Salary for Entry-level / Junior Data Specialist in United States during 2024

Salary details

The average entry-level / junior Data Specialist salary lies between USD 46,368 and USD 81,100 in the United States. 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 Entry-level / Junior Data Specialist roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with entry-level / junior 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 | 120 jobs Data management | 62 jobs Research | 50 jobs Power BI | 49 jobs Data quality | 49 jobs Mathematics | 48 jobs SQL | 44 jobs E-commerce | 42 jobs Data analysis | 39 jobs Finance | 38 jobs Python | 30 jobs Testing | 30 jobs R | 27 jobs Security | 21 jobs Computer Science | 21 jobs Machine Learning | 19 jobs Engineering | 19 jobs Banking | 19 jobs Economics | 18 jobs Tableau | 17 jobs

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

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with entry-level / junior Data Specialist job listings are Career development, Startup environment 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 | 125 jobs Startup environment | 69 jobs Health care | 49 jobs Salary bonus | 40 jobs Flex hours | 32 jobs Team events | 30 jobs Relocation support | 26 jobs Competitive pay | 23 jobs Flex vacation | 15 jobs Insurance | 14 jobs Equity / stock options | 13 jobs Medical leave | 12 jobs Parental leave | 9 jobs Wellness | 7 jobs 401(k) matching | 6 jobs Gear | 6 jobs Fitness / gym | 5 jobs Home office stipend | 4 jobs Flexible spending account | 4 jobs Transparency | 3 jobs

Salary Composition

In the United States, the salary composition for an entry-level or junior data specialist typically includes a fixed base salary, which forms the bulk of the compensation package. This base salary can vary significantly depending on the region, industry, and company size. For instance, tech hubs like San Francisco or New York may offer higher base salaries compared to smaller cities or regions with a lower cost of living.

In addition to the base salary, some companies offer performance-based bonuses, which can be a percentage of the base salary or a fixed amount. These bonuses are more common in larger companies or those in competitive industries like finance or technology. Additional remuneration might include stock options, especially in tech startups, or benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and professional development allowances.

Steps to Increase Salary

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

• Skill Enhancement: Continuously upgrade your skills by learning new programming languages, tools, or techniques relevant to data science and machine learning. Specializing in high-demand areas like deep learning, natural language processing, or big data analytics can make you more valuable.

• Advanced Education: Pursuing a master's degree or relevant certifications can enhance your qualifications and open up higher-paying opportunities.

• Networking: Build a strong professional network by attending industry conferences, joining relevant online communities, and connecting with peers and mentors. Networking can lead to new job opportunities and insights into salary trends.

• Performance Excellence: Consistently deliver high-quality work and exceed performance expectations. Demonstrating your value to the company can lead to promotions and salary increases.

• Negotiation Skills: Develop strong negotiation skills to effectively discuss salary increases during performance reviews or when offered a new position.

Educational Requirements

Most entry-level data specialist positions require at least a bachelor's degree in a related field such as computer science, statistics, mathematics, or engineering. Some roles may accept degrees in other disciplines if the candidate has relevant skills and experience. A strong foundation in mathematics and statistics is often essential, as is proficiency in programming languages like Python or R.

Helpful Certifications

While not always mandatory, certain certifications can enhance your resume and demonstrate your commitment to the field. Some popular certifications include:

• Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)
• 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 and knowledge, making you a more attractive candidate to potential employers.

Experience Requirements

For entry-level positions, employers typically look for candidates with some practical experience, which can be gained through internships, co-op programs, or relevant projects during your studies. Experience with data analysis, machine learning models, and data visualization tools is often expected. Demonstrating hands-on experience with real-world data problems can set you apart from other candidates.

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