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The differences between senior leaders and senior data scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a senior leader, becoming a senior data scientist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior data scientist has an average salary of $124,093, which is higher than the $114,328 average annual salary of a senior leader.
The top three skills for a senior leader include java, project management and architecture. The most important skills for a senior data scientist are python, data science, and visualization.
| Senior Leader | Senior Data Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $114,328 | $124,093 |
| Hourly rate | $54.97 | $59.66 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 214,805 | 103,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A senior leader specializes in overseeing the business operations and work progress within a particular department or office. Focusing on the workflow and the workforce, they are in charge of assessing performances and motivating staff to meet goals and stay within the allotted time and budget. They may also participate in the hiring and training of new employees, utilizing their talents and shaping them into valuable members of the workforce, all while implementing company rules and regulations.
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 leaders and senior data scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Leader | Senior Data Scientist | |
| Average salary | $114,328 | $124,093 |
| Salary range | Between $80,000 And $162,000 | Between $90,000 And $170,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | Brex |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a senior leader and a senior data scientist in terms of educational background:
| Senior Leader | Senior Data Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Mathematics |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Columbia University in the City of New York |
Here are the differences between senior leaders' and senior data scientists' demographics:
| Senior Leader | Senior Data Scientist | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.2% Female, 28.8% | Male, 86.5% Female, 13.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 14.6% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 8% | 9% |