Data Scientist was ranked as the third of the highest paying jobs in the US by Glassdoor in 2022 with a Median base salary of $120,000. There are numerous aspects such as experience, location, education, etc that play a major role in determining how much a data scientist earns on average.
Data Scientist has become one of the most in-demand jobs globally due to the growth and expansion of Big data among organizations. In addition, the data scientist jobs are expected to witness a growth of 35% between 2022 to 2032.
In this article, we are going to take an in-depth look at the Data Scientist salary in the US in 2024 and highlight various methods that can help you enhance your chances of earning a high-paying data scientist job.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Median Pay for a Data Scientist in 2022 was $103,500 per year or $49.76 per hour.
According to other salary aggregation sites, the average salary of a Data scientist is as follows:
Indeed | Zippia | Glassdoor | US BLS | Payscale |
$124,172 | $106,104 | $117,664 | $103,500 | $99,344 |
Data Scientists is a good paying job as it offers higher than average salaries to its employees. There are various factors that contribute to the average salary earned by a Data scientist such as experience, location, qualifications, skills, industry, etc.
The experience level of an employee plays a crucial role when it comes to salaries. Usually, the more experience you gain in the data science field, the more you can expect your salary to increase. Employees with more experience tend to take more responsibility and leadership roles and are capable of contributing to complex projects which results in higher compensation.
Now, let’s take a look at the Data scientist salaries in the US by experience:
Experience | Salary |
0-1 years | $96,986 |
1-3 years | $108,197 |
4-6 years | $118,101 |
7-9 years | $124,037 |
10-14 years | $131,327 |
15+ years | $140,079 |
Source: Glassdoor
Another important factor that can impact the average base salary as a Data scientist is your location. There are certain states in the US that tend to pay higher than others.
Below we have listed down the average base salary of a Data scientist in the U.S by location:
Location | Average base salary |
Alabama | $109,834 |
Alaska | $113,762 |
Arizona | $117,070 |
Arkansas | $113,031 |
California | $144,128 |
Colorado | $110,351 |
Connecticut | $120,781 |
Delaware | $92,155 |
Florida | $108,494 |
Georgia | $108,934 |
Hawaii | $110,985 |
Idaho | $87,115 |
Illinois | $113,048 |
Indiana | $92,429 |
Iowa | $121,715 |
Kansas | $108,706 |
Kentucky | $128,980 |
Louisiana | $97,111 |
Maine | $110,822 |
Maryland | $136,597 |
Massachusetts | $123,158 |
Michigan | $104,884 |
Minnesota | $109,943 |
Mississippi | $128,717 |
Missouri | $107,506 |
Montana | $160,251 |
Nebraska | $122,578 |
Nevada | $99,659 |
New Hampshire | $126,097 |
New Jersey | $103,777 |
New Mexico | $135,364 |
New York | $122,415 |
North Carolina | $109,241 |
North Dakota | $97,967 |
Ohio | $100,464 |
Oklahoma | $99,659 |
Oregon | $127,002 |
Pennsylvania | $107,932 |
Rhode Island | $137,517 |
South Carolina | $82,466 |
South Dakota | $100,736 |
Tennessee | $126,414 |
Texas | $117,732 |
Utah | $118,093 |
Vermont | $140,841 |
Virginia | $130,127 |
Washington | $136,831 |
West Virginia | $77,728 |
Wisconsin | $126,388 |
Wyoming | $33,834 |
Source: Indeed
The Industry you work in is another crucial factor that determines the average salary earned by a Data scientist.
Below we have mentioned the Top 5 paying Data Scientists Salary in the US by industry:
Industry | Salary |
Information Technology | $128,037 |
Media & Communications | $117,664 |
Retail & Wholesale | $117,664 |
Real Estate | $115,165 |
Financial Services | $115,657 |
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Data Scientists’ jobs are predicted to witness a major growth of 35% between 2021 to 2031. Various jobs in the data science field are expected to witness notable growth including Data analyst jobs which are likely to grow by 23%.
