Salary for Senior-level / Expert Data Scientist in Canada during 2024

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert Data Scientist salary lies between USD 107,692 and USD 187,165 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

Salary trend

Top 20 Job Tags for Senior-level / Expert Data Scientist roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with senior-level / expert Data Scientist job listings are Python, Machine Learning and Statistics. 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 | 7380 jobs Machine Learning | 6861 jobs Statistics | 6475 jobs Engineering | 5580 jobs SQL | 5461 jobs Computer Science | 4258 jobs Mathematics | 3889 jobs R | 3752 jobs Research | 3667 jobs ML models | 2990 jobs Data analysis | 2538 jobs AWS | 2426 jobs Testing | 2426 jobs Deep Learning | 2157 jobs PhD | 1981 jobs Pipelines | 1945 jobs Spark | 1915 jobs NLP | 1827 jobs TensorFlow | 1705 jobs Data visualization | 1692 jobs

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

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with senior-level / expert Data Scientist job listings are Career development, Health care and Equity / stock options. 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 | 6627 jobs Health care | 3427 jobs Equity / stock options | 2628 jobs Startup environment | 2223 jobs Flex hours | 2131 jobs Competitive pay | 2007 jobs Salary bonus | 1974 jobs Insurance | 1673 jobs Parental leave | 1463 jobs Team events | 1454 jobs Medical leave | 1392 jobs Flex vacation | 1377 jobs Wellness | 956 jobs 401(k) matching | 780 jobs Conferences | 462 jobs Fitness / gym | 331 jobs Home office stipend | 330 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 327 jobs Flexible spending account | 307 jobs Relocation support | 277 jobs

Salary Composition

In Canada, the salary composition for a Senior-level or Expert Data Scientist typically includes a mix of base salary, bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or equity, especially in tech companies. The base salary is often the largest component, accounting for approximately 70-80% of the total compensation package. Bonuses can vary significantly depending on the company and industry, ranging from 10-20% of the base salary. In larger tech companies or startups, equity or stock options can also form a significant part of the compensation, sometimes making up 10-15% of the total package. The exact composition can vary by region, with tech hubs like Toronto and Vancouver offering more competitive packages, and by industry, with finance and tech sectors typically offering higher bonuses and equity options.

Increasing Salary Further

To increase your salary beyond the median of USD 158,200, consider the following strategies:

• Specialization: Develop expertise in niche areas of AI/ML, such as natural language processing, computer vision, or reinforcement learning, which are in high demand.
• Leadership Roles: Transition into leadership or managerial roles, such as a Data Science Manager or Director of Data Science, which typically offer higher salaries.
• Consulting: Consider consulting roles or freelance opportunities, which can offer higher hourly rates and the flexibility to work with multiple clients.
• Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest technologies and methodologies in AI/ML, and consider pursuing advanced certifications or courses to enhance your skills.

Educational Requirements

For a Senior-level or Expert Data Scientist position, most employers require at least a Master's degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or Data Science. A Ph.D. is often preferred, especially for roles that involve research or the development of new algorithms. The educational background should include a strong foundation in statistical analysis, machine learning, and programming.

Helpful Certifications

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

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

These certifications can validate your skills in specific tools and platforms, making you more attractive to potential employers.

Required Experience

Typically, a Senior-level or Expert Data Scientist role requires at least 5-10 years of experience in data science or related fields. This experience should include hands-on work with machine learning models, data analysis, and statistical methods. Experience in leading projects, mentoring junior data scientists, and collaborating with cross-functional teams is also highly valued.

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