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: Dec. 22, 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 | 624 jobs Data management | 463 jobs Research | 405 jobs Data quality | 374 jobs SQL | 357 jobs Data analysis | 297 jobs Engineering | 259 jobs Power BI | 257 jobs Finance | 250 jobs Testing | 242 jobs Python | 215 jobs Privacy | 214 jobs Security | 208 jobs Computer Science | 171 jobs Statistics | 162 jobs R | 157 jobs Data governance | 148 jobs Tableau | 147 jobs Data visualization | 135 jobs Banking | 125 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 | 701 jobs Health care | 443 jobs Flex hours | 361 jobs Startup environment | 291 jobs Competitive pay | 253 jobs Team events | 234 jobs Equity / stock options | 183 jobs Insurance | 180 jobs Flex vacation | 171 jobs Salary bonus | 165 jobs Medical leave | 111 jobs Wellness | 108 jobs Parental leave | 105 jobs Relocation support | 69 jobs 401(k) matching | 67 jobs Transparency | 38 jobs Home office stipend | 38 jobs Gear | 36 jobs Fitness / gym | 31 jobs Conferences | 27 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.

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