Average Salaries ($K)
Utrecht 2020-2024
Data Salary review
Utrecht
2020 - 2024
- 15% Average Cost Of Living Rise
- #8/23 Cheapest City To Live
- 10.5% Average Salary Rise
- #23/23 Salary Growth - All Roles
- #23/23 Salary Growth For Heads Of Data
- #17/23 Salary Growth For Data Engineers
- #17/23 Salary Growth For Data Analyst
- #19/23 Salary Growth For Data Scientists
Overview
Utrecht has been steadily growing as a tech hub in the Netherlands, particularly in data-related roles. While it may not have the same global recognition as Amsterdam or Rotterdam, Utrecht has a strong foundation in finance (Rabobank) healthcare (Genmab, Medtronic), logistics (bol.com) and education, all industries that are increasingly reliant on data. Unfortunately though the lack of major tech headquarters and limited influx of venture capital funding means that Utrecht is struggling to attract data talent, many professionals opt for remote roles with better salaries elsewhere, keeping local wage growth stagnant.
Sadly Utrecht did rank #23/23 in terms of wage growth across all data roles when comparing 2024 salaries to 2020. This is likely due to a combination of low competition, industry conservatism, and limited startup presence. Utrecht’s job market is dominated by mid-sized companies and corporate employers who offer structured pay scales with slower wage growth compared to high-growth tech firms in Amsterdam or Eindhoven. If you want to advance quickly, you might find yourself hitting a ceiling in terms of salary and project complexity. However, if you value working in regulated industries , Utrecht can offer long-term career stability with a solid mix of technical and business-oriented data roles.
Heads Of Data
Unlike in high-growth tech hubs where leadership roles often go to specialists in AI or product analytics, Utrecht’s data leadership positions tend to be more operational, focusing on compliance, risk management, and efficiency improvements. Most companies in Utrecht are mid-sized or corporate, meaning leadership roles favour experienced professionals with a track record in structured environments rather than startup disruptors. Internal promotions are common, so growing within a company can be a viable strategy, but external hires from Amsterdam or other regions are also seen when niche expertise is needed.
There is a bigger emphasis on financial risk modelling, healthcare analytics, and logistics optimisation rather than rapid experimentation. While technical expertise (SQL, Python, cloud platforms) is still necessary, business alignment and team leadership are just as (if not more) important in Utrecht’s market.
The market for Head of Data roles in Utrecht is competitive but not as cutthroat as in Amsterdam or global tech hubs. To stand out, candidates should demonstrate deep industry expertise, strong leadership skills, and a proven ability to align data strategies with business goals. Utrecht’s data leadership positions are often locked up by long-tenured employees and many leadership roles are filled internally, so breaking in as an outsider can be frustratingly difficult unless you have niche expertise or a track record at a well-respected competitor.
We do see in our graph below that data leaders with more experience have a clear advantage and demand. Interestingly in 2020 the gap between beginner and intermediate levels was 26.42% but in 2024 this closes to 16.66%. There has been little or no growth for any salaries in Utrecht in the last five years, hence its ranking of last in our study.
Average Salaries ($K) By Experience
Data Engineers
Landing a Data Engineer role in Utrecht requires a solid foundation in cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP), SQL, Python, and data pipeline development, but breaking in depends heavily on industry alignment. Many employers prefer candidates with experience in highly structured, regulated environments, so if you come from a fast-moving startup background, you may need to adjust to a slower, compliance-heavy workflow. Networking is crucial in Utrecht, jobs are often filled through internal referrals rather than open postings. Utrecht’s tech stack is often conservative, relying on Azure (due to the banking presence), SQL-heavy workflows, and traditional ETL tools like Informatica, Airflow, or dbt rather than the latest real-time processing frameworks. You will likely be maintaining legacy SQL warehouses, building ETL pipelines, and spending time documenting processes for compliance. Many data engineering teams in Utrecht are understaffed, meaning you will be expected to do everything from infrastructure setup to basic analytics. The upside of this is a stable career option with longevity and reliance built in.
Whilst we do see post-pandemic wage growth in 2022, especially at beginner level where salaries rose on average 51.51%, the story since though has been less positive. No doubt those engineers are still working at those companies meaning that you may have missed the boat in the near-term in terms of job-hopping for better salary.
Average Salaries ($K) By Experience
Data Analysts
Getting a Data Analyst job in Utrecht is relatively accessible, but expect roles to be heavily industry-specific. Utrecht’s analysts are expected to support corporate decision-making with structured reports. The work is often less experimental and more focused on regulatory compliance, financial risk analysis, and supply chain optimisation. You will spend more time on data cleaning, SQL queries, and dashboard creation than on advanced modelling or machine learning. The best analysts here stand out by combining technical skills (Python, SQL, Power BI) with strong business communication, as many teams expect analysts to translate data into boardroom-ready insights.
Career progression is often difficult in Utrecht, promotions are rare and often come without meaningful pay increases, meaning you could be doing senior-level work whilst still getting a salary more reflective of a junior role. Utrecht’s job market is small, and higher-paying roles are scarce, so even if you want to move up, you might have to switch industries or relocate just to see a salary bump. Many ambitious analysts end up leaving for Amsterdam, taking remote roles with international firms, or transitioning into data engineering or product analytics.
That is not to say that there has not been positive signs. Wages did increase by 26.98% between 2020 and 2022 but have since been flat. Even at the expert level we have only seen a rise of 2.88% in the last two years. Utrecht ranked #17/23 when factoring in data from the last five years, but the recent picture is one of wage stagnation.
Average Salaries ($K) By Experience
Data Scientists
Landing a Data Scientist role in Utrecht is tough, not because there is a flood of competition, but because there are not many true data science roles to begin with. Unlike Amsterdam, where scale-ups drive demand for machine learning engineers and AI specialists, Utrecht’s data science roles are often more about risk modelling, forecasting, and automation rather than deep learning or AI. A solid grasp of Python, SQL, cloud platforms (AWS/Azure), and data engineering skills is essential, as many companies lack the infrastructure for pure data science roles, and you will often be expected to build data pipelines alongside modelling. The most successful data scientists in Utrecht bridge the gap between analytics, engineering, and business, as many companies lack the technical maturity to fully leverage advanced AI.
Utrecht may be a great place to live, but it is not an ideal place to build a high-impact data science career. We see wage stagnation and fewer opportunities for Data Scientists over the last five years.The market is competitive but small, meaning there are fewer opportunities for rapid career growth or salary jumps compared to Amsterdam or even remote international roles.
Average Salaries ($K) By Experience
Hiring Data Roles For Utrecht Companies
Utrecht provides employers with a small but highly skilled data talent pool, supported by strong educational institutions. Competition for talent is moderate, with demand growing across multiple industries. Wage growth has been stable, but specialised roles require competitive salaries. Retention is high due to Utrecht’s strong work-life balance and quality of life. However, employers may find it difficult to hire big data engineers and cloud-based data analytics specialists, necessitating investment in upskilling initiatives.
For companies struggling to find specialised talent or needing rapid scalability, working with an agency can be a strategic advantage. If your organisation requires advanced analytics, cloud-based data strategy, or marketing insights but lacks the in-house expertise or capacity to build a team quickly, an agency like 173tech can provide immediate access to skilled professionals. This is particularly beneficial for businesses needing short-term high-impact projects, where the cost and time investment of hiring internally may not be justified. Agencies can help bridge the gap while internal capabilities are developed, ensuring that business objectives are met without disruption.
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) $83k
- $528k 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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