2027 data salary guide.
Our 2027 data salary guide gives you a clear view of pay across data analysis, business intelligence, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Compare salaries across 36 roles whether you're planning a hire, reviewing pay or thinking about your next move.
Download our 2027 data salary guide.
To get started, fill out the form below to access data salary benchmarks for 2027, 2026 comparisons, 2028 projections and the latest hiring trends.
SALARY TRENDS
Data salary trends in 2027.
Data salaries have risen faster than the wider UK market this year, at 7.9% against 3.8% across the disciplines we cover. Data is the fastest-growing discipline we cover in 2027. AI and machine learning roles are up more than 10%, and even the slower-moving analysis and BI specialisms are ahead of the overall market.
Every data specialism is either candidate-led or ahead of the wider market. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are the tightest, with 65% of employers planning to hire, and data analysis and business intelligence are balanced but still growing faster than the 3.8% average. Python, SQL and cloud data platform skills carry the biggest premium.
KEY FINDINGS
Key findings for data in 2027.
These figures give you a quick view of salary movement and hiring activity across data in 2027, whether you’re planning salaries across your team, reviewing your own pay or keeping an eye on the market.
- 7.9% average salary increase compared with 2026
- 58% of employers are hiring now or plan to hire within the next six months
- 50% of data professionals are actively looking for a new role
- 38% of data professionals feel their pay doesn’t reflect the work they do
OTHER SALARY GUIDES
Looking at salaries in another area?
Explore our other 2027 data salary guides to compare pay, regional benchmarks and hiring trends across each discipline.
FAQs
Data salary guide FAQs.
The guide covers 36 roles across data analysis, business intelligence, artificial intelligence and machine learning. It includes 25th, 50th and 75th percentile salaries across the UK and by region, together with 2026 comparisons, 2028 projections and our latest data hiring findings.
The median UK salary across the 36 data roles in our guide is £80,000. There is a significant difference between analysis, engineering, AI, machine learning and leadership roles, so use this as a broad market marker rather than a benchmark for every data position.
Data salaries vary with technical depth, specialism, experience and responsibility. Roles involving engineering, architecture, production AI or leadership are more likely to sit towards the upper end of the range, while analyst and developing positions generally sit lower.
Data Engineer, AI Engineer and Data Scientist are the three most in-demand data roles in our research. Python, SQL, cloud data platforms and AI and ML pipelines are also among the technical skills employers are prioritising.
Use the benchmark for the exact role, region and specialism. A data analyst, data engineer and AI engineer should not be priced from one broad data figure. Cloud platform expertise, production responsibilities, specialist technical skills and leadership can all move a role towards the upper end of its range.
No. The figures are base salary only. Bonuses, equity, pension contributions and other benefits should be considered separately when comparing the full package.
Yes. We can benchmark a data role around its technical requirements, platform, seniority, responsibilities, industry and location where the standard guide is too broad.