What skills can increase my data analyst salary?‎

Data analytics is a skill-heavy field, and companies are often willing to pay for the right skills. Payscale reports that the following five skills are associated with the biggest salary bumps [6]: Big data analytics : 19 per cent increase in salary Machine learning: 12 per cent increase in salary Strategic planning : 1 per cent increase in salary Looking at job listings for companies you’d like to work for can give you a better idea of the skills they’re hiring for. If a skill is listed toward the top of a job listing or mentioned multiple times, there’s a good chance it’s a priority for the company. When you go to apply, be sure to include that particular skill in your resume if you are proficient in it, as well as in your cover letter. ‎

How Much Do Data Analysts Make? 2024 Salary Guide

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on Apr 25, 2024

Learn how much you can expect to make as a data analyst, with tips to boost your salary.

[Featured image] A data analyst sits at their laptop smiling at the camera with a group of coworkers in the background.

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 does the demand for skilled data analysts to process and interpret it.

In this article, you’ll learn how much data analysts earn on average and how various factors, like experience, industry, location, and job title, can impact their salary. If you’re interested in starting or advancing your career as a data analyst, we’ll also discuss some ways you may be able to boost your earning potential.

What is an average data analyst's salary?

According to Glassdoor, the estimated total pay for a data analyst in Canada is $67,894 per year [1]. This figure includes an average base salary of $63,239 and $4,655 in additional pay. Additional pay may represent profit-sharing, commissions, or bonuses. Several factors can influence a data analyst's salary, let’s take a closer look at a few of these considerations.

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 Payscale [2]:

Less than 1-year experience: $52,999
1–4 years experience: $59,534
5–9 years experience: $$67,817
10–19 years experience: $72,776
20+ years experience: $80,537

Moving into a leadership role can further boost your earning potential. Payscale reports that analytics managers earn an average salary of $92,725 in Canada, while a director of analytics earns an annual average of $125,135 [3, 4].

Data analyst salaries by industry

Just about every industry can use data analytics to drive better business decisions. But the industry you choose to work in can have an impact on your pay. The industries where the demand for data professionals is highest tend to be the same ones that pay the most on average such as the following:

Finance
Government
Education
Automotive
Technology
Health care
Retail

Data analyst salaries by location

Where you live can also significantly impact your earnings as a data analyst. Typically, working in a big city like Toronto correlates to a higher salary (as well as a higher cost of living). As more companies employ a geographically dispersed workforce (including remote workers), it’s common for them to offer location-based salaries—salaries that consider location rather than merit alone.

According to Indeed, these are the average salaries for data analysts in the following large Canadian cities [3]:

Toronto, ON: $88,838
Vancouver, BC: $75,722
Ottawa, ON: $73,342
Montreal, QC: $71,666
Edmonton, AB: $71,386
Mississauga, ON: $65,017
Brampton, ON: $64,339
Calgary, AB: $63,652
Markham, ON: $52,112

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 Canadian base salaries according to Payscale:

Business analyst: $68,348
Database administrator: $ 68,339
Business intelligence analyst: $65,565
Statistician: $72,102
Data engineer: $83,580
Data scientist: $81,343
Analytics manager: $92,725
Machine learning engineer: $88,379

Job outlook for data analysts

As big data continues to grow, so does the need for skilled data analysts who can transform information into actionable insights for companies.

More than 80 per cent 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 [7].

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 team of data professionals and earn a shareable certificate from an industry leader for your resume.

If a course on data analytics is more your preference, Introduction to Data Analytics offered by IBM on Coursera provides an introduction to the concepts of data analysis, the role of a Data Analyst, and the tools that are used to perform daily functions.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Data analytics is a skill-heavy field, and companies are often willing to pay for the right skills. Payscale reports that the following five skills are associated with the biggest salary bumps 6:

Big data analytics: 19 per cent increase in salary
Machine learning: 12 per cent increase in salary
Strategic planning: 1 per cent increase in salary

Looking at job listings for companies you’d like to work for can give you a better idea of the skills they’re hiring for. If a skill is listed toward the top of a job listing or mentioned multiple times, there’s a good chance it’s a priority for the company. When you go to apply, be sure to include that particular skill in your resume if you are proficient in it, as well as in your cover letter. ‎ ‎

While it’s not always necessary to have a degree to get a job as a data analyst, a bachelor’s degree is the most common entry-level education. Furthering your education with a master’s degree or certification could also elevate your earning potential (and your job prospects).

Certifications and professional certificates can validate your skills to employers for a fraction of the cost of a degree. Certifications generally fall into one of two categories, general certifications in data analytics or databases and vendor-specific certifications in technology like Microsoft Azure or SAS. Before pursuing a certification, be sure to look at job posts you may want to apply for to see what’s required or suggested. ‎

Another way to potentially increase your salary is to ask if the amount offered is open to negotiation. As you apply for jobs, research what others are earning as data analysts, as well as what cash compensation you might expect based on your location, experience, and available job listings. Many job listing sites offer calculators to help you come up with an estimate. When you know your worth (and a realistic salary range), you can better negotiate once you’re offered a job. ‎

Article sources

Glassdoor. "How much does a Data Analyst make in Canada?, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/canada-data-analyst-salary-SRCH_IL.0,6_IN3_KO7,19.htm." Accessed April 25, 2024.

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Updated on Apr 25, 2024

Written by:

Coursera Staff

Editorial Team

Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...

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.