How Much Do We Get Paid?

A Salary Analysis of Data Practitioners Across Roles and U.S. States

Candace Grant

Telling the Full Salary Story
Through Data Visualization

My goal is to make salary disparities among data practitioners visible through clear and immediately interpretable visualizations.

  • Box plots — distributional analysis by role
  • Connected dot plot — career progression from entry to senior
  • Choropleths — geographic salary variation by state
  • Ranked bar chart — direct role salary comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — OEWS May 2024

Choosing Your Role Matters

Mean Salaries Consistently Outpace the Median

Salary Growth Across Data Practitioner Roles

Database Architects Lead State-Level Salary Rankings

Your Zip Code is Your Pay Stub
Data Practitioner Salaries Vary Dramatically by State

Key Takeaways

  • Database Architects command the highest median salary at $136K nationally

  • The Northeast corridor leads geographically — DC, Washington, California and Maryland all exceed $120K

  • Your role choice matters — a $45K gap separates the highest and lowest paying roles

  • Both your title and your location together determine your earning potential as a data practitioner