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Discovery Analyst Salary in the United States

How much does a Discovery Analyst make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Discovery Analyst in the United States is $76,310 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.

However, a Discovery Analyst's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $89,291
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $68,988 to $83,105
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $62,321
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Discovery Analyst Salaries

A Discovery Analyst's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Discovery Analyst Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Discovery Analyst's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $76,818
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $96,016
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $117,502
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $132,350
  • Expert (over 8 years): $156,083
Levels Salary
Discovery... Level Discovery Analyst$76,818
Project M... Level Discovery Analyst$96,016
Project M... Level Discovery Analyst$117,502
Project M... Level Discovery Analyst$132,350
Project M... Level Discovery Analyst$156,083
View as Graph

How Do Discovery Analyst Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Discovery Analysts. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $84,490.
  • California: $84,170.
  • Massachusetts: $83,048.

Top Paying Cities for Discovery Analysts

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $96,249
  • San Francisco: $95,196
  • Oakland: $93,189

What Skills Can Increase a Discovery Analyst's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 21.15% Job Postings): Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.
  • PowerPoint (Mentioned in 1.25% Job Postings): A computer software created by Microsoft which allows the user to create slides with recordings, narrations, transitions and other features in order to present information.
  • Scrum (Mentioned in 1.01% Job Postings): Using an agile process for managing the lifecycle development of software products.
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 21.15%
PowerPoint 1.25%
Scrum 1.01%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Discovery Analyst's salary.

  • Scrum: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Program Management: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Agile: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Scrum $82,414
8%
Program Management $82,414
8%
Agile $81,651
7%
Get Latest Data

Discovery Analyst Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Discovery Analyst roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Discovery Analyst positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Discovery Analyst as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Discovery Analyst

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$114,465$55.050%

How Education impacts a Discovery Analyst's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Discovery Analysts enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Discovery Analyst with a Associate's Degree is between $70,971 and $75,660).

Discovery Analyst Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Discovery Analyst
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 8.7%
Associates 6.7%
Bachelors 54.1%
Masters 28.5%
Doctorate 1.7%
View as Graph

Discovery Analyst Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Discovery Analyst's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$68,988
Average $76,310/year
$83,105
$5,749
Average $6,359/month
$6,925
$1,327
Average $1,467/week
$1,598
$33
Average $37/hour
$40
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $83,105 $6,925 $1,598 $40
Average $76,310 $6,359 $1,467 $37
25th Percentile $68,988 $5,749 $1,327 $33

Most common benefits for Discovery Analyst

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Discovery Analyst

Here are companies hiring for Discovery Analyst and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Discovery Analyst

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Discovery Analyst?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Discovery Analyst roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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