Data Scientist Salary
Data Scientists earn a median $120,230 a year nationally. Computer and Mathematical Occupations
U.S. median
$120,230
$57.80 per hour
Range
$67,240 – $199,130
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
262,440
across the U.S.
▲6.8%
Pay trend: The median for data scientists in the U.S. rose from $112,590 (May 2024) to $120,230 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 4.4%.
What data scientists do
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)
- Openings per year
- 24,800
- Self-employed
- 2%
Employment of data scientists is projected to grow 34.6% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 24,800 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Data Scientist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$93,412
per year · effective tax rate 22.3%
$7,784Monthly
$3,892Twice a month
$3,593Every 2 weeks
$44.91Hourly
- Federal income tax$17,621
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,454
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,743
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$93,412
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,240 | $32.33 | $56,133 |
| 25th percentile | $85,660 | $41.18 | $69,092 |
| Median (50th) | $120,230 | $57.80 | $93,412 |
| 75th percentile | $158,880 | $76.38 | $119,860 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $199,130 | $95.74 | $148,278 |
Best cities for data scientists (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $164,740 | $123,866 | $111,457 | 8,370 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $185,080 | $122,415 | $110,860 | 6,060 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $127,360 | $98,317 | $100,256 | 3,730 |
| 4 | Charlotte, NC | $132,460 | $97,026 | $99,669 | 4,420 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $170,110 | $113,734 | $98,375 | 10,460 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $127,750 | $98,583 | $95,628 | 10,120 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $129,780 | $92,616 | $88,355 | 3,250 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $132,040 | $95,133 | $87,870 | 7,930 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $135,980 | $97,226 | $86,375 | 23,160 |
| 10 | Miami, FL | $127,450 | $98,378 | $86,179 | 3,040 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $132,200 | $93,356 | $85,739 | 9,260 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $106,750 | $83,929 | $85,095 | 4,060 |
| 13 | Salt Lake City, UT | $114,990 | $85,517 | $84,781 | 2,970 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $114,540 | $86,754 | $83,970 | 3,480 |
| 15 | San Diego, CA | $130,990 | $91,142 | $81,459 | 2,830 |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $109,910 | $82,777 | $80,716 | 6,480 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $108,940 | $80,438 | $80,391 | 6,820 |
| 18 | Los Angeles, CA | $129,740 | $90,420 | $79,619 | 9,850 |
| 19 | Denver, CO | $112,520 | $83,745 | $79,168 | 4,510 |
| 20 | St. Louis, MO | $99,600 | $75,155 | $79,037 | 2,640 |
| 21 | Detroit, MI | $103,330 | $77,382 | $77,152 | 3,810 |
| 22 | Chicago, IL | $107,640 | $79,371 | $76,617 | 7,940 |
| 23 | Sacramento, CA | $103,700 | $75,020 | $70,329 | 2,710 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Jose, CA — $185,080
- San Francisco, CA — $170,110
- Seattle, WA — $164,740
- New York, NY — $135,980
- Charlotte, NC — $132,460
- Washington, DC — $132,200
- Boston, MA — $132,040
- San Diego, CA — $130,990
- Minneapolis, MN — $129,780
- Los Angeles, CA — $129,740
- Dallas, TX — $127,750
- Miami, FL — $127,450
- Austin, TX — $127,360
- Salt Lake City, UT — $114,990
- Phoenix, AZ — $114,540
Data Scientist salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $163,350 | +2.9% | $122,916 | $79,930 – $220,040 | 9,600 |
| California | $141,590 | +3.5% | $97,264 | $77,480 – $224,920 | 39,310 |
| Maryland | $136,370 | +9.7% | $98,274 | $77,930 – $213,270 | 3,340 |
| New Jersey | $135,280 | +3.8% | $97,302 | $80,720 – $203,950 | 6,430 |
| Massachusetts | $131,750 | −0.4% | $94,950 | $81,030 – $206,220 | 9,420 |
| New York | $130,460 | +4.0% | $93,779 | $73,330 – $214,080 | 23,970 |
| Minnesota | $128,800 | +9.3% | $92,023 | $65,730 – $179,640 | 4,020 |
