Data Scientists vs Financial Analysts: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Data Scientists professionals earn $11,240 more per year than Financial Analysts professionals — that's 11.1% higher. At the 90th percentile, Data Scientists earns $194,410 compared to $180,550 for Financial Analysts.
Salary Range Comparison
Data Scientists$63,650 – $194,410
Financial Analysts$62,410 – $180,550
$62,410$194,410
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Data Scientists | Financial Analysts | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $63,650 | $62,410 | +$1,240 |
| 25th Percentile | $82,630 | $78,300 | +$4,330 |
| Median (50th) | $112,590 | $101,350 | +$11,240 |
| 75th Percentile | $155,810 | $132,050 | +$23,760 |
| 90th Percentile | $194,410 | $180,550 | +$13,860 |
| Mean (Average) | $124,590 | $116,490 | +$8,100 |
Employment Numbers
Data Scientists
233,440
employed nationwide
Financial Analysts
340,580
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
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 |
Best Cities for Financial Analysts
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $134,470 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $128,490 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $128,470 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $111,410 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $110,450 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Data Scientists or Financial Analysts?
Data Scientists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $11,240 (11.1% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
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.
What is the salary range for Financial Analysts?
Financial Analysts salaries range from $62,410 (10th percentile) to $180,550 (90th percentile), with a median of $101,350.
How many Data Scientists and Financial Analysts jobs are there?
There are approximately 233,440 Data Scientists positions and 340,580 Financial Analysts positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Financial Analysts to Data Scientists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Data Scientists has a median salary of $112,590 while Financial Analysts earns $101,350. 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