Salary for Entry-level / Junior Associate during 2024

Salary details

The average entry-level / junior Associate salary lies between USD 70,550 and USD 125,000 globally. 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.

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 Entry-level / Junior Associate roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with entry-level / junior Associate job listings are Python, SQL and Computer Science. 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:

Python | 313 jobs SQL | 209 jobs Computer Science | 204 jobs Engineering | 201 jobs Machine Learning | 190 jobs Statistics | 181 jobs Research | 172 jobs Mathematics | 151 jobs Finance | 147 jobs Excel | 135 jobs R | 120 jobs Data Analytics | 112 jobs Data analysis | 109 jobs Banking | 107 jobs Testing | 100 jobs Tableau | 96 jobs Power BI | 86 jobs Java | 80 jobs Data management | 72 jobs Economics | 67 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Entry-level / Junior Associate roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with entry-level / junior Associate job listings are Career development, Flex hours and Health care. 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 | 329 jobs Flex hours | 121 jobs Health care | 109 jobs Competitive pay | 99 jobs Team events | 94 jobs Startup environment | 81 jobs Wellness | 72 jobs Equity / stock options | 70 jobs Salary bonus | 51 jobs Parental leave | 49 jobs Insurance | 48 jobs Medical leave | 44 jobs Flex vacation | 38 jobs Conferences | 29 jobs Fitness / gym | 27 jobs 401(k) matching | 23 jobs Gear | 15 jobs Transparency | 14 jobs Home office stipend | 12 jobs Lunch / meals | 8 jobs

Salary Composition

The salary for an entry-level or junior associate position in AI/ML/Data Science typically consists of a base salary, performance bonuses, and sometimes additional remuneration such as stock options or benefits. The base salary is the fixed component and usually makes up the majority of the total compensation package. Performance bonuses can vary significantly depending on the company’s policies and the individual's performance. Additional remuneration might include stock options, especially in tech companies or startups, and benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, and professional development allowances.

The composition can vary based on several factors:

• Region: Salaries in tech hubs like Silicon Valley or New York City tend to be higher due to the cost of living and demand for talent. In contrast, regions with a lower cost of living might offer lower base salaries but could compensate with other benefits.
• Industry: Industries such as finance, healthcare, and technology often offer higher salaries compared to academia or non-profit sectors.
• Company Size: Larger companies might offer more comprehensive benefits and bonuses, while startups might offer equity or stock options as part of the compensation package.

Steps to Increase Salary

To increase your salary from an entry-level position, consider the following strategies:

• Skill Development: Continuously update and expand your technical skills, especially in high-demand areas like deep learning, natural language processing, or big data technologies.
• Advanced Education: Pursuing a master's degree or Ph.D. in a relevant field can open up higher-paying opportunities.
• Certifications: Obtain relevant certifications that can validate your skills and make you more competitive.
• Networking: Build a strong professional network to learn about new opportunities and gain insights into industry trends.
• Performance Excellence: Consistently exceed performance expectations to position yourself for promotions and salary increases.
• Negotiation Skills: Develop strong negotiation skills to effectively advocate for higher pay during performance reviews or when switching jobs.

Educational Requirements

Most entry-level positions in AI/ML/Data Science require at least a bachelor's degree in a related field such as computer science, data science, mathematics, statistics, or engineering. Some positions might prefer or require a master's degree, especially in more competitive markets or specialized roles. Coursework in machine learning, data analysis, programming, and statistics is often essential.

Helpful Certifications

While not always required, certain certifications can enhance your resume and demonstrate your expertise:

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

These certifications can help validate your skills and make you stand out to potential employers.

Experience Requirements

For entry-level roles, employers typically look for candidates with some practical experience, which can be gained through internships, co-op programs, or relevant projects. Experience with programming languages like Python or R, familiarity with machine learning frameworks, and hands-on experience with data analysis are often expected. Participation in hackathons, open-source projects, or contributions to relevant online communities can also be beneficial.

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