Data Scientist vs Data Analyst Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Data Scientist
$107,281/yr median(+$30,696 · 40.1% more)
Higher pay
Data Scientist
Median$107,281
Mean$113,687
10th %ile$66,363
25th %ile$82,902
75th %ile$138,125
90th %ile$167,412
Employed262K+
Data Analyst
Median$76,585
Mean$87,165
10th %ile$54,165
25th %ile$61,463
75th %ile$101,795
90th %ile$146,362
Employed2K+
Salary Distribution Comparison
Data Scientist
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $66,363 |
| 25th percentile | $82,902 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $107,281 |
| 75th percentile | $138,125 |
| 90th percentile | $167,412 |
Data Analyst
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $54,165 |
| 25th percentile | $61,463 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $76,585 |
| 75th percentile | $101,795 |
| 90th percentile | $146,362 |
Top Paying States
Data Scientist
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $163,350 |
| 2 | California | $141,590 |
| 3 | Maryland | $136,370 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $135,280 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $131,750 |
Data Analyst
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $180,500 |
| 2 | North Carolina | $101,850 |
| 3 | Texas | $93,090 |
| 4 | Illinois | $81,090 |
| 5 | New York | $79,460 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which pays more, Data Scientist or Data Analyst?
- Data Scientist pays more with a median salary of $107,281/year, which is 40.1% more than Data Analyst at $76,585/year.
- What is the salary difference between Data Scientist and Data Analyst?
- The median salary difference is $30,696/year (40.1%).