Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$67,240
- 25th Percentile — Junior$85,660
- 50th Percentile — Median$120,230
- 75th Percentile — Senior$158,880
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$199,130
The top 10% of Data Scientists earn $199,130 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $67,240, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $158,040 | +24.6% |
| California | $156,000 | +23.0% |
| Maryland | $144,080 | +13.6% |
| District of Columbia | $142,580 | +12.4% |
| New Jersey | $138,590 | +9.3% |
| New York | $137,690 | +8.6% |
| Massachusetts | $136,460 | +7.6% |
| Virginia | $134,590 | +6.1% |
| Delaware (est.) | $133,140 | +5.0% |
| Oregon | $131,300 | +3.5% |
| Connecticut | $129,850 | +2.4% |
| Colorado | $126,800 | +0.0% |
| Minnesota | $126,290 | -0.4% |
| Vermont | $123,640 | -2.5% |
| North Carolina | $121,270 | -4.4% |
| Texas | $119,710 | -5.6% |
| Florida | $119,150 | -6.0% |
| Hawaii | $118,940 | -6.2% |
| Wyoming (est.) | $117,924 | -7.0% |
| Illinois | $117,870 | -7.0% |
| Wisconsin | $116,600 | -8.0% |
| Arkansas | $116,320 | -8.3% |
| Georgia | $115,940 | -8.6% |
| Utah | $114,880 | -9.4% |
| Arizona | $111,950 | -11.7% |
| Rhode Island | $111,260 | -12.3% |
| Pennsylvania | $110,810 | -12.6% |
| Idaho | $110,220 | -13.1% |
| New Hampshire | $109,880 | -13.3% |
| Nevada | $108,340 | -14.6% |
| Montana | $108,170 | -14.7% |
| Ohio | $107,160 | -15.5% |
| Michigan | $105,890 | -16.5% |
| Tennessee | $105,200 | -17.0% |
| Alabama | $105,180 | -17.1% |
| Kansas | $105,080 | -17.1% |
| South Carolina | $102,830 | -18.9% |
| South Dakota | $102,450 | -19.2% |
| Missouri | $100,880 | -20.4% |
| Kentucky | $100,840 | -20.5% |
| Nebraska | $98,980 | -21.9% |
| Indiana | $98,340 | -22.4% |
| Iowa | $98,100 | -22.6% |
| Maine | $97,500 | -23.1% |
| Oklahoma | $94,950 | -25.1% |
| New Mexico | $94,160 | -25.7% |
| West Virginia | $90,730 | -28.4% |
| Alaska | $89,810 | -29.2% |
| Louisiana | $88,480 | -30.2% |
| North Dakota | $87,570 | -30.9% |
| Mississippi | $79,290 | -37.5% |
What Factors Affect Data Scientists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Data Scientists is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: Washington pays an average of $158,040, while Mississippi pays $79,290 — a gap of $78,750 per year.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Data Scientists typically earn $67,240–$85,660 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $158,880–$199,130 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Data Scientists role currently has high demand in the job market with a 5.5% growth rate, making it one of the most growing careers in the Technology sector.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
- Software Developers $148,100/yr United States +16.8% vs this role
- Information Security Analysts $132,510/yr United States +4.5% vs this role
- Software Quality Assurance Analysts $111,490/yr United States 12.1% vs this role
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators $103,680/yr United States 18.2% vs this role
- Computer Network Architects $139,580/yr United States +10.1% vs this role
- Web Developers $98,770/yr United States 22.1% vs this role
- Registered Nurses $101,420/yr United States 20.0% vs this role
- Nurse Practitioners $137,300/yr United States +8.3% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Data Scientists?
The average salary for Data Scientists in the United States is $126,800 per year, with a median of $120,230.
What is the starting salary for Data Scientists?
Entry-level Data Scientists typically earn between $67,240 and $85,660 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Data Scientists the most?
Washington pays Data Scientists the most at $158,040 per year on average, followed by California ($156,000) and Maryland ($144,080).
How much do Data Scientists make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $126,800, Data Scientists earn approximately $60.96 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Data Scientists a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 262,440 Data Scientists jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $126,800 and a median of $120,230 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data