Data Scientists vs Loan Officers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Data Scientists professionals earn $38,410 more per year than Loan Officers professionals — that's 51.8% higher. At the 90th percentile, Data Scientists earns $194,410 compared to $145,780 for Loan Officers.
Salary Range Comparison
Data Scientists$63,650 – $194,410
Loan Officers$38,490 – $145,780
$38,490$194,410
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Data Scientists | Loan Officers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $63,650 | $38,490 | +$25,160 |
| 25th Percentile | $82,630 | $50,460 | +$32,170 |
| Median (50th) | $112,590 | $74,180 | +$38,410 |
| 75th Percentile | $155,810 | $101,920 | +$53,890 |
| 90th Percentile | $194,410 | $145,780 | +$48,630 |
| Mean (Average) | $124,590 | $86,020 | +$38,570 |
Employment Numbers
Data Scientists
233,440
employed nationwide
Loan Officers
290,530
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 Loan Officers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $102,540 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $94,850 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $94,840 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $94,110 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $91,900 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Data Scientists or Loan Officers?
Data Scientists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $38,410 (51.8% 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 Loan Officers?
Loan Officers salaries range from $38,490 (10th percentile) to $145,780 (90th percentile), with a median of $74,180.
How many Data Scientists and Loan Officers jobs are there?
There are approximately 233,440 Data Scientists positions and 290,530 Loan Officers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Loan Officers to Data Scientists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Data Scientists has a median salary of $112,590 while Loan Officers earns $74,180. 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