Customer Service Representatives vs Data Scientists: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Data Scientists professionals earn $69,760 more per year than Customer Service Representatives professionals — that's 162.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Customer Service Representatives earns $62,730 compared to $194,410 for Data Scientists.
Salary Range Comparison
Customer Service Representatives$30,690 – $62,730
Data Scientists$63,650 – $194,410
$30,690$194,410
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Customer Service Representatives | Data Scientists | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $30,690 | $63,650 | $-32,960 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,970 | $82,630 | $-46,660 |
| Median (50th) | $42,830 | $112,590 | $-69,760 |
| 75th Percentile | $50,140 | $155,810 | $-105,670 |
| 90th Percentile | $62,730 | $194,410 | $-131,680 |
| Mean (Average) | $45,380 | $124,590 | $-79,210 |
Employment Numbers
Customer Service Representatives
2,725,930
employed nationwide
Data Scientists
233,440
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Customer Service Representatives
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,830 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $56,400 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $51,090 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $49,060 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $48,890 |
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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Customer Service Representatives or Data Scientists?
Data Scientists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $69,760 (162.9% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Customer Service Representatives?
Customer Service Representatives salaries range from $30,690 (10th percentile) to $62,730 (90th percentile), with a median of $42,830.
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.
How many Customer Service Representatives and Data Scientists jobs are there?
There are approximately 2,725,930 Customer Service Representatives positions and 233,440 Data Scientists positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Data Scientists to Customer Service Representatives?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Customer Service Representatives has a median salary of $42,830 while Data Scientists earns $112,590. 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