How Much Does a Data Scientist Earn in 2025?
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tl;dr
We at Interview Master are seeing careers in data science continue to be highly sought after.
In 2025, the median U.S. data scientist earns a substantial six-figure salary, typically ranging from $110,000 to $130,000. However, actual compensation varies dramatically—from $75,000 to over $300,000—depending on experience, location, industry, and equity/bonus packages. California, Washington, and New York remain the highest-paying markets, despite their elevated costs of living. Within Big Tech companies, total compensation packages frequently exceed $250,000. Entry-level positions in the field generally start in the mid-$70,000 range. Specialists with expertise in emerging technologies like Generative AI, Natural Language Processing (NLP), or MLOps can command premium salaries, often 15-25% above industry standards. This comprehensive guide provides a complete state-by-state salary analysis for 2025, inspired by HeadshotPro's regional cost breakdown methodology, along with detailed insights into the factors that significantly impact earning potential.
How we gathered the numbers
To accurately paint this financial picture, and mirroring HeadshotPro’s rigorous research approach, we compiled and analyzed over 50,000 U.S. salary datapoints published since January 2024. Our sources include:
Government statistics– U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook & Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) tables.
Major job boards– Data from Indeed, Glassdoor, Salary.com, and Built In.
Compensation-transparency sites– Aggregated total compensation data from Levels.fyi, focusing on company-level specifics.
Crowdsourced & survey data– Insights from PayScale’s skills-based salary cuts, Kaggle’s 2023 Data Science Salary Survey, LinkedIn Salary Insights, and the Robert Half 2025 Technology Salary Guide.
Kaggle (referencing their salary surveys)
All figures were meticulously cleaned to remove outliers and adjusted to reflect 2025 dollar values.
National snapshot: What's the average data scientist base salary?
To accurately answer this, we looked at several leading sources:
Source | 2025 Median Base | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
U.S. BLS (May 2024) | $112,590 ( ) | $63,000 | $190,000 |
Glassdoor | $113,864 ( ) | $82,000 | $168,000 |
Indeed (May 2025) | $127,689 ( ) | $80,000 | $204,000 |
Salary.com | $123,778 ( ) | $112,000 | $137,000 |
Built In | $126,554 ( ) | $50,000 | $345,000 |
Taking the mid-point of these reputable sources gives a “headline” base salary of about $120,000for the average U.S. data scientist in 2025.
Salary by experience level
Unsurprisingly, experience significantly impacts earning potential. Here’s how base salaries and total compensation typically progress:
Level | Typical Titles | Base Salary Range | Common Total Comp* |
Entry (< 2 yrs) | Data Scientist I, Junior DS | $75,000 – $95,000 ( ,
) | $80,000 – $110,000 |
Mid (2-5 yrs) | DS II, Analytics DS | $100,000 – $135,000 (national medians) | Varies widely, increases with equity |
Senior (5-8 yrs) | Senior DS, ML Engineer | $140,000 – $180,000 | $180,000 – $250,000 |
Principal / Staff | Lead DS, ML Principal | $190,000 – $250,000 (e.g., CA Principal DS $214,000
) | $250,000 – $350,000 |
IC-6 / Director tier | Principal Scientist, DS Manager | N/A (Highly variable base) | $300,000 – $500,000 cash-plus-equity (see Big-Tech below) |
*Total-comp = base salary + annual bonus + equity (e.g., RSUs).
Salary by state (median base, 2025)
Location plays a major role in determining data science salaries, with tech hubs offering significant premiums.
Highest-paying | Median Base Salary | Lowest-paying (relative) | Median Base Salary |
California | $153,427 ( ) | Tennessee | $115,011 ( ) |
Washington | ~$148,000 ( ) | Ohio | ~$108,000 ( ) (adjusted) |
New York (NYC) | $130,380 ( ) | Albany, NY | $104,462 ( ) |
Texas | ~$128,000 ( ) | ||
Illinois | ~$126,000 ( ) |
Expect approximately ±15% swings between major metro hubs and more rural areas within the same state. We've added the entire State breakdown towards the bottom of the article.
What about Big-Tech offers?
This is where compensation can truly skyrocket. Equity (Restricted Stock Units or RSUs) and performance bonuses dramatically inflate total compensation figures at major tech companies.
Company (Level) | Median Total Comp |
Meta IC-5 (Senior) | $455,000 ( ) |
Meta IC-6 (Staff) | $542,000 ( ) |
Amazon DS II (L5) | $261,000 ( ) |
Amazon DS III (L6) | $335,000+ ( ) |
It's worth noting that seven-figure packages are now surfacing at the absolute cutting edge of AI research, as CEOs personally compete to woo top-tier talent (New York Post).
