Data Scientists vs Electrical Engineers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Data Scientists professionals earn $680 more per year than Electrical Engineers professionals — that's 0.6% higher. At the 90th percentile, Data Scientists earns $194,410 compared to $175,460 for Electrical Engineers.
Salary Range Comparison
Data Scientists$63,650 – $194,410
Electrical Engineers$74,670 – $175,460
$63,650$194,410
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Data Scientists | Electrical Engineers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $63,650 | $74,670 | $-11,020 |
| 25th Percentile | $82,630 | $87,590 | $-4,960 |
| Median (50th) | $112,590 | $111,910 | +$680 |
| 75th Percentile | $155,810 | $141,630 | +$14,180 |
| 90th Percentile | $194,410 | $175,460 | +$18,950 |
| Mean (Average) | $124,590 | $120,980 | +$3,610 |
Employment Numbers
Data Scientists
233,440
employed nationwide
Electrical Engineers
188,790
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
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 |
Best Cities for Electrical Engineers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $186,920 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $163,840 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $136,820 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $135,480 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $134,900 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Data Scientists or Electrical Engineers?
Data Scientists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $680 (0.6% 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 Electrical Engineers?
Electrical Engineers salaries range from $74,670 (10th percentile) to $175,460 (90th percentile), with a median of $111,910.
How many Data Scientists and Electrical Engineers jobs are there?
There are approximately 233,440 Data Scientists positions and 188,790 Electrical Engineers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Electrical Engineers to Data Scientists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Data Scientists has a median salary of $112,590 while Electrical Engineers earns $111,910. 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