Data Scientists vs Insurance Sales Agents: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Data Scientists professionals earn $52,220 more per year than Insurance Sales Agents professionals — that's 86.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Data Scientists earns $194,410 compared to $135,660 for Insurance Sales Agents.
Salary Range Comparison
Data Scientists$63,650 – $194,410
Insurance Sales Agents$36,390 – $135,660
$36,390$194,410
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Data Scientists | Insurance Sales Agents | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $63,650 | $36,390 | +$27,260 |
| 25th Percentile | $82,630 | $45,520 | +$37,110 |
| Median (50th) | $112,590 | $60,370 | +$52,220 |
| 75th Percentile | $155,810 | $91,150 | +$64,660 |
| 90th Percentile | $194,410 | $135,660 | +$58,750 |
| Mean (Average) | $124,590 | $81,510 | +$43,080 |
Employment Numbers
Data Scientists
233,440
employed nationwide
Insurance Sales Agents
469,480
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 Insurance Sales Agents
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $81,890 |
| Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT | $79,860 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $78,130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $77,630 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $76,570 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Data Scientists or Insurance Sales Agents?
Data Scientists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $52,220 (86.5% 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 Insurance Sales Agents?
Insurance Sales Agents salaries range from $36,390 (10th percentile) to $135,660 (90th percentile), with a median of $60,370.
How many Data Scientists and Insurance Sales Agents jobs are there?
There are approximately 233,440 Data Scientists positions and 469,480 Insurance Sales Agents positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Insurance Sales Agents to Data Scientists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Data Scientists has a median salary of $112,590 while Insurance Sales Agents earns $60,370. 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