Data Scientist Salary in the United States (2026)
The median Data Scientist salary in the US is $120,230 per year - about $10,019/month or $58/hour. Here is the full pay range, by experience level, based on 262,440 Data Scientists tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data Scientist salary by experience level
Pay rises sharply with experience. These bands are based on the BLS wage percentiles for Data Scientists - entry-level roles cluster near the 10th-25th percentile, while senior and lead roles reach the 75th-90th.
Early-career and junior roles (10th-25th percentile).
The median - what a typical Data Scientist earns.
Senior, lead and specialist roles (75th-90th percentile).
Full Data Scientist salary distribution
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025. Occupation: Data Scientists (SOC 15-2051). bls.gov/oes
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How much does a Data Scientist make?
A Data Scientist in the United States earns a median of $120,230 per year as of 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earn under $67,240, while the top 10% earn more than $199,130 - a spread of $131,890 driven mostly by experience, location, industry and company size.
With roughly 262,440 people employed in this occupation nationally, Data Scientist is one of the more established career paths - which means more openings, but also more competition per role. Applying early and at volume is the single biggest lever most candidates ignore.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How much does a Data Scientist make in the US?
The median Data Scientist salary in the United States is $120,230 per year (2025), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That works out to about $58 per hour.
What is the entry-level Data Scientist salary?
Entry-level Data Scientist roles typically pay between $67,240 and $85,660 per year, corresponding to the 10th-25th wage percentiles for this occupation.
What is the highest Data Scientist salary?
The top 10% of Data Scientists earn more than $199,130 per year. Senior, lead and specialist roles, plus high-cost metros and high-paying industries, push compensation toward the top of the range.
How can I earn more as a Data Scientist?
The fastest way to raise your pay is to change roles - candidates who move companies typically see larger raises than internal increases. LoopCV helps by automatically applying to Data Scientist jobs for you every day, so you get more offers to negotiate from.