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.