In September 2015, the Detroit News published an article announcing the University of Michigan’s intent to invest $100 million in their new Big Science Initiative. The funds will purportedly be allocated to funding a five-year plan that seeks to use big data to improve transportation, medicine, teaching and more. The state’s increasing financial support for data science innovations could mean an influx of high-salaried jobs for data science professionals.
In 2014, Michigan had already asserted itself as a major employer of data scientists. For example, the United States Department of Labor released the following highlights on the field of data science in Michigan:
- Ann Arbor was among the top ten metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of statistical modeling jobs in the country.
- Ann Arbor was also among the top ten metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of computer and information research scientist jobs in the country.
Starting Salary Ranges for Data Scientist in Michigan’s Major Cities
Ever since Amazon announced its agenda to enlarge its Detroit corporate offices in 2016, the state’s largest city has been called the next major tech hub in the country, even receiving comparison to Silicon Valley. As tech dynamos like Amazon pump more capital into the tech workforce in cities throughout Michigan, data scientists can a greater influx of high-end jobs in coming years.
Michigan’s top business tech association, Automation Alley, released its Technology Industry Report 2016, offering further evidence that data scientists are likely to experience greater salary and job availability in the state. For instance:
- Tech-related industries are the fastest growing industry sector in Southeast Michigan between 2015 and early 2016
- Employment within the tech industry is projected to rise by 1.5% from 2015 to early 2016
- Tech management jobs are the second fastest growing tech-centric jobs in Southeast Michigan between 2015 and 2016
Female data scientists in particular may find Michigan’s tech community appealing. In 2016, the personal financial technology firm Smart Asset ranked Detroit, Michigan as the #3 best city for women in tech. The company gave the Motor City such a high ranking because women hold 44.5% of all tech jobs, the three-year tech employment growth for women is 32%, and the gender pay gap is 122.8%.
Smart Asset used Quicken Loans, a major tech employer in Detroit, as an example of the city’s support for female employees. Women fill roughly 45% of all jobs and 43% of all managerial jobs at Quicken Loans.
Robert Half Technology, an IT staffing firm, provided the starting salary ranges for data scientists in Michigan’s major cities as of 2016. Salary information was gathered from the company’s many job placements in the previous year (does not include bonuses and other incentives).
Detroit Area
- Detroit: $109,000-$154,000
- Warren: $110,000-$155,000
- Livonia: $116,00-$163,000
- Monroe: $97,000-$136,000
- Ann Arbor: $111,000-$156,000
Grand Rapids Area
- Grand Rapids: $93,000-$131,000
- Wyoming: $93,000-$131,000
- Holland: $87,000-$123,000
- Grand Haven: $84,000-$119,000
- Norton Shores: $84,000-$119,000
Lansing Area
- Lansing: $93,000-$131,000
- East Lansing: $93,000-$131,000
- Jackson: $94,000-$132,000
- Flint: $88,000-$125,000
- Battle Creek: $101,000-$142,000
Harrison Area
- Harrison: $93,000-$131,000
- Saginaw: $93,000-$131,000
- Bay City: $85,000-$120,000
Other Cities
- Sterling Heights: $109,00-$154,000
- Dearborn: $109,000-$154,000
- Marquette: $94,000-$133,000
Top Paying Industries for Data Scientists in Michigan
In 2014, the United States Department of Labor calculated the following salaries for several major employment industries for data scientists in Michigan:
Statistical Modeling
- $121,900
Computer and Information Research
- $143,700
Operations Research
- $119,500
Financial Services
- $113,100
Where to Find the Best Paid Statistical Modeling Specialists in Michigan
Salaries for data scientists in Michigan working as statistical modeling specialists as published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2014:
- Ann Arbor – $128,040
- Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn MI Metropolitan Division – $110,790
- Detroit-Warren-Livonia – $104,030
- Grand Rapids-Wyoming – $108,570
- Kalamazoo-Portage – $166,810
- Lansing-East Lansing – $96,420
- Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills MI Metropolitan Division, – $96,860
Where to Find the Best Paid Computer and Information Research Scientists in Michigan
Salaries for data scientists in Michigan working in computer and information research science as published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2014:
- Ann Arbor – $124,490
- Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn MI Metropolitan Division – $125,680
Where to Find the Best Paid Data Scientists in Operations Research in Michigan
Salaries for data scientists in Michigan working in operations research as published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2014:
- Ann Arbor – $118,780
- Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn MI Metropolitan Division – $121,810
- Detroit-Warren-Livonia – $123,830
- Grand Rapids-Wyoming – $97,320
- Lansing-East Lansing – $87,050
- Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills MI Metropolitan Division – $125,120
The US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics information shown here reflects salary data for broad occupational classifications that include data scientists. These estimates are expressed as 90th percentile salaries to reflect the fact that data scientists are recognized as the top earners within each classification.