Average Data Scientists Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Data Scientists is $120,230 per year. The middle 50% earn between $85,660 and $158,880, with 262,440 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates . Data covers 50 states and 291 metro areas.
Pay distribution
Here is how Data Scientists pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $67,240
- 25th
- $85,660
- Median
- $120,230
- 75th
- $158,880
- 90th
- $199,130
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
Data Scientists are among the highest-paid occupations tracked by BLS, well into the top decile of US wages.
Pay varies significantly across workers. Seniority, employer size, and specialization all move the needle, so it is normal for two data scientists at different points in their careers to earn very different salaries.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for data scientists from 2024 to 2034. Data Scientists are projected to grow much faster than average, more than double the roughly 4% growth rate for all US occupations. Demand is strong and outpacing most of the labor market.
- Projected growth
- +33.5%
- 82,500 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 23,400
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave. Annual openings reflect typical replacement demand alongside any growth.
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is the typical entry requirement for data scientists.
Where Data Scientists earn the most
Location matters a lot. The gap between top-paying and bottom-paying states is large, so where data scientists work can reshape their total compensation. Right now, the top-paying state is Washington at $163,350, about 35.9% above the national median. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads with a median of $185,080.
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $163,350 | 9,600 |
| California | $141,590 | 39,310 |
| Maryland | $136,370 | 3,340 |
| New Jersey | $135,280 | 6,430 |
| Massachusetts | $131,750 | 9,420 |
| New York | $130,460 | 23,970 |
| Minnesota | $128,800 | 4,020 |
| Vermont | $127,070 | 200 |
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $185,080 | 6,060 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $170,110 | 10,460 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $167,840 | 230 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $164,740 | 8,370 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $156,830 | 150 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $149,800 | N/A |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $146,980 | 210 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $141,760 | 570 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see data scientists pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2021 and 2025, the national median salary for Data Scientists rose from $100,910 to $120,230, a gain of +19.1% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +18.8%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2021 median of $100,910 would need to be worth $119,892 in 2025 dollars.
The actual 2025 median of $120,230 is $338 above that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of +0.3% in purchasing power.
Wages have roughly kept pace with inflation. Nominal pay rose by 19.1%, but inflation absorbed most of it.
- Nominal change
- +19.1%
- 2021–2025
- Cumulative inflation
- +18.8%
- US CPI, 2021–2025
- Real change
- +0.3%
- After adjusting for inflation
Median salary over time
Data Scientists median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2025
- $120,230
- 2024
- $112,590
- 2023
- $108,020
- 2022
- $103,500
- 2021
- $100,910
BLS did not publish a median for 2000–2020, so those years are omitted.
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Mathematicians
- $126,710
- Actuaries
- $130,000
- Statisticians
- $105,650
- Operations Research Analysts
- $88,940
- Computer Occupations, All Other
- $116,580
- Information Security Analysts
- $129,180
- Computer Network Architects
- $134,050
Common salary questions for Data Scientists
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Data Scientists workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.