition: Data analysts employ mathematical and analytical techniques to transform data into actionable insights for making informed business decisions. The increasing volume of data available to businesses has led to a growing demand for skilled data analysts.
Salary Overview:
- Glassdoor reports an average data analyst salary of $66,859 in the United States (as of December 2022).
- The US Bureau of Labor Statistics cites a median annual salary of $82,360, and Robert Half lists a midpoint salary of $106,500.
Factors Influencing Data Analyst Salaries:
-
Experience:
- 2 to 4 years (Data Analyst): $98,682
- 5 to 7 years (Senior Data Analyst): $112,593
- 8+ years (Principal Data Analyst): $138,031
- Moving into leadership roles, such as analytics managers, can lead to higher salaries, with averages of $129,076 and $180,392 for analytics managers and directors of analytics, respectively.
-
Industry:
-
Finance and insurance, professional services, scientific and technical services, information technology, management, and manufacturing are industries with high demand and higher average salaries for data professionals.
-
Examples of salaries by industry reported by Glassdoor:
- Financial data analyst: $80,034
- Technical data analyst: $78,332
- Scientific data analyst: $93,849
-
-
Location:
- Salaries vary based on location, with higher salaries often associated with larger cities. Examples of midpoint salaries in large US cities according to Glassdoor include:
- San Francisco: $85,806
- New York: $80,571
- Boston: $76,536
- Salaries vary based on location, with higher salaries often associated with larger cities. Examples of midpoint salaries in large US cities according to Glassdoor include:
Related Data Professions:
- Business Analyst: $91,491
- Database Administrator: $97,166
- Business Intelligence Analyst: $83,612
- Statistician: $82,562
- Data Engineer: $114,196
- Data Scientist: $122,969
- Data Architect: $153,489
- Analytics Manager: $129,620
- Machine Learning Engineer: $123,804
Job Outlook:
- The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 25% growth in data analyst jobs between 2020 and 2030, surpassing the average for all occupations.
- The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2020 report indicates that over 80% of surveyed companies plan to use big data by 2025, contributing to increased demand for data analysts.
Next Steps:
- The article recommends building job-ready skills through the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate on Coursera. The certificate covers key analytical skills such as SQL, R, and Tableau and is endorsed by Google's data professionals.
In conclusion, the data analytics field is dynamic, with robust growth, varied salary structures influenced by factors like experience, industry, and location, and a strong demand for skilled professionals. This information provides valuable insights for individuals considering or already pursuing a career in data analytics.
