Data Visualization Salary Guide 2026

Key takeaways

• Data visualization salaries vary based on experience level, location, and industry, with entry-level positions starting around $50,000-$70,000 and senior roles reaching over $120,000 annually.

• With a growing emphasis on data-driven strategies across industries, the salary prospects and career growth opportunities for individuals in this field are promising.

• Your earning potential increases with specialized skills in popular tools like Tableau or Power BI, advanced analytics capabilities, and experience in high-demand sectors like finance or tech.

Explore how much you can expect to earn in this field and the factors that influence your salary in the following article. If you're interested in earning credentials to enhance your data visualization resume, consider enrolling in Microsoft's Data Visualization Professional Certificate program. You'll build data models with DAX and learn to apply statistical analysis to drive business strategy.

Data visualization salary

Data visualization is a skill set and field of study within the broader data science field. Data science professionals earn an average of $112,590 per year, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics [1]. Hourly, this translates to $54.13. Many factors can influence your salary, including your specific job title, the location your company is based, the size of the company, and how much experience you have.

Job titles

Job title variations in this field represent specialized areas of expertise. Below, you'll find a few job titles that fall under the data visualization umbrella, a quick description, and what you can expect to earn in each role.

Data visualization analyst salary

A data visualization analyst is a professional who creates charts, dashboards, and interactive visual displays to help organizations understand their data. They analyze datasets, identify key insights, and transform complex information into clear visual stories that support business decision-making.

Data visualization analyst roles can be entry-level, though many require some experience with data analysis or visualization tools. It's often a good entry point into data careers, especially if you have basic skills in Excel, SQL, or tools like Tableau.

Average salary: $82,640 per year [2]

Data visualization specialist salary

A data visualization specialist focuses specifically on designing and creating effective charts, dashboards, and visual displays. They typically have stronger design skills and tool expertise than analysts, working closely with data teams to transform analysis results into compelling, user-friendly visualizations for various audiences.

Data visualization specialist is typically not an entry-level role. It usually requires more advanced technical skills, design expertise, and experience with visualization tools than an analyst role, making it more of a mid-level or intermediate position.

Average salary: $72,947 per year [3]

Read more: 5 Data Visualization Jobs to Know in 2025

Education

Data visualization has applications in many different fields and for businesses, large and small, which means that the education requirements you’ll need to pursue will vary depending on what kind of data visualization specialist you plan to become. While a degree in fields such as data science or computer science is common, specialized training in data visualization tools and techniques can enhance earning potential. 

Read more: 8 Jobs You Can Get with a Bachelor’s Degree in Data Science

Experience

As with many tech-based roles, experience is a significant factor in determining salary levels. You'll often command higher salaries if you have extensive expertise and a proven track record of successful projects. Entry-level professionals typically start with basic chart creation and dashboard maintenance, while experienced specialists lead complex visualization strategies and mentor junior team members.

Read more: Your Guide to a Data Science Career (+ How to Get Started)

Industry

Various sectors may offer higher salaries due to the specialized application of data visualization skills or the critical nature of data insights for the business. Discover Glassdoor’s projections for how data visualization salaries can vary by industry [4]: 

• Legal: $73,981

• Aerospace and defense: $95,505

• Agriculture: $64,651

• Arts and entertainment: $69,725

• Pharmaceutical and biotechnology: $74,974

• Management and consulting: $84,119

• Construction: $69,433 

• Education: $76,489

• Financial services: $116,590

• Health care: $76,747

• Information technology: $88,541

Location

Geographic location significantly impacts salaries, with urban and tech-centric regions typically offering higher compensation. According to ZipRecruiter, the 10 highest-paying states for data visualization specialists are [3]: 

• Washington: $82,619

• New York: $79,806

• Massachusetts: $79,667

• Alaska: $78,560

• Vermont: $77,561

• North Dakota: $77,183

• Oregon: $77,126

• Colorado: $76,705

• Hawaii: $75,789

• Nevada: $74,282

At the other end of the spectrum, ZipRecruiter reports the 10 lowest-paying states for data visualization specialists as: 

• Tennessee: $66,208

• Alabama: $666,118

• Kansas: $65,057

• Michigan: $63,580

• Kentucky: $63,356

• Louisiana: $62,378

• Georgia: $61,595

• Arkansas: $60,320

• West Virginia: $56,473

• Florida: $54,512

Job outlook for data visualization engineers

While the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not track data visualization specialists or engineers specifically, the organization does offer insight into the job outlook for data scientists. According to the BLS, data scientist jobs will grow 34 percent from 2024 to 2034 [1]. Globally, the market size for data visualization tools was $9.22 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a rate of 11.4 percent year over year through 2030 [5]. 

Explore free resources for data careers

• Stay up to date on job market trends and in-demand skills by subscribing to Coursera's LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat!

• Check out this Youtube video from Coursera's channel to compare course options: Which Data Analytics Course Should You Take in 2025?

• Take this quiz to discover your ideal career path: Data Science Career Quiz: Is It Right for You? Find Your Role

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