Data Scientist vs Industrial Engineer: $120K vs $102K Median Pay

Data Scientist vs Industrial Engineer: what changes?

Consider Data Scientist if you want to develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Consider Industrial Engineer if you would rather design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis…. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Data Scientist and Industrial Engineer. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Data Scientist

National median pay (2025): $120,230
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Analyze, manipulate, or process large sets of data using statistical software.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 24,800

Know before you choose

Review the full career brief for day-to-day working conditions.

See the full Data Scientist brief

Industrial Engineer

National median pay (2025): $102,440
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Estimate production costs, cost saving methods, and the effects of product design changes on expenditures for management review, action, and control.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 23,100

Know before you choose

Review the full career brief for day-to-day working conditions.

See the full Industrial Engineer brief

How the national numbers differ

Data Scientist has the edge on median pay

Data Scientist is at $120,230, compared with $102,440 for Industrial Engineer.

Data Scientist has the edge on projected growth

Data Scientist is at 34.6% projected growth, compared with 12.4% projected growth for Industrial Engineer.

Data Scientist has the edge on annual openings

Data Scientist is at 24,800 annual openings, compared with 23,100 annual openings for Industrial Engineer.

80.2/ 100

Data Scientist

77.1/ 100

Industrial Engineer

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence