Average Salaries ($K)
Hamburg 2020-2024
Data Salary review
Hamburg
2020 - 2024
- 15% Average Cost Of Living Rise
- #2/23 Cheapest City To Live
- 26% Average Salary Rise
- #5/23 Salary Growth - All Roles
- #8/23 Salary Growth For Heads Of Data
- #7/23 Salary Growth For Data Engineers
- #2/23 Salary Growth For Data Analyst
- #15/23 Salary Growth For Data Scientists
Overview
While it is not the kind of fast-paced, always-changing environment that you might find in Berlin, Hamburg offers a slightly more stable, mature tech scene. Hamburg could be a great place if you are looking for more stability and the opportunity to work within well-established companies with noticeable employers including; Otto Group, XING and Jimdo. The corporate culture in Hamburg tends to be more structured, meaning that there is less flexibility in terms of rapid career progression, but also clearer paths for advancement. For mid-level professionals who want to advance their data careers in a more traditional corporate environment, Hamburg might be a better option than Berlin.
The key industries that are driving data-related job opportunities in Hamburg are e-Commerce, fintech, and logistics/transportation. The city is home to large-scale e-Commerce platforms, such as Otto, which offers data-centric roles in everything from supply chain optimisation to consumer behavior analytics. The fintech industry is growing, with FinTecSystems and Deposit Solutions leading the way, creating demand for data scientists and analysts in areas like fraud detection, algorithmic trading, and customer analytics. With a low cost of living and a growing wage, Hamburg this may be the perfect time to move to Hamburg before everyone else!
Heads Of Data
Hamburg offers a more structured, established environment for data professionals, with a strong focus on scaling existing data systems, improving operational efficiency, and managing large datasets. Companies here tend to be well-established, particularly in industries like e-commerce, media, and logistics. Data leadership roles in these sectors typically revolve around optimising operational data, logistics, and media/consumer insights. Professionals in Hamburg may find opportunities to work on large-scale, real-time data systems, particularly in streaming architecture and data pipelines, making technical expertise in these areas highly valuable. For those seeking a stable, more predictable work environment, Hamburg is a great fit, though it may not offer as much room for shaping a team from scratch, compared to more dynamic cities like Berlin.
However, there is a notable shift in Hamburg’s data market at the intermediate level, with a 17.64% decline in salaries from 2021 to 2023. In fact, there was little difference between the salaries for intermediate and beginner roles in 2023. This suggests that Hamburg’s industries are moving away from traditional middle-management data leadership roles in favour of more specialised, hands-on positions. It could also be an indicator that as Hamburg is home to larger and more stable employers, when they are not hiring, demand slumps quite noticeably. Hamburg ranked #8/23 when comparing average wages from 2020 to 2024.
Average Salaries ($K) By Experience
Data Engineers
In Hamburg, the role of Data Engineer tends to be more hands-on and focused on the development and maintenance of the technical infrastructure that drives data operations. While there is certainly a DevOps element to the role (such as managing cloud environments, automating deployments, and ensuring system scalability) the focus is more on developing robust data architectures, designing and optimising ETL processes and ensuring data integrity across platforms. Data Engineers in Hamburg are often expected to design solutions that can handle large-scale datasets, particularly in the city’s prominent sectors like e-commerce, logistics, and media. Expertise in real-time data processing and tools like Kafka, which are commonly used for data streaming, is highly valued and can set candidates apart.
Similar to the broader trends across Germany, Hamburg saw a peak in demand for Data Engineers in 2022, followed by a market correction in the subsequent year. Despite this fluctuation, Hamburg has remained an attractive destination for tech talent, ranking #7/23 locations for wage growth over the last five years. While the city’s data engineering market may not be growing as rapidly as some other tech hubs, it still offers strong compensation packages compared to many other regions. The demand for skilled professionals remains steady, particularly for those with expertise in cloud technologies, data pipelines, and real-time data processing. As companies in Hamburg increasingly adopt sophisticated data architectures and real-time analytics, there will continue to be opportunities for Data Engineers with the right technical skill set to thrive.
Average Salaries ($K) By Experience
Data Analysts
Hamburg can be a great place to advance your data analyst career, particularly if you are interested in business intelligence and working with large, established companies. If you enjoy stability and prefer working with structured processes, Hamburg’s corporate-focused environment offers solid career paths in industries like logistics, e-commerce, and media.
To break into a data analyst role in Hamburg, you will need a strong technical skillset and familiarity with data analysis tools, and this might be a struggle if you are fresh from university and so networking can be very valuable in Hamburg as the data community is smaller.
While there are certainly senior opportunities in Hamburg, they are often less abundant compared to Berlin. Hamburg’s data market is more mature, with many senior positions held by individuals who have been with their companies for longer periods, making in tougher to break in, Career progression may be slower than in more rapidly growing tech hubs like Berlin and senior roles tend to come with less hands-on data analysis and more strategic decision-making.
Wage growth is a positive 51.92% on average over the last five years, ranking #2/23 when comparing average salaries from 2020 to 2024.
Average Salaries ($K) By Experience
Data Scientists
The role of a Data Scientist in Hamburg is still expanding, but the focus tends to be more on the practical application of data science to business optimisation rather than cutting-edge AI or machine learning (ML) research. This is particularly true in industries like e-commerce, media, and logistics, where the emphasis is often on predictive analytics, customer insights, and operational efficiency. For Data Scientists who prefer applying their skills in real-world settings to drive business value, Hamburg offers a solid environment. However, it may not have the same level of innovation and research-driven opportunities as cities like Berlin, which are more focused on pushing the boundaries of AI and ML technologies. In Hamburg, Data Scientists may find themselves applying their expertise to improve business processes and inform strategic decisions, which offers a different kind of professional satisfaction.
The competition for senior Data Scientist positions in Hamburg can be more intense due to the smaller talent pool and less frequent turnover compared to larger tech hubs like Berlin. Many senior roles are already occupied by experienced professionals, meaning it may take longer to break into the leadership track, particularly for those without deep sector-specific knowledge. However, for mid-level professionals with a few years of experience, there are still opportunities to progress to senior or lead roles, especially within established companies that require business-savvy Data Scientists.
Over the last five years, wage growth for Data Scientists in Hamburg has been relatively flat, mirroring global trends. Data Scientists used to be in short supply, which drove up demand and wages, but as the role has become more common, wage growth has stagnated. Despite this, the number of opportunities for Data Scientists in Hamburg has increased, particularly for those looking to apply their skills in established industries such as logistics, media, and e-commerce.
Average Salaries ($K) By Experience
Hiring Data Roles For Hamburg Companies
Hiring data professionals in Hamburg offers both advantages and challenges. The city’s talent pool is smaller compared to larger tech hubs like Berlin or Munich, but it is growing steadily, particularly in industries like e-commerce, logistics, and media. However, roles such as advanced Data Scientists and Senior Data Engineer can be more difficult to fill due to the specialised skill sets required. As a result, companies in Hamburg may face more competition for senior data talent, especially in leadership roles. In terms of cost, salaries in Hamburg tend to be more affordable compared to cities like Munich or Berlin, but for highly specialised roles, companies can expect to pay a premium.
If your company is facing challenges in filling data roles or needs a more flexible, cost-effective solution, engaging a data agency like 173tech can be a great option. For businesses that are looking to quickly adapt to shifting market demands or tackle data-centric challenges without the cost and risk of long-term hires, leveraging a data agency can offer a strategic advantage.
173tech Direct Comparison
- Head Of Data (5+ yrs) $265k
- Data Engineer (5+ yrs) $125k
- Data Engineer (0-3 yrs) $75k
- Data Analyst (3-5 yrs) $79k
- $544k 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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