Predictive Analytics Salary: Your 2025 Guide

Organizations collect and analyze data to assess their business activities, why they occurred, and what the next steps should be. One branch of data science, predictive analytics, takes that analysis one step further, focusing on using data to predict what may occur in the future. Predictive analysts gather data to develop statistical models that predict trends and help organizations make strategic business decisions. 

Predictive analysts work in many industries, including finance, hospitality, manufacturing, and marketing. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job prospects for data scientists, including predictive analysts, are strong. The BLS projects a job growth rate of 36 percent between 2023 and 2033, which is much faster than average [1].

Discover more about a career in this field, including the average predictive analytics salary, job responsibilities, and factors that may impact your pay. 

What is predictive analytics?

Predictive analytics is a branch of data science that focuses on exploring a business’ data to identify future trends and make predictions. This analysis requires a multistep process that includes defining a problem, collecting data related to that problem, processing raw data, developing predictive models, and validating the model’s results. With this information, predictive analysts can help organizations solve problems or identify opportunities. In doing so, predictive analytics can improve organizational decision-making, boost efficiency, and even reduce risk.

Predictive analytics uses various strategies to evaluate data and develop predictions. Regression analysis identifies relationships between defined variables. Decision trees evaluate different choices a user, such as a consumer, may make, helping the organization categorize data. Neural networks analyze more complex data sets, looking for nonlinear relationships between variables. Predictive analysts may also use neural networks to confirm findings identified using regression analysis or decision trees. 

How does knowing predictive analytics affect your salary?

A career as a data scientist can be rewarding, leading to a median annual salary of $108,020, according to the BLS [2]. Data scientists specializing in predictive analytics enjoy a similar base salary, according to leading job sites [3,4,5]. 

*All salary data as of January 2025

Your precise predictive analytics salary depends on a variety of factors, so it’s important to understand which factors impact your pay.

Factors that may affect salary

Your predictive analytics salary will vary depending on many factors, including your education and experience, where you live, and where you work. Learn more about the impact of these factors on your salary.

Job title

Your job title in predictive analytics may evolve as you progress in your career. Many entry-level data analysis jobs begin with an analyst title, such as predictive analyst or junior predictive analyst. As you develop skills and experience, you may secure a job as a senior predictive analyst. You can expect your salary to align with the title, with a senior role earning more than a junior role. For example, a senior predictive modeling analyst earns an average annual salary of $116,175 [6].

Education

Your education can also influence how much you make as a predictive analyst. The BLS reports that employers expect predictive analysts to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, statistics, business, or engineering. However, some employers may prefer employees with a master’s degree, which may result in a higher salary.

Experience

As you gain experience in predictive analytics, you may enjoy a higher salary. A predictive analyst with little experience typically earns less than one with years of experience in the field. Consider Glassdoor’s average annual base salaries based on years of experience for predictive analysts [3]:

• 0–1 year of experience: $80,520

• 1–3 years of experience: $85,328

• 4–6 years of experience: $88,457

• 7–9 years of experience: $89,927

• 10–14 years of experience: $95,570

• 15 or more years of experience: $103,580

Industry

Data scientists, including predictive analysts, work across industries, so the industry you work in and, more specifically, the company you work for can influence your salary. Based on May 2023 data, the BLS reports data scientists working in scientific research and development services earn the highest salaries, with an average of $126,430 [2]. The next most lucrative industry is computer systems design and related services, with an average annual salary of $118,400 [2]. Average salaries for other industries include [2]:

• Management of companies and enterprises: $114,780

• Insurance carriers and related activities: $104,390

• Management, scientific, and technical consulting services: $103,000

Location

Location is another factor that influences your predictive analyst salary. Cost of living influences your salary: Cities with a higher cost of living may warrant higher salaries to make the job attractive to potential candidates. On the other hand, you may earn a comparatively lower salary in a more affordable region. According to ZipRecruiter, the top ten highest-paying cities for predictive analysts are as follows [3]:

1. Green River, WY: $114,600

2. San Mateo, CA: $110,206

3. San Francisco, CA: $110,013

4. Sunnyvale, CA: $109,056

5. Santa Clara, CA: $108,564

6. Fremont, CA: $108,244

7. Daly City, CA: $107,329

8. Berkeley, CA: $106,803

9. San Jose, CA: $106,717

10. Santa Rosa, CA: $106,449

Skills

The more skills you have, the more appealing you may be to potential employers, which may influence your salary. Developing proficiency in key skills relevant to the field can boost your salary and perhaps give you more leverage to negotiate a higher salary. Consider developing these skills before applying for a predictive analytics job:

• Coding skills, particularly Python, R, and SQL

• Communication skills

• Problem-solving skills

• Analytical skills

Predictive analytics job outlook

Data analysis is a growing field, and as more companies rely on big data to make strategic decisions, the need for data scientists will grow. As a result, you can expect to find many jobs in predictive analytics in the coming years. According to the BLS, jobs for data scientists, which include predictive analysts, will grow by 36 percent between 2023 and 2033, resulting in an average of 20,800 job openings each year [7]. Since organizations across industries rely on data to make key decisions, job opportunities in data analytics and predictive analytics will continue to grow. 

Getting started with predictive analytics on Coursera

If you enjoy analyzing raw data, working with numbers, and using critical thinking skills, a career in predictive analytics might be right for you. Get started by developing key skills that will help you in your predictive analyst career on Coursera. Consider earning the beginner-friendly Google Analytics Professional Certificate, where you’ll learn how to analyze data and visualize and present findings. You can also complete the Neural Networks and Deep Learning course offered by DeepLearning.AI on Coursera, an intermediate-level course that can enhance your predictive analytics skills.