Data Scientists
SOC 15-2051 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Data Scientists is $147,477, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $146,874, and an estimated 68,127 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2021 and 2023, pay rose +7% while consumer prices rose 12.4% — a real change of -4.8% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 33.5% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Data Scientists has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $108,020 | $108,020 | 192,710 |
| 2022 | $103,500 | $107,761 | 159,630 |
| 2021 | $100,910 | $113,472 | 105,980 |
Nominal change
+7%
Inflation (CPI)
+12.4%
Real change
-4.8%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+33.5%
Much faster than average
Employment 2024
245,900
Projected 2034
328,300
Annual Openings
23,400
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Data Scientists earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $147,477. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $138,780 | -5.9% | 530 |
| Virginia | $136,490 | -7.4% | 4,810 |
| California | $133,690 | -9.3% | 33,220 |
| Washington | $132,620 | -10.1% | 5,640 |
| New Jersey | $130,570 | -11.5% | 4,340 |
| Wyoming | $130,370 | -11.6% | — |
| Hawaii | $129,930 | -11.9% | 150 |
| New York | $128,890 | -12.6% | 16,390 |
| Rhode Island | $128,350 | -13% | 900 |
| North Carolina | $126,940 | -13.9% | 6,640 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$81,112
25th Pct
$110,607
Median
$147,477
75th Pct
$191,720
90th Pct
$243,337
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | WA | 1,856 | $178,422 |
| Infosys BPO Limited | NY | 1,690 | $107,027 |
| Cognizant Technology Solutions | NJ | 1,661 | $162,976 |
| Wipro Limited | NJ | 1,510 | $150,062 |
| KPMG LLP | NY | 1,139 | $158,864 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | NJ | 678 | $179,246 |
| Ernst and Young LLP | NY | 571 | $94,697 |
| Deloitte Consulting LLP | NY | 306 | $156,284 |
| AMAZON.COM SERVICES LLC | WA | 120 | $133,200 |
| Microsoft Corporation | WA | 111 | $160,400 |
| WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | CA | 85 | $168,050 |
| Google LLC | CA | 49 | $167,543 |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. | CA | 47 | $180,605 |
| WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | AR | 45 | $140,000 |
| Capital One, National Association | VA | 37 | $134,787 |
| Capital One Services, LLC | VA | 34 | $133,687 |
| WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | TX | 32 | $135,000 |
| AMAZON.COM SERVICES LLC | CA | 28 | $172,000 |
| WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | NJ | 25 | $166,640 |
| Cirquetech Group Inc. | WA | 23 | $110,864 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
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