Data analysis is one of the fastest-growing career paths in the UK, with strong demand across virtually every sector. Here’s what data analysts actually earn.
For the wider picture on how analyst pay compares with other professions and regions, see our Salary by Profession hub.
Data Analyst Salaries by Experience
| Level | Years Experience | Salary Range | London Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior / Entry | 0-2 | £25,000-£32,000 | £28,000-£36,000 |
| Mid-level | 2-4 | £35,000-£48,000 | £40,000-£55,000 |
| Senior | 4-7 | £48,000-£65,000 | £55,000-£75,000 |
| Lead / Principal | 7+ | £60,000-£80,000 | £70,000-£95,000 |
| Head of Analytics | 8+ | £75,000-£110,000 | £85,000-£130,000 |
Pay by Sector
The sector you work in significantly affects your pay — finance and tech pay the most.
| Sector | Junior | Mid-Level | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banking / Financial Services | £30,000-£38,000 | £42,000-£58,000 | £58,000-£80,000 |
| Big Tech (FAANG-level) | £35,000-£45,000 | £50,000-£70,000 | £70,000-£100,000+ |
| Startups / Scale-ups | £28,000-£35,000 | £38,000-£52,000 | £52,000-£70,000 |
| Consulting | £28,000-£36,000 | £40,000-£55,000 | £55,000-£75,000 |
| E-commerce / Retail | £26,000-£32,000 | £34,000-£46,000 | £46,000-£62,000 |
| NHS / Public sector | £25,000-£30,000 | £30,000-£42,000 | £40,000-£55,000 |
| Pharma / Healthcare | £28,000-£34,000 | £38,000-£50,000 | £50,000-£68,000 |
| Media / Marketing | £25,000-£32,000 | £32,000-£45,000 | £45,000-£60,000 |
Regional Salary Comparison
| City / Region | Mid-Level Salary | Cost-Adjusted Value |
|---|---|---|
| London | £40,000-£55,000 | Baseline |
| Manchester | £32,000-£44,000 | Similar after housing |
| Birmingham | £30,000-£42,000 | Better value |
| Edinburgh | £32,000-£45,000 | Similar to Manchester |
| Leeds | £30,000-£42,000 | Good value |
| Bristol | £32,000-£45,000 | Moderate cost |
| Cardiff | £28,000-£38,000 | Good value |
| Remote (UK-wide) | £35,000-£50,000 | Location-dependent |
Remote roles have expanded since 2020, with many companies offering location-adjusted salaries.
Skills and Their Pay Impact
Essential Skills (Expected at All Levels)
- SQL — non-negotiable for data analyst roles
- Excel / Google Sheets — still widely used, especially for reporting
- Data visualisation — Tableau, Power BI, or Looker
Skills That Command Higher Pay
| Skill | Typical Pay Premium |
|---|---|
| Python (pandas, scikit-learn) | +10-20% |
| R (statistical analysis) | +10-15% |
| Cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) | +10-20% |
| dbt / analytics engineering | +15-25% |
| Machine learning basics | +15-25% |
| Snowflake / BigQuery / Databricks | +10-20% |
Analysts with Python and cloud skills effectively bridge the gap between traditional data analysis and data engineering/science, commanding salaries closer to those roles.
Data Analyst vs Related Roles
| Role | Typical Mid-Level Salary | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Data Analyst | £35,000-£48,000 | Business reporting and insights |
| Business Analyst | £38,000-£52,000 | Process and requirements focus |
| Data Scientist | £45,000-£60,000 | Machine learning and statistics |
| Data Engineer | £48,000-£65,000 | Building data pipelines and infrastructure |
| Analytics Engineer | £45,000-£62,000 | Bridging analysis and engineering |
| BI Developer | £38,000-£52,000 | Dashboard and reporting tools |
Take-Home Pay Examples
| Annual Salary | Monthly Take-Home | With Student Loan (Plan 2) |
|---|---|---|
| £28,000 | ~£1,889 | ~£1,862 |
| £38,000 | ~£2,436 | ~£2,382 |
| £48,000 | ~£3,004 | ~£2,938 |
| £60,000 | ~£3,648 | ~£3,567 |
Entry Routes into Data Analysis
Graduate Route
Most common — a degree in maths, statistics, economics, computer science, or a quantitative subject helps but isn’t essential.
- Starting salary: £25,000-£35,000
- Graduate schemes: Companies like Deloitte, PwC, and major banks run structured programmes
Career Change / Bootcamp Route
Data analytics bootcamps (General Assembly, Le Wagon, HyperionDev) offer intensive training.
- Bootcamp cost: £3,000-£10,000 (some offer income share agreements)
- Typical starting salary after bootcamp: £25,000-£32,000
- Time to mid-level: 2-3 years
Self-Taught Route
Learning SQL, Python, and analytics tools through online courses (Coursera, DataCamp, Google certificates).
- Cost: £20-£300/month for platform subscriptions
- Portfolio-based hiring is increasingly common
- Starting salary: £23,000-£28,000 initially
Career Progression
| Stage | Timeline | Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| Junior data analyst | Year 0-2 | £25,000-£32,000 |
| Data analyst | Year 2-4 | £35,000-£48,000 |
| Senior data analyst | Year 4-7 | £48,000-£65,000 |
| Lead data analyst / analytics manager | Year 6-9 | £60,000-£85,000 |
| Head of data / analytics | Year 8+ | £80,000-£120,000 |
Lateral Moves
Many data analysts pivot into higher-paying related roles:
- Data science — add machine learning skills
- Analytics engineering — add dbt and data pipeline skills
- Product analytics — move into tech product teams
- Management consulting — leverage analytical thinking