Facebook is one of the major players in data science and is constantly on the lookout for expert data scientists who can work with huge amounts of data. Given the demand, you can expect a lucrative salary package as a Data Scientist at Facebook.
Companies worldwide are in dire need of data science experts to extract actionable insights from big data. Only highly skilled professionals who are adept both at business and the intricacies of tech can undertake this activity. Accordingly, companies like Facebook offer attractive salaries to their data scientists. It’s a great time to have a career in data science.
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In this article, we’ll look at the data scientist salary at Facebook and the average salaries that data scientists working at Facebook earn across different cities in the United States. Here’s what we’ll cover:
- What does a data scientist do at Facebook?
- Facebook data scientist salary
- Facebook senior data scientist salary
- Stock options in Facebook data scientist salary
- Facebook data scientist salary by location
- Data scientist salary: Facebook vs. other tech companies
- Beyond salary: Benefits of working at Facebook as a data scientist
- FAQs on Facebook data scientist salary
What Does a Data Scientist Do at Facebook?
Data scientists are more focused on the business side of things, and their role is a hybrid of a product manager and an analyst. Here’s a gist of what they do:
- Conduct large-scale quantitative research to obtain deeper insights into how users interact with one another and the world around them
- Work in cross-functional teams and collaborate with other key players such as UX researchers, machine learning engineers, and product managers
- Conduct qualitative and quantitative research on distilled information and convert them into actionable insights
Facebook requires prospective data scientists to possess multiple skills for data analysis, product intuition, and SQL coding. They should also have solid communication skills to communicate effectively with businesses and key stakeholders.
Recommended Reading: How to Create an Impressive Data Scientist Resume
Facebook Data Scientist Salary
Various levels determine your seniority and data scientist Facebook salary. The data scientist salary at Facebook is commensurate with the skills and expertise that the candidates bring to the table. We’ll look at Facebook data scientist salary at different levels, but first, let’s examine the components.
Facebook Data Scientist Salary Components
A data scientist’s salary at Facebook is made of three components:
- Base compensation: It is usually commensurate with other tech companies. Facebook also has a base salary band associated with each level and location, which expands as you become more senior. This is the component that is negotiated the most.
- Bonuses: This is based on your performance and the performance of the company. The exact bonus percentage is mentioned in your offer letter, and it is paid every six months. This component is non-negotiable.
- Stock option: Facebook offers equity to its employees in the form of restricted stock units. These are vested over 4 years. Hiring managers are usually open to negotiating equity, and the equity band also tends to be larger than the base salary component.
Recommended Reading: Salary Negotiation — Understanding the Compensation Structure
Facebook Data Scientist Salary at Different Levels
Here’s an overview of the various levels and the average salary range:
L3 (Associate Data Scientist)
This is typically the level at which data science engineers or software engineers are hired when fresh out of grad school.
- Total average salary: $343,000
- Base salary: $180,000
- Bonus: $36,000
- Stock: $126,000
L4 (Data Scientist)
Those hired at this level should have at least 3-5 years of industry experience. However, new grads can also get hired at this level provided they can demonstrate skill and expertise.
- Total average salary: $491,000
- Base salary: $210,000
- Bonus: $60,000
- Stock: $219,000
L5 (Data Scientist)
At this level, data scientists should have at least 6-9 years of industry experience as they are required to lead complex projects on their own. This level is also considered a “terminal” level before a data scientist moves into the management domain as L6 onwards, they perform more managerial responsibilities.
- Total average salary: $705,000
- Base salary: $264,000
- Bonus: $95,000
- Stock: $346,000
L6 (Data Scientist)
Most data scientists working at L6 have almost 9+ years of experience.
- Total average salary: $1,350,000
- Base salary: $318,000
- Bonus: $122,000
- Stock: $907,000
L7 and L8
These levels require more than 10 years of experience.
- Total average salary: $900,000 to $1.2 Million
- Bonus: $600,000 to $1 Million
Recommended Reading: Machine Learning vs. Data Science — Which Has a Better Future?
Facebook Senior Data Scientist Salary
The average Facebook senior data scientist salary is usually $166,742, with additional compensation in cash and stock bonuses ranging from $13,000 to $96,000.
