What do data analysts REALLY make???
I just analyzed 8,554 data analyst job listings. Specifically, the money - the salaries.
I’m a Data Analyst Career Coach. I basically look at job listings for a living. And yet, I still found some surprising things...
I’m about to show you all my $$$ findings, but:
If you’re an audio/video learner, here you go
If you’d like to play with the data, here’s the interactive report
Now let’s get into it.
1. How Much Do Data Analysts Make?
If you search online right now, most sites will tell you the average data analyst makes about $82,000. But that's not what I'm seeing in 2026 (at least on FindADataJob.com data).
The real median is about $92,000.
But here's the catch. That number is just the middle. I found roles paying as low as $28,000 and as high as $212,000.
So the real question isn't "what do data analysts make?" It's "how do you get paid the most?"
Let’s explore.
2. Entry-Level Data Roles Pay Less, Right?
On average, yes. By experience level, the data looks like this:
Entry level: $76,000 median
Mid level: $90,000 median
Senior level: $113,000 median
Makes sense, right? More experience, more pay.
But there is a huge overlap.
Some entry-level jobs were paying six figures. Some senior jobs were paying less than the entry-level median.
So no, pay is not just about waiting a few more years and hoping your number goes up. Experience matters, but it is only one part of the picture.
So what else moves pay? A few other things stood out right away.
3. There Is More Than One Way Into This Field
When you apply for jobs, what title do you type in?
Probably "Data Analyst," right?
But there's a whole family of titles that sit in the same space and some of them pay better.
Here's the breakdown:
Marketing Analyst: $88,000
Financial Analyst: $93,000
Data Analyst: $95,000
Business Analyst: $99,000
BI/Analytics Engineer: $105,000
They all sit close to data, reports, decisions, and business results. They’re all basically “Data Analyst” jobs.
If you only search for one title, you are leaving money on the table.
4. Everyone Wants Remote. And That’s a Problem
Everyone wants a fully remote job. I get it. I love working from home in my sweatpants too.
But only 15% of data jobs are remote.
When 98% of candidates chase the mere 15%, they get ultra competitive.
That’s why landing a remote data analyst job feels impossible…
It basically is.
The better play is hybrid roles. They make up 23% of the market.
And here is the interesting part:
The median salary for remote jobs was about $95,000.
The median salary for hybrid jobs was also about $95,000.
On-site roles were lower, around $90,000.
That makes hybrid one of the smartest targets in the market right now.
You get similar pay to remote jobs, similar perks, but with less competition.
Win, win win.
5. How Much Does Location Actually Change Your Salary
Even in a world of online work, your location still affects your pay.
States with lower living costs were lower in the pay data. Utah and Pennsylvania were around $80,000. California was around $100,000. Virginia stood out at about $131,000.Government and contractor jobs may be helping push that up.
This does not mean you need to move.
But it does mean you should know the market you are applying to.
If you want a job in an expensive city, you should ask for more than $92,000.
6. Not All Data Skills Pay The Same
Jobs that mentioned Excel had a median around $88,000. Excel is useful, but it is a common skill, so it tends to pay less than harder tools.
Power BI was around $96,000. Tableau was around $99,000. SQL and Python were both around $100,000 to $102,000. Then the numbers climbed more with tools like Azure ($110K), Snowflake ($121K), and dbt ($131K).
That does not mean you should panic and learn five cloud tools this weekend so you can get paid more.
It means the basics help you get in, and more advanced tools can help you grow once you are in.
So if you are early, the better move is to build a strong base first:
Excel
SQL
One BI tool like Power BI or Tableau
Later, you can learn harder tools based on the jobs you want. You don't have to learn cloud tools right away. Many people get paid to learn them on the job.
What I’d do with this information
If I were job searching right now, here’s what I’d take from all this:
First, I would stop using one salary number as my whole view of the market.
Second, I would search more than just “Data Analyst.”
Third, I would take hybrid roles much more seriously.
And fourth, I would focus on building strong core skills first, then add higher-value tools when it makes sense.
The market is not random. There are patterns.
And when you can see those patterns clearly, you make better decisions.
That is why I built FindADataJob. The salary report helps you see what the market is doing, and the job board lets you see the real jobs behind the numbers.
These numbers give you a clearer view of the market. And when you see the market clearly, you can make better moves.
PS: If you want to build the skills that land the higher-paying roles with structure and community around you, the Data Analytics Accelerator might be worth a look.
