Senior Data Scientist Salary in Stuttgart (2026)
Senior data scientists in Stuttgart earn €78,000–€120,000 per year, with a median of €88,000. At this level, Stuttgart's automotive and manufacturing premium is most pronounced — OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers pay top salaries for data scientists who combine ML expertise with deep domain knowledge in autonomous driving, predictive maintenance, or manufacturing quality optimization.
Key Facts
- Senior data scientists earn €78K–€120K base, with IG Metall benefits adding 15–25%
- Autonomous driving perception roles pay €100K–€120K+ at OEMs
- EU AI Act compliance skills create a premium niche in automotive AI
- Domain expertise in autonomous driving or manufacturing is the key salary differentiator
- Head of Data Science roles at OEMs reach €110K–€140K+
Salary by Sub-Level
- Senior (5–8 years): €78,000–€100,000
- Lead/Principal (8–12 years): €100,000–€120,000
- Head of Data Science (12+ years): €110,000–€140,000+
What Drives Senior DS Compensation in Stuttgart
At senior level, two factors dominate: (1) ability to deploy ML models into production environments with automotive-grade reliability, and (2) domain expertise in autonomous driving perception, manufacturing quality, or connected vehicle analytics. OEMs pay €95K+ for data scientists who can own end-to-end ML pipelines in safety-critical environments.
Autonomous Driving Track
Mercedes-Benz's autonomous driving team and Bosch's ADAS division represent the highest-paying data science roles in Stuttgart: €100K–€120K+ for senior data scientists working on perception, prediction, and sensor fusion. These roles require strong computer vision and deep learning backgrounds.
The EU AI Act Impact
The EU AI Act classifies autonomous driving and manufacturing safety systems as high-risk AI. Senior data scientists who can build models that are accurate, explainable, auditable, and compliant are in extremely high demand — this regulatory overlay creates a premium niche in Stuttgart's safety-critical AI applications.
Top Hiring Companies
Career Advice
At senior level, your highest-leverage move is combining deep learning skills with automotive safety and compliance expertise. The EU AI Act will create enormous demand for data scientists building compliant AI systems for autonomous driving and manufacturing. Target Bosch AI Center for research-oriented roles, or Mercedes-Benz autonomous driving for the highest-paying applied work.
Senior Data Scientist Insights — Stuttgart
Senior Data Scientist salaries in Stuttgart range from €78,000 to €120,000, a 48% spread indicating moderate variation depending on seniority and employer. The median of €88,000 sits below the midpoint, suggesting more positions cluster toward the entry-to-mid-level end of the range.
Stuttgart's cost of living index of 82/100 makes it one of the more expensive locations for tech professionals. While the €88,000 median is competitive, housing and daily expenses consume a larger share of income compared to lower-cost cities.
The hiring landscape for senior data scientist in Stuttgart is anchored by employers like Mercedes-Benz, Bosch, and Porsche, along with 2 other notable employers. Larger employers in this market typically offer compensation at the upper end of the range, often supplemented with equity, signing bonuses, and comprehensive benefits.
Demand for senior data scientist in Stuttgart centers around expertise in Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Computer Vision, plus 2 other core competencies. Candidates with strong proficiency across these areas tend to command offers closer to the €120,000 ceiling, and have natural transition paths into roles like Data Scientist or ML Engineer.
Related Roles in Stuttgart
Explore salary information for similar positions and compare compensation across different roles.
| Role | Location | Salary Range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Software Engineer | Stuttgart | €80,000 - €125,000 | €92,000 |
| Senior DevOps Engineer | Stuttgart | €75,000 - €115,000 | €86,000 |
| Senior ML Engineer | Stuttgart | €88,000 - €130,000 | €98,000 |
| Senior Data Engineer | Stuttgart | €72,000 - €110,000 | €84,000 |
| Senior Product Manager | Stuttgart | €82,000 - €125,000 | €95,000 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does a senior data scientist earn in Stuttgart?
Senior data scientists earn €78,000–€120,000 base, with a median of €88,000. Including IG Metall benefits (13th-month salary, profit sharing), total compensation can reach €90,000–€150,000. Lead/Principal data scientists earn €100,000–€120,000, and Heads of Data Science at OEMs reach €110,000–€140,000+.
What is the difference between a senior data scientist and ML engineer in Stuttgart?
Senior data scientists focus on statistical modeling, research, and domain insights — often working closely with engineering and manufacturing teams. ML engineers focus on building production ML systems (model serving, edge deployment, monitoring). In Stuttgart, the distinction often involves: data scientists analyze sensor/production data; ML engineers deploy models to vehicle hardware or factory systems.
How does EU AI Act affect data science in Stuttgart?
The EU AI Act classifies autonomous driving and safety-critical manufacturing AI as high-risk. This means mandatory explainability, safety testing, human oversight, and audit trails — core Stuttgart AI use cases. Senior data scientists who understand automotive functional safety (ISO 26262) alongside AI governance are in high demand.
Should I move to Stuttgart from Munich for a senior data science role?
Stuttgart pays slightly less in nominal terms (median €88K vs Munich's ~€95K), but the cost of living advantage is significant — 18% lower rent. IG Metall benefits at OEMs often close the gap entirely. If you're interested in automotive/manufacturing AI specifically, Stuttgart has deeper concentration. For broader ML opportunities, Munich offers more diversity.
What certifications help senior data scientists in Stuttgart?
AWS/GCP ML certifications signal production skills. Automotive functional safety certifications (ISO 26262 awareness) show domain credibility. For the EU AI Act niche, emerging certifications in AI governance and responsible AI are valued. MATLAB certifications still have relevance in some research-adjacent roles at Bosch and Mercedes-Benz.
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