Data Scientists
SOC 15-2050
The median annual wage for Data Scientists is $108,020, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $119,040, and an estimated 192,710 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2021 and 2023, pay rose +7% while consumer prices rose 12.4% — a real change of -4.8% (pay did not keep up with inflation).
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Data Scientists has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $108,020 | $108,020 | 192,710 |
| 2022 | $103,500 | $107,761 | 159,630 |
| 2021 | $100,910 | $113,472 | 105,980 |
Nominal change
+7%
Inflation (CPI)
+12.4%
Real change
-4.8%
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$61,070
25th Pct
$79,810
Median
$108,020
75th Pct
$147,670
90th Pct
$184,090
Related Occupations in Computer & Mathematical
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
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