The Internet of Things is driving up the demand for data scientists, but professionals who possess the skills to turn data into tangible business value are few and far between. The latest report from Burtch Works shows that salaries in the field of analytics are skyrocketing as a result.

The Evanston, Illinois-based executive recruiting agency interviewed 2,845 data scientists from over 700 organizations in an effort to quantify the impact of rising data volumes on the job market. The firm’s findings are worth a look.

Burtch discovered that Big Data professionals with temporary work visas average $68,500 at the junior level, noticeably more than the $64,000 earned by their American peers. The report indicates this pay gap stems from two reasons: non-U.S. citizens are usually among the best and brightest from their home countries, and they tend to be more flexible geographically.

Burtch says that analytics professionals who changed their jobs in the past 18 months received a base salary increase of 14.1 percent, a rate that is only expected to rise as the market matures. With annual merit increases averaging three percent, enterprises will have to sweeten the pot in order to attract top talent.

“The Big Data industry has no real track record or central repository to draw upon for clear definition and information about the skilled workforce that supports it,” said Linda Burtch, founder and managing director for Burtch Works. “Until now, hiring executives have been flying the jet and building its engine simultaneously – bringing on Big Data professionals without having a blueprint of where they fit in the organization, what responsibilities they will have or how much they should be paid.”

The firm’s study reflects the rapid growth of the analytics space. Check out Wikibon’s Big Data Market Size and Vendor Revenues report for a deeper look into the ecosystem.