Reference Data Analyst Salary in the United States

How much does a Reference Data Analyst make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Reference Data Analyst in the United States is $72,745 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $86,108
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $63,594 to $79,740
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55,263
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View as table View as graph 25% $63,594 10% $55,263 90% $86,108 75% $79,740 $72,745 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Reference Data Analyst Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $79,740 $6,645 $1,533 $38
Average $72,745 $6,062 $1,399 $35
25th Percentile $63,594 $5,300 $1,223 $31
Check out Reference Data Analyst Job Openings in the United States
Sr Data Analyst Finance

Signet Jewelers Ltd. - Akron, OH

Manufacturing Inventory&amp Data Analyst

United Dairy Farmers - Cincinnati, OH

Sr Business Analyst Master Data Management

Vtech Solution Inc - Columbus, OH

Data Analyst

Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Reference Data Analyst Salaries

A Reference Data 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Reference Data 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 Reference Data Analysts. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $80,543.
  • California: $80,237.
  • Massachusetts: $79,168.

Top Paying Cities for Reference Data 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: $91,753
  • San Francisco: $90,748
  • Oakland: $88,836

What Skills Can Increase a Reference Data Analyst's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 1.82% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • ISO (Mentioned in 1.35% Job Postings): The International Organization for Standardization is an international standard development organization composed of representatives from the national standards organizations of member countries.
  • Preventive Maintenance (Mentioned in 0.96% Job Postings): Preventive maintenance is the act of performing regularly scheduled maintenance activities to help prevent unexpected failures in the future. Put simply, it's about fixing things before they break.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 1.82%
ISO 1.35%
Preventive Maintenance 0.96%
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 Reference Data Analyst's salary.
  • Dedication: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Mechanical Drawing: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Dedication
 $76,382
5%
Analysis
 $75,654
4%
Mechanical Drawing
 $75,654
4%
Work Ethic
 $75,654
4%
Quality Assurance
 $75,654
4%
Continuous Improvement
 $75,654
4%
Get Latest Data

Reference Data Analyst Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Reference Data Analyst roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 85% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and MFG Durable sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Reference Data Analyst positions in Retail & Wholesale or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Reference Data Analyst as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Reference Data Analyst

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$94,568$45.030%
MFG Durable$90,931$44.025%
Aerospace & Defense$83,656$40.015%
Energy & Utilities$80,019$38.010%
Software & Networking$80,019$38.010%

Reference Data Analyst Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Reference Data 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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$63,594
Average $72,745/year
$79,740
$5,300
Average $6,062/month
$6,645
$1,223
Average $1,399/week
$1,533
$31
Average $35/hour
$38
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $79,740 $6,645 $1,533 $38
Average $72,745 $6,062 $1,399 $35
25th Percentile $63,594 $5,300 $1,223 $31

Salaries of jobs related to Reference Data Analyst

Salary Trends for Reference Data Analyst

Salaries for a Reference Data Analyst can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $59,339 in 2023 to around $58,743 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Reference Data Analyst salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Reference Data Analyst Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$59,339
2024
$59,148
2025
$58,743
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $59,339
2024 $59,148
2025 $58,743
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Reference Data Analyst

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Reference Data Analyst

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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.)

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