How Much Does a Data Scientist Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$120,230
Data scientists in the U.S. earn a median of $120,230 a year, or $57.80 an hour. Half of data scientists earn more than $120,230 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $199,130.
Pay percentiles for data scientists
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32.33 | $67,240 |
| 25th | $41.18 | $85,660 |
| 50th (median) | $57.80 | $120,230 |
| 75th | $76.39 | $158,880 |
| 90th | $95.74 | $199,130 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Data Scientists (SOC 15-2051). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for data scientists
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $163,350 | $78.54 | +36% |
| California | $141,590 | $68.07 | +18% |
| Maryland | $136,370 | $65.56 | +13% |
| New Jersey | $135,280 | $65.04 | +13% |
| Massachusetts | $131,750 | $63.34 | +10% |
| New York | $130,460 | $62.72 | +9% |
| Minnesota | $128,800 | $61.92 | +7% |
| Vermont | $127,070 | $61.09 | +6% |
| District of Columbia | $126,490 | $60.81 | +5% |
| Virginia | $126,430 | $60.79 | +5% |
| United States | $120,230 | $57.80 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many data scientists are there?
BLS counts about 262,440 data scientists employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). The most jobs are in California (39,310), Texas (25,860) and New York (23,970).
The mean (average) annual wage is $126,800, higher than the median of $120,230.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $10,019
- Biweekly
- $4,624
- Weekly
- $2,312
- Daily (8 hours)
- $462
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do data scientists make an hour?
The median hourly wage for data scientists is $57.80. The middle 50% earn between $41.18 and $76.39 an hour.
Which state pays data scientists the most?
Washington has the highest median wage for data scientists at $163,350, +36% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for data scientists?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of data scientists earn less than $67,240 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.