Salary for Entry-level / Junior Data Scientist in United States during 2024

Salary details

The average entry-level / junior Data Scientist salary lies between USD 76,128 and USD 153,100 in the United States. It represents the overall compensation/gross salary amount for the working year (before deductions like social security, taxes and other contributions), not including equity/stock options or similar benefits.

Region represents the primary country of residence of an employee during the year (or residence for tax purposes). All data shown are full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries. Part-time salary information has been extrapolated to its FTE value.

Last updated: Dec. 15, 2024

Salary trend

Top 20 Job Tags for Entry-level / Junior Data Scientist roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with entry-level / junior Data Scientist job listings are Python, Machine Learning and SQL. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Python | 1232 jobs Machine Learning | 1019 jobs SQL | 838 jobs Statistics | 803 jobs Engineering | 683 jobs Computer Science | 665 jobs R | 645 jobs Mathematics | 505 jobs Research | 446 jobs Data analysis | 384 jobs Big Data | 280 jobs ML models | 265 jobs Testing | 244 jobs Azure | 240 jobs NLP | 231 jobs AWS | 223 jobs Deep Learning | 221 jobs Data visualization | 221 jobs TensorFlow | 211 jobs Power BI | 203 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Entry-level / Junior Data Scientist roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with entry-level / junior Data Scientist job listings are Career development, Health care and Flex hours. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 860 jobs Health care | 368 jobs Flex hours | 296 jobs Team events | 224 jobs Equity / stock options | 206 jobs Startup environment | 178 jobs Competitive pay | 177 jobs Medical leave | 176 jobs Insurance | 172 jobs Salary bonus | 169 jobs Flex vacation | 151 jobs Parental leave | 124 jobs Wellness | 93 jobs 401(k) matching | 85 jobs Conferences | 49 jobs Relocation support | 43 jobs Fitness / gym | 36 jobs Transparency | 33 jobs Flexible spending account | 25 jobs Gear | 23 jobs

Salary Composition

In the United States, the salary composition for an entry-level or junior data scientist typically includes a base salary, performance bonuses, and sometimes additional remuneration such as stock options or benefits. The base salary is the fixed component and usually constitutes the majority of the total compensation package. Performance bonuses can vary significantly depending on the company’s policy and individual performance, often ranging from 5% to 15% of the base salary. Additional remuneration, such as stock options or equity, is more common in tech companies, especially startups, and can be a significant part of the compensation in larger tech hubs like Silicon Valley. The industry also plays a role; for instance, finance and tech sectors often offer higher bonuses compared to other industries. Company size can influence the salary structure, with larger companies typically offering more comprehensive benefits packages.

Increasing Salary

To increase your salary from an entry-level position, consider the following steps:

• Skill Enhancement: Continuously upgrade your technical skills, especially in high-demand areas like machine learning, deep learning, and big data technologies.
• Advanced Education: Pursuing a master's degree or specialized certifications can make you more competitive.
• Networking: Build a strong professional network through industry conferences, meetups, and online platforms like LinkedIn.
• Performance Excellence: Consistently exceed performance expectations and take on challenging projects to demonstrate your value.
• Negotiation Skills: Develop strong negotiation skills to leverage during performance reviews or when considering new job offers.

Educational Requirements

Most entry-level data scientist positions require at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as computer science, statistics, mathematics, or engineering. However, a master's degree is increasingly preferred, especially in competitive markets. Programs that offer a focus on data science, machine learning, or artificial intelligence are particularly beneficial. Some roles may also consider candidates with degrees in economics or physics, provided they have strong analytical and programming skills.

Helpful Certifications

While not always required, certain certifications can enhance your resume and demonstrate your commitment to the field. Some popular certifications include:

• Certified Data Scientist (CDS)
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate
• Google Professional Data Engineer
• IBM Data Science Professional Certificate
• AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty

These certifications can validate your skills in specific tools and platforms, making you more attractive to potential employers.

Experience Requirements

For entry-level positions, employers typically look for candidates with some practical experience, which can be gained through internships, co-op programs, or relevant projects during your studies. Experience with data analysis, statistical modeling, and programming languages such as Python or R is often expected. Familiarity with data visualization tools and machine learning frameworks can also be advantageous.

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