Top-paying states for data scientists
Data scientists earn six-figure median salaries. But what are the highest-paying states for data scientists? Discover where data scientists earn the most.
By: Genevieve Carlton, Edited by: Joey Morris
Published: June 2, 2025
Data scientists are among the highest-paid professionals in the tech industry. These in-demand data experts earned a median salary of $112,590 per year in May 2024, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
In our guide, explore the top-paying states for data scientists, using salary data from the BLS and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).
The highest-paying states for data scientists
Nationally, the BLS reports that the top 10% of data scientists earned more than $194,410 in May 2024, while the bottom 10% earned less than $63,650. In addition to strong wages, the Bureau projects that demand for data science careers will grow by 36% from 2023-33.
15 states offer median salaries for data scientists that exceed the national median.
Washington
- Median annual salary: $158,760
- Salary adjusted for cost of living: $146,239
Washington, D.C.
- Median annual salary: $137,120
- Salary adjusted for cost of living: $123,750
California
- Median annual salary: $136,800
- Salary adjusted for cost of living: $121,513
Massachusetts
- Median annual salary: $132,250
- Salary adjusted for cost of living: $122,184
New Jersey
- Median annual salary: $130,370
- Salary adjusted for cost of living: $119,734
As of 2024, 7,930 data scientists call Washington home. The greater Seattle area, which is home to major tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft, employs more than three-quarters of the data scientists in the state.
Despite a higher-than-average cost of living in Washington, the state still offers the highest data scientist salaries when adjusted for these costs.
The federal government relies on data scientists to analyze data sets, create forecasts, and conduct research, helping place Washington, D.C. near the top of the list of highest-paying locations for data scientists.
Outside of federal jobs, data scientists can also find opportunities working for tech companies, financial services firms, and consulting organizations.
California employs more data scientists than any other state, with a workforce of 36,850 in 2024. Additionally, the Golden State ranks among the top three highest-paying states.
Unsurprisingly, California's tech industry helps put the state on the list and contributes significantly to this ranking. The San Jose area reports a median pay of $173,160, while the San Francisco-Oakland metro area follows closely with $166,300.
Even when adjusted for California's high cost of living, the state still ranks among the top 10 for data scientist wages.
Thanks to its strong research and financial sectors, Massachusetts employs 9,990 data scientists as of 2024. The state is home to major employers, including Liberty Mutual, Fidelity, and PwC. In particular, Boston's role as a global biotech hub means many job opportunities for data scientists with a focus on healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and bioinformatics.
While Massachusetts ranks among the top 10 for its cost-of-living-adjusted salary, many data scientists work in the greater Boston area, the most expensive part of the state.
Although New Jersey might not come to mind as a top state for tech careers, it ranks in the top five for highest-paying states for data scientists. Fortune 500 companies, including JPMorgan Chase, Verizon, and Johnson Johnson, may employ data scientists in New Jersey.
New Jersey employs 5,860 data scientists as of May 2024.
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Data science salaries by state
Where does your state rank for data science salary? Explore the full list of data science salaries by state, including cost-of-living adjustments, in the following list.
| State | Median annual salary | Salary adjusted for cost of living |
|---|---|---|
Washington | $158,760 | $146,239 |
District of Columbia | $137,120 | $123,750 |
California | $136,800 | $121,513 |
Massachusetts | $132,250 | $122,184 |
New Jersey | $130,370 | $119,734 |
Virginia | $126,070 | $125,133 |
New York | $125,400 | $116,515 |
Maryland | $124,340 | $119,598 |
Hawaii | $123,880 | $114,061 |
Vermont | $120,670 | $124,872 |
Minnesota | $117,840 | $119,735 |
Utah | $116,420 | $122,545 |
North Carolina | $115,380 | $122,563 |
Rhode Island | $114,390 | $112,797 |
Illinois | $113,490 | $114,805 |
Kansas | $110,320 | $122,625 |
Connecticut | $109,960 | $106,048 |
Idaho | $109,340 | $119,595 |
Montana | $106,860 | $118,412 |
Texas | $106,540 | $109,637 |
Oregon | $106,100 | $101,317 |
Arizona | $106,080 | $104,921 |
Florida | $105,820 | $102,289 |
Alabama | $105,410 | $117,161 |
Tennessee | $104,700 | $113,171 |
Arkansas | $104,320 | $120,590 |
Georgia | $102,630 | $106,133 |
Pennsylvania | $100,320 | $102,892 |
Wisconsin | $100,020 | $107,436 |
Michigan | $99,470 | $105,612 |
New Hampshire | $98,970 | $93,948 |
Ohio | $98,620 | $107,415 |
Iowa | $97,980 | $110,379 |
Nebraska | $96,470 | $106,743 |
North Dakota | $96,230 | $108,646 |
Wyoming | $95,840 | $105,495 |
West Virginia | $95,760 | $106,670 |
Maine | $94,350 | $97,171 |
Kentucky | $93,490 | $103,340 |
Nevada | $93,310 | $96,216 |
South Dakota | $92,000 | $104,433 |
South Carolina | $90,660 | $97,299 |
Missouri | $85,570 | $93,252 |
New Mexico | $85,040 | $94,085 |
Indiana | $84,050 | $91,176 |
Oklahoma | $80,380 | $91,045 |
Alaska | $77,400 | $76,095 |
Louisiana | $70,530 | $79,835 |
Mississippi | $69,430 | $79,538 |
Note: Cost-of-living adjustments compare purchasing power across states using the BEA's regional price parity index, which accounts for price differences in goods, services, and housing relative to the national average. Colorado's wage data was excluded due to non-reporting by the BLS.
Methodology and limitations
This analysis utilizes the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics median annual salary data for data scientists (SOC 15-2051) as of May 2024.
Salaries were adjusted for cost-of-living differences across states using the Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP) for 2023, following the formula:
Adjusted salary = (nominal salary / RPP) × 100.
The RPP index accounts for variations in the prices of goods, services, and housing relative to the national average (100). Colorado's wage data was excluded due to non-reporting by the BLS.