What Is the Average Salary for a Data Scientist in 2026?

Quick Answer

The most recent data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the median salary for a data scientist was $120,230 per year ($57.8 per hour). Historical data on salaries gives the most accurate description of salaries within the state.

How Much Do Data Scientists Make?

Data scientist: the latest official figures from the United States indicate that the median annual salary was 120,230 dollars in the year 2025. Yet if you wanted to know what the average salary of a data scientist is, then knowing the distinction between median and average can be beneficial. The median salary is one where 50% of the workers get paid more and 50% get paid less, and may be more helpful than an average salary where very high earners tend to skew the figure.

According to the BLS, in the U.S. in 2025, the bottom 10% of data scientists made less than 67,240 dollars per annum, whereas the top 10% made as much as 199,130 dollars.

Data Scientist pay level	Annual wage
Bottom 10%	under 67, 240 dollars
Median	120, 230 dollars
Highest 10%	above 199, 130 dollars

The BLS data in TABLE 1 show a comparison of the hundreds of dollars data scientists are paid by experience, industry, geographical location, educational background, and specific tasks.

How Much Do Data Scientists Get Paid Per Hour?

According to the latest BLS data, the median hourly wage is 57.80 dollars.

Again, the hourly rate should not be mistaken for the side hourly instructions of freelance or contract work of a data scientist. BLS professional hourly salary shows that the freelance data scientist working remotely/in a project scenario earns an hourly rate of 57.80 dollars.

Total work is paid such amount but (though there are a lot of other benefits, to pay for non-service, 401k assistance, etc.).

What Factors Affect Data Scientist Salary?

Components may reflect a data scientist in the following:

1. Experience

For example, an experienced data scientist might demand a higher salary because he or she can handle very complex data issues alone, it can build models, and guide his or her colleagues and the higher-ups of the companies on what the problems are and what should be done to solve them.

2. Industry

The industry that the data scientist is working in can affect his or her pay rate: based on BLS May 2025, the average yearly wages of a data scientist working for each of the different listed industries were:

Industry	Median annual wage
Publishing, broadcasting, and other content providers	142,240
Consulting, computer systems design, and related services	132,380
Other financial intermediation and activities related thereto	129,490
Management of companies and enterprises	128,050
Road and rail transport; transport via pipettes, etc.; transport services ancillary to all modes of transport	108,650

One industry might pay a data scientist more than a different industry would.

3. Location

The class or kind of place you work at can also influence your salary.

But the average salaries for data scientist jobs vary between the states and between the metro areas; it’s due to varying labor markets in different states and metro areas, the number of data-analytic companies, the cost of living in various areas, and the requirement for data management skills.

BLS’s Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program offers state and local wage estimates.

4. Education

Your knowledge of industry and business, and the relevance of certain practical skills, can be very pertinent to occupational mobility as well as salary.

What Does a Data Scientist Do?

The use of analytics and technology by data scientists is to find value from the data that has been gathered in great amounts.

In conjunction with technology, business, and statistics, it has different prospects in work.

The skills a data scientist needs comprise, but are not limited to, what comes next: specialization in Data Science and proficient skills in one or more of the subsequent: machine learning, statistics, data mining, visualization, high-performance computing, management, and business.

What Skills Are Required for a Data Scientist?

A combination of technical skills and soft skills is necessary for employment in data science.

The fundamentals of communication on technical subjects in simple terms are also required.

BLS has emphasized the capacity for analytical computer, communication, mathematical, logical-reasoning, and problem-solving skills for a data scientist.

Is Data Science a Good Career in 2026?

According to the latest US employment projections, the most rapidly expanding career is statistically that of data scientist.

The BLS foresees 35% growth in the field of employment for data scientists from 2025 to 2035, over the 3% growth rate for all occupations.

The agency forecasts an average of 24,800 year-on-year job openings for data scientists.

It does not automatically follow that anybody can access data science and get specific salary-based employment.

The data analysis systems of current technology and tools demand appropriate technical intelligence, education, and skills, experience, and applied skills.

How Much Can an Entry-Level Data Scientist Earn?

The national entry-level salary in the BLS occupational profile has not been identified.

We will need to view each position on a case-by-case basis because it’s not always a given that all data science positions will offer this.

Can Data Scientists Work From Home?

Yes. Many positions will provide work-from-home options because many of the job involves working with computer data, generating code, performing statistical analysis, and electronically interacting with coworkers.

It’s all up to the specific job and the employer’s discretion as to whether or not this is an available component to the position.

