The Top 42 Best-Paying Cities for Data Scientists in 2024
According to the more than 10 million verified professionals on the professional social network Blind, these are the top 42 best-paying cities for data scientists in the United States in 2024.
Blind ranked the best-paying cities by the highest average total compensation. Total compensation includes a role’s salary, equity or stock-based compensation, and cash bonus.
The average salary of a data scientist in the United States is between $104,076 and $169,967 in 2024, according to Blind and its exclusive compensation data and insights. Salaries can be significantly higher for senior data scientists or heads of data science.
A data scientist’s pay is often higher when considering the total compensation for the role. According to Blind’s pay benchmarking tool, the average total compensation of a data analyst in the United States can be as high as $294,015 in 2024.
1. Cambridge, Mass.
- Average total compensation: $294,015
- Median total compensation: $296,500
- Average annual salary: $166,192
- Median annual salary: $150,000
2. Menlo Park, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $251,257
- Median total compensation: $224,000
- Average annual salary: $169,967
- Median annual salary: $162,000
3. Cupertino, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $247,037
- Median total compensation: $235,500
- Average annual salary: $169,147
- Median annual salary: $170,000
4. San Mateo, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $245,678
- Median total compensation: $182,000
- Average annual salary: $168,785
- Median annual salary: $150,000
5. San Francisco
- Average total compensation: $220,817
- Median total compensation: $205,500
- Average annual salary: $161,601
- Median annual salary: $159,000
6. Mountain View, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $208,188
- Median total compensation: $198,000
- Average annual salary: $150,004
- Median annual salary: $147,000
7. Sunnyvale, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $204,275
- Median total compensation: $192,500
- Average annual salary: $155,688
- Median annual salary: $155,000
8. Portland, Ore.
- Average total compensation: $196,070
- Median total compensation: $200,000
- Average annual salary: $145,950
- Median annual salary: $140,000
9. Seattle
- Average total compensation: $188,891
- Median total compensation: $180,000
- Average annual salary: $145,330
- Median annual salary: $143,900
10. San Jose, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $187,904
- Median total compensation: $188,000
- Average annual salary: $148,323
- Median annual salary: $148,000
11. Redmond, Wash.
- Average total compensation: $183,450
- Median total compensation: $180,000
- Average annual salary: $136,232
- Median annual salary: $136,000
12. Santa Clara, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $181,898
- Median total compensation: $180,000
- Average annual salary: $154,967
- Median annual salary: $151,000
13. Palo Alto, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $176,750
- Median total compensation: $180,500
- Average annual salary: $137,128
- Median annual salary: $138,500
14. New York
- Average total compensation: $175,624
- Median total compensation: $165,000
- Average annual salary: $145,784
- Median annual salary: $140,000
15. Los Angeles
- Average total compensation: $174,937
- Median total compensation: $160,000
- Average annual salary: $147,098
- Median annual salary: $140,000
16. Washington, D.C.
- Average total compensation: $174,018
- Median total compensation: $154,000
- Average annual salary: $145,030
- Median annual salary: $142,000
17. Bellevue, Wash.
- Average total compensation: $170,291
- Median total compensation: $169,900
- Average annual salary: $131,955
- Median annual salary: $127,800
18. Irvine, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $164,155
- Median total compensation: $147,500
- Average annual salary: $137,033
- Median annual salary: $144,000
19. Oakland, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $163,045
- Median total compensation: $165,000
- Average annual salary: $151,090
- Median annual salary: $153,000
20. Austin, Texas
- Average total compensation: $159,924
- Median total compensation: $153,500
- Average annual salary: $130,242
- Median annual salary: $132,000
21. San Antonio
- Average total compensation: $159,475
- Median total compensation: $163,167
- Average annual salary: $133,000
- Median annual salary: $128,500
22. San Diego
- Average total compensation: $159,035
- Median total compensation: $141,850
- Average annual salary: $136,288
- Median annual salary: $130,000
23. Denver
- Average total compensation: $154,701
- Median total compensation: $150,500
- Average annual salary: $132,310
- Median annual salary: $131,000
24. Charlotte, N.C.
- Average total compensation: $153,153
- Median total compensation: $152,500
- Average annual salary: $129,730
- Median annual salary: $130,000
25. Phoenix
- Average total compensation: $144,830
- Median total compensation: $142,800
- Average annual salary: $121,580
- Median annual salary: $128,800
26. Boston
- Average total compensation: $144,438
- Median total compensation: $137,063
- Average annual salary: $128,860
- Median annual salary: $125,000
27. Indianapolis
- Average total compensation: $143,200
- Median total compensation: $138,750
- Average annual salary: $124,050
- Median annual salary: $119,000
28. St. Louis
- Average total compensation: $140,236
- Median total compensation: $133,356
- Average annual salary: $120,229
- Median annual salary: $123,500
29. Chicago
- Average total compensation: $139,157
- Median total compensation: $128,500
- Average annual salary: $120,881
- Median annual salary: $116,500
30. Redwood City, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $138,856
- Median total compensation: $142,500
- Average annual salary: $125,722
- Median annual salary: $127,500
31. Bentonville, Ark.
- Average total compensation: $136,671
- Median total compensation: $135,000
- Average annual salary: $104,076
- Median annual salary: $100,000
32. Philadelphia
- Average total compensation: $134,400
- Median total compensation: $135,000
- Average annual salary: $118,960
- Median annual salary: $120,000
33. Pittsburgh
- Average total compensation: $133,192
- Median total compensation: $120,000
- Average annual salary: $112,692
- Median annual salary: $111,000
34. Durham, N.C.
- Average total compensation: $132,460
- Median total compensation: $119,000
- Average annual salary: $117,026
- Median annual salary: $111,000
35. Atlanta
- Average total compensation: $132,352
- Median total compensation: $127,000
- Average annual salary: $118,275
- Median annual salary: $117,000
36. Raleigh, N.C.
- Average total compensation: $130,437
- Median total compensation: $130,000
- Average annual salary: $119,151
- Median annual salary: $115,000
37. Dallas
- Average total compensation: $130,389
- Median total compensation: $127,500
- Average annual salary: $117,360
- Median annual salary: $115,000
38. Tampa, Fla.
- Average total compensation: $129,500
- Median total compensation: $113,000
- Average annual salary: $113,666
- Median annual salary: $110,000
39. Minneapolis
- Average total compensation: $129,421
- Median total compensation: $128,500
- Average annual salary: $115,100
- Median annual salary: $118,000
40. Detroit
- Average total compensation: $126,502
- Median total compensation: $116,250
- Average annual salary: $109,908
- Median annual salary: $105,000
41. Cincinnati
- Average total compensation: $125,547
- Median total compensation: $131,100
- Average annual salary: $117,705
- Median annual salary: $126,000
42. Salt Lake City
- Average total compensation: $125,121
- Median total compensation: $119,667
- Average annual salary: $106,183
- Median annual salary: $98,000
Methodology
Blind analyzed the annual salaries and total compensation submitted by data scientists in the United States on its total compensation and salary benchmarking tool. The list excludes seniority titles, such as senior data scientist, director of data science, head of data science or similar designations.
Cities were ranked by the average total compensation, including annual salary paid in cash and, if applicable, any stock-based compensation and cash bonuses reported.
All data is self-reported by verified professionals on the professional social network Blind.
