Data Scientist and Data Analyst Salaries

Data Scientist vs Data Analyst Pay - Who Comes Out On Top?

Data scientists and data analysts are two lucrative and in-demand data jobs. But which of these analytics roles earns higher pay? Examining national salary data reveals data scientists consistently out-earn data analysts across career levels.

Entry Level

For professionals just starting out, data scientists have a median base salary of $95,871 according to Glassdoor [1]. Comparatively, entry-level data analysts earn an average of $67,377 based on Indeed data [2]. With $28,494 higher pay, data scientists clearly lead for beginners. Their technical expertise in modeling and statistics commands greater initial compensation.

Mid-Career

Among mid-career professionals with 3-5 years experience, data scientists make a median $118,000 per Dice Tech Salary Survey [3]. Data analysts with the same experience average around $75,000 according to Payscale [4], $43,000 less than mid-level data scientists. The specialization gap widens at this stage.

Senior

For highly seasoned veterans with at least 6 years experience, data scientists earn around $133,000 on average per BLS data [5]. Data analysts at the same senior level make approximately $93,000 according to Glassdoor [6]. The typical $40,000 salary difference really adds up over a career.

Geography Variations

Location also impacts pay. In top markets like the San Francisco Bay Area, senior data scientists can make $163,000 explains KDnuggets [7], while senior analysts top out around $125,000 [8]. The geographic differences remain in data scientists' favor.

Key Takeaways about Data Scientist and Data Analyst Salaries

- Entry level data scientists average $95K+, 40% more than entry data analysts

- Mid-career data scientists make $118K+, 75% more than mid data analysts

- Senior data scientists earn $133K+, 40% higher than senior data analysts

- Location pay gaps favor data scientists in top metro areas too

The salary advantage holds true as data scientists and analysts progress. Advanced analytic and machine learning skills drive data scientists' consistently higher pay ceiling across markets. But both play key data roles!

Building a small team of one data scientist and two data analysts can cost over 350,000 USD a year.

Contact Random Forest Services to learn how to cut this cost by 50%.

Sources:

[1] Glassdoor

[2] Indeed

[3] Dice

[4] Payscale

[5] BLS

[6] Glassdoor

[7] KDnuggets

[8] LinkedIn

Data Analyst at work