PE / VC · Director
Head of Data Science (PE) Salary
Compensation benchmarks from 255 verified sources including industry surveys, published reports, and market intelligence.
National Compensation Range
P25
$210,000
25th percentile
P50
$325,000
Median
P75
$500,000
75th percentile
CANDIDATE MARKET
Very Tight
Scarcity: 9/10
EST. CANDIDATE POOL
Very limited (~80-150 globally)
Active candidates nationally
DEMAND TREND
Stable
30% year-over-year
RETENTION
3 yr avg tenure
18% annual turnover
Head of Data Science (PE) Salary by City
Median (P50) adjusted for metro cost of labor.
Market Trends
Emerging. Blackstone has dedicated data science team. Rapidly growing at mega-funds.
Also Known As
Director of Data Science (PE), Head of Analytics (PE Fund), PE Data & AI Lead, Chief Data Officer (PE)
What Does a Head of Data Science (PE) Do?
The Head of Data Science (PE) operates within private equity firms, venture capital funds, or growth equity platforms, working alongside managing partners and portfolio company leadership. Professionals in this role typically bring 8 to 12 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Director level, this position draws from a very tight candidate market with an estimated pool of Very limited (~80-150 globally) qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.
What Drives Head of Data Science (PE) Compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for a Head of Data Science (PE) is $325,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $210,000 to $500,000. The 89% spread between P25 and P75 reflects significant pay variation driven by fund size and stage, carry allocation, deal volume, geographic market, firm reputation, and whether the role involves direct deal execution or portfolio operations. Demand for this role is trending upward with 0.3% year-over-year growth, which is putting upward pressure on compensation at all levels.
Head of Data Science (PE) Career Path
Professionals who move into Head of Data Science (PE) roles most commonly come from investment banking, management consulting, corporate development, or operational roles at portfolio companies. From this position, the typical trajectory leads toward partner-track advancement, portfolio company C-suite placements, or launching their own fund. The average tenure in this role is approximately 3 years, with an annual turnover rate of 18%.
Hiring a Head of Data Science (PE)?
Get a full search playbook with compensation positioning, sourcing strategy, and interview framework.
Start a Search