Data Scientist salary: how much does a data scientist make?
A data scientist in the US earns a median of $120,230 a year, about $57.80 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $67,240 and the top 10% earn over $199,130. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Washington, has a median of $163,350.
Data Scientist pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a data scientist make an hour?
The median data scientist earns $57.80 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $32.33 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95.74 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $67,240 | $32.33 |
| Lower 25% | $85,660 | $41.18 |
| Median (typical) | $120,230 | $57.80 |
| Upper 25% | $158,880 | $76.39 |
| Top 10% | $199,130 | $95.74 |
Data Scientist salary by state
Median annual pay for data scientists by state, from BLS May 2025 data. “Not published” means BLS did not release a figure for that state, usually because too few employers reported this job there.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $103,120 | $49.58 |
| Alaska | $84,110 | $40.44 |
| Arizona | $107,240 | $51.56 |
| Arkansas | $109,390 | $52.59 |
| California | $141,590 | $68.07 |
| Colorado | $117,400 | $56.44 |
| Connecticut | $126,340 | $60.74 |
| Delaware | Not published | – |
| District of Columbia | $126,490 | $60.81 |
| Florida | $115,820 | $55.68 |
| Georgia | $104,340 | $50.16 |
| Hawaii | $102,130 | $49.10 |
| Idaho | $89,380 | $42.97 |
| Illinois | $106,560 | $51.23 |
| Indiana | $91,470 | $43.98 |
| Iowa | $95,830 | $46.07 |
| Kansas | $98,130 | $47.18 |
| Kentucky | $91,760 | $44.12 |
| Louisiana | $78,760 | $37.87 |
| Maine | $90,880 | $43.69 |
| Maryland | $136,370 | $65.56 |
| Massachusetts | $131,750 | $63.34 |
| Michigan | $100,590 | $48.36 |
| Minnesota | $128,800 | $61.92 |
| Mississippi | $69,490 | $33.41 |
| Missouri | $97,090 | $46.68 |
| Montana | $100,490 | $48.31 |
| Nebraska | $98,230 | $47.23 |
| Nevada | $98,540 | $47.38 |
| New Hampshire | $100,620 | $48.38 |
| New Jersey | $135,280 | $65.04 |
| New Mexico | $95,850 | $46.08 |
| New York | $130,460 | $62.72 |
| North Carolina | $119,090 | $57.25 |
| North Dakota | $81,900 | $39.38 |
| Ohio | $102,630 | $49.34 |
| Oklahoma | $86,310 | $41.50 |
| Oregon | $125,990 | $60.57 |
| Pennsylvania | $106,850 | $51.37 |
| Rhode Island | $102,440 | $49.25 |
| South Carolina | $91,990 | $44.23 |
| South Dakota | $96,150 | $46.23 |
| Tennessee | $100,330 | $48.24 |
| Texas | $122,090 | $58.70 |
| Utah | $108,090 | $51.97 |
| Vermont | $127,070 | $61.09 |
| Virginia | $126,430 | $60.78 |
| Washington | $163,350 | $78.53 |
| West Virginia | $85,090 | $40.91 |
| Wisconsin | $106,680 | $51.29 |
| Wyoming | Not published | – |
Highest-paying states for data scientists
- Washington: $163,350 median
- California: $141,590 median
- Maryland: $136,370 median
- New Jersey: $135,280 median
- Massachusetts: $131,750 median
The lowest published medians are in Mississippi ($69,490), Louisiana ($78,760), North Dakota ($81,900), Alaska ($84,110), West Virginia ($85,090). The most data scientist jobs are in California (39,310 jobs), Texas (25,860 jobs), New York (23,970 jobs), Pennsylvania (13,810 jobs), North Carolina (11,430 jobs).
How much does a data scientist make a month?
At the median salary of $120,230, a data scientist earns about $10,019 a month, $4,624 every two weeks or $2,312 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced data scientist pay
New data scientists typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $67,240 a year and the lowest 25% under $85,660. The top 25% earn over $158,880 and the top 10% over $199,130. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Data Scientist salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Data scientist | $120,230 |
| Actuary | $130,000 |
| Financial analyst | $102,740 |
| Project manager | $102,320 |
Data Scientist take-home pay by state (2026)
2026 federal brackets and standard deduction, Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% plus 0.9% above $200,000 ($250,000 joint), and each state's 2026 income tax. Local income taxes, state disability or paid-leave payroll taxes and other deductions are not included. Estimate only, not tax advice.
Common questions
How much does a data scientist make?
The US median is $120,230 a year ($57.80 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a data scientist make an hour?
The median is about $57.80 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $32.33 and the top 10% about $95.74 an hour.
Which state pays data scientists the most?
Washington has the highest median at $163,350, followed by California ($141,590) and Maryland ($136,370).
How much does a data scientist make a month?
At the US median of $120,230 a year, about $10,019 a month or $4,624 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level data scientist make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $67,240 a year and the lowest 25% under $85,660, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of data scientists make?
The top 10% earn over $199,130 a year; the top 25% earn over $158,880.
How much does a data scientist make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $141,590 in California, $122,090 in Texas, $115,820 in Florida, $130,460 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 15-2051, “Data Scientists”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.