Most senior data scientists have a Bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, statistics, mathematics, engineering, or economics. Additional qualifications such as a master’s degree or Ph.D. in machine learning, knowledge of coding, and experience working in analytics are a bonus that can help fetch a higher salary.
Stock Options in Facebook Data Scientist Salary
Stock options are provided to all employees at Facebook, including data scientists, based on their performance.
In addition, Facebook also offers a restricted stock unit (RSU). An RSU provides employees a share or payout of the company at a future date. It can be linked to performance. Each RSU is worth a share of Facebook. Even though the share price fluctuates daily, your RSU is linked to the value of the share on the day it was vested.
It is initially indicated as a Facebook equity grant, denominated in dollars. This is converted into RSUs based on the corresponding dollar amount. RSUs can be earned throughout your time at Facebook.
Facebook follows a 4-year vesting schedule with three different ways to vest. Each year, there are four vesting dates — February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15. The first date after your joining date is your first vesting date.
Your offer letter will mention whether you will follow Vesting Schedule A, B, or C:
- Schedule A: You earn 1/16th of your RSUs each quarter for four years
- Schedule B: You earn 1/12th the first quarter, 1/16th the following two quarters, and 2/48 the final quarter
- Schedule C: You earn 5/48s of your RSUs the first quarter, 1/16th the following quarters, and 1/48th the final quarter
The number of RSUs you will hold is determined based on:
Grant dollar value/Average closing Facebook stock price for the month before your start date
For instance, if you started July 1, 2020, and the average Facebook stock price for June 1 to 30, 2020, is $100, and your grant dollar value is $1,500, you’d receive 15 RSUs.
Facebook Data Scientist Salary by Location
Based on our research, here’s an overview of the average data scientist salary at Facebook across the United States:
Data Scientist Salary: Facebook vs. Other Tech Companies
To provide a more comprehensive understanding of data scientist salary at Facebook, let’s compare the salaries paid by three other top tech companies (average base salaries):
As you can see, when it comes to data scientist salary, Facebook is up there with all other FAANG+ companies. From this data, it is also clear that a career in data science at a big tech company can be pretty lucrative.
Beyond Salary: Benefits of Working at Facebook as a Data Scientist
Along with a lucrative salary, data scientists employed at Facebook also enjoy a host of benefits. These include:
- Unlimited sick leave
- Parental leave for four months
- Free lunch and dinner five days a week
- Newborn bonus
- Health insurance offering complete coverage
- 21 days paid leave each year along with 30 days leave once every five years to recharge
- Reimbursement for a gym membership and other wellness programs
- Reimbursement for childcare, egg freezing, and other fertility services
- Immigration assistance
- Matching 401K contributions, Roth IRA, and flexible spending account for those working in the US
- Dental insurance
- 6 weeks paid Family Leave to care for a seriously ill family member
- Life insurance policy of 3 times the base salary and survivor benefits for spouse and child
FAQs on Facebook Data Scientist Salary
1) How much is Facebook Data Scientist Salary?
As an entry-level Facebook data scientist, you can expect to earn around $153,046. Salary is directly linked to specialization and skills. For instance, there can be a significant bump in the salary for those who master individual technologies like Spark and Scala.
2) Do data scientist interns at Facebook earn a salary?
Yes. They are one of the most well-paid interns in tech. Usually, they make approximately $8,000 every month during their internship. They also enjoy benefits such as airfare to cover travel costs for internships, complimentary meals, and a housing stipend.
3) What are the skills required to work as a data scientist at Facebook?
While the exact qualification varies, here's what Facebook is usually looking for: 2+ years of experience in quantitative analysis at a large company; Experience in different programming languages like SQL and scripting languages such as PHP, Python, Perl; Knowledge of statistical concepts and manipulating data sets through statistical software.
4) How many rounds are there in the Facebook data scientist interviews?
Usually, there are two rounds: initial screening and on-site interviews.
5) Are stock options a part of Facebook Data Scientist's salary?
Yes. Stock options are provided to all employees at Facebook, including data scientists, based on their performance.
Want to Become a Data Scientist at Facebook?
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