Data Scientist Salary

The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Data Scientists links to state and metro pay data, and covers the national distribution and the industries employing the most data scientists. Industry tables are useful: the same title can be paid quite differently in finance, technology, consulting and government.

Look at percentiles rather than only the mean. Early-career and senior data scientists fall at very different points of the distribution, so place yourself honestly before using any figure in a negotiation.

Equity can be a large part of data science packages at technology companies and start-ups, and bonuses are common in finance. Health insurance, retirement matching and leave also differ. When comparing offers, consider total compensation and the risk attached to equity.

Experimentation at scale, causal inference, pricing and risk modelling, and production machine learning are distinct specialisms with strong demand. Advanced degrees matter more in research-heavy roles than in product analytics. Clear communication with executives is often what separates senior candidates.

Contract data scientists may work on 1099 terms or through staffing firms on W-2. Rates must cover benefits and self-employment tax on 1099 work. Compare on a full-year basis.

ONS ASHE has no data scientist occupation. Data scientists are commonly classified as Actuaries, economists and statisticians, or as Programmers and software development professionals, and some as Data analysts. Check each in ASHE Table 14 and note that estimates for smaller occupations can be less precise; the coefficient of variation column shows this.

Specialism matters more than the title. Experimentation and causal inference, pricing, credit risk, forecasting and recommendation systems are distinct markets. Scientists who can ship models into production, or who work closely with engineering, often reach more senior roles than those whose work stays in notebooks.

Industry and company stage matter too. Large technology firms, finance and insurance tend to pay differently from start-ups, where equity may form part of the offer, and from the public sector.

Contract and freelance data scientists are typically paid by the day, hour or project. Because they cover their own benefits, equipment and gaps between engagements, compare offers on a full-year basis. Specialist areas with clear business value tend to support stronger rates.

Outside the United States and the United Kingdom, carbon.talent does not publish pay figures yet. We will add other countries only when we have reliable data of our own, and we do not publish estimates in the meantime. If you are outside these two countries, national statistics offices, salary surveys run by professional bodies and conversations with recruiters and peers in your market are better guides than converting US or UK figures.