Data Science Salaries and Outlook: How Much Can I Earn with an MSDS?

Data science is a multifaceted profession. The field is complex, requiring data organization, cleaning, processing, and interpretation. Humans are expected to generate about 180 zettabytes of data in 2025 (one zettabyte equals one trillion gigabytes), an information trove so enormous that only powerful computers—guided by data scientists—can make sense of it.

Ganapathi Pulipaka, chief data scientist at Accenture, notes that the discipline encompasses “software engineering, predictive analytics, machine learning, deep learning, HPC, supercomputing, mathematics, data mining, databases (SQL, NoSQL), Hadoop, streaming analytics platforms for live analysis (Apache Kafka, Apache Flink, Apache Spark, Apache Impala), IoT platforms, edge computing, fog computing, networks, statistics, web development, cloud computing, data engineering, and data visualization.”

Data science requires expertise across multiple disciplines, which helps explain why many data scientists have advanced degrees (such as the Master of Science in Data Science, available online from Tufts University). The profession requires a high degree of expertise and experience. Consequently, the average data scientist salary is high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates median pay for data scientists at over $108,000 per year). Earners in the top ten percent make over $184,000 annually.

How much you can earn with a master’s in data science will depend on your professional and academic background, your title, years of experience, and other factors explored in more detail below.

Why Earn a Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS)?

The career benefits of earning an MSDS transcend the wage premium associated with the degree. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. employment in data science will grow by 36 percent in the coming decade, resulting in almost 21,000 job openings annually. Many of these roles will require a graduate degree; according to 365 Data Science, more than half of data science job postings in 2024 required either a master’s or PhD. A disproportionate number of those job titles include management, leadership, planning, and innovation.

Fortunately, pursuing a graduate degree doesn’t require sacrificing income, professional advancement, or personal time. You don’t have to leave the workforce to enroll in the online Master of Science in Data Science program at Tufts School of Engineering; you can pursue this MSDS while continuing to work full-time. Because Tufts delivers the 10-course, 32-credit hour data science master’s entirely online in a flexible, part-time format, you can take the same courses taught by the same faculty members as students who attend in-person classes at the university’s Boston-area campus. 

How Much Do Data Scientists Earn?

Data science salaries tend to be high because many jobs require advanced training and diverse skills. Indeed reports that data science professionals in the U.S. earn about $123,000 annually.

Gauging the impact of a master’s degree in data science salaries is challenging. Because master’s degrees and PhDs are common in the field, there isn’t a lot of accurate information about how much data scientists with bachelor’s degrees earn. Salary.com reports that the typical data scientist with a bachelor’s degree earns between $88,000 and $93,000. These tend to be entry-level and lower-level programming, testing, and analysis positions.

Top earners in data science ascend to leadership roles in the corporate world, healthcare, academics, and government, earning many multiples of an average data science income. Compensation in such roles often includes significant incentives in addition to generous salaries.

What Are the Highest-Paying Jobs With an MSDS?

Data science offers high-paying roles across industries and institutions. We’ve listed some of the most prominent below.

Chief Data Scientist

Estimated total annual compensation: $305,000 This c-suite executive (sometimes called Chief Data Officer) oversees the management, storage, and analysis of data across an organization. They are responsible for driving data science strategy and guiding how data scientists in their organizations leverage data to inform business decisions.

Data Architect

Estimated total annual compensation: $189,000. Data architects design (and sometimes build) the underlying structure of complex data frameworks based on business or organizational requirements. Data architects collaborate closely with data engineers to visualize and create the blueprints used to build data management and exploration systems.

Data Science Manager

Estimated total annual compensation: $181,000 Data science managers help their organizations leverage Big Data by coordinating the efforts of the data science team. They work with data scientists, data engineers, data architects, data modelers, and other professionals in the field to ensure that everyone is working toward the same goals.

Data Warehouse Manager

Estimated total annual compensation: $171,000 Data warehouse managers oversee the collection, storage, and use of data. These experts in accessing and interacting with data repositories and the information they contain ensure that data is stored and structured in a way that serves the organizations they work for. Some data warehouse managers are also responsible for keeping data secure.

Director of Data Science

Estimated total annual compensation: $240,000 The director of data science (sometimes called the head of data science) guides the activities of the data science team and serves as a bridge between business stakeholders and the department. Some professionals in this role primarily manage people and projects while others are responsible for developing new data-driven approaches to organizational challenges or streamlining data acquisition and analysis.

Senior Big Data Engineer

Estimated total annual compensation: $162,000 Big data engineers process vast quantities of data using various technologies. They typically develop and maintain the software and hardware architecture and processes organizations use to gather structured data, unstructured data, and semi-structured data. Their role is to create stable pipelines that deliver data in ready-to-analyze formats so data scientists can interpret and report on that data.

Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Estimated total annual compensation: $233,000 Data science machine learning engineers design and produce predictive models to ensure the largest possible information gain. Senior machine learning engineers oversee the machine learning activities that support data science initiatives. This one is the most technical among high-paying data science jobs; it typically involves the most programming.

What Other Factors Affect Salaries in Data Science?

Education—both the degree level and the quality of the conferring institution—matters in data science. However, it’s hardly the only factor. Location impacts income; the 2024 mean annual income for data scientists in Massachusetts was $125,100, while those in Connecticut averaged $120,480 per year. Experience, specializations and certifications also play a significant role in determining salary and incentive opportunities. According to the BLS, media streaming distribution services and social networks were among the highest-paying industries for data scientists (annual mean income: $165,000), with information services ($163,000) close behind.

How Tufts Adds Value to the MSDS

Reputation matters when it comes to data science master’s degrees. An MSDS from Tufts School of Engineering signals to potential employers that you have the high-level technical and soft skills necessary to move the industry forward. The value of a Tufts data science master’s degree transcends name recognition. Students in the MSDS program receive tailored guidance from advisers who are leaders in their fields and are committed to helping students reach their full potential. 

The School of Engineering maintains a Piazza board where faculty post research opportunities, internship opportunities, and information about scholarships, hackathons, career fairs, and opportunities for professional development. Tufts’ online students also benefit from the school’s proximity to and connections with an array of tech firms and startups across industries in the Greater Boston area, even as they study virtually. Graduates of the online MS in Data Science program also benefit from membership in the elite Tufts University alumni network of more than 100,000 graduates from around the world.

Students also have the advantage of studying alongside other experienced professionals. MSDS candidates tend to be data scientists, software engineers, and product managers. Many already work in technology-focused leadership roles. They’re experts in their fields, highly accomplished, and familiar with the topics in the interdisciplinary MSDS curriculum (e.g., data analytics, probabilistic systems analysis, algorithms, machine learning, data mining, and Big Data). Distance learners enrolled in Tufts’ program benefit from the achievements of their peers as they tackle demanding data science challenges together.

The flexibility of Tufts’ 100 percent online MSDS program allows professionals to enroll in a highly ranked data science graduate program without putting career advancement on hold. They don’t have to sacrifice income in the short term to earn a Master of Science in Data Science or settle for a lower-quality program that’s within commuting distance. And, they can apply what they learn immediately and increase their lifetime earning potential in the process. 

Tufts’ part-time, interdisciplinary master’s-level data science curriculum trains agile data scientists who can apply today’s data analysis methodologies across various enterprises and adapt as technology changes. The leading-edge curriculum takes under two years to complete, and graduates emerge ready to tackle real-world challenges and make a difference with data—now and in the future. Do you have questions about the program? An enrollment advisor is available to answer them; set up a one-on-one call today. You can also start your application online today.