Average Salaries ($K)
Edinburgh 2020-2024
Data Salary review
Edinburgh
2020 - 2024
- 96% Average Cost Of Living Rise
- #18/23 Cheapest City To Live
- 27% Average Salary Rise
- #4/23 Salary Growth - All Roles
- #13/23 Salary Growth For Heads Of Data
- #10/23 Salary Growth For Data Engineers
- #5/23 Salary Growth For Data Analysts
- #2/23 Salary Growth For Data Scientists
Overview
Edinburgh had long been benefiting from significant investment in technology and data-driven innovation, particularly in AI and machine learning. The Scottish government has been supportive of initiatives aimed at developing digital skills and boosting the data economy. This had reached its peak in 2020 when Scotland was seen as a cost-effective destination where real career growth was possible, drawing away talent from England. The unexpected consequences of this new wave of people was however, that prices were driven upwards and where the cost of living has had a serious impact across the UK, no where is that more noticeable than in Edinburgh which has nearly doubled during this time.
While the city hosts various data conferences and meetups, and has seen a few major employers in the financial sector set up shop, there is a serious risk that talent may not be retained unless wages begin to reflect living costs. Edinburgh has some of the best routes for data professionals looking to get started as Data scientists or Data Analysts but may not offer the variety of opportunities or employers that other tech hubs do.
Heads Of Data
Being a Head of Data in Edinburgh means leading data strategy in a city where the tech ecosystem is growing but still developing compared to London or Manchester. While there is a strong local talent pool at junior and mid-levels, finding experienced data professionals to scale a team can be challenging, and hiring for specialised roles such as AI, big data engineering, or advanced analytics often requires looking beyond Scotland.
Many Heads of Data in Edinburgh find themselves balancing technical leadership with advocacy, educating senior stakeholders on the value of data and pushing for investment in modern infrastructure. There are fewer high-growth tech companies and a smaller startup ecosystem, which can limit opportunities for rapid career progression. A lot of talent is currently leaving Edinburgh, frustrated by lack of opportunities with only a few major employers but if you can break into a leadership role here, and are looking for stability and long-term impact – you will find rewarding opportunities in Edinburgh.
It also cannot be ignored that during the pandemic we see a 17.6% dip in average salaries which was higher than Manchester (11%) or London (15%) this is perhaps where Edinburgh’s strength in the fintech sector has a downside in that it has less variety than other hubs.
The market for Heads of Data in Edinburgh is growing, but it still faces challenges due to the city’s smaller size, more specialised industry presence (mainly finance and fintech), and a more competitive recruitment market compared to larger cities like London mean that it might not be the right place for everyone, only ranking #13/23 for wage growth over the last five years (26.16%) whilst simultaneously seeing the cost of living nearly double.
Average Salaries ($K) By Experience
Data Engineers
Being a Data Engineer in Edinburgh comes with its frustrations. While the city has a growing tech scene, it is still largely dominated by financial services and the public sector, meaning a lot of the work involves untangling legacy systems rather than building cutting-edge data infrastructure. If you are looking for high-velocity, AI-driven, or startup-style data engineering work, Edinburgh might not be the best fit.
The talent pool is small, so while finding a job is not impossible, career progression can be slow, especially if you are looking to move into leadership roles. Salaries, while decent for Scotland, do not compete with London or international markets, and wage growth has been sluggish compared to other UK cities. Many companies are still catching up when it comes to cloud adoption and automation, so expect to deal with outdated processes and resistance to change. Edinburgh’s data engineering landscape is heavily influenced by sectors like financial services, tech startups, and government initiatives. Companies like Standard Life, Fidelity, and various fintech firms offer significant demand for data engineers, when these employers are not hiring it can become difficult to find a job.
We can see quite clearly that salaries at expert level took a -9.52% dip between 2021 and 2023, whilst at the same time beginner level roles rose by15.38%, clearly during this period employers were hungry for fresh talent and thinking long-term about growth. For those looking to work in an emerging tech scene with solid career prospects, Edinburgh offers a stable but slightly slower-paced environment.
