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The differences between senior 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 senior computer scientist and a senior data scientist. Additionally, a senior computer scientist has an average salary of $139,644, which is higher than the $124,093 average annual salary of a senior data scientist.
The top three skills for a senior computer scientist include python, java and software development. The most important skills for a senior data scientist are python, data science, and visualization.
| Senior Computer Scientist | Senior Data Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $139,644 | $124,093 |
| Hourly rate | $67.14 | $59.66 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 68,226 | 103,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A senior computer scientist is extensively involved in conducting research and solving various computer problems. They work as a part of a research team with programmers, IT professionals, and software engineers to create new products. Their primary goal is creating software that can interact with people and other computers.
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.
Senior computer scientists and senior data scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Computer Scientist | Senior Data Scientist | |
| Average salary | $139,644 | $124,093 |
| Salary range | Between $102,000 And $190,000 | Between $90,000 And $170,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | NVIDIA | Brex |
| Best paying industry | Internet | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a senior computer scientist and a senior data scientist in terms of educational background:
| Senior Computer Scientist | Senior Data Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | 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 senior computer scientists' and senior data scientists' demographics:
| Senior Computer Scientist | Senior Data Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.6% Female, 15.4% | 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% |