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.
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 #24 of 72 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 | Jacksonville, FL | $122,680 | $95,118 | $95,611 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $141,760 | $101,803 | $95,264 |
| 24 | 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 72 metros →
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 #24 of 72 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%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Database Architect — $162,870
- Computer and Information Research Scientist — $161,090
- Computer Network Architect — $159,820
- Software Developer — $154,930
- Information Security Analyst — $148,950
- Actuary — $144,680
- Statistician — $136,660
- Web Developer — $134,350
- Computer Programmer — $130,390
- Operations Research Analyst — $127,600
- Computer Systems Analyst — $127,040
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $126,350