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All about Data Science Manager Salaries
By Neil Witten
The AI industry has already seen significant growth in recent years. However, now standing at a total market value of approximately $207.9 billion, the industry is expected to surpass an incredible $1.8 trillion by the early 2030s!
Clearly, it ‘s not too late to join the AI industry if you’re aiming for a fantastic career and superb income trajectory. At AI/ML Jobs, we understand the importance of finding the right role for you as the perfect jobs board for exploring thousands of AI and ML roles.
In this particular article, we’ll explore the average salary of a data science manager, looking at how salary can vary based on company and industry and discuss factors that can shape salary.
Let’s begin!
What’s the verdict on Data Science Manager salaries?
The total salary for a data science manager in the US tends to range between $130,000 and $218,000 with the average standing at $167,254 per year.
Notably, data science managers tend to receive higher salaries than those in a range of related roles (e.g., data analysts, software developers, and project engineers). Salaries vary across industries, with the financial services and IT sectors generally paying the most.
Total Compensation
It’s important to remember that total compensation is distinct from base pay. Total compensation includes base pay and additional sources of income (e.g., cash bonuses and stocks).
Factors that influence Data Science Manager salary
Naturally, a wide range of factors influences how much any given data science manager role will pay. Let’s explore some of the key factors:
Years of relevant experience
In general, the more experience you have, the higher your starting salary at a new data science manager role is likely to be.
Seniority
Similarly, the greater level of seniority you have, the more you’re likely to receive when starting a new job. This often relates to years of experience, but not directly—it’s possible to rise up the ladder quickly.
Location / Region
Where you live also matters, since both labor rates and industry-specific rates differ from region to region.
Here are some examples of total pay by region:
- California: $185,804 per year
- Texas: $156,601 per year
- Florida: $159,294 per year
- New York: $170,457 per year
- Virginia: $163,403 per year
Skills specialization
Beyond that, the wider your skill set, the higher a starting salary you can hope to receive. For example, Apache Spark knowledge can mean an 11% higher salary for a data science manager, whereas deep learning can offer a 12% increase, and natural language processing or NLP is linked to a 27% higher wage.
Other skills that can improve your chances of a higher starting salary include:
- Python
- SQL
- Team Leadership
- Project management
Education
A higher level of education background can also improve the odds of landing a higher salary. Although a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field like data science or computer science may suffice, those with a master’s degree are likelier to secure higher-paying positions. They have an edge over other candidates and are more desirable to employers.
Organization
There’s also a huge amount of variation from one company to another. Larger organizations tend to offer higher salaries. For instance, tech giant Google pays Data Science Managers $264,719 on average, while the average is $167,254—nearly $100,000 less.
Industry
Among the highest paying industries for data science managers include IT, finance, management & consulting, government & public admin, and construction, repair & maintenance services. Ultimately, to land a higher salary, you’ll want to consider the best industries for your skill set that also offer solid wages.
Negotiation skills
Of course, better negotiating skills can also help you land a higher starting salary. Of course, having good negotiation skills can also simply help with landing a more favorable deal in general.
Do employees feel fairly compensated?
While data science manager is generally a well-paid role, some employees have complaints—usually around the rising cost of living and travel.
Before you dive into a job opportunity, you’ll want to consider the cost of living in the area or/and whether you’ll need a long, costly commute each day. Is the salary enough to support and justify these elements of the job?
Data Science Manager average salary levels by years of experience
Here is the average pay for a data science manager based on levels of experience, according to Glassdoor:
| Years of Experience | Base Pay | Additional Pay | Total Pay | Change |
| 0-1 | $108,945 | $34,257 | $143,201 | – |
| 1-3 | $113,069 | $36,419 | $149,488 | +4.4% |
| 4-6 | $118,736 | $39,654 | $158,390 | +6.0% |
| 7-9 | $128,542 | $46,795 | $175,337 | +10.7% |
| 10-14 | $139,220 | $58,153 | $197,373 | +12.6% |
| 15+ | $150,301 | $74,115 | $224,416 | +13.7% |
Naturally, the more experience you gain as a data science manager, the higher your wages will likely go. Additionally, the rate at which a data science manager’s wage increases also rises continually.
How do Data Science Manager salaries compare to other jobs?
According to Glassdoor, here is how data science manager salaries compare with related roles:
| Job | Average Total Pay |
| Data Science Manager | $167,254 |
| Data Analyst | $70,258 |
| Project Manager | $78,977 |
| Operations Manager | $96,795 |
| Data Scientist | $126,543 |
| Software Engineer | $107,137 |
| Director of Operations | $149,909 |
| Project Engineer | $88,026 |
| Software Developer | $95,326 |
The salaries of data science managers tend to exceed those of their peers in the industry. Understandably so, as these managers shoulder a ton of responsibilities and require a wealth of experience and knowledge to execute their day-to-day tasks.
How do Data Science Manager salaries vary in various companies?
According to Glassdoor, here is how much data science managers tend to receive at different companies:
| Company | Average Total Compensation |
| Meta | $312,813 |
| $264,719 | |
| Microsoft | $205,732 |
| NVIDIA | $225,632 |
| Accenture | $169,186 |
| Capital One | $159,161 |
| Discover | $161,004 |
| Wayfair | $226,678 |
| Fidelity Investments | $199,337 |
| Axtria | $147,981 |
| Uber | $246,207 |
| Amazon | $246,558 |
On average, Meta offers an impressively high salary for data science managers. However, many of the companies mentioned on this list also pay competitive wages, which comes as no surprise since some of them are among the biggest names in their industries.
Capital One, Discover, and Axtria are the only companies on the above list to feature below-average compensation for data science managers.
How do Data Science Manager salaries vary in various industries?
According to Glassdoor, here is how much data science manager roles pay, depending on the industry:
| Industry | Base Pay | Additional Pay | Total Pay |
| Legal | $93,481 | $22,755 | $116,236 |
| Aerospace & Defense | $122,051 | $45,219 | $167,270 |
| Agriculture | $121,722 | $46,209 | $167,931 |
| Arts, Entertainment & Recreation | $122,051 | $45,219 | $167,270 |
| Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology | $122,051 | $45,219 | $167,270 |
| Management & Consulting | $122,051 | $45,219 | $167,270 |
| Construction, Repair & Maintenance Services | $122,051 | $45,219 | $167,270 |
| Personal Consumer Services | $117,174 | $43,850 | $161,024 |
| Education | $112,947 | $33,950 | $146,897 |
| Financial Services | $126,149 | $48,495 | $174,644 |
| Government & Public Administration | $122,051 | $45,219 | $167,270 |
| Healthcare | $114,476 | $42,829 | $157,304 |
| Information Technology | $124,335 | $49,724 | $174,058 |
| Insurance | $121,961 | $41,925 | $163,886 |
| Manufacturing | $115,516 | $36,555 | $152,072 |
| Media & Communication | $122,051 | $45,219 | $167,270 |
| Nonprofit & NGO | $122,051 | $45,219 | $167,270 |
| Energy, Mining & Utilities | $122,051 | $45,219 | $167,270 |
| Real Estate | $118,865 | $47,450 | $166,315 |
| Restaurants & Food Service | $122,051 | $45,219 | $167,270 |
| Retail & Wholesale | $122,051 | $45,219 | $167,270 |
| Telecommunications | $111,789 | $34,895 | $146,684 |
| Transportation & Logistics | $122,051 | $45,219 | $167,270 |
| Hotel & Travel Accommodation | $122,051 | $45,219 | $167,270 |
| Human Resources & Staffing | $122,051 | $45,219 | $167,270 |
The highest-paying industries for data science managers are financial services and IT. The latter won’t be a huge surprise, of course, given the nature of the role. However, data science managers also enjoy a fairly high salary in industries like retail & wholesale, hotel & travel accommodation, HR & staffing, and construction, repair & maintenance services.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve explored the average salary of a data science manager in the US. We’ve also explored how varying factors can impact salary and how wages can vary based on company and industry.
AI/ML Jobs is the perfect place to find a data science manager role at some of the world’s most influential, game-changing companies. Use our AI-focused job board to browse thousands of the best AI and ML roles available around the world!