Search salaries Data Scientist · United States Change
Country · USD · 2026Data Scientist Salary in United States
Your earning potential as a Data Scientist in United States
In United States, pay for this role varies with experience, company and the responsibilities you take on.
Estimated mid-level pay centres around $79.2K a year — about $6,598 a month before tax.
The benchmark spans $41.2K at entry level to $257.1K at executive level annually. Compare the experience breakdown below with roles similar to yours.
Market outlook: Growing (estimate). There is limited evidence to explain the outlook for this role in this location. Local outlook evidence is limited; this estimate is a guide to potential demand, rather than a prediction of hiring or pay growth. Your next step will also depend on the skills and responsibilities required by the roles you pursue.
2026 estimates · Modelled benchmark; direct salary observations are limited.
Salary by experience level
| Level | Experience | P25 | Median | P75 | P10 – P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| entry | 0–2 yrs | $41.2K | $51.5K | $59.7K | $33.1K – $71.5K |
| mid | 3–5 yrs | $63.3K | $79.2K | $91.8K | $50.9K – $109.9K |
| senior | 6–9 yrs | $104.5K | $130.6K | $151.5K | $84K – $181.4K |
| executive | 10–15 yrs | $177.3K | $221.7K | $257.1K | $142.5K – $307.8K |
Five-year salary trend
What moves this number
What skills add
What lands in your account
| Level | Gross | Tax | Effective | Net annual | Net monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| entry | $51.5K | $4.1K | 8.0% | $47.3K | $3.9K |
| mid | $79.2K | $9K | 11.4% | $70.1K | $5.8K |
| senior | $130.6K | $20.6K | 15.8% | $110K | $9.2K |
| executive | $221.7K | $43.2K | 19.5% | $178.5K | $14.9K |
Progressive income tax · standard deduction $15K. Social contributions and local levies are not included.
What renting costs in United States
Rent varies by city. Choose a city to compare housing costs.
What to ask for
Based on market data for Data Scientist in United States, the median is $79.2K and the 75th percentile is $91.8K. I am targeting $96.4K, which reflects my experience and the scope of the role.
Also negotiable sign-on bonus, equity, remote or hybrid flexibility, learning budget and additional leave
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Data Scientist salary in United States — FAQ
What is the average salary of a Data Scientist in United States?
SpotSalary models a median annual salary of $79.2K for a Data Scientist in United States, or about $6,598 per month before tax. The middle 50% of the estimate ranges from $63.3K to $91.8K, with a full P10–P90 range of $50.9K to $109.9K. This is a modelled estimate, not a job offer.
How much does an entry-level Data Scientist earn in United States?
The entry-level band for a Data Scientist in United States centres on $51.5K per year (P25–P75: $41.2K–$59.7K). Entry-level pay typically covers the first 2 years of experience and depends on company size, skills and responsibilities.
How much does a senior or executive Data Scientist earn in United States?
The executive band for a Data Scientist in United States has a median of $221.7K per year and a P75 of $257.1K. Senior and executive packages often include a larger bonus and equity component; this benchmark shows the total-compensation split for each level.
What is the salary outlook for a Data Scientist in United States?
The outlook is growing. In the base scenario, median pay reaches $149.8K by 2031, about 89.2% above today before inflation and 10.8% per year in real terms after 2.8% inflation. Scenario bands widen over time and are not guarantees.
What is the take-home pay for a Data Scientist in United States?
After an effective income tax rate of 11.4%, the mid-level Data Scientist in United States takes home about $70,139 per year, or $5,845 per month. The estimate uses imported national tax brackets and does not include social contributions or local levies.
How does SpotSalary calculate these salary estimates?
Estimates are anchored to external market signals — GDP per capita PPP, inflation, wage growth, cost of living, demand and automation exposure — and synthesised with AI. Deterministic validation rejects implausible outputs. This report carries 80% confidence.
What this benchmark is built on
SpotSalary anchors each estimate to external market signals, then synthesises the gap with AI. Deterministic validation rejects implausible outputs. Source names and data tiers are listed here; the full methodology is on the method page.
- Numbeo / OECD composite (US=100) · derived data
- Open exchange rates (2026) · official data
- World Bank / IMF (2026 est.) · official data
- OECD / national tax tables · derived data
- ILO modelled estimates (2026) · official data
- SpotSalary deterministic wage model · derived data
What should you ask for?
Add your experience, current salary and skills to get a personal market value, your percentile, and a gap analysis — tracked over time.
Open the analyzerBenchmarks are constrained by market signals and validated for plausibility. Forecasts use inflation, wage growth, demand and automation, with scenario bands that widen over time.
Read how the estimate is built or download this report as Markdown / JSON.