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

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert Data Scientist salary lies between USD 107,730 and USD 187,166 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: Jan. 12, 2025

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 | 7383 jobs Machine Learning | 6879 jobs Statistics | 6485 jobs Engineering | 5595 jobs SQL | 5448 jobs Computer Science | 4269 jobs Mathematics | 3903 jobs R | 3757 jobs Research | 3682 jobs ML models | 3009 jobs Data analysis | 2537 jobs Testing | 2419 jobs AWS | 2411 jobs Deep Learning | 2176 jobs PhD | 1977 jobs Pipelines | 1962 jobs Spark | 1923 jobs NLP | 1833 jobs TensorFlow | 1724 jobs Data visualization | 1680 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 | 6634 jobs Health care | 3406 jobs Equity / stock options | 2658 jobs Startup environment | 2233 jobs Flex hours | 2145 jobs Salary bonus | 1998 jobs Competitive pay | 1959 jobs Insurance | 1699 jobs Parental leave | 1483 jobs Team events | 1467 jobs Medical leave | 1415 jobs Flex vacation | 1392 jobs Wellness | 899 jobs 401(k) matching | 793 jobs Conferences | 464 jobs Fitness / gym | 337 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 336 jobs Home office stipend | 333 jobs Flexible spending account | 309 jobs Transparency | 268 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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