Average Salaries ($K) By Experience
Data Analysts
Being a Data Analyst in Edinburgh can be a mixed bag. The city’s tech scene is growing, but it is still quite niche compared to other UK cities like London or Manchester, so there are not as many large-scale data-driven projects. While you will find opportunities in finance, public sector, and a few growing tech companies, many of these roles focus more on reporting and traditional business intelligence rather than advanced analytics or machine learning.
The talent pool in Edinburgh is smaller, so competition can be less fierce, but that also means fewer opportunities for career advancement, especially if you are looking for more specialised roles. However, it is a solid city for entry-level roles or if you prefer a slower-paced work environment with good quality of life.
Where we have seen Data Analyst salaries grow quite significantly in most other areas, in Edinburgh there has been stagnation over the last three years and follows a trend more similar to cities in America. In most other areas the reason behind rapid wage growth is in direct line with growing expectations and job roles with a blurriness between what is expected of a Data Analyst and a Data Scientist, and perhaps because of the dominance of the financial sector in Edinburgh that does not appear to be the case with more regimented role and responsibilities. Whilst salaries did see a rise of 36.73% between 2021 and 2022, in the next three years they have actually decreased by -11.94%. Whilst Edinburgh ranked #5/23 with average wage growth being 48.38% over the last five years, this is largely thanks to that rapid growth back in 2022.
Average Salaries ($K) By Experience
Data Scientists
Being a Data Scientist in Edinburgh offers a more balanced and manageable work-life experience compared to larger tech hubs, though there are some trade-offs to consider. The city’s tech scene is emerging, with growing opportunities across sectors like finance, healthcare, and public services. However, these roles may not always involve the cutting-edge, high-impact projects typically found in cities like London, Silicon Valley, or New York. In Edinburgh, many data science positions focus on business intelligence, predictive modelling, and process optimisation, rather than the more advanced AI-driven innovation or deep learning projects.
The University of Edinburgh, a renowned institution for its data science and artificial intelligence (AI) programs, produces a significant amount of local talent, creating a strong pipeline for businesses in the area. While this access to fresh talent helps meet demand, it can also lead to lower wages for entry-level and mid-level roles, as the supply of qualified professionals currently exceeds demand. That said, Edinburgh is particularly well-positioned in the financial technology (FinTech) sector, making it one of the best cities outside of London for Data Scientists looking to work in this space in particular.
Edinburgh has seen some wage growth for data scientist, ranking #2/23 over the last five years with an increase of 11.53%, indicating a steadily maturing job market. This growth reflects the city’s increasing demand for data science talent, but as mentioned, this is largely in the financial sector.
Average Salaries ($K) By Experience
Hiring Data Roles For Edinburgh Companies
Edinburgh offers a growing data talent pool, driven by the University of Edinburgh’s strong data science and AI programs, which continuously produce skilled graduates. While there is a solid supply of junior and mid-level talent, roles requiring more advanced skills can be more difficult to fill. The city’s tech scene is maturing, but compared to larger cities like London or New York, the talent pool is still relatively small, particularly for niche expertise.
When it comes to filling those harder-to-find roles or scaling your data capabilities quickly without the long hiring process, partnering with a data agency like 173tech can be a great solution. Hiring a data agency can often be more cost-effective than building an in-house team, especially if your core business focus is in finance and you need help on growth metrics. Agencies provide immediate access to skilled professionals with specific expertise, allowing you to execute data-driven initiatives without the long-term commitment and recruitment challenges of hiring directly.
173tech Direct Comparison
- Head Of Data (5+ yrs) $220k
- Data Engineer (5+ yrs) $115k
- Data Engineer (0-3 yrs) $70k
- Data Analyst (3-5 yrs) $69k
- $474k per yr + Tax + Pension + Holidays
- Candice (15+ yrs) Ruben (8+ yrs) Oliver (10+ yrs)
- Adrian (15+ yrs)
- Oscar (2+ yrs)
- Emeric (3+ yrs) Mai (4+ yrs) Noel (2+ yrs) Amy (2+ yrs)
- $240k
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