Data Scientist vs MLOps Engineer: Which Pays More?
Side-by-side salary comparison by city, experience level, and career growth outlook. Data reflects current market rates.
Data Scientist
Analyse large datasets and build predictive models to drive decisions.
MLOps Engineer
Build and maintain infrastructure for deploying machine learning models at scale.
Data Scientist earns more on average — the national median is $21,100/year (21%) higher than a MLOps Engineer. However, salaries vary significantly by city, employer, and experience level — see the city-by-city breakdown below.
Data Scientist vs MLOps Engineer — Salary by City
National median figures in USD across top cities.
| City | Data Scientist | MLOps Engineer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $176,777 | $144,519 | Data +$32,258 |
| New York, NY | $135,980 | $119,390 | Data +$16,590 |
| Seattle, WA | $173,186 | $139,997 | Data +$33,189 |
| Austin, TX | $130,733 | $107,475 | Data +$23,258 |
| Chicago, IL | $132,415 | $108,552 | Data +$23,863 |
| Boston, MA | $156,115 | $133,124 | Data +$22,991 |
| London, UK | £78,216 | £79,867 | Data $1,651 |
| Toronto, Canada | CA$134,265 | CA$130,108 | Data +$4,157 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Data Scientist or MLOps Engineer earn more?+
A Data Scientist earns more on average. The national median salary for a Data Scientist is $120,230/year, compared to $99,130/year for a MLOps Engineer — a difference of $21,100 (21%).
Which has better career growth — Data Scientist or MLOps Engineer?+
Data Scientist roles are growing at 36% YoY while MLOps Engineer demand is growing at 52% YoY. MLOps Engineer has stronger near-term demand growth.
Can you switch from Data Scientist to MLOps Engineer?+
Yes. Many professionals transition between these roles, especially since both are in the same category. Shared skills include: Python.
Which is harder to automate — Data Scientist or MLOps Engineer?+
MLOps Engineer has a lower AI automation risk (22% vs 40%). Based on Oxford Martin School and McKinsey 2023 analysis.