Data Scientist Salary Guide: What Data Roles Actually Pay

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Data scientists earned a median salary of $108,020 in May 2024 (BLS). Total compensation at big tech firms — including equity — pushes mid-level data scientists above $200,000. The field rewards both statistical depth and engineering skills.

What data science pay looks like by level and industry

Salary Overview

Data science compensation depends on role type: analysts earn less than ML engineers, who earn less than research scientists. At FAANG, mid-level data scientists report $200,000–$350,000 TC (Levels.fyi), while non-FAANG roles typically pay $100,000–$180,000 TC.

The distinction between data analyst, data scientist, data engineer, and ML engineer matters significantly for compensation. ML engineers with strong software engineering skills command the highest premiums.

Salary by Role and Experience

RoleBase SalaryTotal CompensationData Analyst$70,000–$95,000 base$90,000–$120,000 TCJunior Data Scientist$95,000–$120,000 base$120,000–$160,000 TCSenior Data Scientist$140,000–$180,000 base$200,000–$350,000 TCML Engineer$145,000–$200,000 base$250,000–$400,000 TCData Engineer$120,000–$160,000 base$160,000–$250,000 TCDirector / Head of Data Science$190,000+ base$300,000–$500,000+ TC

Return on Investment Analysis

MS in Data Science programs cost $30,000–$80,000 for 1–2 years. With strong median salaries and growing demand (36% projected growth for data scientists through 2033), the payback is typically 1–2 years.

Bootcamp or certificate paths into data analysis cost $5,000–$15,000, targeting $75,000–$95,000 analyst roles. The ROI is fast but the salary ceiling is lower than degree-holding data scientists and ML engineers.

Factors That Affect Earnings

Role type — ML engineer and research scientist pay above data analyst
Company tier — FAANG TC is 50–100% above non-tech companies
Technical stack — Python, SQL, cloud ML, and deep learning skills drive premiums
Industry — finance, tech, and pharma pay the most for data roles
Degree level — PhD holders command premiums in research roles

Career Growth Timeline

Years 0–2: Analyst or junior scientist, $90,000–$140,000 TC
Years 3–5: Senior scientist or ML engineer, $180,000–$350,000 TC
Years 5–10: Staff/principal or manager, $300,000–$500,000+ TC
Years 10+: Director/VP or chief data officer, $400,000–$700,000+ TC

Geographic and Industry Variation

San Francisco, Seattle, and New York lead data science pay, driven by tech headquarters and finance. Remote data roles are increasingly common with geographic pay bands similar to SWE.

Boston (biotech/pharma), Washington DC (government analytics), and Austin (growing tech hub) offer strong secondary markets with lower costs.

Key Takeaways

Data scientist median: $108,020 — FAANG TC exceeds $200K mid-level
ML engineers command the highest premiums in the data field
36% projected growth through 2033 drives strong demand

Sources

BLS May 2024 OES
Levels.fyi
Glassdoor

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Conclusion

Data science compensation rewards technical depth, especially ML engineering skills, and scales steeply with company tier and experience. The combination of high pay and explosive growth makes it one of the strongest ROI graduate paths.