How much does a Data Scientist make?

The average salary for a Data Scientist is $156,266 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 44943 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Data Scientist employees in United States.

The highest salary for a Data Scientist in United States is $189,756 per year.

The lowest salary for a Data Scientist in United States is $130,227 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming a Data Scientist or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Data Scientist.

Data scientists are paid well above average, reflecting their relatively unique skill set and the huge (and growing) demand for their work. As demand for their services has grown over the past decade, data scientist salaries have increased rapidly and are likely to continue growing as the digitalization of the economy continues. Data scientists with master’s or PhDs or who specialize in fields with a higher barrier to entry (like biostatistics or machine learning) often receive higher salaries.

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Anonymous ratings shared on Glassdoor show that about 76% of data scientists are satisfied with their salary. Building up seven years of experience and receiving a master's or PhD in statistics, mathematics, computer science, or other related fields can help lead to a better salary.

Data scientists' total pay can range anywhere between $110,718.28 and $225,202.86. For all employees following the average data scientist's career path, the estimated total pay is approximately $156,255.29, which could include benefits in addition to salary, including bonuses or stock options. Once you've progressed to that point, it's common to move on to higher-level roles, such as lead data scientist or principal data scientist.

If you want to make more money as a data scientist, it's important to stay fluent in the latest systems and technologies. Make sure you're confident and experienced using statistical computer languages such as R, Python, and SQL. You can also seek additional education beyond a bachelor's degree if you want to stand out from other data scientist job candidates. Some people in the field pursue master's or doctoral degrees in related subjects such as computer science, information technology, math, or statistics. The more education and practical experience you have, the more you're likely to earn throughout your career.

If you're looking to increase your salary in your current role, be ready to concretely explain how your performance has been beneficial to the company and how your roles and responsibilities have expanded. Outline the ways your value to the company has increased over time, being as specific as possible. If you've been offered a data scientist job, highlight how your competencies, education, and experience in the field would make you an asset to the team. In both cases, it's helpful to look into data scientist salaries in your area, so you can get a sound idea of where to start.