Median salary: $115K (Data Scientist) vs $85K (Web Developer). Salary ranges overlap between 75K–180K and 50K–140K. The take-home difference depends on state taxes, cost of living, and where in the salary range you fall.
At the national median, Data Scientists earn $115K and Web Developers earn $85K. After federal taxes and FICA (calculated without state tax to isolate the salary effect), Data Scientists take home $89,678 vs $68,573 for Web Developers.
The $30K salary advantage for Data Scientists doesn’t translate dollar-for-dollar to take-home. Because of progressive federal tax brackets, the Data Scientist’s higher salary is taxed at a higher marginal rate. Of the $30K gross difference, only $21,105 reaches the Data Scientist’s pocket — the rest goes to taxes.
Data Scientists face an effective tax rate of 22.0% at median, while Web Developers pay 19.3%. The higher rate for Data Scientists reflects more income being pushed into higher federal brackets.
The best states differ for each profession because salary adjustments vary by state cost index and interact differently with tax brackets. A state that’s great for a $115K earner may not be optimal for a $85K earner.
All 50 states showing estimated salary and take-home for both professions. Sorted by which states give Data Scientists the largest take-home advantage over Web Developers.
| State | Data Scientist Salary | Data Scientist Take-Home | Web Developer Salary | Web Developer Take-Home | Difference | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $221K | $148,424 | $163K | $110,982 | +$37,442 | Data Scientist |
| Alaska | $146K | $111,017 | $108K | $84,753 | +$26,264 | Data Scientist |
| California | $163K | $108,545 | $121K | $83,438 | +$25,107 | Data Scientist |
| Massachusetts | $136K | $97,382 | $100K | $74,125 | +$23,257 | Data Scientist |
| Washington | $127K | $98,031 | $94K | $74,904 | +$23,127 | Data Scientist |
| New York | $144K | $97,288 | $106K | $74,246 | +$23,042 | Data Scientist |
| New Hampshire | $124K | $95,980 | $92K | $73,497 | +$22,483 | Data Scientist |
| Connecticut | $128K | $92,898 | $94K | $70,633 | +$22,265 | Data Scientist |
| Maryland | $129K | $92,641 | $95K | $70,632 | +$22,009 | Data Scientist |
| New Jersey | $132K | $92,225 | $98K | $70,870 | +$21,354 | Data Scientist |
| Rhode Island | $121K | $89,187 | $89K | $67,921 | +$21,266 | Data Scientist |
| Florida | $115K | $89,678 | $85K | $68,573 | +$21,105 | Data Scientist |
| Nevada | $116K | $90,381 | $86K | $69,276 | +$21,105 | Data Scientist |
| Colorado | $121K | $88,575 | $89K | $67,471 | +$21,104 | Data Scientist |
| Vermont | $121K | $87,017 | $89K | $66,325 | +$20,692 | Data Scientist |
| Oregon | $127K | $87,953 | $94K | $67,445 | +$20,508 | Data Scientist |
| Arizona | $112K | $84,767 | $82K | $64,412 | +$20,355 | Data Scientist |
| Montana | $112K | $83,454 | $82K | $63,451 | +$20,003 | Data Scientist |
| Virginia | $118K | $87,378 | $88K | $67,394 | +$19,984 | Data Scientist |
| Pennsylvania | $113K | $83,106 | $83K | $63,372 | +$19,734 | Data Scientist |
| Maine | $113K | $83,019 | $83K | $63,308 | +$19,711 | Data Scientist |
| Utah | $114K | $83,673 | $84K | $63,963 | +$19,710 | Data Scientist |
| South Dakota | $106K | $83,346 | $78K | $63,648 | +$19,698 | Data Scientist |
| Texas | $107K | $84,050 | $79K | $64,352 | +$19,698 | Data Scientist |
| Wyoming | $108K | $84,753 | $80K | $65,055 | +$19,698 | Data Scientist |
| Delaware | $117K | $84,310 | $87K | $64,942 | +$19,368 | Data Scientist |
| North Dakota | $106K | $82,002 | $78K | $62,659 | +$19,343 | Data Scientist |
| Minnesota | $114K | $81,675 | $84K | $62,491 | +$19,184 | Data Scientist |
| Tennessee | $104K | $81,939 | $77K | $62,945 | +$18,995 | Data Scientist |
| Louisiana | $105K | $79,742 | $77K | $60,817 | +$18,925 | Data Scientist |
| Nebraska | $105K | $79,537 | $77K | $60,667 | +$18,870 | Data Scientist |
| New Mexico | $105K | $78,616 | $77K | $59,992 | +$18,624 | Data Scientist |
| North Carolina | $109K | $81,107 | $81K | $62,527 | +$18,581 | Data Scientist |
| South Carolina | $106K | $78,936 | $78K | $60,403 | +$18,533 | Data Scientist |
| Illinois | $107K | $78,753 | $79K | $60,441 | +$18,312 | Data Scientist |
| Wisconsin | $107K | $78,729 | $79K | $60,423 | +$18,306 | Data Scientist |
| Georgia | $107K | $78,496 | $79K | $60,251 | +$18,245 | Data Scientist |
| Idaho | $109K | $79,680 | $81K | $61,466 | +$18,214 | Data Scientist |
| Michigan | $105K | $76,605 | $77K | $58,517 | +$18,088 | Data Scientist |
| Kansas | $104K | $78,086 | $77K | $60,092 | +$17,994 | Data Scientist |
| Ohio | $104K | $77,519 | $77K | $59,672 | +$17,847 | Data Scientist |
| Indiana | $104K | $77,311 | $77K | $59,518 | +$17,793 | Data Scientist |
| Kentucky | $104K | $76,739 | $77K | $59,095 | +$17,645 | Data Scientist |
| Arkansas | $99K | $75,912 | $73K | $58,280 | +$17,632 | Data Scientist |
| Oklahoma | $100K | $76,038 | $74K | $58,549 | +$17,488 | Data Scientist |
| Iowa | $102K | $76,656 | $76K | $59,353 | +$17,303 | Data Scientist |
| Missouri | $102K | $75,820 | $76K | $58,730 | +$17,090 | Data Scientist |
| Alabama | $101K | $75,031 | $75K | $57,975 | +$17,056 | Data Scientist |
| Mississippi | $95K | $72,520 | $71K | $56,416 | +$16,104 | Data Scientist |
| West Virginia | $95K | $72,446 | $71K | $56,361 | +$16,085 | Data Scientist |
Job Security & Demand: Both Data Scientists and Web Developers benefit from strong demand in the technology sector, though the specific skills in demand shift rapidly. Data Scientists may find more stability in larger enterprises, while Web Developers often see high demand at startups and data-driven companies. Automation risk is relatively low for both, as these roles create the automation rather than being replaced by it.
Growth & Advancement: The tech industry continues to grow, but the trajectory differs. Data Scientist roles are well-established with clear career ladders (junior to senior to staff to principal). Web Developer positions have seen explosive growth as companies invest in AI and analytics, though the field is still defining senior-level career paths. Both careers offer strong six-figure earning potential within 5–10 years.
Work-Life Balance & Lifestyle: Work-life balance varies more by company culture than by job title. Both Data Scientists and Web Developers benefit from remote work flexibility — a significant tax optimization opportunity since you can live in a no-tax state. On-call expectations and deadline pressure can be intense at high-growth companies for either role.