Cost Estimators vs Data Scientists: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Data Scientists professionals earn $35,520 more per year than Cost Estimators professionals — that's 46.1% higher. At the 90th percentile, Cost Estimators earns $128,640 compared to $194,410 for Data Scientists.
Salary Range Comparison
Cost Estimators$46,330 – $128,640
Data Scientists$63,650 – $194,410
$46,330$194,410
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Cost Estimators | Data Scientists | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $46,330 | $63,650 | $-17,320 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,830 | $82,630 | $-22,800 |
| Median (50th) | $77,070 | $112,590 | $-35,520 |
| 75th Percentile | $99,630 | $155,810 | $-56,180 |
| 90th Percentile | $128,640 | $194,410 | $-65,770 |
| Mean (Average) | $83,160 | $124,590 | $-41,430 |
Employment Numbers
Cost Estimators
219,530
employed nationwide
Data Scientists
233,440
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Cost Estimators
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $104,190 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $103,030 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,990 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $86,540 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $86,300 |
Best Cities for Data Scientists
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $173,160 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $166,300 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $157,290 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $135,190 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $131,830 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Cost Estimators or Data Scientists?
Data Scientists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $35,520 (46.1% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Cost Estimators?
Cost Estimators salaries range from $46,330 (10th percentile) to $128,640 (90th percentile), with a median of $77,070.
What is the salary range for Data Scientists?
Data Scientists salaries range from $63,650 (10th percentile) to $194,410 (90th percentile), with a median of $112,590.
How many Cost Estimators and Data Scientists jobs are there?
There are approximately 219,530 Cost Estimators positions and 233,440 Data Scientists positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Data Scientists to Cost Estimators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Cost Estimators has a median salary of $77,070 while Data Scientists earns $112,590. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS