Data Specialist Salary in Canada during 2024

Salary details

The average Data Specialist salary lies between USD 65,600 and USD 118,000 in Canada. It represents the overall compensation/gross salary amount for the working year (before deductions like social security, taxes and other contributions), not including equity/stock options or similar benefits.

Region represents the primary country of residence of an employee during the year (or residence for tax purposes). All data shown are full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries. Part-time salary information has been extrapolated to its FTE value.

Last updated: Nov. 17, 2024

Top 20 Job Tags for Data Specialist roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with Data Specialist job listings are Excel, Data management and Research. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Excel | 525 jobs Data management | 389 jobs Research | 347 jobs Data quality | 326 jobs SQL | 308 jobs Data analysis | 246 jobs Engineering | 224 jobs Power BI | 217 jobs Testing | 214 jobs Finance | 210 jobs Privacy | 193 jobs Python | 182 jobs Security | 182 jobs Computer Science | 144 jobs Statistics | 136 jobs R | 133 jobs Data governance | 123 jobs Data visualization | 119 jobs Tableau | 118 jobs Banking | 112 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Data Specialist roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with Data Specialist job listings are Career development, Health care and Flex hours. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 593 jobs Health care | 380 jobs Flex hours | 324 jobs Startup environment | 243 jobs Competitive pay | 210 jobs Team events | 197 jobs Equity / stock options | 159 jobs Flex vacation | 152 jobs Insurance | 146 jobs Salary bonus | 140 jobs Medical leave | 93 jobs Parental leave | 88 jobs Wellness | 86 jobs Relocation support | 64 jobs 401(k) matching | 56 jobs Gear | 33 jobs Home office stipend | 33 jobs Transparency | 31 jobs Fitness / gym | 25 jobs Conferences | 23 jobs

Salary Composition for a Data Specialist in AI/ML/Data Science

The salary composition for a Data Specialist in AI/ML/Data Science can vary significantly based on factors such as region, industry, and company size. Typically, the salary is composed of a fixed base salary, which forms the bulk of the compensation package. In Canada, the base salary might range from 70% to 85% of the total compensation. Bonuses, which can be performance-based or company-wide, often account for 10% to 20% of the total salary. Additional remuneration may include stock options, especially in tech companies or startups, and benefits such as health insurance, retirement contributions, and professional development allowances. Larger companies or those in high-demand industries like tech or finance may offer more competitive bonus structures and additional perks.

Steps to Increase Salary from a Data Specialist Position

To increase your salary from a Data Specialist position, consider the following strategies:

• Skill Enhancement: Continuously upgrade your skills in emerging technologies and tools relevant to AI/ML and data science. Proficiency in programming languages like Python or R, and expertise in machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch, can be valuable.
• Advanced Education: Pursuing a master's degree or specialized certifications can make you more competitive for higher-paying roles.
• Networking: Engage with professional networks and communities to learn about new opportunities and trends in the industry.
• Performance Excellence: Consistently exceed performance expectations and take on challenging projects to demonstrate your value to the organization.
• Negotiation: When the opportunity arises, negotiate for higher pay based on your contributions and market research.

Educational Requirements for a Data Specialist Role

Most Data Specialist roles in AI/ML/Data Science require at least a bachelor's degree in a related field such as Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or Engineering. A strong foundation in these areas is crucial for understanding the complex algorithms and data structures used in the field. Some positions may prefer or require a master's degree, especially for roles involving advanced data analysis or machine learning model development.

Helpful Certifications for a Data Specialist

Certifications can enhance your credentials and demonstrate your expertise to potential employers. Some valuable certifications include:

• Certified Data Scientist (CDS)
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate
• Google Professional Data Engineer
• IBM Data Science Professional Certificate
• AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty

These certifications can validate your skills in data analysis, machine learning, and cloud-based data solutions.

Experience Requirements for a Data Specialist

Typically, a Data Specialist role requires 2 to 5 years of experience in data analysis, data management, or a related field. Experience with data visualization tools, statistical analysis, and machine learning models is often expected. Practical experience with data manipulation and cleaning, as well as familiarity with databases and data warehousing solutions, is also important.

Related salaries

Want to contribute?