The Top 50 Best-Paying Cities for Data Scientists in the United States

The Top 50 Best-Paying Cities for Data Scientists in the United States

As industries increasingly modernize and use more technology, data can be found everywhere. Executives, product managers, and other leaders need someone to collect, analyze and interpret this data, which is where data scientists come into the picture.

Data scientists use mathematic and statistical skills, programming and storytelling to help inform a company’s most impactful or influential decisions or strategies.

The average annual salary of a data scientist in the United States can be nearly $111,000 or more, according to the professional social network Blind.

These are the 50 best-paying cities for data scientists in the United States by average total compensation, according to the more than 5 million verified professionals on Blind. Total compensation includes annual cash salary and any stock-based compensation or cash bonus offered.

1. Los Gatos, Calif.

  • Average total compensation: $455,166
  • Median total compensation: $472,500
  • Average salary: $447,916
  • Median base salary: $462,500

2. Cupertino, Calif.

  • Average total compensation: $293,781
  • Median total compensation: $275,500
  • Average salary: $166,712
  • Median base salary: $170,000

3. Cambridge, Mass.

  • Average total compensation: $264,646
  • Median total compensation: $316,500
  • Average salary: $151,500
  • Median base salary: $146,500

4. Menlo Park, Calif.

  • Average total compensation: $263,731
  • Median total compensation: $242,500
  • Average salary: $165,761
  • Median base salary: $161,000

5. Sunnyvale, Calif.

  • Average total compensation: $259,108
  • Median total compensation: $231,000
  • Average salary: $173,178
  • Median base salary: $159,000

6. Mountain View, Calif.

  • Average total compensation: $258,548
  • Median total compensation: $228,150
  • Average salary: $157,767
  • Median base salary: $150,000

7. San Francisco

  • Average total compensation: $242,505
  • Median total compensation: $212,000
  • Average salary: $163,670
  • Median base salary: $160,000

8. San Jose, Calif.

  • Average total compensation: $239,675
  • Median total compensation: $205,000
  • Average salary: $161,090
  • Median base salary: $150,000

9. Los Angeles

  • Average total compensation: $235,642
  • Median total compensation: $170,000
  • Average salary: $196,892
  • Median base salary: $145,000

10. Palo Alto, Calif.

  • Average total compensation: $232,543
  • Median total compensation: $197,000
  • Average salary: $137,327
  • Median base salary: $140,000

11. Boulder, Colo.

  • Average total compensation: $224,673
  • Median total compensation: $240,000
  • Average salary: $148,989
  • Median base salary: $150,000

12. Redmond, Wash.

  • Average total compensation: $215,178
  • Median total compensation: $195,000
  • Average salary: $142,438
  • Median base salary: $139,000

13. Seattle

  • Average total compensation: $208,158
  • Median total compensation: $191,200
  • Average salary: $141,741
  • Median base salary: $141,000

14. Bellevue, Wash.

  • Average total compensation: $207,834
  • Median total compensation: $200,000
  • Average salary: $143,097
  • Median base salary: $145,000

15. Santa Monica, Calif.

  • Average total compensation: $205,181
  • Median total compensation: $160,000
  • Average salary: $164,272
  • Median base salary: $150,000

16. San Mateo, Calif.

  • Average total compensation: $202,140
  • Median total compensation: $155,000
  • Average salary: $149,046
  • Median base salary: $125,000

17. Charlotte, N.C.

  • Average total compensation: $201,685
  • Median total compensation: $154,750
  • Average salary: $145,885
  • Median base salary: $128,750

18. Santa Clara, Calif.

  • Average total compensation: $192,377
  • Median total compensation: $180,196
  • Average salary: $150,943
  • Median base salary: $148,000

19. New York

  • Average total compensation: $186,170
  • Median total compensation: $165,000
  • Average salary: $143,926
  • Median base salary: $141,000

20. Boston

  • Average total compensation: $184,752
  • Median total compensation: $155,800
  • Average salary: $137,567
  • Median base salary: $135,600

21. Newark, N.J.

  • Average total compensation: $184,200
  • Median total compensation: $190,000
  • Average salary: $139,311
  • Median base salary: $140,000

22. Bentonville, Ark.

  • Average total compensation: $179,809
  • Median total compensation: $155,000
  • Average salary: $122,285
  • Median base salary: $110,000

23. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

  • Average total compensation: $178,640
  • Median total compensation: $161,000
  • Average salary: $148,400
  • Median base salary: $135,000

