Cybersecurity Analyst vs Data Scientist: which pays more?
Cybersecurity Analysts earn about $8,000 more per year than data scientists — roughly 7% higher at the national median. Here is how the two careers compare on pay, training, and outlook.
Cybersecurity Analyst
$120,000
median per year
Information security analysts protect networks and systems from cyberattacks and data breaches.
Full cybersecurity analyst salary data →Data Scientist
$112,000
median per year
Data scientists analyze large datasets to uncover patterns and support business decisions.
Full data scientist salary data →Side-by-side breakdown
| Metric | Cybersecurity Analyst | Data Scientist |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $120,000 | $112,000 |
| Median hourly pay | $58 | $54 |
| Entry-level (10th percentile) | $78,000 | $78,000 |
| Top earners (90th percentile) | $175,000 | $178,000 |
| Education required | Bachelor's degree in IT or security plus certifications like Security+ or CISSP. | Bachelor's or master's in statistics, computer science, or a related field. |
| Job outlook | 33% growth through 2033 — much faster than average. | 36% growth through 2033 — much faster than average. |
Pay by state
| State | Cybersecurity Analyst | Data Scientist | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $141,500 | $132,000 | +$9,500 for Cybersecurity Analyst |
| New York | $137,000 | $127,500 | +$9,500 for Cybersecurity Analyst |
| Massachusetts | $135,500 | $126,500 | +$9,000 for Cybersecurity Analyst |
| Washington | $134,500 | $125,500 | +$9,000 for Cybersecurity Analyst |
| New Jersey | $131,000 | $122,000 | +$9,000 for Cybersecurity Analyst |
| Colorado | $125,000 | $116,500 | +$8,500 for Cybersecurity Analyst |
| Illinois | $122,500 | $114,000 | +$8,500 for Cybersecurity Analyst |
| Pennsylvania | $117,500 | $110,000 | +$7,500 for Cybersecurity Analyst |
| Texas | $116,500 | $108,500 | +$8,000 for Cybersecurity Analyst |
| Arizona | $115,000 | $107,500 | +$7,500 for Cybersecurity Analyst |
| Michigan | $114,000 | $106,500 | +$7,500 for Cybersecurity Analyst |
| Ohio | $113,000 | $105,500 | +$7,500 for Cybersecurity Analyst |
| Georgia | $113,000 | $105,500 | +$7,500 for Cybersecurity Analyst |
| North Carolina | $111,500 | $104,000 | +$7,500 for Cybersecurity Analyst |
| Florida | $110,500 | $103,000 | +$7,500 for Cybersecurity Analyst |
Which career should you choose?
Pay is only one part of the decision. Cybersecurity Analysts earn more on paper, but bachelor's degree in it or security plus certifications like security+ or cissp. takes longer and costs more than bachelor's or master's in statistics, computer science, or a related field.. If you want to start earning sooner, data scientist is usually the faster route. If long-term earning ceiling matters most, cybersecurity analyst tops out at $175,000 versus $178,000.
Job security also differs: cybersecurity analyst outlook is "33% growth through 2033 — much faster than average." while data scientist outlook is "36% growth through 2033 — much faster than average."