How much does a data scientist make?
a year · about $58 an hour
A typical data scientist in the United States makes $120,230 a year, about $58 an hour, about 2.4× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They sort and clean messy data, then use code and statistics to test models and spot patterns. They turn results into charts and explain what they mean to teammates or managers.
Did you know? NASA data scientists study spaceflight health risks using data from a very small group of astronauts, so they must work with tiny samples.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $67,240 and $199,130How do you become one?
In U.S. high school, study math, statistics, and coding; then earn a bachelor's in math, statistics, computer science, or a related field. Some employers prefer graduate study; there is no set starting age, and O*NET lists apprenticeships.
School needed: Usually a bachelor's degree
Good for people who like figuring things out and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience, education, and specialized knowledge, such as finance. It also varies by industry and location; people in large cities may earn more.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Washington ($163,350), lowest in Louisiana ($78,760).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $67,240 | $120,230 | $199,130 | about 262,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $163,350 | about 10,000 |
| California | $141,590 | about 39,000 |
| Maryland | $136,370 | about 3,000 |
| New Jersey | $135,280 | about 6,000 |
| Massachusetts | $131,750 | about 9,000 |
Official definition: Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports. Excludes “Statisticians” (15-2041), “Cartographers and Photogrammetrists” (17-1021), and “Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars” (29-9021).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/math/data-scientists.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/15-2051.00
- www.nasa.gov/directorates/esdmd/hhp/biostatistics-and-data-science
- www.bls.gov/oes/earnings.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY