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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Here's what the national average hides about Data Scientist pay: The national median salary for Data Scientists in 2026 is $125,318, with entry-level positions averaging $70,178 and senior roles reaching $194,243. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $228,960, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Data Scientist falls within the Technology sector, specifically in Technology. The typical education path involves Master's in stats/CS. The career outlook? High demand. Work style is remote-eligible — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
$139,320 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Data Scientist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $228,960 — $139,320 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($89,640). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
The three-tier salary picture for Data Scientists in 2026: $70,178 at entry (P10), $125,318 at midpoint, and $194,243 at the senior end (P90). But raw salary is only half the story. The $124,065 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $44,951 above the national median household income of $80,367.
State averages smooth out the extremes — here's what they reveal: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $213,840 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $90,360. That $123,480 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
A Data Scientist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $228,960 — $139,320 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($89,640). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Data Scientist is $70,178, while senior-level (P90) earners average $194,243. That $124,065 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Data Scientists at $151,713 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $133,380) is $18,333.
At the 90th percentile, Data Scientists pull in an average of $194,243. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $70,178 | $125,318 | $194,243 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £56,153 | £77,990 | £110,747 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$73,970 | CA$102,736 | CA$145,885 |
| Australia | 13 | A$86,308 | A$119,872 | A$170,219 |
| Sweden | 24 | 531,502 kr | 738,197 kr | 1,048,241 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $84,960 | $151,713 | $235,156 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $82,102 | $146,610 | $227,246 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $81,648 | $145,800 | $225,990 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $75,600 | $135,000 | $209,250 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $74,693 | $133,380 | $206,739 |
| Washington | 8 | $73,256 | $130,815 | $202,763 |
| New York | 5 | $68,947 | $123,120 | $190,836 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $68,947 | $123,120 | $190,836 |
| Florida | 22 | $68,425 | $122,187 | $189,390 |
| Colorado | 11 | $67,243 | $120,076 | $186,118 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $67,133 | $119,880 | $185,814 |
| Nevada | 5 | $67,012 | $119,664 | $185,479 |
| Arizona | 12 | $66,679 | $119,070 | $184,559 |
| Oregon | 5 | $66,528 | $118,800 | $184,140 |
| Idaho | 3 | $66,326 | $118,440 | $183,582 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $65,802 | $117,504 | $182,131 |
| Utah | 4 | $65,621 | $117,180 | $181,629 |
| Virginia | 7 | $64,541 | $115,251 | $178,640 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $63,706 | $113,760 | $176,328 |
| Alaska | 1 | $63,504 | $113,400 | $175,770 |
| Illinois | 5 | $62,778 | $112,104 | $173,761 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $61,219 | $109,320 | $169,446 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $60,480 | $108,000 | $167,400 |
| Montana | 1 | $60,480 | $108,000 | $167,400 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $60,278 | $107,640 | $166,842 |
| Texas | 40 | $59,981 | $107,109 | $166,019 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $59,876 | $106,920 | $165,726 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $59,573 | $106,380 | $164,889 |
| Georgia | 6 | $59,371 | $106,020 | $164,331 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $59,270 | $105,840 | $164,052 |
| Kansas | 4 | $58,968 | $105,300 | $163,215 |
| Michigan | 6 | $58,766 | $104,940 | $162,657 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $58,061 | $103,680 | $160,704 |
| Maryland | 1 | $58,061 | $103,680 | $160,704 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $57,456 | $102,600 | $159,030 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $57,456 | $102,600 | $159,030 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $55,944 | $99,900 | $154,845 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $55,642 | $99,360 | $154,008 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $54,886 | $98,010 | $151,916 |
| Missouri | 4 | $54,886 | $98,010 | $151,916 |
| Alabama | 5 | $54,674 | $97,632 | $151,330 |
| Indiana | 3 | $53,827 | $96,120 | $148,986 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $53,827 | $96,120 | $148,986 |
| Iowa | 2 | $53,222 | $95,040 | $147,312 |
| Ohio | 6 | $53,122 | $94,860 | $147,033 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $50,803 | $90,720 | $140,616 |
The state salary map for Data Scientists: California at $151,713, Massachusetts at $146,610, Hawaii at $145,800 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($90,720), Ohio ($94,860), Iowa ($95,040) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $60,993.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($228,960 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $108,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $228,960 | 212 | $108,000 | $130,039 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $213,840 | 198 | $108,000 | $122,925 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $198,720 | 184 | $108,000 | $115,811 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $195,480 | 181 | $108,000 | $114,287 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $192,240 | 178 | $108,000 | $112,762 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $191,160 | 177 | $108,000 | $112,191 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $191,160 | 177 | $108,000 | $112,191 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $186,840 | 173 | $108,000 | $109,813 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $186,840 | 173 | $108,000 | $109,813 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $182,520 | 169 | $108,000 | $107,435 |
From a career planning perspective, Data Scientist offers a $124,065 earning range. The 2.8× multiplier from entry to senior makes this a field where longevity pays off. The typical entry requires Master's in stats/CS. Day-to-day, expect remote-eligible work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Data Scientists is $125,318 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $70,178, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $194,243.
The highest-paying city for Data Scientists is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $228,960. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($228,960), Santa Clara ($213,840), Irvine ($198,720). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Data Scientist salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $89,640. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Data Scientists (10th percentile) average $70,178 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $128,218. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Data Scientists average $194,243 nationally — $124,065 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Data Scientists can earn up to $354,888.
The top-paying states for Data Scientists are California ($151,713 median), Massachusetts ($146,610 median), Hawaii ($145,800 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Data Scientist involves Master's in stats/CS. The field is in the Technology sector (Technology), and the career outlook is high demand. Work style is typically remote-eligible.
With a national median of $125,318 and representation across 288 metro areas, Data Scientist offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $124,065 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.