Salary for Senior-level / Expert Associate during 2024

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert Associate salary lies between USD 75,000 and USD 134,000 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: Jan. 26, 2025

Salary trend

Top 20 Job Tags for Senior-level / Expert Associate roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with senior-level / expert Associate job listings are Python, Engineering and SQL. 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 | 581 jobs Engineering | 565 jobs SQL | 514 jobs Data Analytics | 400 jobs Data management | 386 jobs Machine Learning | 320 jobs Agile | 319 jobs AWS | 283 jobs Business Intelligence | 271 jobs Statistics | 261 jobs Azure | 245 jobs Computer Science | 242 jobs Architecture | 241 jobs Research | 228 jobs Testing | 226 jobs Security | 213 jobs Pipelines | 212 jobs Spark | 209 jobs Data analysis | 197 jobs ETL | 190 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Senior-level / Expert Associate roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with senior-level / expert Associate 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 | 707 jobs Health care | 232 jobs Flex hours | 197 jobs Competitive pay | 131 jobs Team events | 126 jobs Startup environment | 106 jobs Flex vacation | 98 jobs Salary bonus | 86 jobs Equity / stock options | 81 jobs Parental leave | 81 jobs Wellness | 63 jobs Medical leave | 62 jobs Insurance | 57 jobs Transparency | 38 jobs Relocation support | 36 jobs Home office stipend | 20 jobs 401(k) matching | 19 jobs Flexible spending account | 15 jobs Gear | 13 jobs Conferences | 11 jobs

Salary Composition

The salary for a Senior-level or Expert Associate in AI/ML/Data Science typically comprises a base salary, performance bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or benefits. The base salary is the fixed component and usually constitutes the majority of the total compensation package. Performance bonuses can vary significantly depending on the company's profitability and individual performance metrics. Additional remuneration might include stock options, especially in tech companies or startups, and benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.

The composition can vary by region, industry, and company size. For instance, tech hubs like Silicon Valley or New York City might offer higher base salaries and stock options, while companies in finance or healthcare might provide substantial bonuses. Larger companies often have more structured compensation packages, whereas startups might offer lower base salaries but higher equity stakes.

Increasing Salary

To increase your salary from this position, consider the following strategies:

• Skill Enhancement: Continuously update your skills in emerging AI/ML technologies and tools. Specializing in niche areas like deep learning, natural language processing, or AI ethics can make you more valuable.
• Leadership Roles: Transitioning into leadership or managerial roles can significantly boost your salary. This might involve leading a team of data scientists or managing AI projects.
• Industry Change: Moving to a higher-paying industry, such as finance or tech, can result in a salary increase.
• Networking and Visibility: Attend industry conferences, publish research, or contribute to open-source projects to increase your visibility and network with industry leaders.
• Negotiation: When offered a new position or during performance reviews, negotiate for higher pay based on your contributions and market research.

Educational Requirements

Most senior-level positions in AI/ML/Data Science require at least a master's degree in a related field such as computer science, data science, statistics, or mathematics. A Ph.D. can be advantageous, especially for roles focused on research and development. Employers often look for candidates with a strong foundation in algorithms, data structures, and statistical modeling.

Helpful Certifications

While not always mandatory, certain certifications can enhance your profile:

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

These certifications demonstrate proficiency in specific tools and platforms, which can be beneficial in technical interviews and job applications.

Required Experience

Typically, a senior-level position requires 5-10 years of experience in data science or a related field. This experience should include hands-on work with machine learning models, data analysis, and possibly leading projects or teams. Experience in a specific industry can also be valuable, as it provides domain knowledge that can be crucial for certain roles.

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