24. Portland, Ore.

  • Average total compensation: $173,343
  • Median total compensation: $180,500
  • Average salary: $136,992
  • Median base salary: $140,000

25. Washington, D.C.

  • Average total compensation: $171,221
  • Median total compensation: $157,500
  • Average salary: $141,306
  • Median base salary: $141,000

26. San Antonio, Texas

  • Average total compensation: $171,000
  • Median total compensation: $145,000
  • Average salary: $112,571
  • Median base salary: $120,000

27. Miami

  • Average total compensation: $167,666
  • Median total compensation: $177,000
  • Average salary: $148,250
  • Median base salary: $150,000

28. Denver

  • Average total compensation: $165,448
  • Median total compensation: $157,000
  • Average salary: $128,348
  • Median base salary: $129,000

29. Jersey City, N.J.

  • Average total compensation: $165,037
  • Median total compensation: $122,680
  • Average salary: $124,638
  • Median base salary: $115,000

30. Oakland, Calif.

  • Average total compensation: $161,250
  • Median total compensation: $154,500
  • Average salary: $144,625
  • Median base salary: $147,500

31. Columbus, Ohio

  • Average total compensation: $160,843
  • Median total compensation: $117,500
  • Average salary: $115,781
  • Median base salary: $104,000

32. Austin, Texas

  • Average total compensation: $160,782
  • Median total compensation: $150,000
  • Average salary: $123,167
  • Median base salary: $120,000

33. Pittsburgh

  • Average total compensation: $158,971
  • Median total compensation: $146,000
  • Average salary: $123,855
  • Median base salary: $113,500

34. San Diego

  • Average total compensation: $158,763
  • Median total compensation: $152,600
  • Average salary: $133,190
  • Median base salary: $135,000

35. Irvine, Calif.

  • Average total compensation: $157,600
  • Median total compensation: $145,000
  • Average salary: $129,872
  • Median base salary: $143,000

36. Kansas City, Mo.

  • Average total compensation: $156,600
  • Median total compensation: $154,000
  • Average salary: $135,363
  • Median base salary: $140,000

37. Redwood City, Calif.

  • Average total compensation: $152,325
  • Median total compensation: $155,000
  • Average salary: $131,791
  • Median base salary: $138,250

38. Dallas

  • Average total compensation: $146,299
  • Median total compensation: $135,000
  • Average salary: $122,017
  • Median base salary: $120,000

39. Chicago

  • Average total compensation: $146,149
  • Median total compensation: $136,000
  • Average salary: $121,975
  • Median base salary: $117,000

40. Atlanta

  • Average total compensation: $145,650
  • Median total compensation: $125,000
  • Average salary: $118,977
  • Median base salary: $115,000

41. St Louis, Mo.

  • Average total compensation: $140,247
  • Median total compensation: $129,000
  • Average salary: $122,571
  • Median base salary: $129,000

42. Philadelphia

  • Average total compensation: $139,738
  • Median total compensation: $135,000
  • Average salary: $114,963
  • Median base salary: $120,000

43. Minneapolis

  • Average total compensation: $137,997
  • Median total compensation: $131,000
  • Average salary: $115,918
  • Median base salary: $110,000

44. Raleigh, N.C.

  • Average total compensation: $136,728
  • Median total compensation: $120,000
  • Average salary: $117,774
  • Median base salary: $111,300

45. Hartford, Conn.

  • Average total compensation: $136,295
  • Median total compensation: $123,813
  • Average salary: $120,491
  • Median base salary: $112,500

46. Baltimore

  • Average total compensation: $134,906
  • Median total compensation: $150,000
  • Average salary: $110,857
  • Median base salary: $105,000

47. McLean, Va.

  • Average total compensation: $134,408
  • Median total compensation: $140,000
  • Average salary: $120,066
  • Median base salary: $125,800

48. Tampa, Fla.

  • Average total compensation: $134,291
  • Median total compensation: $118,000
  • Average salary: $114,750
  • Median base salary: $113,500

49. Phoenix

  • Average total compensation: $133,912
  • Median total compensation: $137,500
  • Average salary: $113,975
  • Median base salary: $126,300

50. Wilmington, Del.

  • Average total compensation: $132,300
  • Median total compensation: $131,000
  • Average salary: $120,800
  • Median base salary: $115,000

Methodology

Blind analyzed the base salaries and total compensation of data scientists in the United States on its platform. Cities were ranked by the average total compensation, including annual base salary and, if applicable, stock-based compensation and cash bonuses. All data is self-reported by verified professionals on the professional social network Blind.