Due to high demand and technical skill set requirements, the jobs offered in the data science field will pay extremely well. Especially, with Data science dominating almost every industry such as Retail, Healthcare, Entertainment and media, Technology, etc.
It is no surprise that the qualification or education of a Data Scientist is one of the prime factors that determine the annual salary of an individual. The bachelor’s degree earned by a data scientist is what demonstrates that a person is qualified to perform the job.
Earning a Master’s degree can play a significant role in helping data scientists secure a higher-paying job in comparison to those who only have a bachelor’s degree.
1. Associate Degree in Data Science
An Associate degree in Data Science is a UG two-year program that provides foundational knowledge to data science enthusiasts. This program enables students to work as a data scientist or analyst.
According to reports by Salary.com, an Associate Degree in Data Science can land you a job as a Data Scientist I with an annual salary of $70,542 to $74,823. Meanwhile, a Data Scientist II can earn up to $85,841 to $91,655.
2. Bachelor’s Degree in Data Science
A Bachelor’s degree in Data Science in the US can help you secure a job as a Data Scientist I with an annual salary of $71,749 to $75,676. While a Data Scientist II can earn an annual salary of $86,316 to $92,113.
3. Master’s Degree in Data Science
A Master’s Degree in Data Science can be earned by a student after the completion of their bachelor’s degree. Here’s how much you can expect to earn as a Data Scientist after completing your Master’s in Data science.
Data Scientist I | $72,847 to $76,581 |
Data Scientist II | $87,107 to $92,877 |
4. Doctorate in Data Science
Having a doctorate in Data Science can add major value to your resume and help you land a good job opportunity as a Data scientist. Here’s how much you can expect to earn as a Data Scientist according to salary.com:
Data Scientist I | $73,945 to $77,485 |
Data Scientist II | $87,423 to $93,182 |
You can increase your data scientist salary by investing in new skills, capabilities, and certifications, and focusing on your professional development can make you a valuable employee and contribute to a salary raise. Here are some of the methods through which you can increase your data scientist salary:
One of the best ways to increase your data scientist salary is by building a new skill. Acquiring a new skill as a data scientist can offer an advantage to you professionally and contribute to your salary growth. Here are some of the top new skills that you can learn:
Another excellent way to increase your salary is by advancing your education and gaining a new certification. IBM Data Science Professional Certificate is an excellent certification that develops in-demand skills and hands-on experience. This is a beginner-level course, which you can complete in 5 months by providing 10 hours a week.
By the end of this course, you will master the most up-to-date practical skills and knowledge that are utilized by data scientists in their everyday roles. This way you can elevate your chances of obtaining a high-paying job.
If you want to increase your data scientist salary then you need to focus on enhancing your data scientist resume. A well-crafted resume helps create a good impression of the employee in front of the recruiter and increases the chances of securing a good-paying job.
One of the ways to enhance your resume is by earning a professional certificate in the data science field. Achieving a certificate in data science can help you showcase your technical skills and prove your potential in front of the hiring manager. Below we have listed down some of the best Professional certificates you can apply for:
Data Scientist is one of the most in-demand job roles in the United States. In 2022, Glassdoor named Data Scientist as the third highest-paying job in the US. Below we have mentioned the Top 10 highest-paying companies for Data Scientists in the United States:
Company | Compensation |
Advent International | $780,417 |
Hudson River Trading | $600,000 |
Netflix | $500,000 |
Coupang | $455,000 |
Airbnb | $407,000 |
Coinbase | $401,000 |
Snap | $400,000 |
Jump Trading | $387,500 |
Stitch Fix | $382,000 |
Instacart | $375,200 |
Source: Dice.com
A Data Scientist is an analytical expert who collects, analyzes, and interprets data and is responsible for solving complex issues and helping drive decision-making in an organization or business.
The Average Annual Salary for a Senior Data Scientist in the United States is $2,16,519 according to Glassdoor.
The Highest-paying data scientist salary in the U.S. in 2024 is $1,89,245 per year according to Glassdoor.
The average salary for an Entry-Level or Beginner-level Data Scientist in the United States in 2024 is $1,22,833 per year.