Data Scientist Salary in Washington, DC
Data Scientists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $132,200 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $93,356 take-home, or $7,780 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median data scientist salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,462
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,196
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,917
- District of Columbia income tax$8,269
- Take-home pay$93,356
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Data Scientist pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,250 | $40.99 | $64,526 | $5,377 |
| 25th percentile | $105,700 | $50.82 | $77,174 | $6,431 |
| Median (50th) | $132,200 | $63.56 | $93,356 | $7,780 |
| 75th percentile | $172,960 | $83.15 | $117,751 | $9,813 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $212,320 | $102.08 | $142,922 | $11,910 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $132,200 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median data scientist's $93,356 take-home pay has the buying power of $85,739 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Washington, DC has 1.8× the national concentration of data scientist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for data scientists, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #11 of 23 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $164,740 | $123,866 | $111,457 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $185,080 | $122,415 | $110,860 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $127,360 | $98,317 | $100,256 |
| 4 | Charlotte, NC | $132,460 | $97,026 | $99,669 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $170,110 | $113,734 | $98,375 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $127,750 | $98,583 | $95,628 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $129,780 | $92,616 | $88,355 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $132,040 | $95,133 | $87,870 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $132,200 | $93,356 | $85,739 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 23 metros →
About the job: data scientists
Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +34.6% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in Washington, DC?
The median data scientist salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $132,200 a year, or about $63.56 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $105,700 and $172,960.
What is a data scientist’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $132,200 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $93,356 a year ($7,780 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,269 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a data scientist?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $120,230. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $85,739 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #11 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a data scientist afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 26% of a median data scientist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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