Data Scientists: salary, outlook & degrees
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.
Middle half $85,660–$158,880. 262,440 jobs.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers with at least a high school diploma; EducationGuide calculation
About 24,800 openings a year, including replacements.
BLS Employment Projections 2025-35
Considerable preparation (usually a bachelor's).
BLS; O*NET 31.0 job zone
Pay by state and metro
| State | Median wage |
|---|---|
| Washington | $163,350 |
| California | $141,590 |
| Maryland | $136,370 |
| New Jersey | $135,280 |
| Massachusetts | $131,750 |
| New York | $130,460 |
| Minnesota | $128,800 |
| Vermont | $127,070 |
| District of Columbia | $126,490 |
| Virginia | $126,430 |
| Connecticut | $126,340 |
| Oregon | $125,990 |
| Texas | $122,090 |
| North Carolina | $119,090 |
| Colorado | $117,400 |
| Florida | $115,820 |
| Arkansas | $109,390 |
| Utah | $108,090 |
| Arizona | $107,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $106,850 |
| Wisconsin | $106,680 |
| Illinois | $106,560 |
| Georgia | $104,340 |
| Alabama | $103,120 |
| Ohio | $102,630 |
| Rhode Island | $102,440 |
| Hawaii | $102,130 |
| New Hampshire | $100,620 |
| Michigan | $100,590 |
| Montana | $100,490 |
| Tennessee | $100,330 |
| Nevada | $98,540 |
| Nebraska | $98,230 |
| Kansas | $98,130 |
| Missouri | $97,090 |
| South Dakota | $96,150 |
| New Mexico | $95,850 |
| Iowa | $95,830 |
| South Carolina | $91,990 |
| Kentucky | $91,760 |
| Indiana | $91,470 |
| Maine | $90,880 |
| Idaho | $89,380 |
| Oklahoma | $86,310 |
| West Virginia | $85,090 |
| Alaska | $84,110 |
| North Dakota | $81,900 |
| PR | $80,350 |
| Louisiana | $78,760 |
| Mississippi | $69,490 |
Largest metro areas for this job
- New York-Newark-Jersey City NY-NJ$135,980
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont CA$170,110
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington TX$127,750
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim CA$129,740
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria DC-VA-MD-WV$132,200
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue WA$164,740
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin IL-IN$107,640
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton MA-NH$132,040
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell GA$108,940
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington PA-NJ-DE-MD$109,910
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara CA$185,080
- Denver-Aurora-Centennial CO$112,520
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median annual wage, all workers in the job. Metro areas: the largest by employment.
What the work takes
Top skills
- Mathematics
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Knowledge used
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Engineering and Technology
- Education and Training
Work styles
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Attention to Detail
- Innovation
- Dependability
- Achievement Orientation
People in this job tend to have Investigative (analytical), Conventional (organizing) interests.
O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0): skills and knowledge by importance; work styles; interest high points.
Data Scientists: questions
How much do data Scientists make?
Data Scientists earn a U.S. median $120,230 a year; the middle half earn $85,660 to $158,880 (BLS, May 2025).
Is data Scientists a growing field?
BLS projects growth of 34.6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 24,800 openings a year, including replacements.
What degree do you need to be a data Scientist?
BLS lists the typical entry education as bachelor's degree.
How much do data Scientists make in Florida?
The median in Florida is $115,820 a year (BLS, May 2025), compared with $120,230 nationally.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35); O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); U.S. Census Bureau ACS microdata. SOC 15-2051. Method
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Cite this: “Data Scientists: salary, outlook and degrees,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/careers/data-scientists.