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The differences between computer scientists and senior data scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a computer scientist and a senior data scientist. Additionally, a senior data scientist has an average salary of $124,093, which is higher than the $103,238 average annual salary of a computer scientist.
The top three skills for a computer scientist include python, computer system and machine learning. The most important skills for a senior data scientist are python, data science, and visualization.
| Computer Scientist | Senior Data Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $103,238 | $124,093 |
| Hourly rate | $49.63 | $59.66 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 59,802 | 103,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A computer scientist is responsible for analyzing network infrastructure and designing efficient computer systems according to clients' specifications and business functions. Computer scientists inspect the safety and security of the organization's database, ensuring its protection from malicious activities and unauthorized access. They also manage a large scale of software applications, identifying technical opportunities to improve optimal performance and navigations. A computer scientist must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, strong command on programming languages and system codes, and the ability to solve technical complexities for conceptualization.
A senior data scientist is responsible for overseeing the work of the junior data scientist and providing advanced expertise in mathematical and statistical concepts for the analytics and data department. You will perform various tasks, including outlining the work requirements, monitoring the performance of junior data scientists, and assigning tasks to them. Other typical duties include preparing non-technical reports detailing the limitations and successes of projects, providing recommendations on how insights might be utilized to inform business strategy, and keeping up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in data science.
Computer scientists and senior data scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Scientist | Senior Data Scientist | |
| Average salary | $103,238 | $124,093 |
| Salary range | Between $74,000 And $144,000 | Between $90,000 And $170,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Brex |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a computer scientist and a senior data scientist in terms of educational background:
| Computer Scientist | Senior Data Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Mathematics |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Columbia University in the City of New York |
Here are the differences between computer scientists' and senior data scientists' demographics:
| Computer Scientist | Senior Data Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.8% Female, 21.2% | Male, 86.5% Female, 13.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 6.9% Asian, 18.8% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 6.9% Asian, 18.8% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |