Data Scientists vs Purchasing Managers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Data Scientists professionals earn $112,590 more per year than Purchasing Managers professionals.
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 Purchasing Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $170,900 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $168,460 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $152,380 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $138,270 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $137,980 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Data Scientists or Purchasing Managers?
Data Scientists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $112,590 (null% 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 Purchasing Managers?
Salary data for Purchasing Managers is not currently available.
How many Data Scientists and Purchasing Managers jobs are there?
There are approximately 233,440 Data Scientists positions and N/A Purchasing Managers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Purchasing Managers to Data Scientists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Data Scientists has a median salary of $112,590 while Purchasing Managers earns $0. 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