Many agencies will require data scientists to work in the office at some level because of security, collaboration, regulatory, or business requirements.

You cannot assume you will have this opportunity; each position will vary.

What Is the Job Outlook for Data Scientists in the Future?

The data scientist job forecast looks quite optimistic when examining the BLS projections.

It’s expected that jobs would grow from 275,600 jobs in 2025 to 370,800 jobs in 2035.

This would be a growth of 95700 jobs in this period.

Data Scientist Salary vs. Other Data Careers

There are many jobs related to data, data analysis, mathematics, and computer science; data science is only one of them.

For example, related jobs are:

Data Scientists

We use data scientist to describe anyone who is responsible for analyzing business, government, or education data.

Operations Research Analysts

Operations research analysts often do planning.

Statisticians

Financial Analysts

Market Research Analysts

Revenue analysts, financial analysts how many titles are given to people who research profits, price points, and market trends?

Computer and Information Research Science

Jobs have different levels of education, duties, and salary.

It shouldn’t be decided by salary. It should depend on your interests and skills.

What Education Is Necessary for Becoming a Data Scientist?

Usually, a bachelor’s degree appears as the minimum requirement.

Common fields include:

Mathematics

Statistics

In the field of computer science.

Business

Engineering

Completing the building, knowing how to program them, experience working with real data, and developing a portfolio all contribute to showing employers the applicants’ competence.

Key Takeaways

Per the BLS, the median annual wage of a data scientist in the United States was 120,230 in May 2025.

Learning to program, statistical machine learning, SQL, and data visualization may all be candidates’ learning prep.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Average Salary of a Data Scientist?

The annual average salary of a data scientist has been approximately $97,000. The value is constantly rising per the market rate.

As of the most recent official BLS data available, the median annual salary of a US data scientist in May 2025 was $120,230.

Salaries may be lower than, or well in excess of, the median for various reasons.

What Is the Salary of a Data Scientist?

In the US, as of May 2025, the median annual salary for data scientists stood at 120,230$.

In the lowest 10 percent, a net income of less than $67,240 is earned, and in the top 10 percent, over $199,130.

What Are the Hourly Wages of Data Scientists?

Using the 2025 BLS wage figures, as another example, the median national hourly wage was about 57.80 dollars.

This is not a freelance/contract target rate but an occupational wage baseline.

Does a Data Scientist Require a Qualification?

Quality the question that must then be answered is “does a Data Scientist need to be qualified?”.

In general, most data scientists would need to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, statistics, computer science, business administration, engineering, or a related discipline.

Having a post-graduate or doctorate qualification is a boon or a requirement for some jobs.

How Much Do You Get Paid in Data Science?

The number of levels in data science is higher than the average level of the U. S. job market.

The BLS reports a median yearly salary of 120,230 for data scientists in 2025 rather than 50,980 for all jobs.

Is Data Science a Lucrative Career in 2026?

The outlook in the field is a positive one for employment.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, worldwide employment of data scientists will increase 35 percent between 2025- 2035.

But, of course, the job of a data scientist depends on education, experience, job location, and employers? Requirement.

Can Data Scientists Work Remotely?

Some of the data scientist positions are telecommute or a combination of on-site and telecommute, while others are only on-site.

Remote work opportunities for data scientists depend on the employer’s office, the type of job, the business need, and data security.

What Skills Should an Up-Coming Data Scientist Learn?

Learn useful skills: Python, SQL, statistics, machine learning, data visualisation, database systems, capacity for critical thinking and self-expression.

It’s, of course, also quite easy to demonstrate one’s abilities on projects.

What Will Be the Future Supply and Demand for Data Scientist Jobs?

BLS projects that by 2025 data scientist number would be around 275,600 and would increase to 371,000 by 2035.

It would represent an increase of around 95400 jobs.

Conclusion

While salary is definitely an important factor when considering a career in data science, there are other considerations to take into account as well.

Per the latest US figures for data scientists, the median salary is $120,230 per annum, and weighted job forecasts show persistent need for expertise in data statistics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence-related fields.

In the meantime, for potential data scientists, the next step is to carry out a salary, location, skill requirements, education background, working conditions, and career development analysis of the offered data science positions.

Meanwhile, the operation to obtain actual technical skills and knowledge in real situations was beneficial to improve your competitiveness for a data scientist job.

Seeking other career options? Search HirePathUSA to locate other job-search tools, career fact sheets, and job opportunities.

Suggested External Sources

Use a reliable source for the real salary and employment data (e.g., the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the official O*NET website). Don’t use a salary website that has no reference sources.