Data Analyst Salary in Toronto in 2021

July 6, 2021

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes.

City skyline of Toronto, Ontario, Canada showing the downtown core

Becoming a data analyst means joining one of the most sought-after job fields in the modern market. Data analysis is a complex skill, and learning it means committing to long hours of practice and a real investment in your own skill. But the high salaries, work perks, and job security make data analyst career lucrative and advantageous.

Just getting started with data, and unsure if the career is a good fit for you? Our Intro to Data Analytics course can give you an opportunity to figure things out through a good introduction to the subject. Meanwhile, our Data Science Bootcamp is a 12-week intensive course designed to transform your career to become a data analyst or data scientist.

From here, we will walk you through the different salaries you can expect when pursuing a data analyst career in Toronto.

Let’s get started.

Data analyst salaries in Toronto

The average data analyst in Toronto makes between $58,000-$77,000 per year, based on Payscale’s range.

There are essentially three levels of seniority in the data analyst field (click to skip to section):

Each of these levels will offer a different salary range depending on relevant experience and education.

Below, you can find the average salary expectations at each data analyst level.

Entry-level/junior

Entry-level data analysts in Toronto can expect to make on average $50,000-$66,000 per year, according to Payscale.

Entry-level data analysts will have a basic understanding of:

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field including: Data Science, Business Analytics, Finance, Mathematics, Statistics, or Computer Science
Understanding of SQL
Understanding of NoSQL databases like MongoDB and Cassandra
Excellent analytical skills

Data analysts at this stage will have two (2) years or less experience alongside any notable educational achievements.

Intermediate

Intermediate-level data analysts in Toronto can expect to make on average $69,000-$89,000 per year, according to Payscale.

Intermediate-level data analysts will possess:

Strong SQL experience with various database systems including SQL Server, MySQL, or Redshift
Experience in creating reports, scorecards, dashboards and explaining the information in them
Some programming experience using languages such as Python, R, Java, Perl, or equivalent
Experience documenting and maintaining data dictionaries, metric and KPI definitions
Familiarity with SDLC, requirements gathering, and documentation

Data analysts at this stage will have a minimum of three (3) years of experience alongside a strong portfolio of professional work.

Senior

Senior data analysts in Toronto can expect to make on average $76,000-$101,000 per year, according to Payscale.

Skills on this level depend highly on industry and experience. Senior data analysts possess the skills to:

Master’s preferred in related fields, including: Data Science, Computer Science, Information Technology, Economics, Information Systems, Statistics, Applied Math, or Business Administration
Ad-hoc analysis of data using python and SQL
Comfortable working within all areas of business including marketing, finance, sales, and operations to organize, analyze and report on data
Identify trends in the data, and proactively communicate them in a concise manner
Proactively identify additional key performance indicators to measure and support new business initiatives
Superb analytical and conceptual thinking skills

At this stage, executive-level positions are common. Data analysts on this level will have 5+ years of experience and an outstanding business portfolio.

Are data analysts in demand in Toronto?

According to JobBank, data analysts’ jobs in Ontario have grown significantly in the last decade. As new technology companies set their sights on Canada’s growing sector, the number of data analyst jobs available will only continue to grow.

Here are some stats, sourced from JobBank, on the current state of data analyst jobs in Ontario:

Approximately 21,150 people are working as data analysts
77% of database analysts and data administrators work all year round, while 23% work part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among the average provincial occupation
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
- Full-time workers: more than 95% compared to 79% provincial average
- Part-time workers: less than 5% compared to 21%provincial average

Is data analysis a good career in Canada?

Further research from JobBank finds that demand for workers in the tech sector is only going up.

Due to increased technological innovation, a need for Canadian companies to upgrade their IT infrastructure, and a 42% retirement rate in this field, there has never been a better time to become a data analyst.

JobBank reports that between 2019-2028, 18,000 new data analyst jobs will open up while only 16,700 new job seekers are expected to fill them. The rise of data analytics in areas such as HR will contribute to this trend.

What is a good salary for data analysts in Toronto?

According to Talent.com, the average data analyst in Ontario makes around $66,781 per year.

Making slightly above or below this average, in the range of $70,000-$80,000 would be considered a good salary. Lighthouse Labs graduates have been hired as data scientists, marketing science analysts, data analysts, machine learning interns, cloud administrators, and data engineers. See what other data careers can be pursued post-bootcamp.

If you’re wondering what career path you should follow, check out this simple guide on data analyst vs data scientists.

How do I become a data analyst in Toronto?

Here are five steps to becoming a data analyst in Toronto:

Earn a bachelor’s degree in a field that emphasizes statistics and analytics. This could include: Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science, Business Analytics, or Finance
Learn important data analytics skills such as SQL and NoSQL databases
Consider certified reskilling programs like our Data Science Bootcamp
Claim your first entry-level data analyst job
Earn a master’s degree in data analytics to move onto senior programs