Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Data scientists work at the intersection of data, quantitative analysis, and problem solving. Nationally, this occupation has a median annual salary of $112,590 and total employment of 246,000, indicating a sizable and well-established field. Projected employment growth of 33.5% and an estimated 23,000 annual openings point to sustained demand for new talent. The role draws heavily on mathematics, computers and information technology, and critical and analytical thinking, along with strong skills in writing, reading, and communication. Creativity, innovation, problem solving, and attention to detail are also central to success. For people who enjoy working with data, making decisions based on evidence, and continuously adapting and learning, this field offers a robust mix of opportunity and challenge. Related options such as statisticians, mathematicians, operations research analysts, and aerospace engineers provide adjacent paths for those with similar interests in quantitative and analytical work.
Data scientists have strong earning potential across the United States. The national median annual salary is $112,590, but pay varies significantly by location. Among the top states, Washington reports a median salary of $163,350, while California is at $141,590, Massachusetts at $131,750, New York at $130,460, and Colorado at $117,400. At the metro level, some areas show even higher salary levels: San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA has a median of $185,080, and San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA reports $170,110. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro reaches $135,980, while Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV is at $132,200 and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH at $132,040. These differences suggest that location choices can have a major impact on earnings for data scientists.
Data scientists have a favorable employment outlook based on current size and projected growth. National employment stands at 246,000, showing that this is already a significant occupation. Looking ahead, projected employment growth of 33.5% signals a strong expansion in demand. In addition, there are an estimated 23,000 annual openings, which include both new positions created and openings from workforce turnover. For individuals interested in entering or advancing in this field, the combination of current employment scale, relatively high projected growth, and a steady flow of yearly openings points to a labor market with substantial opportunity. Job seekers can expect ongoing hiring activity across different regions, with room for both new graduates and experienced professionals to pursue roles that leverage their quantitative and analytical skills.
Career opportunities for data scientists vary by state and metro, with several locations standing out. Among states, California combines a median salary of $141,590 with employment of 39,310 and an opportunity score of 67.38. New York and Massachusetts also show strong profiles, with New York reporting 23,970 employed data scientists and a median salary of $130,460, and Massachusetts offering a median of $131,750 and 9,420 employed. Colorado and Washington round out the top states; Washington in particular has the highest median salary listed, at $163,350. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA leads with a median salary of $185,080, employment of 6,060, and an opportunity score of 77.42. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro closely follows with an opportunity score of 77.27 and employment of 23,160. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA, Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH also show strong combinations of salary, employment, and opportunity score.
The typical education requirement for data scientists is a bachelor’s degree, making this field accessible to individuals who complete a four-year college program. Beyond formal education, the skill profile for this career is notably broad and rigorous. Key strengths include mathematics and science, which support quantitative analysis, along with computers and information technology, which underpin work with data and digital tools. Critical and analytical thinking, problem solving, and decision making are central to interpreting complex information. Strong writing and reading skills help data scientists communicate findings effectively, while speaking and listening support collaboration with others. Creativity and innovation, adaptability, and being detail oriented are also highlighted as important, reflecting the need to handle nuanced data tasks and changing conditions. Together, these skills and the bachelor’s-level education requirement indicate a profession that blends technical depth with clear communication and flexible thinking.
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