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Data Scientist vs Software Engineer: pay, jobs and what each takes
Data scientists and machine learning engineers and software engineers side by side: what each earns by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and by the jobs open today, how many jobs there are, and the education and credentials each takes.
Data Scientist vs Software Engineer, side by side
| Data scientist | Software engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Open jobs on this board today | 125 | 1,112 |
| Median posted hourly pay (open jobs) | $162,500 | $169,050 |
| Median hourly pay (BLS) | - | - |
| Median yearly pay (BLS) | - | - |
| Projected employment change (BLS) | - | - |
| Openings a year (BLS) | - | - |
| Typical education to enter (BLS) | - | - |
| Credentials | Security clearance (Secret, Top Secret, TS/SCI) | Security clearance (Secret, Top Secret, TS/SCI) |
Data Scientist vs Software Engineer: common questions
Are there more data scientist or software engineer jobs?
On this board today: 125 open data scientist jobs and 1,112 software engineer jobs, read from each employer's own job board.
What is the difference between a data scientist and a software engineer?
Space companies hire data scientists and machine learning engineers to turn imagery, telemetry and production data into products and decisions. Space companies hire software engineers for the code that flies the vehicle and the software on the ground that builds, tests and operates it.
How do you become a data scientist or a software engineer?
A degree in a quantitative field, often a master's or PhD for model work. A computer science or engineering degree, or a record of shipped software. Each occupation's page lists its credentials and who grants them: Data scientists and machine learning engineers, Software engineers.
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Sources and method
Pay and outlook are BLS's figures for each occupation's main SOC code; open jobs and their posted median are this board's, counted as each occupation's own page counts them.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and Employment Projections
- SpaceJobs.Now job board: open jobs read every night from each employer's own careers site
Cite this page
SpaceJobs.Now. (2026). Data Scientist vs Software Engineer: Pay, Jobs and Requirements Compared. Data as of 7 Nov 2026. https://spacejobs.now/compare-careers/data-scientist-vs-software-engineer