Data Scientist Salary in Nigeria 2025: Full Details

Data Scientist Salary in Nigeria 2025: Full Details With Complete Breakdown

Overview

Data scientists in Nigeria are highly sought after due to the increasing reliance on data-driven decision-making in industries such as finance, technology, healthcare, and e-commerce. Salaries vary significantly based on experience, location, skills, education, and industry. This breakdown provides a comprehensive overview of compensation, including base salary, hourly rates, bonuses, and key influencing factors.

Average Salary

  • Annual Salary: The average annual salary for a data scientist in Nigeria is approximately 6,203,500 NGN (around USD 3,760 at an exchange rate of 1,650 NGN/USD).
  • Monthly Salary: This translates to an average of 516,958 NGN per month.
  • Salary Range:
    • Lowest Average: 2,976,900 NGN per year (approx. 248,075 NGN per month).
    • Highest Average: 9,731,500 NGN per year (approx. 811,292 NGN per month).
  • Median Salary: 6,442,400 NGN per year (approx. 536,867 NGN per month). 50% of data scientists earn less than this, and 50% earn more.
  • Percentile Breakdown:
    • 25th Percentile: 4,235,500 NGN per year (approx. 352,958 NGN per month). 25% of data scientists earn less than this.
    • 75th Percentile: 8,411,800 NGN per year (approx. 701,317 NGN per month). 75% of data scientists earn less than this.
  • Alternative Estimates:
    • Glassdoor reports an average monthly salary of 325,000 NGN (3,900,000 NGN/year) in Lagos, with some sources citing 250,000 NGN/month (3,000,000 NGN/year).
    • PayScale reports an average annual salary of 1,213,564 NGN (101,130 NGN/month), though this is lower than most sources.
    • MySalaryScale estimates an average net monthly salary of 223,000 NGN (2,676,000 NGN/year) based on 8 employees.
    • SalaryExplorer reports a monthly range of 248,000 NGN to 811,000 NGN (2,976,000–9,732,000 NGN/year).
    • Levels.fyi estimates an average total compensation of 6,269,840 NGN/year.
    • GrabJobs reports an average of 600,000 NGN/year (50,000 NGN/month), with entry-level at 510,000 NGN/year and senior roles at 690,000 NGN/year, but these figures seem inconsistent with broader data.

Note: Variations in reported salaries stem from differences in sample size, survey methodologies, inclusion of benefits, and focus on specific regions or industries. The primary estimate (6,203,500 NGN/year) is used due to its alignment with multiple reliable sources.

Hourly Wage

  • Average Hourly Rate: Assuming a standard work schedule of 40 hours per week, 5 days a week, and 52 weeks per year (2,080 hours annually), the average hourly wage is approximately 2,981 NGN (USD 1.81).
  • Minimum Hourly Rate: Based on the lowest reported salary (2,976,900 NGN/year), the minimum hourly rate is around 1,431 NGN (USD 0.87).
  • Calculation Formula: Hourly wage = (Annual salary) ÷ (40 hours × 52 weeks).
  • Alternative Estimate: SalaryExplorer reports a minimum hourly rate of 1,430 NGN, aligning closely with the calculated minimum.

Salary Distribution

  • Common Salary Ranges:
    • 65% of data scientists earn between 299,000 NGN and 425,000 NGN per month.
    • 20% earn below 299,000 NGN per month.
    • 10% earn between 425,000 NGN and 483,000 NGN per month.
    • 5% earn above 483,000 NGN per month.
  • Competitive Salary Range: A competitive compensation package typically falls between 486,000 NGN and 557,000 NGN per month.

Salary by Experience Level

  • Entry-Level (0–2 years):
    • Average: 3,481,100 NGN per year (290,092 NGN/month).
    • Range: 2,976,900 NGN to 4,000,000 NGN per year (248,075–333,333 NGN/month).
    • PayScale reports 1,768,743 NGN/year for less than 1 year of experience.
  • Early Career (2–5 years):
    • Average: 4,931,400 NGN per year (410,950 NGN/month).
    • Range: 4,000,000 NGN to 6,000,000 NGN per year (333,333–500,000 NGN/month).
    • PayScale reports 1,171,098 NGN/year for 1–4 years, which is lower than other sources.
  • Mid-Career (5–9 years):
    • Average: 6,216,700 NGN per year (518,058 NGN/month).
    • Range: 6,000,000 NGN to 8,000,000 NGN per year (500,000–666,667 NGN/month).
    • PayScale reports 1,400,000 NGN/year for 5–9 years.
  • Senior-Level (10+ years):
    • Average: 9,191,000 NGN per year (765,917 NGN/month).
    • Range: 8,000,000 NGN and above per year (666,667 NGN/month and above).
    • Highest reported salaries reach 17,242,060 NGN/year (1,436,838 NGN/month).

Salary by Specific Skills

  • Python:
    • Average: 1,200,000 NGN per year (100,000 NGN/month), though this is lower than general estimates, suggesting Python alone may not reflect higher-end roles.
  • Machine Learning, Data Mining, NLP:
    • Proficiency in these skills can increase salaries by 10–20%, with top earners reaching 8,000,000 NGN/year or more.
  • SQL, R, Data Visualization (Tableau, Power BI):
    • Adds 5–10% to base salary due to demand for these skills in老

Factors Affecting Salary

  1. Experience:
    • As shown above, salaries increase significantly with experience, with senior data scientists earning up to 3x entry-level salaries.
  2. Education:
    • Bachelor’s Degree: Average salary of 4,870,300 NGN/year (405,858 NGN/month).
    • Master’s Degree: Increases salary to 6,216,700 NGN/year (518,058 NGN/month).
    • PhD: Average salary of 9,191,000 NGN/year (765,917 NGN/month).
    • Certifications (e.g., IBM Data Science, Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate) can add 5–15% to earnings.
  3. Location:
    • Lagos: Highest salaries, averaging 510,000 NGN/month, due to the presence of multinational companies and tech startups.
    • Abuja, Port Harcourt: Competitive salaries, though slightly lower than Lagos, averaging 400,000–500,000 NGN/month.
    • Smaller cities or rural areas: Lower salaries, often 200,000–300,000 NGN/month.
  4. Industry:
    • Finance/Banking: Highest-paying, e.g., 5,000,000 NGN/year at First Bank of Nigeria.
    • Technology/Fintech: Competitive, averaging 400,000–600,000 NGN/month.
    • E-commerce (e.g., Jumia, Konga): Salaries around 300,000–500,000 NGN/month.
    • Healthcare: Growing demand, with salaries around 250,000–400,000 NGN/month (e.g., Lagos University Teaching Hospital).
    • Telecom: Competitive, averaging 300,000–500,000 NGN/month.
  5. Company Type:
    • Private Sector: Pays 6% more on average than the public sector.
    • Remote/International Companies: Offer significantly higher salaries, with mid-level roles averaging USD 50,000/year (82,500,000 NGN/year).
  6. Skills:
    • Proficiency in Python, SQL, R, Tableau, Power BI, machine learning, NLP, or big data increases salaries by 10–20%.
    • Strong communication and stakeholder management skills add 5–10% to earnings.
  7. Gender:
    • Male data scientists earn 6,600,900 NGN/year on average, while female data scientists earn 6,024,400 NGN/year, indicating an 8–9% gender pay gap.

Additional Compensation

  • Bonuses:
    • Performance Bonuses: Common in private companies, ranging from 1–5% of annual salary, typically awarded annually.
    • Additional Pay: Glassdoor estimates 27,083 NGN/month (324,996 NGN/year) in bonuses, commissions, or profit-sharing for data-related roles.
  • Benefits:
    • Housing and Transport: Often included, especially in finance, oil/gas, or telecom sectors.
    • Health Insurance: Common in established firms.
    • Retirement Plans: Available in public sector and large private companies.
    • Training/Certifications: Employers may sponsor courses in Python, SQL, or machine learning.
  • Vacation:
    • Average 15–20 paid vacation days annually, plus 12 public holidays.
  • Remote Work:
    • Remote roles for international firms can pay USD 50,000–100,000/year (82,500,000–165,000,000 NGN/year), significantly higher than local roles.

Salary Trends

  • Annual Increase: Salaries typically rise by 5% per year in Nigeria.
  • Inflation Impact: With inflation rates exceeding 30% in 2025, real income may decline unless salaries adjust.
  • Demand Growth: Increasing demand in finance, fintech, e-commerce, and healthcare drives salary growth, especially in urban areas.
  • Remote Work Opportunities: Growing access to international remote roles significantly boosts earning potential.

Comparison with Other Countries

  • United States:
    • Average: USD 78,611/year (129,708,150 NGN).
    • Hourly: USD 37.80 (62,370 NGN).
  • Netherlands:
    • Average: EUR 96,540/year (approx. USD 103,298 or 170,441,700 NGN).
    • Hourly: EUR 46.41 (approx. USD 49.66 or 81,939 NGN).
  • South Africa:
    • Average: ZAR 800,000/year (approx. USD 44,444 or 73,332,600 NGN).
    • Hourly: ZAR 384 (approx. USD 21.33 or 35,195 NGN).
  • India:
    • Average: INR 973,734/year (approx. USD 11,556 or 19,067,400 NGN).
    • Hourly: INR 468 (approx. USD 5.55 or 9,158 NGN).

Challenges

  • Low Salaries Compared Globally: Nigerian data scientists earn significantly less than peers abroad, contributing to brain drain.
  • Skill Expectations vs. Pay: Some roles demand advanced skills (e.g., machine learning, NLP) but offer salaries as low as 200,000 NGN/month.
  • Taxation: Salaries are reported as gross (pre-tax). Net salary varies by tax rates and sector.
  • Economic Instability: High inflation erodes purchasing power, impacting real income.

Job Requirements

  • Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or related fields. Master’s or PhD preferred for higher-paying roles.
  • Skills:
    • Technical: Python, SQL, R, Tableau, Power BI, machine learning, NLP, data mining.
    • Analytical: Data collection, cleaning, analysis, visualization, and predictive modeling.
    • Soft Skills: Communication, project management, stakeholder engagement.
  • Experience: Varies by role; entry-level requires 0–2 years, senior roles need 5+ years.
  • Work Hours: Typically 40 hours/week, Monday to Friday, with a 30-minute lunch break. Overtime is rare for salaried roles.
  • Certifications: IBM Data Science, Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate, or Coursera Professional Certificates enhance employability.

Where to Find Jobs

  • Locations: Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Akure, Ibadan.
  • Employers: Banks (e.g., Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank), fintechs (e.g., Flutterwave), e-commerce (e.g., Jumia, Konga), healthcare (e.g., Lagos University Teaching Hospital).
  • Job Boards:
    • MyJobMag (www.myjobmag.com).
    • HotNigerianJobs (www.hotnigerianjobs.com).
    • LinkedIn (ng.linkedin.com, 278+ data scientist jobs listed).
    • GrabJobs (grabjobs.co).
    • Himalayas (himalayas.app) for remote roles.
  • Sample Job Postings:
    • Data Scientist, Lagos: Salary 510,000 NGN/month, requires Python, SQL, and 3+ years’ experience.
    • Data Scientist, Zenith Bank: Salary 400,000–500,000 NGN/month, focuses on fraud detection using machine learning.
    • Remote Mid-Level Data Scientist: Salary USD 50,000/year (82,500,000 NGN/year), requires Python, SQL, and 3–5 years’ experience.

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