| Vermont | $127,070 | +5.3% | $92,192 | $76,570 – $160,430 | 200 |
| District of Columbia | $126,490 | −7.8% | $89,939 | $89,750 – $209,730 | 2,680 |
| Virginia | $126,430 | +0.3% | $91,225 | $76,420 – $207,890 | 8,920 |
| Connecticut | $126,340 | +14.9% | $92,189 | $75,700 – $204,680 | 1,760 |
| Oregon | $125,990 | +18.7% | $87,186 | $78,110 – $206,550 | 2,140 |
| Texas | $122,090 | +14.6% | $94,715 | $64,540 – $170,780 | 25,860 |
| North Carolina | $119,090 | +3.2% | $88,367 | $65,970 – $172,830 | 11,430 |
| Colorado | $117,400 | +10.2% | $86,964 | $74,470 – $189,630 | 6,280 |
| Florida | $115,820 | +9.5% | $90,309 | $63,080 – $174,140 | 10,240 |
| Arkansas | $109,390 | +4.9% | $81,732 | $67,090 – $169,110 | 530 |
| Utah | $108,090 | −7.2% | $80,973 | $60,680 – $167,890 | 4,360 |
| Arizona | $107,240 | +1.1% | $81,801 | $65,200 – $161,730 | 4,560 |
| Pennsylvania | $106,850 | +6.5% | $80,719 | $63,340 – $162,290 | 13,810 |
| Wisconsin | $106,680 | +6.7% | $79,606 | $76,300 – $168,810 | 4,370 |
| Illinois | $106,560 | −6.1% | $78,665 | $68,810 – $168,880 | 10,520 |
| Georgia | $104,340 | +1.7% | $77,441 | $67,750 – $170,010 | 9,260 |
| Alabama | $103,120 | −2.2% | $76,484 | $59,130 – $161,590 | 1,740 |
| Ohio | $102,630 | +4.1% | $78,990 | $61,710 – $160,650 | 6,100 |
| Rhode Island | $102,440 | −10.4% | $77,633 | $75,310 – $158,820 | 1,160 |
| Hawaii | $102,130 | −17.6% | $74,447 | $77,270 – $172,870 | 300 |
| New Hampshire | $100,620 | +1.7% | $79,616 | $73,480 – $155,020 | 1,100 |
| Michigan | $100,590 | +1.1% | $75,571 | $60,830 – $162,670 | 7,360 |
| Montana | $100,490 | −6.0% | $75,208 | $67,120 – $167,150 | 220 |
| Tennessee | $100,330 | −4.2% | $79,412 | $60,200 – $156,160 | 2,790 |
| Nevada | $98,540 | +5.6% | $78,153 | $57,150 – $164,110 | 1,680 |
| Nebraska | $98,230 | +1.8% | $74,345 | $66,230 – $133,140 | 1,980 |
| Kansas | $98,130 | −11.0% | $73,188 | $60,520 – $154,990 | 490 |
| Missouri | $97,090 | +13.5% | $73,507 | $58,960 – $151,380 | 4,730 |
| South Dakota | $96,150 | +4.5% | $76,472 | $67,510 – $145,510 | 220 |
| New Mexico | $95,850 | +12.7% | $72,895 | $49,990 – $133,660 | 560 |
| Iowa | $95,830 | −2.2% | $73,257 | $56,070 – $146,700 | 2,300 |
| South Carolina | $91,990 | +1.5% | $69,183 | $61,600 – $156,000 | 3,750 |
| Kentucky | $91,760 | −1.9% | $70,289 | $61,990 – $156,480 | 1,540 |
| Indiana | $91,470 | +8.8% | $70,510 | $58,750 – $141,250 | 3,580 |
| Maine | $90,880 | −3.7% | $67,762 | $60,280 – $138,530 | 1,210 |
| Idaho | $89,380 | −18.3% | $68,080 | $63,980 – $169,010 | 1,350 |
| Oklahoma | $86,310 | +7.4% | $66,211 | $58,690 – $145,580 | 1,900 |
| West Virginia | $85,090 | −11.1% | $65,524 | $57,500 – $125,100 | 390 |
| Alaska | $84,110 | +8.7% | $68,001 | $51,550 – $138,400 | 230 |
| North Dakota | $81,900 | −14.9% | $66,109 | $59,030 – $126,710 | 210 |
| Louisiana | $78,760 | +11.7% | $62,261 | $53,050 – $128,210 | 1,300 |
| Mississippi | $69,490 | +0.1% | $55,669 | $43,940 – $125,990 | 440 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematician | $126,710 | Master's degree | +0.6% |
| Actuary | $130,000 | Bachelor's degree | +9.2% |
| Statistician | $105,650 | Master's degree | +11.0% |
| Operations Research Analyst | $88,940 | Bachelor's degree | +11.9% |
| Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other | $81,490 | Bachelor's degree | +7.1% |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $116,580 | Bachelor's degree | +5.1% |
| Information Security Analyst | $129,180 | Bachelor's degree | +21.0% |
| Computer Network Architect | $134,050 | Bachelor's degree | +7.7% |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $105,850 | Bachelor's degree | +7.9% |
| Database Administrator | $104,620 | Bachelor's degree | -0.1% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make?
The national median salary for data scientists is $120,230 a year ($57.80 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $67,240 and the top 10% earn over $199,130. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays data scientists the most?
Washington has the highest median pay at $163,350. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many data scientists are there in the U.S.?
About 262,440 people work as data scientists nationwide.