How much does a data scientist make?
The median data scientist in the United States earns $120,230 per year, about $57.80 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all data scientists earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 15-2051.
Data scientist salary range
Pay for data scientists spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $67,240 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $199,130. The average (mean) wage of $126,800 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $67,240 | $32.33 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $85,660 | $41.18 | |
| Median (50th) | $120,230 | $57.80 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $158,880 | $76.39 | |
| 90th percentile | $199,130 | $95.74 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for data scientists (SOC 15-2051), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Data scientist salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Data scientists earn the most in Washington at $163,350 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $69,490. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | 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 |
| District of Columbia | $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 |
State median wages for data scientists (SOC 15-2051), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for data scientists
The BLS projects employment of data scientists to grow 34.6% from 2025 to 2035. That is much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 275,600 jobs in 2025 moving toward 371,000 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 24,800 openings a year for data scientists. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a data scientist
The typical entry-level education for data scientists is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a data scientist earns
Seniority, employer, location, and specialization matter most. Workers at large tech firms and in expensive metros like San Francisco, Seattle, and New York cluster near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $163,350) and the lowest (Mississippi, $69,490) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 262,440 people work as data scientists in the United States. At $120,230 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Data scientist salary FAQ
How much does a data scientist make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a data scientist is $57.80. The middle half of data scientists earn between $41.18 and $76.39 per hour.
What is the highest data scientist salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of data scientists earn more than $199,130 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a data scientist make a year?
The median annual salary for a data scientist is $120,230. The average (mean) wage of $126,800 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a data scientist a well paid job?
At $120,230 a year, a data scientist earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 262,440 people work as data scientists in the United States.
Which state pays data scientists the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for data scientists at $163,350 a year. California ($141,590) and Maryland ($136,370) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a data scientist a good career?
Employment of data scientists is projected to grow 34.6% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 24,800 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a data scientist?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for data scientists as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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