SalaryData

Data Scientist vs Aerospace Engineer Salary (2026)

Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.

Higher paying occupation

Aerospace Engineer

$126,293/yr median(+$20,820 · 19.7% more)

Data Scientist

Median$105,473
Mean$110,908
10th %ile$62,840
25th %ile$79,848
75th %ile$134,961
90th %ile$163,371
Employed234K+
View full Data Scientist report →
Higher pay

Aerospace Engineer

Median$126,293
Mean$131,559
10th %ile$85,586
25th %ile$102,100
75th %ile$156,298
90th %ile$184,321
Employed68K+
View full Aerospace Engineer report →

Salary Distribution Comparison

Data Scientist

Data Scientist salary percentiles
PercentileAnnual Salary
10th percentile$62,840
25th percentile$79,848
Median (50th percentile)$105,473
75th percentile$134,961
90th percentile$163,371

Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace Engineer salary percentiles
PercentileAnnual Salary
10th percentile$85,586
25th percentile$102,100
Median (50th percentile)$126,293
75th percentile$156,298
90th percentile$184,321

Top Paying States

Data Scientist

#StateMedian
1Washington$158,760
2District of Columbia$137,120
3California$136,800
4Massachusetts$132,250
5New Jersey$130,370

Aerospace Engineer

#StateMedian
1District of Columbia$175,350
2Washington$158,600
3Maryland$158,220
4Massachusetts$152,210
5Colorado$151,570

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more, Data Scientist or Aerospace Engineer?
Aerospace Engineer pays more with a median salary of $126,293/year, which is 19.7% more than Data Scientist at $105,473/year.
What is the salary difference between Data Scientist and Aerospace Engineer?
The median salary difference is $20,820/year (19.7%).

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