Data Scientists vs Financial Risk Specialists: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Data Scientists professionals earn $6,590 more per year than Financial Risk Specialists professionals — that's 6.2% higher. At the 90th percentile, Data Scientists earns $194,410 compared to $182,310 for Financial Risk Specialists.
Salary Range Comparison
Data Scientists$63,650 – $194,410
Financial Risk Specialists$62,270 – $182,310
$62,270$194,410
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Data Scientists | Financial Risk Specialists | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $63,650 | $62,270 | +$1,380 |
| 25th Percentile | $82,630 | $80,280 | +$2,350 |
| Median (50th) | $112,590 | $106,000 | +$6,590 |
| 75th Percentile | $155,810 | $145,020 | +$10,790 |
| 90th Percentile | $194,410 | $182,310 | +$12,100 |
| Mean (Average) | $124,590 | $119,930 | +$4,660 |
Employment Numbers
Data Scientists
233,440
employed nationwide
Financial Risk Specialists
56,320
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 Financial Risk Specialists
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $141,960 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $140,050 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $137,420 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $130,750 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $128,440 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Data Scientists or Financial Risk Specialists?
Data Scientists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $6,590 (6.2% 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 Financial Risk Specialists?
Financial Risk Specialists salaries range from $62,270 (10th percentile) to $182,310 (90th percentile), with a median of $106,000.
How many Data Scientists and Financial Risk Specialists jobs are there?
There are approximately 233,440 Data Scientists positions and 56,320 Financial Risk Specialists positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Financial Risk Specialists to Data Scientists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Data Scientists has a median salary of $112,590 while Financial Risk Specialists earns $106,000. 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