Designs and trains novel machine-learning models, often at frontier AI labs or in academia. Publishes papers and pushes the state of the art on topics like reasoning, planning, and multimodal learning.
Pay
$63,650
Lower reported wage
$112,590
Median
$194,410
Upper reported wage
Annual U.S. salaries. Actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience. The lower and upper figures do not represent starting and senior salaries.
AI-generated image · Illustrative scene
Make this your goal
Build a personalized Roadmap Plan with CLEP savings and school matches.
Search CareerOneStop by occupation and state, then confirm the rules with the issuing agency. Coverage is incomplete; an empty result does not mean no license is required.
U.S. career guide. Program, employer, and state requirements can differ.
About this data
Wages reconciled to BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 15-2051 (Data Scientists): 10th to 90th percentile $63,650-$194,410, median $112,590. The OEWS 90th percentile ($194,410) understates this premium sub-market, where senior and specialized compensation routinely exceeds it.
SOC 15-2051BLS OEWS May 2024Verified 2026-07-24
Illustration: AI-generated image · Illustrative scene
Ask whether any internship, field placement, or supervised training in your chosen route is paid; arrangements vary.[1]
Costs to check before enrolling
Compare tuition after aid, required supplies and exams, travel, and any unpaid training time for the route you choose.
Planning questions: request a written estimate from each program or sponsor. A total cost has not been verified here.
Majors and routes to explore
A related major can be preparation; it does not by itself qualify you for the career.