Salary by specialization
Specializing in high-demand areas can provide a significant salary uplift:
Gen-AI / NLP:+10-20% premium (median base around $107,000 for NLP according to Payscale, though Gen-AI roles often command more)
AI/ML Product Focus:+15% (median base around $116,000 for Machine Learning according to Payscale)
Healthcare Payer / Provider:Often under typical tech rates (e.g., UnitedHealth Group Data Scientist median base ~$97,000 per Payscale)
Five factors that move the needle on your paycheck
Beyond the raw numbers, these elements are critical in shaping your final compensation:
Location & Cost of Living:Coastal tech hubs (SF Bay Area, Seattle, NYC) consistently pay 20-30% more than the national median to account for higher living expenses and talent competition.
Years of Experience & Technical Depth:Each significant step up—from Data Scientist I → Data Scientist II → Senior → Principal—typically adds roughly
20,000−20,000−30,000 to the base salary, with total comp growing even faster.
Industry:Finance and Big Tech generally lead the pack in compensation. Healthcare, education, and non-profit sectors often lag by 10-15% compared to tech industry benchmarks.
Niche Skills:Expertise in deep learning, MLOps tooling (like Kubernetes, Kubeflow), and especially Gen-AI prompt engineering or model development currently command the largest premiums in the market.
Negotiation & Total Compensation:This cannot be overstated. Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), signing bonuses, and performance bonuses can effectively double your pay at FAANG-class firms and other competitive companies, especially at senior levels.
Are high data scientist salaries “worth it” for employers?
The data strongly suggests yes. Demand for data scientists continues to surge, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 36% job growth for data scientists from 2022 to 2032—roughly eight times the national average for all occupations (Bureau of Labor Statistics).For employers, investing in a top-tier data scientist isn't just an expense; it's a strategic investment. A skilled data scientist can unlock insights that lead to seven-figure revenue lifts, optimize operations for massive cost savings, or develop innovative products. From this perspective, a six-figure salary offers a very attractive Return on Investment (ROI).
Full State by State Salary Salary Breakdown (median base, 2025)
State | Median Salary |
Alabama | $95,600 |
Alaska | $78,147 |
Arizona | $120,000 |
Arkansas | $78,147 |
California | $150,000 |
Colorado | $115,139 |
Connecticut | $117,171 |
Delaware | $100,000 |
District of Columbia | $126,426 |
Florida | $130,000 |
Georgia | $122,400 |
Hawaii | $100,413 |
Idaho | $110,000 |
Illinois | $125,000 |
Indiana | $100,000 |
Iowa | $105,900 |
Kansas | $118,438 |
Kentucky | $100,000 |
Louisiana | $76,419 |
Maine | $118,835 |
Maryland | $130,000 |
Massachusetts | $140,000 |
Michigan | $101,400 |
Minnesota | $122,400 |
Mississippi | No data |
Missouri | $107,986 |
Montana | $47,629 |
Nebraska | $120,000 |
Nevada | $145,000 |
New Hampshire | $122,500 |
New Jersey | $120,000 |
New Mexico | $142,400 |
New York | $155,000 |
North Carolina | $120,000 |
North Dakota | No data |
Ohio | $99,000 |
Oklahoma | $80,502 |
Oregon | $140,000 |
Pennsylvania | $130,653 |
Rhode Island | No data |
South Carolina | $115,000 |
South Dakota | No data |
Tennessee | $122,400 |
Texas | $125,208 |
Utah | $117,500 |
Vermont | No data |
Virginia | $132,749 |
Washington | $138,881 |
West Virginia | $141,548 |
Wisconsin | $120,325 |
Wyoming | No data |
Key takeaways & next steps for data scientists
Armed with this 2025 salary data, here’s how to navigate your career and compensation:
Benchmark Yourself: Compare your current salary or any offers you receive against the ranges detailed above. Crucially, adjust these benchmarks based on your specific location, years of experience, and specialization.
Leverage Total Compensation: Don’t focus solely on base salary, especially as you progress. Stock options (RSUs) and bonuses often outstrip base pay increases beyond the Senior Data Scientist level.
Upskill Strategically: Consider certifications or, more impactfully, real-world projects in high-demand areas like Gen-AI, MLOps, or specific cloud data platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP). Ensure that your SQL skills are always sharp by using tools like Interview Master. This can demonstrably boost your market value by 15-25%.
Negotiate with Confidence: Enter salary discussions armed with multi-source data (e.g., BLS, Glassdoor, Levels.fyi for comparable roles and companies). Articulate your value with a clear, quantified narrative of your impact and accomplishments.
Whether you’re just breaking into the dynamic field of data science or you're an experienced professional eyeing a Principal or Director role, use this 2025 guide to understand what your valuable skills are truly worth—and to confidently land the paycheck that matches your impact.
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