Data Scientist vs Financial Analyst
Data Scientists earn $12,940 more than financial analysts on average (13.6% higher). Compare salaries, skills, education, and career outlook side by side.
Data Scientist
$108,020
median salary
Financial Analyst
$95,080
median salary
Salary Comparison
| Metric | Data Scientist | Financial Analyst |
|---|---|---|
| Median Salary | $108,020 | $95,080 |
| Mean Salary | $113,380 | $103,020 |
| Entry Level | $72,000 | $60,000 |
| Mid Level | $112,000 | $96,000 |
| Senior Level | $165,000 | $148,000 |
| 10th Percentile | $61,400 | $57,200 |
| 90th Percentile | $178,200 | $166,600 |
Career Details
Data Scientist Technology
Data scientists analyze large datasets to extract insights, build predictive models, and drive data-informed business decisions using statistical methods and machine learning.
Education Bachelor's degree
Growth Rate 35% (much faster than average)
Total Employed 192,700
Key Skills
PythonRSQLMachine LearningStatisticsData Visualization
Typical Duties
- Collect, clean, and preprocess large datasets for analysis
- Build and validate machine learning models
- Create data visualizations and dashboards for stakeholders
- Collaborate with engineering teams to deploy models into production
- Identify trends and patterns that drive strategic decisions
Financial Analyst Business & Finance
Financial analysts evaluate investment opportunities, study economic trends, and create financial models to guide business and investment decisions for organizations.
Education Bachelor's degree
Growth Rate 8% (faster than average)
Total Employed 348,500
Key Skills
Financial ModelingExcelBloomberg TerminalValuationData AnalysisPresentation
Typical Duties
- Analyze financial data and build forecasting models
- Evaluate investment opportunities and make recommendations
- Prepare financial reports and presentations for leadership
- Monitor industry trends and economic conditions
- Assess company financial performance against benchmarks
Top 5 Paying States
Summary: Data Scientist vs Financial Analyst
Data Scientists earn a median salary of $108,020 compared to $95,080 for financial analysts — a difference of $12,940 (13.6%). Data Scientist also has stronger job growth at 35% vs 8%.