Software Developer
Median wage · national
$135,980
Range: $105K – $172K
Employed
1.7M
Openings/yr
95K
Typically: bachelor's degree
HUMANITIES
Data Scientist
Data Scientist is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the country, projected to grow +34.6% through 2035. Median pay sits at $120,230 nationally, a strong return for the training investment.
About Data Scientist
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a data scientist: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Information Systems and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
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.
- Median Wage
- $120,230
- Employed Nationally
- 262K
- Openings / Year
- 24,800
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Analytics Consultant
Applied Scientist
Data Analyst
Data Analytic Scientist
Data Analytics Manager
How Much Do Data Scientists Make?
Most data scientists take home around $120,230 a year, well above what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $85,660 and $158,880, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. Worth weighing against how long the training takes. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$120,230
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$86K–$159K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$85,660
Entry-level
$120,230
Median
$158,880
Experienced
What Do Data Scientists Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- Generate standard or custom reports summarizing business, financial, or economic data for review by executives, managers, clients, and other stakeholders.
- Maintain or update business intelligence tools, databases, dashboards, systems, or methods.
- Manage timely flow of business intelligence information to users.
- Provide technical support for existing reports, dashboards, or other tools.
- Identify and analyze industry or geographic trends with business strategy implications.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking
Who Thrives Here
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
Where Do Data Scientists Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Data Scientists?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +34.6%, meaning it is growing faster than most occupations, so jobs should be easier to find over time. Around 24,800 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +34.6%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
Much faster than average.
24,800
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
262K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Data Scientist professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $120,230 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 39,310 | $141,590 | +17.8% |
| 2 | Texas | 25,860 | $122,090 | +1.5% |
| 3 | New York | 23,970 | $130,460 | +8.5% |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 13,810 | $106,850 | -11.1% |
| 5 | North Carolina | 11,430 | $119,090 | -0.9% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a bachelor's degree. The 10 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a Computer Science program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Information Systems | 103,827 | $92,374 | 1,579 |
| 2 | Computer Science | 72,693 | $107,009 | 1,053 |
| 3 | Management Sciences | 56,747 | $86,176 | 593 |
| 4 | Economics | 46,225 | $82,686 | 928 |
| 5 | Mathematics | 27,179 | $69,562 | 1,491 |
| 6 | Chemistry | 19,976 | $65,120 | 1,380 |
| 7 | Computer Software & Media | 14,684 | $58,894 | 726 |
| 8 | Applied Mathematics | 11,635 | $91,532 | 417 |
| 9 | Statistics | 9,944 | $92,425 | 281 |
| 10 | Data Analytics | 7,294 | — | 292 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Data Scientists
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD | 97 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 4 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| 5 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 6 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Data Scientist, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Data Scientist pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Data Scientist Pros & Cons
Strong earnings and growing demand make Data Scientist a compelling path. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $120,230 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- Exceptional job growth The BLS projects +34.6% employment growth through 2035, one of the fastest rates across all occupations. Demand for qualified candidates should remain elevated for a decade.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $158,880 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
- Wide job market 262K professionals are employed in this field, large enough to offer geographic flexibility and multiple entry paths.
CONS
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $120,230 median while building the experience employers require.
Data Scientist Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Data Scientist professionals earn?
Around $120,230 a year for the typical worker, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $85,660 and $158,880. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Data Scientist a good career?
Yes, the data is strong. Median pay of $120,230 with +34.6% projected growth through 2035 is a combination most fields cannot match. The real variable is early career: workers around the 25th percentile earn $85,660, so your first employer and location will shape your trajectory more than the national number suggests.
How long does it take to work as Data Scientists?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Information Systems are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $120,230 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
How fast is the Data Scientist field growing?
Very fast. The BLS projects +34.6% growth for Data Scientist through 2035, well above the roughly 5% national average and among the fastest rates across all occupations. Demand is being driven by structural forces, not cyclical ones. About 24,800 job openings per year are expected as the field expands and existing workers move on. From a current base of 262K workers, sustained growth creates real hiring volume, though fast-growing fields also attract more new graduates competing for entry-level roles.
Why do Data Scientist salaries vary so widely?
The $73,220 gap between the 25th ($85,660) and 75th ($158,880) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Data Scientist professionals need?
Mainly Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, and Speaking. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
-
The Fastest-Growing Careers
The 25 careers with the steepest projected job growth pay a median of $87,220. Healthcare takes 15 of the 25 slots, and education splits the group in two.
- Job growth
- Career outlook
- Median wage
- Entry education
- Fastest-growing jobs
-
10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
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