Average Salaries ($K)
Eindhoven 2020-2024
Data Salary review
Eindhoven
2020 - 2024
- 12% Average Cost Of Living Rise
- #4/23 Cheapest City To Live
- 16.5% Average Salary Rise
- #16/23 Salary Growth - All Roles
- #17/23 Salary Growth For Heads Of Data
- #15/23 Salary Growth For Data Engineers
- #18/23 Salary Growth For Data Analyst
- #7/23 Salary Growth For Data Scientists
Overview
Eindhoven is home to the renowned Brainport region, a collaborative ecosystem where industry, research, and government institutions work together to push technological advancements. While Eindhoven is best known for its hardware and semiconductor industries, data-related roles in AI, analytics, and machine learning have become increasingly important as companies move towards digital transformation and smart manufacturing.
The dominant industries in Eindhoven include semiconductors, automotive, healthcare technology, and advanced manufacturing. Philips, a historical giant in the city, has shifted its focus from electronics to healthcare tech, fuelling demand for data roles. ASML, one of the world’s most important semiconductor equipment manufacturers, is a massive employer of engineers and data professionals, using AI and analytics to optimise chip manufacturing. Other major employers include NXP Semiconductors, VDL Group, and TomTom, all of which integrate data science into their operations. Alongside these large corporations, the city also hosts a growing number of startups in AI, IoT, and software, though the ecosystem is still more hardware-heavy compared to cities with a stronger software culture.
Many roles still cater primarily to engineers with a strong hardware or industrial background rather than pure data specialists. The presence of research institutions like TU Eindhoven adds an academic boost, but a large portion of data talent tends to flow into corporate R&D rather than standalone tech firms or software-driven enterprises.
For those looking to start or advance their career in data, Eindhoven can be a solid choice, but with caveats. If you have expertise in industrial data science, machine learning for manufacturing, or AI-driven automation, the opportunities are strong. However, if you are looking for a vibrant startup culture with a broad range of data roles in fintech, e-commerce, or social media analytics, you may find the market a bit constrained. Salaries are competitive but not as high as in Amsterdam or international tech hubs like London or Berlin.
Heads Of Data
Unlike software-driven tech hubs where Heads of Data might focus on product analytics, growth metrics, or consumer applications, Eindhoven’s data leaders are expected to navigate complex industrial datasets, optimise manufacturing processes, and integrate AI into hardware-driven environments. Experience in machine learning for predictive maintenance, semiconductor analytics, and industrial automation can be particularly valuable for stepping into these roles.
The market for Head of Data roles in Eindhoven is highly competitive, as there are fewer companies offering pure data leadership roles compared to software-driven hubs. Most data leadership positions are embedded within engineering or R&D teams rather than standalone data departments. The market is small and heavily dominated by a handful of large corporations, meaning there are fewer leadership positions available compared to cities with more diverse tech ecosystems.
While Eindhoven is a great place to build a long-term career in industrial data science and applied AI, it might not be the best city if you’re looking for a fast-moving, software-first data leadership role in a startup-driven ecosystem. Data teams in Eindhoven are often seen as secondary to engineering and R&D departments. Unlike in software-driven hubs, where data leaders help shape company strategy, here you may find yourself fighting for influence in a deeply technical, hardware-first culture. Many companies still have a traditional mindset where IT and engineering take precedence, and data science is seen as a support function rather than a strategic driver. This means budgets for data teams can be limited, and you may struggle to implement long-term initiatives if leadership does not fully understand the value of data beyond operational improvements.
We see in our study that leadership roles fell in demand in 2022 when companies sought to onboard more junior and hands-on posiiton but growth since has been healthy, rising 36.84% at expert level.
Average Salaries ($K) By Experience
Data Engineers
Data engineering roles in Eindhoven are closely tied to the city’s industrial focus. Eindhoven’s data engineers often work with large-scale sensor data, industrial IoT (IIoT), and manufacturing data. Companies require engineers who can handle high-throughput, low-latency data processing for applications like predictive maintenance, factory automation, and supply chain optimisation. This means there is a heavy emphasis on working with real-time data, edge computing, and integrating structured and unstructured datasets from physical hardware rather than just dealing with web-based or transactional data.
While experience with Python, SQL, Spark, and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) is still valuable, Eindhoven employers often prioritise knowledge of Kafka, Apache Flink, SCADA systems, and industrial protocols like OPC UA. Machine learning operations (MLOps) and embedded analytics within industrial systems are also gaining importance. Eindhoven’s data engineers need a deep understanding of hardware constraints, reliability, and high-availability systems. If you are coming from a pure cloud-native background, expect a learning curve in adapting to Eindhoven’s hybrid cloud-edge infrastructure setups.
The job market is competitive but niche, meaning it can be both difficult to break into and hard to move out of once you specialise. The hiring process here is also notoriously slow and rigid, with companies prioritising candidates with PhDs, extensive industry experience, or connections within the Brainport ecosystem. If you don’t already have a strong background in industrial data, you will likely have to fight to prove your value in a market that still undervalues generalist data engineers. This is not a city where you can easily jump into data engineering from a general software development or data science role, experience with large-scale industrial data systems is key.
While Eindhoven offers stability and high salaries for data engineers, it lacks the variety of roles found in software-focused cities, so career mobility can be a concern. In our graph we see that there was a real demand for talent in 2022 with beginner-level salaries increasing by a huge 53.22%, we have since seen a decline (31.57% for beginner level) but this is less profound as in other tech hubs.
Average Salaries ($K) By Experience
Data Analysts
Eindhoven’s data analysts work more with operational data, quality control metrics, and predictive maintenance models. This means that breaking into a data analyst role here often requires knowledge of manufacturing KPIs, industrial databases, and a strong understanding of engineering workflows. Eindhoven’s market is more technical and specialised. While proficiency in SQL, Power BI, and Python is still important, there is a stronger emphasis on working with time-series data, automation tools, and manufacturing-related analytics platforms like OSIsoft PI or Siemens MindSphere. Many employers also prefer candidates with engineering, physics, or supply chain backgrounds over those with purely business or economics degrees. Additionally, Eindhoven’s corporate structure is more hierarchical and traditional, meaning data analysts often have less direct influence on strategic decision-making compared to those in more agile, startup-friendly tech hubs.
The job market for data analysts in Eindhoven is competitive but relatively small, as many companies prioritise hiring data scientists and engineers over analysts. To stand out, candidates need to show strong domain knowledge, the ability to work with large industrial datasets, and experience in process optimisation. You are likely to be stuck doing a lot of reporting, process monitoring, and incremental improvements rather than truly strategic, high-impact analytics. Many companies still favour engineers and technical specialists for leadership positions, leaving data analysts stuck in mid-level reporting roles for years. Salaries are decent, but not high enough to compensate for the limited career mobility and lack of diverse opportunities. If you are looking for stability and a long-term role in industrial analytics, Eindhoven might work for you. But if you want to grow, experiment, and have a real impact, you may be better off looking elsewhere.
Whilst wage growth is positive in Eindhoven, it is relatively flat at both beginner level (22.22%) and intermediate levels (30%) over the last five years. Eindhoven ranks #18/23 in our study.
Average Salaries ($K) By Experience
Data Scientists
Eindhoven’s data scientists are deeply embedded in engineering and R&D teams, working on problems that blend machine learning, physics, and hardware constraints. This means breaking into a data science role here requires strong technical skills, a background in applied mathematics or engineering, and an understanding of industrial processes.
Compared to cities like Amsterdam or Berlin, Eindhoven’s data science skillset leans heavily towards machine learning for physical systems rather than business intelligence or pure AI research. While knowledge of Python, TensorFlow/PyTorch, and SQL is still important, there is a stronger emphasis on time-series data, IoT analytics, reinforcement learning for robotics, and optimisation algorithms. Many roles also require experience with edge computing, computer vision for quality control, or deep learning applications. Eindhoven’s roles are more technical and research-heavy, often requiring a PhD or extensive experience in engineering-heavy domains. While the city has some of the biggest names in high-tech, the roles themselves can be frustratingly niche, slow-moving, and heavily research-oriented.
The market is highly competitive but narrow, meaning that whilst there are great opportunities for the right candidates, breaking in can be difficult unless you have direct experience in high-tech manufacturing or a related field. To stand out, you need strong engineering fundamentals, expertise in applied machine learning, and experience working with sensor data or automation. Eindhoven is a good place for data scientists who enjoy working on deep, technical problems in industrial AI, but not ideal for those looking for a fast-moving, startup-driven data science career.
Whilst we have generally seen stagnant wage growth for Data Scientists across all 23 tech hubs, in Eindhoven the data shows us a nice, healthy boundary between experience levels which generally indicates a more rigid hierarchy and more tightly-defined job roles and less likelihood that a junior person will be expected to handle senior responsibilities.
Eindhoven ranked #7/23 for wage growth over the last five years.
Average Salaries ($K) By Experience
Hiring Data Roles For Eindhoven Companies
Eindhoven has a strong and highly specialised talent pool, particularly in high-tech industries, thanks to major players like ASML and Philips. Employers will find a solid base of skilled data professionals, especially in industrial analytics and IoT, but competition is intense, particularly for semiconductor-focused data engineers and practical AI specialists. The local workforce is well-versed in applied machine learning and engineering-focused analytics, but cutting-edge deep learning expertise is harder to source locally. Hiring costs are high due to strong demand, reflecting the premium on specialised skills. Retention rates are relatively strong, but attracting top-tier AI talent may require tapping into international markets or building close partnerships with research institutions.
For companies looking to scale, data-driven marketing and growth expertise are much harder to find in Eindhoven. Advanced skills in digital marketing analytics, performance marketing, and growth are less prevalent locally, making it challenging to build an in-house team with the right mix of technical and strategic expertise. Partnering with a specialised agency such as 173tech can be a more efficient way to leverage data-driven growth strategies without the fixed overhead of a hire.
173tech Direct Comparison
- Head Of Data (5+ yrs) $260k
- Data Engineer (5+ yrs) $115k
- Data Engineer (0-3 yrs) $70k
- Data Analyst (3-5 yrs) $78k
- $523k 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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