Data Scientist salary in District of Columbia
Data Scientists in District of Columbia earn a median of $126,490 a year ($60.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,680 workers.
Pay ranges from $89,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $209,730 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $120,230. District of Columbia ranks 9th of 49 states for data scientists pay. There are 3.8 data scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $142,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for data scientists in District of Columbia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $89,750 | $43.15 |
| 25th percentile | $105,320 | $50.64 |
| Median | $126,490 | $60.81 |
| 75th percentile | $174,650 | $83.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $209,730 | $100.83 |
| Average (mean) | $142,580 | $68.55 |
Half of data scientists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,540.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,270.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,865 |
| Weekly | $2,432.50 |
| Hourly | $60.81 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Data Scientist salary in cities in District of Columbia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $132,200 | 9,260 |
Highest-paying states for data scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $163,350 |
| California | $141,590 |
| Maryland | $136,370 |
| New Jersey | $135,280 |
| Massachusetts | $131,750 |
| New York | $130,460 |
| Minnesota | $128,800 |
| Vermont | $127,070 |
| District of Columbia | $126,490 |
| Virginia | $126,430 |
Related jobs in District of Columbia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Research Analyst | $96,030 | $46.17 |
| Statistician | $140,670 | $67.63 |
| Actuary | $166,230 | $79.92 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $156,590 | $75.29 |
| Software Developer | $136,880 | $65.81 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $80,950 | $38.92 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $116,820 | $56.16 |
| Information Security Analyst | $135,090 | $64.95 |
| Computer Network Architect | $137,670 | $66.19 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $110,970 | $53.35 |
| Database Architect | $150,010 | $72.12 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $103,340 | $49.68 |
| Database Administrator | $118,540 | $56.99 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $107,650 | $51.76 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-2051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in District of Columbia?
The median salary for data scientists in District of Columbia is $126,490 a year, or $60.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $89,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $209,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid data scientists make in District of Columbia?
The top 10% of data scientists in District of Columbia earn at least $209,730 a year. The top 25% earn $174,650 or more.
What is the starting pay for data scientists in District of Columbia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $89,750 a year, and a quarter of data scientists earn $105,320 or less.
How many data scientists work in District of Columbia?
About 2,680 data scientists are employed in District of Columbia, not counting the self-employed.