Data Scientists vs General and Operations Managers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Data Scientists professionals earn $9,640 more per year than General and Operations Managers professionals — that's 9.4% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Data Scientists$63,650 – $194,410
General and Operations Managers$47,420 – N/A
$47,420$194,410
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Data Scientists | General and Operations Managers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $63,650 | $47,420 | +$16,230 |
| 25th Percentile | $82,630 | $67,160 | +$15,470 |
| Median (50th) | $112,590 | $102,950 | +$9,640 |
| 75th Percentile | $155,810 | $164,130 | $-8,320 |
| 90th Percentile | $194,410 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $124,590 | $133,120 | $-8,530 |
Employment Numbers
Data Scientists
233,440
employed nationwide
General and Operations Managers
3,584,420
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 General and Operations Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $162,480 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $152,090 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $151,420 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $149,260 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $141,280 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Data Scientists or General and Operations Managers?
Data Scientists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $9,640 (9.4% 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 General and Operations Managers?
General and Operations Managers salaries range from $47,420 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $102,950.
How many Data Scientists and General and Operations Managers jobs are there?
There are approximately 233,440 Data Scientists positions and 3,584,420 General and Operations Managers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from General and Operations Managers to Data Scientists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Data Scientists has a median salary of $112,590 while General and Operations Managers earns $102,950. 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