SalaryByCity

Data Scientists vs Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Data Scientists

$112,590

Median annual salary

233,440 employed nationally

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

$46,290

Median annual salary

1,737,820 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Data Scientists professionals earn $66,300 more per year than Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive professionals — that's 143.2% higher. At the 90th percentile, Data Scientists earns $194,410 compared to $64,150 for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.

Salary Range Comparison

Data Scientists$63,650 – $194,410
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$31,600 – $64,150
$31,600$194,410

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileData ScientistsSecretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveDifference
10th Percentile$63,650$31,600+$32,050
25th Percentile$82,630$37,770+$44,860
Median (50th)$112,590$46,290+$66,300
75th Percentile$155,810$55,650+$100,160
90th Percentile$194,410$64,150+$130,260
Mean (Average)$124,590$47,640+$76,950

Employment Numbers

Data Scientists

233,440

employed nationwide

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

1,737,820

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Data Scientists

CityMedian
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 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$61,190
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$60,320
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$58,310
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$56,060
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT$53,960

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Data Scientists or Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Data Scientists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $66,300 (143.2% 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 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salaries range from $31,600 (10th percentile) to $64,150 (90th percentile), with a median of $46,290.
How many Data Scientists and Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive jobs are there?
There are approximately 233,440 Data Scientists positions and 1,737,820 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive to Data Scientists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Data Scientists has a median salary of $112,590 while Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive earns $46,290. 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