Have you been thinking of getting a data analyst job in New York City? Maybe you’re just curious about what the salary expectations are within the city.
Well, you’ll be happy to know that data analyst salaries in NYC are among some of the highest in the country!
But what is it like to be a data analyst in NYC, and how can you become a data analyst there? In this post, we’ll share more on the various aspects of data analysts in NYC, from actual salaries to the experience of being a data analyst there and the steps to take in order to become one of them.
Here is a quick breakdown of the content we’ll cover in this blog post:
- What’s the average data analyst salary in NYC?
- What’s it like to be a data analyst in NYC?
- Factors that impact data analyst salaries in NYC
- How to become a data analyst in NYC
- Next steps
Keep reading to find out more!
1. What is the average data analyst salary in NYC?
The average data analyst salary in NYC is $86,567, according to BuiltinNYC. This figure is based on survey data collected from data analyst employees in the city. However, to get a better look into which salaries are relevant to you, let’s have a look at the salary breakdowns by seniority level.
Entry-level data analyst salary in NYC
An entry-level data analyst in NYC can vary among different companies, but here are the salaries reported across various aggregate websites:
In general, an entry-level data analyst has less than one year of experience working on data-driven projects.
Mid-range data analyst salary in NYC
The salary ranges for mid-range data analysts are slightly higher due to their seniority and the roles given in their respective jobs.
Here are some salaries reported across various sites:
Senior-level data analyst salary in NYC
A data analyst with more seniority would naturally command a significantly higher salary than those in junior roles.
As such, the salaries reported on sites for senior-level data analysts in NYC are generally higher than in junior and mid-range roles.
Here are some salaries reported across various websites:
Do note that many of these senior level data analyst jobs may include high- responsibility roles within their respective companies.
For example, a senior-level data analyst may be in charge of presenting insights to their companies’ executive teams, leading initiatives, and mentoring junior staff. These additional responsibilities will typically be reflected in the higher salaries or bonuses they receive.
2. What’s it like to be a data analyst in NYC?
NYC is an exciting place for anyone looking for tech roles like data analysts. With the city being one of the largest technology hubs of over 6,800 tech companies and home to many big tech companies, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to work on innovative projects that are both challenging and rewarding.
Data analyst roles in NYC are likely to be part of larger, more established tech companies. These tech companies include those under FAANG (Facebook/Meta, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google) or the more recent changed acronym of MAMAA (Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Apple).
The FAANG/MAMAA acronyms are used to address the most prominent technology companies in the US. Working for such companies can present an exciting opportunity for aspiring data analysts too, and is just as well-paying in New York as it is in Los Angeles or the Bay Area.
3. Factors that impact data analyst salaries in NYC
Determining the right salary to negotiate for as a data analyst is crucial in getting fair compensation for your in-demand skills.
Here are some factors that influence the salary of a data analyst in NYC:
1. Location
Living in such a large city means that the cost of living is 128% higher compared to other cities in the U.S. As such, salaries would need to also be adjusted to account for this difference.
New York is a dense location for tech and data companies, so competition for data analyst roles is intensified. This could mean that salaries may be higher in order to attract top talent.
That being said, the cost of living isn’t the only factor affecting data analyst salaries in NYC.
2. Company industry
The specific industry a company is in can also impact the salary range of a data analyst role.
For example, in a previous article on industries affecting data analyst salaries, we mentioned that hardware and networking, finance, and software and IT services are among the highest-paying industries. This would also apply to jobs available in New York City, since it is a hub for tech and software companies.
This means that if you’re looking to work for a tech company in any of these industries, you can expect higher salaries than the averages reported nationwide.
3. Company size
Company size is also an important factor when considering how much a data analyst earns in NYC.
Generally speaking, larger companies like multi-national corporations (MNCs) or big tech companies tend to offer higher salaries when compared to small startups or mid-size companies. That’s because big tech companies experience higher competition for the best data analyst talent and are willing to pay more to hire them.
Therefore, considering how drastically the salary range can be affected by company size within the city, you should be prepared to be offered lower salaries when going for smaller companies. However, these companies do offer some other non-monetary benefits instead, such as subsidized bike rentals, free workout classes, catered food, and more.
4. Experience
The next biggest factor is experience and expertise. Companies are willing to pay more for the experience and skill level of a data analyst.
If you have a few years of experience in the field, your salary could be higher than those who are just entering the field.
Moreover, data analysts with very specific skill sets may command even higher salaries depending on their expertise and portfolios.
Some of these advanced skill sets might include:
- Querying from big data sources
- ETL (extract, load, transform) processes
- Cloud computing
- Machine learning engineering
- Artificial intelligence research
- Data warehousing
5. Education level and certifications
Employers and recruiters also take into account the education and certifications for data analyst roles that require more seniority, thus affecting the salary range.
Having a higher education degree, such as a Master’s degree or Ph.D. in quantitative fields such as computer science, statistics, data analytics, or even economics, can help you stand out from other applicants and command higher salaries in the data analyst field. However, not everyone wants to—or has the time to—commit to a four-year degree.
Industry-specific certifications might also be a possible contributing factor to a higher salary. This might be especially present in more traditional industries like finance and healthcare.
4. How to become a data analyst in NYC
Now that you know the earning potential of data analysts within New York City, let’s go over some practical steps to get these jobs for yourself.
1. Build relevant skills and knowledge through relevant certifications
First up, you’ll need to build up the relevant skills and knowledge necessary for a data analyst role (if you don’t already have them). Data analytics certifications are an excellent way to get you started from a blank sheet because they will give you the expertise and industry recognition to be successful in a data analyst role.
Certifications can also help demonstrate your understanding of industry-standard processes, technologies, and tools such as Python, Tableau, SQL, Excel, and R.
If you’re already in New York, there are several certifications you can take in the form of in-person bootcamps in the city. If you’re not in NYC—or simply prefer learning online—there are also plenty of data analytics courses taught completely online, so that you can learn data analytics on your own terms.
2. Create an outstanding portfolio
Once you’ve built up some base knowledge of the skills and technologies of a data analyst, it’s time to share some evidence of your abilities.
A data analytics portfolio is a great way to do this, as it will give potential employers an insight into how you work and the projects that you’ve completed before.
For such a portfolio, you can include any relevant data analysis tasks or projects you completed while studying your data analytics program or bootcamp.
If you’re looking to go the extra mile, you could complete a localized project that is relevant to NYC. For example, you can work on projects like:
- Traffic jam analysis
- Uber car ride analysis
- Weather prediction in NYC
3. Research companies hiring in NYC
As you work on your technical portfolio, you should also be researching for companies that are actively hiring in the NYC local area.
LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor are great places to start your search, as they list many openings for data analyst positions based on location.
Make sure you have a look at the prospective company’s website before you apply to make sure it’s the right fit for you. Consider company culture, benefits, and opportunities for growth.
4. Network with connections in NYC
New York City is a large and densely-packed place filled with some of the greatest minds, which brings great opportunities.
Furthermore, the city is filled with plenty of networking events, meetups, and more, so you can easily connect with other data analysts and build relationships that can help your career growth. A common platform that data analysts in NYC use for networking is Meetup.
For example, if you’re planning to join a company that uses R, you can consider joining the R User Group or the New York Open Statistical Programming Meetup. If you’re a Tableau user, try out the New York City Tableau User Group.
5. Apply on local job portals and practice for technical interviews
To get a better chance of landing a data analyst job in NYC, try using local job boards.
Some examples include the New York State Department of Labor Job Board and the New York City Government Job Board. These can be some good places to find jobs that have fewer applicants and lower competition.
Look outside of Manhattan, too—there are plenty of opportunities that span all boroughs of New York.
There are also plenty of data analyst opportunities in The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.
Here are the average data analyst salaries in the different boroughs:
You could also look at jobs based in other neighboring states like New Jersey, if living in the middle of the city isn’t for you.
5. Next steps
Wrapping up, in this post, you have seen how data analyst salaries in NYC can be rewarding. This is especially true if you know where and how to land these lucrative positions.
You’ve also had a look at what a data analyst job in NYC will look like, what factors affect data analyst salaries in NYC, as well as how to get started becoming one. To help kick things off with learning of data analytics skills and technologies, sign up for this free, 5-day introductory data analytics short course.
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