SOC 15-2051 · May 2025
Data Scientist Salary
Data Scientists in the US earn a median of $120,230 a year ($60.96 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Data Scientist pay climbed from $108,660 in 2021 to $126,800 in 2025, a +16.7% change in 4 years.
Median annual
$120,230
Half of all Data Scientists in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+16.7% since 2021 · +1.8% YoY
Hourly
$60.96
Job growth 2025-35
+34.6%
US workers
262,440
BLS series
Annual median wage for Data Scientists in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Data Scientists is $67,240 – $199,130.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$67,240
25th
$85,660
Median
$120,230
75th
$158,880
90th
$199,130
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Data Scientists. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $67,240 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $85,660 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $120,230 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $158,880 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $199,130 |
Geography
Data Scientist pay by state
Data Scientists earn the most in Washington ($163,350, +36% against the national median) and the least in Mississippi ($69,490). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 49 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$120,230
Highest-paying states for data scientists
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $163,350 | +36% | 9,600 |
| California | $141,590 | +18% | 39,310 |
| Maryland | $136,370 | +13% | 3,340 |
| New Jersey | $135,280 | +13% | 6,430 |
| Massachusetts | $131,750 | +10% | 9,420 |
| New York | $130,460 | +9% | 23,970 |
| Minnesota | $128,800 | +7% | 4,020 |
| Vermont | $127,070 | +6% | 200 |
| D.C. | $126,490 | +5% | 2,680 |
| Virginia | $126,430 | +5% | 8,920 |
All 49 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| D.C. | $126,490 | 2,680 |
| Virginia | $126,430 | 8,920 |
| Connecticut | $126,340 | 1,760 |
| Oregon | $125,990 | 2,140 |
| Texas | $122,090 | 25,860 |
| North Carolina | $119,090 | 11,430 |
| Colorado | $117,400 | 6,280 |
| Florida | $115,820 | 10,240 |
| Arkansas | $109,390 | 530 |
| Utah | $108,090 | 4,360 |
| Arizona | $107,240 | 4,560 |
| Pennsylvania | $106,850 | 13,810 |
| Wisconsin | $106,680 | 4,370 |
| Illinois | $106,560 | 10,520 |
| Georgia | $104,340 | 9,260 |
| Alabama | $103,120 | 1,740 |
| Ohio | $102,630 | 6,100 |
| Rhode Island | $102,440 | 1,160 |
| Hawaii | $102,130 | 300 |
| New Hampshire | $100,620 | 1,100 |
| Michigan | $100,590 | 7,360 |
| Montana | $100,490 | 220 |
| Tennessee | $100,330 | 2,790 |
| Nevada | $98,540 | 1,680 |
| Nebraska | $98,230 | 1,980 |
| Kansas | $98,130 | 490 |
| Missouri | $97,090 | 4,730 |
| South Dakota | $96,150 | 220 |
| New Mexico | $95,850 | 560 |
| Iowa | $95,830 | 2,300 |
| South Carolina | $91,990 | 3,750 |
| Kentucky | $91,760 | 1,540 |
| Indiana | $91,470 | 3,580 |
| Maine | $90,880 | 1,210 |
| Idaho | $89,380 | 1,350 |
| Oklahoma | $86,310 | 1,900 |
| West Virginia | $85,090 | 390 |
| Alaska | $84,110 | 230 |
| North Dakota | $81,900 | 210 |
| Louisiana | $78,760 | 1,300 |
| Mississippi | $69,490 | 440 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Data Scientists
Data scientists develop and apply algorithms, statistical models, and machine learning systems to extract insight from structured and unstructured data. Most hold a bachelor's or master's in statistics, computer science, math, or a related quantitative field.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $67,240 – $199,130. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Washington, California and Maryland. Pay in Washington runs 2.4 times the level in Mississippi, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as bachelor's degree, and projects about 24,800 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 34.6% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Data Scientist salary in the US?
How much does a Data Scientist make an hour?
How much do Data Scientists make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Data Scientists the most?
Is the average Data Scientist salary higher than the median?
Is Data Scientist a growing career?
Open positions
Open Data Scientist roles hiring now
Browse current Data Scientist listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 15-2051. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.