Data Science Series
Federal headcount, average salary, length of service, and pay comparison for the Data Science Series occupation series (code 1560), drawn directly from the OPM FedScope dataset (June 2026).
The verdict
With 1,092 employees (0.1% of the federal civilian workforce), Data Science Series ranks as a smaller, specialized federal occupation within the Mathematics and Statistics Group family, and headcount declined 2.2% from the prior period. Its average salary of $146,079 pays above the $117,339 federal average.
- Employees
- 1,092
- Share of workforce
- 0.1%
- Avg salary
- $146,079
- Avg tenure
- 8 yrs
FedScope read on Data Science Series (dense series)
Federal agencies employ 1,092 people in the Data Science Series occupation (OPM code 1560), accounting for 0.1% of the total federal civilian workforce of 1,953,300 for the June 2026 reporting window. Headcount in this occupation moved down by -2.2% versus the prior period, a modest but trackable signal for anyone considering this specialized federal career path.
Data Science Series pays $146,079 per year on average, moving up 0.2% from the prior period (a small shift, within the range of normal year-to-year rounding rather than a broad pay-table change). Employees in this role stay an average of 8 years, a mid-length average tenure, reflecting a mix of career employees and those who transfer or exit mid-career.
The Mathematics and Statistics Group family (code 15) groups Data Science Series together with 10 other related occupations across the federal government. Candidates browsing USAJOBS for Data Science Series postings should also review these sibling occupations in the Mathematics and Statistics Group family.
Inside the Mathematics and Statistics Group family (11 occupations, 22,044 employees combined), Data Science Series holds the #5 spot by headcount, a 5.0% share of the family total. Its average salary ranks in the bottom half (27th percentile) of pay among Mathematics and Statistics Group occupations.
Salary context · rich-pay series
How Data Science Series pay compares to the federal average of $117,339
Occupation Average
$146,079
Federal Average
$117,339
vs. Federal Avg
+24.5%
Where Data Science Series ranks on rich federal pay
Its average salary of $146,079 is higher than 86% of federal occupation series (465 of 541). The highlighted bar marks where Data Science Series sits in the federal pay distribution.
Average-salary distribution across all 541 federal occupation series; Data Science Series ranks higher than 86%.
Related Occupations in Mathematics and Statistics Group
10 other occupations in the same family
| Occupation | Employees | Avg Salary | Avg LOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 10,070 | $158,879 | 11 yrs |
| Operations Research | 4,562 | $162,234 | 14.2 yrs |
| Statistics | 2,962 | $140,330 | 14.3 yrs |
| Mathematical Statistics | 1,332 | $159,420 | 14.3 yrs |
| Mathematics | 979 | $177,549 | 13.2 yrs |
| Mathematics and Statistics Student Trainee | 372 | $47,225 | 0.9 yrs |
| Statistical Assistant | 336 | $52,435 | 15.2 yrs |
| Actuarial Science | 233 | $167,765 | 17.4 yrs |
| General Mathematics and Statistics | 105 | $211,381 | 16.3 yrs |
| Cryptanalysis | 1 | $158,322 | 29.7 yrs |
Nationwide peers near this dense headcount
Two peer sets for Data Science Series outside the Mathematics and Statistics Group family, on headcount and average salary axes that vary across all OPM occupation series.
Similar dense headcount
Nearest employee counts in other occupation families (1,092 here).
Similar rich average salary
Nearest average salaries in other occupation families ($146,079 here).
Key takeaways
- Data Science Series pays above the federal average by 24.5% ($146,079 vs $117,339 federal-wide), at the 86th percentile for pay among 541 tracked occupation series.
- A smaller, specialized federal occupation by headcount: 1,092 employees, 0.1% of the federal civilian workforce, and headcount declined 2.2% from the prior period.
- According to OPM FedScope June 2026, Data Science Series ranks #202 of 663 federal occupation series by headcount (the same employee_count ordering as our occupations directory).
- Inside the Mathematics and Statistics Group family (11 occupations, 22,044 employees combined), Data Science Series holds the #5 spot by headcount, a 5.0% share of the family total.
OPM FedScope and Federal Workforce Data figures are federal civilian headcounts, average salaries, and length-of-service statistics - not job-quality scores, hiring advice, or a live vacancy listing. A larger or higher-paid agency is not a better employer.